<p>The term Dharmānusārin would mean "one who follows in the Dharma" in Sanskrit. Please see the definition in <a href="https://books.google.com.my/books?id=985a1M7L1NcC&amp;lpg=PA74&amp;dq=dharma-anusarin&amp;pg=PA74#v=onepage&amp;q=dharma-anusarin&amp;f=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this dictionary entry</a>.</p>

<p>The term Śraddhānusārin would mean "one who follows in faith" in Sanskrit. Please see the definition in <a href="https://books.google.com.my/books?id=985a1M7L1NcC&amp;lpg=PA277&amp;dq=sraddha-anusarin&amp;pg=PA277#v=onepage&amp;q=sraddha-anusarin&amp;f=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this dictionary entry</a>.</p>

<p>The words Dharma and Śraddhā can be merged with anusārin according to <a href="http://learnsanskrit.org/references/sandhi/vowel#similar" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sandhi rules</a>.</p>

<p>On <a href="http://www.vridhamma.org/Peace-within-Oneself-for-Peace-in-the-World" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this page</a>, from <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._N._Goenka" rel="nofollow noreferrer">S.N. Goenka</a>'s Keynote address at the International Bauddha Mahotsav (Buddhist Conference), at Sarnath, India in 1998:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>If I had been aware, much earlier, that this conference was named as
  'Bauddha Mahotsav', then I would have suggested that a more
  appropriate name would be 'Buddha Mahotsav', or 'Dhamma Mahotsav', or
  even 'Tiratana Mahotsav'. This is because in the entire ancient
  literature of the Buddha's teachings, commentaries and
  sub-commentaries, amongst a total of 59,150 pages containing 9,285,755
  words, the word 'Bauddha' is very conspicuously absent. The Buddha
  never taught 'Buddhism' or 'Bauddh Dharma'. He never taught a
  religion, nor did he convert anyone to an organized religion. He
  taught Dhamma (Dharma) - the universal laws of nature - and inspired
  people to follow Dhamma.</p>
  
  <p>Those who followed the teachings of the Buddha were never called
  'Bauddh' (Buddhist) during the time of the Buddha, and even till about
  500 years later. <strong>Throughout this huge literature, we find only the
  following words referring to those practicing the Buddha's teachings:
  Dhammi (Dharmi), Dhammiko (Dharmika), Dhammattho (Dharmastha),
  Dhammacari (Dharmacari), Dhammavihari (Dharmavihari), Dhammanusari
  (Dharmanusari).</strong></p>
  
  <p>We don't know when, where, by whom and why the use of the word
  'Bauddh' first began, and so also the use of the words 'Buddhism' and
  'Buddhist'. When we say that the teachings of the Buddha are 'Bauddh
  Dharama' (or Buddhism), and say his followers are Bauddh (or
  Buddhists), obviously it means that the teachings are meant only for
  people claiming to be 'Bauddha' or 'Buddhists'. Whereas the Buddha
  declared so emphatically that Dhamma is infinite - "appamano dhammo".</p>
  
  <p>When the teachings are called Buddhist, or ‘Bauddh Dharma' or
  Buddhism, then most of the suffering people of the world will get
  frightened thinking that they are being converted from one particular
  religion to another, and be deprived of the universal teaching. But
  when Buddha's teachings are given under the original, true
  nomenclature of ‘Dhamma', and not any other terminology, then people
  are reassured of the basic fact that the Buddha's teachings are not
  just meant for any one religion. So people from any background will
  have no hesitation accepting his teachings.</p>
  
  <p>Our research at Igatpuri has shown us that till about 500 years after
  Buddha, the word ‘Bauddh' was not found in any ancient spiritual
  literature of India-the literature in the Buddha tradition, Mahavir
  tradition, or Vedic tradition. The distinguished scholars assembled
  here may help us make a proper research as to when usage of this word
  ‘Bauddh' began.</p>
  
  <p>It is most important to remember that the Buddha's teachings are not
  meant to be limited to any particular sect. His teachings are
  universal. And if we see the Enlightened One's teachings in proper
  perspective, it is clear that the original teachings of the Buddha are
  totally universal and non-sectarian.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T03:26:32.643Z
2017-08-31T11:34:36.167Z
2017-08-31T11:34:36.167Z
ruben2020
<p>I'm not a Sanskrit scholar but a quick dictionary search gives the following:</p>

<p>bhikṣu - a beggar/wanderer<br>
śramaṇa - a spiritual seeker<br>
pravrājita - the one gone forth<br>
anusārī - follower  </p>

<p>The problem is, back in Buddha's times there were hundreds of different sects, and every seeker either went from one sect to another and assembled their own dharma from the elements available on the spiritual market - or picked one teacher to follow. In the first case they were simply called a bhikshu or shramana, and in the second case they were called a follower of such and such teacher (e.g. of Shramana Gautama, "sramanagautamanusari").</p>

<p>So the closest to "Buddhist" would probably be "buddha-pravrājita" or "buddha-anusārī"</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T00:10:08.333Z
2017-08-31T01:07:23.683Z
2017-08-31T01:07:23.683Z
Andriy Volkov
<p><a href="http://www.84000.org/tipitaka/pitaka_item/pali_seek.php?text=%CA%D2%C7%A1&amp;book=1&amp;bookZ=45" rel="nofollow noreferrer">In pāli canon</a>, follower is sāvaka (su+ika=follower to hear dhamma from satthā [saha+attha=philosopher who has philosophy in his mind]). </p>

<p>Sāvaka, in pāli, is <strong>śrāvaka</strong>, in sanskrit.</p>

<p>This word use in every canon. You can put "buddha" word in font of "sāvaka", buddha-sāvaka, to specify just a buddhist person.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.buddhistdoor.org/tc/dictionary/details/savaka" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://www.buddhistdoor.org/tc/dictionary/details/savaka</a></p>

<p>P.s. use <a href="http://ballwarapol.github.io/pali-editor/paliThaiRoman.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this tool</a> to convert between thai and roman of the first reference link.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T03:46:57.823Z
2017-08-31T08:02:09.837Z
2017-08-31T08:02:09.837Z
Bonn
<p>The Sanskrit term for Buddhist is <em>bauddha</em>. </p>

<p>This derivation is known as a "secondary derivation" (<em>taddhita-pratyaya</em>). An <em>-a</em> suffix is added, and the initial vowel is strengthened. It has the general sense of "of or relating to", and here the specific nuance of "one who follows the Buddha". Compare the more familiar word Jaina, which is the name for a follower of the "Jina", i.e. Mahavira. The word <em>brāhmaṇa</em> is derived from <em>brahman</em> via the same process. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T09:15:11.487Z
Great to get know that pattern. Question, is that how ever compareable with "-ist", since a "-ist" is merely one who holds a "common" view of a gathering, then a follower or kindship. Is there a similare notion for "-ist". To give a sample: Australian - Australianist, Human - Humanist . Maybe good to properly point out that Buddhist is a unknown new invention in the tradition of the Noble Ones.
Samana Johann
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-02T23:41:58.187Z
@SamanaJohann There's [a definition of '-ist' here](http://www.dictionary.com/browse/-ist). 1) One who performs an action (e.g. motorist, or soloist). 2) One who practices in a specific field (e.g. physicist, or typist). 3) One who advocates a doctrine (e.g. socialist), or an adjective referring to that doctrine.
ChrisW
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-08-31T01:06:42.777Z
2017-08-31T01:06:42.777Z
sujato
<p>What is the Sanskrit term for a person who is a follower of the Buddha, i.e. a "Buddhist"?</p>

<p>Things I tried: I searched online but couldn't find anything. I looked in the only Sanskrit I have access to, which is The Student's Sanskrit English Dictionary by Vaman Shivram Apte. It has a term in it, but the Devanagari is so small, I can't make out the letters. It looks like the term is "buddhupasaka" or "buddhupasakra", and it is defined as "a worshipper of Buddha". </p>

<terminology>
Sanskrit term for a "Buddhist"
# Sanskrit term for a "Buddhist"

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-08-30)

What is the Sanskrit term for a person who is a follower of the Buddha, i.e. a "Buddhist"?

Things I tried: I searched online but couldn't find anything. I looked in the only Sanskrit I have access to, which is The Student's Sanskrit English Dictionary by Vaman Shivram Apte. It has a term in it, but the Devanagari is so small, I can't make out the letters. It looks like the term is "buddhupasaka" or "buddhupasakra", and it is defined as "a worshipper of Buddha".

**Tags:** terminology


---

## 4 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-08-31. Score: 5 | Accepted answer

The Sanskrit term for Buddhist is *bauddha*.

This derivation is known as a "secondary derivation" (*taddhita-pratyaya*). An *-a* suffix is added, and the initial vowel is strengthened. It has the general sense of "of or relating to", and here the specific nuance of "one who follows the Buddha". Compare the more familiar word Jaina, which is the name for a follower of the "Jina", i.e. Mahavira. The word *brāhmaṇa* is derived from *brahman* via the same process.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: Great to get know that pattern. Question, is that how ever compareable with "-ist", since a "-ist" is merely one who holds a "common" view of a gathering, then a follower or kindship. Is there a similare notion for "-ist". To give a sample: Australian - Australianist, Human - Humanist . Maybe good to properly point out that Buddhist is a unknown new invention in the tradition of the Noble Ones.  
> **username_6**: @SamanaJohann There's [a definition of '-ist' here](http://www.dictionary.com/browse/-ist). 1) One who performs an action (e.g. motorist, or soloist). 2) One who practices in a specific field (e.g. physicist, or typist). 3) One who advocates a doctrine (e.g. socialist), or an adjective referring to that doctrine.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-08-31. Score: 1

The term Dharmānusārin would mean "one who follows in the Dharma" in Sanskrit. Please see the definition in [this dictionary entry](https://books.google.com.my/books?id=985a1M7L1NcC&lpg=PA74&dq=dharma-anusarin&pg=PA74#v=onepage&q=dharma-anusarin&f=false).

The term Śraddhānusārin would mean "one who follows in faith" in Sanskrit. Please see the definition in [this dictionary entry](https://books.google.com.my/books?id=985a1M7L1NcC&lpg=PA277&dq=sraddha-anusarin&pg=PA277#v=onepage&q=sraddha-anusarin&f=false).

The words Dharma and Śraddhā can be merged with anusārin according to [sandhi rules](http://learnsanskrit.org/references/sandhi/vowel#similar).

On [this page](http://www.vridhamma.org/Peace-within-Oneself-for-Peace-in-the-World), from [S.N. Goenka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S._N._Goenka)'s Keynote address at the International Bauddha Mahotsav (Buddhist Conference), at Sarnath, India in 1998:

> If I had been aware, much earlier, that this conference was named as
> 'Bauddha Mahotsav', then I would have suggested that a more
> appropriate name would be 'Buddha Mahotsav', or 'Dhamma Mahotsav', or
> even 'Tiratana Mahotsav'. This is because in the entire ancient
> literature of the Buddha's teachings, commentaries and
> sub-commentaries, amongst a total of 59,150 pages containing 9,285,755
> words, the word 'Bauddha' is very conspicuously absent. The Buddha
> never taught 'Buddhism' or 'Bauddh Dharma'. He never taught a
> religion, nor did he convert anyone to an organized religion. He
> taught Dhamma (Dharma) - the universal laws of nature - and inspired
> people to follow Dhamma.
>
> Those who followed the teachings of the Buddha were never called
> 'Bauddh' (Buddhist) during the time of the Buddha, and even till about
> 500 years later. **Throughout this huge literature, we find only the
> following words referring to those practicing the Buddha's teachings:
> Dhammi (Dharmi), Dhammiko (Dharmika), Dhammattho (Dharmastha),
> Dhammacari (Dharmacari), Dhammavihari (Dharmavihari), Dhammanusari
> (Dharmanusari).**
>
> We don't know when, where, by whom and why the use of the word
> 'Bauddh' first began, and so also the use of the words 'Buddhism' and
> 'Buddhist'. When we say that the teachings of the Buddha are 'Bauddh
> Dharama' (or Buddhism), and say his followers are Bauddh (or
> Buddhists), obviously it means that the teachings are meant only for
> people claiming to be 'Bauddha' or 'Buddhists'. Whereas the Buddha
> declared so emphatically that Dhamma is infinite - "appamano dhammo".
>
> When the teachings are called Buddhist, or ‘Bauddh Dharma' or
> Buddhism, then most of the suffering people of the world will get
> frightened thinking that they are being converted from one particular
> religion to another, and be deprived of the universal teaching. But
> when Buddha's teachings are given under the original, true
> nomenclature of ‘Dhamma', and not any other terminology, then people
> are reassured of the basic fact that the Buddha's teachings are not
> just meant for any one religion. So people from any background will
> have no hesitation accepting his teachings.
>
> Our research at Igatpuri has shown us that till about 500 years after
> Buddha, the word ‘Bauddh' was not found in any ancient spiritual
> literature of India-the literature in the Buddha tradition, Mahavir
> tradition, or Vedic tradition. The distinguished scholars assembled
> here may help us make a proper research as to when usage of this word
> ‘Bauddh' began.
>
> It is most important to remember that the Buddha's teachings are not
> meant to be limited to any particular sect. His teachings are
> universal. And if we see the Enlightened One's teachings in proper
> perspective, it is clear that the original teachings of the Buddha are
> totally universal and non-sectarian.


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-08-31. Score: 1

I'm not a Sanskrit scholar but a quick dictionary search gives the following:

bhikṣu - a beggar/wanderer  
śramaṇa - a spiritual seeker  
pravrājita - the one gone forth  
anusārī - follower

The problem is, back in Buddha's times there were hundreds of different sects, and every seeker either went from one sect to another and assembled their own dharma from the elements available on the spiritual market - or picked one teacher to follow. In the first case they were simply called a bhikshu or shramana, and in the second case they were called a follower of such and such teacher (e.g. of Shramana Gautama, "sramanagautamanusari").

So the closest to "Buddhist" would probably be "buddha-pravrājita" or "buddha-anusārī"


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-08-31. Score: 1

[In pāli canon](http://www.84000.org/tipitaka/pitaka_item/pali_seek.php?text=%CA%D2%C7%A1&book=1&bookZ=45), follower is sāvaka (su+ika=follower to hear dhamma from satthā [saha+attha=philosopher who has philosophy in his mind]).

Sāvaka, in pāli, is **śrāvaka**, in sanskrit.

This word use in every canon. You can put "buddha" word in font of "sāvaka", buddha-sāvaka, to specify just a buddhist person.

<https://www.buddhistdoor.org/tc/dictionary/details/savaka>

P.s. use [this tool](http://ballwarapol.github.io/pali-editor/paliThaiRoman.html) to convert between thai and roman of the first reference link.


---

