Prayojana: 26 definitions
Introduction:
Prayojana means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, 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 Prayojan.
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In Hinduism
Nyaya (school of philosophy)
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) refers to “purpose”. It is one of the sixteen categories of discussion (padārtha) according to the doctrine of the Nyāya-sūtras by Akṣapāda. The sixteen padārthas represent a method of intellectual analysis and categorize everything that is knowable and nameable.
Prayojana (प्रयोजन, “aim”) refers to the fourth of the sixteen padārthas (“categories”) in the first chapter of Gautama’s Nyāyasūtra (2nd century CE). Every one acts according to one’s purpose or aim. One acts either to obtain desirable objects or to reject undesirable ones. Gautama defines it as for which one acts. For example, a man brings rice for the purpose of food. This is prayojana.
Nyaya (न्याय, nyaya) refers to a school of Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. The Nyaya philosophy is known for its theories on logic, methodology and epistemology, however, it is closely related with Vaisheshika in terms of metaphysics.
Mīmāṃsā (school of philosophy)
1) Prayojana (प्रयोजन) refers to one of the four criteria every Tantric or Yogic text must include.—Prayojana is a statement of its purpose or objective.
2) Prayojana (प्रयोजन, “purpose”) refers to one of the various tools used by authors displaying their skill in the art of writing.—Whenever an author composes a work he/she has a purpose (prayojana) in mind. A particular message which the author wants to convey to others. Sometimes it is a well thought out concept and sometimes vague. When reading a passage try to discover what the general purpose of the author is and do not be distracted by the rhetoric which may be used in it’s articulation.
Mimamsa (मीमांसा, mīmāṃsā) refers to one of the six orthodox Hindu schools of philosophy, emphasizing the nature of dharma and the philosophy of language. The literature in this school is also known for its in-depth study of ritual actions and social duties.
Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)
Prayojana (प्रयोजन).—Object, motive or purpose in undertaking a particular thing; the word is used although rarely, in the sense of a cause also; cf. इमान्यस्य प्रयोजनानि अध्येयं व्याकरणम् (imānyasya prayojanāni adhyeyaṃ vyākaraṇam) M. Bh. Ahnika 1. For the advantages of the study of Vyakarana, see M. Bh. Ahnika 1. See also Vyakarana Mahabhasya Vol. VII pp.226,227, D.E. Society's edition.
Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Prayojana (प्रयोजन):—[prayojanaṃ] Statements which specifies the main idea, chief purpose of a particular science or method; Objective for which the actions are initiated or for which various measured are adopted.
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)
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) refers to “purpose”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.12.—Accordingly, as Śiva said to Himācala (i.e., Himālaya): “This auspicious slender-bodied maiden of comely hips and moon-like face should not be brought near me. I forbid you again and again. A woman is a phase of illusion. As the scholars who have mastered the Vedas say particularly, a young damsel is a hindrance to ascetics. O mountain, I am an ascetic, a Yogin, never affected by illusion. Of what avail [i.e., prayojana] is a woman thrust on me? [...]”.
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.
Shaiva philosophy
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) refers to the “goal (of human practice)”, according to Utpaladeva’s Vivṛti on Īśvarapratyabhijñākārikā 1.5.6.—Accordingly, “[...] Ordinary human practice [can even occur] with an object such as the sense organs, or heaven and liberation, although [these always remain] beyond the reach of the sense organs, [but] only inasmuch as they are [somehow] manifest in the concept [representing them]. And [since it is] so, being an object is nothing but having a form that is [presently] being manifest, and the goal (prayojana) [of human practice] only concerns what is merely such [and nothing beyond manifestation]”
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) refers to the “motivation” (of a particular treatise within the broader Śaiva tradition), according to Bhaṭṭa Rāmakaṇṭha’s 10th-century Tattvatrayanirṇayavivṛti—a commentary on the 7th-century Tattvatrayanirṇaya by Sadyojyoti which discusses philosophical aspects of Śiva including the theories of Puruṣas (souls), Māyā (primal matter) and Mala (the innate impurity afflicting souls).—Accordingly, [before the commentary on verse 2]: “Now, immediately after the offering of homage, the connection [with Śaiva scripture], the subject-matter and the motivation (prayojana) of this work [are given], necessarily together with [mention of] the qualification of certain particular persons [for studying it]”.
[Commentary on verse 2]: “[...] Saying [that this is] for the benefit of those of slow of intellect who are specifically initiated inside this tantric system, [he conveys that] the work is targeted at particular persons qualified to study it and is thereby a statement of the motivation (prayojana-kathana) of this work”.
Shaiva philosophy is a spritiual tradition within Hinduism that includes theories such as the relationship between the Atman (individual soul) and Siva, the nature of liberation (moksha), and the concepts of maya (illusion) and shakti (divine energy). Saiva philosophy teaches that union with Shiva can be achieved through knowledge, devotion, and spiritual practice. It encompasses major branches like Shaiva Siddhanta and Kashmir Shaivism.
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) refers to “purpose”, according to Kṣemarāja’s commentary on the Svacchandatantra verse 4.142a.—Accordingly, “He should not purify the [portion of karma] which is for the future propitiation of mantras for the purpose of supernatural powers (bhūti-prayojana); this is the meaning”.
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.
Shyanika-shastra (the science of Hawking and Hunting)
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) refers to the “necessity” (of writing a book), according to the Śyainika-śāstra: a Sanskrit treatise dealing with the divisions and benefits of Hunting and Hawking, written by Rājā Rudradeva (or Candradeva) in possibly the 13th century.—Accordingly, “[...] Though the delights of hunting are well known even to men of no intelligence, still hunting affords peculiar delight to the mind of one who knows the science of hawking. Therefore, to heighten that delight, feel the necessity (prayojana) of writing the science of hunting sometimes in detail and sometimes in brief. [...]”.
Shyanika-shastra (श्यैनिकशास्त्र, śyainikaśāstra) deals with ancient Indian skill of hawking/falconry (one of the ways of hunting) which were laid down in a systematic manner in various Sanskrit treatises. It also explains the philosophy behind how the pleasures derived from sense-experience could lead the way to liberation.
In Jainism
Jain philosophy
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) refers to “purpose” (i.e., “that forms the principal factor in all activities”) and represents one of the necessary elements of a literary work, as used in the Anekāntajayapatākā-prakaraṇa, a Śvetāmbara Jain philosophical work written by Haribhadra Sūri.—[Cf. Vol. I, P. 2, l. 12]—‘Prayojana’ means “purpose”. The word ‘ādi’ occurring in ‘prayojanādi’ stands for the other three requisites (anubandhas)—the necessary elements of a literary work viz. adhikārin (the person qualified to study), abhidheya (subject-matter) and sambandha (connection). The adhikārin here is the group of persons already put on a wrong scent by the propounders of absolute one-sideness (ekdāta-vāda) but who are at the same time open to correction. The abhidheya is the refutation of this absolutism (vide p. 9) and establishment of anekānta-vada or the doctrine of ‘many-in-one’ or ‘one-in-many’. The sambandha between the subject (which is here identical with ‘purpose’) and this work, is that of the type of ‘sādhya-sādhana’. The anantara-prayojana (immediate purpose) of the author is the same as abhidheya viz. refutation of the allegations against anekāntavāda, and the paramparā-prayojana (ultimate purpose) is dharma. In the case of the listeners i.e. here students, the immediate purpose is acquisition of the knowledge of this work and that in the end, dharma.
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India history and geography
Prayojana.—(LP), need; cf. drammaiḥ hasta-prāptaiḥ prayojanaṃ jāyate (LP), ‘when there is a necessity of having the money back [before the stated time].’ Note: prayojana is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, 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
Marathi-English dictionary
prayōjana (प्रयोजन).—n (S) Need, necessity, call or occasion for. Ex. jyālā tōṇḍapāṭha yētēṃ tyālā pōthīcēṃ pra0 lāgata nāhīṃ. 2 Reason, ground, occasion. Ex. gurugṛhīṃ rāhaṇyācēṃ pra0 vidyā. 3 A festive occasion and the feasting attendant,--a marriage, thread-investiture &c. 4 Motive, cause, origin.
prayōjana (प्रयोजन).—n Need, necessity. Reason, ground. A festive occasion. Motive.
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
Prayojana (प्रयोजन).—
1) Use, employment, application.
2) Use, need, necessity (with instr. of that which is needed and gename of the user); सर्वैरपि राज्ञां प्रयोजनम् (sarvairapi rājñāṃ prayojanam) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1; बाले किमनेन पृष्टेन प्रयोजनम् (bāle kimanena pṛṣṭena prayojanam) K.144.
3) End, aim, object, purpose; प्रयोजनमनुद्दिश्य न मन्दोऽपि प्रवर्तते (prayojanamanuddiśya na mando'pi pravartate); पुत्रप्रयोजना दाराः पुत्रः पिण्डप्रयोजनः । हितप्रयोजनं मित्रं धनं सर्वप्रयोजनम् (putraprayojanā dārāḥ putraḥ piṇḍaprayojanaḥ | hitaprayojanaṃ mitraṃ dhanaṃ sarvaprayojanam) || Subhās; गुणवत्तापि परप्रयोजना (guṇavattāpi paraprayojanā) R.8.31.
4) A means of attaining; एतच्चतुर्विधं विद्यात् पुरुषार्थप्रयोजनम् (etaccaturvidhaṃ vidyāt puruṣārthaprayojanam) Manusmṛti 7.1.
5) A cause, motive, occasion; दुरधिगमा हि गतिः प्रयोजनानाम् (duradhigamā hi gatiḥ prayojanānām) Kirātārjunīya 1.4.
6) Profit, interest.
7) The signification, sense (of a word); नासमवायात् प्रयोजनेन स्यात् (nāsamavāyāt prayojanena syāt) MS.4.3.31.
Derivable forms: prayojanam (प्रयोजनम्).
Prayojana (प्रयोजन).—n.
(-naṃ) 1. Use, need, necessity, (with an inst.) 2. Cause, occasion. 3. Motive, origin. 4. Purpose, object, intention, design. 5. Profit, interest. 6. Means of attaining. E. pra before, yuj to join, aff. lyuṭ .
Prayojana (प्रयोजन).—i. e. pra-yuj + ana, n. 1. Cause, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] 80, 11; motive, [Pañcatantra] 107, 10. 2. Purpose, design, [Pañcatantra] 58, 2; 240, 15. 3. Use, [Pañcatantra] 5, 5; need, [Hitopadeśa] 54, 20; profit, [Pañcatantra] 88, 10; interest, 114, 22. 4. Means of attaining, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 7, 100.
Prayojana (प्रयोजन).—[neuter] cause, reason, motive, aim, purpose, use of ([instrumental]).
— kiṃ (or bhavatu) prayojanaṃ what is the use of, enough of ([instrumental]); kena prayojanena, kasmai-nāya, (also *[ablative], *[genetive] & *[locative]) the same.
1) Prayojana (प्रयोजन):—[=pra-yojana] [from pra-yuj] n. (ifc. f(ā). ) occasion, object, cause, motive, opportunity, purpose, design, aim, end, [Prātiśākhya; Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] prayojanena, with a particular intention, on purpose, [Mahābhārata]
3) [v.s. ...] na-vaśāt idem, [Pañcatantra]
4) [v.s. ...] kena prayojanena, from what cause or motive ? [Prabodha-candrodaya]
5) [v.s. ...] kasmai prayojanāya, kasmāt prayojanāt, kasya prayojanasya and kasmin prayojane idem, [Kāśikā-vṛtti on Pāṇini 2-3, 27]
6) [v.s. ...] nam ati-√kram, to neglect an opportunity, [Mahābhārata]
7) [v.s. ...] profit, use or need of, necessity for, [Kāvya literature; Pañcatantra] etc. (with [instrumental case], taruṇā kim prayojanam, what is the use of the tree? [Kuvalayānanda]; bhavatv etaiḥ kusumaiḥ prayojanam, let these flowers be used, [Śakuntalā]; with [genitive case] or [dative case] [Kāśikā-vṛtti on Pāṇini 2-3, 27; ii, 3, 72])
8) [v.s. ...] means of attaining, [Manu-smṛti vii, 100]
9) [v.s. ...] (in [philosophy]) a motive for discussing the point in question, [Indian Wisdom, by Sir M. Monier-Williams 64]
Prayojana (प्रयोजन):—(naṃ) 1. n. Cause; object.
Prayojana (प्रयोजन):—(wie eben) n. Veranlassung, Motiv, wirkende Ursache; Zweck, Absicht [Amarakoṣa 3, 4, 15, 88. 18, 119.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1514.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 4, 179.] [Medinīkoṣa Nalopākhyāna 191.] [Halāyudha 5, 81.] [SĀṂKHYAK. 66.] [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 2, 56. 5, 2, 81.] (avamanyante) kṛtārthāśca prayojanam [Spr. 3070.] na vidyate kaveḥ kiṃcidavijñātaṃ prayojanam [Mahābhārata 1, 5805.] avadatsvaṃ prayojanam [7828.] nahi me nyatprayojanam [3, 2971. 13315. 12, 11937.] prayojanaṃ nirvṛttamiva vāse mama [14, 399. 405.] [Harivaṃśa 15711.] bhāvastatra prayojanam [Yājñavalkya’s Gesetzbuch 3, 133.] guru [Spr. 867.] [Śākuntala 28, 10, v. l.] [Vikramorvaśī 80, 11.] [Sāhityadarpana 13.] etaccaturvidhapuruṣārthaprayojanam [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 7, 100.] vṛthā janmaprayojanam [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 121, 10. 125, 45.] na khalu prayojanaṃ kāraṇaṃ vā vilokya māyā pravartate [Prabodhacandrodaja 15, 11. 64, 12.] [Suśruta 1, 3, 5. 24, 15. 2, 1, 8.] kramaḥ smṛtiprayojanaḥ [Prātiśākhya zur Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 4, 179.] [Prātiśākha zum Atharvaveda 4, 114. 119.] [KAṆ. 6, 2, 1. 10, 2, 8.] [Vedānta lecture] [No.5, 17. Vārttika von Kātyāyana.] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 5, 4, 68.] [Patañjali] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 1, 1, 62. 2, 4, 66. 3, 1, 11] (in der ed. Calc.) Kār. zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 18.] [Kāśikīvṛtti] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 1, 1, 56. Scholiast] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 15 und 1, 1, 68, Vārttika von Kātyāyana. 4.] [Madhusūdanasarasvatī’s Prasthānabheda] in [Weber’s Indische Studien 1, 14, 4. 16, 14. 18, 5. 21, 8. 10.] putraprayojanā dārāḥ putraḥ piṇḍaprayojanaḥ . hitaprayojanaṃ mitraṃ dhanaṃ sarvaprayojanam .. [Spr. 1788.] paraprayojanā für Andere dienend [Raghuvaṃśa 8, 31.] kṛtaprayojanā die ihren Zweck erreicht hat [Kathāsaritsāgara 13, 158.] pratipanna [Rāmāyaṇa 5, 8, 20.] siddhaṃ naḥ prayojanam [Pañcatantra 44, 10.] prayojanena in einer bestimmten Absicht [Mahābhārata 3, 13313.] [Pañcatantra 162, 6.] kena prayojanena in welcher Veranlassung [Prabodhacandrodaja 25, 2.] prayojanavaśāt [Pañcatantra 264, 22.] Mit dem instr. der Sache Nutzen von Etwas: phalasaṃdohaguruṇā taruṇā kiṃ prayojanam [Spr. 2210.] nirdhanena dhaveneha na tu kiṃcitprayojanam [3029.] (mama) na kiṃcidarthena prayojanam mir ist es nicht im Geringsten um Geld zu thun [Pañcatantra 5, 5.] yadā jīvitena prayojanam [162, 6. 256, 12.] [Hitopadeśa 93, 5.] [Vetālapañcaviṃśati 23, 3. 33, 16.] Mit einem gen. oder dat. [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 2, 3, 73,] [Scholiast] — Vgl. niṣprayojana .
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Prayojana (प्रयोजन):—, na tu buddhikṣayātkiṃcidatikrāmetprayojanam man versäume Nichts, was zum Ziele führen könnte, [Mahābhārata 1, 5624.]
Prayojana (प्रयोजन):—n. (adj. Comp. f. ā) Veranlassung , Motiv , wirkende Ursache , Zweck , Endzweck , Ziel , Absicht. nam ati-kram etwas zum Ziele Führendes versäumen. Instr. in einer best. Absicht. kena nena , kiṃ nam ([240,28]) kasmai nāya , kasmāt nāt , kasya nasya und kasmin ne in welcher Veranlassung? weshalb? [231,16.fgg.] Mit einem Instr. Nutzen von , das zu Thun um [317,25.]
Prayojana (प्रयोजन) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Pauṃjaṇa, Pauṃjaṇayā, Pauṃjaṇā, Paoaṇa.
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
1) Prayojana (प्रयोजन) [Also spelled prayojan]:—(nm) purpose; motive, intention; cause; use; ~[vāda / ~vāditā] purposivism; ~[vādī] a purposivist; purposivistic; —[siddhi] achievement/fulfilment of a purpose.
2) Prāyojanā (प्रायोजना):—(nf) a project.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Prayōjana (ಪ್ರಯೋಜನ):—
1) [noun] the act of employing, using or putting into service; use.
2) [noun] an instance of employing or using something.
3) [noun] the condition in which the use of something being inevetable or unavoidable; necessity.
4) [noun] gain or benefit; advantage.
5) [noun] something for which something is done or not done; purpose; intention.
6) [noun] a rich and elaborate meal served to a large number of people.
7) [noun] (nyāya phil.) the motive for discussing the point in question (?).
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
Prayojana (प्रयोजन):—n. 1. use; employment; application; 2. use; need; necessity; 3. end; aim; object; purpose; 4. a cause; motive; occasion;
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)
Partial matches (+0): Pra, Yojana.
Starts with (+0): Prayojanabhava, Prayojanadi, Prayojanakari, Prayojanavant, Prayojanavat, Prayojanavattva.
Full-text (+66): Nishprayojana, Prayojanavat, Siddhaprayojana, Nitprayojanam, Dravyaprayojana, Niyogaprayojana, Kritaprayojana, Atmaprayojana, Prayojanavattva, Samanarthaprayojana, Pratipannaprayojana, Aprayojana, Svaprayojana, Upaprayojana, Paumjana, Prayojan, Bhinda, Smritiprayojana, Samanaprayojana, Gajavinem.
Relevant text
Search found 131 books and stories containing Prayojana, Pra-yojana, Prayōjana, Prāyojanā, Prayojanā; (plurals include: Prayojanas, yojanas, Prayōjanas, Prāyojanās, Prayojanās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
A Descriptive Catalogue of the Sanskrit Manuscripts, Madras (by M. Seshagiri Sastri)
International Ayurvedic Medical Journal
Importance of anubandha chatushtaya for shastrartha gyan < [2024, Issue 05, May]
A comprehensive applicability of anubandha chatushtaya < [2024, Issue 07. July]
A critical review of stress and its effect on agni and associated metabolic disorders < [2022, Issue 07 July]
Analysis of Charaka's Tantrayukti and Vadamarga in Samhita concepts. < [Volume 5, Issue 4: July - August 2018]
Tanmana bhojangatah chitah (pschye and food) < [Volume 7, Suppl 1: September - October 2020]
Role of Twagadi Gutika in Pain Management < [Volume 11, Issue 1: January-February 2024]
Tantra yukti method of theorization in ayurveda < [Volume 22 (issue 3), Jan-Mar 2003]
The scope and nature of ayurveda < [Volume 1 (issue 3), Jan-Mar 1982]
AYURVEDA AND MODERN MEDICE: (A critical study) < [Volume 8 (issue 3-4), Jan-Jun 1989]
Vakyapadiya of Bhartrihari (by K. A. Subramania Iyer)
Verse 2.113 < [Book 2 - Vākya-kāṇḍa]
Verse 3.2.14 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (2): Dravya-samuddeśa (On Substance)]
Verse 2.1-2 < [Book 2 - Vākya-kāṇḍa]