Bodhana, Bodhāna: 22 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
4. Hindi
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Introduction:

Bodhana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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.

In Hinduism

Ayurveda (science of life)

Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)

Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstra

Bodhana (बोधन):—Sixth of the eighteen Saṃskāra (special purification process). They are used to purify rasa (mercury) as per Rasaśāstra literature (Medicinal Alchemy), and are mentioned in texts such as the Rasaprakāśasudhākara. In Āyurveda, Saṃskāra refers to the “detoxification” process of metals and herbs. The Bodhana-saṃskāra is commonly used for Dravya-karma and Rasāyana-karma, but also to change (rasa) in its undesired properties and to improve its Bubhukṣā. In other words: the first eight saṃskāras are sequentially used to purify and detoxify mercury in preparation for internal use. Bodhana refers to the process of ‘awakening’, by means of which mercury that has become purged of its toxic content but also its potency through the preceding operations, has its ‘virility’ (vīrya) restored to it through irrigation in a salt bath. This operation is said to give mercury a ‘mouth’ (mukha) with which to absorb other elements. This saṃskāra is also known as or rodhana (‘countering’, coagulation).

Source: Google Books: The Alchemical Body

Bodhana, “awakening,” or rodhana, “countering, coagulation,” are alternative terms for the sixth saṃskāra, by which mercuy, which has become purged of its toxic content but also its strength through the preceding operations, has its “virility” (vīrya) restored to it through irrigation in a salt bath. This operation gives mercury a “mouth” (mukha) with which to absorb other elements in the saṃskāras that follow.

context information

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.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Mantra-sādhana: Chapter One of the Kakṣapuṭatantra

Bodhana (बोधन, “awakening”) refers to one of the “seven means” (saptopāya) to be performed when a mantra does not manifest its effect, as explained in the 10th-century Kakṣapuṭatantra verse 1.97-99. During bodhana, one makes the mantra awaken through placing the bījas of Sarasvatī, the goddess of Speech, before and after it. If this does not work, the vaśya should be performed.

Accordingly, “if the melted [mantra] does not have an effect, then one should carry out the bodhana (awakening). Having enclosed mantra with Srasvati’s bīja (i.e., aiṃ) in the saṃpuṭa-manner, one should recite it. Being awoken in this way, it will have an effect. If not, one should carry out the vaśī (controlling)”.

Note on bodhana: the Tattvacintāmaṇi (20.94) and Bṛhattantrasāra (4.47) support rodhana (obstructing). Note on saṃpuṭa: in this manner, the bījas are placed before and after the mantra.

context information

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Śāktism

Bodhana (बोधन) refers to “making conscious” and represents one of the ten purifying rites of mantras, according to the 11th century Kulārṇava-tantra: an important scripture of the Kaula school of Śāktism traditionally stated to have consisted of 125.000 Sanskrit verses.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Śrī Devī: “For those who do japa without knowing these [sixty defects: ...], there is no realization even with millions and billions of japa. Oh My Beloved! there are ten processes [i.e., bodhana—making conscious] for eradicating defects in Mantras as described. [...] Just as the weapons rubbed on the stone are sharp, so the Mantras subjected to these ten processes acquire power”.

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Bodhana (बोधन) refers to “awakening (of the command)”, according to the Ambāmatasaṃhitā verse 19.32-34ab.—Accordingly, “(You who are) born as the Fire who is Mother Time and reside within time and eternity! (You who are) linked to Kālikā's Transmission in the maṇḍala of the Twelve Kālīs! (You are) the thirteenth form (of Kālī) who burns the Triple World in the centre (of the maṇḍala). (You are) emanation, persistence and withdrawal in the Great Sequence, called the Nameless and abide as awakened consciousness in the maṇḍala that awakens the Command (ājñā-bodhana)”.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)

Bodhana (बोधन) refers to “awakening the goddess in a bilva tree”, as part of the Navarātra Tantric ritual (an autumnal festival of the warrior goddess Caṇḍikā).—The sixth (ṣaṣṭhī) and the seventh (saptamī) lunar days involve awakening the goddess in a bilva tree (bodhana), worship of goddess as Cāmuṇḍā and Kālī in the branch, summoning her nine radiations in nine leaves (navapatrapūjā/patrikāpūjā), enlivening an unfired clay image of the goddess (prāṇapratiṣṭhā).—Various 8th century sources refer to rituals such as bodhana, for example: Devīpurāṇa, Kālikāpurāṇa, Kṛtyakalpataru, Durgābhaktitaraṅgiṇī, Durgāpūjātattva, Durgāpūjāviveka, Bhadrakālīmantravidhiprakaraṇa in Sanderson (2007); account of the Durgā Pūjā in Kelomal, West Bengal (Nicholas 2013).

context information

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.

Mantrashastra (the science of Mantras)

Source: Wisdom Library: Mantrashastra

1_ Bodhana (बोधन, “awakening”) refers to one of the mantra-defect elimination methods which consist in performing purification rites (saṃskāra), according to the Kulārṇava-tantra verse 15.71-2 and Śaradātilaka verse 2.114-22.—Awakening (bodhana) is described as:—The practitioner writes down the mantra and touches it with as many red oleander flowers (Nerium oleander) as there are syllables in the mantra while reciting the syllable raṃ. [unverified translation!]

2) Bodhana (बोधन, “awakening”) refers to one of the seven techniques to improve or revive fruitless mantras (i.e., “mantras that do not bring satisfaction and visible improvements”), according to the Kakṣapuṭatantra verses 1.89.91.—The operation of bodhana (awakening) is described as: One awakens the mantra by placing the bīja of Sarasvatī [aiṃ śrīṃ hrīṃ], the Goddess of speech, before and after it. If this doesn't work, you need to customize the mantra to suit your control (vaśya).

context information

Mantrashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, mantraśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mantras—chants, incantations, spells, magical hymns, etc. Mantra Sastra literature includes many ancient books dealing with the methods reciting mantras, identifying and purifying its defects and the science behind uttering or chanting syllables.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

The ritual called ‘bodhana’ is done on the evening of Āśvayuja śukla ṣaṣṭhī. A ghaṭa or kalaśa or a pot of water containing sandalwood paste, durvā grass, leaves of five trees like mango, clay from seven places, fruit etc. is prepared first. Then it is established under a bilva tree. Thereafter the mantras of bodhana or awakening are uttered. The bilva-tree is worshiped as Mother Durgā. A second ghaṭa is also established there.

It is believed that the various gods including Viṣṇu, go to sleep for a period of four months from Aṣāḍha to Kārtik. Since Mother Durgā goes to bed on Āṣāḍha-śukla-aṣṭamī, she is still sleeping at the time the Durgotsava. Hence for the celebration of Durgotsava, she has to be woken up first.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

bodhana : (nt.) enlightenment; knowledge.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Bodhana, (nt.) (fr. bodheti) 1. knowing Miln. 168 (cp. S. V, 83).—2. (adj.) enlightening, teaching Bu 26, 22 (pacchima-jana°). (Page 491)

context information

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 Dictionary

bōḍhaṇa (बोढण).—n See bōḍaṇa.

--- OR ---

bōdhana (बोधन).—n (S) Explaining or making known; teaching or declaring; indicating or pointing out: also informing or instructing; directing or counseling; apprizing or arousing; making acquainted with or aware of. 2 S Awakening.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

bōdhana (बोधन).—n Explaining; teaching; coun- selling.

context information

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 dictionary

Bodhana (बोधन).—a. [budh-ṇic lyu-lyuṭ vā]

1) Informing, acquainting.

2) Explaining, indicating.

3) Arousing, waking.

4) Kindling, inflaming.

-naḥ The planet Mercury (budhaḥ); बुध इव शिशिरांशोर्बोधनस्येव देवः (budha iva śiśirāṃśorbodhanasyeva devaḥ) V.5.21.

-nam 1 Informing, teaching, instruction, giving a knowledge of; भयरुषोश्च तदिङ्गितबोधनम् (bhayaruṣośca tadiṅgitabodhanam) R.9.49.

2) Denoting, signifying.

3) Arousing, awakening; समयेन तेन चिरसुप्तमनोभवबोधनं सममबोधिषत (samayena tena cirasuptamanobhavabodhanaṃ samamabodhiṣata) Śiśupālavadha 9.24.

4) Observing, perceiving.

5) Waking, being awake.

6) Making attentive.

7) Burning incence.

-nī 1 The eleventh day in the bright half of Kārtika when Viṣṇu rises from his four months' sleep; शयनीबोधनीमध्ये या कृष्णैकादशी भवेत् । सैवोपोष्या गृहस्थेन नान्या कृष्णा कदाचन (śayanībodhanīmadhye yā kṛṣṇaikādaśī bhavet | saivopoṣyā gṛhasthena nānyā kṛṣṇā kadācana) Tithyādi.

2) Long pepper.

3) Understanding, knowledge.

--- OR ---

Bodhāna (बोधान).—a. [budh-ānac] Wise, prudent.

-naḥ 1 A wise man.

2) An epithet of Bṛhaspati.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bodhana (बोधन).—nf. (-naṃ-nī) 1. Knowledge. 2. Teaching, informing. 3. Awaking, arousing. n.

(-naṃ) Burning incense. m.

(-naḥ) The planet Mercury. f. (-nī) Long-pepper. E. budh to know, aff. lyuṭ.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bodhana (बोधन).—i. e. budh + ana, I. n., and f. nī. 1. Knowledge, [Raghuvaṃśa, (ed. Stenzler.)] 9, 49. 2. Teaching. 3. Arousing, [Śiśupālavadha] 9, 24. Ii. n. Burning incense. Iii. m. The planet Mercury.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bodhana (बोधन).—[feminine] ī causing to expand or blossom, exciting, rousing, explaining, teaching; [neuter] awaking, state of waking, perception, knowledge; awakening, rousing, instructing, teaching.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Bodhana (बोधन):—[from budh] mf(ī)n. causing to awake or expand (a flower), arousing, exciting, [Rāmāyaṇa; Harivaṃśa; Suśruta]

2) [v.s. ...] enlightening, teaching, instructing (cf. bāla-bodhinī)

3) [v.s. ...] m. the planet Mercury, [Horace H. Wilson]

4) [v.s. ...] Name of a mountain, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

5) [from budh] n. waking, being awake, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Suśruta]

6) [v.s. ...] perceiving, understanding, [Raghuvaṃśa]

7) [v.s. ...] causing to wake, awakening, arousing, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa] etc.

8) [v.s. ...] causing (a spell) to take effect, [Catalogue(s)]

9) [v.s. ...] calling forth a perfume, burning incense, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

10) [v.s. ...] causing to perceive or understand, [Sāhitya-darpaṇa]

11) [v.s. ...] instructing, teaching, informing, [Harivaṃśa; Kāvya literature]

12) [v.s. ...] denoting, indicating, signifying, [Sāhitya-darpaṇa; Pāṇini [Scholiast or Commentator]]

13) [v.s. ...] ‘the awaking of Durgā’, Name of a festival on the 9th day of the dark half of the month Bhādra, [Colebrooke]

14) Bodhāna (बोधान):—[from budh] mfn. prudent, clever, wise, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

15) [v.s. ...] m. a wise man

16) [v.s. ...] Name of Bṛhas-pati, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bodhana (बोधन):—(naḥ) 1. m. The planet Mercury. f. n. (nī-naṃ) Knowledge; teaching, informing; awaking, arousing. (nī) Long-pepper. n. Burning incense.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Bodhana (बोधन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vodhaṇa.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bodhana in German

context information

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 dictionary

Bodhana (बोधन) [Also spelled bodhan]:—(nm) indicating/informing; awaking; arousing.

context information

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