Nakshatraraja, Nakṣatrarāja, Nakshatra-raja: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Nakshatraraja 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.
The Sanskrit term Nakṣatrarāja can be transliterated into English as Naksatraraja or Nakshatraraja, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
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In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: LokottaravādaNakṣatrarāja (नक्षत्रराज) is the name of a Buddha under whom Śākyamuni (or Gautama, ‘the historical Buddha’) acquired merit along the first through nine bhūmis, according to the Mahāvastu. There are in total ten bhūmis representing the ten stages of the Bodhisattva’s path towards enlightenment.
Nakṣatrarāja is but one among the 500 Buddhas enumerated in the Mahāvastu during a conversation between Mahākātyāyana and Mahākāśyapa, both principle disciples of Gautama Buddha. The Mahāvastu is an important text of the Lokottaravāda school of buddhism, dating from the 2nd century BCE.
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismNakṣatrarāja (नक्षत्रराज) is the name of Vidyārāja (i.e., “wisdom king”) 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 Nakṣatrarāja).
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
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryNakṣatrarāja (नक्षत्रराज).—the moon; R.6.66.
Derivable forms: nakṣatrarājaḥ (नक्षत्रराजः).
Nakṣatrarāja is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nakṣatra and rāja (राज). See also (synonyms): nakṣatreśa, nakṣatreśvara, nakṣatranātha, nakṣatrapa, nakṣatrapati.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryNakṣatrarāja (नक्षत्रराज).—(1) name of three former Buddhas: Mahāvastu i.137.14; iii.231.9 f.; Śikṣāsamuccaya 9.1; name of a Buddha in the zenith: Sukhāvatīvyūha 98.14; (2) name of a Bodhisattva: Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 3.9.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryNakṣatrarāja (नक्षत्रराज).—m. the moon, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 5, 23; [Rāmāyaṇa] 5, 18, 17.
Nakṣatrarāja is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms nakṣatra and rāja (राज).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryNakṣatrarāja (नक्षत्रराज).—[masculine] the king of the stars, the moon.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Nakṣatrarāja (नक्षत्रराज):—[=nakṣatra-rāja] [from nakṣatra > nakṣ] m. ‘king of the stars’ [Atharva-veda]
2) [v.s. ...] the moon, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a Bodhi-sattva, [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: Nakshatra, Raja.
Starts with: Nakshatrarajaditya, Nakshatrarajaprabhavabhasagarbha, Nakshatrarajasamkusumitabhijna, Nakshatrarajavikridita.
Full-text: Nakshatresha, Nakshatrarajavikridita, Nakshatrarajasamkusumitabhijna, Nakshatrarajaprabhavabhasagarbha, Nakshatrapati, Nakshatranatha, Nakshatreshvara, Jaladharagarjitaghoshasusvaranakshatrarajasamkusumitabhijna, Nakshatrapa, Samkusumita.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Nakshatraraja, Nakṣatrarāja, Naksatraraja, Nakshatra-raja, Nakṣatra-rāja, Naksatra-raja; (plurals include: Nakshatrarajas, Nakṣatrarājas, Naksatrarajas, rajas, rājas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Chapter XXIV - Bodhisattva Gadgadasvara
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The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
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