Samsaracakra, Saṃsāracakra, Samsara-cakra: 8 definitions
Introduction:
Samsaracakra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Samsarachakra.
In Hinduism
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchSaṃsāracakra (संसारचक्र) refers to the “cycle of birth and death”, according to the Śivayogadīpikā by Sadāśivayogīśvara: a text dealing with Śaivism and Haṭhayoga in two hundred and eighty-nine verses.—Accordingly, while discussing the difference between Rājayoga and Śaivayoga: “[...] Devotion is gnosis full of Śiva, and Śaiva gnosis is Śiva’s nature. Since Śaiva observance is worship of Śiva, Śiva's yoga is five-fold. He who is without the practice [of worshipping] Śiva is certainly a bound soul, and he goes round and round forever in this cycle of birth and death (saṃsāracakra)”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraSaṃsāracakra (संसारचक्र) refers to the “wheel of transmigration”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 46.—Accordingly, “[...] While the wheel of transmigration (saṃsāracakra) is in movement, among the profitable actions there is none that surpasses generosity. Conveniences obtainable at will in the present lifetime and in future lifetimes all come from generosity. Generosity is the good guide that opens the doorway to the threefold happiness: heavenly happiness, human happiness and the happiness of nirvāṇa. [...]”..
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: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsSaṃsāracakra (संसारचक्र) refers to the “whirlpool of the cycle of existence”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Those who throw you into the whirlpool of life [com.—saṃsāracakra—‘into the whirlpool of the cycle of existence’] are certainly not [your] friends. Having shown [you] what is beneficial, yogis will form a kinship with you”.
Synonyms: Bhavāvarta.
Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-kathaSaṃsāracakra (संसारचक्र) refers to the description of the three worlds (i.e., hell, humans and gods), according to Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā (a Prakrit Campū, similar to Kāvya poetry).—Page 185.21 f.: Here follows a description of two printed scrolls, one illustrating the Jaina conception of saṃsāracakra and the other of Bhavāntaras. The saṃsāracakra was also painted by Buddhists on a ceiling at Ajanta. It is stated in Divyāvadāna that Bhavacakra was painted in the dvāra-prakoṣṭha or the entrance of the royal palace. It is little surprising that the different parts of the painting were explained by being pointed out with a long stick. The saṃsāracakra illustrated the three worlds of hell, human world and the world of gods.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysaṃsāracakra (संसारचक्र).—n (S Wheel of the world.) The world or human life viewed as constituted of changes and chances, of vicissitudes and ever-varying scenes or forms; the whirl and maze of mundane affairs or secular life.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionarySaṃsāracakra (संसारचक्र).—succession of births and deaths, metempsychosis.
Derivable forms: saṃsāracakram (संसारचक्रम्).
Saṃsāracakra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms saṃsāra and cakra (चक्र).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionarySaṃsāracakra (संसारचक्र):—[=saṃ-sāra-cakra] [from saṃ-sāra > saṃ-sṛ] n. the world comp° to a wheel, [Maitrī-upaniṣad]
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 corpusSaṃsāracakra (ಸಂಸಾರಚಕ್ರ):—[noun] the unending cycle of births and deaths that an individual soul has to go through.
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: Cakra, Samsara.
Full-text (+176): Samsriticakra, Samsritigati, Detachment, Species, Beast, Young women, Dancing, Wrestler, Tattered, Crocodile, Peacock, Swallowing, Wounded, Attacking, Elephant, Way-farer, Torture, Beggar, False dealing, Lion.
Relevant text
Search found 4 books and stories containing Samsaracakra, Saṃsāracakra, Samsara-cakra, Saṃsāra-cakra, Samsāracakra, Samsāra-cakra; (plurals include: Samsaracakras, Saṃsāracakras, cakras, Samsāracakras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Samkhya thoughts in the Mahabharata (by Shini M.V.)
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Bodhisattva quality 13: liberated from the action-obstacle < [Chapter X - The Qualities of the Bodhisattvas]
III. Exhortations to the practice of the six perfections (pāramitā) < [Part 3 - Establishing beings in the six perfections]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 84 - Tirthas from the Confluence of Gangā and Varaṇā up to Maṇikarṇikā < [Section 2 - Uttarārdha]
The Religion and Philosophy of Tevaram (Thevaram) (by M. A. Dorai Rangaswamy)
Chapter 2 - The Philosophy of the drama of creation < [Volume 4.2.1 - Philosophy of Nature]