Naradatta, Naradattā, Nara-datta: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Naradatta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
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In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Naradatta (नरदत्त) is one of the Bodhisattvas accompanying the Buddha at Rājagṛha on the Gṛdhrakūṭaparvata, mentioned in a list of twenty-two in to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 13.—They were at the head of countless thousands of koṭinayuta of Bodhisattva-mahāsattvas who were all still awaiting succession and will still accede to Buddhahood. He is also known as Na lo ta.
Naradatta is one of the sixteen classified as a lay (gṛhastha) Bodhisattva: Naradatta, of the brahmin caste, lives in Mi t’i lo (Mithilā).
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Naradattā (नरदत्ता) or Bahurūpiṇī is the name of the Yakṣiṇī accompanying Munisuvrata: the twentieth of twenty-four Tīrthaṃkaras or Jinas, commonly depicted in Jaina iconography.—The Jaina texts furnish the emblem of a tortoise which differentiates the image of this Jina from those of all the rest. The Yakṣa husband and wife are called Varuṇa and Naradattā (Digambara Bahurūpiṇī) respectively. The king who plays the part of his Chowri-bearer is named Ajita. The tree made sacred by being associated with the scene of his Kevala knowledge is Campaka.
Naradattā is described in the Śvetāmbara literature as seated in the Bhadrāsana posture, showing four hands which hold Varada, rosary, citron, and trident (or urn). The Digambara Yakṣiṇī is represented by them as riding a black snake and holding a shield, fruit, sword and Varada-mudrā. Naradattā or Bahurūpiṇī from the nature of her symbols and her husband’s being of Śaivite character, discloses herself in representation as a form of Durgā or a Brahmanic Śakti. The Yakṣiṇī element in her may be clearly attested by the symbol of the fruit citron and the urn, the true attribute of the wife of Varuṇa. It should be noted in this connection that this Naradattā and the predefined Puruṣadattā, the Yakṣiṇī of Sumatinātha, being the same in meaning suggest some mysterious common origin.
Naradattā (नरदत्ता) is the name of the Yakṣiṇī (i.e., Śāsanadevatās, ‘messenger-deities’) associated with Munisuvrata, according to chapter 6.7 [śrī-munisuvratanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“Originating in that congregation, the Yakṣa Varuṇa, three-eyed, four-faced, white, with matted hair, with a bull for a vehicle, with four right arms holding a citron, club, arrow, and spear, and four left arms holding an ichneumon, rosary, bow, and axe; and Naradattā, likewise originated, fair, placed on a throne, shining with two right arms, one in boon-granting position and one holding a rosary, with two left arms holding a citron and a trident, became the two messenger-deities of Suvrata Svāmin”.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Naradatta (नरदत्त).—(1) name of a nephew and pupil of the ṛṣi Asita: Lalitavistara 101.2 ff.; in Mahāvastu as in Pali named Nālaka; (2) name of a Bodhisattva: Śatasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 6.8; (3) name of a virtuous man (satpuruṣa q.v.): Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 3.11 (Kashgar recension Nāla°; Burnouf Ratnadatta, noting that all mss. but one read Nara°; Tibetan mes byin, which should render Pitāmaha- datta, doubtless understanding Nara as the Primeval Spirit, also sometimes called Pitāmaha).
1) Naradatta (नरदत्त):—[=nara-datta] [from nara] m. Name of a Brāhman (nephew of the Ṛṣi Asita), [Lalita-vistara]
2) Naradattā (नरदत्ता):—[=nara-dattā] [from nara-datta > nara] f. Name of a goddess executing the commands of the 20th Arhat of present Ava-sarpiṇī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) [v.s. ...] of one of the 16 Vidyā-devīs, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Naradatta (नरदत्त):—(nara + datta)
1) m. Nomen proprium eines Brahmanen, eines Neffen des Ṛṣi Asita, [Rgva tch’er rol pa 103. 110.] [Lebensbeschreibung Śākyamuni’s 248 (18). fg.] —
2) f. ā Nomen proprium einer Göttin, welche die Befehle des 20sten Arhant's der gegenwärtigen Avasarpiṇī ausführt, [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 46.] [Nalopākhyāna] pr. einer der 16 Vidyādevī [239.]
Naradatta (नरदत्त):—Nomen proprium —
1) m. eines Brahmanen [Lalitavistarapurāṇa 115,13.13,10.fgg.] —
2) f. ā — a) einer Gottheit bei den Jaina. — b) einer Vidyādevī.
Naradatta (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 雄施 [xióng shī]: “Nāladatta”; “Naradatta” [name of a Bodhisattva].
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 (+0): Datta, Nara.
Full-text (+0): Naladatta, Bahurupin, Hung thi, Xiong shi, Nala, Cakrapanidatta, Bhrigukaccha, Asita, Munisuvrata, Ajita, Varuna.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Naradatta, Naradattā, Nara-datta, Nara-dattā; (plurals include: Naradattas, Naradattās, dattas, dattās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 10: Munisuvrata’s śāsanadevatās (messenger-deities) < [Chapter VII - Śrī Munisuvratanāthacaritra]
Jain Remains of Ancient Bengal (by Shubha Majumder)
The twenty-four Tīrthaṅkaras and their Yakṣas and Yakṣiṇīs < [Chapter 6 - Iconographic Study of Jaina Sculptural Remains]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
The 22 main Bodhisattvas < [Chapter XIII - The Buddha-fields]
The prediction of Asita (horoscope of the Bodhisattva) < [Part 3 - Possessing a body endowed with the marks]
Appendix 1 - Story of the nāga-king Elapatra < [Chapter XL - The Four Fearlessnesses and the Four Unobstructed Knowledges]
The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 381 < [The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (pages)]
Page 98 < [The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (pages)]
Jainism in Odisha (Orissa) (by Ashis Ranjan Sahoo)
Iconography of Jain Gods and Goddess < [Chapter 6]
A study of the philosophy of Jainism (by Deepa Baruah)
Chapter I.c - The lives of the Tīrthaṅkaras < [Chapter I - Introduction]