Bhagini, Bhaginī, Bhāginī: 16 definitions
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraBhaginī (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.
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)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationBhaginī (भगिनी) refers to one’s “sister”, which should never be looked upon with a reprehensible vision (kudṛṣṭi), according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.3. Accordingly, while Dharma eulogised Śiva:—“[...] Sister (bhaginī), brother’s wife and daughter are like one’s mother. A sensible man shall never look at them with a reprehensible vision (kudṛṣṭi). The conclusion of the path of the Vedas is present in your mouth. O Brahmā, how is it that you forgot that under the influence of momentary passion?”.
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaBhagini (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: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesBhāginī (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.
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraBhaginī (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).
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.
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: academia.edu: A Critical Study of the Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja (II)Bhaginī (भगिनी) is the name of a Vākchomā (‘verbal secrect sign’) which has its meaning defined as ‘ḍākinī’ according to chapter 8 of the 9th-century Vajraḍākamahātantrarāja, a scripture belonging to the Buddhist Cakrasaṃvara (or Saṃvara) scriptural cycle. These Vākchomās (viz., bhaginī) are meant for verbal communication and can be regarded as popular signs, since they can be found in the three biggest works of the Cakrasaṃvara literature.
Source: academia.edu: The Structure and Meanings of the Heruka MaṇḍalaBhaginī (भगिनी) is the name of a Ḍākinī who, together with the Vīra (hero) named Bhagin forms one of the 36 pairs situated in the Agnicakra, according to the 10th century Ḍākārṇava chapter 15. Accordingly, the agnicakra refers to one of the three divisions of the saṃbhoga-puṭa (‘enjoyment layer’), situated in the Herukamaṇḍala. The 36 pairs of Ḍākinīs [viz., Bhaginī] and Vīras are red in color; they each have one face and four arms; they hold a skull bowl, a skull staff, a small drum, and a knife.
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarybhaginī : (f.) sister.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's 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)
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
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarybhaginī (भगिनी).—f (S) A sister.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishbhaginī (भगिनी).—f A sister.
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-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryBhaginī (भगिनी).—[bhagaṃ yatnaḥ aṃśo vā pitrādīnāṃ dravyādāne'styasyāḥ ini ṅīp]
1) A sister.
2) A fortunate woman.
3) A woman in general.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryBhaginī (भगिनी) or Kumārī.—(1), q.v.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhaginī (भगिनी).—f. (-nī) 1. A sister. 2. A lucky woman. 3. A woman in general. E. bhaga prosperity, desire, ini and ṅīp affs.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Bhaginī (भगिनी):—[from bhagin > bhaj] a f. See below.
2) [from bhaj] b f. a sister (‘the happy or fortunate one’, as having a brother), [Manu-smṛti; Mahābhārata] etc. (in familiar speech, also for -bhrātṛ, ‘brother’ [Pañcatantra])
3) [v.s. ...] any woman or wife, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) Bhāginī (भागिनी):—[from bhāgin > bhāga] f. a co-heiress, [ib.]
Sanskrit, 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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Bhagini Sutta, Bhaginibhartri, Bhaginibhratri, Bhaginika, Bhaginipati, Bhaginiya.
Ends with: Ashtabhagini, Atibhagini, Bharyabhagini, Bharyayabhagini, Bhratribhagini, Dharmabhagini, Gangadevibhagini, Gurubhagini, Indrabhagini, Jetthabhagini, Kamiyabhagini, Krishnabhagini, Mainakabhagini, Mangalabhagini, Maturbhagini, Piturbhagini, Svamaturmatabhagini, Svapiturbhagini, Virabhagini, Yamabhagini.
Full-text (+36): Dharmabhagini, Yamabhagini, Bhaginipati, Bhratribhagini, Bhagin, Bhagineya, Bhaginibhratri, Indrabhagini, Ramasvasri, Bhagineyya, Nanandar, Bhaginibhartri, Krishnabhagini, Vematika, Parityakta, Mainakabhagini, Veshobhagina, Veshobhagya, Prajvara, Bhagineyaka.
Relevant text
Search found 13 books and stories containing Bhagini, Bhaginī, Bhāginī; (plurals include: Bhaginis, Bhaginīs, Bhāginīs). 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): Bhikkhu-vibhanga (the analysis of Monks’ rules) (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]