Madhyamaka, Mādhyamaka, Madhyamika, Madhyamikā, Mādhyamika: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Madhyamaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Hindi. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Madhyamik.
In Hinduism
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक) refers to a country belonging to “Madhyadeśa (central division)” classified under the constellations of Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī and Mṛgaśīrṣa, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Kṛttikā, Rohiṇī and Mṛgaśīrṣa represent the Madhyadeśa or central division consisting of the countries of [i.e., Mādhyamika] [...]”.
Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
1) Madhyamaka (मध्यमक) refers to the “Two Great Chariot-paths” (i.e., Madhyamaka and Cittamātra) which are known in Tibetan as shing rta'i srol chen po gnyis.
2) Madhyamaka (मध्यमक) refers to one of the “Four Philosophical Systems” (i.e., “preliminary practices for tantra”) which are known in Tibetan as: grub mtha' bzhi.—Accordingly, [while describing the history of the Buddhists and the proponents of the four philosophical systems]: Madhyamaka is divided into (a) Svātantrika Madhyamaka and (b) Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka.
3) Madhyamaka (मध्यमक) (in Tibetan: dbu ma) — With Cittamātra, one of the two major Mahayana philosophical schools. Founded by Nāgārjuna, it focuses on the doctrine of emptiness expounded in the perfection of wisdom literature. Madhyamaka was the most influential single philosophical tradition in Tibet and spread in other parts of the Mahayana world as well
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक) refers to a Buddhist philosophical doctrine associated with Mahāyāna, one of the Triyāna (“three vehicles”) [i.e., tatra trīṇi yānāni], according to the Tattvaratnāvalī (“a jewel garland of true reality”)—the title of one of the 26 texts revolving around the theme of amanasikāra (“non-conceptual realization”) ascribed to Maitrīpa (c. 986–1063)—an influential late Indian Buddhist master who helped bring Mahāsiddha-style Mahāmudrā teachings into a monastic Mahāyāna scholastic setting.—Accordingly, “Here, there are three vehicles, the (1) Śrāvakayāna, (2) Pratyekabuddhayāna and (3) Mahāyāna. There are four tenets, based on the division into Vaibhāṣika, Sautrāntika, Yogācāra, and Mādhyamika. [...]”
Mādhyamika is twofold. It is divided into
- The “proponents of non-duality in the sense [of everything being] like an illusion” (māyopamādvaya-vāda),
- The “proponents of not abiding in any phenomena” (sarvadharma-apratiṣṭhāna-vāda).
(1d) [The Mahāyāna, Pāramitānaya, according to Madhyamaka, Māyopamādvayavāda]: The superior [practitioners of Pāramitānaya] are the Mādhyamikas. Among them, there are [first] the Māyopamādvayavādins (“those who maintain non-duality [in the sense of everything being] like an illusion”). Their explanation [follows Jñānasārasamuccaya, verse 28] [...]. The mental cultivation of non-duality [in this sense of everything being] like an illusion is [their form of] meditation. Attachment to nihilism is here the stain of meditation. To complete the six perfections in the conviction that non-duality [in the sense of everything being] like an illusion is [their] view.
(1e) [The Mahāyāna, Pāramitānaya, according to Madhyamaka, Apratiṣṭhānavāda]: The following is an examination of [this doctrine]: [...] “When free from all superimpositions, true reality appears of its own accord. Expressions such as emptiness, remove superimpositions from it”—To actualize without attachment this meaning which has come under analysis—whose nature is to be free from superimposition—is [their form of] meditation. To deny everything or become senseless [in a state of dull nothingness] are the stains of meditative stabilization. To complete the six perfections without [becoming engaged in] superimposition is the [related] view.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Madhyamaka (मध्यमक) refers to one of the schools of philosophy in Buddhism.—[...] Thus there were three Yānas in Buddhism about 300 A.D. which may approximately be taken as the time of Asaṅga. But against these three Yānas there were four schools of philosophy in Buddhism, namely, the Sarvāstivāda (Sautrāntika), the Vāhyārthabhaṅga (Vaibhāṣika), the Vijñānavāda (Yogācāra), and the Śūnyavāda (Madhyamaka). How these four systems of philosophy were distributed amongst the three Yānas is one of the vital questions of Buddhism.
According to the Tattvaratnāvalī of Advayavajra (12th century A. D.):—“three are the Yānas, Śrāvakayāna, Pratyekayāna and Mahāyāna. There are four theories; Vaibhāṣika, Sautrāntika, Yogācāra and Madhyamaka. Śrāvakayāna and Pratyekayāna are explained by the theories of the Vaibhāṣikas. Mahāyāna is of two kinds: Pāramitānaya and Mantranaya. Pāramitānaya is explained by the theories either of Sautrāntika, Yogācāra or Madhyamaka. Mantranaya is explained by the theories of Yogācāra and Madhyamaka only”.
In Jainism
Jain philosophy
Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक) refers to one of the four schools of Buddhism, as occurring in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. I, P. 80, l 10]—Mādhyamika (or Śūnyavāda, Mādhyamikavāda, Nairātmyavāda) is the name of one of the four schools of Buddhism, the other three being (i) Sautrāntika, (ii) Vaibhāṣika (or Āryasamitīya or Sarvāstivāda) and (iii) Yogācāra (or Vijñānavāda). The Mādhyamika school domes reality of the ends, being (bhāva) and non-being (abhāva) and affirm it of the centre (madhya) only, which is neither being nor non-being but simply ‘śūnya’ or ‘emptyness’.
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India history and geography
Mādhyamikā (माध्यमिका).—Barli Pillar inscription mentions an inhabitant of Majhimikā (Ski. Mādhyamikā). Majhimikā may safely correspond to modern Nagari in the Chitorgarh district in Rajasthan. The attribute śāli-mālinī in the Barli Pillar inscription possibly refers to the rice-fields that surrounded the town. At Mādhyamikā, as we find in the Mahābhārta, the people known as Vāṭadhanas had a settlement there.
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
Madhyamaka (मध्यमक).—a. (-mikā f.)
1) Middle, middle-most.
2) Common (property &c.).
-kam The interior of anything.
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Madhyamikā (मध्यमिका).—A girl arrived at puberty, a marriageable woman.
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Mādhyamaka (माध्यमक).—a. (-mikā f.) [mādhyamika] a. (-kī f.) Middle, central.
-kāḥ (m. pl.)
1) Name of a people or their country in the central part of India.
2) Name of a Buddhist school; भगवत्पूज्यपादाश्च शुष्कतर्कपटूनमून् । आहुर्माध्यमिकान् भ्रान्तानचिन्त्येऽस्मिन् सदात्मनि (bhagavatpūjyapādāśca śuṣkatarkapaṭūnamūn | āhurmādhyamikān bhrāntānacintye'smin sadātmani) || Pañchadaśī 2.3.
See also (synonyms): mādhyamika.
Madhyamaka (मध्यमक).—presumably = Mādhyamika, q.v., in °ka-ruci, one who favors the Māhārāṣṭrī school: kṛtir iyaṃ paṇ- ḍita-ma °rucer Dharmākaramateḥ Sādhanamālā 417.7 (colophon).
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Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक).—m., an adherent of the Buddhist school of this name: Mahāvyutpatti 5144. Cf. Madhyamaka (-ruci).
Madhyamikā (मध्यमिका).—f.
(-kā) A girl arrived at puberty, one in whom menstruation has commenced. E. madhyamā, kan added, in the fem. form.
Madhyamaka (मध्यमक).—[neuter] = madhya [neuter], kaṃ praviś enter.
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Mādhyamaka (माध्यमक).—([feminine] mikā) central.
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Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक).—[adjective] = [preceding]; [masculine] [plural] [Name] of a midland people.
1) Madhyamaka (मध्यमक):—[from madhya] mf(ikā)n. middlemost, [Mṛcchakaṭikā]
2) [v.s. ...] common (as property), [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra [Scholiast or Commentator]]
3) Madhyamikā (मध्यमिका):—[from madhyamaka > madhya] f. a marriageable woman, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] Name of the 2nd or middle Grantha of the Kāṭhaka (cf. mādhyamika)
5) Madhyamaka (मध्यमक):—[from madhya] n. the interior of anything (kam pra-√viś, to enter), [Mṛcchakaṭikā]
6) Madhyamika (मध्यमिक):—[from madhya] [probably] [wrong reading] for mādhyamika q.v.
7) Mādhyamaka (माध्यमक):—[from mādhya] mf(ikā)n. ([from] madhyama) relating to the middle region (id est. the atmosphere), [Nirukta, by Yāska]
8) Mādhyamikā (माध्यमिका):—[from mādhyamaka > mādhya] f. Name of the middle portion of the Kāṭhaka.
9) Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक):—[from mādhya] mfn. ([from] madhyama) = madhyamaka, [Nirukta, by Yāska] (also applied to a kind of cloth, [Patañjali])
10) [v.s. ...] m. [plural] Name of a Buddhist school, [Monier-Williams’ Buddhism 157; 159]
11) [v.s. ...] m. of a people in central India, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā]
Madhyamikā (मध्यमिका):—(kā) 1. f. A girl arrived at puberty, one in her courses.
Madhyamaka (मध्यमक):—(von madhyama) adj. f. mikā a) der mittlere [Mṛcchakaṭikā 49, 19.] — b) gemeinsam: madhyamakaṃ hi yajamānasya patnīnāṃ ca dravyam Schol. zu [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 981, 8.] —
2) f. mikā a) ein mannbares Frauenzimmer [Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma] — b) Titel des 2ten (ursprünglich mittleren) Grantha des Kāṭhaka [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 69. 3, 454.]
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Madhyamika (मध्यमिक):—(von madhyama) m. pl. Name einer buddhistischen Schule [Burnouf 445. 447. 449. 507. 511. 560.] [WASSILJEW 132 u.s.w.]
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Mādhyamaka (माध्यमक):—(von madhyama) adj. = mādhyamika, f. mādhyamikā [Yāska’s Nirukta 10, 46. 12, 5. 10.] Bez. des mittleren Abschnitts im Kāṭhaka [Akademische Vorlesungen 87.]
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Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक):—(von madhyama)
1) adj. auf die Mitte (das Luftreich) bezüglich, dazu gehörig [Yāska’s Nirukta 5, 3.] devagaṇa [6, 15. 7, 26. 8, 14. 10, 9. 11, 18.] —
2) m. pl. a) Name einer buddhistischen Schule [Madhusūdanasarasvatī’s Prasthānabheda] in [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 13, 19.] [Scholiast] zu [Vedāntasāra 99, 2.] Vgl. madhyamika . — b) Nomen proprium eines Volkes im Mittellande: aruṇadyavano mādhyamikān [Patañjali] bei [GOLD. MĀN. 230.] [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 14,2.] [Oxforder Handschriften 258,b,17.] Vgl. [WEBER] in [Weber’s Indische Studien 5, 151. fgg.] und [KERN] in der Vorrede zu seiner Ausg. der [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. S. 38.]
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Madhyamika (मध्यमिक):—vgl. mādhyamika .
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Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक):—
2) a) [SARVADARŚANAS. 9, 2. 14, 11. 15, 13. 116, 17.]
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Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक):—adj. Bez. eines best. Zeuges (paṭa) ebend. [5,60,a.]
Madhyamaka (मध्यमक):——
1) Adj. (f. miklā) gemeinsam. —
2) f. makā — a) *ein mannbares Frauenzimmer. — b) Titel des 2ten Grantha des Kāṭhaka. Vgl. mādhyamikā. —
3) n. das Innere. kaṃ pra-viś so v.a. hineintreten [Mṛcchakaṭika 46,19.]
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Madhyamika (मध्यमिक):—m. Pl. eine best. buddhistische Schule Richtiger wohl mā. madhyamikā d. u. madhyamaka.
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Mādhyamaka (माध्यमक):——
1) Adj. (f. mikā) auf die Mitte ( das Luftreich ) bezüglich , dazu gehörig. —
2) f. mikā Bez. des mittleren Abschnittes im Kāṭthaka. Vgl. madhyamaka 2)b).
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Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक):——
1) Adj. — a) auf die Mitte (das Luftreich) bezüglich , dazu gehörig. — b) als Bez. eines best. Zeuges. —
2) m. Pl. — a) Nomen proprium eines Volkes im Mittellande [240,31.] — b) eine best. buddhistische Schule.
Madhyamaka (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 中觀學派 [zhōng guān xué pài]: “Madhyamaka” [Sanskrit school name]; Alternatively: “dBu ma pa’i lugs” [Tibetan school name].
2) 中觀派 [zhōng guān pài]: “Madhyamaka” [Sanskrit school name].
3) 中道宗 [zhōng dào zōng]: “Zhongdao Zong” [Chinese school name]; Alternatively: “Middle Way School” [English school name]; Alternatively: “Madhyamaka” [Sanskrit school name].
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.
Hindi dictionary
Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक) [Also spelled madhyamik]:—(a) secondary; middle; intermediary; —[pāṣāṇa yuga] middle stone age; —[śikṣā] secondary education; —[pāṭhaśālā] secondary school.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Mādhyamika (ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಿಕ):—[adjective] intermediate or intervening; in between; middle.
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Mādhyamika (ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಿಕ):—
1) [noun] name of a branch of Buddhism.
2) [noun] a follower of this branch of Buddhism.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Mādhyamika (माध्यमिक):—adj. middle; central;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+0): Madhyamakaksha, Madhyamakalakara, Madhyamakalamkara, Madhyamakaloka, Madhyamakanda, Madhyamakashastra, Madhyamakaumudi, Madhyamakavatara, Madhyamakavritti.
Full-text (+335): Madhyamikavritti, Madhyamakavritti, Zhong guan pai, Nagarjuna, Shunyavada, Madhyamika-yuga, Madhyamikashale, Zhong guan lun, Shantarakshita, Madhyamik, Zhong lun, Madhyamakaloka, Madhyamakalamkara, Zhong guan, Madhyamakeya, Mahayana, Madhyamikavada, Paramitanaya, Aryadeva, Wu xiang zong.
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Search found 124 books and stories containing Madhyamaka, Mādhyamaka, Madhyamika, Mādhyamikā, Madhyamikā, Mādhyamika, Madhyamikas; (plurals include: Madhyamakas, Mādhyamakas, Madhyamikas, Mādhyamikās, Madhyamikās, Mādhyamikas, Madhyamikases). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brahma Sutras (Shankaracharya) (by George Thibaut)
II, 2, 18 < [Second Adhyāya, Second Pāda]
Second Adhyāya < [Introduction]
I, 1, 1 < [First Adhyāya, First Pāda]
Buddha-nature (as Depicted in the Lankavatara-sutra) (by Nguyen Dac Sy)
2.1. The Buddha-nature and Mādhyamaka < [Chapter 1 - Evolution of the Buddha-nature Concept]
2. Hindu Philosophical Systems (f) Vedānta < [Chapter 3 - The Laṅkāvatārasūtra and Hindu Philosophy]
Hevajra Tantra (analytical study) (by Seung Ho Nam)
3. The Theory of Emptiness in the Madhyamika Doctrine < [Chapter 1 - Tantric Buddhism]
2. Paramitayana and Vajrayana Schools of Mahayana < [Chapter 1 - Tantric Buddhism]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 9 - The first Madhyamika authors (Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva, Rāhulabhadra) < [Chapter XXXVI - The eight recollections (anusmṛti or anussati)]
III. Emptiness according to the Madhyamaka < [Note on emptiness (śūnyatā)]
Introduction to fourth volume < [Introductions]
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Madhyamaka vs. Yogācāra < [Volume 14, Issue 3 (2023)]
Can Madhyamaka Support Final Causation? ‘Groundless Teleology’ in... < [Volume 16, Issue 2 (2025)]
From Understanding Śūnyatā to Connecting It with the... < [Volume 15, Issue 5 (2024)]