Vasubandhu: 9 definitions

Introduction:

Vasubandhu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India. 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.

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In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Google Books: Mahāmudrā and Related Instructions

Vasubandhu (वसुबन्धु) is the name of an ancient teacher belonging to the “lineage of vast conduct”, according to “the succession of Gurus in the Mahāmudrā lineages” in the Kagyü School of Tibetan Buddhism (the Mahāmudrā deals with the nature of the mind).—The graduated path of the three levels of beings, which is an adornment [for the Mahāmudrā], is of three lineages: 1. The lineage of vast conduct; 2. The lineage of the profound view; 3. The lineage of the blessing of practice.—[The lineage of vast conduct]—(1) The Lord of Sages [the Buddha], ... (4) Vasubandhu,... and (14) Atiśa Dīpaṃkara.

Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist Iconography

Vasubandhu (वसुबन्धु) (280-360 A. D.) and a practitioner of Tantric Buddhism.—Tārānātha (Tārānāth) is reported to have said that Tantrism existed from very early times and was transmitted in a secret manner from the time of Asaṅga down to the time of Dharmakīrti. Asaṅga who was a brother of Vasubandhu (280-360 A. D.) must have flourished circa 300 A. D. and Dharmakīrti who is not mentioned by the Chinese traveller Hiuen Thsang but is referred to with great respect by I-Tsing very probably belonged to a period between 625-675 A. D.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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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.

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General definition (in Buddhism)

[«previous next»] — Vasubandhu in Buddhism glossary
Source: Buddhist Door: GlossaryBuddhist philosopher of 500 A.D. The 21st Buddhist patriach of Mahayana Buddhism. He was great Buddhist commentator in Hinayana, but was converted to Yogacara by his brother Asanga.Source: academia.edu: The Chronological History of Buddhism

Vasubandhu (वसुबन्धु).—According to Tibetan sources, Asaṅga (965-900 BCE) and Vasubandhu (963-883 BCE) were half-brothers from Puruṣapura of Gāndhāra Janapada and born 900 years after Buddha nirvana. Asaṅga’s father was a Kśatriya whereas Vasubandhu’s father was a Brāhmaṇa. Prasannaśīlā was the mother of Asaṅga and Vasubandhu. Professor J. Takakusu published “The Life of Vasubandhu by Paramārtha” in the year 1904. It is a translation from a Chinese manuscript. It states that a Kauśika Brāhmaṇa family of Puruṣapura (Peshawar) had three sons, Asaṅga, Vasubandhu and Viriñchivatsa.

Vasubandhu authored the famous text Abhidhamma Kośa. King Bālāditya (also known as Gambhirapaksha and Chandraprakasha) became the King of Ayodhyā after the death of his father Vikramāditya. King Bālāditya invited Vasubandhu to Ayodhyā. Vasubandhu debated with Vasurāta, a grammarian who was the brother-in-law of King Bālāditya. He also debated with Sanghabhadra, a Hīnayāna scholar. Bhartṛhari, the author of “Vākyapadīyam”, was the son and pupil of Vasurāta.

India history and geography

Source: academia.edu: Who was the Indian King Sandrokottus?

Vasubandhu (950-870 BCE).—Chinese translation of Paramartha’s “Life of Vasubandhu” tells us that Vas ubandhu’s teacher Budhamitra was in the court of King Pi-ka-la-ma-a-chi-ta (Vikramaditya) of A-yu-ja (Ayodhya). The crown prince and the son of Vikramaditya was Ba-la-chi-ti-ya (Baladitya). After the death of Vikramaditya, Baladitya became the king. He invited Vasubandhu to Ayodhya. Vasubandhu accepted the invitation of King Baladitya and settled in Ayodhya. Evidently, Vikramaditya was Chandragupta and Baladitya was Chnadrapraksha as mentioned in Vamana’s Kavyalankara -Sutravritti.

Source: academia.edu: The Chronological History of Tibetan Buddhism

Vasubandhu (960-880 BCE).—Though Buddhism was introduced in Tibet during the time of Samantabhadra (16th century BCE) but Acharya Vetalakshema [Garab Dorje] (1321-1221 BCE) was the first teacher of Tibetan Buddhism. It appears that early Tibetan Buddhists followed Indian Buddhist scholars like Vasubandhu.

India history book cover
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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous next»] — Vasubandhu in Sanskrit glossary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Vasubandhu (वसुबन्धु).—name of a teacher: Mahāvyutpatti 3478.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Vasubandhu (वसुबन्धु):—[=vasu-bandhu] [from vasu > vas] m. Name of a celebrated Buddhist scholar, [Harṣacarita; Buddhist literature] ([wrong reading] -bandha).

[Sanskrit to German]

Vasubandhu in German

context information

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.

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