Vassa: 8 definitions

Introduction
In Buddhism
1. Theravada
2. General definition
Languages
1. Pali
2. Prakrit
3. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Vassa means something in Buddhism, Pali, Jainism, Prakrit. 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

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Access to Insight: A Glossary of Pali and Buddhist TermsRains Retreat. A period from July to October, corresponding roughly to the rainy season, in which each monk is required to live settled in a single place and not wander freely about.Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

Mentioned with Bhanna in the compound Vassabhanna, as dwellers of Ukkala and as denying cause, consequence and reality.

There were certain aspects of the Buddhas teaching which even they would accept (E.g., S.iii.73; A.ii.31; M.iii.78).

Buddhaghosa explains (AA.ii.497; MA.ii.894) Vassabhanna as Vasso ca Bhanno cati dve jana.

Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English Glossary

M / N (Rain. Rainy period). Rainy season. The term does usually designate the period of retreat being observed by the bhikkhus during the three months of monsoon (since the first full moon of July up to the one of October).

During this period, all bhikkhus dwell in the same monastery. They must wait the end of these three months if they wish to proceed somewhere, except in case of emergency. They can admittedly go out for going to receive some rice or accept some invitations but they are supposed to sleep within the same monastery.

vassa also means year of monastic life (for example: We wil say of a bhikkhu who integrated the sangha ten years ago that he has ten vassas).

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Amaravati: Glossary

Buddhist Lent, Rains the monsoon season retreat period. A bhikkhus seniority is determined by the number of Rains he has spent in the Order.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

vassa : (m.) 1. the year; 2. rain.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Vassa, (m. & nt.) (cp. Vedic varṣa (nt.) rain. For etym. see vassati¹) 1. rain, shower J. IV, 284; VI, 486 (khaṇika sudden rain); Miln. 307; Mhvs 21, 31; DhA. III, 163 (pokkhara° portentous); SnA 224 (mahā° deluge of rain); PvA. 55 (vāta° wind & rain).—fig. shower, downpour, fall M. I, 130=Vin. II, 25 (kahāpaṇa°); DhA. II, 83 (kusuma°).—Esp. the rainy season, lasting roughly from June to October (Āsāḷha-Kattika), often called “Lent, ” though the term does not strictly correspond. Usually in pl. vassā (A. IV, 138), also termed vassā-ratta “time of rains” (J. IV, 74; V, 38). Cp. BSk. varṣā, e. g: Divy 401, 509.—Keeping Lent (i.e. spending the rainy season) is expressed by vassaṃ vasati Vin. III, 10; Mhvs 16, 8; or by vassa-vāsaṃ (vass’āvāsaṃ) vasati (see below), vassaṃ upeti S. V, 152, vassaṃ upagacchati S. V, 152; PvA. 42. One who has kept Lent or finished the residence of the rains is a vuttha-vassa J. I, 82; Mhvs 17, 1; or vassaṃ vuttha Vin. III, 11; S. I, 199; V, 405; PvA. 43. Cp. BSk. varṣ’oṣita Divy 92, 489.—Vassa-residence is vassa-vāsa (see below).—vassaṃ vasāpeti (Caus.) to induce someone to spend the rainy season PvA. 20.—anto-vassaṃ during Lent; cp. antovass’eka-divasaṃ one day during Lent Mhvs 18, 2; antara-vassaṃ id. S. IV, 63.—2. (nt.) a year A. IV, 252 (mānusakāni paññāsa vassāni); Sn. 289, 446, 1073. satta° (adj.) seven years old Mhvs 5, 61; satta-aṭṭha° 7 or 8 years old PvA. 67.—See cpd. °sata.—3. semen virile, virility: see cpds. °kamma & °vara.

—agga shelter from the rain, a shed (agga=agāra) J. I, 123; DhA. III, 105=VvA. 75.—āvāsa vassa-residence A. III, 67.—āvāsika belonging to the spending of the rainy season, said of food (bhatta) given for that purpose J. VI, 71; DhA. I, 129 (as one of the 4 kinds: salāka°, pakkhika°, navacanda°, vass’—āvāsika°), 298; IV, 129 (°lābha a gift for the r. s.).—upagamana entering on the vassa-residence PvA. 42.—upanāyikā (f.) the approach of the rainy season, commencement of Vassa residence (BSk. varṣopanāyikā Divy 18, 489; AvŚ I. 182, where Ep. of the full moon of Āsāḷha). Two such terms for taking up the residence: purimikā & pacchimikā A. I, 51; i.e. the day after the full moon of Ā. or a month after that date. See upanāyika.—vass’ûpanāyika-divasa the first day of Lent Vism. 92; DhA. IV, 118; °ûpanāyikaṃ khandhakaṃ the section of the Vinaya dealing with the entrance upon Lent (i.e. Vin. I, 137 sq.) Mhvs 16, 9.—odaka rain-water Vism. 260=VbhA. 243.—kamma causing virility D. I, 12 (=vasso ti puriso, vosso ti paṇḍako iti; vossassa vassa-karaṇaṃ vassa-kammaṃ, vassassa vossa-karaṇaṃ vossa-kammaṃ DA. I, 97).—kāla time for rain J. IV, 55.—dasa (& °dasaka) a decade of years: see enumerated at J. IV, 397.—pūgāni innumerable years J. VI, 532, cp. Sn. 1073.—vara a eunuch J. VI, 502.—valāhaka a rain cloud A. III, 243 (°devā).—vassana shedding of rain, raining DhA. II, 83.—vāsa Vassa residence S. V, 326; PvA. 20.—vuṭṭhi rainfall SnA 34, cp. 224.—sata a century Sn. 589, 804; A. IV, 138; Pv. II, 1¹⁵; PvA. 3, 60, 69.—satika centenarian Miln. 301. (Page 605)

context information

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.

Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

Vassa (वस्स) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Vaśya.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Vassa (ವಸ್ಸ):—[noun] the period of theyear whichis associated with more rain; the rainy season.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 31 books and stories containing Vassa; (plurals include: Vassas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Chapter 34d - The Buddha’s Twentieth Vassa at Rājagaha < [Volume 4]

Chapter 19b - The Buddha’s Second Vassa < [Volume 3]

Part 7 - Stories connected with the Second, Third and Fourth Vassa < [Chapter 20 - The Six Princes achieved different Attainments]

+ 98 more chapters / show preview

The Buddha's Ministry

The Spread Of The Dhamma

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Verse 158 - The Story of Venerable Upananda Sākyaputta < [Chapter 12 - Atta Vagga (Self)]

Verse 181 - The Story of the Buddha’s Return from the Tāvatiṃsa Deva World < [Chapter 14 - Buddha Vagga (The Buddha‌)]

Verse 6 - The Story of Kosambi Monks < [Chapter 1 - Yamaka Vagga (Twin Verses)]

+ 8 more chapters / show preview

3. Rains (Vassa)