Shravaka, aka: Śrāvaka; 11 Definition(s)
Introduction
Shravaka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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 Śrāvaka can be transliterated into English as Sravaka or Shravaka, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Śrāvaka (श्रावक).—In the śrāvaka system, the Buddha, by the power of his skillful means (upāya), pretends to assume human qualities: he undergoes birth (jāti), old age (jarā), sickness (vyādhi), cold and heat (śītoṣṇa), hunger and thirst (kṣutpipāsā), etc. As no human is born without passions, the Buddha must likewise conform to human qualities and [seem] to have passions. Under the king of trees, first outwardly, he crushed Māra’s armies (mārasenā); then inwardly, he destroyed his enemies that are the fetters (saṃyojana). Having destroyed his external and internal enemies, he realized supreme complete enlightenment (anuttarā samyaksaṃbodhi).
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraŚrāvakas have compassion but are not endowed with bodhicitta, neither relative nor absolute bodhicitta.
Source: Kunpal: Shantideva's Bodhisattva-charyavatara
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.
General definition (in Buddhism)
The first or initial stage in Hinayana, the second being that of Praetyka Buddha. Sravaka, a Sanskrit word, means a hearer. It generally relates to Hinayana disciple who understands the Four Noble Truth in entering Nirvana.Source: Buddhist Door: GlossaryIn Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Śrāvaka (श्रावक, “layman”).—The śrāvaka is one who listens (śṛṇoti), or one who has recourse to faith (śraddhālutāṃ śrāti), or one whose sins flow away from him (śravanti yasya pāpāni). With the nāma, sthāpanā, dravya, bhāva category we find:
- nāma-śrāvaka,
- sthāpanā-śrāvaka,
- dravya-śrāvaka,
- bhāva-śrāvaka.
Amongst the Digambaras Cāmuṇḍarāya has taken over the Hindu concept of the four āśramas, which, following Jinasena, he terms brahmacārin, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, and bhikṣu.
Some Digambaras, Āśādhara, and Medhāvin, for example, have a threefold division of the śrāvaka and on this their expositions of the doctrine are based:
- pākṣika,
- naiṣṭhika,
- sādhaka.
Āśādhara, who repeats Cāmuṇḍarāya’s categories of brahmacārins and the list of the four āśramas, also gives a classification of the śrāvaka based on his progress through the pratimās:
- jaghanya (least satisfactory),
- madhyama (next best),
- uttama or utkṛṣṭa (best).
Śrāvaka (श्रावक) refers to a “householder votary” according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 7.21.—What are twelve vows of a householder votary (śrāvaka)? These are five minor vows (aṇuvrata), three enhancing vows (guṇavrata) and four teaching vows (śikṣāvrata).
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 7: The Five Vows
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 geogprahy
Śrāvaka.—(EI 7, 8, 24; ML; LL; HA), a lay follower of Jainism or Buddhism; cf. the feminine form Śrāvikā, sometimes called Śrāvikā bhaginī in Jain records. Note: śrāvaka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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Śrāvaka.—(CII 1), ‘a matter relating to a declaration’. Note: śrāvaka is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as 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
Marathi-English dictionary
śrāvaka (श्रावक).—m (S) A pupil or follower of a Jina; one of a sect or distinction amongst the Jyn-people.
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarysrāvaka (स्रावक).—a That causes to ooze.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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-English dictionary
Śrāvaka (श्रावक).—[śri-ṇvul]
1) A hearer.
2) A pupil, disciple; श्रावकावस्थायाम् (śrāvakāvasthāyām) Māl.1 'in their pupilage'.
3) A class of Buddhist saints or votaries.
4) A Buddhist votary in general.
5) A heretic.
6) A crow.
7) A sound audible from afar.
Derivable forms: śrāvakaḥ (श्रावकः).
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Srāvaka (स्रावक).—a. (-vikā f.) [स्रु-णिच्-ण्वुल् (sru-ṇic-ṇvul)] Causing to flow, pouring out, exuding.
-kam Black pepper.
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryŚrāvaka (श्रावक).—(so in Sanskrit, and Pali sāvaka, in Sanskrit also of Jains and other sects), a (Buddhist) disciple, in Mahāyāna texts regularly used of followers of the Hīnayāna, passim: technical description, sarveṣām arhatāṃ kṣīṇāśravāṇām uṣitavratānāṃ samyagājñāsuvimuktacittānāṃ parikṣīṇa- bhavasaṃyojanānām anuprāptasvakārthānām Mv i.248.10 f., repeated below; a similar formula in Pali, Vin. i.183.24 etc.; stages and types of śr° Mvy 1008—1028; names of well-known śr° ib. 1029—1073; their qualities 1075—1126. PTSD says a sāvaka is ‘never an Arahant’, but see CPD s.v. araha(t) 2.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryŚrāvaka (श्रावक).—m.
(-kaḥ) 1. The lay votary of a Budd'ha or Jina. 2. A crow. 3. A hearer. 4. A pupil. E. śru to hear, causal form, ṇvul aff.
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Srāvaka (स्रावक).—n.
(-kaṃ) Black-pepper. f.
(-vikā) Adj. Exuding, letting flow. E. sru to ooze, causal form, ṇvul aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Starts with: Shravakabhumi, Shravakabodhi, Shravakasamgha, Shravakavinaya, Shravakayana.
Ends with: Bhava-shravaka, Dravya-shravaka, Jinashravaka, Mahashravaka, Nama-shravaka, Sthapana-shravaka.
Full-text (+141): Parasanatha, Shravakiya, Three Vehicles, Vaineyika, Vehicle of the Shravakas, Hinayana, Two Vehicles, Four Holy Realms, Shravakayana, Parivara, Bhava-shravaka, Sthapana-shravaka, Marga, Jnanavairocana, Dravya-shravaka, Jineshrvara, Yanika, Nama-shravaka, Shravakabodhi, Yaniya.
Relevant text
Search found 35 books and stories containing Shravaka, Śrāvaka, Sravaka, Srāvaka; (plurals include: Shravakas, Śrāvakas, Sravakas, Srāvakas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
III. Superiority of the Bodhisattva over the other disciples < [Part 1 - Surpassing the high qualities of the Śrāvakas]
II. ‘Position’ and ‘Position of Salvation’ < [IX. Entering into the assurance of Bodhisattva]
X. The power of the destruction of the impurities (āsravakṣaya-jñānabala) < [Part 2 - The ten powers in particular]
The Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra (by Charles Luk)
Chapter 10 - The Buddha Of The Fragrant Land
Chapter 7 - Looking At Living Beings
The Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Chapter XXI - On Pure Actions (a) < [Section Three]
Chapter VIII - On the Four Dependables < [Section One]
Chapter XXII - On Pure Actions (b) < [Section Four]
Chapter VIII - The Five Hundred Disciples Receive Their Predictions
The Vimalakīrti Sutra (by John R. McRae)
Chapter X - The Buddha Accumulation Of Fragrances < [Fascicle Three]
Chapter VII - Viewing Sentient Beings < [Fascicle Two]
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
1c) The objects of refuge < [Part 1 - The causal refuge]
1d.2) The Dharma jewel < [Part 1 - The causal refuge]
B. The source of all truth and goodness < [Chapter V - Relying on the Spiritual Friend]