Arghya, Ārghya: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Arghya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Arghy.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationArghya (अर्घ्य) refers to “water offering” and represents one of the sixteen upacāra, or “sixteen types of homage and services”, as described while explaining the mode of worshipping the phallic form (liṅga) of Śiva in the Śivapurāṇa 1.11. Accordingly, “[...] the devotee shall worship the mobile emblem with the sixteen types of homage and services (upacāra) as prescribed. It accords the region of Śiva gradually. The sixteen types of service are [for example, water offering (arghya)] [...] Or he shall perform all the sixteen rites in the phallic emblem of human, saintly or godly origin, or in one naturally risen up (svayambhū) or in one of very extraordinary nature installed duly”.
According to Śivapurāṇa 1.13, “[...] at the end of the Japa of Gāyatrī-mantra arghya shall be offered thrice to the sun towards east and once also thereafter. The offering of arghya in the morning is by lifting both the hands high up; that in the midday by letting off the water through the fingers and that in the evening by letting the water over the ground facing the west”.
Arghya refers to the “offering water for the respectful reception”, as mentioned in the Śivapurāṇa 1.20 while explaining the mode of worshipping an earthen phallic image (pārthiva-liṅga) according to the Vedic rites:—“[...] the water used for washing the feet (pādya) shall be offered with the mantra. ‘Namostu Nīlagrīvāya’ (obeisance to the blue-necked). The water for the respectful reception (arghya) shall be offered with the Rudragāyatrī mantra and the sipping water (ācamana) with the Tryambaka mantra”.
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.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Shodhganga: Temple management in the ĀgamasArghya (अर्घ्य) refers to “water for ritual ablution offered at head” and represents one of the various upacāras (offerings), in pūjā (ritual worship), as defined in the Śaivāgamas.—Pūjā consists of offering hospitality, in the form of water to wash the feet, to drink, water for ablutions, offering a bath, new clothes, fragrant unguents, fragrant flowers and ornaments, food and so on. Each step in the pūjā process is called “saṃskāra” and each offering is called “upacāra” [viz., Arghya].
Arghya represents a certain a ceremony to be performed during pūjā (ritualistic worship), according to the Arcanāvidhipaṭala of Kāmikāgama.—[After Aṅganyāsa and Amṛtīkaraṇa], the Ācārya then offers (with corresponding mantra) pādya, water to wash the feet of the Lord; ācamanīya, water to drink; arghya, water to wash oneself; and durvā grass, flowers and akṣata.
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.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Shodhganga: Dietetics and culinary art in ancient and medieval IndiaĀrghya (आर्घ्य) refers to one of the eight kinds of honey (madhu) according to the Suśrutasaṃhitā Sūtrasthāna 45.133, and is commonly found in literature dealing with the topics of dietetics and culinary art, also known as Pākaśāstra or Pākakalā.—Honey was possibly, the earliest sweet thing Indians knew. [...] According to Suśruta the eight varieties of honey are mākṣika, bhrāmara, kṣaudra, pauttika, chātra, ārghya, auddalika and dāla each of these being obtained from different types of bees.
Arghya is mentioned as one of the eight kinds of honey (madhu) according to the 17th century Bhojanakutūhala (dravyaguṇāguṇa-kathana).
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd EditionArghya (अर्घ्य) refers to a “symbolic offering of oneself” and represents one of the various ingredients used during worship, according to the Arcana-dīpikā (manual on deity worship).—The ingredients of arghya are water, milk, kuśa grass, yoghurt, unboiled paddy rice (aravā), sesame seeds, barley and white mustard seeds. A version can be made using only candana, flowers and water. For worship of śrī viṣṇu-tattva, combine tulasī leaves with the above mentioned items.
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: ACHC: Smarta PujaArghya (अर्घ्य) refers to “water for the hands”, representing one of the various services (upacāra) of a pūjā (ritualistic worship of a deity) which aim at the purification of the devotee.—Water into which several ingredients (like sandalwood paste, akṣata etc.) have been mixed is offered to the deity (arghya) for honorific purposes. This water is usually to be accepted in the hollow of the cupped hands and after thus signifying its acceptance is poured out. This is followed by sipping of water.
Source: Shodhganga: Temples and cult of Sri Rama in Tamilnadu (h)Arghya refers to “libation of water” and represents one of the various daily ceremonies performed during puja (worship).—Offering of water and food or tirtham and prasadam to the deities on the different occasions or specified hours of the day is an important item in the daily pujas. [...] While for the daily routine, only ordinary plain rice was offered, special food preparations were offered often on festival days. [...] The daily routine includes a number of ceremonies [viz., Arghya] that are repeated.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryarghya (अर्घ्य).—n (S) An oblation, to gods or venerable men, of rice, Durwa grass, and flowers with water, or of water only, in the palm of the hand or in a small vessel. 2 Venerable, worshipful, deserving worship. a0 ghēṇēṃ or ghēūna ubhā or taiyāra rāhaṇēṃ or asaṇēṃ To be on the alert to destroy or injure. a0 dēṇēṃ To destroy or injure; to effect the ruin of.
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arghyā (अर्घ्या).—f (S) The vessel in which is offered.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englisharghya (अर्घ्य).—n An oblation of water. a Venera- ble, worshipful. arghya ghēūna ubhā or tayāra asaṇēṃ To be on the alert to destroy or injure. arghya dēṇēṃ To effect the ruin of.
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 dictionaryArghya (अर्घ्य).—a. [argha-yat arghamarhati]
1) Valuable; अनर्घ्य (anarghya) invaluable; अनर्घ्यमपि माणिक्यम् (anarghyamapi māṇikyam) see s. v.
2) Venerable, deserving respectful offering; तानर्घ्यानर्घ्यमादाय दूरात्प्रत्युद्ययौ गिरिः (tānarghyānarghyamādāya dūrātpratyudyayau giriḥ) Kumārasambhava 6.5; Śiśupālavadha 1.14; Y.1.11.
-rghyam 1 A respectful offering or oblation to a god or venerable person (see argha); अर्घः पूजाविधिः तदर्थं द्रव्यम् अर्घ्यम् (arghaḥ pūjāvidhiḥ tadarthaṃ dravyam arghyam) Sk.; अर्घ्यमस्मै (arghyamasmai) V.5.; ददतु तरवः पुष्पैरर्घ्यं फलैश्च मधुश्चुतः (dadatu taravaḥ puṣpairarghyaṃ phalaiśca madhuścutaḥ) Uttararāmacarita 3.24; अर्घ्यंमर्घ्यमिति वादिनं नृपम् (arghyaṃmarghyamiti vādinaṃ nṛpam) R.11.69;1.44; Kumārasambhava 1.58,6. 5; (it often consists only of water given in a droṇa and forms part of the Madhuparka ceremony).
2) A kind of honey.
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Ārghya (आर्घ्य).—a. Relating to this bee.
-rghyam Wild honey.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryArghya (अर्घ्य).—mfn.
(-rghyaḥ-rghyā-rghyaṃ) Venerable, deserving worship. n.
(-rghyaṃ) A respectful oblation to gods or venerable men, of rice, durva grass, flowers, &c. with water only and of water in a small boat-shaped vessel. n.
(-rghyaṃ) Wild honey. e. argha, and ya or yat aff.
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Ārghya (आर्घ्य).—n.
(-rghyaṃ) Wild honey. E. ārghā and yat aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryArghya (अर्घ्य).—i. e. argha + ya. I. adj., f. yā. 1. Deserving worship, [Yājñavalkya, (ed. Stenzler.)] 1, 357. 2. Deserving to be entertained, ib. 1, 110. Ii. n. A respectful oblation to gods or venerable men, consisting of rice, durva grass, flowers, etc., with water, or of water only, [Yājñavalkya, (ed. Stenzler.)] 1, 289.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryArghya (अर्घ्य).—[neuter] worth or fit for an honourable reception. [neuter] a reverential offering to gods or venerable men.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Arghya (अर्घ्य):—[from argha] mfn. ‘valuable’ See an-arghya, ([gana] daṇḍādi q.v., ‘argham-arhati’) deserving a respectful reception (as a guest), [Pāraskara-gṛhya-sūtra; Yājñavalkya] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] belonging to or used at the respectful reception of a guest, [Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa; Yājñavalkya] etc.
3) [v.s. ...] n. ([Pāṇini 5-4, 25]) water offered at the respectful reception of a guest, [Āśvalāyana-gṛhya-sūtra] etc., (probably for ārghya q.v.) a kind of honey, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) Ārghya (आर्घ्य):—[from ārghā] mfn. relating to or coming from the above bee, [Suśruta]
5) [v.s. ...] n. its honey, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Arghya (अर्घ्य):—[(ghyaḥ-ghyā-ghyaṃ) a.] Venerable. n. Oblation; wild honey.
2) Ārghya (आर्घ्य):—(rghyaṃ) 1. n. Wild honey.
[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 dictionaryArghya (अर्घ्य) [Also spelled arghy]:—(nm) things worth offering (to a deity, etc.) as argh (see above).
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Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusArghya (ಅರ್ಘ್ಯ):—
1) [adjective] costing much; expensive; dear; costly.
2) [adjective] worthy of respect or reverence by reason of age and dignity, character or position ; venerable.
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Arghya (ಅರ್ಘ್ಯ):—
1) [noun] the ritual offering of water to a deity or a venerable person.
2) [noun] the fact of being costly, precious; preciousness.
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: Arghyadana, Arghyadanapaddhati, Arghyadanavidhi, Arghyadanavidhisamkshepa, Arghyadipika, Arghyadravya, Arghyahasta, Arghyajala, Arghyakara, Arghyalaja, Arghyamgudu, Arghyanushthana, Arghyapatra, Arghyapatre, Arghyaphalavasana, Arghyapradanakarika, Arghyapradanavidhi, Arghyapradipa, Arghyarha, Arghyashila.
Ends with: Anarghya, Ashtagarghya, Ashtangarghya, Maharghya, Padarghya, Padyarghya, Samarghya, Suryarghya.
Full-text (+65): Anarghya, Argha, Anarghyatva, Arghapatra, Padarghya, Padyarghya, Arghyapatra, Arghyashila, Arghyadana, Argheya, Upacara, Arghyarha, Maharghya, Arghy, Nitya, Acamana, Ardhya, Ashtamadhu, Arcana, Ashtangarghya.
Relevant text
Search found 54 books and stories containing Arghya, Arghyā, Ārghya; (plurals include: Arghyas, Arghyās, Ārghyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Sankhayana-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā (by Sarasvati Thkura)
Text 8 < [Second Stabaka]
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section XXXV < [Rajasuyika Parva]
Section XCVIII < [Tirtha-yatra Parva]
Section XXXVI < [Rajasuyika Parva]
Khadira-grihya-sutra (by Hermann Oldenberg)
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 4 - The Holy Rites to be Observed in Vaiśākha < [Section 7 - Vaiśākhamāsa-māhātmya]
Chapter 31 - The Origin of the Submarine Fire (Vāḍava or Vaḍavānala) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
Chapter 66 - Greatness of Arghyeśvara (Arghya-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
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