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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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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 ...
Naveen's user avatar
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20 votes
3 answers
19k views

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 ...
Some Student's user avatar
20 votes
2 answers
901 views

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 ...
The Destroyer's user avatar
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19 votes
5 answers
3k views

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. ...
Earthliŋ's user avatar
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17 votes
4 answers
7k views

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—...
iammilind's user avatar
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17 votes
1 answer
76k views

What is the meaning of "Swasti na Indro Vridhhashravaha..."?

This mantra is very famous, mostly also used in TV shows while showing Yajnas. This is also known as Shanti Path Mantra: ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः । भद्रं पश्येमाक्षभिर्यजत्राः । स्थि...
Tezz's user avatar
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17 votes
7 answers
20k views

Meaning of Sadhu, Sant, Rishi and Muni

Do Sadhu, Sant, Rishi and Muni mean the same thing? How are these terms defined?
user13107's user avatar
  • 609
15 votes
2 answers
764 views

Is Hanuman really 'Hanumat' in Sanskrit Ramayana?

Bibek Debroy says in his Ramayana translation, 'Hanumat is a case in point, where Hanuman seemed to be too contrary to grammatical principles'. What grammatical principle is that? Is it really ...
Pradip Gangopadhyay's user avatar
15 votes
4 answers
3k views

Which scripts have been used to write Sanskrit?

Clip from Angkor Thom, about 1200 CE. Some early Cambodian inscriptions are written in Sanskrit. Is it true that these Sanksrit insciptions do not use the Devanagari script but instead the Khmer ...
Jo Wehler's user avatar
  • 1,668
15 votes
3 answers
3k 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?"
Udhav Sarvaiya's user avatar
15 votes
0 answers
322 views

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 ...
hanugm's user avatar
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14 votes
3 answers
2k views

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 ...
hanugm's user avatar
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13 votes
3 answers
5k views

Why we put 'a' after each Hindu name?

For example: Yog becomes Yog'a' or Krishn -> Krishna; same way Ram -> Rama
Khanjan's user avatar
  • 149
13 votes
4 answers
997 views

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 ...
Mohak Sahu's user avatar
13 votes
4 answers
10k views

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 ...
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ's user avatar
13 votes
1 answer
2k views

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, ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
12 votes
3 answers
4k 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?
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ's user avatar
12 votes
1 answer
3k views

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?
sushma's user avatar
  • 121
12 votes
3 answers
512 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.
user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
4k views

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 ...
Rohit Devlekar's user avatar
10 votes
1 answer
2k views

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 ...
Say No To Censorship's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
6k 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 ...
Sparkler's user avatar
  • 275
10 votes
1 answer
4k views

Source of the Sanskrit shloka- Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye

The sanskrit shloka given below is a prayer to Goddess Durga. Om Sarva Mmangala Mangalye Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike Sharanye Tryambake Gauri Naaraayani Namostute" Sarva Mangala Mangalye - To ...
Uday Krishna's user avatar
  • 6,068
10 votes
1 answer
12k views

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 ...
The Destroyer's user avatar
  • 31.6k
10 votes
2 answers
1k views

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 ...
Pandya's user avatar
  • 26.2k
9 votes
1 answer
29k views

What's the meaning & relevance of LIC logo "yogakshemam vahamyaham"? [closed]

What's the philosophy of "yogakshemam vahamyaham" & how is it relevant to LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India)? अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते | तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां यो...
iammilind's user avatar
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9 votes
2 answers
517 views

Discrepancy in Valmiki Ramayana

I was browsing two sites of translation of Valmiki Ramayana, while engaging in a debate with a western-colonized feminist on Ahalya. Nevertheless, she was defeated because she didn't even have the ...
user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
584 views

Why are graves called samadhi?

Wikipedia describes samadhi as Samadhi (Sanskrit: समाधि, Hindi pronunciation: [səˈmaːd̪ʱi]), also called samāpatti, in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and yogic schools refers to a state of ...
Xlam's user avatar
  • 369
9 votes
2 answers
12k views

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 ...
Jonathan's user avatar
  • 579
9 votes
2 answers
356 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?
Frank Hestermann's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
4k views

Correct way to chant Lord Shiva's name

When people recite Lord Shiva's name, they often do it in couplets, such as 'Shiva Shiva', 'Shiva Shiva', etc. My question is: What is the correct pronunciation: "Shiva" - or - "Siva"? I know ...
Jonathan's user avatar
  • 579
9 votes
0 answers
874 views

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 ...
Keshav Srinivasan's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
3k 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 ...
RBz's user avatar
  • 241
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

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?
Bhante G's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
4k 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 (...
ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
5k views

What is the meaning of shrimad?

I have notice and seen, and also everybody knows about 'shrimad' before the bhagvadgeeta. shrimad title is also used before title of shrimad bhaagwat and rishi's like shrimad adi shankaracharya. I ...
Abhishek Gurjar's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
977 views

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 ...
Nehal Patel's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
5k views

What were the various reasons of the decline of Sanskrit language in India ? [closed]

Why did Sanskrit decline in India ? What were the various reasons known, for the decline of this language ?
Some Student's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is Padma Purāṇa the source of this verse on Ṛṇānubandha (relationship due to one's past deeds)?

The following verse has been used in a couple of answers here and this blog post claims the verse is from the Padma Purāṇa although it doesn't mention the chapter # or the context. Definition [of ...
Say No To Censorship's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
316 views

Is the language of all the four Vedas similar or is there difference in language of the four Vedas too?

I know that in sama Veda many mantras of rigveda and yajur veda are repeated so that must mean that language is similar throughout Vedas, but does the vedic Sanskrit change between rig, yajur and ...
Anubhav Jha's user avatar
  • 2,741
8 votes
1 answer
646 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...
Say No To Censorship's user avatar
7 votes
3 answers
1k views

Meaning of the " tri " in trishulam - Is it english or sanskrit?

The word trishul I think denotes the three points of the shulam. The "tri" in trishulam = is it from Sanskrit or English like trinity.
vijain's user avatar
  • 71
7 votes
2 answers
757 views

Correct pronunciation of Lord Savitr

Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to Lord Savitr. In the Hindi version of both Wikipedia pages, different pronunciations are given. The former says it's "सवित्र", while the latter says it's "सवितृ". ...
MathGod's user avatar
  • 1,025
7 votes
1 answer
207 views

What is the meaning of Lakshmi?

Each word in Sanskrit can be interpreted in myriad ways, and thus a single word can have several different and unrelated meanings. A famous example of such "multiplicity" would be the word, &...
Vivikta's user avatar
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7 votes
3 answers
28k views

Vardhanti - Birth Anniversary or Death Anniversary or Both?

Vardhanti - Birth Anniversary or Death Anniversary or Both? In Telugu Language, Vardhanti will be called/termed only for Death Anniversary Recently I came to know that in Kannada - Vardhanti will be ...
venkat's user avatar
  • 732
7 votes
1 answer
14k views

What's the source and rest of the verse "dhanam mūlam idaṃ jagat" ("money forms root of this world?")

I was watching a Telugu movie recently and the tagline of the movie was: dhanam mūlam idaṃ jagat (money forms root of this world) After some [digging around][2], it seems this line is only part of a ...
Say No To Censorship's user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
822 views

How to pronounce ऋ in Rig Veda

I am from North India and everyone pronounce this vowel ऋ as रि. I know this is wrong because vowel is a constant sound and when रि is pronounced for long it only comes as इ which is wrong. I did some ...
Lokesh's user avatar
  • 2,083
7 votes
0 answers
2k views

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 ...
Surya's user avatar
  • 6,300
6 votes
4 answers
1k views

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 ''...
user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
837 views

Which one is grammatically accurate krishna saranagati mantra?

||श्री कृष्णः शरणं मम|| ||श्री कृष्णं शरणं मम|| ||श्री कृष्णाय शरणं मम|| ||श्री कृष्ण शरणं मम|| I see all these various forms online. Which one is correct grammatically?
Aks's user avatar
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