Utpalavarna, Utpalavarṇā: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Utpalavarna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra1) Utpalavarṇā (उत्पलवर्णा) from Rājagṛha is one of the three courtesans (veśya) mentioned in a story in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 13. Accordingly, three brothers heard speak of three courtesans (e.g., Utpalavarṇā). Hearing everyone praise the incomparable beauty of these three women, the three brothers thought of them day and night and could not get them out of their minds. In dreams, they possessed them. Once awakened, they said to themselves: “These women did not come to us and we did not go to these women; nevertheless, pleasure was produced. Because of them we woke up. Are all dharmas like that?”
2) Utpalavarṇā (उत्पलवर्णा) is the name of a Bhikṣuṇī (Buddhist nun) according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XVI). Accordingly, “In order to disguise her disreputable sex, the Bhikṣuṇī Houa sö (Utpalavarṇa) transformed herself into a noble cakravartin king with his seven jewels and his thousand sons. When people saw him, they left their seats and moved away to give him place. When this fictive king came near the Buddha, he resumed his former shape and became the Bhikṣuṇī again. She was the first to greet the Buddha”.
Note: According to some sources, the nun Utpalavarṇā, in order to be the first to greet the Buddha, magically transformed herself into a Cakravartin king surrounded by his thousand sons. Yet other texts – and the Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra is among them – establish a parallel between Utpalavarṇā and Subhuti. This Bhikṣu, instead of going to greet the Buddha on his descent from the heaven, remained quietly in his retreat at Rājagṛha where he was meditating on impermanence and the futility of things. He was thus paying homage to the dharmakāya. As this meditation greatly overshadowed the salutations addressed by Utpalavarṇa to the Buddha’s birth-body (janmakāya), it was said that Subhūti and not Utpalavarṇā had been the first to greet him.
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.
India history and geography
Source: archive.org: Buddhist records of the Western WorldUtpalavarṇā (उत्पलवर्णा) is the name of a Bhikṣunī, who, being anxious to be the first to see Buddha, was changed into a Chakravartin monarch, with the seven gems (ratnāni) accompanying her, and with the four kinds of troops to escort and defend her. Coming to the place where the lord of the world was, she reassumed her form as a Bhikṣunī, on which Tathāgata addressed her and said: "You are not the first to see me! Subhūti (Chen-hien), comprehending the emptiness of all things, he has beheld my spiritual body (dharmakāya)."
At the country of Kapitha (corresponding with the present Saṅkisa), in front of the stūpas of Śakra and Brahmā is the place where Utpalavarṇā (Lin-hwa-sih) the Bhikṣunī, wishing to be the first to see Buddha, was changed into a Chakravartin-rāja when Tathāgata was returning from the palace of Īśvara Deva to Jambudvīpa.
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
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryUtpalavarṇā (उत्पलवर्णा).—(= Pali Uppalavaṇṇā, called Therī), name of a follower of the Buddha, referred to as a śrāvikā Mahāvyutpatti 1072; Mahāvastu i.251.21; as a bhikṣuṇī Divyāvadāna 160.7; 401.24; Karmavibhaṅga (and Karmavibhaṅgopadeśa) 159.18 (see Lévi's note on her story). See also Utpalāvarṇā.
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Utpalāvarṇā (उत्पलावर्णा).—name of a Buddhist disciple, doubtless = Utpalavarṇā, Jātakamālā 115.24 (verse; but °lā° does not seem to be m.c.).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English DictionaryUtpalavarṇā (उत्पलवर्णा):—[=ut-pala-varṇā] [from ut-pala] f. Name of a woman.
[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.
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Search found 6 books and stories containing Utpalavarna, Utpalavarṇā, Utpalāvarṇā, Utpala-varna, Utpala-varṇā; (plurals include: Utpalavarnas, Utpalavarṇās, Utpalāvarṇās, varnas, varṇās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tibetan tales (derived from Indian sources) (by W. R. S. Ralston)
Chapter 10 - The story of Utpalavarṇā
Chapter 9 - The story of Mahākāśyapa and Bhadrā
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 3 - Descent of Buddha from the Trāyastriṃśa heaven < [Chapter XVI - The Story of Śāriputra]
Story of Devadatta, the victim of profit and honors < [Chapter XXIV - The Virtue of Patience]
Appendix 3 - Buddha’s sermon to the Trāyastriṃśa gods < [Chapter XLII - The Great Loving-kindness and the Great Compassion of the Buddhas]
Buddhist records of the Western world (Xuanzang) (by Samuel Beal)
Chapter 15 - Country of Kie-pi-ta (Kapitha) < [Book IV - Fifteen Countries]
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter XXIV - The Buddha Maṅgala < [Volume I]
Mahayana Mahaparinirvana Sutra
Chapter XXIV - On Pure Actions (d) < [Section Four]