Mahakatyayana, Mahākātyāyana: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Mahakatyayana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Mahākātyāyana (महाकात्यायन) or Kātyāyana was one of the great disciples of the Buddha, the foremost of those who explain at length the brief aphorisms of the Buddha. He was originally from Ujjayinī and was the disciple of Avanti. According to concordant information, he may have been the author of the Peṭakopadesa: the Gandhavaṃsa, p. 59, attributes this work to him.
The Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra says: “Mahākātyāyana, during the lifetime of the Buddha, explained the words of the Buddha and made a Pi le (Peṭaka), ‘box-collection’ in the Ts’in language (Chinee), which, until today, is used in southern India.”
Paramārtha says: “In the time when the Buddha was in the world, Mahākātyāyana expounded a śāstra to explain the Āgama sūtras of the Buddha.” (This again concerns the Peṭakopadesa and the Abhidharmajñānaprasthāna).
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Mahākātyāyana (महाकात्यायन) is the name of a Śrāvaka mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Mahākātyāyana).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Mahākātyāyana (महाकात्यायन).—(= Pali Mahākaccāna, °kaccāyana), name of a disciple of the Buddha, also called simply Kātyāyana, q.v.: Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 2.3; 100.1; 146.13; 150.8; Lalitavistara 1.13; Mahāvastu i.80.3; 84.11, etc.; Mahāvyutpatti 1034; Divyāvadāna 10.3; 11.21; 12.12; 13.8 etc.; 15.12, etc.; 17.20, etc.; 550.3 etc.; (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 40.25; Sukhāvatīvyūha 92.6.
Mahākātyāyana (महाकात्यायन):—[=mahā-kātyāyana] [from mahā > mah] m. Name of a disciple of Buddha, [Buddhist literature]
[Sanskrit to German]
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Katyayana, Maha.
Full-text (+501): Mo he jia zhan yan, Katyayana, Da jia duo yan na, Alankrita, Jambunadaprabhasa, First Buddhist Council, Assalayana, Mo he jia duo yan na, Pitaka, Da jia zhan yan, Kun lei, Dharmaraja, Akshobhya, Naravahana, Samantagandha, Shiva, Subrahma, Upasena, Vimala, Yashadatta.
Relevant text
Search found 20 books and stories containing Mahakatyayana, Maha-katyayana, Mahā-kātyāyana, Mahākātyāyana; (plurals include: Mahakatyayanas, katyayanas, kātyāyanas, Mahākātyāyanas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter VIII - The first Bhūmi < [Volume I]
Chapter XIII - The sixth Bhūmi < [Volume I]
Chapter XI - The fourth Bhūmi < [Volume I]
Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (by Charles Luk)
Lotus Sutra (Saddharma-Pundarika) (by H. Kern)
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Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies
The Business Model of a Buddhist Monasticism: Acquiring Productive Assets < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 2.2 (2019)]
Fragrance Offering as a Call for Rescue < [Hualin International Journal of Buddhist Studies 6.1 (2023)]