Purvatara, Pūrvatara, Purva-tara: 2 definitions
Introduction:
Purvatara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgriculturePūrvatara (पूर्वतर) refers to the “previous (mantra)”, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly [as the Nāga kings said to the Bhagavān], “[...] Then, O Bhagavān, the spell-master should call to mind this previous (pūrvatara) mantra and the curse dhāraṇī-mantrapadas seven times. Then he should offer caṇḍa seeds 108 times in the Nāga lake. Then, O Bhagavān, all our residences will blaze up by fire-flames. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryPūrvatara (पूर्वतर):—[=pūrva-tara] [from pūrva] mfn. (pūrva-) earlier, previous, prior, anterior, [Ṛg-veda] etc.
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)
Starts with: Purvataram.
Full-text: Purvataram, Ari, Purva, Sunita, Pratisammodayati, Pratisammodayate, Pratisammodate, Tanuja, Ut.
Relevant text
Search found 1 books and stories containing Purvatara, Pūrvatara, Purva-tara, Pūrva-tara; (plurals include: Purvataras, Pūrvataras, taras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Shrimad Bhagavad-gita (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 4.15 < [Chapter 4 - Jñāna-Yoga (Yoga through Transcendental Knowledge)]