The Sanskrit term Varṣāvāsa can be transliterated into English as Varsavasa or Varshavasa, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

India history and geography

Source: Shodhganga: Ajanta’s antiquity

Varṣāvāsa (वर्षावास) or Vassāvāsa (Pāli) is the rainy retreat season in Buddhism still followed and practised in Buddhist monasteries around the globe. it would be seen that a saṅghārāma is not just made for the purpose of varṣāvāsa, although of course, since a saṅghārāma always comprises of monastic dwelling units, in addition to stupa or Buddha temples, the saṅghārāmas became, and are still, the place where a monk’s retreat would take place. Thus, the saṅghārāmas were the places for varṣāvāsa, no doubt, but it was not the sole reason for their making, nor was it the sole purpose to which a saṅghārāma was devoted.

Varṣāvāsa was aimed at protecting plant life. While walking along rain-soaked and muddy pathways, one was likely to trample the green grasses, young plants, and tiny creatures. This had made the Buddha prescribe that monks avoid travelling during the rainy season as much as possible and remain in the vihāras. The Buddha prescribed, however, that the period of such dwelling should not exceed three months.

Varṣāvāsa had another purpose. The Buddha had advised it to be a kind of educational and confessional retreat for the monks, undertaken for introspection and the performance of devotional rites. He fixed two spells of Varṣāvāsa each of a three-month period falling between the Āṣāḍhī Pūrṇimā and Kārttika Pūrṇimā. During Varṣāvāsa, monks perform various religious rites on every aśṭamī (eighth day of the lunar fortnight), amāvasyā (the last day of the lunar month), and Pūrṇimā (full moon). They fast on these days and visit families to talk to them about religious practices and rites. During Varṣāvāsa, Buddhists take vows of meditation, intense contemplation, and learning. Non-monks also join monks in performing religious rites. Every monk is required to perform monsoon rites on penalty of committing a grave sin.

context information

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 Dictionary

Varṣāvāsa (वर्षावास).—m. (= Pali vassā°), residence (of a monk) during the rainy season:… me °so bhaviṣyati Mahāvastu i.326.2; (adhivāsetu bhagavāṃ vārāṇasīye) nagare °saṃ Mahāvastu i.325.17; similarly 329.8.

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

Varṣāvāsa (वर्षावास):—[from varṣā > varṣa] (varṣāv) m. the residence during the rains, [Divyāvadāna]

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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Varṣāvāsa (ವರ್ಷಾವಾಸ):—[noun] (buddh.) a staying of buddhist monks at the same place, without wander, during the four rainy months.

context information

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)

Partial matches: Varsha, Avasa.

Starts with: Varshavasana, Varshavasaya.

Full-text: Vassavasa, Vihara, Ajanta.

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Search found 1 books and stories containing Varshavasa, Varṣa-āvāsa, Varsa-avasa, Varṣāvāsa, Varsavasa, Varsha-avasa; (plurals include: Varshavasas, āvāsas, avasas, Varṣāvāsas, Varsavasas). 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)

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