Questions tagged [sanskrit]
Sanskrit an ancient Indo-European language of India, in which the Hindu scriptures and classical Indian epic poems are written and from which many northern Indian (Indic) languages are derived.
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According to ShankarAchArya in Advaita, is the universe "unreal" or "unworthy"?
Recently I came across one of the key quote, which sums up Adi ShankarAchArya's Advaita philosophy:
The Brahman of the Upanishads is the only Reality, and everything else—this world of manifoldness—...
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Procedures used for preserving the integrity of the Vedas
It is said that the metering of the sanskrit verses in Vedas and process of recitation imbue certain qualities to the scripture that make it inimitable(if I may use the word) or easy to identify ...
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Why we put 'a' after each Hindu name?
For example:
Yog becomes Yog'a' or Krishn -> Krishna;
same way Ram -> Rama
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What language did people at the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata use to communicate? Sanskrit?
What was the mode of communication among the people at the time of Ramayana and Mahabharata? Was it Sanskrit?
Did Krishna, Pandavas and Kauravas (who I think had origins near the state of Bihar, where ...
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Meaning of Sadhu, Sant, Rishi and Muni
Do Sadhu, Sant, Rishi and Muni mean the same thing? How are these terms defined?
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Is Hinduism anti-foreigner?
The Sanskrit word ''mleccha'' is used to describe foreigners. In various Puranas we find verses anti-mleccha verses. One such example is from the Kalki Purana where Lord Kalki is predicted to kill ''...
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How important is Sanskrit?
I have read/heard in various places that Sanskrit is considered sacred or true or special. These sources sometimes claim that the sounds used to speak Sanskrit have a beneficial effect on the body.
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Is it possible to read and understand Vedas without guru?
As per my knowledge there are four Vedas and Upanishads are the gist of Vedas and the different Vedanta schools of thought are commentary on Vedas.
Is it possible to understand Vedas without the help ...
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I want to learn Sanskrit. Can anybody guide me how to start? [closed]
I want to learn Sanskrit. Can anybody guide me how to start???
Because I know Marathi, Hindi , English three languages I can not justified which medium will help me to learn Sanskrit in easy and ...
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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?
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What Mleccha languages are used in the Vedas according to Purva Mimamsa?
As I discuss in this question, by far the most popular school of Hindu philosophy is the Vedanta school, which bases its tenets on the doctrines laid out in the Brahma Sutras, a work by the sage Vyasa ...
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Why did BORI excise the Vyāsa-Gaṇeśa conversation from its critical edition of the Mahābhārata?
The following extract is from the introduction to The Mahabharata: Volume 1 by Bibek Debroy.
There are many different versions or recensions of the Mahabharata. However,
between 1919 and 1966, ...
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Does Shankara's Advaita Vedanta really assume the world to be an illusion?
In popular media and layman books, it is assumed that Vedanta states that the world is an illusion and Brahman alone is the reality. However, I think this position has been made popular by the British ...
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Linguistic connection between Rudra and Marudgaṇa
I'm wondering if the rud portion of Rudra is etymologically connected to the rut portion of Marut. My understanding is that rudra literally means "howl" or "roar" and marút means "wind," "air," or "...
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Any mantras that are not of Sanskrit origin?
Are there any spells (mantras) in Hinduism which are not in Sanskrit, but in other languages. I came across a mantra in Awadhi dialect of Hindi, it's something about blessings for studying and was ...
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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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Did Max Müller actually distort Hindu scriptures in his translations?
This answer claims:
It is also said that Müller was hired by the British East Indian Company only to distort Hindu scriptures.
But did Müller actually distort Hindu scriptures? If yes, how exactly ...
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Types of Dukkha
What are the three types of suffering in the Vedas and their Sanskrit words? Are there any descriptions of Dukkha that you know of in the Vedic canon?
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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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What script did Ganesha write the Mahabharata in?
The first chapter of the Adi Parva of the Mahabharata describes how Vyasa dictated the Mahabharata to Ganesha, who wrote it down:
Brahma said. 'I esteem thee for thy knowledge of divine mysteries, ...
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Difference/Relation between Varna and Jati
We know that there are four Varna(वर्ण) called Brahmin, kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra. I found words/terms like Jati(जाति) and Jnati(ज्ञाति) are also used to convey similar meanings. One another ...
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How ॐ (OM) is written in Brahmi Script?
Sanskrit is said to be originated from "Drums of Lord Shiva". There's a famous story of Panini composing grammar of Sanskrit from sounds (Maheswara Sutras) of lord Shiva's Damaru.
Panini was a ...
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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...
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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 ...
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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 । ...
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Meaning of Citta?
The most prolific usage of the concept of 'Chittam' is in the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. The word is most identified with as part of 'Shat-Chit-Anandam' meaning existance-conciousness-bliss according to ...
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does any scripture say worship must be in Sanskrit?
The most prominent non-Sanskrit scripture is the Tamil Divya prabandham of Southern Vaishnavites. Non-brahmin Tamils don't have a great love of Sanskrit and one can increasingly see them conduct Puja ...
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Do Nastika and Astika have direct translations in English? [duplicate]
We have a gross translation of Astika and Nastika as theism and Atheism. However, the etymology of Nastika (na-asti-ka) seems to indicate 'someone who does not believe in what exists`.
Is there an ...
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SB 5.25.12 - Does bhūgolam mean earth or the universe?
Prabhupāda translates the Sanskrit word bhūgolam in verse 5.25.12 of Bhāgavata Purāṇa as the universe. Should it be earth instead? Or does the word (bhūgolam) in this context suggest a universe with ...
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Why did they invent Sanskrit as Veda language not any other script?
I've a doubt since long time, I thought this is the best place to ask.
How did Sanskrit has become main language in ancient times?
Why did they choose Sanskrit as Veda language?
Does those Veda hymns ...
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What is Shadashiti Sankranti?
In this answer there is verse, which has word "Shadashiti Mukheshu" which has beem interpreted as Sankramana of Mithuna, Kanya, Dhanu and Meena.
Is there authoritative reference which says ...
user22253
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What is the exact scriptural meaning of Shraddha?
In chapter 4 verse 39 of Geetha, lord Krishna told that a person with Shraddha achieves gnanam.
In this context what is the exact meaning of Shraddha according to scriptures?
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Authenticity of Sanskrit Verses containing the word "HINDU"
We all know that the word Hindu is a Persian word for the Sindu river and was later used to refer to the region to other side of the Sindu river as Hindustan which then became India. But this page ...
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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?"
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What are the purification rites for mixed castes mentioned by Manu?
Consider the following question and answer from the Mahabharata
"The serpent said, 'O king, if thou recognise him as a Brahmana by
characteristics, then, O long-lived one, the distinction of ...
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Did Ravan speak Sanskrit?
One of my Sri Lankan friends claims that Ravana spoke Sinhalese.
Is there any place in the Ramayana where the sage Valmiki mentioned about the language of Ravana and his people?
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Sanskrit examples of Ghanapatha recitation?
How exactly does Ghanapatha work and can someone point me to examples? I have heard that Ghanapatha is a very useful way of preserving information by combining phrases in different permutations. For ...
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The Mysterious Origin of the Divine Sanskrit Language
Sanskrit has been termed as "Language of the Gods". Its versatility and power have even been extolled by the modern scholars of linguistics. Sri Panini helped to codify the classical form of ...
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Is Hong-Sau an ancient Sanskrit mantra?
Read an article on meditation here it says:
Hong-Sau is an ancient Sanskrit mantra (a mantra is a word, syllable,
or group of syllables, which can convey spiritual power when
pronounced ...
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Where is Surapadman in Sanskrit scriptures?
Kandha Puranam is a very revered Tamil scripture that talks about the glories of Lord Muruga (or Kartikeya). It was written by Kachiyappa Sivacharyar as the Tamil equivalent of Skanda Purana, and ...
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Is Sanskrit considered divine language to those of the Hindu faith?
Is Sanskrit considered divine language to those of the hindu faith? If so why?
I am not Hindu, but I am interested in this topic.
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Why do people divide the great Sanskrit language into Vedic Sanskrit and Classical sanskrit?
Is the language of Vedic era Sanskrit, different from the Classical era Sanskrit?
I have heard, read and listened at almost all the forums regarding this prevalence of difference.
Some of the people ...
user23464
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Which Alwars praised Vishnu in Sanskrit?
The Alwars (also spelled Azhwars) are a group of 12 ancient Vaishnava saints who lived in Tamil Nadu and are famous for their poetry in praise of Vishnu. The collection of their 4000 poems, known as ...
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What's the meaning of these verses of 'The Horse' hymn in RigVeda?
Here are the two verses in question from Rigveda Book 1 Hymn 163
यदक्रन्दः परथमं जायमान उद्यन समुद्रादुत वा पुरीषात |
शयेनस्य पक्षा हरिणस्य बाहू उपस्तुत्यं महि जातं ते अर्वन ||
Here's the ...
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Sanskrit references for the usage of the word varna for a given sense
The word Varna has been used by scriptures in different senses/meanings based on the context. This question is restricted to the usage of Varna in Humans only.
I know at least five senses:
Varna ...
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Is Khubja a wife of lord Krishna?
Consider the following story about Kubja(Trivakra), whose previous life is Surpanakha, from the scripture Garga Samhita.
Shri Bahulashva said: What severe austerities did the maidservant
Kubja ...
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How to gain mental strength?
Any Mantras, Shlokas, Stotras related to gain mental strength, overcome mental disorders.
Which God is related to mind, related to these mental aspects like mental strength, mind related disorders.
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Which was developed first, Sanskrit or Vedas?
I have heard that Vedas used Sanskrit language.
In my view, other language may been used to describe Vedas in early days.
Or Sanskrit may have been developed for other purpose besides to describe ...
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What did Swami Vivekananda mean when he said "God spoke in Sanskrit"?
I read this quote by Swami Vivekananda:
God spoke once. He spoke in Sanskrit, and that is the divine language.
What did he mean by this?
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Is it "Bhagavad (भगवद्)" -- "GitA/Gitā (गीता)" or "Gita (गीत)"? [duplicate]
As already discussed here: Why we put 'A' after each Hindu name?, the subsequent "a" in an English transliteration word, is to interpret the Sanskrit word for full pronunciation.
Example:
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