Punyakshetra, Punya-kshetra, Puṇyakṣetra: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Punyakshetra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
The Sanskrit term Puṇyakṣetra can be transliterated into English as Punyaksetra or Punyakshetra, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Puṇyakṣetra (पुण्यक्षेत्र) refers to “holy centres”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.4 (“Search for Kārttikeya and his conversation with Nandin”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “On hearing the words of Śiva and after consulting one another they replied one by one. They were so afraid of the great lord. [...] [Brahmā said]:—Let him who has concealed your semen anywhere in the holy centres (puṇyakṣetra) of Bhārata be debarred from the privilege of serving or worshipping you. [...]”.
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)
Puṇyakṣetra (पुण्यक्षेत्र) refers to the “fields of merit”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 46.—Accordingly, “The reputation of the honest and generous man spreads: among the people well-disposed in the ten directions, there is no one who does not love him; in the great assembly, he is without fear; at the moment of death, he has no fear. This man says to himself: ‘I have planted my wealth in the good fields of merit (puṇyakṣetra); I will certainly cross through the gate of human happiness, of heavenly happiness and the happiness of nirvāṇa’. [...]”.
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)
Puṇyakṣetra (पुण्यक्षेत्र) refers to “spiritual fields of merit”.—The Jain texts mention that dāna should be made to the seven puṇyakṣetras (spiritual fields of merit) namely Jina images, temples, the Āgamas (i. e. Jain scripture), monks, nuns, laymen and laywomen. Further, the laity had to constantly engage in dāna in order to become a Mahāśrāvaka (superior lay person).
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
Marathi-English dictionary
puṇyakṣētra (पुण्यक्षेत्र).—n (S) A sacred place; a place by residing at or visiting which merit is acquired.
puṇyakṣētra (पुण्यक्षेत्र).—n A sacred place.
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
Puṇyakṣetra (पुण्यक्षेत्र).—
1) a holy place, place of pilgrimage; अन्यक्षेत्रे कृतं पापं पुण्यक्षेत्रे विनश्यति । पुण्यक्षेत्रे कृतं पापं वज्रलेपो भविष्यति (anyakṣetre kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ puṇyakṣetre vinaśyati | puṇyakṣetre kṛtaṃ pāpaṃ vajralepo bhaviṣyati) || Subhāṣ.
2) 'The holy land', Name of Āryāvarta.
Derivable forms: puṇyakṣetram (पुण्यक्षेत्रम्).
Puṇyakṣetra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms puṇya and kṣetra (क्षेत्र).
Puṇyakṣetra (पुण्यक्षेत्र).—n.
(-traṃ) Holy land or Aryabarta: see puṇyamū .
1) Puṇyakṣetra (पुण्यक्षेत्र):—[=puṇya-kṣetra] [from puṇya] n. a holy place, a place of pilgrimage, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā [Scholiast or Commentator]]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of Buddha, [Divyāvadāna]
Puṇyakṣetra (पुण्यक्षेत्र):—(pu + kṣetra) n. ein heiliges Gebiet, Wallfahrtsort; zur Erkl. von tīrtha [Halāyudha 5, 76.] von dharmāraṇya [BHAṬṬOTP.] zu [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka S. 14, 3.]
Puṇyakṣetra (पुण्यक्षेत्र):—n. ein heiliges Gebiet , Wallfahrtsort.
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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Puṇyakṣētra (ಪುಣ್ಯಕ್ಷೇತ್ರ):—[noun] a holy (pilgrimage) centre; a holy place.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Kshetra, Punya.
Full-text (+14): Buddhapunyakshetra, Dvipadaka, Fu tian, Fu fu tian, Di yi fu tian, Tungabhadra, Shvetanadi, Tamasa, Pampa, Anathapindada, Krishnaveni, Naimisha, Tamraparni, Vegavati, Suvarnamukhari, Yamuna, Kedara, Badara, Svarnamukhari, Narmada.
Relevant text
Search found 12 books and stories containing Punyakshetra, Puṇya-kṣetra, Punya-ksetra, Puṇya-kṣētra, Punya-kshetra, Puṇyakṣetra, Punyaksetra, Puṇyakṣētra; (plurals include: Punyakshetras, kṣetras, ksetras, kṣētras, kshetras, Puṇyakṣetras, Punyaksetras, Puṇyakṣētras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Dictionaries of Indian languages (Kosha)
Page 858 < [Hindi-Bengali-English Volume 1]
Page 61 < [Marathi-Hindi-English, Volume 2]
Page 884 < [Hindi-Kannada-English Volume 1]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
I. Where does the excellence of the gift come from? < [Part 8 - Predicting the fruits of ripening of various kinds of gifts]
I. One single root to be planted in the Field of the Buddhas (buddhakṣetra) < [Part 4 - Planting inexhaustible roots of good]
III.3. Community, the best field of merit < [III. Recollection of the community (saṃgānusmṛti)]
Further sources of Vijayanagara history (by K. A. Nilakanta Sastri)
Page 289 < [Volume 2]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 202 < [Volume 15 (1911)]
Sanskrit sources of Kerala history (by Suma Parappattoli)
2. Kerala in the Puranas < [Chapter 6 - Miscellaneous Sanskrit works bearing on Kerala history]