Prajñāpāramitā ( Sanskrit : प्रज्ञापारमिता ) means the "Perfection of Wisdom" or "Perfection of Transcendental Wisdom". Prajñāpāramitā practices lead to discerning pristine cognition in a self-reflexively aware way, of seeing the nature of reality . There is a particular body of Mahayana sutras (scriptures) on this wisdom, and they form the practice sadhanas, such as the Heart Sutra .
99-654: The Transcendent Wisdom of the Prajanaparamita also transcends any single vehicle (yana) of Buddhist philosophy, as explained in the "Heart Sutra" through the replies Avalokiteshvara gives to Shariputra 's question of how should sons and daughters of noble qualities practice the Prajnaparamita: "All the Buddhas of the three times by relying on the Prajnaparamita Awaken completely To
198-470: A + īśvara becomes eśvara . Combined, the parts mean "lord who gazed down (at the world)". The word loka ("world") is absent from the name, but the phrase is implied. It does appear in the Cambodian form of the name, Lokesvarak . The earliest translation of the name Avalokiteśvara into Chinese by authors such as Xuanzang was as Guānzìzài ( Chinese : 觀自在 ; pinyin : Guān zìzài ), not
297-406: A Bodhisattva does "not stand" on include standard listings such as: the five aggregates , the sense fields ( ayatana ), nirvana , Buddhahood , etc. This is explained by stating that Bodhisattvas "wander without a home" ( aniketacārī ); "home" or "abode" meaning signs ( nimitta , meaning a subjective mental impression) of sensory objects and the afflictions that arise dependent on them. This includes
396-524: A Buddha from countless previous incarnations ago, alias Samyaka Dharma-vidya Tathāgata means "Tathāgata who clearly understood the right Dharma". Because of his great compassion and because he wanted to create proper conditions for all the Bodhisattva ranks and bring happiness and peacefulness to sentient beings, he became a Bodhisattva, taking the name of Avalokiteshvara and often abiding in the Sahā world. At
495-617: A class by themselves and deservedly renowned throughout the world of Northern Buddhism. Both have been translated into many languages and have often been commented upon.". Jan Nattier argues the Heart Sutra to be an apocryphal text composed in China from extracts of the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā and other texts c. 7th century. Red Pine, however, does not support Nattiers argument and believes the Heart Sutra to be of Indian origin. During
594-407: A compassionate bodhisattva who hears the cries of sentient beings and who works tirelessly to help those who call upon his name. A total of 33 different manifestations of Avalokiteśvara are described, including female manifestations, all to suit the minds of various beings. The chapter consists of both a prose and a verse section. This earliest source often circulates separately as its own sutra, called
693-551: A dream or an illusion. Avalokiteshvara In Buddhism , Avalokiteśvara (meaning "the lord who looks down", IPA : / ˌ ʌ v əl oʊ k ɪ ˈ t eɪ ʃ v ər ə / ), also known as Lokeśvara ("Lord of the World") and Chenrezig (in Tibetan), is a tenth-level bodhisattva associated with great compassion ( mahakaruṇā ). He is often associated with Amitabha Buddha . Avalokiteśvara has numerous manifestations and
792-806: A female form and is called Guanyin (also spelled Kwan Yin, Kuanyin, or Kwun Yum), "Hearing the Sounds of the World". In Japan, Guanyin is Kannon or Kanzeon; in Korea, Gwaneum ; and in Vietnam, Quan Am . Avalokiteśvara is worshipped as Nātha in Sri Lanka. The Tamil Buddhist tradition developed in Chola literature , such as Buddamitra's Virasoliyam , states that the Vedic sage Agastya learned Tamil from Avalokiteśvara. The earlier Chinese traveler Xuanzang recorded
891-448: A large stone structure constructed across Krishna River bank, also known as Krishna Ghat. This structure also includes one large and one small temple constructed in the middle of the river. This structure is believed to be constructed in 1779. The Krishna River is spanned by several bridges along its course, some of which are listed below. In October 2009, heavy floods occurred, isolating 350 villages and leaving millions homeless, which
990-643: A result of the works of the earliest Western translators of Buddhist Scriptures, the Lotus Sutra, however, has long been accepted as the earliest literature teaching about the doctrines of Avalokiteśvara. These are found in Chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra: The Universal Gate of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara ( Chinese : 觀世音菩薩普門品 ; pinyin : Guānshìyīn púsà pǔ mén pǐn ). This chapter is devoted to Avalokiteśvara, describing him as
1089-682: A temple dedicated to Avalokitesvara in the south Indian Mount Potalaka , a Sanskritization of Pothigai , where Tamil Hindu tradition places Agastya as having learned the Tamil language from Shiva . Avalokitesvara worship gained popularity with the growth of the Abhayagiri vihāra 's Tamraparniyan Mahayana sect. Western scholars have not reached a consensus on the origin of the reverence for Avalokiteśvara. Some have suggested that Avalokiteśvara, along with many other supernatural beings in Buddhism,
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#17327649960871188-480: A translation by Amoghavajra (T. 1033, 20: 9b1–7): namoratnatrayāya | nama āryāvalokiteśvarāya bodhisattvāya mahāsattvāya mahākāruṇikāya | tadyathā padmapāṇi sara sara ehy ehi bhagavann āryāvalokiteśvara ārolik | In Chinese, oṃ ārolik svāha is pronounced Ǎn ālǔlēi jì suōpóhē (唵 阿嚕勒繼 娑婆訶). In Korean, it is pronounced Om aroreuk Ge Sabaha (옴 아로늑계 사바하). In Japanese, it is pronounced On arori kya sowa ka (おん あろりきゃ そわか). The Kāraṇḍavyūha Sūtra also features
1287-628: Is oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ hrīḥ. Hrīḥ is the seed syllable of the Lotus Buddha family and the Buddha Amitabha . Recitation of this mantra while using prayer beads is the most popular religious practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Another popular religious practice associated with om mani padme hum is the spinning of prayer wheels clockwise, which contains numerous repetitions of this mantra and effectively benefits everyone within
1386-656: Is "three and a half syllables" (ardhacaturthākṣara) heart-mantra: " oṃ ārolik svāha " (or sometimes just Ārolik or oṁ ārolik ), which is found (in many forms and variations like ārolika , arulika , etc.) in numerous pre-tenth-century Indian texts, including the 7th century Chinese translation of the Dhāraṇīsaṁgraha , the Susiddhikarasūtra , the Mañjuśriyamūlakalpa , and the Guhyasamājatantra . This
1485-564: Is a central concept in Mahāyāna Buddhism and is generally associated with ideas such as emptiness ( śūnyatā ), 'lack of svabhāva ' ( essence ), the illusory ( māyā ) nature of things, how all phenomena are characterized by "non-arising" ( anutpāda , i.e. unborn) and the madhyamaka thought of Nāgārjuna . Its practice and understanding are taken to be indispensable elements of the Bodhisattva path. According to Edward Conze ,
1584-427: Is a middle way, it is neither apprehended as existent ( astitā ) or non-existent ( nāstitā ) and it is "immutable" ( avikāra ) and "free from conceptualization" ( avikalpa ). The Bodhisattva is said to generate "great compassion" ( maha- karuṇā ) for all beings on their path to liberation and yet also maintain a sense of equanimity ( upekṣā ) and distance from them through their understanding of emptiness, due to which,
1683-791: Is almost exclusively Theravada , based on the Pali Canon. The only Mahayana deity that has entered the worship of ordinary Buddhists in Theravada Buddhism is Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara . In Sri Lanka, he is known as Natha-deva and is mistaken by the majority for the Buddha yet to come, Bodhisattva Maitreya . The figure of Avalokitesvara is usually found in the shrine room near the Buddha image. In more recent times, some western-educated Theravādins have attempted to identify Nātha with Maitreya Bodhisattva; however, traditions and basic iconography (including an image of Amitābha Buddha on
1782-632: Is also an important figure in other East Asian religions , particularly Chinese folk religion and Daoism . Avalokiteśvara is also known for his popular mantra , oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ , which is the most popular mantra in Tibetan Buddhism . The name Avalokiteśvara combines the verbal prefix ava "down", lokita , a past participle of the verb lok "to look, notice, behold, observe", here used in an active sense, and finally īśvara , "lord", "ruler", "sovereign", or "master". In accordance with sandhi (Sanskrit rules of sound combination),
1881-497: Is also associated with Sarvajñata (all-knowledge) in the Prajñāpāramitā sutras, a quality of the mind of a Buddha which knows the nature of all dharmas. According to Karl Brunnholzl, Prajñāpāramitā means that "all phenomena from form up through omniscience being utterly devoid of any intrinsic characteristics or nature of their own." Furthermore, "such omniscient wisdom is always nonconceptual and free from reference points since it
1980-627: Is also the first extant translation of the Prajñāpāramitā genre into a non-Indic language. Comparison with the standard Sanskrit text shows that it is also likely to be a translation from Gāndhāri as it expands on many phrases and provides glosses for words that are not present in the Gāndhārī. This points to the text being composed in Gāndhārī, the language of Gandhara (the region now called the Northwest Frontier of Pakistan, including Peshawar , Taxila and Swat Valley ). The "Split" manuscript
2079-913: Is also the main mantra for the bodhisattva in Shingon Buddhism and is considered to be the main mantra of the Lotus Buddha family . One text (Taisho Tripitaka no. 1031) describes a visualization practice done after reciting oṁ ārolik svāhā seven times which includes meditating on the meanings of the four letters of ārolik which are: The Ārolik mantra has also been found engraved on a few sculptures found in north India . One of these begins with "ārolik oṁ hrīḥ". Another one of these found in Bihar also included other mantras, including ye dharma hetu , followed by "namo ratnatrayāya namo Āryāvalokiteśvarāya bodhisatvāya mahāsatvāya mahākāruṇikāya Ārolok Oṁ hriḥ hriḥ". Another longer mantra appears in
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#17327649960872178-544: Is also the origin of Guanyin "perceiving sound, cries". This translation was favored by the tendency of some Chinese translators, notably Kumārajīva , to use the variant Guānshìyīn Chinese : 觀世音 ; pinyin : Guānshìyīn "who perceives the world's lamentations"—wherein lok was read as simultaneously meaning both "to look" and "world" (Sanskrit loka ; Chinese : 世 ; pinyin : shì ). The original form of Guanyin's name appears in Sanskrit fragments from
2277-473: Is applicable for sharing the water available in the river among the riparian states. The Brijesh Kumar tribunal award given on 29 November 2013 was challenged by Andhra Pradesh in the Supreme Court and the case has been pending since then. The newly created state of Telangana also approached the Supreme Court demanding a fresh tribunal hearing to secure its water needs on equitable basis . Even though
2376-1246: Is as follows: 南無 大慈 大悲 救苦 救難 廣大 靈感 觀世音 菩薩 (Námó dàcí dàbēi jiùkǔ jiùnàn guǎngdà línggǎn Guānshìyīn púsà) English: Homage to Guanyin Bodhisattva [who is] loving, compassionate and powerful, delivering sentient beings from unhappiness and hardship. 南無佛南無法南無僧 (Námó Fó Námó Fǎ Námó Sēng, Homage to the Buddha, Homage to the Dharma, Homage to the Sangha) 南無 救苦 救難 觀世音 菩薩 (Námó jiùkǔ jiùnàn Guānshìyīn púsà) English: Homage to Guanyin Bodhisattva who delivers sentient beings from unhappiness and hardship 怛垤哆唵 伽囉伐哆伽囉伐哆伽訶佛哆 囉伽佛哆囉伽佛哆娑婆訶 (DA ZHI DUO ONG QIE LA FA DUO QIE LA FA DUO QIE HE FA DUO LA QIE FA DUO LA QIE FA DUO SA PO HE) Sanskrit Mantra: Tadyatha Om, khara varta, khara varta, gaha varta, raga varta, raga varta, Svaha 天羅神 地羅神 人離難 難離身 一切 災殃 化 為塵。 Tiān luó shén Dì luó shén Rén lí nán Nán lí shēn Yīqiè zāiyāng huà wéichén English: Heavenly deities and earthly deities, may people be free from difficulties, may their hardships disappear, may all disasters and calamities turn to dust. 南無 摩訶 般若波羅蜜 (Námó Móhē Bōrěbōluómi) Krishna River The Krishna River in
2475-528: Is believed to be first occurrence in 1000 years. The flood resulted in heavy damage to Kurnool, Mahabubnagar, Guntur, Krishna and Nalagonda Districts. The entire city of Kurnool was immersed in approximately 10 ft (3 m) water for nearly 3 days. Water inflow of 1,110,000 cu ft/s (31,000 m /s) was recorded at the Prakasam Barriage, which surpassed the previous record of 1,080,000 cu ft/s (31,000 m /s) recorded in
2574-616: Is depicted in various forms and styles. In some texts, he is even considered to be the source of all Hindu deities (such as Vishnu , Shiva , Saraswati , Brahma , etc). While Avalokiteśvara was depicted as male in India, in East Asian Buddhism , Avalokiteśvara is most often depicted as a female figure known as Guanyin , Kannon , Gwaneum , and Quan Am in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese, respectively. Guanyin
2673-459: Is evidently a copy of an earlier text, though Falk and Karashima do not give an estimate on how old the original may be. In contrast to western scholarship, Japanese scholars have traditionally considered the Diamond Sūtra ( Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra ) to be from a very early date in the development of Prajñāpāramitā literature. The usual reason for this relative chronology which places
2772-779: Is known for his translation of a massive Sanskrit collection of Prajñāpāramitā sutras called "the Xuánzàng Prajñāpāramitā Library" or "The Great Prajñāpāramitāsūtra" (般若 波羅蜜 多 經, pinyin: bōrě bōluómì duō jīng ). Xuánzàng returned to China with three copies of this Sanskrit work which he obtained in South India and his translation is said to have been based on these three sources. In total it includes 600 scrolls, with 5 million Chinese characters. This collection consists of 16 Prajñāpāramitā texts: A modern English translation: The Great Prajna Paramita Sutra (vols. 1 to 6) translated by Naichen Chen (Tucson: Wheatmark). In
2871-494: Is no Tathāgata. The suchness of these dharmas, and the suchness of the Tathāgatas, is all one single suchness ( ekaivaiṣā tathatā ), not two, not divided ( dvaidhīkāraḥ ). ... beyond all classification ( gaṇanāvyativṛttā ), due to non-existence ( asattvāt ). Suchness then does not come or go because like the other terms, it is not a real entity ( bhūta , svabhāva ), but merely appears conceptually through dependent origination , like
2970-528: Is now drowned in the Srisailam reservoir, and visible for devotees only during summer when the reservoir's water level comes down. Drainage Basin of Krishna The Krishna Basin extends over an area of 258,948 km (99,980 sq mi) which is nearly 8% of the total geographical area of the country. This large basin lies in the states of Karnataka (113,271 km ), Telangana, Andhra Pradesh (76,252 km ) and Maharashtra (69,425 km ). It
3069-406: Is on the verge of death. The river receives the waste from the large number of cities and the river basin population has increased to 80 million enhancing pollution load many folds into the river. Adequate average and minimum continuous environmental flows to the sea are not taking place in most of the years constricting salt export and leading to formation of saline and sodic alkaline soils in
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3168-1073: Is one of the important holy places in Karnataka which is located on the bank of Krishna. Veerabhadra temple is a famous temple. Many devotees visit this place from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Also, located on the banks of the river Krishna is the Sangameshwar Shiva temple at Haripur. Some of the other temples are the Kanaka Durga Temple in Vijayawada , Ramling temple near Sangli, Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga (Srisailam), Amareshwara Swamy Temple , Vedadri Narasimha Temple , Vadapalli temple in Nalgonda , Dattadeva temple, and Sangameshwara Shiva temples at Alampur and Gadwal in Telangana. Bhilawadi town in Maharashtra has
3267-582: Is one of the largest PP sutras, comprising three volumes of the Tibetan Kangyur (26-28). It was also one of the most important and popular PP sutras in India, seeing as how there are numerous Indian commentaries on this text, including commentaries by Vimuktisena, Haribhadra, Smṛtijñānakīrti, and Ratnakarashanti. The sutra also survives in the original Sanskrit, which was found in Gilgit . It also exists in four Chinese translations. According to Nattier,
3366-402: Is one of the rivers whose water energy is harnessed to a large extent by various hydro electric power stations in India. The following is the list of hydro electric power stations excluding small and medium installations. Most of the years, the river water is not joining the sea due to full utilisation of water mainly in agriculture. Closed river basin of Krishna means that the river ecosystem
3465-529: Is the constant and panoramic awareness of the nature of all phenomena and does not involve any shift between meditative equipoise and subsequent attainment." Edward Conze outlined several psychological qualities of a Bodhisattva's practice of Prajñāpāramitā: The Prajñāpāramitā sutras also teach of the importance of the other pāramitās (perfections) for the Bodhisattva such as Ksanti (patience): "Without resort to this patience (kṣānti) they [bodhisattvas] cannot reach their respective goals". Another quality of
3564-548: Is the fifth largest basin in India. Most of this basin comprises rolling and undulating country, except for the western border, which is formed by an unbroken line of the Western Ghats. The important soil types found in the basin are black soils, red soils, laterite and lateritic soils, alluvium, mixed soils, red and black soils and saline and alkaline soils. An average annual surface water potential of 78.1 km has been assessed in this basin. Out of this, 58.0 km
3663-578: Is the main ideal in Mahayana (Great Vehicle), which sees the goal of the Buddhist path as becoming a Buddha for the sake of all sentient beings, not just yourself: A central quality of the Bodhisattva is their practice of Prajñāpāramitā, a most deep ( gambhīra ) state of knowledge which is an understanding of reality arising from analysis as well as meditative insight. It is non-conceptual and non-dual ( advaya ) as well as transcendental . Literally,
3762-519: Is utilizable water. Culturable area in the basin is about 203,000 km (78,000 sq mi), which is 10.4% of the total cultivable area of the country. As the water availability in the Krishna River was becoming inadequate to meet the water demand, Godavari River is linked to the Krishna River by commissioning the Polavaram right bank canal with the help of Pattiseema lift scheme in
3861-518: Is widely chanted and recited by East Asian Buddhists is: Chinese: 南無觀世音菩薩 , Pinyin: Námó Guānshìyīn Púsà (Japanese: Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu ) In English: Homage to Guanyin Bodhisattva. There are also longer chants, usually termed "White Robed Guanyin" (Baiyin Guanyin) sutras (jing) or mantras (zhou). The most well known is the "Divine White-robed Guanyin Mantra" (c. 11th century). This longer mantra
3960-721: The Adhyardhaśatikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (150 lines), the famous Heart Sutra ( Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya ), the Ekaślokikā prajñāpāramitā, Svalpākṣarā Prajñāpāramitā, Kauśikā Prajñāpāramitā, Saptaślokikā Prajñāpāramitā , the *Prajñāpāramitānāmāṣṭaśataka and the Candragarbha Prajñāpāramitā. Some of these sources, like the Svalpākṣarā, claim that simply reciting the dharanis found in the sutras are as beneficial as advanced esoteric Buddhist practices (with
4059-659: The Gaṇḍavyūha Sūtra and Xuanzang's Great Tang Records on the Western Regions , is Mount Potigai in Ambasamudram , Tirunelveli , at the Tamil Nadu - Kerala border. Shu also said that Mount Potalaka has been a sacred place for the people of South India since time immemorial. It is the traditional residence of Siddhar Agastya at Agastya Mala . With the spread of Buddhism in the region beginning at
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4158-664: The Mahāyānasaṃgraha , entitled Vivṛtaguhyārthapiṇḍavyākhyā ( A Condensed Explanation of the Revealed Secret Meaning, Derge No. 4052), lists eight Prajñāpāramitā sūtras which were "taught to bodhisattvas" and are seen as superior (from the Sravakayana sutras) because they are superior "in eliminating conceptually imaged forms". The eight texts are listed according to length and are the following: The Chinese scholar and translator Xuánzàng (玄奘, 602-664)
4257-677: The Avalokiteśvara Sūtra ( Chinese : 觀世音經 ; pinyin : Guānshìyīn jīng ), and is commonly recited or chanted at Buddhist temples in East Asia. When the Chinese monk Faxian traveled to Mathura in India around 400 CE, he wrote about monks presenting offerings to Avalokiteśvara. When Xuanzang traveled to India in the 7th century, he provided eyewitness accounts of Avalokiteśvara statues being venerated by devotees from all walks of life, from kings to monks to laypeople. In Chinese Buddhism and East Asia, Tangmi practices for
4356-540: The Aṣṭasāhasrikā . This view is taken in part by examining parallels between the two works, in which the Aṣṭasāhasrikā seems to represent the later or more developed position. According to Schopen, these works also show a shift in emphasis from an oral tradition ( Vajracchedikā ) to a written tradition ( Aṣṭasāhasrikā ). The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (T. Shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa stong phrag nyi shu lnga pa ; C. Mohe bore boluomi jing , 摩訶般若波羅蜜經)
4455-711: The Deccan plateau is the third-longest river in India, after the Ganga and Godavari . It is also the fourth-largest in terms of water inflows and river basin area in India, after the Ganges, Indus and Godavari. The river, also called Krishnaveni, is 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) long and its length in Maharashtra is 282 kilometres. It is a major source of irrigation in the Indian states of Maharashtra , Karnataka , Telangana and Andhra Pradesh . The Krishna River originates in
4554-537: The Ghataprabha River , Malaprabha River , Bhima River , Tungabhadra River and Musi River . The Tungabhadra River has a catchment area of 71,417 km (27,574 sq mi) and a length of 531 km (330 mi). The Bhima River is the longest tributary of the Krishna River. It has a total length of 861 km (535 mi) and catchment area of 70,614 km (27,264 sq mi). Three tributaries, Panchganga , Warna and Yerla , meet
4653-578: The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā is basically the Aṣṭasāhasrikā base text which has been "sliced" up and filled with other material, increasing the length of the text considerably. This process of expansion continued, culminating in the massive Śatasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (100,000 lines), the largest of the PP sutras. According to Joseph Walser, there is evidence that the Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (25,000 lines) and
4752-587: The Pañcaviṃśatisāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā translated by Kumārajīva (344–413 CE). There are also later commentaries from Zen Buddhists on the Heart and Diamond sutra and Kūkai 's commentary (9th century) is the first-known Tantric commentary. The PP sutras were first brought to Tibet in the reign of Trisong Detsen (742-796) by scholars Jinamitra and Silendrabodhi and the translator Ye shes De. Tibetan Buddhist scholasticism generally studies
4851-611: The Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the Abhisamayālaṅkāra is traditionally said to be a commentary to seventeen Prajñāpāramitā (PP) source texts. These are seen as the most important PP sutras and they collectively known as the "Seventeen Mothers and Sons" (Wyl. yum sras bcu bdun ). The Six Mothers are: The Eleven Sons are: In the Prajñāpāramitā section of the Kangyur , there are also other Prajñāpāramitā sutras besides
4950-560: The Vajracchedikā earlier is not its date of translation, but rather a comparison of the contents and themes. Some western scholars also believe that the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra was adapted from the earlier Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra . Examining the language and phrases used in both the Aṣṭasāhasrikā and the Vajracchedikā , Gregory Schopen also sees the Vajracchedikā as being earlier than
5049-632: The Western Ghats near Mahabaleshwar at an elevation of about 1,300 metres (4,300 ft), in the state of Maharashtra in central India. From Mahabaleshwar it flows to the town of Wai and continues east until it empties into the Bay of Bengal. The Krishna River passes through the Indian states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. Over its 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) length, it flows for 305 km (190 mi) in Maharashtra, 483 km (300 mi) in Karnataka and 612 km (380 mi) in Andhra Pradesh. The Krishna River has 13 major tributaries. Its principal tributaries include
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#17327649960875148-418: The chiastic structures of the text that the entire sūtra may have been composed as a single whole (with a few additions added on the core chapters). A number of scholars have proposed that the Mahāyāna Prajñāpāramitā teachings were first developed by the Caitika subsect of the Mahāsāṃghikas . They believe that the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra originated amongst the southern Mahāsāṃghika schools of
5247-406: The Āndhra region, along the Kṛṣṇa River . These Mahāsāṃghikas had two famous monasteries near Amarāvati Stupa and Dhānyakataka , which gave their names to the Pūrvaśaila and Aparaśaila schools. Each of these schools had a copy of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra in Prakrit . Guang Xing also assesses the view of the Buddha given in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra as being that of
5346-409: The Śatasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (100,000 lines) have a connection with the Dharmaguptaka sect, while the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra (8,000 lines) does not. Other PP texts were also composed which were much shorter and had a more independent structure from the Aṣṭasāhasrikā. Regarding the shorter PP texts, Conze writes, "two of these, the Diamond Sūtra and the Heart Sūtra are in
5445-431: The 18-armed form of Avalokiteśvara called Cundī are very popular. The popularity of Cundī is attested by the three extant translations of the Cundī Dhāraṇī Sūtra from Sanskrit to Chinese, made from the end of the seventh century to the beginning of the eighth century. In late imperial China , these early esoteric traditions still thrived in Buddhist communities. Robert Gimello has also observed that in these communities,
5544-479: The Bodhisattva is their freedom from fear ( na vtras ) in the face of the seemingly shocking doctrine of the emptiness of all dharmas which includes their own existence. A good friend ( kalyanamitra ) is useful in the path to fearlessness. Bodhisattvas also have no pride or self-conception ( na manyeta ) of their own stature as Bodhisattvas. These are important features of the mind of a bodhisattva, called bodhicitta . The Prajñāpāramitā sutras also mention that bodhicitta
5643-425: The Bodhisattva knows that even after bringing countless beings to nirvana, "no living being whatsoever has been brought to nirvana." Bodhisattvas and Mahāsattvas are also willing to give up all of their meritorious deeds for sentient beings and develop skillful means ( upaya ) in order to help abandon false views and teach them the Dharma. The practice of Prajñāpāramitā allows a Bodhisattva to become: "a saviour of
5742-468: The Buddha under whom Dharmakara became a monk and made forty-eight vows before becoming Amitābha . Avalokiteśvara's six armed manifestation as Cintāmaṇicakra is also widely venerated in East Asia. The Cintāmaṇicakra Dharani ( Chinese : 如意寶輪王陀羅尼 ; pinyin : Rúyì Bǎolún Wáng Tuóluóní ) is another popular dharani associated with the bodhisattva. There are various mantras and dharanis associated with Avalokiteśvara. In Tibetan Buddhism ,
5841-429: The Chinese monk Zhu Zixing , who brought back a manuscript of the Prajñāpāramitā of 25,000 lines: When in 260 AD, the Chinese monk Zhu Zixing chose to go to Khotan in an attempt to find original Sanskrit sūtras , he succeeded in locating the Sanskrit Prajñāpāramitā in 25,000 verses, and tried to send it to China. In Khotan, however, there were numerous Hīnayānists who attempted to prevent it because they regarded
5940-440: The Great Compassion Mantra. It is very popular in East Asian Buddhism . Another popular Avalokiteśvara dharani in East Asian Buddhism is Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara Heart Dharani . This dharani is associated with Avalokiteśvara's eleven face form, known as Ekādaśamukha , one of the six forms of Guanyin. In East Asian Buddhism, the most popular form of Avalokiteśvara is the feminine white robed Guanyin . A common phrase which
6039-418: The Krishna River near Sangli . Hindus consider these places holy. It is said that Dattatreya , one of the Hindu dieties, spent some of his days at Audumber on the banks of the Krishna. Kudalasangama (also written as Kudala Sangama) is located about 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the Almatti Dam in Bagalkot district of Karnataka state. The Krishna and Malaprabha rivers merge here. The Aikya Mantapa or
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#17327649960876138-413: The Mahāsāṃghikas. Edward Conze estimates that this sūtra originated around 100 BCE. In 2012, Harry Falk and Seishi Karashima published a damaged and partial Kharoṣṭhī manuscript of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā . It is very similar to the first Chinese translation of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā by Lokakṣema (ca. 179 CE) whose source text is assumed to be in the Gāndhārī language ; Lokakṣema's translation
6237-407: The PP literature developed in nine stages: (1) An urtext similar to the first two chapters of the Sanskrit Ratnagunasaṃcaya Gāthā; (2) Chapters 3 to 28 of the Ratnagunasaṃcaya are composed, along with the prose of the Aṣṭasāhasrikā . This base text was further expanded with (3) material from the Abhidharma , and (4) concessions to the "Buddhism of Faith" (referring to Pure Land references in
6336-467: The PP sutras through the Abhisamayālaṅkāra and its numerous commentaries. The focus on the Abhisamayālaṅkāra is particularly pronounced in the Gelug school, who according to Georges Dreyfus "take the Ornament as the central text for the study of the path" and "treat it as a kind of Buddhist encyclopedia, read in the light of commentaries by Je Dzong-ka-ba , Gyel-tsap Je , and the authors of manuals [monastic textbooks]." An Indian commentary on
6435-434: The Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras are "a collection of about forty texts ... composed somewhere on the Indian subcontinent between approximately 100 BC and AD 600." Some Prajnāpāramitā sūtras are thought to be among the earliest Mahāyāna sūtras . Western scholars have traditionally considered the earliest sūtra in the Prajñāpāramitā class to be the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra or "Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 Lines", which
6534-456: The World"). In Tibetan , Avalokiteśvara is Chenrézig ( Tibetan : སྤྱན་རས་གཟིགས་ ). The etymology of the Tibetan name Chenrézik is spyan "eye", ras "continuity", and gzig "to look". This gives the meaning of one who always looks upon all beings (with the eye of compassion). The name Avalokiteśvara first appeared in the Avatamsaka Sutra , a Mahayana scripture that precedes the Lotus Sutra . On account of its popularity in Japan and as
6633-416: The absence, the "not taking up" ( aparigṛhīta ) of even "correct" mental signs and perceptions such as "form is not self", "I practice Prajñāpāramitā", etc. To be freed of all constructions and signs, to be signless ( animitta ) is to be empty of them and this is to stand in Prajñāpāramitā. The Prajñāpāramitā sutras state that all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the past have practiced Prajñāpāramitā. Prajñāpāramitā
6732-476: The banks of the Krishna River. There are many pilgrimage places in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh on the course of the river. The first holy place on the river Krishna is at Wai , known for the Mahaganpati Mandir and Kashivishweshwar temple. It has seven ghats along the river. Temples like Dattadeva temple, which is revered by the people of Maharashtra, are located on the banks of Krishna at Narsobawadi , ankalkhop Audumbar near Sangli . Yadur
6831-404: The central mantra is the six-syllable mantra oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ ( Sanskrit : ॐ मणि पद्मे हूँ , also called the Mani mantra. Due to his association with this mantra, one form of Avalokiteśvara is called Ṣaḍākṣarī ("Lord of the Six Syllables") in Sanskrit . The Mani mantra is also popular in East Asian Mahayana . There are also different variations of the mani mantra, the most common which
6930-402: The development of East Asian Mādhyamaka and on Chinese Buddhism . Xuanzang (fl. c. 602–664) was a Chinese scholar who traveled to India and returned to China with three copies of the Mahāprajñāpāramitā Sūtra which he had secured from his extensive travels. Xuanzang, with a team of disciple translators, commenced translating the voluminous work in 660 CE using the three versions to ensure
7029-464: The esoteric practices of Cundī were extremely popular among both the populace and the elite. In the Tiantai school, six forms of Avalokiteśvara are defined. Each of the bodhisattva's six qualities is said to break the hindrances in one of the six realms of existence: hell-beings, pretas , animals, humans, asuras , and devas . According to the prologue of Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī Sūtra, Gautama Buddha told his disciple Ānanda that Avalokiteśvara had become
7128-561: The few noted deposits: Widespread area near to the Krishna River holds the rich flora and fauna. The last surviving Mangrove forests in the Krishna estuary have been declared as the Krishna Wildlife Sanctuary . The sanctuary is the home to the large number of resident and migratory birds. Fishing cats, otters, Estuarine crocodiles, spotted deer, sambar deer, blackbucks, snakes, lizards and jackals can also be spotted in
7227-398: The fifth century. This earlier Sanskrit name was supplanted by the form containing the ending -īśvara "lord", but Avalokiteśvara did not occur in Sanskrit before the seventh century. The original meaning of the name fits the Buddhist understanding of the role of a bodhisattva. The reinterpretation presenting him as an īśvara shows a strong influence of Hinduism , as the term īśvara
7326-511: The first appearance of the dhāraṇī of Cundī , which occurs at the end of the sūtra text. After the bodhisattva finally attains samādhi with the mantra "oṃ maṇipadme hūṃ", he is able to observe 77 koṭīs of fully enlightened buddhas replying to him in one voice with the Cundī Dhāraṇī: namaḥ saptānāṃ samyaksaṃbuddha koṭīnāṃ tadyathā, oṃ cale cule cunde svāhā. The Nīlakaṇṭha Dhāraṇī is an 82-syllable dhāraṇī for Avalokiteśvara also known as
7425-419: The form used in East Asian Buddhism today, which is Guanyin ( Chinese : 觀音 ; pinyin : Guānyīn ). It was initially thought that this was due to a lack of fluency, as Guanyin indicates the original Sanskrit form was instead Avalokitasvara , "who looked down upon sound", i.e. , the cries of sentient beings who need help. It is now understood that Avalokitasvara was the original form and
7524-555: The front of the crown) identify Nātha as Avalokiteśvara. Andrew Skilton writes: ... It is clear from sculptural evidence alone that the Mahāyāna was fairly widespread throughout Sri Lanka, although the modern account of the history of Buddhism on the island presents an unbroken and pure lineage of Theravāda. (One can only assume that similar trends were transmitted to other parts of Southeast Asia with Sri Lankan ordination lineages.) Relics of an extensive cult of Avalokiteśvara can be seen in
7623-618: The full ritual panoply of mandalas and abhiseka ). These scriptures may have been recited in esoteric rituals and two of them remain in widespread use today : Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya (commonly recited throughout Asia by Buddhists) and the Adhyardhaśatikā (an widely recited text in Shingon Buddhism) . By the middle of the 3rd century CE, it appears that some Prajñāpāramitā texts were known in Central Asia , as reported by
7722-435: The helpless, a defender of the defenceless, a refuge to those without refuge, a place to rest to those without resting place, the final relief of those who are without it, an island to those without one, a light to the blind, a guide to the guideless, a resort to those without one and....guide to the path those who have lost it, and you shall become a support to those who are without support." Tathātā (Suchness or Thusness) and
7821-547: The holy Samādhi of Basavanna , the founder of the Lingayat Hindu sect along with Linga , which is believed to be self-born ( Swayambhu ), is here and the river flows east towards Srisailam (another pilgrim center) Andhra Pradesh. Sangameswaram of Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh is a famous pilgrim center for Hindus where Tungabhadra and Bhavanasi rivers join the Krishna River. The Sangameswaram temple
7920-536: The integrity of the source documentation. Xuanzang was being encouraged by a number of the disciple translators to render an abridged version. After a suite of dreams quickened his decision, Xuanzang determined to render an unabridged, complete volume, faithful to the original of 600 fascicles. An important PP text in East Asian Buddhism is the Dazhidulun (大智度論, T no. 1509), a massive commentary on
8019-478: The later phase of Indian Buddhism, Tāntric Prajñāpāramitā texts were produced from the 8th century upt to 11th century CE. These later esoteric Prajñāpāramitā sutras are generally short texts which contain mantras and/or dhāraṇīs and also reference esoteric Buddhist ( Mantrayana ) ideas. They often promote simple practices based on recitation which lead to the accumulation of merit and help one reach awakening. Esoteric Prajñāpāramitā sutras include texts such as
8118-552: The perfect, unsurpassable enlightenment." Prajñāpāramitā may also refer to the female deity Prajñāpāramitā Devi , a samboghakaya Buddha of transcendental wisdom also known as the "Great Mother" (Tibetan: Yum Chenmo ) who was widely depicted in Asian Buddhist art . The word Prajñāpāramitā combines the Sanskrit words prajñā "wisdom" (or "knowledge") with pāramitā "perfection" or " transcendent ". Prajñāpāramitā
8217-462: The present-day figure of Nātha. Avalokiteśvara is popularly worshipped in Myanmar , where he is called Lokanat or lokabyuharnat, and Thailand , where he is called Lokesvara . The bodhisattva goes by many other names. In Indochina and Thailand, he is Lokesvara , "The Lord of the World". In Tibet, he is Chenrezig , also spelled Spyan-ras gzigs, "With a Pitying Look". In China, the bodhisattva takes
8316-595: The related term Dharmatā (the nature of Dharma), and Tathāgata are also important terms of the Prajñāpāramitā texts. To practice Prajñāpāramitā means to practice in accord with 'the nature of Dharma' and to see the Tathāgata (i.e. the Buddha). As the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra states, these terms are generally used equivalently: "As the suchness ( tathatā ) of dharmas is immovable ( acalitā ), and
8415-558: The river does not flow through Tamil Nadu , the Telugu Ganga Project is a canal system that brings Krishna River water to that state's capital city of Chennai with the agreement of all basin states. This river is revered by Hindus as sacred. The river is also believed to remove all the sins of those who bathe in it. The centre of attraction is the Krishna Pushkaram fair which is held once in twelve years on
8514-559: The same time, Avalokiteśvara is also the attendant of Amitabha Buddha, assisting Amitabha Buddha to teach the Dharma in his Pure Land. Veneration of Avalokiteśvara Bodhisattva has continued to the present day in Sri Lanka . In times past, both Tantrayana and Mahayana have been found in some of the Theravada countries, but today the Buddhism of Sri Lanka (formerly, Ceylon), Myanmar (formerly, Burma), Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia
8613-486: The sanctuary. The sanctuary also supports rich vegetation with plants like Rhizophora, Avicennia, and Aegiceros. The following are few other wildlife sanctuaries located in the Krishna basin. The following are few other waterfalls located in the river basin The yearly water outflows to the sea in a water year from 1 June 2003 to 31 May 2022 (19 years) are given below At present, the award of Bachawat tribunal dated 31 May 1976
8712-496: The seventeen Mothers and Sons: There are various Indian and later Chinese commentaries on the Prajñāpāramitā sutras, some of the most influential commentaries include: A key theme of the Prajñāpāramitā sutras is the figure of the Bodhisattva (literally: awakening-being) which is defined in the 8,000-line Prajñāpāramitā sutra as: A Bodhisattva is then a being that experiences everything "without attachment" ( asakti ) and sees reality or suchness ( Tathātā ) as it is. The Bodhisattva
8811-638: The suchness ( tathatā ) of dharmas is the Tathāgata ." The Tathāgata is said in the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra to "neither come nor go". Furthermore, the Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra includes a list of synonyms associated with Tathāgata as also being "beyond coming and going", these include: 1. Suchness ( tathatā ); 2. Unarisen ( anutpāda ); 3. Reality limit ( bhūtakoṭi ); 4. Emptiness ("Śūnyatā"); 5. Division ( yathāvatta ); 6. Detachment ( virāga ); 7. Cessation ( nirodha ); 8. Space element ( ākāśadhātu ). The sutra then states: Apart from these dharmas, there
8910-612: The sūtra). This process led to (5) further expansion into larger PP sūtras as well as (6) contraction into the shorter sūtras (i.e. Diamond Sūtra , Heart Sūtra , down to the Prajñāpāramitā in One Letter ). This expanded corpus formed the basis for the (7) Indian PP Commentaries, (8) Tantric PP works and (9) Chinese Chan texts. Jan Nattier also defends the view that the Aṣṭasāhasrikā developed as various layers were added over time. However, Matthew Orsborn has recently argued, based on
9009-421: The term could be translated as "knowledge gone to the other (shore)", or transcendental knowledge. The Aṣṭasāhasrikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra says: A further passage in the 8,000-line Prajñāpāramitā sutra states that Prajñāpāramitā means that a Bodhisattva stands in emptiness ( shunyata ) by not standing ( √sthā ) or supporting themselves on any dharma (phenomena), whether conditioned or unconditioned. The dharmas that
9108-697: The text as heterodox . Eventually, Zhu Zixing stayed in Khotan, but sent the manuscript to Luoyang where it was translated by a Khotanese monk named Mokṣala. In 296, the Khotanese monk Gītamitra came to Chang'an with another copy of the same text. In China, there was extensive translation of many Prajñāpāramitā texts beginning in the second century CE. The main translators include: Lokakṣema (支婁迦讖), Zhī Qīan (支謙), Dharmarakṣa (竺法護), Mokṣala (無叉羅), Kumārajīva (鳩摩羅什, 408 CE), Xuánzàng (玄奘), Făxián (法賢) and Dānapāla (施護). These translations were very influential in
9207-426: The time of the great king Aśoka in the third century BCE, it became a holy place also for Buddhists, who gradually became dominant as a number of their hermits settled there. The local people, though, mainly remained followers of the Tamil animist religion. The mixed Tamil-Buddhist cult culminated in the formation of the figure of Avalokiteśvara. The name Lokeśvara should not be confused with that of Lokeśvararāja ,
9306-546: The vicinity of the practitioner. The connection between this famous mantra and Avalokiteśvara is documented for the first time in the Kāraṇḍavyūhasūtra . This text is dated to around the late 4th century CE to the early 5th century CE. In this sūtra, a bodhisattva is told by the Buddha that recitation of this mantra while focusing on the sound can lead to the attainment of eight hundred samādhis . Another mantra for Avalokiteśvara commonly recited in East Asian Buddhism
9405-456: The year 1903. Krishna River is the second largest east flowing river of the peninsula. The flood waters of Krishna and Godavari rivers can be fully utilized by exporting water to other east flowing peninsular rivers up to Vaigai River in Tamil Nadu by constructing a coastal reservoir on the Bay of Bengal sea area. There are many dams constructed across the Krishna River. The Krishna River
9504-484: The year 2015 to augment water availability to the Prakasam Barrage in Andhra Pradesh. The irrigation canals of Prakasam Barrage form part of National Waterway 4 . The Krishna-Godavari delta known as "Rice Granary of India . " Krishna River basin is endowed with rich mineral deposits such as oil and gas, coal, iron, limestone , dolomite , gold, granite, laterite , uranium, diamonds, etc. The following are
9603-420: Was a borrowing or absorption by Mahayana Buddhism of one or more deities from Hinduism , in particular Shiva or Vishnu . This seems to be based on the name Avalokiteśvara. On the basis of the study of Buddhist scriptures and ancient Tamil literary sources as well as a field survey, Japanese scholar Shu Hikosaka proposes the hypothesis that ancient Mount Potalaka, the residence of Avalokiteśvara described in
9702-586: Was probably put in writing in the 1st century BCE. This chronology is based on the views of Edward Conze , who largely considered dates of translation into other languages. This text also has a corresponding version in verse format, called the Ratnaguṇasaṃcaya Gāthā , which some believe to be slightly older because it is not written in standard literary Sanskrit. However, these findings rely on late-dating Indian texts, in which verses and mantras are often kept in more archaic forms. According to Edward Conze,
9801-647: Was usually connected to the Hindu notion of Vishnu (in Vaishnavism ) or Shiva (in Shaivism ) as the Supreme Lord , Creator, and Ruler of the world. Some attributes of such a god were transmitted to the bodhisattva, but the mainstream of those who venerated Avalokiteśvara upheld the Buddhist rejection of the doctrine of any creator god. In Sanskrit, Avalokiteśvara is also referred to as Lokeśvara ("Lord of
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