Peta; 5 Definition(s)

Introduction

Peta means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Gosts (peta):—cf. peta, yakkha; s. loka.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Peta, (pp of pa+ī, lit. gone past, gone before) dead, departed, the departed spirit. The Buddhistic peta represents the Vedic pitaraḥ (manes, cp. pitṛyajña), as well as the Brāhmaṇic preta. The first are souls of the “fathers, ” the second ghosts, leading usually a miserable existence as the result (kammaphala) or punishment of some former misdeed (usually avarice). They may be raised in this existence by means of the dakkhiṇā (sacrificial gift) to a higher category of mahiddhikā petā (alias yakkhas), or after their period of expiation shift into another form of existence (manussa, deva, tiracchāna). The punishment in the Nirayas is included in the peta existence. Modes of suffering are given S. II, 255; cp K. S. ii, 170 p. On the whole subject see Stede, Die Gespenstergeschichten des Peta Vatthu, Leipzig 1914; in the Peta Vatthu the unhappy ghosts are represented, whereas the Vimāna Vatthu deals with the happy ones.—1. (souls of the departed, manes) D. III, 189 (petānaṃ kālakatānaṃ dakkhiṇaṃ anupadassati); A. III, 43 (id.); I, 155 sq.; V, 132 (p. ñātisalohita); M. I, 33; S. I, 61=204; Sn. 585, 590, 807 (petā-kālakatā=matā Nd1 126); J. V, 7 (=mata C.); Pv. I, 57; I, 121; II, 610. As pubba-peta (“deceased-before”) at A. II, 68; III, 45; IV, 244; J. II, 360.—2. (unhappy ghosts) S. II, 255 sq.; Vin. IV, 269 (contrasted with purisa, yakkha & tiracchāna-gata); A. V, 269 (dānaṃ petānaṃ upakappati); J. IV, 495 sq. (yakkhā pisācā petā, cp. preta-piśācayoḥ MBhār. 13, 732); Vbh. 412 sq.; Sdhp. 96 sq.—manussapeta a ghost in human form J. III, 72; V, 68; VvA. 23. The later tradition on Petas in their var. classes and states is reflected in Miln. 294 (4 classes: vantāsikā, khuppipāsā, nijjhāma-taṇhikā, paradatt’ûpajīvino) & 357 (appearance and fate); Vism. 501=VbhA. 97 (as state of suffering, with narakā, tiracchā, asurā); VbhA. 455 (as nijjhāmataṇhikā, khuppipāsikā, paradatt’upajīvino). ‹-› 3. (happy ghosts) mahiddhikā petī Pv. I, 101; yakkha mahiddhika Pv IV. 154; Vimānapeta mahiddhika PvA. 145; peta mahiddhika PvA. 217. (Cp. BSk. pretamahardhika Divy 14).—f. petī Vin. IV, 20; J. I, 240; Pv. I, 62; PvA. 67 and passim. Vimānapetī PvA. 47, 50, 53 and in Vimāna-vatthu passim.—upapattika born as a peta PvA. 119.—katha (pubba°) tales (or talk) about the dead (not considered orthodox) D. I, 8, cp. DA. I, 90; A. V, 128.—kicca duty towards the deceased (i.e. death-rites) J. II, 5; DhA. I, 328.—rājā king of the Petas (i.e. Yama) J. V, 453 (°visayaṃ na muñcati “does not leave behind the realm of the Petaking”); C. expls by petayoni and divides the realm into petavisaya and kālakañjaka-asura-visaya.—yoni the peta realm PvA. 9, 35, 55, 68, 103 and passim.—loka the peta world Sdhp. 96.—vatthu a peta or ghost-story; N. of one (perhaps the latest) of the canonical books belonging to the Suttanta-Piṭaka KhA 12; DA. I, 178 (Aṅkura°). (Page 472)

context information

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

pēṭa (पेट).—m (pēṭa S through H) Properly the chamber, but more frequently the charge, of a gun. 2 The report of a gun. 3 f m (pēṭaṇēṃ) Kindling or taking fire, igniting. v ghē. 4 W Patting or beating in order to level and smoothen. 5 f W (pēṭī) A box or chest.

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pēṭā (पेटा).—m (pēṭa S through H Belly.) Sphere, compass, comprehension, including quality or power: e. g. that of the provincial or county town over the minor towns and villages, that of a key-fort over the circumjacent country, that of a person of authority over his subordinates. Ex. ēkā nagarācyā pēṭyānta śambhara gāṃva asatāta; mōṭhyā puruṣāsa āmantraṇa kēlēṃ mhaṇajē tyācyā pēṭyānta lāhanasāhana yētāta. 2 A division of country consisting of a number of small towns and villages; a subdivision of a paragaṇā or tālukā. See under dēśa. 3 A box-trap for tigers. 4 C (Or pēṭēṃ) A float composed of gourds &c. to cross rivers. 5 (Or pēṭā from H) A kind of gourd. 6 A bundle or head-load of thorny loppings or of uprooted plants (esp. of karaḍaī or harabharā or of barked ambāḍī or tāga): also a stack or heaped mass of such plants. 7 A cub of a tiger or lion. 8 Used by some, with the designating noun preceding, of the cub or whelp or young one (esp. as sleek and pretty) of a dog, cat, sow, hare &c. 9 In algebra. The side of an equation.

pēṭa (पेट).—m The charge of a gun. The report of a gun. m Kindling fire, igniting.

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pēṭā (पेटा).—m Sphere of influence; a subdivi- sion of a tālukā. A float composed of gourds &c. to cross rivers. A cub of a tiger or lion.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Peṭa (पेट).—(-ṭā, -ṭī -ṭam also)

1) A bag, basket

2) A chest.

3) A multitude.

4) A retinue, train.

-ṭaḥ The open hand with the fingers extended.

Derivable forms: peṭaḥ (पेटः).

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