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anantarika-karma
Introduction References & Edit History
Quick Facts
Sanskrit:
ā€œthe deed bringing immediate retributionā€
Pali:
anantarika-kamma
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anantarika-karma

Buddhism
Also known as: anantarika-kamma
Written and fact-checked by
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History

anantarika-karma, in the Theravada (ā€œWay of the Eldersā€) tradition of Buddhism, a heinous sin that causes the agent to be reborn in hell immediately after death. There are five sins of this kind: killing oneā€™s mother, killing oneā€™s father, killing an arhat (saint), injuring the body of a buddha, and causing a division in the Buddhist community.