.jpg)
Ānantarya karma (Sanskrit) orĀnantarika kamma (Pāli)[1] are the most serious offences inBuddhism that, at death, through the overwhelmingkarmic strength of any single one of them, bring immediate disaster.[2][3] Both Buddhists and non-Buddhists must avoid them at all costs. Such offenses prevent perpetrators from attaining any of the stages of enlightenment[4] and from ordaining into the Sangha. Those who have committed any of the five acts ofĀnantarika kamma are said to be reborn in thenaraka ofAvīci, the very lowest of all the Hells of Buddhism.TheĀnantarika kamma are:[5][6][7]
Ānantarika orānantariya derives fromna,an, andantara.
An in this context refers to the "seed" ofkarma andantara means in storage, or waiting togerminate or bear fruit. These two words combined createanantara, which means a karma seed waiting to germinate.Na means "not", and therefore,ānantarika means "not stored to germinate/mature" or "bringsvipāka (karmic consequence) immediately".[8]
Amitabha Buddha, one of the primary buddhas inMahayana and the most widely-worshippedBuddhist deity inEast Asian Buddhism[9] discusses the Ānantarika kamma in hisOriginal Vow. His vow reads:[10]
If I attainBuddhahood and a sentient being aspires with faith and joy to be reborn in mySukhavati Pure Land: if theyrecite my name just ten times and, in spite of this, are not reborn there, then may I myself not attainenlightenment [in the first place]. Two exceptions to this solemn promise are in respect of, firstly, those who have committed the five terrible offences [Ānantarika kamma] and, secondly, of those who have vilified the Sublime Dharma because such people cannot be reborn in Sukhavati.
— Amitabha Buddha
.svg)