Shabdabrahman, Śabdabrahman, Shabda-brahman: 10 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
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Introduction:

Shabdabrahman means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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.

The Sanskrit term Śabdabrahman can be transliterated into English as Sabdabrahman or Shabdabrahman, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्) represents the “mystic syllable Om”, as explained in the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.8:—“[...] Viṣṇu thus meditated on the universal soul enveloped by the two Vedic sounds and wished to examine the source whence the Fire-column arose and to go deep down the unequalled fiery column. Then there came a sage who told him the essence of the truth. Viṣṇu realised that the sage himself was the great lord and the supreme Brahman embodied in the Śabda Brahman. (i.e. the mystic syllable Om). The Brahman is Rudra free from worries. The words and the mind are incapable of comprehending it; without reaching it they return. It can be expressed by the single-syllabled mantra ‘Om’”.

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्) refers to the “Sound Absolute”, according to the Tantric texts such as the Kubjikāmata-tantra, the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.

2) Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्) or simply Śabda refers to one of the two types of Brahman to be meditated upon, according to the Maitryupaniṣad.—Accordingly, “Verily there are two Brahmans to be meditated upon: sound (śabda) and non-sound (aśabda). Now non-sound is revealed only by sound. Now, in this case the Sound-Brahman is OṂ. Ascending by it, one comes to an end in non-sound... This is immortality... As a spider mounting up by means of his thread (tantu) obtains free space, thus, assuredly, indeed, does that meditator, mounting up by means of OṂ, obtain independence (svātantrya).... Passing beyond this variously characterized Sound-Brahman, men disappear into the supreme, the non-sound, the unmanifest Brahman”.

context information

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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Source: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama Texts

Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्) refers to “the Lord as source of all sound”, as discussed in chapter 14 of the Viśvāmitrasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text comprising some 2600 Sanskrit verses covering topics such as initiation (dīkṣā) and the construction, decoration and consecration of temples and icons, as well as routines of regular and special worship cycles.—Description of the chapter [pratiṣṭhā-vidhi]: Viśvāmitra undertakes to speak now about pratiṣṭhā-installation rites. [...] After some other rites, prokṣaṇa-sprinklings are done throughout the entire temple and its precincts (63-88a). (The icon is once again put to rest? and) the Ācārya-priest comes to the icon’s feet for dhyāna-meditations—on the Lord as Source of all Sound [śabdabrahman] and as Highest Being [brahman] (88b-114a). Thereupon recitations from Vedic scriptures are done, followed by mūrtihoma-libations and some other rituals concluded by bali-offerings (1146-130a).

context information

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्).—n.

1) the Vedas; शब्द- ब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति (śabda- brahmaṇi niṣṇātaḥ paraṃ brahmādhigacchati) Maitra. Up.6.22.

2) spiritual knowledge consisting in words, knowledge of the Supreme Sprit or the Spirit itself; शब्दब्रह्मणस्तादृशं विवर्तमितिहासम् (śabdabrahmaṇastādṛśaṃ vivartamitihāsam) Uttararāmacarita 2;7.2.

3) a property of words called स्फोट (sphoṭa) q. v.

Śabdabrahman is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śabda and brahman (ब्रह्मन्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्).—n. (-hma) Inspired writ, the Vedas as uncreated and identifiable with the Supreme Spirit. E. śabda, and brahman the supreme.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्).—n. holy writ, Veda, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 37, 3; cf. 36, 11.

Śabdabrahman is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms śabda and brahman (ब्रह्मन्).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्).—[neuter] the sacred scriptures (lit. the Word-Brahman).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्):—[=śabda-brahman] [from śabda > śabd] n. ‘word-brahman’, the Veda considered as a revealed sound or word and identified with the Supreme, [Maitrī-upaniṣad; Purāṇa]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Śabdabrahman (शब्दब्रह्मन्):—(hma) 5. n. The Vedas.

[Sanskrit to German]

Shabdabrahman in German

context information

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.

Relevant text

Search found 35 books and stories containing Shabdabrahman, Śabdabrahman, Shabda-brahman, Śabda-brahman, Sabdabrahman, Sabda-brahman; (plurals include: Shabdabrahmans, Śabdabrahmans, brahmans, Sabdabrahmans). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 3.2.11 < [Book 3 - Pada-kāṇḍa (2): Dravya-samuddeśa (On Substance)]

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5. The concept of Kundalini (the static form of all creative energy) < [Chapter 5 - Exposition of Thought science, Tantra and Mantra]

2. Evolution of the World of Things (Artha-prapancaka) < [Chapter 5 - Exposition of Thought science, Tantra and Mantra]

4.4. Prana and Tridosa < [Chapter 3 - Scientific exposition of Nadi, Hridaya, Kosa and Prana]

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7. The Lord, conceived as Shabda-brahman < [Chapter 4 - The Process of Diksha]

14. The concepts of Mantras < [Chapter 1 - Introduction]

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Chapter XXIV - Śakti as Mantra (Mantramayi Śakti) < [Section 3 - Ritual]

Chapter XIX - Creation as explained in the non-Dualist Tantras < [Section 2 - Doctrine]

Chapter XXV - Varṇamālā (the Garland of Letters) < [Section 3 - Ritual]