Bodhana, Bodhāna: 26 definitions
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)
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).
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.
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)
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.
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)
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”.
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)”.
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).
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)
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).
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Bodhana (बोधन) or Bodhanotsava refers to the “festival of waking the Lord” which is celebrated during the month of Kārtika (i.e., the months of November-December), as discussed in chapter 27 of the Puruṣottamasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text consisting of more than 1800 verses devoted to temple-building and the practical concerns of the Pāñcarātra priestly community.—Description of the chapter [saṃvatsarotsava-vidhi]: Bhagavān says that the (liturgical) year starts with the vasanta season. On the first day of this—to satisfy the deity who is guardian of that period—the vasantotsava festival is celebrated (1-3). [...] In “kārtika”-month [November-December] the bodhana-utsava rites of “waking the Lord” after his four month rest are celebrated (37-39) followed soon after by kṛttikādīpotsava (39b-45).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
General definition (in 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
bodhana : (nt.) enlightenment; knowledge.
Bodhana, (nt.) (fr. bodheti) 1. knowing Miln. 168 (cp. S. V, 83).—2. (adj.) enlightening, teaching Bu 26, 22 (pacchima-jana°). (Page 491)
bodhana (ဗောဓန) [(na) (န)]—
[budha+ṇe+yu]
[ဗုဓ+ဏေ+ယု]
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
bōḍhaṇa (बोढण).—n See bōḍaṇa.
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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.
bōdhana (बोधन).—n Explaining; teaching; coun- selling.
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
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.
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Bodhāna (बोधान).—a. [budh-ānac] Wise, prudent.
-naḥ 1 A wise man.
2) An epithet of Bṛhaspati.
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.
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.
Bodhana (बोधन).—[feminine] ī causing to expand or blossom, exciting, rousing, explaining, teaching; [neuter] awaking, state of waking, perception, knowledge; awakening, rousing, instructing, teaching.
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.]
Bodhana (बोधन):—(naḥ) 1. m. The planet Mercury. f. n. (nī-naṃ) Knowledge; teaching, informing; awaking, arousing. (nī) Long-pepper. n. Burning incense.
Bodhana (बोधन):—(von 1. budh simpl. und caus.)
1) adj. f. ī a) weckend, anfachend: padmabodhanamudyantaṃ paśya sūryam [Rāmāyaṇa 2, 89, 2 (97, 2 Gorresio).] manmatha [Harivaṃśa 4584.] mada [4586.] indriya (s. auch bes.) [Suśruta 2, 143, 3.] — b) aufklärend; s. bālabodhanī . —
2) m. a) der Planet Mercur [Śabdaratnāvalī] bei [Wilson’s Wörterbuch] [Weber’s Indische Studien 2, 261.] [ Kunde des Morgenlandes 4, 318.] — b) Nomen proprium eines Berges [Viṣṇupurāṇa 180,] [Nalopākhyāna 3.] —
3) f. ī a) Erkenntniss. — b) langer Pfeffer [Medinīkoṣa Nalopākhyāna 99] (fälschlich bodhinī gedruckt, [Śabdakalpadruma] und [WILSON] haben die richtige Lesart vor Augen gehabt). — c) der Tag des Erwachens, Bez. des 11ten Tages in der lichten Hälfte des Monats Kārttika, an welchem Viṣṇu von seinem Schlafe erwacht, [Tithyāditattva] und [PADMA-Pāṇini’s acht Bücher] (nach einer Anführung im [HARIBHAKTIVILĀSA][) im Śabdakalpadruma]; vgl. utthānaikādaśī . —
4) n. a) das Wachen, Erwachen [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 12, 4, 1.] [Suśruta 1, 329, 20.] [Yāska’s Nirukta 12, 38.] mantra [Oxforder Handschriften 87,b,1.] — b) das Wecken [Mahābhārata 1, 1896. 2, 1131.] kumbhakarṇaṃ mahānidraṃ bodhanāyopacakramuḥ [Rāmāyaṇa 6, 37, 36.] cirasuptamanobhava [Śiśupālavadha 9, 24.] uneig.: mantrasya [Oxforder Handschriften 98,b,15. 22.] — c) das Erkennen, Gewahrwerden: bhayaruṣośca tadiṅgitabodhanam [Raghuvaṃśa 9, 49.] — d) das Bezeichnen, Anzeigen: itiśabdo vivakṣābodhanārthaḥ [Scholiast] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 4, 125.] [Sāhityadarpana 10, 1.] — e) das Aufmerksammachen, Aufklären, Belehren [Harivaṃśa 6026.] [Spr. 2073.] — f) das Räuchern (Erwecken eines Wohlgeruchs) [Medinīkoṣa] — g) das Erwachen der Durgā, Bez. des 9ten Tages in der dunklen Hälfte des Monats Bhādra [Asiatick Researches III, 292.]
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Bodhāna (बोधान):—(von 1. budh) adj. subst. klug, ein kluger Mann (vijña und budhabheda); m. Beiname Bṛhaspati’s [Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma] — Vgl. budhāna .
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Bodhana (बोधन):—
4) b) mantrasya auch [SARVADARŚANAS. 170, 10. 19.] — d) [Sāhityadarpana 117, 14. fg. 270.] Füge das Wahrnehmenlassen, Erkennenlassen hinzu.
Bodhana (बोधन):——
1) Adj. (f. ī) — a) aufblühen machend. — b) anfachend , erregend. — c) aufklärend , belehrend. —
2) m. — a) der Planet Mercur. — b) Nomen proprium eines Berges. —
3) f. ī — a) Erkenntniss. — b) langer Pfeffer. — c) der 11te Tag in der lichten Hälfte des Kārttika , an welchen Viṣṇu von seinem Schlafe erwacht. — d) eine best. Śakti [Hemādri’s Caturvargacintāmaṇi 1,197,22.] —
4) n. — a) das Erwachen , Wachen. — b) das Gewahrwerden , Erkennen. — c) das Wecken [Indische sprüche 7677.] — d) das Wecken eine Zauberspruchs , so v.a. das Wirkenlassen. — e) das Wahrnehmenlassen , Erkennenlassen. — f) das Aufmerksammachen , Aufklären , Belehren , — g) das Bezeichnen , Anzeigen. — h) das Räuchern. — i) der 9te Tag in der dunklen Hälfte des Bhādra , an welchem Durgā erwacht.
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Bodhāna (बोधान):——
1) Adj. Subst. klug , ein kluger Mann. —
2) m. Beiname Bṛhaspati's.
Bodhana (बोधन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vodhaṇa.
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
Bodhana (बोधन) [Also spelled bodhan]:—(nm) indicating/informing; awaking; arousing.
...
Nepali dictionary
Bodhana (बोधन):—n. 1. giving knowledge; informing; teaching; 2. arousing; awaking;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Ao, Yu, Yu, Ne, Budha, Na.
Starts with: Bodhana Sutta, Bodhanadhippayanukula, Bodhanahetu, Bodhanaka, Bodhanakiriya, Bodhanamandala, Bodhanamantra, Bodhananata, Bodhanandaghana, Bodhanandagita, Bodhanarahapuggala, Bodhanattha, Bodhaneyya, Bodhanotsava.
Full-text (+73): Avabodhana, Vibodhana, Pratibodhana, Sambodhana, Prabodhana, Pabodhana, Svatvabodhana, Patibodhana, Indriyabodhana, Abodhana, Anubodhana, Udbodhana, Abhisambodhana, Bodhaneyya, Bodhanaka, Paribodhana, Subodhana, Yajurvedamantrasamhitasukhabodhana, Nanadassanapahanabodhanattha, Bodhanahetu.
Relevant text
Search found 29 books and stories containing Bodhana, Bōḍhaṇa, Boḍhaṇa, Bōdhana, Bodhāna, Budha-ne-yu, Budha-ṇe-yu; (plurals include: Bodhanas, Bōḍhaṇas, Boḍhaṇas, Bōdhanas, Bodhānas, yus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Alamkaras mentioned by Vamana (by Pratim Bhattacharya)
19: Definition of Nidarśanā Alaṃkāra < [Chapter 4 - Arthālaṃkāras mentioned by Vāmana]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Rig Veda 8.3.22 < [Sukta 3]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
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