In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Tāmrastambha (ताम्रस्तम्भ) refers to the “hell of the copper cauldron” and is one of the “eight hells of fire and flame” forming part of the sixteen utsadas (secondary hells) sitauted outside of the eight great hells, according to the “world of transmigration” section in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XXVII).—Accordingly, “In the hell of the copper cauldron (tāmrastambha), the Rākṣasas, guardians of hell, ask the damned where they are going, and the latter answer: ‘We are unfortunate and we do not know where we are going; we are hungry (kṣudh) and thirsty (pipāsā)’. When they say they are thirsty, the guardians chase the damned with whip-lashes and make them sit on a red-hot copper stake (tāmrastambha); they open their mouths with pliers and pour in molten copper. If they say they are hungry, the guardians make them sit on a copper stake and make them swallow iron balls (ayoguḍa) which enter and burn the mouth, penetrate and burn the throat (kaṇṭha), penetrate and burn the stomach (antra); having burned the five internal organs (read Tsang, 130 and 18), they fall down onto the ground”.

Also, “In their previous lives, these unfortunates had stolen other peoples’ goods to have enough to eat; as monks, they sometimes pretended to be sick to get melted butter (ghṛta) or honey (madhu); without discipline (śīla), concentration (samādhi) and wisdom (prajñā), they had accepted many gifts and hurt people with slander (pāruṣyavāda). For all of these previous wrongdoings, they fall into the hell of the copper stake (tāmrastambha)”.

context information

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Tamra, Stambha.

Relevant text

Search found 1 books and stories containing Tamrastambha, Tamra-stambha, Tāmra-stambha, Tāmrastambha; (plurals include: Tamrastambhas, stambhas, Tāmrastambhas). 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)

The eight hot hells < [The world of transmigration]

The sixteen utsadas annexed to the eight great hells < [The world of transmigration]

The eight great hells < [The world of transmigration]

show preview