In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Sunirmala (सुनिर्मल) refers to “(being) completely without stain” and is used to describe Kaula, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, [while expounding Kaula and the Nine Kaulas]—“I praise Kaula that is completely without stain (sunirmala). Devoid of beginning, middle and end, it is pure, consists of consciousness, is unmanifest and without foundation”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

1) Sunirmala (सुनिर्मल) is the name of a Tathāgata (Buddha) 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 Sunirmala).

2) Sunirmala (सुनिर्मल) is also the name of a Bodhisattva mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

3) Sunirmalā (सुनिर्मला) is the name of Dūtī (i.e., messengers of Lord Vajrapāṇi) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

4) Sunirmalā (सुनिर्मला) is also the name of a Dhāraṇī Goddesses mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

context information

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.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Sunirmala (सुनिर्मल) refers to “one who is extremely spotless” and is used to describe the Bhagavān, according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, “Now the Bhagavān was residing in the abode of Brahmā. [...] The Bhagavān had a body ornamented with a net of ten million million thousand rays. He was blazing brightly like a golden pillar. He was brilliant like the Sun, displayed the thirty-two marks of beauty and the eighty minor marks of beauty. He was embellished with a radiance measuring a fathom. He had the body of a Tathāgata, extremely pure, extremely spotless (sunirmala) and brilliant”.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

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

Sunirmala (सुनिर्मल).—name of a Bodhisattva: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 42.5.

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

Sunirmala (सुनिर्मल).—[adjective] very clean.

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

Sunirmala (सुनिर्मल):—[=su-nirmala] [from su > su-nakṣatra] mf(ā)n. perfectly clear or pure, [Mṛcchakaṭikā]

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

Sunirmala (सुनिर्मल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Sunimmala.

[Sanskrit to German]

Sunirmala 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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Nirmala, Cu, Shu.

Full-text: Sunimmala.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Sunirmala, Sunirmalā, Su-nirmala; (plurals include: Sunirmalas, Sunirmalās, nirmalas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)

Verse 1.2.182 < [Chapter 2 - The Lord’s Appearance]

Verse 3.9.353 < [Chapter 9 - The Glories of Advaita]

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Shri Gaudiya Kanthahara (by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati)

Chapter 7 - Kṛṣṇa-tattva

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