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Sūtra
Sūtra (Skt., ‘thread’).
1. In Hinduism, sūtras seem to have originated as manuals for those concerned with household and other rituals. Sūtra literature is written in a condensed prose. The Kalpasūtras are concerned with ritual, and fall into three major categories: Śrautasūtras, Gṛhyasūtras, and Dharmasūtras. As the names imply, the first deal with the performance of sacrifices (in complex detail), the second with home rituals including saṃskāras, and the third with these and with other duties belonging to the āśramas. They were extended in the verse-form śastra literature. Sūtras are also sharp and elliptical works which are commented on in the darśana (philosophical) works: e.g. Jaimini, Bādarāyaṇa, Kaṇāda, Patañjali. 2. In Buddhism, sūtras (Pāli, sutta) are the collections of the discourses or teachings of the Buddha. In Theravāda, they are gathered in the second part of the Pāli canon (tripiṭaka), the Sūtra-(Sutta-) piṭaka. They are then divided into five collections, nikāyas (Skt., āgama). In Mahāyāna, many additional sūtras have been preserved, some of which become foundational for particular schools of Buddhism (e.g. the Lotus Sūtra, Sukhāvatīvyūha, Laṇkāvatāra-Sūtra). 3. For Jain sūtras, see AṄGA. |
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JOHN BOWKER. "Sūtra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Sūtra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Stra.html JOHN BOWKER. "Sūtra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Stra.html |
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sūtra
sūtra (Skt; Pāli, sutta, a thread). A discourse of the Buddha. In the Pāli Canon these texts are grouped together in the second of the three ‘baskets’ (piṭaka) or divisions of the teachings, namely the Sūtra Piṭaka. This in turn is divided into five collections known as Nikāyas (Āgamas in Sanskrit), in which the suttas are grouped in order of length. These early discourses are all attributed to the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama. The Mahāyāna canonical collection of sūtras is more extensive and includes many lengthy independent works. While the historical Buddha is plainly not the author of these works, they are regarded by followers of the Mahāyānas as of no less, and perhaps greater importance, than the earlier texts. Many, such as the Lotus Sūtra and the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra, became the foundational scriptures of new schools of Buddhism. The tradition of composing sūtras continued for many centuries during the medieval period. Most of these were composed in Sanskrit but many now survive only in Tibetan or Chinese translation. Sometimes independent works were amalgamated into more extensive ones known as vaipūlya sūtras.
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DAMIEN KEOWN. "sūtra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. DAMIEN KEOWN. "sūtra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-stra1.html DAMIEN KEOWN. "sūtra." A Dictionary of Buddhism. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O108-stra1.html |
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Sutra
Sutra Sacred or authoritative text in Indian philosophy or religion. In Hinduism, it is a concise work for use within an oral tradition. Most philosophical traditions had their own sutras, which were written down in the first few centuries of the Christian era. In Buddhism, a sutra was often a lengthy sacred text dealing with a specific point of doctrine.
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"Sutra." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Sutra." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Sutra.html "Sutra." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Sutra.html |
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Sutra
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Cite this article
JOHN BOWKER. "Sutra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. JOHN BOWKER. "Sutra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Sutra.html JOHN BOWKER. "Sutra." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-Sutra.html |
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sutra
sutra a rule or aphorism in Sanskrit literature, or a set of these on grammar or Hindu law or philosophy; also, a Buddhist or Jainist scripture. The word comes from Sanskrit sūtra ‘thread, rule’, from siv ‘sew’.
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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "sutra." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "sutra." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-sutra.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "sutra." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-sutra.html |
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sutra
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"sutra." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sutra." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sutra.html "sutra." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-sutra.html |
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Sutra
Sutra see Sanskrit literature . |
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"Sutra." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "Sutra." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Sutra.html "Sutra." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-Sutra.html |
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sutra
sutra
•abhorrer, adorer, Andorra, angora, aura, aurora, bora, Bora-Bora, borer, Camorra, Cora, corer, Dora, Eleonora, Eudora, explorer, fedora, flora, fora, ignorer, Isadora, Kia-Ora, Laura, Leonora, Maura, menorah, Nora, pakora, Pandora, pourer, roarer, scorer, senhora, señora, signora, snorer, soarer, Sonora, sora, storer, Theodora, Torah, Tuscarora, Vlorë
•goalscorer • cobra • okra • Oprah
•Socotra • Moira • Sudra
•chaulmoogra • supra
•Brahmaputra, sutra
•Zarathustra • Louvre • fulcra
•Tripura
•borough, burgh, Burra, curragh, demurrer, thorough
•Rubbra
•penumbra, umbra
•tundra • chakra • ultra • kookaburra
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"sutra." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "sutra." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sutra.html "sutra." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-sutra.html |
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