In Buddhism
The word "Bhagava" has also been used to describe the Buddha in the earliest Pali texts. The term "Bhagava" has been used in Pali Anussati or recollections as one of the terms that describes the "Tathagatha".
In the Buddha anussati, Bhagavan is defined the following way:
Iti pi so Bhagava
Thus is Buddha,
- 1) Araham - deserving homage.
- 2) Samma-sambuddho - perfectly awakened.
- 3) Vijja-carana sampanno - perfect in true knowledge and conduct.
- 4) Sugato - well gone (to Nibbana)
- 5) Lokavidu - knower of the worlds
- 6) Anuttaro purisa damma sarathi - incomparable leader (lit. charioteer) of persons to be tamed.
- 7) Satta deva manusanam - teacher of gods and humans.
- 8) Buddho - awakened one.
- 9) Bhagavan - Blessed One.
(Sakamunisa bhagavato), is recorded in the kharoshthi dedication of a vase placed in a Buddhist stupa by the Greek meridarch (civil governor of a province) named Theodorus (Tarn, p391):
- "Theudorena meridarkhena pratithavida ime sarira sakamunisa bhagavato bahu-jana-stitiye":
- "The meridarch Theodorus has enshrined relics of Lord Shakyamuni, for the welfare of the mass of the people"
- (Swāt relic vase inscription of the Meridarkh Theodoros )
Read more about this topic: Bhagavan, Early Epigraphical Evidence
Famous quotes containing the word buddhism:
“A religion so cheerless, a philosophy so sorrowful, could never have succeeded with the masses of mankind if presented only as a system of metaphysics. Buddhism owed its success to its catholic spirit and its beautiful morality.”
—W. Winwood Reade (1838–1875)