Ajna, Ājñā, Ajña: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Ajna means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Ājñā (आज्ञा, “command”) (cf. Ājñākrama) refers to one of the thousand names of Goddess Lalitā.—One of the names of the goddess Lalitā, that is, Tripurasundarī, in the Thousand Names of Lalitā—the Lalitāsahasranāmastotra—of the Brahmāṇḍapurāṇa, is “Command” (ājñā). In the Liṅgapurāṇa, Śiva proclaims that: “In the beginning the eternal Command was born from my mouth”. This Command, identified with the goddess, is the source of all scripture that she, by extension, embodies. Accordingly the Lalitāsahasranāmastotra calls the goddess “the scripture that is her own Command”.
2) Ājñā (आज्ञा) or Ājñācakra refers one of the “sixteen stations of the ascent of kuṇḍalinī” according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “[...] (6) The Wheel of the Command [i.e., ājñācakra] is between the eyebrows. It is a fire in the form of a Point (bindu). In the middle of it is the seed of power (śaktibīja), red like vermilion. [...] (Perfect) contemplation (samādhi) is with (these) sixteen aspects and is (attained) within the form of the sixfold deposition (ṣoḍhānyāsa). He who knows this is (a veritable) Lord of Yogis, the others (who do not) are (just) quoting from books. Once attained the plane that is Void and Non-void, the yogi is freed from bondage”.

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationĀjñā (आज्ञा) refers to “giving an order (to one’s attendants)”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.30 (“The Celebration of Pārvatī’s Return”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated to Nārada: “[...] In the meantime the lord of mountains returned from the Gaṅgā. He saw the mendicant in the human form in his court-yard. On hearing the details from Menā he became very angry. He ordered (ājñā) his attendants to drive out the dancer. But, O excellent sage, none of them could push him out as he was hot to the touch like a blazing fire and very brilliant. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexĀjñā (आज्ञा).—A name of Lalitā.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 17. 19.

The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraĀjñā (आज्ञा) refers to an “order” (i.e., command), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 12), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The Earth, by means of her arms, the waves, adorned by the lotus, the swan, the ruddy goose and the water-crow appears to welcome the appearance of Agastya with her offerings of gems, abundant flowers and fruits. The poisonous and hot waters poured down by cloud-covered serpents by order of Indra [i.e., amarapa-ājñā] become pure and fit for use on the reappearance of the star Canopus”.

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraĀjñā (आज्ञा) refers to “order” and is used to describe Pārameśvarī , according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 13.1-9, while describing the appearance and worship of Viṣṇu]—“Or, [the Mantrin] worships a very handsome, eight-armed, yellow Deva. [...] With whatever his nature, one should recall him with any state of being. It is said Bhairava is made up of him. Pārameśvarī is called order (ājñā). [This then is the abode of Mṛtyujit]. [...]”.

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: WikiPedia: HinduismAjna, meaning “command' or 'summoning”, is the sixth primary chakra according to Hindu tradition. The Ajna chakra is positioned in the stomata directly behind the center of the forehead. Its ksehtram, or superficial activation site, is in the eyebrow region at the position of the “third eye”. The seed syllable is Aum, or "Pranava Om", the supreme sound.
Function: Ajna translates as 'command' and is considered as the eye of intuition and intellect. When something is seen in the mind's eye, or in a dream, it is being 'seen' by Ajna. It is a bridge that links gurus with disciples, allowing mind communication to occur between two people. The sense organ and action organ associated with Ajna is the mind.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraĀjñā (आज्ञा) refers to the “faulty of understanding assuring the understanding of these truths” and represents one of the twenty-two faculties (indriya), according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter 38. The ājñā-indriya are the same faculties in individuals who are still practicing but who already possess the understanding of the truths.

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraĀjñā (आज्ञा) refers to the “teaching of the Arhats” and represents one of the four divisions of Dharmadhyāna (“meditation on the destruction of karma”), according to chapter 2.2 [ajitanātha-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.
Accordingly:—“The destruction of karma is from good meditation, and that meditation is four-fold: on ājñā, apāya, vipāka, and saṃsthāna. [...] Ājñā is the teaching of the Arhats, and it is established as two-fold; of these the first is āgama and the second hetuvāda. Āgama is that which gives knowledge from the words only of the categories. Hetuvāda is named from conformity with another authority. [...] When one has resorted to this ājñā and with the addition of the law of syādvāda has firm faith in objects as perishable and imperishable in accordance with substance and modification and as having a real form in reference to their own form and having an unreal form in reference to other forms, that meditation is called ājñāvicaya”.
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections1) Ājñā (आज्ञा) refers to “(examination of the) instruction” (of the Jina), according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “Virtuous meditation is of four kinds, examination of the instruction (ājñā) [of the Jina], [examination of] suffering, [examination of] the results of karma and [examination of] the form [of the universe] individually in that order”.
2) Ajña (अज्ञ) refers to “ignorance”, according to the Jñānārṇava—Accordingly, “Women do not come, nor indeed will they go away, with anyone. Nevertheless, those who are ignorant (ajña—tathāpyajñāḥ kṛte) enter hell for the sake of them”.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryĀjñā.—(IE 8-3; EI 27; BL; CII 3), an order or command; same as ājñapti or ājñāpti supposed to be connected with giving the order for the drawing up of a charter; person receiving a king's order regarding the preparation of a charter; usually translated as ‘executor of a grant’; standing alone, the word is supposed to indicate the office of the Dūtaka, though the latter seems to have been additionally responsible for giving the donee the possession of the gift land. Cf. Ep. Ind., Vol. XIV, p. 362 (of the Gaṅga year 149) where the words are ājñā mahāmahattara-Śivarmā; also svayam = ājñā (CII, Vol. III, p. 115; Ep. Ind., Vol. XVI, p. 19) taken to mean that the king employed no Dūtaka to convey the details of his grant to the local officers, but that he gave the details in person. The expression sva-mukha-ajñā (literally, the oral order of the king) is also explained in the same way. The suggestion that Ājñādāpaka sometimes occurs as a synonym of Dūtaka is wrong. See Ājñapti, Ājñā-sañcārin, etc. Cf. Ind. Ep., pp. 143-44. Cf. Tamil āṇai (EI 23), sign; the insignia. Note: ājñā is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English DictionaryAjña (अज्ञ).—a S Unlearned or unknowing.
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ājñā (आज्ञा).—f (S) An order, injunction, command. ājñā vandaṇēṃ To reverence (obey) an order. Ex. ājñā vandōna nighālā tēvhāṃ || Also tumacī ājñā vandilī ājñēnirāḷā Contrary to order.
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ājñā (आज्ञा).—. Add as a phrase:--ājñā dēṇēṃ To discharge or dismiss (from service, an office, or any attendance). A phrase in polite style.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishajña (अज्ञ).—a Unlearned or unknowing.
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ājñā (आज्ञा).—f An order, command. ājñā vandaṇēṃ Reverence (obey) an order.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryAjña (अज्ञ).—a. [na jānāti, jñā-ka. na. ta.]
1) Not knowing, unaware of, unconscious, devoid of knowledge or experience; अज्ञो भवति वै बालः (ajño bhavati vai bālaḥ) Manusmṛti 2.153; ज्ञाज्ञौ (jñājñau) (jñaḥ īśvaraḥ ajñaḥ jīvaḥ) the knowing and unknowing, supreme and individual soul.
2) Ignorant, unwise, foolish, silly, stupid (said of men as well as animals); अज्ञः सुखमाराध्यः (ajñaḥ sukhamārādhyaḥ) Bhartṛhari 1.3, Pañcatantra (Bombay) 2.3.
3) Inanimate; not endowed with the power of understanding (acetana.)
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Ājñā (आज्ञा).—9 P. To know, understand, learn, obtain information, ascertain, notice, perceive. -Caus. (jñāpayati)
1) To order, command, direct.
2) To assure.
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Ājñā (आज्ञा).—[ā-jñā-aṅ] P. आतश्चोपसर्गे (ātaścopasarge) P.III.3.16.
1) An order, command; तथेति शेषामिव भर्तुराज्ञाम् (tatheti śeṣāmiva bharturājñām) Kumārasambhava 3.22.
2) Permission, allowance.
3) Power of arrangement; नैवार्थेन च कामेन विक्रमेण न चाज्ञया । शक्या दैवगतिर्लोके निवर्तयितुमुद्यता (naivārthena ca kāmena vikrameṇa na cājñayā | śakyā daivagatirloke nivartayitumudyatā) || Rām.6.11.25.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryĀjñā (आज्ञा).—(= Pali aññā; in Sanskrit only command, which in Pali is always āṇā), perfect, esoteric knowledge, identified with arhatship: as object of ārādhayati, gets perfect knowledge, Lalitavistara 238.22, or of ārāgayati, id., Mahāvyutpatti 7602; ārāgaye, aor., Mahāvastu iii.53.9; ārāgayiṣyasi Divyāvadāna 302.20; ājñā-citta (in Pali nt. subst., a mind disposed to perfect knowledge), in Bodhisattvabhūmi 105.7 ājñācitta ekāgracittaḥ, [bahuvrīhi], hav- ing (such) a mind; in Mahāvyutpatti 7259 °cittena, not clear whether [bahuvrīhi] or Karmadh.; samyag-ājñā-vimukta (= Pali samma- d-aññā-vimutta), freed thru perfect knowledge, Mahāvastu i.59.7, 9, 12 (arhantānāṃ)…°muktānāṃ; Udānavarga vi.19; xx.17, 20; °suvimukta-cittaiḥ Sukhāvatīvyūha 1.14. See also ājñendriya.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryAjña (अज्ञ).—mfn.
(-jñaḥ-jñā-jñaṃ) Ignorant, unwise, foolish. E. a priv. and jña who knows.
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Ājñā (आज्ञा).—f.
(-jñā) An order, a command. E. āṅ before jñā to know, and aṅ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryĀjñā (आज्ञा).—[ā-jñā], f. 1. An order, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 3. 2. Authority, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 40.
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Ajña (अज्ञ).—adj. 1. ignorant, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 3. 2. unreasonable, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 3. 3. foolish, [Mṛcchakaṭikā, (ed. Stenzler.)] 24, 5. Manojña, i. e.
Ajña is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms a and jña (ज्ञ).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryAjña (अज्ञ).—[adjective] not knowing, ignorant; [masculine] fool.
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Ājñā (आज्ञा).—[feminine] the same.
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Ājñā (आज्ञा).—attend to, notice, hear, learn, understand. [Causative] command, appoint a [person or personal] ([accusative]) to ([dative] or [locative]).
Ājñā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms ā and jñā (ज्ञा).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ajña (अज्ञ):—[=a-jña] mfn. (√jñā), not knowing
2) [v.s. ...] ignorant, inexperienced
3) [v.s. ...] unconscious
4) [v.s. ...] unwise, stupid.
5) Ājñā (आज्ञा):—[=ā-jñā] 1. ā-√jñā -jānāti ([imperative] 2. [plural] -jānīta; perf. -jajñau; p. jānat)
—to mind, perceive, notice, understand, [Ṛg-veda i, 94, 8; 156, 3; Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa; Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa];—(cf. an-ājānat) :
—[Causal] -jñāpayati, te (Inf. -jñaptum, [Rāmāyaṇa iv, 40, 8]) to order, command, direct, [Mahābhārata] etc.;
—to assure, [Rāmāyaṇa vi, 103, 10.]
6) [=ā-jñā] 2. ā-jñā f. order, command, [Manu-smṛti x, 56; Mahābhārata] etc.
7) [v.s. ...] authority, unlimited power, [Bālarāmāyaṇa]
8) [v.s. ...] Name of the tenth lunar mansion, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhajjātaka]
9) [v.s. ...] permission ([negative] anājñayā [instrumental case] ind. without permission of ([genitive case]), [Manu-smṛti ix, 199])
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Goldstücker Sanskrit-English DictionaryAjña (अज्ञ):—[tatpurusha compound] m. f. n.
(-jñaḥ-jñā-jñam) 1) Ignorant.
2) Stupid, foolish, unwise.
3) Not having the faculty of understanding, as animals or inanimate objects. E. a neg. and jña.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Ajña (अज्ञ):—[(jñaḥ-jñā-jñaṃ) a.] Ignorant, stupid.
2) Ājñā (आज्ञा):—[ā-jñā] (jñā) 1. f. An order, a command, direction.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Ājñā (आज्ञा) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Ajjā, Aṇua, Aṇṇā, Aṇṇu, Aṇṇua, Amuṇa, Ayāṇa, Āṇā, Saha.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary1) Ajña (अज्ञ) [Also spelled agya]:—(a) ignorant; stupid; ~[tā] ignorance; stupidity.
2) Ājñā (आज्ञा) [Also spelled agya]:—(nf) order; -[patra] a writ, written order; -[pālana] obedience; -[bhaṃga] breach of order, disobedience.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusAjña (ಅಜ್ಞ):—[adjective] not knowing; not having the knowledge; ignorant.
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Ajña (ಅಜ್ಞ):—[noun] a man wanting knowledge; an ignorant or a stupid man.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+158): Ajna-bhogika, Ajna-dapaka, Ajna-paripalaka, Ajna-sancarin, Ajna-shata-prapayitri, Ajnabaddha, Ajnabala, Ajnabaladhara, Ajnabhanga, Ajnabhangakara, Ajnabhangakarin, Ajnabhiyoga, Ajnabhushita, Ajnabi, Ajnabodha, Ajnabodhana, Ajnacaitanya, Ajnacaitanyayukta, Ajnacakra, Ajnacatushtaya.
Ends with (+587): Abdajna, Abhanguraprajna, Abhicarajna, Abhicarayajna, Abhicharayajna, Abhiprajna, Abhisajna, Abhiyajna, Abhyantarajna, Abhyudgatarajna, Adharmajna, Adhikarajna, Adhiprajna, Adhiyajna, Adoshajna, Adyayajna, Agamajna, Agniyajna, Agunajna, Ahridayajna.
Full-text (+244): Anua, Annua, Ajnata, Ajnanin, Ayana, Sparshajna, Ajnabhanga, Ajnakara, Ajnatva, Ajnasampadin, Ajnapratighata, Ajnavaha, Ajnacakra, Ajnakarin, Ajnabhangakara, Ajnabhangakarin, Ajnakaratva, Amuna, Ajnakari, Agya.
Relevant text
Search found 44 books and stories containing Ajna, A-jna, A-jña, Ā-jñā, Ājñā, Ajña, Ajña; (plurals include: Ajnas, jnas, jñas, jñās, Ājñās, Ajñas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 84 [Gurukrama] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Verse 183 [Cidānandamayī Śakti enfolds the projection in one’s Self] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
Part 7 - Śaktipāta—Conferring of spiritual energy < [Krama system and Trika school]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.1.252 < [Chapter 1 - The Beginning of the Lord’s Manifestation and His Instructions on Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana]
Verse 2.1.147 < [Chapter 1 - The Beginning of the Lord’s Manifestation and His Instructions on Kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtana]
Verse 3.9.391 < [Chapter 9 - The Glories of Advaita]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 2.3.3 < [Chapter 3 - Bhajana (loving service)]
Verse 2.4.83-84 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Verse 2.4.214 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 2.153 < [Section XXV - Meaning of the Title ‘Ācārya’]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.18.17 < [Chapter 18 - Uddhava Hears the Gopīs’ Words and Returns to Mathurā]
Verse 2.9.30 < [Chapter 9 - Brahmā’s Prayers]
Verse 1.2.31 < [Chapter 2 - Description of the Abode of Śrī Goloka]
Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations) (by Makarand Gopal Newalkar)
Sūtra 2.27 < [Book II - Sādhana-pāda]