Upakara, Upakāra: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Upakara means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Upkar.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramUpakāra (उपकार) refers to “helping (the disciple)”, according to the Kubjikāmata-tantra, the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “Neither mother, father, brother or relatives help (upakāra) one as the teacher does. Having understood this, whether he suffers when there is (cause for) suffering or is happy when there is (cause for) happiness, he should not, even unwittingly, assume a position contrary to (the one his) teacher has. Sitting next to him (the disciple) should massage him and the like. He should offer him the bowl with which he begs and flowers constantly”.
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationUpakāra (उपकार) refers to “helping someone”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.4.4 (“Search for Kārttikeya and his conversation with Nandin”).—Accordingly, as Kārttikeya said to Nandīśvara: “[...] The Kṛttikās are wise women of Yogic practice. They are the digits of Prakṛti. They have helped (upakāra) in nurturing me with their own breast milk. I am their fostered son. They are my own part and parcel. I am born of Prakṛti and the semen of the lord of Prakṛti. O Nandikeśvara, I am not severed from the daughter of the lord of mountains who is virtually my mother just as these ladies on the basis of virtuous rites. [...]”.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Buddhist Information: A Survey of Paramattha DhammasUpakara is assistance.
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).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismUpakara (उपकर) is the name of a Pratyekabuddha 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 Upakara).
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: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraUpakāra (उपकार) refers to “service”, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLII.—Accordingly, “[...] furthermore, great wisdom has as its nature the relinquishment (parityāga), the rejection (parivarjana) of dharmas; great loving-kindness and great compassion have as their nature pity for (anukampā) and service (upakāra) to beings. This pity and service are loved by all beings; that is why they call them great loving-kindness and great compassion of the Buddha”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections1) Upakāra (उपकार) refers to “benefit”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “[com.—Next he speaks about the provision of the benefit (upakārakāritvam) of those (teṣām) being the rain-clouds, etc. (parjanyādyāḥ) that are protected by the doctrine (dharmarakṣitāḥ)]—The rain clouds, wind, sun, moon, earth, ocean and Indra—those, which are protected by the doctrine, are of service to the whole world. I think, that doctrine, whose progress is unimpeded, has arisen for the benefit of the world of living souls in the guise of world-protectors”.
2) Upakāra (उपकार) refers to “being of service (to the whole world)”, according to the Jñānārṇava.—Accordingly, “The rain clouds, wind, sun, moon, earth, ocean and Indra—those, which are protected by the doctrine, are of service to the whole world (viśva-upakāra). I think, that doctrine, whose progress is unimpeded, has arisen for the benefit of the world of living souls in the guise of world-protectors”.
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 geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryUpakara.—(Ep. Ind., Vol. XXXIV, p. 106, note 5), cf. nikara and upaskara. Note: upakara is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryupakāra : (m.) help; support; favour.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryUpakāra, (fr. upa + kṛ, cp. upakaraṇa) service, help, benefit, obligation, favour D. III, 187 sq.; VvA. 68; PvA. 8, 18 (°āya hoti is good for); Sdhp. 283, 447, 530. ‹-› bahûpakāra (adj.) of great help, very serviceable or helpful S. IV, 295; PvA. 114. upakāraṃ karoti to do a favour, to oblige PvA. 42, 88, 159 (kata); katûpakāra one to whom a service has been rendered PvA. 116.
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryupakāra (उपकार).—m (S) A favor; a kindness; an obligation; a benefit conferred. 2 Benefit, advantage, good. u0 ṭhēvaṇēṃ g. of o. To keep or retain a favor, i. e. not to repay it. u0 bāḷagaṇēṃ-mānaṇēṃ-na visaraṇēṃ To preserve a grateful remembrance of a favor. Ex. tēla āṇuni dyāvēṃ gharā || tumacyā upakārāṃ na visarūṃ || upakārānīṃ bāndhaṇēṃ To lay under obligations. upa- kārānnī māraṇēṃ To kill with kindnesses.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishupakāra (उपकार).—m A favour; obligation; benefit.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryUpakāra (उपकार).—1 Service, help, assistance, favour, kindness, obligation (opp. apakāra); अशक्यो द्रव्यपदार्थिकेन द्रव्यस्य गुणकृत उपकारः प्रतिज्ञातुम् (aśakyo dravyapadārthikena dravyasya guṇakṛta upakāraḥ pratijñātum) Mahābhārata on P.II.1.1. उपकारापकारौ हि लक्ष्यं लक्षणमेतयोः (upakārāpakārau hi lakṣyaṃ lakṣaṇametayoḥ) Śiśupālavadha 2.37; शाम्येत्प्रत्यपकारेण नोपकारेण दुर्जनः (śāmyetpratyapakāreṇa nopakāreṇa durjanaḥ) Kumārasambhava 2.4,3.73; Y.3.284; Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.22; उपकारे वृत् (upakāre vṛt) to be of service or useful (to another);
2) Preparation.
3) Ornament, decoration.
4) Particularly, flowers, garlands &c. suspended at gate-ways as embellishments on festive occasions.
-rī 1 A royal tent, palace.
2) Caravansera.
Derivable forms: upakāraḥ (उपकारः).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryUpakara (उपकर).—adj. (and subst. m.?; to Sanskrit upa-kṛ), bene- ficent: Bodhisattvabhūmi 218.1 vāg upakarā; 218.6, 16 upakarāṃ (in 16 text °kārāṃ, erroneously) vācam; Śakrapraśnasūtra, Waldschmidt, Kl. Sanskrit Texte 4,113.2—4 upakaras tvaṃ tāta pañcaśikhāsmāka(m u)pakaraś ca yo hi nāma…; Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.287.13.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryUpakāra (उपकार).—m.
(-raḥ) 1. Favour, protection, help, assistance. 2. Use, advantage. 3. A flower, &c. full blown. 4. Garlands suspended, at gateways, as an embellishment on festivals. E. upa near or over, kṛ to make, ghañ aff. [Pagĕ5-b+ 60]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryUpakāra (उपकार).—i. e. upa-kṛ + a, m. 1. Benefitting, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 8, 265 (in order to benefit them). 2. Favour, Mahābhārata 3, 15024. 3. Assistance, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] 11, 11.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryUpakāra (उपकार).—[masculine] service, assistance, favour.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Upakāra (उपकार):—[=upa-kāra] a etc. See upa- √1. kṛ.
2) [=upa-kāra] [from upa-kṛ] b m. help, assistance, benefit, service, favour
3) [v.s. ...] use, advantage, [Mahābhārata; Yājñavalkya; Hitopadeśa; Vikramorvaśī] etc.
4) [v.s. ...] (upakāre-√vṛt, to be of service to another, [Rāmāyaṇa])
5) [v.s. ...] preparation, ornament, decoration, embellishment (as garlands suspended at gateways on festivals, flowers etc.), [Suśruta; cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryUpakāra (उपकार):—[upa-kāra] (raḥ) 1. m. Favor, assistance; use; flower; garland.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Upakāra (उपकार) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Uvayāra.
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Upakara (उपकर) [Also spelled upkar]:—(nm) a cess.
2) Upakāra (उपकार) [Also spelled upkaar]:—(nm) beneficence, benefaction; good; —[mānanā] to feel grateful, to express gratitude.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusUpakara (ಉಪಕರ):—[noun] an auxiliary tax levied along with or on the main one; cess.
--- OR ---
Upakāra (ಉಪಕಾರ):—
1) [noun] a help; service, kindness done for or received (another) from; the act of doing good or helping others, esp. by giving money for charitable purposes; benefaction.
2) [noun] he who extends help, service, kindness, etc to another (esp. in need).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+10): Upakara-mananem, Upakaragedi, Upakaraka, Upakarakaritva, Upakarakatva, Upakaramadu, Upakaramgey, Upakarana, Upakaranageyi, Upakaranartha, Upakaranasamagri, Upakaranavant, Upakaranavat, Upakaranavidhi, Upakarane, Upakaranem, Upakarani, Upakaranibhu, Upakaranikri, Upakaraniya.
Ends with (+1): Anupakara, Atyupakara, Bahupakara, Bhupakara, Dharmopakara, Katupakara, Khatarupakara, Kritopakara, Kupakara, Mahopakara, Nirupakara, Paccupakara, Paropakara, Pratyupakara, Punahpratyupakara, Rupakara, Sopakara, Supakara, Svarupakara, Vishvopakara.
Full-text (+31): Upakarin, Upakarapara, Pratyupakara, Paropakara, Kritopakara, Sopakara, Upakarapakara, Vyupakara, Dhvajikar, Sopakarana, Pratyupakriya, Nrimegha, Nirupakara, Upkar, Apakara, Svavamyupakaraka, Upakara-mananem, Upakaraka, Parasparopakara, Mahopakara.
Relevant text
Search found 16 books and stories containing Upakara, Upakāra, Upa-kara, Upa-kāra; (plurals include: Upakaras, Upakāras, karas, kāras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 5.20 - Another function of the matter (pudgala) < [Chapter 5 - The Non-living Substances]
Verse 5.17 - The medium of motion and the medium of rest < [Chapter 5 - The Non-living Substances]
Verse 5.18 - The function of the space (ākāśa) < [Chapter 5 - The Non-living Substances]
Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study) (by Sadhu Gyanananddas)
2.1. Sāṃkhya Darśana < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.12.35 < [Chapter 12 - The Lord’s Wandering Throughout Navadvīpa]
Verse 2.19.53 < [Chapter 19 - The Lord’s Pastimes in Advaita’s House]
Verse 1.13.168 < [Chapter 13 - Defeating Digvijayī]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 9.259 < [Section XXXVI - Who are ‘Thorns’ (kaṇṭaka)?]
Verse 8.265 < [Section XL - Disputes regarding Boundaries]
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
VII. The knowledge of the way leading to the various destinies < [Part 2 - The ten powers in particular]
IV. Epithet ‘great’ refused for the wisdom of the Buddhas < [Chapter XLII - The Great Loving-kindness and the Great Compassion of the Buddhas]
IV. Why teach the ten powers (daśa-bala)? < [Part 1 - General questions]
Apadana commentary (Atthakatha) (by U Lu Pe Win)
Commentary on the poem on friends (mittā) and men of good hearts (suhajjā) < [Commentary on biography of Silent Buddhas (Paccekabuddha)]