Samavasarana, Samavasaraṇa, Samavasharana, Samavaśaraṇa, Sama-vasharana: 13 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Mahayana
In Jainism
1. General definition
India history
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also
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Introduction:

Samavasarana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Samavaśaraṇa can be transliterated into English as Samavasarana or Samavasharana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण) refers to the “gathering (of the realm of the dharma)”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] For that reason, since all dharmas are called the gathering of the realm of the dharma (dharmadhātu-samavasaraṇa), there is no going or no not-going in the realm of the dharma. Since all dharmas belong to the realm of the dharma, he who knows the realm of self also knows the realm of the dharma. [...]”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: The Jaina Iconography

Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण).—It is believed that the Tīrthaṅkaras rise up to 5000 man’s height and Indra constructs the famous Samavasaraṇa consisting of 12 Sabhās.—(Cf. Prof. Bhandarkar’s note on the subject. Ind, Ant. 1911 June).

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण) refers to a “preaching-hall erected by the gods for the Tīrthaṅkaras”, according to chapter 1.3 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly,

“[...] in the midst of the samavasaraṇa, a caitya-tree made by the Vyantaras, rising for three kos, indicated the rise of the Three Jewels. Beneath it, they made a platform with manifold jewels; on it they made a dais of incomparable gems. In the center of it to the east, they made next a jeweled lion-throne with a foot-stool, the essence of all the Śrīs, as it were. Above it were made three white umbrellas like three distinct signs of the Master’s lordship over the three worlds. On both sides Yakṣas held two white chauris, as if loads of devotion to the Master, kept in the heart, had become external. Then at the gate of the samavasaraṇa they made a dharmacakra, a wheel with remarkable light. Whatever else there was to be done, the Vyantaras did all that. They are the functionaries in the case of all samavasaraṇas”.

Source: OpenEdition books: Vividhatīrthakalpaḥ

Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण) in Sanskrit refers to the “plenary and solemn assembly during which a Tīrthaṅkara delivers a sermon”, and represents a Jaina technical term mentioned in the Vividhatīrthakalpa by Jinaprabhasūri (13th century A.D.): an ancient text devoted to various Jaina holy places (tīrthas).

Source: HereNow4u: Jain Dharma ka Maulika Itihasa (2)

Samavaśaraṇa (समवशरण) refers to a “holy conference” or “congregation hall” and is one of the topics treated in the Jñātādharmakathā, one of the Dvādaśāṅgī (twelve Aṅgas) of Jainism.—The Jñātādharmakathā is the sixth text of the Aṅga series. The text narrates religious stories, citing examples. It deals with a multitude of topics like—the cities, gardens, auspicious installations (caityas), forests, kings, parents, samavaśaraṇas (holy conference / congregation hall), dharmācāryas (religious preceptors / leaders), religious parables, mundane and spiritual prosperity, luxury (bhoga), parityāga (sacrifice), pravrajyā (initiation), severe austerities, achieving pious death (e.g. paryāya saṃlekhanās, bhakta pratyākhyāna, pādopagamana, (going to heaven)), birth in high family, enlightenment, last-rites (antaha) of Meghakumāra etc. [...]

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण) refers to a “sacred space” (where the Jina delivers sermons), according to the Dvādaśaparṣad (a work dealing with the Cosmology of Jain Canonical literature), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The Dvādaśaparṣad deals with the intermediate directions or the ‘corners’ (kūṇi) where the groups of beings attending the samavasaraṇa sacred space have to sit or stand, after the Jina himself has sat in the centre and after they have entered and performed a cirucumambulation.—Cf. The Golerā temple, which specifies how many figures of each category have to be depicted.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Samavasaraṇa.—(HA), congregation-hall believed to be built by celestials when a Tīrthaṅkara delivered his sermon. Note: samavasaraṇa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण).—

1) Descent (of a deity from heaven).

2) Aim, goal.

Derivable forms: samavasaraṇam (समवसरणम्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण).—nt. (to next with -ana; = Pali samosaraṇa; late Sanskrit once, according to commentary = nivāsa, Schmidt, Nachträge), also °ṇa-tā (state, condition, of…); written sometimes °śaraṇa (which has misled some inter- preters into connecting it with Sanskrit śaraṇa), primarily coming together, gathering, uniting, collection: so regularly Tibetan yaṅ dag par ḥdu ba, Mahāvyutpatti 527 (sarvadharma-°ṇa- sāgara-, sea of gathering of all dh., compare Gaṇḍavyūha 494.14 below); Mahāvyutpatti 617 and 618 (see araṇa); 5165 (here alternative Tibetan gzhol ba, according to [Tibetan-English Dictionary] coming down, also absorption in, besides ḥdu ba); sahālokadhātu-°ṇāsu ([bahuvrīhi]) sarvaloka- dhātuparaṃparāsu Gaṇḍavyūha 396.2, in all the series of world- systems that are joined with the sahā world-system; (mahāsā- garabhūtaṃ, sc. bodhicittaṃ) sarvaguṇaratna-°ṇatayā 494.14, it is like the great ocean, because it is a gathering of all the jewels of virtues; sarvatraidhātukasvapna-°ṇa- jñānena 522.8, by knowledge of the collection of dreams which constitute the whole triple universe; since union with something may amount to attainment of it, attainment is often the best English rendering, especially when a state or condition is what is united with or attained: (dharmavi- nayo…) nirvāṇa-°ṇaḥ ([bahuvrīhi]) Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 71.1, characterized by attainment of nirvāṇa; yāvad eva sattvāḥ sattvadhātau saṃgraha-°ṇaṃ gacchanti 346.10,…arrive at attainment of (or perhaps at coming together in) a unity (saṃgraha); dharmadhātu-(q.v.)-°ṇa-cakraṃ Lalitavistara 423.7; saptadhana- °ṇākāraṃ (sc. śrutaṃ, holy learning) Śikṣāsamuccaya 190.19 (written °śaraṇa, whence Transl. wrongly protecting; rather, attain- ing); (pañca-, so read)-dharmā bodhisattvasya piṭaka- °ṇatā (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 23.5 (°śar°), conditions for acquisition (= learn- ing) of the piṭakas; °ṇaṃ saddharmanetrārakṣaṇārthaṃ ye (sc. mantravarāḥ, line 7) sādhayiṣyanti 74.9, which will effect attainment (not sécurité, Lalou Iconographie 52; written °śar°; sc. of religious learning), the goal of which [Page566-b+ 71] is the keeping of the Eye of the Good Law; buddhakṣetra- vyūha-°ṇa- Gaṇḍavyūha 7.24; two bodhisattva-samādhi are named sarvakṣetrasamanta-°ṇādhiṣṭhāna Gaṇḍavyūha 37.12, basis of com- plete attainment of all (Buddha-) fields, and sarvajñānā- vartābhimukha-°ṇa 38.3; -praveśa-°ṇa- Daśabhūmikasūtra 15.14, attain- ment of entrance (or penetration); tathāgatānāṃ kalpa- praveśa-°ṇa-jñānāni, yad uta, (17) ekakalpāsaṃkhyeya- kalpa-°ṇa-tā Daśabhūmikasūtra 87.16—17, and others in ff.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण):—[=sam-avasaraṇa] [from samava-sṛ] n. meeting, assembling, an assembly, [Buddhist literature]

2) [v.s. ...] descent (of a Jina from heaven to earth) or place of descent, [Hemacandra’s Pariśiṣṭaparvan]

3) [v.s. ...] aim, goal, [Buddhist literature]

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Samavasaraṇa (समवसरण) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Samosaraṇa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Samavasarana in German

context information

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 corpus

Samavasaraṇa (ಸಮವಸರಣ):—[noun] a specially constructed structure by Kubēra, at the behest of Indra, for the first discourse by a Jina, after being endowed with the Supreme Knowledge.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 5 books and stories containing Samavasarana, Samavasaraṇa, Samavasharana, Samavaśaraṇa, Sama-vasharana, Sam-avasarana, Sam-avasaraṇa, Sama-vaśaraṇa, Sama-vasarana; (plurals include: Samavasaranas, Samavasaraṇas, Samavasharanas, Samavaśaraṇas, vasharanas, avasaranas, avasaraṇas, vaśaraṇas, vasaranas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Part 8: Supārśva’s samavasaraṇa < [Chapter V - Supārśvanāthacaritra]

Part 10: Description of a samavasaraṇa < [Chapter III]

Part 20: Dharmanātha’s samavasaraṇa < [Chapter V - Śrī Dharmanāthacaritra]

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Monoliths (chaumukha/chaturmukha shrines) < [Chapter 4]

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Image worship in Jainism < [Chapter 6 - Iconographic Study of Jaina Sculptural Remains]

Jain Caumukha/Caumukhi or Caturmukhas < [Chapter 6 - Iconographic Study of Jaina Sculptural Remains]

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Lecture 12: The Creed < [Book 1]

Lecture 2: On Activity < [Book 2]

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