Pavani, Pāvanī, Pāvani, Pavaṉi, Pavāṉi, Pāvaṉi: 12 definitions
Introduction:
Pavani means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, 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 Pavni.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Source: Wisdom Library: Āyurveda and botanyPāvanī (पावनी) is another name for Tulasī, which is a Sanskrit word referring to Ocimum tenuiflorum (holy basil), from the Lamiaceae family. It is classified as a medicinal plant in the system of Āyurveda (science of Indian medicine) and is used throughout literature such as the Suśrutasaṃhita and the Carakasaṃhitā. The synonym was identified in the Rājanighaṇṭu (verses 10.148-149), which is a 13th century medicinal thesaurus.

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 TranslationPāvanī (पावनी) refers to “that which is sanctified”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.54 (“Description of the duties of the chaste wife”).—Accordingly, as a Brahmin lady said to Pārvatī: “[...] Wherever the chaste lady sets her foot, the sin is dispelled therefrom and the place is sanctified (su-pāvanī). Even the sun, moon and wind touch the chaste woman to sanctify themselves and not otherwise. Waters desire the touch of the chaste lady thinking—‘Now our sluggishness is gone. Now we are able to purify others’. [...]”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexPāvanī (पावनी).—Nandā, one of the three branches of the Gangā going to the east;1 wife of Havyavāhana.2
- 1) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 12. 16; 18. 40, 56-7; Matsya-purāṇa 121. 40; 122. 31; Vāyu-purāṇa 47. 38 and 53.
- 2) Ib. 29. 14.

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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama TextsPāvanī (पावनी) or Pāvanīmudrā refers to one of the 37 Mudrās (hand-gestures) described in chapter 7 of the Viṣṇusaṃhitā: a Sanskrit text written in 2600 verses which covers typical Pāñcarātra topics through a narrative dialogue between Aupagāyana and Siddha Sumati.—[Cf. the chapter mudrā-lakṣaṇa].

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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Shodhganga: Saudarya Lahari of Sri Sankara A StudyPāvanī (पावनी) refers to one of the 62 rays of the Maṇipūra-Cakra which (together with the 54 rays of the Anāhata) are associated with the solar plane called Viṣṇugranthi, according to Śaṅkarācārya’s Saudaryalaharī.—Accordingly, the Goddess is visualised (by Sādhaka) as dwelling above the six Ādhāracakras ruling over the 360 rays which emanate in them [e.g., Pāvanī]. These 360 rays represent 360 syllables (i.e., a consummation of the śabdaprapañca or 50 alphabets) as well as the principles of nature. For the 360 syllables, together with haṃ and saḥ, Nyāsa should be performed for Śrīcakrapūjā.

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 Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van Svayambhūdeva’s PaümacariuPāvani (पावनि) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Pāvani] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

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 Dictionarypāvaṇī (पावणी).—f C An auction. 2 W (pāvaṇa) An escort of peons or a protecting pass taken on a journey.
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 dictionaryPāvanī (पावनी).—
1) The holy basil.
2) A cow.
3) The river Ganges.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Pavanī (पवनी):—[from pavana > pava] f. a broom, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
2) [v.s. ...] the wild citron-tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] ([varia lectio] pacanī)
3) [v.s. ...] Name of a river, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
4) Pāvanī (पावनी):—[from pāvana > pāva] f. Terminalia Chebula, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
5) [v.s. ...] holy basil, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] a cow, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) [v.s. ...] Name of a river, [Mahābhārata; Rāmāyaṇa]
8) [v.s. ...] the Ganges or the goddess Gaṅgā, [Horace H. Wilson]
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 dictionaryPāvanī (पावनी) [Also spelled pavni]:—(a) that which purifies/sanctifies (as [patitapāvanī]).
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPāvani (ಪಾವನಿ):—
1) [noun] a son of the Wind-God (Hanumanta or Bhīmasēna).
2) [noun] (mus.) the forty first of the seventy two main modes in Karnāṭaka system.
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 LexiconPavaṉi (பவனி) noun perhaps from T. bavani. Procession, riding in state, parade, as of a prince or deity; உலாவருகை. [ulavarugai.] (தனிப்பாடற்றிரட்டு [thanippadarrirattu] ii, 159, 397.)
--- OR ---
Pavāṉi (பவானி) noun < bhavānī.
1. Pārvatī; பார்வதி. (பிங்கலகண்டு) [parvathi. (pingalagandu)]
2. A tributary of the Kāvēri; காவிரியிற் கலப்பதோர் உபநதி. [kaviriyir kalappathor upanathi.]
--- OR ---
Pāvaṉi (பாவனி) noun (Music) A primary rāga; மேளகர்த்தாக்களு ளொன்று. [melagarthakkalu lonru.] (சங். சந். [sang. san.] 47.)
Tamil is an ancient language of India from the Dravidian family spoken by roughly 250 million people mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Pavanige, Pavanike, Pavanikkatal, Pavanikkutai, Pavanimudra, Pavanipo, Pavanisu, Pavaniva, Pavanivaranam, Pavanivirtti, Pavaniya.
Full-text (+21): Vishvapavani, Bhuvanapavani, Kankapavani, Pavanipo, Antarapavani, Pavaniva, Pavanikkutai, Pavanikkatal, Pavini, Pavanimudra, Pavamani, Adivasu, Nippavani, Supavani, Shaimimandalakoshtha, Indradvipasamudra, Indradyumnasara, Kraturaja, Pavni, Madhyamagrama.
Relevant text
Search found 45 books and stories containing Pavani, Paavani, Pavaani, Pāvanī, Pāvaṇī, Pāvani, Pavanī, Pavaṉi, Pavāṉi, Pāvaṉi; (plurals include: Pavanis, Paavanis, Pavaanis, Pāvanīs, Pāvaṇīs, Pāvanis, Pavanīs, Pavaṉis, Pavāṉis, Pāvaṉis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Tirumantiram by Tirumular (English translation)
Verse 2620: Realize the Truth that Jiva is Siva < [Tantra Eight (ettam tantiram) (verses 2122-2648)]
Historical Elements in the Matsya Purana (by Chaitali Kadia)
The River Gaṅgā or Ganges < [Chapter 4 - Geographical history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
Saptadvīpa (2): Śakadvīpa < [Chapter 4 - Geographical history in the Matsya-Purāṇa]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 4.19.11 < [Chapter 19 - A Thousand Names of Srī Yamunā]
Verse 2.3.25 < [Chapter 3 - Description of the Yamunā’s Arrival]
Verse 2.3.22 < [Chapter 3 - Description of the Yamunā’s Arrival]
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
Brahmanda Purana (by G.V. Tagare)
Chapter 12 - The race of Agni < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
Chapter 18 - Description of the Jambūdvīpa < [Section 2 - Anuṣaṅga-pāda]
Chapter 61 - A dissertation on Music < [Section 3 - Upodghāta-pāda]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 10.22 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]