Dictionary Unit

Till a few decades ago, when interest in the Mahayana Buddhism began to rise worldwide, literature related to it was limited to classical languages like Tibetan and Chinese. As a result of the efforts of scholars like Mahapandita Rahul Sankrityayana, some Sanskrit texts did come to the attention of readers, but they were often inaccurate and incomplete. Seeing this situation, some contemporary scholars prepared an ambitious programme, the chief object of which was to prepare authoritative editions of the available Sanskrit texts, to restore fragmentary texts with the help of their Tibetan translations, to encourage high-level research based on the material available in these languages, and to make easily available the Buddhist literature available in the classical languages like Tibetan, Sanskrit etc. in modern languages like Hindi and English. In order to accomplish this ambitious programme, the need for various kinds of lexicons was felt. Accordingly, the Central University of Tibetan Studies undertook a grand Dictionary Project, in which there was a provision for the creation of two kinds of lexicons – general and specialized.

Generalized & Specialized Lexicons

Tibetan - Sanskrit Dictionary

As a part of the effort to prepare general lexicons, a Tibetan – Sanskrit Dictionary running into 16 volumes was started in the year 1981 and completed in the year 2005.

Structure:

This is a specialized Tibetan – Sanskrit dictionary of synonyms, in which the Tibetan – Sanskrit equivalents related to the Buddhist realms of Logic, Philosophy, Metaphysics, Ethics, Scripture, practitioner literature, Tantra, Medicine, Astrology, Poetics, Grammar etc. are presented with their meanings, definitions and usages contextualized. In addition to this, the Tibetan-Sanskrit equivalents of the non-Buddhist Indian schools of thought such as Nyaya, Vaisesika, Samkhya etc., which are found in the Buddhist literature, are also recorded in this dictionary with their usages and definitions. Along with this, non-philosophical terms occurring in both, the Buddhist and the non-Buddhist traditions, are also taken care of in this dictionary.

The Tibetan-Sanskrit Dictionary of 16 Volumes is a unique contribution of the Dictionary Unit of the Research Department of the CUTS to the study of the Mahayana Buddhism in general and the Tibetan Buddhist Studies in particular. This is the largest ever Tibetan-Sanskrit Dictionary compiled, which consists of over 100,000 Sanskrit equivalents. Scholars working in this area have greatly praised this Dictionary and have termed it as a historic effort. It has been reviewed by Prof. J. W. De Jong in the Indo-Iranian Journal (Vol. 40(3) July 1997 p. 273).

Dharmasngraha-Kosah (Tibetan-Sanskrit Dharma terms with Categories)

The term “Dharma” is used here to mean any word that suggests a category or a classification. For the present volume, Dharma terms have been supplied mainly from the Buddhist schools of sciences like Abhidharma, Vinaya, Tantra, Ayurvijnana, Jyotish etc. Non-Buddhist terms have also been incorporated insofar as they appear in Sanskrit works, which have been fully translated into Tibetan language.

Two main points were kept in mind while making this Dictionary:-

1. Easy access to the desired dharma term given in the main text, and
2. Relevance for Tibetan and Sanskrit readers, as well as those engaged in the Tibetan -Sanskrit comparative study.

Sandarbha Kosha (Concordance of Tibetan- Sanskrit texts) consisting of 735 pages was complied and is in the Press.

Ongoing Projects

1. Ayurvijnana Kosha
2. Jyotisha Kosha
3. Students Tibetan-Sanskrit Dictionary
4. Sanskrit Tibetan Glossary
5. Concordance of Five Tibetan Buddhist Canons

Ayurvijnana Kosha: This Encyclopaedia is based on the Ashtangahridaya and its Tibetan translation along with some Sanskrit commentaries. The Encyclopaedia explains the contents of the Ashtangahridaya. At the same time, it also records general and technical Tibetan terms with their Sanskrit equivalents. The Encyclopaedia shall also contain pictures of different parts of medicinal herbs.

Jyotisha Kosha: This Encyclopaedia will be based on the Sanskrit texts related to Astrology and Astronomy with their Tibetan Translations and shall explain the contents of these texts. At the same time it will record general and technical terms as well as proper names. Contextualized citations will be used to explain the technical terms.

Students Tibetan-Sanskrit Dictionary: This will contain Tibetan words with their Sanskrit equivalents. The Tibetan terms will be followed by their pronunciation. Notes, examples and modern Tibetan words will be provided wherever necessary in order to explain the meaning of Tibetan terms.

Sanskrit Tibetan Glossary: This glossary is based on the Tibetan Sanskrit Dictionary complied by the Unit. It contains Sanskrit terms with their Tibetan equivalents. This will prove helpful to students and researchers working in the field of comparative study of the Sanskrit and the Tibetan texts.

Concordance of Five Tibetan Buddhist Canons : This Concordance of Kagyur and Tangyur Editions is being prepared in order to facilitate the search for the desired text in any of the five editions of Kagyur or Tangyur viz. Derge, Narthang, Peking, Cone and Lhasa, Derge being the main edition for reference.