Janani, Jananī: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Janani means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.
Alternative spellings of this word include Janni.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭuJananī (जननी) is another name for Jantukā, a medicinal plant possibly identified with Ferula foetida (asafoetida) from the Apiaceae or “celery” family of flowering plants, according to verse 3.126-129 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The third chapter (guḍūcyādi-varga) of this book contains climbers and creepers (vīrudh). R. N. Soḍhal considers Jantukā as Hiṅgu (Ferula foetida Regel Umbelliferae/Apiaceae). Raghuvīr Prasāda Trivedī considers Jantukā a parasitic creeper (vṛkṣaruhā); the fruits are like Kapikacchu, thus he identifies it with Cuscuta chinensis Lank. (Convolvulaceae), a plant used in Vietnam as Tho ty tu. Chopra identifies Jantukā with Garcinia lucida Roxb. Vaidyaka Śabda Sindhu equates it with Lākṣā. Together with the names Jananī and Jantukā, there are a total of twenty-one Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.

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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationJananī (जननी) refers to “mother”, used in the compound trideva-jananī, which represents an epithet of Goddess Durgā, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.11. Accordingly as Brahmā said to Nārada:—“[...] O Brahmin, best of my sons, listen attentively to what I did when the lord Viṣṇu went away. I began a continuous laudatory prayer of the Goddess Durgā, [...] I salute the Goddess who is omnipresent, eternal, for whom there is no support, who is never distressed, who is the mother of the three deities (trideva-jananī), who is the grossest of the gross and yet has no form”.

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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraJananī (जननी) refers to the “mother”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] The evils of bad dreams, of sad thoughts, of ill omens and of evil deeds and the like will vanish immediately when one hears of the moon’s motion among the stars. Neither the father nor the mother [i.e., jananī] nor the relations nor friends of a prince will desire so much his well being and that of his subjects as a true Jyotiṣaka”.

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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramJananī (जननी) refers to a “mother”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “In the centre, in the sacred seat called Kāma, passion gives rise to passion and is the seat of Uḍa within power (kalā). The venerable (seat) Pūrṇa is in the wheel on the left and emanates the energy of the Moon in the seat of the Moon in front of that. The divine seat of Kulūta emanates (its energy) into the energized head of Kolla on the right. (The energy of the goddess) penetrates into the venerable Ujjayanī on the left in due order ** with the six sacred seats beginning with that. She who is in the Wheel of the Hexagram is Bhairavī, the mother of persistence and destruction [i.e., sthitilaya-jananī]; by the expansion of consciousness, (she is also) Avvā, Klinnā, Raktā, Bhagavatī, and Pulinī: I bow (to her who, in all these forms, is) the venerable Ekavīrā”.

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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: 84000: Sampuṭodbhava Tantra (Emergence from Sampuṭa)Jananī (जननी) refers to “mother” and is another name for Wisdom (prajñā), according to the Sampuṭodbhavatantra chapter 1.—Accordingly, “[...] Wisdom (prajñā) is called mother [i.e., jananī] Because she gives birth to the people of the world. Wisdom is also called sister Because she betokens a dowry. Wisdom is called washer-woman Because she delights all beings. Accordingly, she is called rajakī. Wisdom is called daughter (duhitṛ) Because she suckles (duhana) the milk of qualities. Wisdom is called artiste On account of being moved by great compassion. [...]”.

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryjananī : (f.) the mother.

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 Dictionaryjananī (जननी).—f (S) A mother. Ex. malā mārāyālā tujhī kāya ja0 vyālī āhē.
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janānī (जनानी).—a ( P opp. to maradānī or P Manly.) Made for or suitable to women--an article of apparel &c. 2 Becoming or adapted to the female voice--a song or an air. 3 Effeminate or womanish--an act or a thought or the voice of a man. 4 Feminine:--opp. to masculine. 5 Used as s f An hermaphrodite approaching to the female sex.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishjananī (जननी).—f A mother.
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janānī (जनानी).—a Made for or suitable to women -an article of apparel &c. Becom- ing or adapted to the female voice– a song or an air. Effeminate or womanish-an act or a thought or the voice of a man.
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 dictionaryJanani (जननि).—f. [jan-ani]
1) A mother,
2) Birth.
Derivable forms: jananiḥ (जननिः).
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Jananī (जननी).—[jan-ṇic ani ṅīp]
1) A mother.
2) Mercy, tenderness, compassion; जननी तु दयामात्रोः (jananī tu dayāmātroḥ) Medinī; न संररञ्जे विषमं जनन्याम् (na saṃrarañje viṣamaṃ jananyām) Bu. Ch.2.34.
3) A bat.
4) Lac.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryJananī (जननी).—(otherwise only mother), woman (Johnston's note compares mātṛgrāma, q.v.): na saṃrarañje viṣamaṃ jananyām, Buddhacarita ii.34, loved no woman wrongly.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryJanani (जननि).—f.
(-niḥ) 1. A fragrant plant: see the preceding. 2. Birth, production. E. jan to be born, affix ani.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryJanani (जननि).—[feminine] = jananī, v. janana.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Jananī (जननी):—[from janana > jan] f. a mother, [Śāṅkhāyana-śrauta-sūtra xv; Manu-smṛti ix, 192; Yājñavalkya; Nalopākhyāna] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] a queen-mother, [Horace H. Wilson]
3) [v.s. ...] a bat, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) [v.s. ...] = jana-karī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] Jasminum auriculatum, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] Rubia Munjista, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] the plant janī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) [v.s. ...] the plant kaṭukā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] compassion, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
10) Janani (जननि):—[from jan] metrically for nī, a mother, [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā vi, 10]
11) [v.s. ...] f. birth, [Horace H. Wilson]
12) [v.s. ...] the plant janī, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryJanani (जननि):—(niḥ) 2. f. A fragrant plant.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Janani (जननि) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Jaṇaṇi, Jaṇaṇī.
[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 dictionaryJananī (जननी) [Also spelled janni]:—(nf) mother, progenitrix.
...
Prakrit-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionaryJaṇaṇi (जणणि) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Janani.
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 corpusJanani (ಜನನಿ):—[adjective] generating; producing; giving forth; causing.
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Janani (ಜನನಿ):—
1) [noun] a woman as she is related to her child or children; the female parent; a mother.
2) [noun] a kind of fragrant plant .
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Janāni (ಜನಾನಿ):—[noun] = ಜನಾನಾ [janana].
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)
Starts with: Jananibida, Jananishasana, Jananiti, Jananiy, Jananiya.
Ends with (+18): Ahladajanani, Ajanani, Akashajanani, Aksharajanani, Amarajanani, Amodajanani, Astikajanani, Bhayajanani, Bhimajanani, Bhishmajanani, Bhutajanani, Devajanani, Gihibyanjanani, Girijajanani, Herambajanani, Jnanijanani, Kamajanani, Kujanani, Lokajanani, Mandajanani.
Full-text (+61): Ajanani, Aksharajanani, Rakshojanani, Herambajanani, Strijanani, Mandajanani, Shatrughnajanani, Ramajanani, Janana, Jananiya, Kamajanani, Astikajanani, Skandajanani, Bhutajanani, Amodajanani, Lokajanani, Vetalajanani, Janayitri, Sakalajananistava, Striprasu.
Relevant text
Search found 30 books and stories containing Janani, Jananī, Janānī, Jaṇaṇi, Jaṇaṇī, Janāni; (plurals include: Jananis, Jananīs, Janānīs, Jaṇaṇis, Jaṇaṇīs, Janānis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā (by Sarasvati Thkura)
Text 2 < [Second Stabaka]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 5.14.22 < [Chapter 14 - The Meeting of King Nanda and Uddhava]
Verse 5.14.10 < [Chapter 14 - The Meeting of King Nanda and Uddhava]
Verse 5.15.10 < [Chapter 15 - Seeing Sri Radha]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 3.4.30 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]
Verse 2.3.23 < [Part 3 - Involuntary Ecstatic Expressions (sattvika-bhāva)]
Verse 3.4.68 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]
Cidgaganacandrika (study) (by S. Mahalakshmi)
Verse 103 [Divyaugha Janani] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Verse 290 [Devas assist Śakti in her pentad functions] < [Chapter 4 - Fourth Vimarśa]
Verse 121 [Jagadbīja-vāsanā consumption by Lelihānā] < [Chapter 3 - Third Vimarśa]
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (commentary) (by Śrī Śrīmad Bhaktivedānta Nārāyana Gosvāmī Mahārāja)
Verse 1.7.34 < [Chapter 7 - Pūrṇa (pinnacle of excellent devotees)]
Verse 2.4.180 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Verse 2.4.175 < [Chapter 4 - Vaikuṇṭha (the spiritual world)]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 2.28.121 < [Chapter 28 - The Lord’s Pastime of Accepting Sannyāsa]
Verse 1.4.32 < [Chapter 4 - Name-giving Ceremony, Childhood Pastimes, and Thieves Kidnap the Lord]
Verse 2.18.136 < [Chapter 18 - Mahāprabhu’s Dancing as a Gopī]