Jump to content

Muni (saint)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The words "Bu-dhe" (the Buddha) and "Sa-kya-mu-nī " ("Sage of the Shakyas") in the Brahmi script, on Ashoka's Rummindei Minor Pillar Edict (circa 250 BCE).

Muni (Sanskrit: मुनि, "silent") is a term for types of ancient Indian sages and hermits or ancient Indian ascetics.[1] Sages of this type are said to know the truth of existence not on the basis of scientific or religious texts but through their own realization.

Buddhism

[edit]

In Buddhism the term "Muni" is used as a title of Gautama Buddha — who, being born among the tribe of the Shakyas, is called Śākyamuni (sage of the Shakyas).[2] Various other titles like Munindra(Sanskrit; Pali: Muninda; meaning "lord of Munis"), Munivar(Greatest among Munis), Muniraj(King of Munis), Muniśvara(Sanskrit; Pali: Munissaro; meaning "god of Munis") Mahamuni(The greatest Muni) are also given to the Buddhas. The Mahamuni temple in Mandalay, Myanmar is named after the title of the Buddha.

Hinduism

[edit]
  1. kaṣtha tapasvin - ascetics permanently residing in stillness
  2. Jivanmukta - those liberated for life in a physical body

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Muni.
  2. ^ Buswell, Robert E. Jr.; Lopez, Donald S. Jr. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. p. 741. ISBN 9781400848058.
  3. ^ Muni.
  4. ^ ( 6.7.3 )
[edit]