In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Upasthāyaka (उपस्थायक) refers to the “assistants” of the Buddha, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XLI. Accordingly, “the assistants (upasthāyaka) such as Lo-t’o (Rādha), Mi-hi-kia (Meghika), Siu-na-tch’a-to-lo (Sunakṣetra), Na-k’ie-so-p’o-lo (Nāgasamāla), A-nan (Ānanda), etc., who followed the Buddha, brought him his utensils”.

Notes: Each Buddha had his assistant (upasthāyaka), a monk specially attached to his person, entrusted with fanning him, carrying his robe and bowl for alms-round, introducing visitors. The Sanskrit Mahāvadānasūtra has drawn up a list of the assistants who served the last seven Buddhas: Aśoka for Vipaśyin, Kṣemakāra for Śikhin, Upaśanta for Viśvabhuj, Bhadrika for Krakasunda (or Krakucchanda), Svastika for Kanakamuni, Sarvamitra for Kāśyapa, and finally Ānanda for Śākyamuni.

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: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Upasthāyaka (उपस्थायक).—

1) A servant.

2) A follower of Buddha.

Derivable forms: upasthāyakaḥ (उपस्थायकः).

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

Upasthāyaka (उपस्थायक).—m., f. °ikā; rarely (Divyāvadāna 426.27; Mūla-Sarvāstivāda-Vinaya i.30.10; 90.7) m. °ika (once also upasthāka, q.v.; Sanskrit seems to have m. °ika very rarely, see [Boehtlingk], but no °aka; Pali only upaṭṭhāka recorded), servant, attendant: Saddharmapuṇḍarīka 95.9 (verse) °kā nitya parasya; 215.6 bhagavataś caite putrā bhagavataś copasthāyakā(ḥ); 245.1 te buddhā bhagavanta upasthāyakadvitīyā upasthāyakatṛtīyā(ḥ); 293.4; Lalitavistara 91.17 (verse) upasthāyikās (f.) te vayaṃ, and 19; 421.18 (verse), read, teṣa munina ye (ed. muninaye) upasthāyakāḥ; Mahāvastu i.249.1 °yako; 251.22 Ānando…upasthāyako (sc. of Śākyamuni) bhaviṣyati; 322.18 teṣāṃ (of aged parents) nāsty anyo upasthāyako, and similarly ii.214.5; i.326.5 ff. °yako, attendant of a Buddha (like Ānanda, above); f. °yikā ii.433.14; °yikāye (so read with v.l. for °yakāye) 467.3; (chandako…bhagavato kumārabhūtasya) upas- thāyako iii.91.8; vaidyabhaiṣajyopasthāyaka-…pratya- yasaṃpadam Gaṇḍavyūha 328.8; upasthāyaka Divyāvadāna 35.25; 50.27 (glānopa°); 90.13 (buddhānāṃ); 612.2 (Ānando nāma śramaṇagautamasya); in 426.27 upasthāyikāś, n. pl. m., all mss., while in 29 below all have vaidyopasthāyakāś ca visarjitāḥ, of the same persons.

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

Upasthāyaka (उपस्थायक):—[=upa-sthāyaka] [from upa-sthā] m. a servant, [Buddhist literature]

[Sanskrit to German]

Upasthayaka 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: Upa.

Query error!

Full-text (+7): Nirupasthayaka, Glanopasthayaka, Kaludayin, Upasthaka, Kanakamuni, Svastika, Krakucchanda, Sarvamitra, Krakasunda, Radha, Guhyaka, Kshemakara, Vishvabhuj, Meghika, Sunakshetra, Chandaka, Bhadrika, Kashyapa, Upashanta, Shikhin.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Upasthayaka, Upa-sthayaka, Upa-sthāyaka, Upasthāyaka; (plurals include: Upasthayakas, sthayakas, sthāyakas, Upasthāyakas). 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)

Appendix 7 - The Buddha’s assistants (upasthāyaka) < [Chapter XLI - The Eighteen Special Attributes of the Buddha]

II. Being the assistant of the Buddha < [Part 3 - Acquiring precedence, etc.]

Part 7 - Why Ānanda is not an arhat < [Chapter VI - The Great Bhikṣu Saṃgha]

+ 8 more chapters / show preview