Purvashaila, Purva-shaila, Pūrvaśaila: 11 definitions
Introduction:
Purvashaila means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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 Pūrvaśaila can be transliterated into English as Purvasaila or Purvashaila, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल) refers to one of the Eighteen Sects (of the Vaibhāṣika) [classified as Mahāsāṃghika] known in Tibetan as bye brag smra ba'i gyes pa bco brgyad.—Cf. the writings of Vinītadeva (8th century): an Indian scholar and author who was active at the ancient Nalanda university where he produced commentaries on both the Triṃśikā and the Viṃśatikā which survive in Tibetan translation and some Sanskrit fragments.
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल) refers to one of the “Five Sects” of Mahāsāṃghika—one of the four major schools of the Vaibhāṣika of the śrāvaka philosophical systems. According to Master Vinītadeva (eighth century), the five sects are Pūrvaśaila, Aparaśaila, Haimavata, Lokottaravāda, and Prajñaptivāda.—[Cf. A Summary of the Teachings of the Various Sects by Way of a Progressive Reading of Various Critiques; Toh 4140 Tengyur, 'dul ba, su, 154b3.]

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.
India history and geography
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल).—Another Nagarjunakond inscription mentions Purva-sela, which possibly refers to the mountain on which the Pūrva-śaila monastry mentioned in the Dharaṇikoṭa Dharmacakra Pillar inscription was situated.

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
Sanskrit dictionary
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल).—see पूर्वपर्वत (pūrvaparvata).
Derivable forms: pūrvaśailaḥ (पूर्वशैलः).
Pūrvaśaila is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms pūrva and śaila (शैल).
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल).—m. pl. (= Pali Pubba-seliya, see Apara-ś° and Critical Pali Dictionary s.v. Apara-seliya), name of a (heretical) school: Mahāvyutpatti 9090.
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल) or Pūrvvaśaila.—m.
(-laḥ) The eastern mountain, behind which the sun is supposed to rise. E. pūrva eastern, śaila a mountain.
1) Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल):—[=pūrva-śaila] [from pūrva] m. = -parvata, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] [plural] Name of a Buddhist school
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल):—[pūrva-śaila] (laḥ) 1. m. The eastern mountain where the sun rises.
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल):—(pūrva + śaila) m.
1) der östliche Berg, hinter dem die Sonne aufgehen soll, [Jaṭādhara im Śabdakalpadruma] saṃghārāma Name eines Klosters [HIOUENTHSANG II, 110] (vgl. den Index). —
2) pl. Name einer buddhistischen Schule [Vyutpatti oder Mahāvyutpatti 210.] [Burnouf 446.] [Lot. de Lassen’s Anthologie b. l. 358.] [WASSILJEW 78. 264.] [KÖPPEN I, 153.] — Vgl. avaraśaila, welches auch westlicher Berg bedeutet; das darauf belegene Kloster heisst avaraśailasaṃghārāma, wie [Stenzler JULIEN] richtig im Index hat; es ist demnach avaraśilā zu streichen.
Pūrvaśaila (पूर्वशैल):—m. —
1) der östliche Berg (hinter dem die Sonne aufgehen soll). —
2) Pl. eine best. buddhistische Schule.
Pūrvaśaila (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 佛槃勢羅 [fú pán shì luó]: “Pūrvaśaila” [Sanskrit school name].
2) 弗婆勢羅 [fú pó shì luó]: “Pūrvaśaila” [Sanskrit temple name].
3) 東山 [dōng shān]: “Dongsan” [Korean personal name]; Alternatively: “Eastern Mountain” [Sanskrit place name]; Alternatively: “Pūrvaśaila” [Sanskrit temple name].
2) Pūrvaśailā (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 東山部 [dōng shān bù]: “Pūrvaśailāḥ” [Sanskrit school name].
Note: pūrvaśailā can be alternatively written as: pūrvaśailāḥ.
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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Shaila, Caila, Purva.
Starts with: Purvashailasamgharama.
Full-text (+4): Purvashailasamgharama, Fu po shi luo, Purvacailam, Dong shan si, Dong shan bu, Aparashaila, Avarashaila, Purvvadri, Purvadri, Uttarashaila, Purvvashaila, Caila, Phat ban the la, Eighteen sects, Fu pan shi luo, Dong son, phal chen pa las gyes pa lnga sde, Haimavata, Lokottaravada, Prajnaptivada.
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