Brahmavidya, Brahmavidyā, Brahman-vidya: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Brahmavidya means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या) refers to the “lore of Supreme Brahman”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.44 (“Menā regains consciousness”).—Accordingly, as Menā said to her daughter (Pārvatī): “[...] Throwing away cooked rice you have eaten the husk. Spilling away the clarified butter you have eagerly swallowed castor oil. Setting the lion aside a jackal has been served by you. Without listening to the lore of Supreme Brahman (brahmavidyā) you have heard base ballads. O daughter, casting off the holy sacrificial ashes at home you have taken the inauspicious ashes from the funeral pyre. [...]”.
In the Puranas, Brahmavidya is divided into two branches, the first one dealing with the vedic mantras and is called para vidya or former knowledge, and the latter dealing with the study of the upanishads and is called the apara vidya or latter knowledge. Both para and apara vidya constitute brahma vidya.
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.
Mantrashastra (the science of Mantras)
Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या) refers to one of the topics discussed in the Ṛśyaśṛṅgasaṃhitā, an ancient Sanskrit text dealing with Mantraśāstra (instruction manuals for understanding and reciting mantras) which, being a Vaiṣṇava-oriented scripture, specifically deals with elaborate mantras of Viṣṇu and his incarnations, manifestations and consorts.—The term Brahmavidyā is mentioned in Chapter 11 (ekādaśe'dhyāye) of the Ṛśyaśṛṅga-Saṃhitā. The complete entry reads: brahmavidyā śrī śrīśadvādaśākṣarīvidyānāṃ nirūpaṇam.
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)
Brahmavidya is considered to be the highest ideal of classical Hinduism. It is that branch of scriptural knowledge derived primarily through a study of the veda mantras & upanishads. Put together, it means knowledge of the mantra/absolute. Brahmavidya is (derived from the Sanskrit words brahma and vidya:
In modern Hinduism, Brahmavidya is used to mean a spiritual study of Hindu scriptures with the aim of realizing the ultimate reality. Different modern Hindu leaders have defined it in the context of their own systems of philosophy.
Brahmand represents the Ultimate Truth. Vidyā means knowledge. Brahmavidyā means “Knowledge of the Ultimate Truth”. Brahmavidya, as exposed in the Vedantic Scriptures (Upanishads), guides a seeker to discover this Truth first hand, within himself. The goal is to realize that the Self (the real “I”) is the same as the Brahman (the Source or Substratum of the Universe).
Brahma Vidya is the knowledge that awakens us to the realization of Self. It is the cornerstone of the Indian spiritual science as revealed by the Guru and is manifested as his Grace.
Both Brahma and Vidya are Sanskrit words. Brahman, is the neuter gender of the word-form Brih that means big. As the word big has not been further qualified to reveal its dimension, we have to understand that Brahman the word means that which is free from all forms of limitation. Vidya is derived from the root vid, which means to know. Hence the word Vidya means knowledge. Brahma Vidya therefore means knowledge of that which is free from all forms of limitation.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या).—knowledge of the Supreme Spirit. ब्रह्मविद्यापरिज्ञानं ब्रह्मप्राप्तिकरं स्थितम् (brahmavidyāparijñānaṃ brahmaprāptikaraṃ sthitam) Śuka. Up.3.1.
Brahmavidyā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms brahman and vidyā (विद्या). See also (synonyms): brahmavittva.
Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या).—f.
(-dyā) Knowledge of spirit. E. brahma, and vidyā science.
Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या).—[feminine] [abstract] to [preceding]
1) Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या):—[=brahma-vidyā] [from brahma > brahman] f. knowledge of ‘the one self-existent Being’, kn° of Brahmă, sacred knowledge, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa] etc. etc. (cf. [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 219])
2) [v.s. ...] Name of an Upaniṣad (cf. below)
Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या):—[brahma-vidyā] (dyā) 1. f. Knowledge of God.
Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या):—(1. brahman + vi) f. Kenntniss des Heiligen (Brahman's), die Lehre vom Heiligen [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 14, 4, 2, 20.] [Muṇḍakopaniṣad 1, 1, 1.] [Chāndogyopaniṣad 7, 1, 2. 4.] tvaṃ brahmavidyā vidyānām [Mahābhārata 6, 803.] [Spr. 5138.] in den Unterschrr. der Kapitel der [Bhagavadgītā] [Oxforder Handschriften No. 61.] [] zu [Bṛhadāranyakopaniṣad S. 1.] [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 76, 2.] vid [MAITRYUP. 4, 4.] Titel einer Upaniṣad [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 302. 2, 57. fgg.] [HALL 18.]
Brahmavidyā (ब्रह्मविद्या):—f. —
1) Kenntniss des Heiligen , die Lehre von [Hemacandra's Abhidhānacintāmaṇi] —
2) Titel einer Upaniṣad.
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.
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Starts with (+0): Brahmavidyabharana, Brahmavidyadikshita, Brahmavidyamahodadhi, Brahmavidyamuktaphala, Brahmavidyapaddhati, Brahmavidyasadhana, Brahmavidyasadhana, Brahmavidyatirtha, Brahmavidyavijaya, Brahmavidyavilasa, Brahmavidyopanishad.
Full-text (+23): Brahmavidyatirtha, Brahmavidyapaddhati, Brahmavidyamahodadhi, Brahmavidyavilasa, Brahmavidyavijaya, Brahmavidyopanishad, Angir, Atharva, Brahmavidyasadhana, Atharvan, Sattvikabrahmavidyavilasa, Brahmavidyabharana, Piramavittiyai, Piramavittai, Bimbanem, Brahmavittva, Sri Narayanasrami, Naciketas, Vidhitsa, Atharvashikha.
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Search found 128 books and stories containing Brahmavidya, Brahma vidyas, Brahma-vidya, Brahma-vidyā, Brahman-vidya, Brahman-vidyā, Brahmavidyā; (plurals include: Brahmavidyas, Brahma vidyases, vidyas, vidyās, Brahmavidyās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brahma Sutras (Shankara Bhashya) (by Swami Vireshwarananda)
Chapter III, Section III, Adhikarana XII < [Section III]
Chapter III, Section III, Adhikarana XXXV < [Section III]
Chapter III, Section III, Adhikarana XIV < [Section III]
Hindu Pluralism (by Elaine M. Fisher)
Śrīvidyā and society in Nīlakaṇṭha Dīkṣita’s Saubhāgyacandrātapa < [Chapter 2 - The Making of the Smārta-Śaiva Community of South India]
Mundaka Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary (by S. Sitarama Sastri)
Verse 1.1.1 < [Mundaka I, Khanda I]
Verse 1.2.13 < [Mundaka I, Khanda II]
Verse 1.1.2 < [Mundaka I, Khanda I]
Liberation in early Advaita Vedanta (by Aleksandar Uskokov)
3. The concept of Brahma-vidyā < [Chapter 4 - Liberation in the Brahma-sūtra]
7. Winning the World of the Gods < [Chapter 6 - General characteristics of Dharma and the Path of Engagement]
6. The Self in Liberation < [Chapter 4 - Liberation in the Brahma-sūtra]
Chandogya Upanishad (english Translation) (by Swami Lokeswarananda)
Brahma Sutras (Nimbarka commentary) (by Roma Bose)
Brahma-Sūtra 3.3.11 < [Adhikaraṇa 4 - Sūtras 11-17]
Brahma-Sūtra 3.3.43 < [Adhikaraṇa 20 - Sūtras 43-50]
Brahma-Sūtra 3.3.31 < [Adhikaraṇa 13 - Sūtra 31]