Satpurusha, Satpuruṣa: 14 definitions

Introduction:

Satpurusha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, 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.

The Sanskrit term Satpuruṣa can be transliterated into English as Satpurusa or Satpurusha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)

Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष) refers to a “wise being”, according to the principles of Bījagaṇita (“algebra” or ‘science of calculation’), according to Gaṇita-śāstra, ancient Indian mathematics and astronomy.—According to Bhāskara II (Cf. Līlāvatī, Bījagaṇita): “What the learned calculators (sāṃkhya [sāṃkhyāḥ]) describe as the originator of intelligence, being directed by a wise being (satpuruṣa) and which alone is the primal cause (bīja) of all knowns (vyakta), I venerate that Invisible God as well as that Science of Calculation with Unknowns... Since questions can scarcely be solved without the reasoning of algebra—not at all by those of dull perceptions—I shall speak, therefore, of the operations of analysis”.

Ganitashastra book cover
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Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.

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In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Satpurusha in Mahayana glossary
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष) refers to “good men”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “The great vehicle (mahāyāna) is made with four wheels (cakra), namely with the means of attraction, the spokes (ara) are well fitted as the roots of good have been transformed with intention, [...] Therefore, good men (satpuruṣa), since the Bodhisatva enters on the supra-mundane way (lokottaramārga) after having put on the armour, he appears to many beings, performing the deeds of the Buddha (buddhakārya), even without obtaining omniscience (sarvajñāna)”

Mahayana book cover
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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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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

[«previous next»] — Satpurusha in Jainism glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष) refers to a class of kimpuruṣa deities according to Digambara, while the Śvetāmbara tradition does not recognize this class. The kimpuruṣas refer to a category of vyantaras gods which represents one of the four classes of celestial beings (devas). The kimpuruṣas are are golden in appearance according to Digambara, but white in complexion with very bright faces according to Śvetāmbara.

The deities such as the Satpuruṣas are defined in ancient Jain cosmological texts such as the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapaṇṇati by Yativṛṣabha (5th century) in the Digambara tradition.

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष) and Mahāpuruṣa are the two Indras (i.e., lords or kings) of the Kimpuruṣas who came to the peak of Meru for partaking in the birth-ceremonies of Ṛṣabha, according to chapter 1.2 [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.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 4: The celestial beings (deva)

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष) refers to one of the two Indras (lords) of the Kimpuruṣa class of “peripatetic celestial beings” (vyantara), itself a main division of devas (celestial beings) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 4.6. Satpuruṣa and Mahāpuruṣa are the two lords in the class ‘sex-obsessed’ peripatetic celestial beings.

General definition book cover
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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.

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India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Satpuruṣa.—(LL), a Buddhist saint. Note: satpuruṣa is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

India history book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Marathi-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Satpurusha in Marathi glossary
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष).—m A virtuous or benevolent man.

context information

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.

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Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Satpurusha in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष).—(compare Sanskrit id., Pali sappurisa), lit. worthy or true man: Mahāvyutpatti 7358; sixteen s° listed Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 3.10, the chief being Bhadrapāla, who is the only one named in Rāṣṭrapālaparipṛcchā 2.3, where 16 are also referred to. They are evidently a lay category, and are mentioned immediately after a list of Bodhisattvas. According to Professor Paul Mus (oral com- munication, May, 1949), they are a kind of lay equivalent of the Bodhisattvas, who live the life of gṛhapatis; Prof. Mus finds a typical illustration of them in the figure of Vimalakīrti (q.v.), so well known in Chinese Buddhism. In [Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit], V. is not listed so far as I know except once in a list of 16 Bodhisattvas. The term satpuruṣa may include monks: Mahāvastu i.37.4 (see s.v. labhā, labhyaṃ).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष).—[masculine] a good or excellent man.

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

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष):—[=sat-puruṣa] [from sat] m. a good or wise man, [Kāvya literature; Kāmandakīya-nītisāra etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष):—[sa-tpuruṣa] (ṣaḥ) 1. m. A worthy man.

[Sanskrit to German]

Satpurusha 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.

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Kannada-English dictionary

[«previous next»] — Satpurusha in Kannada glossary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Satpuruṣa (ಸತ್ಪುರುಷ):—[noun] a virtuous, meritorious man.

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

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Nepali dictionary

[«previous next»] — Satpurusha in Nepali glossary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary

Satpuruṣa (सत्पुरुष):—n. a good person; a virtuous character; a person following a good path; a perfect gentleman;

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Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.

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