Rashmipataka, Raśmipatākā, Rashmi-pataka: 1 definition

Introduction:

Rashmipataka means something in Buddhism, Pali. 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 Raśmipatākā can be transliterated into English as Rasmipataka or Rashmipataka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Rashmipataka in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Raśmipatākā (रश्मिपताका) is the name of a universe where Maudgalyāyana stopped (while finding out the range of the Buddha’s voice), according to Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter 15).—Accordingly, “One day Maudgalyāyana had this thought: ‘I would like to know the range of the Buddha’s voice’. Then, by virtue of his base of miraculous powers (ṛddhipāda), he passed through innumerable thousands of millions of Buddha-universes (lokadhātu) and then he stopped; he still heard the voice of the Buddha as if he were quite close. In the universe where he had stopped, a Buddha was in the process of dining with his great assembly. In that land, the people were large, and Maudgalyāyana [coming from the Sahā universe where people are small] was standing in a begging bowl (pātra). [...]”.

Note: According to T 310 and T 312 (l.c.), the universe where Maudgalyāyana stopped was called Kouang ming fan (Raśmipatākā, ‘Banner of Rays’); it was led by the Buddha Kouang ming wang (Raśmirāja).

Mahayana book cover
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.

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