Sudhana, Sudhanā: 10 definitions
Introduction:
Sudhana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Hindi. 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 Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
See Sutanu.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Sudhana (सुधन) is the son of a merchant, from a town called Sukhākara, who received a prophecy from Mañjuśrī, according to the Avataṃsaka-sūtra. Accordingly, Sudhana devoted himself to 110 spiritual friends in a great building adorned with the ornaments of Vairocana. These spiritual friends included monks, bodhisattvas, ṛṣis, brāhmaṇas, girls, kings, youths, goddesses, householders, etc. From these beings, Sudhana took the vows without the need for any formal basis.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Sudhana (सुधन) is the name of a Bodhisattva 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 Sudhana).
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Sudhana (सुधन) is the name of a merchant from Śrīpura, according to chapter 5.4 [śāntinātha-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, as Śānti-nātha narrated to king Kurucandra:—“In this very Jambūdvīpa in this same zone Bhārata in the country Kosala in the city Śrīpura there were four merchants’ sons of the same age, like full brothers, Sudhana, Dhanapati, Dhanada, Dhaneśvara. Once upon a time the four together set out for Ratnadvīpa to seek a fortune. Their provisions were carried by Droṇaka. [...]”.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Sudhana (सुधन).—(1) name of a prince, son of King Dhana, previous incarnation of the Bodhisattva, who marries Manoharā (compare Sudhanu): Divyāvadāna 441.20 ff.; Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.122.21; 132.18 ff.; colophon, Sudhanakumārāvadānam (Divyāvadāna chapter 30) Divyāvadāna 461.9; (2) name of a śreṣṭhi-dāraka, chief character in Gaṇḍavyūha: Gaṇḍavyūha 2.3, 7; 51.21; 52.10, et passim; m.c. Sūdhana, 208.11; 215.14; in references to, or citations from, Gaṇḍavyūha, sometimes called Ārya-, Śikṣāsamuccaya 36.8; 95.6; 101.13 (here called Ācārya-, perhaps error for Ārya-?); 122.14; 276.10; (3) name of a Bodhisattva: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 40.15 (one of 16 B.); 62.12 (one of 8); 111.8 (one of 10); 311.14, 18; 461.6; perhaps the same (?), called Sudhana-kumāra and associated with Tārā, Sādhanamālā 37.9; Sudhana, with Vasudhārā, 46.11, with Tārā 64.17 etc.
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Sūdhana (सूधन).—see Sudhana.
Sudhana (सुधन).—m. a proper name.
Sudhana is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms su and dhana (धन).
Sudhana (सुधन).—[adjective] very rich.
1) Sudhana (सुधन):—[=su-dhana] [from su > su-tanaya] mfn. very rich, [Ṛg-veda]
2) [v.s. ...] Name of various men, [Buddhist literature; Śukasaptati]
Sudhana (सुधन):—
1) adj. reich: jana [Ṛgveda 5, 34, 8.] —
2) m. Nomen proprium verschiedener Männer [WILSON, Sel. Works 2, 24.] [Lebensbeschreibung Śākyamuni’s 319 (89).] [TĀRAN. 308.] [ŚUK.] in [Lassen’s Anthologie (III) 37, 2.] — Vgl. saudhanya .
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.
Hindi dictionary
Sudhānā (सुधाना):—(v) to get (an auspicious moment) calculated; to get purified.
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See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Cu, Shu, Dhana, Tana.
Starts with: Cutanakaran, Cutanam, Cutanampannu, Cutanappatuttu, Cutanati, Cutanavarai, Sudhanakumara, Sudhananda, Sudhanandalahari, Sudhanandasuri.
Full-text (+80): Dhanasu, Shan cai tong zi, Shan cai, Saudhanya, Cutanam, Cutanampannu, Subhumi, Maitreya, Maitri, Meghashri, Ishvara, Bhayagrasvara, Ushmanayatana, Simhashri, Navikashura, Sukhakara, Sucandra, Simhavijrimbhita, Mahamaya, Vasantadeva.
Relevant text
Search found 30 books and stories containing Sudhana, Su-dhana, Sudhanā, Sūdhana, Sudhānā; (plurals include: Sudhanas, dhanas, Sudhanās, Sūdhanas, Sudhānās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 3.2.18 < [Chapter 2 - The Great Festival of Śrī Girirāja]
Verse 1.14.9 < [Chapter 14 - The Liberation of Śakaṭāsura and Tṛṇāvarta]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Bhūmi 9: the ground of good wisdom (sādhumatī) < [Chapter XX - (2nd series): Setting out on the Mahāyāna]
Appendix 7 - The Legend of Druma (king of the Gandharvas) < [Chapter XV - The Arrival of the Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions]
Clearing the Course < [Volume 11, Issue 4 (2020)]
A Sanctuary of Avataṃsaka < [Volume 16, Issue 4 (2025)]
Crafting Cinema in the Buddhist Contemplative Gaze < [Volume 10, Issue 4 (2019)]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Page 406 < [Volume 21 (1918)]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources) (by W. R. S. Ralston)