Purvavideha, Pūrvavideha, Purva-videha: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Purvavideha 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: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraPūrvavideha (पूर्वविदेह) refers to one of the mythical regions which the Bhikṣus visited when a famine broke out, according to the notes at Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXIV).—Accordingly, “One day when the Buddha was at Rājagṛha, a famine broke out. The Bhikṣus who had magical powers went to various mythical regions, Jambudvīpa, Pūrvavideha, Aparagodāna, Uttarakuru, the Trāyastriṃśa heaven, to gather the marvelous foods and fruits which these regions produced and distributed them to the community”.
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: Google Books: The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systemspūrvavideha (པཱུརབ༹བི༹དེཧ) refers to one of the “Four Continents” which are known in Tibetan as gling bzhi.—Accordingly, [while discussing the history of philosophical systems in the land of Shambhala]: As to the layout of the land: Its shape is circular; it has the shape of an eight-petaled lotus inside an encircling border of snow mountains. [...] In the center of that land is an area like the Four Continents [e.g., the eastern continent of Pūrvavideha] divided by snow mountains, and in the center of that is Kalāpa city. To the south of that, in the Malaya garden, is the great three-dimensional Kālacakra mandala constructed by the Dharma king Sucandra; [...]
Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara SamadhiPūrvavideha (पूर्वविदेह) is the name of a deity or entity to which is given homage to [i.e., oṃ yaṃ pūrvavidehāya namaḥ], 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.
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgrahaPūrvavideha (पूर्वविदेह) in the east refers to one of the “four continents” (dvīpa) as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 120). The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., pūrva-videha). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryPūrvavideha (पूर्वविदेह).—one of the 4 Buddhist continents (see dvipa); -lipi, a kind of script: Lalitavistara 126.5. (Prāg-for Pūrva- is reported in AbhidhK, see s.v. dvīpa.)
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Pūrvavideha (पूर्वविदेह) or Prāgvideha.—q.v., and see dvīpa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryPūrvavideha (पूर्वविदेह):—[=pūrva-videha] [from pūrva] m. the country of the eastern Videhas (with Buddhists ‘one of the 4 continents’ [Dharmasaṃgraha 120])
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 corpusPūrvavidēha (ಪೂರ್ವವಿದೇಹ):—[noun] the country of the eastern Vidēhas.
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: Purva, Videha.
Starts with: Purvavidehalipi.
Full-text: Purvavidehalipi, Pragvideha, Four continents, Samanuvishtavan, Dvipa, Caturdvipa, Aparagodana, Manushyaloka, Pindolabharadvaja, Earthly Realms.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Purvavideha, Purva-videha, Pūrva-videha, Pūrva-vidēha, Pūrvavideha, Pūrvavidēha; (plurals include: Purvavidehas, videhas, vidēhas, Pūrvavidehas, Pūrvavidēhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Act 10.7: The universes and Buddhas of the ten directions < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
Courses through the five destinies (pañcagati) < [The world of transmigration]
Act 10.10: Śākyamuni gazes upon the immense assembly gathered before him < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
Paumacariya (critical study) (by K. R. Chandra)
55. The previous birth of Vali < [Chapter 4 - Intervening Stories]
Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter VI - The gift of a necklace to Yaśodharā < [Volume II]
Chapter II - Maudgalyāyana’s visits to hell < [Volume I]
Chapter XXXVI - The story of Pūrṇa the son of Maitrāyaṇī < [Volume III]
Shurangama Sutra (with commentary) (English) (by Hsuan Hua)
Seven theories on the cessation of existence < [Chapter 5 - The Formations Skandha]
Upali: the body consciousness < [Chapter 2 - Twenty-five Means to Enlightenment]
Thirty-two response bodies < [Chapter 2 - Twenty-five Means to Enlightenment]
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 4 - The impermanence of the Vessel and Contents < [B. The extended explanation]
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
Saptadvīpa (1): Jambudvīpa (Introduction) < [Chapter 4 - Geographical history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]