Svalakshana, Svālakṣaṇa, Svalakṣaṇa, Sva-lakshana: 7 definitions

Introduction:

Svalakshana means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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 terms Svālakṣaṇa and Svalakṣaṇa can be transliterated into English as Svalaksana or Svalakshana, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Svalakshana in Mahayana glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Svalakṣaṇa (स्वलक्षण) or Svalakṣaṇāśuci refers to the “impurity of intrinsic characteristics” and represents one of the five “impurities of the body” (kāyāśuci), contemplating on which, the Yogin can obtain the four “foundations of mindfulness” (smṛtyupasthāna), forming part of the thirty-seven auxiliaries to enlightenment (bodhipākṣika), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI.

Accordingly, the impurity of Svalakṣaṇa is described as follows: “this body with its nine gates is always secreting impurity: the eyes spill out rheum and tears; the ears produce wax; the nose contains snot; the mouth has saliva and vomit; the anus and the urethra constantly empty out excrement and urine; and the hair-pores sweaty impurity... That is what is called the impurity of intrinsic characteristics (svalakṣaṇāśuci)”.

Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā

Svalakṣaṇa (स्वलक्षण) refers to “(one’s own) characteristics”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly as The Lord said: “Śāriputra, the Tathāgata Ekaratnavyūha, seating in the lion’s throne thus, explained the dharma-seal called Gaganapariśuddhi to these Bodhisattvas, which has thirty-two aspects of entrance. What is this Dharma-seal (dharmamudrā) called Gaganapariśuddhi which has thirty-two aspects of entrance? [...] all dharmas are fully purified because of their essential tranquility; 17) all dharmas are tranquil since they are free from thought, mind and consciousness (citta-manas-vijñāna-vigata); 18) all dharmas lack characteristics (svalakṣaṇa-vigata) since they are non-originated from the very beginning (ādyanutpanna); [...]”.

Mahayana book cover
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.

Discover the meaning of svalakshana or svalaksana in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

Buddhist philosophy

Source: Google Books: The Treasury of Knowledge: Book six, parts one and two (philosophy)

Svalakṣaṇa (स्वलक्षण) refers to “specifically characterized phenomena”.—Accordingly, “The terms ‘object’ (viṣaya; yul), ‘knowable’ (jñeya; shes bya), and ‘appraisable’ (prameya; gzhal bya) are all essentially equivalent, [...] it is the defining characteristic of the ‘appraisable’ that it is to be understood through valid cognition”. When objects to be appraised (prameya; gzhal bya) are analyzed in terms of the processes of understanding, they are said to include both specifically characterized phenomena (svalakṣaṇa; rang mtshan) and generally characterized phenomena (sāmānyalakṣaṇa; spyi mtshan).”.

context information

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General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Svalakshana in Buddhism glossary
Source: Revue internationale de philosophie: Dharmakīrti by Vincent Eltschinger

Svalakṣaṇa (स्वलक्षण) refers to “non-interpreted particulars”.—According to Dharmakīrti, ultimate reality (paramārtha) is reducible to non-interpreted particulars (svalakṣaṇa). These particulars are momentary (kṣaṇika) and owe their transient existence to causal complexes (hetusāmagrī) that entail no relations at all, the mere co-presence of the different factors being enough to account for the rise of an effect. Causal efficacy (arthakriyā) is the hallmark and only definition of what is real: to exist only consists in being endowed with arthakriyā, a term whose meaning ranges from “causal efficacy” to “fulfilment of a (human) purpose” (see §6), and for which “telic function” or “functionality” may provide working equivalents.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Svalakshana in Sanskrit glossary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Svālakṣaṇa (स्वालक्षण).—a. Easily perceived.

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Svalakṣaṇa (स्वलक्षण).—a peculiar characteristic or property.

Derivable forms: svalakṣaṇam (स्वलक्षणम्).

Svalakṣaṇa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms sva and lakṣaṇa (लक्षण).

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

1) Svalakṣaṇa (स्वलक्षण):—[=sva-lakṣaṇa] [from sva] a n. peculiar characteristic or property, [Mahābhārata]

2) [v.s. ...] mfn. having its own specific characteristics, [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]

3) [=sva-lakṣaṇa] b sva-likhita etc. See p. 1276, col. 3.

4) Svālakṣaṇa (स्वालक्षण):—[=sv-ālakṣaṇa] mfn. easily perceived or discerned, [Mahābhārata]

[Sanskrit to German]

Svalakshana 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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