Karmayoga, Karman-yoga: 15 definitions
Introduction:
Karmayoga means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi. 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)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexKarmayoga (कर्मयोग).—Three-fold. Scriptural and not laukika. Intended for the attached and householders. ācāra preliminary to karma. karmakāṇḍa an ocean. Three kinds of worship—vedic, tāntric, and mixed. Worship of image through a guru and according to established rules.1 Preached by Janārdana to Manu; greater than jñāna yoga; as jñāna is the result of karma; origin of Brahmā from: also kriyā yoga; five yajñas and 30 saṃskāras come under this.2 Four of Karma category—agnihotra, silence, study and sacrifice, when not performed properly give fear.3
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa XI. 3. 41-55; 20. 6-7; 21. 14-15; 27. 1 & 6-9.
- 2) Matsya-purāṇa 52. 3-11; 258. 2.
- 3) Matsya-purāṇa 39. 25-7.
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.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhagavad-gita (4th edition)Karmayoga (कर्मयोग) refers to “path of spiritual realization in which the fruit of one’s work is offered to Bhagavān”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts1) Karmayoga (कर्मयोग) (also: Kriyāyoga) refers to one of the two types of Yoga (“disciplined behavior”) mentioned in the tenth chapter of the Paramasaṃhitā: one of the older texts of the Pāñcarātra canon consisting of over 2100 verses in 31 chapters which, being encyclopedic in scope, deals with philosophy, worship routines, mantras, initiation, social behavior, temple-building, etc.—Accordingly, in response to Brahmā’s enquiry about yoga, Parama says that it is important to know both how to perform a ritual act as well as the significance of that act—these being the two forms of yoga, then kriyāyoga and jñānayoga. Both have as their object God alone (1-9). Then follow some discursive remarks concerning yama, niyama, samādhi and vairāgya (10-24). [...] Finally Brahmā asks what kind of man is suited for yogic practices (66). Parama says that it depends upon the person’s mental endowment and spiritual cultivation whether he should follow karmayoga or jñānayoga; but in either case hard effort is required (61-73).
2) Karmayoga (कर्मयोग) refers to one of the two types of Yoga, as discussed in chapter 4 of the Viṣṇutilakasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising 3500 Sanskrit verses covering the typically “agamic” subjects which are being narrated by Brahmā to a number of sages.—Description of the chapter [yoga-adhyāya]: There are two kinds of yoga—“jñānayoga” and “karmayoga”. (In regard to the former) The various steps of the discipline are described in some detail (1-146). Another yogic discipline [yogāntara] is “mantrayoga” but Viṣṇu cautions, the mantra employed must be one which has been properly given and received if one is to gain by it mukti. [...]
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve ReflectionsKarmayoga (कर्मयोग) refers to the “activity of action”, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “It is declared, ‘Activity [com.—karmayoga—‘the activity of action’] is the action of mind, body and speech’. It is said by those who are learned in the knowledge of reality, ‘Indeed, that is the cause of the influx of karma’. As a boat in the middle of the ocean takes in water through holes, so a living soul takes in karma through holes of activity which are good and bad”.
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
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarykarmayōga (कर्मयोग).—m (S) Fortune or fate: also fortuitousness, casualty, chance.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishkarmayōga (कर्मयोग).—m Fortune or fate. Chance. The way to salvation through work not renunciation.
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 dictionaryKarmayoga (कर्मयोग).—
1) performance of actions, worldly and religious rites; कर्मयोगेन योगिनाम् (karmayogena yoginām) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 3.3;3.7;5.2;13.24.
2) active exertion, industry; Manusmṛti 1.115.
Derivable forms: karmayogaḥ (कर्मयोगः).
Karmayoga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms karman and yoga (योग).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryKarmayoga (कर्मयोग).—[-n], m. business, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 10, 115.
Karmayoga is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms karma and yoga (योग).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryKarmayoga (कर्मयोग).—[masculine] performance of actions, [especially] of religious works.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Karmayoga (कर्मयोग):—[=karma-yoga] [from karma > karman] m. performance of a work or business ([especially] of religious duties), [Bhagavad-gītā; Manu-smṛti] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] active exertion, industry
3) [v.s. ...] agriculture and commerce ([Manvarthamuktāvalī, kullūka bhaṭṭa’s Commentary on manu-smṛti]), [Manu-smṛti x, 115]
4) [v.s. ...] practical application, [Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
5) [v.s. ...] connection with a sacrifice, [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Lāṭyāyana; Āpastamba-dharma-sūtra]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryKarmayoga (कर्मयोग):—[karma-yoga] (gaḥ) 1. m. Doing duty; activity, industry.
[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.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusKarmayōga (ಕರ್ಮಯೋಗ):—[noun] performance of actions, worldly and religious rites, without having desire for the results.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryKarmayoga (कर्मयोग):—n. the disinterested performance of one's proper Karma;
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)
Full-text (+44): Jnanayoga, Karma Yoga, Karmyog, Kamayogavisamyutta, Yoga, Tapas, Brahmacarya, Satya, Kshama, Arjava, Mitahara, Shauca, Asteya, Astikya, Upaya, Ahimsa, Mayura, Vira, Gomukha, Tushti.
Relevant text
Search found 89 books and stories containing Karmayoga, Karma-yoga, Karman-yoga, Karmayōga; (plurals include: Karmayogas, yogas, Karmayōgas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The concept of Yoga in Yoga Upanishads (by Philomina T.L)
4. Description of Karmayoga and Jñānayoga < [Chapter 4 - The contents of the Yogopaniṣads]
4. The Yogopaniṣads (Introduction) < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]
Puranic encyclopaedia (by Vettam Mani)
Gitartha Samgraha (critical Study) (by Partha Sarathi Sil)
3. Karmaṣaṭka in the Gītārthasaṅgraha < [Chapter 4 - Critical Study of the Gītārthasaṅgraha]
2. Concept of Ṣaṭka in the Gītārthasaṅgraha < [Chapter 4 - Critical Study of the Gītārthasaṅgraha]
5. Jñānaṣaṭka in the Gītārthasaṅgraha < [Chapter 4 - Critical Study of the Gītārthasaṅgraha]
The concept of Yoga according to Yoga Upanisads (by Jeong Soo Lee)
1. Karma-Yoga in the Yoga-Upanisads < [Chapter 3 - Karma, Jnana and Bhakti in Yoga Upanisads]
3. The Kinds of Yoga < [Chapter 1 - The Origin of Yoga and its Evolution]
The Gita’s Ethics (A Critical Study) (by Arpita Chakraborty)
3. The Path of Action (karma-yoga) < [Chapter 4 - Moral Action and Emancipation]
12. The Gita < [Chapter 1 - Indian Ethics]
1. Road to Liberation according to the Gita (Introduction) < [Chapter 4 - Moral Action and Emancipation]
Bhagavad-gita (with Vaishnava commentaries) (by Narayana Gosvami)
Verse 13.25 < [Chapter 13 - Prakṛti-puruṣa-vibhāga-yoga]
Verse 5.2 < [Chapter 5 - Karma-sannyāsa-yoga (Yoga through Renunciation of Action)]
Verse 5.1 < [Chapter 5 - Karma-sannyāsa-yoga (Yoga through Renunciation of Action)]
Related products
