(in Mahayana Buddhism) a divine being worthy of nirvana who remains on the human plane to help people to salvation
Compare arhat
Word origin
Sanskrit, literally: one whose essence is enlightenment, from bodhi enlightenment + sattva essence
Bodhisattva in American English
(ˌboudəˈsʌtvə)
noun
Buddhism
a person who has attained prajna, or Enlightenment, but who postpones Nirvana in order to help others to attain Enlightenment: individualBodhisattvas are the subjects of devotion in certain sects and are often represented in painting and sculpture