Bodhisattva

bo;dhi;satt;va variant(s): or bod;dhi;satt;va function: noun etymology: sanskrit bodhisattva one whose essence is enlightenment, from bodhi enlightenment + sattva being — more at biddate: 1828 : a being that compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshipped as a deity in mahayana buddhism