Ratri, aka: Rātrī, Rātri; 6 Definition(s)
Introduction
Ratri means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
The word Rātri (night) is symbolically derived from the root rā “to give,” and is taken to mean “the giver” of bliss, of peace, of happiness.
Source: Red Zambala: The 10 Great Wisdom Goddesses
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.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Rātrī (रात्री).—Name of a river originating from Ṛkṣa, a holy mountain (kulaparvata) in Bhārata, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 85. There are settlements (janapada) where Āryas and Mlecchas dwell who drink water from these rivers.
Bhārata is a region south of Hemādri, once ruled over by Bharata (son of Ṛṣabha), whose ancestral lineage can be traced back to Svāyambhuva Manu.
2) Rātrī (रात्री).—One of the seven major rivers situated in Krauñcadvīpa, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 88. It is also known by the name Sukhāvahā. Krauñcadvīpa is one of the seven islands (dvīpa), ruled over by Jyotiṣmān, one of the ten sons of Priyavrata, who is the son of Svāyambhuva Manu.
Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.
The Varāhapurāṇa is categorised as a Mahāpurāṇa, and was originally composed of 24,000 metrical verses, possibly originating from before the 10th century. It is composed of two parts and Sūta is the main narrator.
Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇa1a) Rātri (रात्रि).—A river in Krauñcadvīpa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 19. 75; Matsya-purāṇa 122. 88; Vāyu-purāṇa 49. 69; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 4. 55.
1b) A Śakti.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 44. 75.
1c) Pārameśvara; pralaya or destruction at the end of which recurs the creation of the universe.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 5. 2 and 6.
1d) When the Asuras were born to Prajāpati night came into being; ety.; three yāmas of the night are full of darkness—Triyāmikā; then Prajāpati took another guise and created the devas; āsuri of tamas quality;1 no night for the region to the north of Meru and south of Lokāloka as the sun is far removed and the earth is surrounded by the lekha;2 for the Pitṛs is Suklapakṣa;3 enters water in the morning.4
- 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 9. 6-15; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 13. 14.
- 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 50. 108.
- 3) Ib. 51. 11; 57. 9.
- 4) Ib. 53. 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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
rātri (रात्रि).—f (S) Night.
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English DictionaryMarathi 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-English dictionary
Rātri (रात्रि) or Rātrī (रात्री).—f. [rāti sukhaṃ bhayaṃ vā rā-trip vā ṅīp Uṇ.4.69]
1) Night; रात्रिर्गता मतिमतां वर मुञ्च शशथ्याम् (rātrirgatā matimatāṃ vara muñca śaśathyām) R.5.66; दिवा काकरवाद् भीता रात्रौ तरति नर्मदाम् (divā kākaravād bhītā rātrau tarati narmadām).
2) The darkness of night.
3) Turmeric; Mb.13.136.25.
4) One of the four forms or bodies of Brahmā.
5) Day and night; अहःशब्दोऽपि अहोरात्रवचनः । रात्रिशब्दोऽपि (ahaḥśabdo'pi ahorātravacanaḥ | rātriśabdo'pi) ŚB. on MS.8.1.16; यां रात्रिं जायते जीवो यां रात्रिं च विनश्यति (yāṃ rātriṃ jāyate jīvo yāṃ rātriṃ ca vinaśyati) Mb.13.9.4.
Derivable forms: rātriḥ (रात्रिः).
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryRātri (रात्रि).—f. (-triḥ-trī) Night, the darkness of night. E. rā to give, (pleasure or rest,) trip Unadi aff., ṅīp optionally added.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionarySanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family. 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.
Relevant definitions
Search found 97 related definition(s) that might help you understand this better. Below you will find the 15 most relevant articles:
| Kalaratri | Kālarātri (कालरात्रि).—m. (-triḥ) 1. A particular night, one which occurs on the 7th day of the... | |
| Shivaratri | Śivarātri (शिवरात्रि) is the name of a festival that once existed in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) ... | |
| Navaratri | Navarātri.—(EI 11, 25; CII 4), the festival of Durgā; Āśvina-sudi 1 to 9. Note: navarātri is de... | |
| Brahmaratri | Brahmarātri (ब्रह्मरात्रि).—m. (-triḥ) 1. A name of Yajnyavalkya, a saint and legislator. E. br... | |
| Ratripushpa | Rātripuṣpa (रात्रिपुष्प).—n. (-ṣpaṃ) A lotus-flower opening at night. | |
| Ratrijala | Rātrijala (रात्रिजल).—n. (-laṃ) Dew, mist, fog. E. rātri night, and jala water. | |
| Ratrivigama | Rātrivigama (रात्रिविगम).—m. (-maḥ) Dawn, day-light. E. rātri night, vigama stop, cessation. | |
| Shesharatri | Śeṣarātri (शेषरात्रि).—f. (-triḥ) The last watch of the night. E. śeṣa the remainder, and rātri... | |
| Ratrivasas | Rātrivāsas (रात्रिवासस्).—n. (-saḥ) 1. Night-dress. 2. Darkness. E. rātri night, and vāsas vest... | |
| Ratrimani | Rātrimaṇi (रात्रिमणि).—m. (-ṇiḥ) The moon. E. rātri night, maṇi a jewel. | |
| Ratrihindaka | Rātrihiṇḍaka (रात्रिहिण्डक).—m. (-kaḥ) A guard of the interior or women’s apartments. E. rātri,... | |
| Sukharatri | Sukharātri (सुखरात्रि).—(very rare in Sanskrit, and seemingly not in this meaning, see BR; not ... | |
| Yaksharatri | Yakṣarātri (यक्षरात्रि).—f. (-triḥ) The night of the day of full moon in the month of Kartika: ... | |
| Ratryata | Rātryaṭa (रात्र्यट).—m. (-ṭaḥ) 1. An imp, a goblin. 2. A ghost. 3. A thief. 4. A nightwalker. E... | |
| Ratriveda | Rātriveda (रात्रिवेद).—m. (-daḥ) A cock. E. rātri night, veda who knows, its measure or duratio... |
Relevant text
Search found 26 books and stories containing Ratri, Rātrī or Rātri. You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brihad Bhagavatamrita (by Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.81 < [Chapter 1 - Vairāgya: Renunciation]
Verse 1.7.107 < [Chapter 7 - Purna: The Complete Perfection]
Śrī Kṛṣṇa-vijaya (by Śrī Gunaraja Khan)
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter LVI - Enumeration of the names of princes of the continent of Plaksha, etc. < [Agastya Samhita]
Chapter XL - Maheshvara worship < [Agastya Samhita]
Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.1.213 < [Part 1 - Ecstatic Excitants (vibhāva)]