India: 4 definitions
Introduction
Introduction:
India means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India. 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.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaIndia (इन्दिअ).—'South Śarakh', a newspaper published from the United Arab Republic with the assistance of the Indian Embassy gives the following account of how the land originally known as 'Bhārata' came to be called India. The name 'India' was given to "Bhārata" by the Arabs. Even from very early times, Arabs used to give the name 'Hind' to their girls. In ancient Arabic love poems, this name could be seen very frequently. There were commercial and cultural contacts between Bhārata and Arab lands, from very old times. The words 'Kharan Fūl' (spices) 'Pulfūl' (Pepper) etc. may be seen in Arabic poems of the pre-Islamic period. These contacts became more intimate in later years and the Arabs began to take very great interest in the products and the people of this country. They began to call 'Bhārata' by the pet name 'Hind' which they used for their little children. They began to use the term 'Al Hind' when referring to Bhārata in their poems, records and trade agreements In course of time this was shortened to 'Hind' and finally became 'INDIA'.
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: University of Cambridge: JainismIndia (इन्दिअ) in Prakrit refers to “senses” and represents one of the twenty-four Daṇḍakas (“parameters relating to the description of living beings”).—The most common list of daṇḍakas has 24 terms in Prakrit. This has been the starting point of a variety of works, among which the Caturviṃśatidaṇḍaka by Gajasāra stands as a classic.
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.
India history and geography
Source: archive.org: Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptionsIndia.—The word ‘India’ is derived from the river Sindhu or the Indus. Sindhu is the name of a river mentioned in the Gupta inscription No. 20. The Gupta empire (r. 3rd-century CE), founded by Śrī Gupta, covered much of ancient India and embraced the Dharmic religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.
Source: Ancient Buddhist Texts: Geography of Early BuddhismIndia (at the time of the Buddha) was divided into small independent kingdoms. Of these kingdoms Magadha under Bimbisāra and Ajātasattu, Kosala under Pasenadi, Avanti under Pajjota, and Kosambī under Udena, played important roles in the political drama of India in the sixth and fifth centuries B.C.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Indian Art, Indian Buddhism, Indian Calendar, Indian classical dance, Indian painting.
Ends with: Central India, Eastern India, Northern India, Southern India, Western India.
Full-text (+5178): Bharatavarsha, Godavari, Khasa, Sindhu, Cola, Magadha, Kaveri, Shalivahana, Mahendra, Narabhu, Gaya, Malaya, Dravida, Ashoka, Bharata, Pandya, Bharatakhanda, Videha, Vanayu, Somatirtha.
Relevant text
Search found 228 books and stories containing India; (plurals include: Indias). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Settlement in Early Historic Ganga Plain (by Chirantani Das)
Part 2 - Buildings of Rājagṛha < [Chapter II - Origin and Function of Rājagṛha as the seat of Monarchy]
Part 3 - Related works on our settlement zones < [Introduction]
Social philosophy of Swami Vivekananda (by Baruah Debajit)
Chapter 2.2 - Conclusion (social reforms of Swami Vivekananda)
Chapter 2.1e - Social Reforms: Uplift of the Masses
Chapter 2.0 - Vivekananda as a Social Reformer (Introduction)
Complete works of Swami Abhedananda (by Swami Prajnanananda)
Chapter 4 - Political Institutions of India < [Discourse 1 - India and Her People]
Chapter 6 - The Influence of India on Western-Civilization < [Discourse 1 - India and Her People]
Indian Medicinal Plants (by Kanhoba Ranchoddas Kirtikar)
Introduction, part 3: The materia medica of Sanskrit literature
Introduction, part 4: Modern medicinal works
44. Cocculus Leaeba, D.C. < [Menispermaceae (moonseed family)]
The gods of northern Buddhism (by Alice Getty)
Part V - Short Survey Of Buddhist Art < [Introduction]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 5: Treatment of various afflictions (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 5 - Chemists of the Metallic School: Adima < [A Brief History of Indian Chemistry and Medicine]
Part 25 - Ar-Razi and the Indian knowledge of metallic chemistry < [A Brief History of Indian Chemistry and Medicine]
Part 7 - Chemists of the Metallic School: Ravana, King of Lanka < [A Brief History of Indian Chemistry and Medicine]