Janana, Jānana, Jānāna, Jaṉāṉa: 25 definitions
Introduction:
Janana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, Marathi, Hindi, Tamil. 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Janan.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚāktismJanana (जनन) refers to “giving birth” 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., janana—giving birth] 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”.

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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraJanana (जनन) refers to the “thriving” (of crops), according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 8), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The first year of the next yuga sacred to Indrāgni is known as Paridhāvi; the remaining years are—Pramādin, Ānanda, Rākṣasa and Anala. In the year Paridhāvi the Madhyadeśa will suffer and the ruling princes will perish, there will be slight rain and fear from fire; in the year Pramādi mankind will be disposed to be inactive; villagers will be at strife; red flowers and red seed will be destroyed. In the next year mankind will be happy. In the years Rākṣasa and Anala there will be deaths and decay in the land; in Rākṣasa again the summer crops will thrive [i.e., grīṣmadhānya-janana] and in Anala there will be fear from fire and much suffering in the land”.

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Shaiva philosophy
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (philosophy)Janana (जनन) refers to “triggering (activity)” (ending in a bodily action), according to the Īśvarapratyabhijñāvivṛtivimarśinī 2.161.—Accordingly, “‘And this … is not enough’ [means the following]. [Something] that [only] consists of the manifestation in an external form, [i.e. in the form ‘this,’] of what remains [of the past experience in the shape of] an internal residual trace; [that is to say, something] that is merely separated [from the subject expressed as ‘I,’ but] that, although manifested (ābhāsita—vicchedamātreṇābhāsitenāpi), [appears] without any specific place and time—[this is] not [enough] for inference to trigger any activity (pravṛtti-janana) ending in a bodily action. [...]”.
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Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: SOAS University of London: Protective Rites in the Netra TantraJanana (जनन) refers to “being born”, according to the Netratantra of Kṣemarāja: a Śaiva text from the 9th century in which Śiva (Bhairava) teaches Pārvatī topics such as metaphysics, cosmology, and soteriology.—Accordingly, [verse 4.5cd-6, while describing the purification process of the initiand]—“[One goes through the saṃskāras:] conceived, born (janana), by virtue of taking up one’s role, action and fruition. Then [the initatiand] atones and [proceeds through the remainder of the saṃskāras that] follow. All this should] be done with the mūlamantra”.
Commentary: “Conceived (garbhādhāna) means taking root in various bodies, janana is to be born out of that, adhikāra is the success of those who have grown to maturity and are suitable to experience bhoga. [...]”.

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.
Mantrashastra (the science of Mantras)
Source: Wisdom Library: MantrashastraJanana (जनन, “creation”) 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.—Creation (janana) is described as:—The practitioner extracts the syllables of the mantra one by one from the alphabet, usually with the help of a yantra in which the syllables of the alphabet are inscribed. This mātṛkāyantra may be in the shape of a triangle, consisting of forty-nine small triangles, each containing one syllable of the alphabet. The alphabet can be inscribed in a yantra of another shape: an eight-petalled lotus, a square, a rectangle. [unverified translation!]
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsJanana (जनन) refers to “birth”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “This cosmos must be thought of as filled with a multitude of objects exceedingly firmly embraced (āliṅgita) by the maintenance of life (sthiti), birth (janana) and death (vināśa) in the middle of the rings of wind, complete in this world of its own accord, accomplished without a beginning, ancient [and] free from creation and destruction. [Thus ends the reflection on] the cosmos”.
Synonyms: Utpāda.

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
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryjanana : (nt.) production; causing.
Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryJanana, (adj.) (to janati) producing, causing (-°) It. 84 (anattha° dosa); J. IV, 141; Dpvs. I, 2; DhsA. 258; Dhtp 428.—f. jananī PvA. 1 (saṃvega° desanā); = mother (cp. janettī) J. IV, 175; PvA. 79. Note. jananā DA. I, 310 is misprint for janatā. (Page 278)
— or —
Jānana, (nt.) (fr. jñā) knowledge, cognizance, recognition; intelligence, learning, skill J. I, 145 (attānaṃ —°kālato paṭṭhāya from the time of self-recognition), 200 (-°manta knowledge of a spell, a spell known by: tumhākaṃ) II. 221; SnA 330; DhA. II, 73 (°sabhāva= ñatta); DA. I, 86 (akkhara°); Vism. 391 (°atthāya in order to know), 436 (=pajānana). Cp. ājānana. ‹-› ajānana not knowing (°-) J. V, 199; VI, 177; not known J. I, 32 (°sippa). (Page 282)

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 Dictionaryjanana (जनन).—n (S) Birth, bearing, bringing forth.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishjanana (जनन).—n Bearing, birth, bringing forth.
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 dictionaryJanana (जनन).—a. [jan-bhāve lyuṭ] Producing, causing &c.; भुजगानां जननीं जजाप विद्याम् (bhujagānāṃ jananīṃ jajāpa vidyām) Śiśupālavadha 2.41.
-naḥ The Supreme Being.
-nam 1 Birth, being born; यावज्जननं तावन्मरणम् (yāvajjananaṃ tāvanmaraṇam) Moha M.13.
2) Causing, production, creation; शोभा- जननात् (śobhā- jananāt) Kumārasambhava 1.42.
3) Appearance, manifestation, rise.
4) Life, existence; यदैव पूर्वे जनने शरीरं सा दक्षरोषात्सुदती ससर्ज (yadaiva pūrve janane śarīraṃ sā dakṣaroṣātsudatī sasarja) Kumārasambhava 1.53; भावस्थिराणि जननान्तरसौहृदानि (bhāvasthirāṇi jananāntarasauhṛdāni) Ś.5.2.
5) Race, family, lineage.
6) Preparation for a religious ceremony (dīkṣā).
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Jānāna (जानान).—a. Knowing, understanding.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryJānana (जानन).—nt., birth, origination: Mahāvyutpatti 1848 = Tibetan [Page241-b+ 71] bskyed pa. Cf. Sanskrit janana, perhaps to be read here; but Mironov jā°.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryJanana (जनन).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. Birth, production. 2. Family, race, lineage. f. (-nī) 1. A mother. 2. Tenderness, compassion. 3. A plant, commonly Chakwat; also janani and janī. 4. A bat. 5. Arabian jasmin. 6. Valerian. mf. (-naḥ-nī) A parent, a progenitor. E. jan to bear or be born, affix bhāve lyuṭ, and ṅīṣ.
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Jānana (जानन).—n.
(-naṃ) Knowing, understanding. E. jñā to know, lyuṭ aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryJanana (जनन).—[jan + ana], I. adj., f. nī, 1. Bringing forth, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 9, 81. 2. Causing, Mahābhārata 1, 1183. Ii. f. nī, A mother, [Daśakumāracarita] in
Janana (जनन).—[feminine] ī = janaka [adjective]; [masculine] progenitor, creator, [feminine] ī mother; [neuter] producing, causing; birth, life.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Janana (जनन):—[from jan] mf(ī)n. ifc. generating, begetting, producing, causing, [Manu-smṛti ix, 81; Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] m. a progenitor, creator, [Ṛg-veda ii, 40, 1]
3) [v.s. ...] n. birth, coming into existence, [Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa xxi, 9; Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Manu-smṛti] etc.
4) [v.s. ...] ‘birth’ id est. life (pūrvaj = nāntara), [Kumāra-sambhava i, 54]
5) [v.s. ...] production, causation, [Rāmāyaṇa] : [Kumāra-sambhava i, 43; Sāṃkhyakārikā; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
6) [v.s. ...] race, lineage, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [from jan] cf. indra-, medhā-.
8) Jānāna (जानान):—[from jānat > jānaka] mfn. [present participle] [Ātmanepada] √jñā q.v.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Janana (जनन):—(naṃ) 1. n. Birth; race. f. A mother; tenderness; a plant; a bat. m. A parent, a father.
2) Jānana (जानन):—[(naḥ-nā-naṃ) a.] Knowing.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Janana (जनन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Jaṇaṇa.
[Sanskrit to German]
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 dictionary1) Janana (जनन) [Also spelled janan]:—(nm) procreation, procreating; generation, generating; production, producing; -[kṣamatā] potency, generating/productive/procreative power.
2) Jananā (जनना) [Also spelled janna]:—(v) to (re) produce; to give birth (to), to bear.
3) Janānā (जनाना):—(a) female, feminine; impotent; (nm) female apartment; a eunuch; ~[pana] effeminacy; impotence; hence [janānī —rāja] petticoat rule/government.
4) Jānanā (जानना):—(v) to know, to become aware of; to perceive; [jānakara] knowingly, deliberately, wilfully; [anajāna bananā] to feign ignorance; [jānane vāle] acquaintance; [jānabūjhakara] knowingly, deliberately, wilfully; •[āga meṃ kūdanā/kueṃ meṃ paḍanā] to deliberately jump into fire to deliberately risk a hazard to life; •[makkhī nigalanā] to connive at; [jāne-anajāne] wittingly or unwittingly, knowingly or unknowingly.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary1) Jaṇaṇa (जणण) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Janana.
2) Jāṇaṇa (जाणण) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Jñāna.
Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusJanana (ಜನನ):—[adjective] generating; producing; giving forth.
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Janana (ಜನನ):—
1) [noun] the act or process of generating, producing or giving birth to.
2) [noun] the act or process of being generated, produced; a coming into existence.
3) [noun] one’s ancestral lineage.
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Janāna (ಜನಾನ):—[noun] = ಜನಾನಾ [janana].
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Janānā (ಜನಾನಾ):—[noun] the part of a palace or house reserved for the residence of women.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Tamil dictionary
Source: DDSA: University of Madras: Tamil LexiconJaṉāṉa (ஜனான) [jaṉāṉā] noun < Persn. zanānā.
1. Women; மகளிர். [magalir.]
2. Women's apartments; மகளிர்வசிக்குமிடம். [magalirvasikkumidam.]
3. Seraglio; அந்தப்புரம். [anthappuram.]
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English Dictionary1) Janana (जनन):—n. 1. reproduction; birth; 2. genesis; origin; 3. father; progenitor; god; 4. family; children; progeny
2) Janānā (जनाना):—n. woman; female;
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: Yu, Ne, Jana, Na.
Starts with (+12): Jananabhava, Jananabhaya, Jananabhesajja, Jananabhumi, Jananabija, Jananacitta, Jananadvara, Jananagramthi, Jananahara, Jananahetu, Jananajanana, Jananajataka, Jananaka, Jananakala, Jananakantam, Jananakara, Jananakhane, Jananakkama, Jananamali, Jananamaranadura.
Full-text (+248): Janani, Ajanana, Vijanana, Abhijanana, Prajanana, Pajanana, Kshudhabhijanana, Adhijanana, Ambujanana, Jananamga, Medhajanana, Samjanana, Jananakiriya, Jananakara, Akkharajanana, Jananapatha, Jananajanana, Photthabbajanana, Jananappasanga, Tadatthajanana.
Relevant text
Search found 73 books and stories containing Janana, Jana-ne-yu, Jana-ṇe-yu, Jana-yu, Janaana, Jānana, Jānāna, Jananā, Janānā, Jānanā, Jaṇaṇa, Jāṇaṇa, Jāṇaṇā, Janāna, Jaṉāṉa, Na-na-ne-yu, Ñā-nā-ṇe-yu, Na-na-yu, Ñā-nā-yu; (plurals include: Jananas, yus, Janaanas, Jānanas, Jānānas, Jananās, Janānās, Jānanās, Jaṇaṇas, Jāṇaṇas, Jāṇaṇās, Janānas, Jaṉāṉas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Kavyamimamsa of Rajasekhara (Study) (by Debabrata Barai)
Part 2.6 - Marriage of Kāvya-puruṣa with Sāhitya-vidyā-vadhū < [Chapter 5 - Analyasis and Interpretations of the Kāvyamīmāṃsā]
Appendix 1 - Ācārya, Kavi and important persons mentioned in the Kāvyamīmāṃsā
Advayavajra-samgraha (Sanskrit text and English introduction) (by Mahamahopadhyaya Haraprasad Shastri)
Chapter 5 - Sekanirnaya < [Sanskrit texts of the Advayavajra-samgraha]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Satapatha-brahmana (by Julius Eggeling)
Kanda X, adhyaya 3, brahmana 5 < [Tenth Kanda]
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