Ratnaketu, Ratna-ketu: 9 definitions
Introduction:
Ratnaketu 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.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु) is the name of a mountain situated at lake Mānasa and mount Gandhamādana, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 75. The Gandhamādana mountain lies on the eastern side of mount Meru, which is one of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, ruled over by Āgnīdhra, a grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.
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
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
1) Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु) is the name of a Tathāgata (Buddha) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Ratnaketu).
2) Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु) is also the name of a Dhāraṇī Goddesses mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.
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
1) Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु) (in Sanskrit) refers to the Jhva-Bahal—one of the Eighteen major Bahals (Vihāras) or “enclosed courtyards” found in the area of Old Kathmandu, situated in the Nepal Mandala (lit. “circle or country of Nepal”), the ancient name for the Kathmandu Valley. A Bahal is a type of ‘sacred monastery’ or ‘courtyard’ constructed according to traditional Newari Architecture and hence found primarily in Nepal amongst Newar communities. These buildings play a big role in maintaining the norms of their society and lifestyle. There is a common list of eighteen major such Temples (bahals) found in Old Kathmandu. For example Jhva-bahal, which is also known by its Sanskrit name Ratnacaitya, Ratnaketu.
2) Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु) is also another name for Nhu-bahal—one of the various Bahals (“monasteries” = Vihāras) found in the area of Old Kathmandu.
1) Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु) refers to the Jhwa-baha—one of the various Bāhās (i.e., a sacred courtyard in the Newari community where Buddhist priests reside) situated in Kathmandu.—The valley of Kathmandu is known as “Nepal Mandala”, encircling the three cities of Kathmandu (northwest), Patan (Lalitpur) (south) and Bhaktapur (east). The Vihāras, Bāhās and Bahīs were, and still are, the centre for Buddhist activities and also dwelling place of the monks or monastics. For example, Jhwa-bahal, which is known in Sanskrit as Ratnaketuvihāra. These monstaries, courtyards and other buildings possess a central place in Buddhism and were mostly situated within the vicinity of these three cities.
2) Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु) [=Ratnaketumahāvihāra] refers to the Nhu (Jhwa) Baha—one of the various Bāhās situated in Thaya Madu, Kathmandu .
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
Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु).—(1) name of several Buddhas: Suvarṇabhāsottamasūtra 2.4; 8.1; 120.2, 6 (here presides over the south); Sukhāvatīvyūha 6.14 (here a former Buddha); repeatedly in (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa, 42.21; 129.9; 130.2 f.; 132.25; 139.2 (lives in Ratnāvatī, q.v.); 289.12; 305.14; 426.7; (Ratana°, in a verse) Gaṇḍavyūha 256.7 (a former Buddha); (2) name of one or more Bodhisattvas: Mahāvyutpatti 654; Aṣṭasāhasrikā-prajñāpāramitā 449.20; Samādhirājasūtra p. 36 line 1; (3) name of a work: Mahāvyutpatti 1349; the ed. note conjectures relation to a Chin. text the title of which is rendered Mahāsamnipāta-ratnaketu- dhāraṇī; this is possibly confirmed by (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 109.28 where there is reference to a Ratnaketu-dhāraṇī (misprinted °dhāriṇī).
1) Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु):—[=ratna-ketu] [from ratna] m. Name of a Buddha, [Buddhist literature]
2) [v.s. ...] of a Bodhisattva, [ib.]
3) [v.s. ...] a Name common to 2000 future Buddhas (also tu-rāja), [ib.]
Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु):—m. Nomen proprium eines Buddha [Burnouf 530.] eines Bodhisattva [Vyutpatti oder Mahāvyutpatti 21.] der gemeinschaftliche Name von [2000] künftigen Buddha [Lot. de Lassen’s Anthologie b. l. 135.] rāja [134.]
Ratnaketu (रत्नकेतु):—m. —
1) Nomen proprium — a) eines Buddha. — b) eines Bodhisattva. —
2) der gemeinschaftliche Name von 2000 künftigen Buddha. Auch rāja m.
Ratnaketu (in Sanskrit) can be associated with the following Chinese terms:
1) 寶勝 [bǎo shèng]: “Ratnaketu” [name of a Buddha].
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 (+0): Ratna, Ketu.
Starts with (+0): Ratnaketudaya, Ratnaketumahavihara, Ratnaketuraja, Ratnaketuvihara.
Full-text (+29): Luo da nang ji du, Ratnaketumahavihara, Bao chuang ru lai, Bao chuang fu, Bao xing fu, Bao chuang, Bao xiang, Ratnaketudaya, Nhu, Bao sheng, Nhu-bahal, La lan na chi dau, Bao choang, Shalarajendra, Bao thang, Bao tinh phat, Bao trang phat, rin po che'i tog, Ratnavati, Bao thang nhu lai.
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Ratnaketu, Ratna-ketu; (plurals include: Ratnaketus, ketus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sanskrit dramas by Kerala authors (Study) (by S. Subramania Iyer)
3.4. Characterisation of Prabhavati < [Chapter 10: Ratnaketudaya (Study)]
2. Plot (summary) of the Ratnaketudaya < [Chapter 10: Ratnaketudaya (Study)]
7. Technique of the Ratnaketudaya < [Chapter 10: Ratnaketudaya (Study)]
Sanskrit sources of Kerala history (by Suma Parappattoli)
5.2. Ratnaketudaya by Balakavi < [Chapter 5 - Sanskrit Dramas and Campus bearing on Kerala History]
Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (Fundamental Vows Sutra)
The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Page 384 < [The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (pages)]
Page 314 < [The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (pages)]
Page 293 < [The Sanskrit Buddhist Literature of Nepal (pages)]
Buddhist iconography in and outside India (Study) (by Purabi Gangopadhyay)
Iconographic classifications of Japanese images < [Chapter 4: Japanese Buddhist Iconography (a Comparative Study)]
Advayavajra-samgraha (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri)
Chapter 1 - Kudrishti-nirghatana < [Sanskrit texts of the Advayavajra-samgraha]