Questions tagged [etymology]
Questions regarding the study of the origin of words and the way in which their meanings have changed throughout history.
48
questions
2
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1answer
148 views
What does the term Āstika-Nāstika mean- as such - without any connection with one particular faith?
There are different shades of interpretation of the terms Āstika-Nāstika.
Most of the answers on this forum relate to the interpretations that are propounded by some vested groups to denigrate other ...
4
votes
1answer
156 views
What are the etymologies for the word Rudra?
What are the etymologies for the word Rudra?
There is a story in the Vedas where Rudra was born crying and then Brahma, his father, said "Don't cry", (mA ruda), so then he got the name "Rudra", or ...
3
votes
0answers
110 views
What is the meaning of mahavakya and how was/is it used?
What is the meaning of mahavakya? What was/is it used for, I mean what is its importance? What does mahavakya convey? This is not specifically with respect to Advaita Vedanta, but in general whichever ...
2
votes
1answer
97 views
What's the significance of the name Panchashikha?
Panchashikha is a character who appears in the Mahabharata. I found the name interesting. A shikha is the tuft of hair that remains after an upanayana ceremony. Why would someone be named Panchashikha ...
3
votes
2answers
124 views
Are some of the words from Vedas still untranslatable?
This question quotes the Sanskrit grammarian Yāska as saying he didn't know the meaning of some 400 words of the Vedas.
Is this still the case with modern translations of Vedas?
15
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0answers
202 views
Which are those 400 words of Veda not known or understood to even Yaska?
Nirukta is one of six Vedangas which are very essential to completely understand Vedas. Nirukta is the the study of origin of Sanskrit words i.e etymology which is very useful for understanding and ...
4
votes
3answers
503 views
Why does chandogya upanishad use kannada-telugu words?
In the Chandogya Upanishad, the word “मटची” “maTacI” is used to
describe famine in the Kuru kingdom.
“मटचीहतेषु कुरुष्वाटिक्या सह जायया उषस्तिर्ह चाक्रायण इभ्यग्रामे
प्रद्राणक उवास” (1.10.1).
...
5
votes
1answer
132 views
What is the source of “Vriyate iti Varnaha?”
The author of the blog post What's your Varna quotient? uses a certain definition of varṇa:
The generic definition of the term 'Varna' comes from 'Vriyate Iti Varnaha' implying that one can choose ...
4
votes
2answers
160 views
What is the etymology reason for the swarupa order in the construction of the word “Sat-chit-ananda”?
Why are the swarupas of the word Satcitananda constructed in this way in relationship wit Brahman and not Ananda-chit-sat? Are the order of these swarupas like stepping stones of realization?
1
vote
1answer
130 views
What is Ahalyā's birth name?
Is 'Ahalyā' the real name of Gautama's wife or is it an acquired name?
At least, the Monier-Williams dictionary seems to think it's an acquired one. The word is listed as a + halyā:
अ-हल्या (A-...
1
vote
0answers
57 views
What is the meaning of “Aum”? [duplicate]
I have heard that many saints saying aum when they are in meditation. Not only saints, but many mantras like:
aum namah shivaya; aum sreekrishnaya namah
have "aum" present in it.
Questions:
...
5
votes
1answer
160 views
Are Shiva & Vishnu etymologically connected?
It has always struck me as interesting, or perhaps odd, that the root phonemes of Shiva, [sh]+[v], are the reverse of the root phonemes of Vishnu, [v]+[sh]. Is there any accounting for this?
11
votes
4answers
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What is the meaning of Narayana?
So far I have been breaking the word into nara (नर) + Ayana (आयन) = home of nara (jiva). But lately I have realized I couldn't break it this way because to make it nArAyaNa (नारायण), nAra (नार) is ...
15
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3answers
1k views
What is the meaning of Ramayana?
Ramayana is a sacred epic about the life of Lord Rama.
Can anyone explain the meaning/etymology of the word "Ramayana?"
10
votes
5answers
544 views
Who is considered Hindu?
Keeping geographical location aside, who is considered to be a Hindu? (i.e. not belonging to other religions)
Should that person accept authority of someone (Vedas, some God, philosophy etc.)?
5
votes
2answers
180 views
Do scriptures define what a “sect” (सम्प्रदाय ) is?
I guess a sect (सम्प्रदाय ) is one that only subscribes to a subset of Hindu beliefs and/or worships only a subset of Hindu gods. Is there anything in scriptures about this? What is the etymology of ...
1
vote
0answers
152 views
Etymology of Sringa
Sringa is an Ancient Indian musical instrument. In an answer to my previous question, it was pointed out that Mahabharat contains a reference to a ruler of the kingdom of Stri Rajya, also known as ...
10
votes
2answers
295 views
What is meaning of the word Mimamsa etymologically?
I am aware that Mimamsa is about philosophy and means critical reflection.But I am interested in the actual etymology of the word so please stick to that point.
8
votes
2answers
225 views
What are the various etymological derivations for the word “Upanishad”?
One I have found myself from a commentary on one Upanishad.
It says the word is derived like this:
Upa (meaning near)+ Nishanna (specially present).
So, "near which, sons, animals-like fruits of ...
3
votes
1answer
203 views
Are Gandharvs related to Gandhar?
Gandharvas are a class of male nature spirits, having superb musical skills and are guardians of Soma.
Gandhar was an ancient kingdom located in modern day Pakistan and Afghanistan. It is mentioned, ...
4
votes
1answer
170 views
Is Sage Panini related to Panis?
Sage Panini was a great grammarian of Ancient India. There is a word mentioned in Rig-Veda, Pani, which means different things according to the context.
One of the meanings (albeit in later sources) ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Was Laxman Kumara named after Lakshmana?
Laxman Kumara was the only son1 of Duryodhana and Bhanumati. He battled in the Mahabharata war and did perform many acts of bravery, like saving King Bahlika, killing Shikandi's son, etc. He was later ...
3
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0answers
228 views
Why is the Sanctum Sanctorum called Garbha Griha?
The place where the deity in a temple is placed (prathishtana) is in english called Sanctum Sanctorum. We refer to it as Garbha Griha. The simple sanskrit meaning of this term is 'Home of the Womb' (...
13
votes
4answers
664 views
What is the meaning of Saraswati?
Devi Saraswati is the Goddess of knowledge, learning and creativity. But what is the etymological meaning of the name Saraswati? How does Nirukta explain the name Saraswati?
I guess it's related to '...
8
votes
3answers
860 views
What is Fullness and Emptyness (void) according to the Vedas?
I was reading a post containing the following lines taken from Veda, where I could not understand.
That is Fullness, this is Fullness; from Fullness comes Fullness. When Fullness is taken from ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
What is the meaning/definition of the word Shudra?
I would like to know the meaning/definition of the word Shudra?
Some 3-4 years back, in a commentary of an Upanishad I found someone explaining the word Shudra to mean the one who is always in grief (...
11
votes
4answers
3k views
What is the meaning of Brahman & Vasudeva?
As there is definite meaning of the names such as Lord Shiva, Indra, Vishnu etc. I want the meaning of
Brahman
Vasudeva
By the word Brahman, I mean with ultimate reality. (Though personally, I ...
13
votes
5answers
2k views
What does the word 'Asura' mean in the Vedas?
The Danavas and Daityas are referred to as Asuras in the Puranas but in The Vedas many Devas are also referred as Asuras.
May the golden-handed, life-bestowing, well-guiding, exhilarating and ...
11
votes
2answers
230 views
What is the scriptural definition of scripture (shAshtra)?
Since childhood I am a big fan of SwAmi VivekAnanda and I used to read (and still do) a lot of books written by him.
Now, when I have grown up, I have the understanding that although they are ...
7
votes
1answer
264 views
What are the etymologies and literal meanings of the words (kṣatriya, śūdra, etc.) used to indicate one's varṇa?
For brāhmaṇa, there is already a question here: What is the etymology of brahman/brahmin?
For śūdra, Monier Williams says "of doubtful derivation". Apte says:
शूद्रः [शुच्-रक् पृषो˚ चस्य दः दी...
6
votes
4answers
360 views
Is the etymology of the name Yudhishthira correct?
As we know, the eldest of the Pandavas is Yudhishthira (IAST : Yudhiṣṭhira and Devanagari: युधिष्ठिर). It is said that he got his name due to his steadiness in war. This is also a famous one. From ...
3
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0answers
168 views
What is the etymology of the word Satagopuram
I would like to know the etymology of the word 'sata-gopuram' (the 'chadari' placed on the head) with respect to the prefix 'sata' (or 'chada')
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3answers
3k views
What is the meaning of Indra?
Like there is a meaning of the word Shiva which is explained here, what is the meaning of Indra?
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2answers
2k views
Sanskrit and Sounds of Lord Shiva
I recently heard in "Veda parichaya" in a local channel that the sounds of the alphabet(Sanskrit) originated from Lord Shiva’s ‘damru’. Can anyone elaborate on these sounds and their relation to ...
9
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2answers
882 views
Why Yudhishtira is called Ajāta śatru (अजात शत्रु)?
One of the exclusive names of Yudhishtira is Ajāta śatru (अजात शत्रु).
Ajāta śatru = Who has no enemies.
Why is he called as Ajāta śatru. Kauravas are his enemies. Aren't they? Why is the name ...
7
votes
1answer
691 views
Which Hindu scriptures use the word Ārya and in what sense?
What does the word "Ārya" really mean in the context of Hinduism?
And which Hindu scriptures use this word and in what sense?
If you think the question is too broad, limit your answer to The Vedas, ...
6
votes
3answers
745 views
Why is Sanātana Dharma also sometimes called Ārṣa Dharma?
Most Hindus are familiar with the term "Sanātana Dharma" which is used in several scriptures. E.g., Manusmṛti 4.138 uses the term as follows:
satyaṃ brūyāt priyaṃ brūyānna brūyāt satyamapriyam |
...
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0answers
44 views
Sanatana dharma or Hindu [duplicate]
From somewhere I came to know 'Hindu' is a geographical word, it is not a religious one. Original word is 'Sanatana'. Is it true?
4
votes
1answer
1k views
What are the Shabar mantras?
There are many mantras dedicated to Hanuman. Some popular choki mantras are "Ekamukhi", "Panchmukhi", "Ekadhashamukhi" etc. Recently I've heard/remembered about Shabar mantras (शाबर मंत्र) which in ...
5
votes
2answers
196 views
Which Purāṇas define the word “purāṇa” within their text?
From the sample page of this book:
Questions:
Which all Purāṇas define the word 'purāṇa' within their text?
Can you cite the exact verses (and their translation) from each of the Purāṇas that ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Why is Brahma referred as Viranchi in Scriptures?
In some scriptures Brahma is referred as Viranchi (विरञ्चि):
Whenever I see sun raising in early morning, following mantra automatically pops out from my mind/month:
नमः सवित्रे जगदेकचक्षुषे । ...
10
votes
1answer
883 views
Definition of Bhagavan as per Vishnu Purana
Bhagavan is a term which is commonly used,by several traditions. What is the definition of Bhagavan as per Vishnu Purana?
5
votes
1answer
1k views
Why Lord Rama was called Raghunath and when?
Why lord Rama was called Raghunath? What is the meaning of this word and why he named so?
2
votes
0answers
1k views
What is the significance of the name Kumbhakarna?
Kumbhakarna was the brother of Ravana. What is the meaning of this name? Is there any significance behind this name?
Wiki says it means pot-eared. By this logic, Karna was named after an ear. I find ...
6
votes
2answers
5k views
Etymological meaning of “mandir”
Wikipedia here states that mandir is a sanskrit word.
What is the etymological meaning of mandir?
9
votes
3answers
5k views
What are the etymologies of the words brahman (ब्रह्मन्) and brāhmaṇa/brahmin (ब्राह्मण)?
In Sanskrit there's brāhmaṇa (ब्राह्मण), which is a term used for people, and para-brahman (परब्रह्मन्), which is a term used for gods.
What are the etymologies of the words brahman (ब्रह्मन्) and ...
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votes
6answers
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What is the meaning of the word “Shiva”?
Is "Shiva" just a name of a God or does the word actually denote something?
In other words, what is the real meaning of the word "Shiva" (also spelled as Śiva or शिव)?
9
votes
1answer
925 views
Where does Manu currently live?
Manu is supposedly the progenitor of mankind. Even the English word "man" is derived from his name. There are 14 Manus in each day of Brahma. The current Manu is Vaivasvata, and he is currently ...
