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brahmaparisā

fem nom sg of brahmaparisā (noun); fem nom pl of brahmaparisā (noun); fem acc pl of brahmaparisā (noun); fem voc pl of brahmaparisā (noun)

1. assembly of gods; Brahma's retinue

Built from

• brahma — root · Brahma, expansion
  From √brh 'to grow, swell'; the absolute deity in Vedic cosmology, adopted into Buddhist pantheon. Cognate with English 'bread' (from growing grain) through Indo-European *bhergh-.
• parisā — stem · assembly, retinue
  From √sṛ 'to flow'; originally 'a flowing-around' or circle of attendants. Used throughout the Canon for celestial and monastic assemblies.

Analysis. brahma (Brahma, the highest deity) + parisā (assembly, retinue); a compound denoting the divine assembly presided over by or associated with Brahma, often mentioned in the Canon as a celestial gathering to hear the Dhamma.

Etymology. brahma is an ancient Indo-European word (Sanskrit brahman, from √brh 'to grow, expand, swell') denoting the cosmic principle or highest deity; parisā is from √sṛ 'to flow' (via Pali parisati 'flows around'), hence originally 'that which flows around', a gathering or circle. The compound expresses the hierarchical assembly of the divine realms in Buddhist cosmology.

Meanings from the Digital Pāḷi Dictionary; morphology and etymology by Claude.

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