Muni; 14 Definition(s)

Introduction

Muni means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, the history of ancient India, 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

Ayurveda (science of life)

Muni(मुनि):—Another name for Agastya (Sesbania grandiflora), a species of medicinal plant and used in the treatment of fever (jvara), as described in the Jvaracikitsā (or “the treatment of fever”) which is part of the 7th-century Mādhavacikitsā, a Sanskrit classical work on Āyurveda.

context information

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.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

1) Muni (मुनि) is the Sanskrit name of one of Bharata’s sons, mentioned in the Nāṭyaśāstra 1.26-33. After Brahmā created the Nāṭyaveda (nāṭyaśāstra), he ordered Bharata to teach the science to his (one hundred) sons. Bharata thus learned the Nāṭyaveda from Brahmā, and then made his sons study and learn its proper application. After their study, Bharata assigned his sons (eg., Muni) various roles suitable to them.

2) Muni (मुनि) is the Sanskrit name for “sages”, to be worshipped during raṅgapūjā, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra 3.1-8. Accordingly, the master of the dramatic art who has been initiated for the purpose shall consecrate the playhouse after he has made obeisance (eg., to Munis).

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Muni (मुनि).—One of the seven sons of Dyutimān, who was a son of Priyavrata, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 74. Priyavrata was a son of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.

1) Muni (मुनि).—The mother of the Yakṣas. It is stated that Kaśyapaprajāpati begot of his wife Muni, the Yakṣas. (Chapter 19, Agni Purāṇa). The Gandharvas also were born of Muni. She gave birth to sixteen Gandharvas of which the first was named Bhīmasena. (Śloka 42, Chapter 65, Ādi Parva).

2) Muni (मुनि).—Son of a Vasu named Ahar (i.e. Ahaḥ) (Śloka 23, Chapter 66, Ādi Parva).

3) Muni (मुनि).—Son of Kuru of the Pūru line of kings. Kuru begot of his wife Vāhinī five sons named Aśvavān, Abhiṣyanta, Caitraratha, Janamejaya and Muni. (Śloka 50, Chapter 94, Ādi Parva).

4) Muni (मुनि).—One of the seven sons of a King named Dyutimān. (Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa 5. 24).

1a) Muni (मुनि).—A daughter of Dakṣa and one of the 13 wives of Kaśyapa; a mother goddess; mother of groups of munis and sages, Apsaras and Gandharvas;¹ given to Gandha śīlā.²

• 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 6. 26-7; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 3. 56; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 2, 45; 146. 19; 171. 29, 60; Vāyu-purāṇa 66. 55.
• 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 466.

1b) A son of Dyutimān, after whom came the Maunideśam in Krauncadvīpa.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 14. 23, 26; Vāyu-purāṇa 33. 21, 23. Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 48.

1c) A god of Prasūta group.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 36. 71.

1d) A son of Vaidya.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 59. 7. Vāyu-purāṇa 84. 7.

1e) A son of Pradyumna and father of Ūrjavaha.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 64. 20; Vāyu-purāṇa 89. 19.

1f) One of the twenty Amitābha gods.^*

• * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 1. 17; Vāyu-purāṇa 100. 17.

1g) A sage of the Raivata epoch;¹ a Viśvedeva.²

• 1) Matsya-purāṇa 9. 9.
• 2) Ib. 203. 13; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 3. 30.

1h) One of the wives of Kaśyapa; gave birth to Apsarasas.^*

• * Viṣṇu-purāṇa I. 15. 125; 21. 25.

1i) Those who delight in the ātman, after many births, and renounce even the region of Brahmā; realise the Supreme Spirit by shaking off the three dreamy stages— bhāvādvaita, kriyādvaita, and dravyādvaita.^*

• * Bhāgavata-purāṇa III. 27. 27; VII. 15. 62-5; X. 2. 25.

Muni (मुनि) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.89.44) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Muni) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Muni also refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.59.12, I.65, I.60.22).

context information

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)

Muni (मुनि) refers to a type of Bhikṣu: the fourth of the four stages of a layman (āśrama) according to Cāmuṇḍarāya (940–989 A.D.) in his Caritra-sāra. Muni refers to a monk who possesses supernatural knowledge (avadhi-jñāna, manaḥ-paryaya-jñāna and kevala-jñāna)

Cāmuṇḍarāya, who was a Digambara Jain, has taken over the Hindu concept of the four āśramas, which, following Jinasena, he terms brahmacārin, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, and bhikṣu (eg., Muni).

context information

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 geogprahy

Muni.—(SII 1; IA 30; LL), a Jain monk. (IE 7-1-2), ‘seven’. Note: muni is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

muni : (aor. of munāti) knew; understood. (m.), a monk.

Muni, (cp. Vedic muni, originally one who has made the vow of silence. Cp. Chh. Up. VIII, 5, 2; Pss. of the Br. 132 note. Connected with mūka: see under mukha. This etym. preferred by Aufrecht: Halāyudha p. 311. Another, as favoured by Pischel (see under munāti) is “inspired, moved by the spirit. ” Pāli explanations (popular etym.) are given by Dhammapāla at VvA. 114 & 231: see munana) a holy man, a sage, wise man. I. The term which was specialised in Brahmanism has acquired a general meaning in Buddhism & is applied by the Buddha to any man attaining perfection in self-restraint and insight. So the word is capable of many-sided application and occurs frequently in the oldest poetic anthologies, e.g. Sn. 207—221 (the famous Muni-sutta, mentioned Divy 20, 35; SnA 518; explained SnA 254—277), 414, 462, 523 sq. , 708 sq. , 811 sq. , 838, 844 sq. , 912 sq. , 946, 1074 & passim (see Pj. Index p. 749); Dh. 49, 225, 268 sq. , 423.—Cp. general passages & explanations at Pv. II, 1¹³; II, 13³ (explained at PvA. 163 by “attahitañ ca parahitañ ca munāti jānātī ti muni”); Miln. 90 (munibhāva “munihood, ” meditation, self-denial, abrogation); DhA. III, 521 (munayo=moneyya-paṭipadāya maggaphalaṃ pattā asekha-munayo), 395 (here explained with ref. to orig. meaning tuṇhībhāva “state of silence” =mona).—II. The Com. & Abhidhamma literature have produced several schedules of muni-qualities, esp. based on the 3 fold division of character as revealed in action, speech & thought (kāya°, vacī°, mano°). Just as these 3 are in general exhibited in good or bad ways of living (°sucaritaṃ & °duccaritaṃ), they are applied to a deeper quality of saintship in kāya-moneyya, vacīmoneyya, mano-moneyya; or Muni-hood in action, speech & thought; and the muni himself is characterised as a kāya-muni, vacī° & mano°. Thus runs the long exegesis of muni at Nd² 514^A=Nd¹ 57. Besides this the same chapter (514^B) gives a division of 6 munis, viz. agāra-muni, anagāra° (the bhikkhus), sekha°, asekha° (the Arahants), pacceka° (the Paccekabuddhas), muni° (the Tathāgatas).—The parallel passage to Nd² 514^A at A. I, 273 gives a muni as kāya-muni, vācā° & ceto° (under the 3 moneyyāni). (Page 538)

context information

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

muni (मुनि).—m (S) A holy sage; a pious and learned person having attained the nature of the gods by rigid abstraction and mortification. 2 An ascetic, an austere devotee.

muni (मुनि).—m A holy sage. An ascetic.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Muni (मुनि).—[man-in ucca Uṇ.4.122]

1) A sage, a holy man, saint, devotee, an ascetic; मुनीनामप्यहं व्यासः (munīnāmapyahaṃ vyāsaḥ) Bg.1. 37; दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः । वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थित- धीर्मुनिरुच्यते (duḥkheṣvanudvignamanāḥ sukheṣu vigataspṛhaḥ | vītarāgabhayakrodhaḥ sthita- dhīrmunirucyate) || 2.56; पुण्यः शब्दो मुनिरिति मुहुः केवलं राजपूर्वः (puṇyaḥ śabdo muniriti muhuḥ kevalaṃ rājapūrvaḥ) Ś.2.15; R.1.8;3.49.

2) Name of the sage Agastya.

3) Of Vyāsa; Mb.6.119.4.

4) Of Buddha.

5) of Pāṇini.

6) Name of several plants (piyālu, parāśara and damanaka).

7) The internal conscience (according to Kull. on Ms.8.91 'the Supreme Spirit').

8) The mango-tree.

9) The number 'seven'. -pl. The seven sages.

Derivable forms: muniḥ (मुनिः).

Muni (मुनि).—m.

(-niḥ) 1. A holy sage, a pious and learned person, endowed with more or less of a divine nature, or having attained it by rigid abstraction and mortification; the title is applied to the Rishis, the Brahmadikas, and to a great number of persons distinguished for their writings, considered as inspired, as Panini, Vyasa, &c. 2. An ascetic, a devotee. 3. An Arhat or Jaina deified teacher. 4. The saint Agastya. 5. The Palaśh tree, (Butea frondosa.) 6. Another tree, (Buchanania latifolia.) E. man to be revered, Unadi aff. in, and u substituted for the radical vowel.

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