Vishuddha, Visuddha, Viśuddhā, Viśuddha: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Vishuddha means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.
The Sanskrit terms Viśuddhā and Viśuddha can be transliterated into English as Visuddha or Vishuddha, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Alternative spellings of this word include Vishuddh.
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramViśuddha (विशुद्ध) [=Viśuddhaka?] or Viśuddhacakra refers one of the “sixteen stations of the ascent of kuṇḍalinī” according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] (5) Above it (in the throat) is the Pure (Wheel) (viśuddhaka), which is said to be white, shining like heated mercury. There, in the middle, is the lord, a mass of energy, the Supreme Syllable. One should think that it shines like the Moon, Sun and Fire. [...] (Perfect) contemplation (samādhi) is with (these) sixteen aspects and is (attained) within the form of the sixfold deposition (ṣoḍhānyāsa). He who knows this is (a veritable) Lord of Yogis, the others (who do not) are (just) quoting from books. Once attained the plane that is Void and Non-void, the yogi is freed from bondage”.
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexViśuddhā (विशुद्धा).—A group of gods of the X epoch of Manu.*
- * Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 2. 25.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: academia.edu: The Tantric Śaiva Origins of RājayogaViśuddha (विशुद्ध) refers to “pure”, according to the Kaulajñānanirṇaya (17.36–38ab) which is attributed to Matsyendranātha, one of the supposed founders of Haṭhayoga.—Accordingly, “When one knows the self by the self, the self can take on any form at will. Theself is the supreme deity. He by whom this is known is the king of yogins. He is said to be Śiva. He is clearly liberated and may liberate another. O goddess, he is always very pure [i.e., su-viśuddha], like a lotus in the mud. Having adopted a mortal body, he sports in the world as a Śiva”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsViśuddha (विशुद्ध) refers to “(that which is) pure”, according to the 9th-century Sarvajñānottaratantra chapter 18.—Accordingly, “Next, I shall teach the best observance among observances, which is known as the Śiva-vrata and which is revered by Asuras and Gods alike. Pure (viśuddha) pale ash [should be used, and] white dress and unguents; he should wear a white sacred thread and be adorned by a chignon of matted locks. He should be equipped with all [suitable] ornaments, [and] adorned with white garlands; he should consume [only the pure ritual gruel-offering known as] caru; he should observe the chaste conduct of a student; he should venerate Śiva, the fire and his Guru. [...]”.
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraViśuddha (विशुद्ध) refers to a “pure (crystal)”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 18.63-68, while describing the iconography of Mṛtyujit and the consort Amṛtalakṣmī]—“After [the Mantrin] has meditated on the beautiful form as indicated earlier, he should worship Mṛtyujit and Śrī Devī [Amṛtalakṣmī], seated on his lap in the middle [of the somamaṇḍala. She is] as clear as pure crystal (viśuddha-sphaṭika—viśuddhasphaṭikapradyāṃ), she possesses the same luster as mountain snow or a drop of jasmine. [She] resembles the swelling moon [and] shines forth like cow’s milk. [...]”.
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismVishuddha, is the fifth primary chakra according to the Hindu tradition.
Vishuddha is positioned at the neck region, near the spine, with its Kshetram or superficial activation point in the pit of the throat. Hence, it is also known as the throat chakra.
Appearance: According to the Hindu culture, this chakra is described as having a white color with 16 purple or smoke-colored petals. Within the pericarp is a sky-blue downward pointing triangle containing a circular white region like the full moon. This represents the element of akasha or aether. This region is represented by the deity Ambara, who is also white in color and is depicted with four arms, holding a noose and a goad, making the gestures of granting boons and dispelling fear while seated upon a white elephant.
The bija mantra (seed sound) is the syllable हं haṃ, and is written in white upon the chakra. In the Bindu, or point above the mantra, resides the deity Sadashiva, who has 5 faces and 10 arms. The right half of his body is a white Shiva, and the left half of the body is a golden Shakti. He is holding a trident, chisel, sword, vajra, fire, a great snake, a bell, a goad, and a noose, and is making the gesture of dispelling fear. He is clad in a tiger skin. His Shakti is Shakini, who is shining white, seated on a red lotus, and with five faces, three eyes each, and four-armed, with a bow and arrow, noose, and goad.
Vishuddha has 16 purple petals upon which are written the 16 Sanskrit vowels in golden;
| अ a | आ ā | इ i | ई ī | उ u | ऊ ū | ऋ ṛ | ॠ ṝ |
| ऌ ḷ | ॡ ḹ | ए e | ऐ ai | ओ o | औ au | अः ḥ | अं ṃ |
The petals correspond to the vrittis of the mantra Ong [Aum], the Sama-mantras, the mantras Hung, Phat, Washat, Swadha, Swaha, and Namak, the nectar Amrita, and the seven musical tones.
Function:
Vishuddha chakra is known as the purification center. Here the nectar amrita drips down from the Bindu chakra and is split into a pure form and a poison. In its most abstract form, it is associated with higher discrimination, and is associated with creativity and self-expression. When Vishuddha is closed, we undergo decay and death. When it is open, negative experiences are transformed into wisdom and learning. The success and failure in one's life depend upon the state of this chakra (whether it is polluted or clean). Guilty feeling is the most prominent reason for this chakra to block the Kundalini Energy moving upwards.
It is associated with the element Akasha, or Æther, and the sense of hearing, as well as the action of speaking.
Meditation upon this chakra is said to bring about the following siddhis or occult powers: vision of the three periods, past, present and future; freedom from disease and old age; destruction of dangers; and the ability to move the three worlds.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English GlossaryF (Complete purity). Excellence.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the GaganagañjaparipṛcchāViśuddha (विशुद्ध) [=Viśuddhyā?] refers to “that which is pure”, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly as The Lord said: “Śāriputra, the Tathāgata Ekaratnavyūha, seating in the lion’s throne thus, explained the dharma-seal called Gaganapariśuddhi to these Bodhisattvas, which has thirty-two aspects of entrance. What is this Dharma-seal (dharmamudrā) called Gaganapariśuddhi which has thirty-two aspects of entrance? [...] 20) all dharmas are beyond what belongs to the ego (mama) and appropriation (parigraha) because they have no owner (asvāmika); 21) all dharmas have no owner since they are essentially selfless (svabhāvenānātman); 22) all dharmas are essentially selfless since they are originally pure (ādi-viśuddhyā [=ādi-viśuddha?]); 23) all dharmas are originally pure since they never turn back (avinivartana); [...]”.
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (tantric Buddhism)Viśuddha (विशुद्ध) refers to “purification” (of the cord), according to the Bhūśalyasūtrapātananimittavidhi section of Jagaddarpaṇa’s Ācāryakriyāsamuccaya, a text within Tantric Buddhism dealing with construction manual for monasteries etc.—Accordingly, “The excellent master [= officiant] in steady meditation, gazing upon the centre of the tip of his nose, should cast the cord on the surface of the site which has been levelled following the rules exactly. [The cord,] into which [the five threads of the five colours] are twined, has as its nature the five wisdoms and is purified (viśuddha). [It] does not have a knot, and is placed in the centre [of the site before casting]”.
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: HereNow4u: Jain Dharma ka Maulika Itihasa (2)Viśuddha (विशुद्ध) refers to “pure (self-restraint)” and is one of the topics treated in the Anuttaropapātika Daśa (Aṃtagaḍadaśā) or Antakṛtadaśā, one of the Dvādaśāṅgī (twelve Aṅgas) of Jainism.—The Anuttaropapātika Daśa is the ninth Aṅga in the series of Dvādaśāṅgī. It comprises of one Śruta skaṇdha, 3 chapters, 3 topics, 3 sub topics and a limited discourses and thousands of verses. At present there are 192 verses in this Sūtra. This Aṅga covers the history of such great personalities, who have, after immense penance and practicing pure self-restraint (viśuddha-saṃyama), passed away, attained the highest degrees of celestial beings in anuttara-vimānas (intermediary life to attain liberation in next birth). Born again as humans, they would attain liberation after perfectly practicing the right conduct (monk-hood).
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsViśuddha (विशुद्ध) refers to the “pure” (reflections) and represents one of the twelve pure reflections (bhāvanā), according to the Praśamaratiprakaraṇa 149-50 (p. 93-4).—Accordingly, “(A monk) should reflect, upon transcient [sic] nature of the world, helplessness, loneliness, separateness of the self from non-self, impurity (of the body), cycle of births sand [sic] rebirths, inflow of Karmas and stoppage of inflow of Karmas; Shedding of stock of Karmas, constitution of the universe, nature of true religion, difficulty in obtaining enlightenment, which are (called) twelve pure (viśuddha) Bhāvanās (reflections)”.
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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryvisuddha : (pp. of visujjhati) clean; pure; bright; stainless; sanctified.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryVisuddha, (adj.) (pp. of visujjhati) clean, pure, bright; in applied meaning: purified, stainless, sanctified Vin. I, 105; D. III, 52 (cakkhu); S. II, 122 (id.); IV, 47 (sīla); A. IV, 304 (su°); Sn. 67, 517, 687; Nd2 601; Pug. 60; PvA. 1 (su°); Sdhp. 269, 383. (Page 640)
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.
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English DictionaryViśuddha (विशुद्ध).—p S Cleansed, purified, rectified: also as a Highly clean, pure, holy, correct, chaste &c.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishViśuddha (विशुद्ध).—p Cleansed, a Highly clean.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryViśuddha (विशुद्ध).—a.
1) Purified, cleansed.
2) Pure, free from vice, sin, or imperfection.
3) Spotless, stainless.
4) Correct, accurate.
5) Virtuous, pious, straightforward; विशुद्धमुग्धः कुलकन्यकाजनः (viśuddhamugdhaḥ kulakanyakājanaḥ) Mālatīmādhava (Bombay) 7.1.
6) Humble.
-ddham A kind of mystical circle (cakra) in the body.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryViśuddha (विशुद्ध).—name of a Śuddhāvāsakāyika deity: (Ārya-)Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa 71.23; see s.v. Śuddha.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryViśuddha (विशुद्ध).—mfn.
(-ddhaḥ-ddhā-ddhaṃ) 1. Pure, purified, clean, cleansed, free from vice or fault. 2. Pious, virtuous. 3. Humble, modest, compliant. 4. Corrected. E. vi intensitive prefix, śudh to be pure or clean, aff. kta .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryViśuddha (विशुद्ध).—[adjective] completely purified or cleansed, pure, clear, bright; settled, absolved, finished. Abstr. tā [feminine], tva [neuter]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Viśuddha (विशुद्ध):—[=vi-śuddha] [from vi-śudh] mfn. completely cleansed or purified (also in a ritual sense), clean, clear, pure ([literally]and [figuratively]), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] free from vice, virtuous, honest, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] brilliantly white (as teeth), [Ṛtusaṃhāra]
4) [v.s. ...] thoroughly settled or established or fixed or determined or ascertained, [ib.]
5) [v.s. ...] (ifc.) one who has gone through or thoroughly completed (upadeśa-v), [Mālavikāgnimitra]
6) [v.s. ...] cleared id est. exhausted, empty (as a treasury), [Rājataraṅgiṇī]
7) [v.s. ...] (in [algebra]) subtracted, [Golādhyāya]
8) [v.s. ...] n. a kind of mystical circle in the body (cf. cakra and vi-śuddhi-c)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryViśuddha (विशुद्ध):—[vi-śuddha] (ddhaḥ-ddhā-ddhaṃ) a. Pure, pious, humble.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Viśuddha (विशुद्ध) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Visuddha.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryViśuddha (विशुद्ध) [Also spelled vishuddh]:—(a) pure/purified; chaste, virtuous; genuine; unmixed/unadulterated; ~[caritra] chaste, virtuous; ~[tā] genuineness; purity; chastity; —[bhāva] pure sentiment; genuineness; —[vijñāna] pure science.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryVisuddha (विसुद्ध) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Viśuddha.
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 corpusViśuddha (ವಿಶುದ್ಧ):—
1) [adjective] having or characterised by, moral virtue; sinless; righteous; virtuous; holy.
2) [adjective] free from impurities, contaminations; pure; clean.
3) [adjective] without any fault or defect; faultless; perfect.
--- OR ---
Viśuddha (ವಿಶುದ್ಧ):—
1) [noun] the quality of being virtuous, holy.
2) [noun] the quality of being pure, clean; freedom from contaminations.
3) [noun] faultlessness; perfection.
4) [noun] a virtuous man.
5) [noun] (yoga.) the fifth of the six mystic circles in the human body.
--- OR ---
Visuddha (ವಿಸುದ್ಧ):—
1) [adjective] (correctly, ವಿಶುದ್ಧ [vishuddha]) having or characterised by, moral virtue; sinless; righteous; virtuous; holy.
2) [adjective] free from impurities or contaminations; pure; clean.
3) [adjective] without any fault or defect; faultless; perfect.
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)
Starts with (+25): Vishuddhabhakti, Vishuddhabhava, Vishuddhabuddhi, Vishuddhacakra, Vishuddhacarin, Vishuddhacaritra, Vishuddhacharin, Vishuddhacharitra, Vishuddhacitta, Vishuddhadeha, Vishuddhadhi, Vishuddhadhira, Vishuddhadhishana, Vishuddhadhva, Vishuddhagandhari, Vishuddhagatra, Vishuddhagatrata, Vishuddhaka, Vishuddhakacakra, Vishuddhakarana.
Ends with (+4): Adhivishuddha, Adivishuddha, Akaravishuddha, Avishuddha, Candravishuddha, Catura-aghata-vishuddha, Caturupadhavishuddha, Catush-kantaka-vishuddha, Drishtivishuddha, Hetuvishuddha, Kalavishuddha, Mamakaravishuddha, Mantravishuddha, Mulavishuddha, Nimittavishuddha, Parivishuddha, Prakritivishuddha, Pravishuddha, Ratnavishuddha, Sarv-adeya-vishuddha.
Full-text (+65): Vamshavishuddha, Visuddhata, Vishuddhakarana, Vishuddhaprakriti, Vishuddhasattva, Vishuddhadhi, Vishuddhadhishana, Vishuddhavamshya, Vishuddhasattvapradhana, Shatcakra, Vishuddhagatrata, Vishuddhanetrata, Avishuddha, Vishuddhatva, Vishuddhabhava, Vishuddharasadipika, Vishuddhasvaranirghosha, Vishuddhamugdha, Vishuddhamanas, Vishuddhadhira.
Relevant text
Search found 38 books and stories containing Vishuddha, Visuddha, Viśuddhā, Viśuddha, Vi-shuddha, Vi-śuddha, Vi-suddha; (plurals include: Vishuddhas, Visuddhas, Viśuddhās, Viśuddhas, shuddhas, śuddhas, suddhas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.102 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Charaka Samhita (English translation) (by Shree Gulabkunverba Ayurvedic Society)
Chapter 24 - The Blood derived through Systematic Regimen (Vidhi-shonita) < [Sutrasthana (Sutra Sthana) — General Principles]
Vivekachudamani (by Shankara)
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.4.4 < [Chapter 4 - Bhakta (the devotee)]
Verse 2.1.13 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya (renunciation)]
Verse 2.2.88 < [Chapter 2 - Jñāna (knowledge)]
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 2.49 - The projectable body (āhāraka) < [Chapter 2 - Category of the Living]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.1.60 < [Chapter 1 - Summary of Lord Gaura’s Pastimes]
Verse 1.1.4 < [Chapter 1 - Summary of Lord Gaura’s Pastimes]
Verse 2.12.28 < [Chapter 12 - The Glories of Nityānanda]
Related products
