Bhagini, aka: Bhaginī, Bhāginī; 11 Definition(s)
Introduction
Bhagini means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. 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.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Bhaginī (भगिनी, “sister”) refers to a specific “mode of address” (nāman) used in drama (nāṭya), according to Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 19. Bhagini is used in addressing the elder sister.
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Bhagini (भगिनि).—A word used in addressing women. Verse 129 in chapter two of the Manusmṛti lays down that the wife of another person and women who are not one’s relatives should be addressed either as Bhavati, Subhage or Bhagini.
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopaediaBhāginī (भागिनी) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. IX.45.11). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Bhāginī) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places
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.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Bhaginī (भगिनी, “older sister”).—According to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV), “all beings obtained the mind of equanimity (samacitta) by thinking of one another with the feelings one would feel (for example) for one’s older sister (bhaginī)”.
In the course of innumerable generations, all beings have been one’s older sister (bhaginī), father, mother, elder brother, younger brother, younger sister and relative. Furthermore, according to the true nature (satyalakṣaṇa) of dharmas, there is no father or mother, no elder or younger brother; but people who are submerged in the error of self believe in their existence and thus there is the question of father and mother, elder and younger brother. Therefore it is not a lie when, by virtue of a wholesome mind (kuśalacitta), we consider one another with the feelings we would feel (for example) for an older sister (bhaginī).
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
bhaginī : (f.) sister.
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English DictionaryBhaginī, (f.) (Epic Sk. bhaginī) a sister J. VI, 32. The popular etym. of bh. as given at VbhA. 108 is the same as that for bhātar, viz. “bhagatī ti bh. ＂ — Cpd. bhagini-māla a “sister garland＂ (？) N. of a tree J. VI, 270 (=upari-bhaddaka). (Page 495)
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
bhaginī (भगिनी).—f (S) A sister.
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarybhaginī (भगिनी).—f A sister.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-EnglishMarathi 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-English dictionary
Bhaginī (भगिनी).—[bhagaṃ yatnaḥ aṃśo vā pitrādīnāṃ dravyādāne'styasyāḥ ini ṅīp]
1) A sister.
2) A fortunate woman.
3) A woman in general.
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryBhaginī (भगिनी) or Kumārī.—(1), q.v.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Search found 37 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Kamiyabhagini | Kamīyabhaginī (कमीयभगिनी, “younger sister”).—According to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśās... | |
| Dharmabhagini | Dharmabhaginī (धर्मभगिनी).—1) a lawful sister. 2) a daughter of the spiritual preceptor. 3) a s... | |
| Bhaginipati | Bhaginīpati (भगिनीपति).—m. a sister's husband.Derivable forms: bhaginīpatiḥ (भगिनीपतिः).Bhaginī... | |
| Yamabhagini | Yamabhaginī (यमभगिनी).—Name of the river Yamunā. Yamabhaginī is a Sanskrit compound consisting ... | |
| Indrabhagini | Indrabhaginī (इन्द्रभगिनी).—Name of Pārvatī. Indrabhaginī is a Sanskrit compound consisting of ... | |
| Bhaginibhartri | Bhaginībhartṛ (भगिनीभर्तृ).—m. a sister's husband.Bhaginībhartṛ is a Sanskrit compound consisti... | |
| Bhagini Sutta | 1. It would not be easy to find a person who has not been ones sister during samsara. S.ii.189.... | |
| Kumari | Kumārī (कुमारी).—(1) , n. of four female deities (mahāyakṣiṇyaḥ Mmk 575.10), also called Bhagin... | |
| Vijaya | Vijaya (विजय) refers to a classification of pūjā (ritualistic worship) according to the Kāraṇāg... | |
| Jaya | Jaya (जय).—m. (-yaḥ) 1. Conquest, victory, triumph. 2. A name of YuDhish- T'Hira. 3. A proper n... | |
| Aparajita | Aparājita (अपराजित).—mfn. (-taḥ-tā-taṃ) Unconquered, unsurpassed. m. (-taḥ) 1. A name of Siva. ... | |
| Samacitta | Samacitta (समचित्त).—mfn. (-ttaḥ-ttā-ttaṃ) 1. Indifferent, unattached. 2. Equable, eventempered... | |
| Ajita | Ajita (अजित).—mfn. (-taḥ-tā-taṃ) 1. Unconquered. 2. Unexcelled, unsurpassed. m. (-taḥ) 1. The s... | |
| Samjna | Saṃjñā (संज्ञा) or Daśasaṃjñā refers to the “ten concepts”, according to the 2nd century Mahāpr... | |
| Shravaka | Śrāvaka.—(EI 7, 8, 24; ML; LL; HA), a lay follower of Jainism or Buddhism; cf. the feminine for... |
Relevant text
Search found 11 books and stories containing Bhagini, Bhaginī or Bhāginī. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra (by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön)
Appendix 1 - The Śucimukhī-sūtra < [Chapter VI - The Great Bhikṣu Saṃgha]
Part 1 - Definition of illicit love (kāmamithyācāra) < [Section I.3 - Abstention from illicit love]
Mahāsudassana-suttanta < [Part 14 - Generosity and the other virtues]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Vinaya Pitaka (1): The Analysis of Monks’ Rules (Bhikkhu-vibhanga) (by I. B. Horner)
Translation of the term bhikkhu < [Translator’s Introduction]
The various forms of address < [Translator’s Introduction]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī)
Verse 1.5.90 < [Chapter 5 - Priya: The Beloved]
Verse 1.3.33 < [Chapter 3 - Prapancatita: Beyond the Material World]
Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi (by Ganganatha Jha)
Verse 11.171 < [Section XIX - Expiation for Wrongful Sexual Intercourse]
The Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 47 - On Manasā’s story < [Book 9]