Purvajanman, Pūrvajanma, Pūrvajanman, Purvajanma, Purva-janman, Pūrvajanmā: 15 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
1. Shaktism
2. Purana
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
2. Tibetan Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Marathi
2. Sanskrit
3. Kannada
4. Nepali
See also

Introduction:

Purvajanman 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.

In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्) refers to “one’s previous life”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “(A true practitioner) is a hero (vīra) who exerts himself and is courageous. [...] He is always content and is loved by the Yoginīs. He is free of attachment, aversion and ego. He is loved by his (spiritual) clan. He is wise and he observes the Rules. He is the joy of those who are devoted to him and always does what he promises to do. He who has these characteristics is an accomplished soul (siddha) (already) in his previous life [i.e., pūrvajanman]. Otherwise he is not a Siddha and his tradition is not Kaula”.

context information

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

Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्) refers to a “previous birth”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.35 (“The story of Padmā and Pippalāda”).—Accordingly, as Dharma (in the guise of a king) said to Padmā (wife of sage Pippalāda): “[...] A beautiful woman acquires beauty as a result of the merit of a previous birth (pūrvajanman). The beauty becomes completely fruitful only after embracing a man of aesthetic taste. I am the lover of a thousand beautiful women. I am an expert in the erotic science and literature. Abandon that husband and make me your slave. You can indulge in sexual dalliance in the beautiful secluded forests, mountains and banks of rivers in my company. Make your life fruitful”.

context information

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)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

1) Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्) refers to “previous lives”, according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 4).—Accordingly, “[Question: Why is the Buddha called Samyaksaṃbuddha?]—[Answer]: [...] Finally, the languages (adhivacana) of all the universes (lokadhātu), the ten directions (daśadiś), the languages of beings (sattva) in the six destinies (gati), the history of previous lives (pūrvajanma-nidāna) of beings and their birthplaces (utpādasthāna) in future generations (anāgatajanma), the natures of the mind (cittalakṣaṇa) of all beings in the ten directions, their fetters (saṃyojana), their roots of good (kuśalamūla) and their outcome (niḥsaraṇa): all the Dharmas of this kind he knows in detail. This is why he is called Samyaksaṃbuddha”.

2) Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्) refers to “previous existences”, according Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXIV).—Accordingly, “there are three kinds of honors (pūjā): i) One is respected (satkṛta) by people as a result of merit (puṇya) acquired in the course of previous existences (pūrvajanman); ii) One is respected by people as a result of qualities (guṇa) of which one has given evidence in the present lifetime (ihajanman) in practicing morality (śīla), rapture (dhyāna) and wisdom (prajñā); iii) By falsehood (mṛṣā) and deception (vipralambha) one can have no virtue inwardly and outwardly seem quite white: one wins honors by deceiving one’s contemporaries”.

context information

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.

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्) refers to the “prior life” [i.e., pūrva-janmani vā iha-janmani], according to the Guru Mandala Worship (maṇḍalārcana) ritual often performed in combination with the Cakrasaṃvara Samādhi, which refers to the primary pūjā and sādhanā practice of Newah Mahāyāna-Vajrayāna Buddhists in Nepal.

context information

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

Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्) refers to “previous lives” (lit., ‘those born previously’), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Those who were born as enemies [in a life] previously (pūrvajanman—pūrvaṃ janmany asmin) indeed become your friends whose friendship is fixed in this life on account of the power of fate”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

Pūrvajanma (पूर्वजन्म).—n m (S) A former state of existence.

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

Pūrvajanma (पूर्वजन्म).—n m A former birth.

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

Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्).—n. a former birth. (-m.) an elder brother; स लक्ष्मणं लक्ष्मणपूर्वजन्मा (sa lakṣmaṇaṃ lakṣmaṇapūrvajanmā) (vilokya) R.14.44.;15.95.

Pūrvajanman is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pūrva and janman (जन्मन्).

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

Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्).—I. n. a former existence. Ii. m. an elder brother. Brahmajanman, i. e.

Pūrvajanman is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pūrva and janman (जन्मन्).

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

Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्).—1. [neuter] a former birth of life.

--- OR ---

Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्).—2. [masculine] the elder brother.

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

1) Pūrvajanman (पूर्वजन्मन्):—[=pūrva-janman] [from pūrva] n. a former birth, f° state of existence or life, [Raghuvaṃśa; Hitopadeśa; Kathāsaritsāgara]

2) [v.s. ...] m. an elder brother, [Raghuvaṃśa]

[Sanskrit to German]

Purvajanman 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Pūrvajanma (ಪೂರ್ವಜನ್ಮ):—[noun] any of one’s previous lives; a former birth.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Nepali dictionary

Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

1) Pūrvajanma (पूर्वजन्म):—n. a former birth;

2) Pūrvajanmā (पूर्वजन्मा):—n. 1. a person born before; elder brother or sister; 2. elders; 3. Brahmins;

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 6 books and stories containing Purvajanman, Pūrvajanma, Pūrva-janman, Pūrvajanman, Purvajanma, Purva-janman, Purva-janma, Pūrva-janma, Pūrvajanmā; (plurals include: Purvajanmans, Pūrvajanmas, janmans, Pūrvajanmans, Purvajanmas, janmas, Pūrvajanmās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 5.12.19 < [Chapter 12 - Pancajana’s Previous Birth]

Verse 5.10.2 < [Chapter 10 - The Stories of the Washerman, Weaver, and Florist]

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Verse 1.9.109 < [Chapter 9 - Nityānanda’s Childhood Pastimes and Travels to Holy Places]

Verse 2.3.115 < [Chapter 3 - The Lord Manifests His Varāha Form in the House of Murāri and Meets with Nityānanda]

Bodhisattva quality 26: concentration commemorating the Buddhas < [Chapter XIII - The Buddha-fields]

Part 2.1 - Indifference toward sycophants < [Chapter XXIV - The Virtue of Patience]

Act 9.7: Samantaraśmi starts his journey to the Sahā universe < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]