Paraloka, Para-loka: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Paraloka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, 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 Parlok.
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In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Paraloka (परलोक) refers to:—The transcendental world. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Shaiva philosophy
Paraloka (परलोक) refers to an “afterlife”, according to the Nyāyamañjarī, vol. I, 326.—Accordingly, “[...] Among these [two types of inference,] who would not admit the validity of an inference such as that [of fire] from smoke? So [people] apprehend what is to be established [by such an inference] even though they are not pestered by logicians. But the validity of an inference regarding such [entities] as the Self, God, an omniscient or an afterlife (paraloka) is not acknowledged by those who know reality”.
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Paraloka (परलोक) refers to the “next world”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.54 (“Description of the duties of the chaste wife”).—Accordingly, as a Brahmin lady said to Pārvatī: “[...] The present and the next world (paraloka) can be won through her. A wifeless man is not authorized to perform the rites of gods, Pitṛs guests and sacrifices. He alone is the true householder in whose house there is a chaste lady. The others are devoured by an ogress or old age. [...]”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Paraloka (परलोक) refers to the “future life”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 22, v2).—Accordingly, “The Bodhisattva takes birth into a Kṣatriya family or a Brāhmaṇa family.—Brāhmaṇa families have wisdom; Kṣatriya families have power. The Brāhmaṇa favors the future life (paraloka); the Kṣatriya favors the present life (ihaloka): both families are useful in the world; this is why the Bodhisattva is born among them. There is also the worthy family of the Dharma (dharma-kula), that of the non-regressing adepts (avaivartika). Taking birth in these families is the excellence of the family”.
Paraloka (परलोक) refers to the “next world”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “Son of good family, there are eight purities of meditation (dhyāna) of the Bodhisattvas, which are like the expanse of the sky. What are these eight? To wit, (1) while meditating, he does not meditate abiding in the parts of personality; (2) while meditating, he does not meditate abiding in realms of perception; (3) while meditating, he does not meditate abiding in fields of the senses; (4) while meditating, one he not meditate abiding in this world; (5) while meditating, he does not meditate abiding in the next world (paraloka); (6) while meditating, he does not meditate abiding in the world of desire; (7) while meditating, he does not meditate abiding in the world of form; (8) while meditating, he does not meditate abiding in the world without form; Son of good family, those eight are the pure meditations of the Bodhisattvas”.
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)
Paraloka (परलोक) or Paralokabhaya refers to “fear of the next world” and represents one of the seven types of fear (bhaya), according to Cāmuṇḍarāya in his Caritrasāra. Accordingly, these seven bhayas are referred to by Cāmuṇḍarāya in connexion with niḥśaṅka, or “freedom from fear”, which represents an aspect of samyaktva (right belief) classified under the liṅga heading.
Paraloka (परलोक) refers to the “other world”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “It goes along with [sentient beings to the other world] [com.—in the other world, etc. (paralokādau)], then it protects, produces benefit always [and], having saved [them] from the mire of life it sets [them] on the pure path [of liberation]. There is nothing like the doctrine which is productive of all prosperity, the root of the tree of bliss, beneficial, venerable and grants liberation”.
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
Pali-English dictionary
paraloka : (m.) the world beyond.
Paraloka refers to: (cpd. either with para 1. or para 2. It is hardly justified to assume a metaphysical sense, or to take para as temporal in the sense of paraṃ (cp. paraṃmaraṇā after death), i.e. the future world or the world to come) the other world, the world beyond (opp. ayaṃ loko this world or idhaloka the world here, see on term Stede, Peta Vatthu p. 29 sq.) D. I, 27, 58, 187; II, 319; S. I, 72, 138; Sn. 579, 666, 1117; Nd1 60; Nd2 214 (v. l. for paloka in anicca-passage) 410 (=manussalokaṃ ṭhapetvā sabbo paraloko); Ps. I, 121; Vv 845 (=narakaṃ hi sattānaṃ ekantânatthatāya parabhūto paṭisattubhūto loko ti visesato paraloko ti VvA. 335); PvA. 5, 60 (=pettivisaya parattha), 64Q, 107, 253 (idhalokato p. natthi); SnA 478 (=parattha); Sdhp. 316, 326, 327.
Note: paraloka is a Pali compound consisting of the words para and loka.
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.
Marathi-English dictionary
paralōka (परलोक).—m (S) The other world; the state after death. 2 A comprehensive term for all the places of bliss and wo feigned by the Hindus.
paralōka (परलोक).—m The other world.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Paraloka (परलोक).—the next (or furture) world; परलोकनवप्रवासिनः प्रतिपत्स्ये पदवीमहं तव (paralokanavapravāsinaḥ pratipatsye padavīmahaṃ tava) Ku. 4.1. °गमः, °यानम् (gamaḥ, °yānam) death. °विधि (vidhi) funeral rites; परलोक- विधौ च माधव स्मरमुद्दिश्य (paraloka- vidhau ca mādhava smaramuddiśya) (nibapeḥ sahakāramañjarīḥ) Kumārasambhava 4.38.
Derivable forms: paralokaḥ (परलोकः).
Paraloka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms para and loka (लोक).
Pāraloka (पारलोक).—(?) (m., = AMg. pāraloga, according to [Ardha-Māgadhī Dictionary]; Sanskrit paraloka), the other world: imaṃ lokaṃ °kaṃ (acc.) Mahāvastu i.9.2 (verse; v.l. pala°; first part of śloka). Senart quotes Aśokan pālaloka, but the passage he cites (Dhauli Sep. II.6; Jaugada Sep. II.7) is now read pala° (Hultzsch 98, 115); compare however pālate, °taṃ (according to Hultzsch 119 n. 3 to Sanskrit adv. paratra; rather *para-tva ?).
Paraloka (परलोक).—m.
(-kaḥ) Heaven, paradise. E. para another, and loka world.
Paraloka (परलोक).—m. heaven, paradise, [Pañcatantra] 207, 21.
Paraloka is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms para and loka (लोक).
Paraloka (परलोक).—[masculine] the other or future world.
Paraloka (परलोक):—[=para-loka] [from para] m. the other or future world, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
Paraloka (परलोक):—[para-loka] (kaṃ) 1. n. Another world.
Paraloka (परलोक):—(para + loka) m. die jenseitige Welt [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 14, 7, 1, 9.] [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 4, 238. 243. 5, 153.] [Rāmāyaṇa 1, 62, 9. 2, 53, 27.] [Kumārasaṃbhava 4, 10.] [Pañcatantra 207, 21.] [Rājataraṅgiṇī 1, 39.] [Prabodhacandrodaja 28, 1.] [Siddhāntakaumudī] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 4, 60.] yāna der Gang in die andere Welt, das Sterben Inschr. in [Journ. of the Am. Or. S. 7, 27, 13.] gama [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 323.] ga [Brāhmaṇavilāpa 1, 32.] gata [Spr. 1323.] gamanāgamana [Madhusūdanasarasvatī’s Prasthānabheda] in [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 20, 5.] lokārthin [Hitopadeśa 73, 17.] vahā nadī [Mahābhārata 9, 441.] In Derivaten von paraloka (vgl. pāralaukika) werden die Vocale beider Glieder verstärkt nach gaṇa anuśatikādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 7, 3, 20.]
Paraloka (परलोक):—m. die jenseitige Welt sthāna n. [Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 14,7,1,9.]
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
Paraloka (परलोक) [Also spelled parlok]:—(nm) the other world, after world, next world; heavenly paradise; ~[gamana] death, dying, going to the next world; demise; ~[vāsī] late; dead; —[kī ciṃtā karanā] to care for the other world, to do something to brighten one’s otherworldly prospects; —[bananā/sudharanā] the way to the next world to be paved (by good deeds); —[bananā/sudhāranā] to ensure a good deal in post-mortem existence; —[bigāḍanā] to spoil one’s other-worldly prospects; —[sidhāranā] to leave for one’s heavenly abode, to expire.
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Kannada-English dictionary
Paralōka (ಪರಲೋಕ):—[noun] the world other than the one we live in, esp. heaven, supposed to be the abode of the virtuous people after their death.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Paraloka (परलोक):—n. 1. the next or future world; 2. death;
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 (+1): Para-lokakamanam, Paralokabadha, Paralokabhaya, Paralokacatanam, Paralokadura, Paralokadure, Paralokaga, Paralokagama, Paralokagamana, Paralokagata, Paralokahasta, Paralokakiriyai, Paralokakriye, Paralokam, Paralokapateyam, Paralokappirapti, Paralokasthana, Paralokavaha, Paralokavasi, Paralokavidhi.
Full-text (+35): Paralokabadha, Paralokagama, Para-lokakamanam, Paralokam, Paralokahasta, Paralaukika, Paralokayana, Vitthinnaparaloka, Paralokasthana, Avitinnaparaloka, Paralokavidhi, Paralokagamana, Paralokaga, Paralokagata, Paralokavaha, Paralokappirapti, Atikkantaparaloka, Paralokakriye, Paralokacatanam, Paralokakiriyai.
Relevant text
Search found 55 books and stories containing Paraloka, Para-loka, Para-lōka, Paralōka, Pāraloka; (plurals include: Paralokas, lokas, lōkas, Paralōkas, Pāralokas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Contribution of Vachaspati-Mishra to Nyaya Philosophy (by Champak Kalita)
Part 1 - Divisions of Indian Philosophy < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 335 < [Tamil-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 202 < [Hindi-Assamese-English Volume 2]
Page 202 < [Hindi-Kannada-English Volume 2]
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 1580: Siva Guru Like Siva Grants Finite Liberation < [Tantra Six (aram tantiram) (verses 1573-1703)]
Verse 672: Siddhis Lead to Kamiya Loka < [Tantra Three (munran tantiram) (verses 549-883)]
Verse 1882: Land of Siva Jnanis is Blessed < [Tantra Seven (elam tantiram) (verses 1704-2121)]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 65 (b) - Thirunatuthogai, Thiru Idaiyatruthokai and Urthogai (Hymn 91) < [Volume 3.5 - Pilgrim’s progress: to the North]
Chapter 45 - Thirukadaiyur or Tirukkatavur (Hymn 54) < [Volume 3.4 - Pilgrim’s progress: with Paravai]
Chapter 40 - Muppatumillai (Hymn 18) < [Volume 3.4 - Pilgrim’s progress: with Paravai]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 231 < [Volume 4, Part 1 (1907)]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 4.243 < [Section XVII - Accumulate Spiritual Merit]