Karunya, Kāruṇya: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Karunya means something in Buddhism, Pali, 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
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric TraditionsKāruṇya (कारुण्य) refers to “compassion”, according to the 13th-century Matsyendrasaṃhitā: a Kubjikā-Tripurā oriented Tantric Yoga text of the Ṣaḍanvayaśāmbhava tradition from South India.—Accordingly, “[The intercourse (saṃga)]:—[...] This is the secret of alchemy. He should not reveal it to others. This secret of the Siddha tradition, which is difficult to obtain, has now been taught. It is to be revealed through the compassion of the Guru (guru-kāruṇya). What else do you wish to hear?”.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraPauṣṭika (पौष्टिक) refers to “mercy”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 16) (“On the planets—graha-bhaktiyoga”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] Jupiter also presides over elephants, horses, priests, rulers, ministers, marriages and health; over mercy (kāruṇya), truthfulness, cleanliness, religious observances; over learning, gifts and charity; over citizens, richmen, grammarians, Vedic students, sorcerers, lawyers, the ensigns of royalty—the umbrella, the flag-staff, the Cāmara and the like; over Śaileyaka, Mānsī, Tagara, Kuṣṭha, quicksilver, salt, beans, sweet flavour, wax and Coraka”.
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.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchKāruṇya (कारुण्य) refers to “compassion”, according to the Gurugītā (60).—Accordingly, “People do not obtain the state of Śiva by [practising] hundreds of prāṇāyāmas, the qualities of which are Sattvic, etc., and their power [widely] praised. [They] remove diseases and are difficult to perform. [However,] by [just] a smidgen of [the Guru’s] compassion (kāruṇya-lava), restraint of the mighty breath [occurs] naturally and instantly. [That] Guru who is devoted to contemplation of the supreme goal and who knows the meaning of the Vedas ought to be served”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: De Gruyter: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on AgricultureKāruṇya (कारुण्य) refers to “compassion” (as opposed to Akāruṇya—‘those who do not have compassion’), according to the Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja, an ancient Buddhist ritual manual on agriculture from the 5th-century (or earlier), containing various instructions for the Sangha to provide agriculture-related services to laypeople including rain-making, weather control and crop protection.—Accordingly, [as the Bhagavān said to Brahmā and others]: “[...] These dhāraṇī-mantrapadas are established in Jambudvīpa for the benefit, welfare and comfort of all beings. It is for the subduing and restraining of hostile and harmful Nāgas who do not have compassion (akāruṇya) and pity. It is for the giving of punishment to the enemy”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraKāruṇya (कारुण्य, “compassion”) refers to “compassion for the suffering”, according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.—Accordingly:—“[...] after he had thus installed his son in the kingdom, Śatabala himself assumed the sovereignty of tranquillity at the feet of an Ācārya. [... ] With unbroken meditation augmented by the mental attitudes—friendliness, etc. [viz., kāruṇya], plunged in great joy, he remained always in emancipation, as it were”.
Note: Cf. Tattvārthādhigamasūtra 7.6. Yogaśāstra 4.117.
Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 7: The Five VowsKāruṇya (कारुण्य, “afflicted”) according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 7.11.—What is meant by compassion and sympathy for the afflicted (kāruṇya)? The disposition to render assistance to the afflicted is compassion and sympathy for the afflicted. What is the subject of contemplation on compassion and sympathy for the afflicted? The subject of this contemplation is those who are afflicted with sufferings from anguish and distress. It develops feelings of sympathy in the practitioner.
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 Dictionarykāruṇya (कारुण्य).—n S Compassion or tenderness.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishkārūṇya (कारूण्य).—n Compassion, tenderness.
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 dictionaryKāruṇya (कारुण्य).—
1) Compassion, kindness, pity; कारुण्यमातन्वते (kāruṇyamātanvate) Gītagovinda 1; करिण्यः कारुण्यास्पदम् (kariṇyaḥ kāruṇyāspadam) Bv.1.2.
2) Sentiment of Pathos कारुण्यं भवभूतिरेव तनुते (kāruṇyaṃ bhavabhūtireva tanute) |
Derivable forms: kāruṇyam (कारुण्यम्).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryKāruṇya (कारुण्य).—n.
(-ṇyaṃ) Compassion, tenderness. E. karuṇā compassion, &c. ṇyat aff.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryKāruṇya (कारुण्य).—i. e. karuṇa + ya, n. Compassion, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 25.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryKāruṇya (कारुण्य).—[adjective] praiseworthy, excellent; [neuter] pity, compassion.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Kāruṇya (कारुण्य):—[from kāru] 1. kāruṇya mfn. praiseworthy [Comm.] [Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa ii.]
2) [from kāruṇika] 2. kāruṇya n. compassion, kindness, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa etc.]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryKāruṇya (कारुण्य):—(ṇyaṃ) 1. n. Compassion.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Kāruṇya (कारुण्य) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Kāruṇṇa, Kārunna, Kāluṇa, Koluṇṇa.
[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 corpusKāruṇya (ಕಾರುಣ್ಯ):—[noun] kindness in excess of what may be expected or demanded by fairness; mercy; deep sympathy.
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 (+1): Karunyacitta, Karunyadhenu, Karunyalaharistava, Karunyalava, Karunyamaya, Karunyambade, Karunyamekam, Karunyamgey, Karunyanidhi, Karunyanirbhara, Karunyapataka, Karunyapitirkkal, Karunyargala, Karunyasagara, Karunyashakti, Karunyasutra, Karunyata, Karunyavalokana, Karunyavedin, Karunyaveditva.
Ends with: Akarunya, Gurukarunya, Nishkarunya, Tarakarunya.
Full-text (+18): Karunyasutra, Karunyavedin, Jivakarunyam, Akarunya, Karunyapitirkkal, Karunyamaya, Veditva, Karunyadhenu, Tarakarunya, Karunyamekam, Karunyashakti, Karunyaveditva, Karuna, Karunyalaharistava, Kaluniya, Karunyapataka, Gurukarunya, Karunniyam, Karunyasagara, Karunna.
Relevant text
Search found 29 books and stories containing Karunya, Kāruṇya, Kārūṇya, Kāṟuṇya; (plurals include: Karunyas, Kāruṇyas, Kārūṇyas, Kāṟuṇyas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Padarthadharmasamgraha and Nyayakandali (by Ganganatha Jha)
Text 126 < [Chapter 6a - On Qualities]
Hari-bhakti-kalpa-latikā (by Sarasvati Thkura)
Tattvartha Sutra (with commentary) (by Vijay K. Jain)
Verse 7.11 - The observances of Benevolence, Joy, Compassion and Tolerance < [Chapter 7 - The Five Vows]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 4.84 < [Chapter 4 - First-rate Poetry]
Text 10.58 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.204 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]
Verse 1.2.51 < [Part 2 - Devotional Service in Practice (sādhana-bhakti)]
Verse 3.1.45 < [Part 1 - Neutral Love of God (śānta-rasa)]
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