In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Brahmavrata (ब्रह्मव्रत).—The observance of this vow leads to nirvāṇa.^*

• * Matsya-purāṇa 101. 48.

context information

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 Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Jaina Yoga

Brahmavrata (ब्रह्मव्रत) refers to “vow of celibacy” and represents an observance (vrata) laid down for Jain laymen, classified within the aṇuvrata group. The brahma-vrata differs from all the other vows in its double formulation: positive in the sense of “contentment with one’s own wife” (sva-dāra-santoṣa) and negative as “avoidance of the wives of others” (a-para-dāra-gamana). In the former case the translation “wife” rather than “wives” or “women” has been chosen deliberately for reasons that will be apparent later, though in fact the issue of monogamy or polygamy continues to be debated in the texts, despite a social context in which polygamy is the natural prerogative of the well-to-do. Some authorities hold that of the five aticāras listed below only the last three can be said to transgress this vow in its negative formulation.

The traditional designations of these aticāras are:

1. intercourse with a woman temporarily taken to wife (itvara-parigṛhītā-gamana);
2. intercourse with an unmarried woman (a-parigṛhītā-gamana);
3. love-play (anaṅga-krīḍā);
4. match-making (para-vivāha-karaṇa);
5. excessive predilection for the pleasures of the senses (kāma-bhoga-tīvrābhilāṣa).

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 7: The Five Vows

Brahmavrata (ब्रह्मव्रत) refers to the “vow of celibacy” according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 7.7.—What are the five observances of the vow of celibacy (brahmavrata)? The five observances of the vow of celibacy are: to give up listening to stories extending attachment for women (strīrāgakathāśravaṇa-tyāga), to give up looking at sexually arousing parts of the bodies of women (tanmanohāranga-nirikṣaṇa-tyāga), to give up recalling past sexual pleasures (pūrvaratānusmaraṇa-tyāga), to give up stimulating and delicious food and drinks (vṛṣyeṣṭarasa-tyāga) and to avoid adornment of own body (svaśarira-saṃskāra-tyāga).

What is the benefit of these five observances (brahmavrata)? These observances firms up the practice of the vow of celibacy. What happens if these five activities are not given up? If these observances are not practiced then the possibility of enhancing wicked mentality increases significantly. What are the other activities which cause flaws in the observance of the vow of celibacy? In modern times, activities like watching erotic movies, TV serials or listening to such songs, reading such novels and to wear dresses which display the body parts are some of the other activities which cause flaws in the observance of the vow of celibacy.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Brahmavrata (ब्रह्मव्रत).—a vow of chastity.

Derivable forms: brahmavratam (ब्रह्मव्रतम्).

Brahmavrata is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms brahman and vrata (व्रत).

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

Brahmavrata (ब्रह्मव्रत).—(n.), chastity, [Pañcatantra] 187, 6.

Brahmavrata is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms brahman and vrata (व्रत).

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

Brahmavrata (ब्रह्मव्रत).—[neuter] a cert. religious observance; the vow of chastity, dhara [adjective] performing it.

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

1) Brahmavrata (ब्रह्मव्रत):—[=brahma-vrata] [from brahma > brahman] n. Name of a religious observance, [Mahābhārata]

2) [v.s. ...] a vow of chastity (-dhara mfn. practising the vow of chastity), [Pañcatantra]

[Sanskrit to German]

Brahmavrata 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Brahmavrata (ಬ್ರಹ್ಮವ್ರತ):—[noun] a vow of chastity.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Brahman, Brahma, Vrata.

Starts with: Brahmavratadhara.

Ends with: Kamabrahmavrata.

Full-text: Brahmavratadhara, Payovrata, Aparigrihitagamana, Kama-bhoga-tivrabhilasha, Itvara-parigrihita-gamana, Paravivahakarana, Anangakrida, Carin.

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Search found 3 books and stories containing Brahmavrata, Brahma-vrata, Brahman-vrata; (plurals include: Brahmavratas, vratas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari (by K. A. Subramania Iyer)

Verse 2.319-320 < [Book 2 - Vākya-kāṇḍa]

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Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)

Story of Dhṛtarāṣṭra

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The Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)

Chapter 20 - The rules of ablution < [Section 1 - Sṛṣṭi-khaṇḍa (section on creation)]

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