Lokayata, Lokāyata, Loka-ayata: 12 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Theravada
2. Mahayana
India history
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Pali
3. Kannada
See also
Buy products

Introduction:

Lokayata means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

Name of a branch of brahmin learning (D.i.11, etc.); the name signifies that which pertains to the ordinary view (of the world)- i.e., common or popular philosophy - much the same as lokakkhayika (popular philosophy). For a discussion of the word see Dial.i.166 72.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Lokāyata (लोकायत) refers to “materialism”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] At that time, sixty koṭis of Bodhisattvas, having stood up from the congregation, joined their palms, paid homage to the Lord, and then uttered these verses in one voice: ‘[...] (199) Being mingled with materialists (lokāyata), praising themselves, disparaging noble ones, they will be ignorant and arrogant. (200) Giving up to stay in the wilderness, always taking pleasure among the crowds of people, practicing worldly incantations, they will be attached to [the view] that there is a permanent substance. [...]’”.

context information

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

India history and geography

Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)

Lokāyata (लोकायत) philosophy refers to one of the topics taught at the Educational institutions in ancient India, which attracted students from near and distant countries, as depicted in the Kathās (narrative poems) such as Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kāvya poetry).—Page 150.17 f. & 151.1-5: There is described an educational institution which included students from Lāṭa, Karṇāṭaka, Mālava, Kaṇṇujja, Godāvarī (Nasik), Mahārāṣṭra, Saurāṣṭra, Śrīkaṇṭha (Thanesvar) and Sindha. The courses of study comprised [e.g., Lokāyata or Cārvāka philosophies] [...]. At another place (151.6-11) the prince came across persons who cultivated the seventy-two arts and sixty-four sciences, [...].

context information

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Lokāyata (लोकायत).—a. atheistical, materialistic.

-taḥ a materialist, an atheist, a follower of Chārvāka.

-tam materialism, atheism; (for some account see the first chapter of the Sarvadarśanasaṃgraha).

Lokāyata is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms loka and āyata (आयत).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Lokāyata (लोकायत).—n.

(-taṃ) The system of atheistical philosophy taught by Charvaka. E. loka the world, āṅ before, yati to strive, aff. ac .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Lokāyata (लोकायत).—i. e. loka-ā-yata (vb. yam?), n. The system of atheistical philosophy, taught by Cārvāka.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Lokāyata (लोकायत):—[from loka > lok] mfn. ‘world-extended (?)’, materialistic

2) [v.s. ...] m. a materialist, [Buddhist literature; Nīlakaṇṭha; Āryavidyā-sudhākara] (tī-√kṛ [Parasmaipada] -karoti, to consider as materialistic)

3) [v.s. ...] n. ([scilicet] śāstra or mata or tantra), materialism, the system of atheistical philosophy (taught by Cārvāka), [Prabodha-candrodaya; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Lokāyata (लोकायत):—[lokā+yata] (taṃ) 1. n. The atheistical philosophy taught by Chārvāka.

[Sanskrit to German]

Lokayata in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

Pali-English dictionary

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Lokāyata refers to: what pertains to the ordinary view (of the world), common or popular philosophy, or as Rhys Davids (Dial. I. 171) puts it: “name of a branch of Brahman learning, probably Nature-lore”; later worked into a quâsi system of “casuistry, sophistry. ” Franke, Dīgha translation 19, translates as “logisch beweisende Naturerklärung” (see the long note on this page, and cp. Dial. I. 166—172 for detail of lokāyata). It is much the same as lok-akkhāy(ika) or popular philosophy. ‹-› D. I, 11, 88; Vin. II, 139; Sn. p. 105 (=vitaṇḍa-vādasattha SnA 447, as at DA. I, 247); Miln. 4, 10, 178; A. I, 163, 166; III, 223. Cp. BSk. lokāyata Divy 630, 633, and lokāyatika ibid. 619. See also Kern’s remarks at Toev. s. v.

Note: lokāyata is a Pali compound consisting of the words loka and āyata.

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Lōkāyata (ಲೋಕಾಯತ):—[adjective] of materialism or materialists; not believing in the existence of god, other world, etc.; materialist.

--- OR ---

Lōkāyata (ಲೋಕಾಯತ):—

1) [noun] the philosophic doctrine that matter is the only reality and that everything in the world, including thought, will, and feeling, can be explained only in terms of matter; materialism.

2) [noun] a person who believes or advocates in materialism; a materialist.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 51 books and stories containing Lokayata, Lokāyata, Loka-ayata, Loka-āyata, Lōkāyata; (plurals include: Lokayatas, Lokāyatas, ayatas, āyatas, Lōkāyatas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Cārvāka View of Consciousness < [Chapter 1]

Sāṅkhya View of Consciousness < [Chapter 1]

Various views of nature of reality < [Chapter 4: Study of Māṇḍūkya Kārikā: Vaitathya Prakaraṇa]

show preview

Appendix I - The Lokāyata, Nāstika and Cārvāka

show preview

Part 8.9 - Carvaka Philosophy < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

Part 8 - A Comparative Study of different Indian Philosophies < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

show preview

Part 4 - Education System in the Mālatīmādhava and 8th-century India < [Chapter 3 - Social Aspects of the Mālatīmādhava]

show preview

Part 1 - The State of Philosophy in India before the Buddha < [Chapter V - Buddhist Philosophy]