Vajrasena: 7 definitions
Introduction:
Vajrasena means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismVajrasena (वज्रसेन) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings 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 Vajrasena).
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra1) Vajrasena (वज्रसेन) is the father of Śrīmatī (incarnation of Svayamprabhā), according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism. Accordingly, “[...] in the city Puṇḍarīkiṇī, [Svayamprabhā] became the daughter of the Cakrin Vajrasena and his wife Guṇavatī. She was endowed with beauty surpassing all the world, and was named Śrīmatī by her parents”.
2) Vajrasena (वज्रसेन) also refers to the father of Vajranābha (previous incarnation of Ṛṣabha) and others, according to the same chapter.—Accordingly, “in the continent Jambūdvīpa, in the East Videhas, in the province Puṣkalāvatī in the vicinity of the ocean, in the city Puṇḍarīkiṇī, they were born in succession as the five sons [viz., Vajranābha, Bāhu, Subāhu, Pīṭha and Mahāpīṭha] of King Vajrasena by his wife Dhāriṇī. [...]”.
Source: HereNow4u: Lord VṛṣabhanāthaVajrasena (वज्रसेन) is the father of Vajranābha: Vṛṣabhanātha’s eleventh incarnation (bhava).—After completing his life as a deva Jīvānanda was born in Puṣkalāvatī to the wife of king Vajrasena, Dharaṇī. At the time of conception the mother saw 14 great dreams. Vajrasena named his son Vajranābha, who went on to become a cakravartī (emperor). His four friends were born as his brothers Bāhu, Subāhu, Pīṭha and Mahāpīṭha and became provincial kings. When his father, Tīrthaṅkara Vajrasena, after attaining omniscience (kevalī), started delivering his religious sermons, the cakravartī Vajranābha (due to his past good merits) too accepted initiation (renounced the world).
Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection IVajrasena (वज्रसेन) is the name of a teacher mentioned in the Bṛhadgaccha-gurvāvalī (dealing with Jain lineages history) (in Sanskrit/Prakrit/Gujarati), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The information provided by the Bṛhadgacchagurvāvalī for the teachers [e.g., Vajrasena] includes their literary achievements, reference to installation of images, and, the case arising, their feats in debates with non-Jains. [...]
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryVajrasena (वज्रसेन).—(1) name of a merchant, former birth of Śākyamuni; in the story of Śyāmā: Mahāvastu ii.166.19 ff.; (2) name of one or two Bodhisattvas: Kāraṇḍavvūha 1.8; (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 576.18.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Vajrasena (वज्रसेन):—[=vajra-sena] [from vajra > vaj] m. Name of a Bodhi-sattva, [Kāraṇḍa-vyūha]
2) [v.s. ...] of a king of Śrāvastī, Satr.
3) [v.s. ...] of a preceptor, [Catalogue(s)]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Vajra, Sena, Cena.
Starts with: Vajrasenacarya.
Full-text: Mahapitha, Subahu, Pitha, Bahu, Vajranabha, Pushkalapala, Ratnashekhara, Vajrasenacarya, Pushkala, Nishkramana, Gunavati, Shrimati.
Relevant text
Search found 5 books and stories containing Vajrasena, Vajra-sena; (plurals include: Vajrasenas, senas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Mahavastu (great story) (by J. J. Jones)
Chapter XVII - Śyāmā Jātaka < [Volume II]
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 19: Eleventh incarnation as Vajranābha < [Chapter I]
Part 14: Sixth incarnation as Vajrajaṅgha < [Chapter I]
Part 7: The fast-breaking of Ṛṣabha < [Chapter III]
Kalpa-sutra (Lives of the Jinas) (by Hermann Jacobi)
The Story of the Rishi Vidyuccora < [September 1943]
The Emerald Kingdom or The Land of the Gandharvas < [January 1971]
A Dictionary Of Chinese Buddhist Terms (by William Edward Soothill)