anagamin

Buddhism

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 18, 2026

Quick Summary

In Theravada Buddhism, an anagamin is a holy person who has attained a high level of spiritual progress. This individual is destined not to be reborn in the human realm but will instead enter a heavenly realm upon death. However, the anagamin has not yet reached the final goal of nibbana (nirvana), which is the complete release from the cycle of death and rebirth. The anagamin represents the third of four stages of holiness described in Buddhist texts, preceding the highest stage, that of the arhat. The ultimate goal for all Buddhists is bodhi, or enlightenment, which leads to nirvana.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

ariya-puggala
…type of ariya-puggala is the anagamin (“never-returner”), or one who will not be reborn in the human realm and will enter the realm of the gods at the time of death. The never-returner, however, is still not considered to have reached nibbana.
Read More
…type of ariya-puggala is the anagamin (“never-returner”), or one who will not be reborn in the human realm and will enter the realm of the gods at the time of death. The never-returner, however, is still not considered to have reached nibbana.
Read More

arhat
…illusion, (3) the “nonreturner” (anagamin), who, after death, will be reborn in a higher heaven, where he will become an arhat, a state attained by overcoming sensuous desire and ill will, in addition to the attainments of the first two stages, and (4) the arhat. Except under extraordinary circumstances,…
Read More
…illusion, (3) the “nonreturner” (anagamin), who, after death, will be reborn in a higher heaven, where he will become an arhat, a state attained by overcoming sensuous desire and ill will, in addition to the attainments of the first two stages, and (4) the arhat. Except under extraordinary circumstances,…
Read More