Paramananda, Paramānanda, Parama-ananda: 20 definitions

Introduction
Image gallery
In Hinduism
1. Vaishnavism
2. Shaktism
3. Purana
4. Shaivism
5. Yoga
6. Pancaratra
7. General definition
In Buddhism
1. Tibetan Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Paramananda means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. 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.

Images (photo gallery)

In Hinduism

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Paramānanda (परमानन्द) refers to:—Supreme transcendental bliss. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

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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’).

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Paramānanda (परमानन्द) refers to “supreme bliss”, according to the second recension of the Yogakhaṇḍa of the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, as the Goddess (i.e., Kumārī) said to the God (i.e., Bhairava), “I am Khageśvarī, the virgin who observes a vow of chastity. I am the leader within the tradition (anvya) and the Cave is the Liṅga which is my hermitage. You are Bhairava, the pervasive Lord whose cardinal characteristic is supreme bliss [i.e., paramānanda-lakṣaṇa], directly apparent. [...]”.

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Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Paramānanda (परमानन्द) refers to “supreme bliss”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.24 (“Śiva consents to marry Pārvatī”).—Accordingly, as Śiva said to Viṣṇu and others: “[...] Kāma not being with you, you can be endowed with the supreme bliss [i.e., paramānanda] and be free from aberrations by means of spiritual contemplation, O Gods. O Brahmā, O Viṣṇu, O Indra, O sages and O gods, what had been done by Kāma formerly and forgotten by you may be recollected and pondered over. [...]”.

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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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Paramānanda (परमानन्द) refers to “supreme bliss”, according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[Visualisation of Parameśvara]:—[...] He is adorned with nice anklets, armlets, rings and bracelets, and he shines with small toe rings, channahīras, etc., and diadems and a crown. His face is gracious, beautiful, his lips are smeared with betel leaves. His mind is filled with the joy of wine, and his body is supreme bliss (paramānanda-vigraha) [itself]. [...]”.

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Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Paramānanda (परमानन्द) refers to “supreme bliss”, according to the Haṭhatattvakaumudī by Sundaradeva: a large compendium on Yoga in roughly 2000 Sanskrit verses quoting from Yoga texts, Upaniṣads, Epics, Purāṇas, Dharmaśāstras etc.—Accordingly, while discussing that Yogins enjoy an eternal bliss that is beyond the transcience of religious merit: “All religions have as their principal [practice] the Yamas and Niyamas and even though [such religions] destroy sin, they do not reveal the truth of the self by themselves. They give the †heavenly† state as long as there is merit according to one's share [of it]. There is no imperishable happiness without yoga. And so, it is said in the Amanaska: ‘Even in the dissolutions of Viṣṇu and Śiva, Yogins enjoy supreme bliss (paramānanda), like the great-souled Bhuśuṇḍa and others’.”.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

1) Paramānanda (परमानन्द) refers to “undivided bliss” representing one of the attributes of Vāsudeva in (the beginning), as discussed in the fourth chapter of the Jayākhyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra Āgama text composed of 4500 verses in 33 chapters dealing with topics such as mantra (formulas), japa (repetitions), dhyāna (meditations), mudrā (gesticulations), nyāsa (concentrations) etc.—Description of the chapter [śuddhasarga-brahmatattva-ākhyāna]:— Nārada asks to know about pure creation (śuddhasarga). Śrībhagavān answers as follows: In the beginning Vāsudeva was. (His attributes are all-pervasiveness [sarvavyāpaka], intelligence pure and simple [citsamāṅga], and undivided bliss [paramānanda]). He existed alone. Just as a flash of lightning forms by itself, so Vāsudeva, shaking within Himself [kṣobhayitvā] created [asṛjat] Acyuta. From Acyuta came Ananta in similar manner (the metaphor referred to here is that Ananta is as the bubbles or foam that come from the motion of the waves). Thus Acyuta is the waves which form from the motion of the sea; the sea, existing alone, is Vāsudeva. [...]

2) Paramānanda (परमानन्द) or Paramānandamaṇḍala refers to one of the twenty-five Maṇḍalas (“esoteric designs”) mentioned in chapter 5 of the Pauṣkarasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text of almost 5900 verses divided into forty-three chapters presented as a frame-work dialogue between Pauṣkara and Bhagavān dealing with the esoteric meaning of maṇḍala-designs, worship routines and temple-building.—[Cf. chapter 5 named sarvatobhadrādimaṇḍa-lalakṣaṇa].

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Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Brahma Nirvana: The Tantric Oneness

Tantra teaches you to be devoid of distinctions and differences. It is where the subject and the object merge into One – our center, our very basic natural state, our deepest core. Once you stop identifying yourself with anything – neither happiness nor sadness, neither darkness nor light, neither male nor female, neither pleasure nor pain – and be a witness of all the realities that you are none of these dualities created by your own mind, but You are All of that, An Absolute Oneness, you become more intuitive, joyful, graceful and creative. Such a state is called “Paramananda” (परमानन्द) – Supreme Joy or bliss. In such a state of self awareness, all the dualities in you disappears and you become One with your soul.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: The Inner Kalacakratantra: A Buddhist Tantric View of the Individual

The Four Types of Supreme Bliss (paramānanda) are part of the Sixteen Aspects (ṣoḍaśākārā) of Gnosis (jñāna) in terms of conventional reality.

the supreme bliss of the body (kāya-paramānanda)
the supreme bliss of the mind (citta-paramānanda)
the supreme bliss of speech (vāc-paramānanda)
the supreme bliss of gnosis (jñāna-paramānanda)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Paramānanda (परमानन्द) or “highest bliss” refers to one of the four faces of Cakrasaṃvara, according to the Saṃvaramaṇḍala of Abhayākaragupta’s Niṣpannayogāvalī, p. 45 and n. 145; (Cf. Cakrasaṃvaratantra, Gray, David B., 2007).—Accordingly, [while describing the iconography of Cakrasaṃvara]: “In the Saṃvara Maṇḍala atop Mount Sumera within a vajra-canopy (vajrapañjara) there is a variegated lotus, on top of that a palace, in the middle of which is the Blessed Lord, standing in ālīḍhāsana, "archer's pose", on Bhairava and Kālirātrī, lying upon a solar-disc, atop the pericarp of the lotus, dark-blue with four faces [e.g., paramānanda, "the highest bliss"], which starting in the front (and going counter-clockwise) are dark-blue, green, red and yellow, each with trinetra, "three eyes", [...]”

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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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections

Paramānanda (परमानन्द) refers to the “highest bliss”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “The one who is doing good actions, whose conduct is pure, is engaged in external asceticism to such an extent and then there is the highest meditation which is abstaining from anything perceptible by the senses [and] resting in the self. He destroys the mass of karmas accumulated for a very long time which is sticking within then he is immersed in the ocean of knowledge which is the abode of the highest bliss (paramānanda-nilaya). [Thus ends the reflection on] wearing away karma”.

Synonyms: Prakṛṣtānanda.

context information

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.

India history and geography

Source: Wisdom Library: Teachers, Saints and Sages

Paramānanda (परमानन्द) is another name for Paramanandar—one of the Siddhars (Siddhas) and Rishis mentioned by Rangarasa Desiga Swamigal in his Siddhargal Potri Thoguppu. Each name in the list starts with prefix ‘Om’ followed by the Siddhar’s names and ends with refrain ‘Thiruvadigal Potri’. For example for Paramānanda: ஓம் பரமானந்தர் திருவடிகள் போற்றி [ōm paramāṉantar tiruvaṭikaḷ pōṟṟi].—These Siddhas experienced union with the ultimate reality and witnessed a spiritual transformation of their intellectual, mental, vital and ultimately, physical bodies.

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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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

paramānanda (परमानंद).—m (S) Superlative or exceeding joy. 2 Supreme bliss. A title of God.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

paramānanda (परमानंद).—m Supreme bliss.

context information

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

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Paramānanda (परमानन्द).—'supreme felicity', Supreme Spirit.

Derivable forms: paramānandaḥ (परमानन्दः).

Paramānanda is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms parama and ānanda (आनन्द).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Paramānanda (परमानन्द).—m. 1. the highest bliss. 2. the universal soul.

Paramānanda is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms parama and ānanda (आनन्द).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Paramānanda (परमानन्द).—[masculine] the highest bliss.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Paramānanda (परमानन्द) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—guru of Śrīdharasvāmin (Bhagavadgītāṭīkā). Hall. p. 118.

2) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—Amarakośamālā.

3) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—Khaṇḍanamaṇḍana, a
—[commentary] on Harsha's Khaṇḍanakhaṇḍakhādya.

4) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—Makarandasāriṇī jy.

5) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—Vedastutiṭīkā.

6) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—Vedāntasāraṭīkā.

7) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—Sāṃkhyataraṅgaṭīkā.

8) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—son of Veṇīdatta: Praśnamāṇikyamālā jy.

9) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—yoga. Bd. 609.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Paramananda (परमनन्द):—[=parama-nanda] [from parama > para] m. Name of a teacher, [Catalogue(s)] ([wrong reading] for mān?; cf. parān under para).

2) Paramānanda (परमानन्द):—[from parama > para] m. supreme felicity

3) [v.s. ...] the Supreme Spirit, soul of the universe, [Mahābhārata; Bhartṛhari] etc.

4) [v.s. ...] Name of sub voce authors (also -cakravartin, -dāsa, -deva, -nātha, -pāṭhaka, -bhaṭṭācārya, -yogīndra, -sarasvatī, dāśrama), [Catalogue(s)]

[Sanskrit to German]

Paramananda in German

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 43 books and stories containing Paramananda, Paramānanda, Parama-ananda, Parama-ānanda, Parama-nanda; (plurals include: Paramanandas, Paramānandas, anandas, ānandas, nandas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 5.1.1 < [Chapter 1 - Advice to Kaṃsa]

Verse 6.18.20 < [Chapter 18 - In the Course of Describing the Glories of Siddhāśrama, a Description of the Rāsa-dance Festival]

Verse 4.16.6 < [Chapter 16 - The Srī Yamunā Armor]

+ 4 more chapters / show preview

Verse 2.1.7 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]

Verse 2.3.75 < [Chapter 3 - Bhajana (loving service)]

Verse 2.1.51 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]

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Verse 3.3.406 < [Chapter 3 - Mahāprabhu’s Deliverance of Sarvabhauma, Exhibition of His Six-armed Form, and Journey to Bengal]

Verse 3.2.153 < [Chapter 2 - Description of the Lord’s Travel Through Bhuvaneśvara and Other Placesto Jagannātha Purī]

Verse 2.1.395 < [Chapter 1 - The Beginning of the Lord’s Manifestation and His Instructions on Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana]

+ 92 more chapters / show preview