Venu, aka: Veṇu, Veṇū; 19 Definition(s)

Introduction

Venu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Veṇu (वेणु): a Musical Instrument.—The Ṛgveda mentions Vāṇa and Das. suggests the Veṇu might have been a later corruption of Vāṇa. But there is no definite opinion on this point. In the Jātakas, however, the Veṇu or flute is found to be a popular wind instrument. The epics also mention Veṇu. The Vāyu-purāṇa associates it with the Kurus already mentioned above.

Veṇu (वेणु) refers to a “musical instruments” that existed in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) as mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—The Nīlamata says that the land of Kaśmīra was thronged with ever-sportive and joyful people enjoying continuous festivities. Living amidst scenes of sylvan beauty they played, danced and sang to express their joys, to mitigate their pains, to please their gods and to appease their demons.

The Nīlamata refers to Veṇu once only in connection with the celebrations of the Awakening of god Viṣṇu.

Veṇu (वेणु).—Flute;¹ in Rāma's abhiṣeka;² in Pātālam.³

• 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 45. 40; 56. 32; 104. 48; Viṣṇu-purāṇa II. 14. 32.
• 2) Ib. IV. 4. 99.
• 3) Ib. II. 5. 11.

Veṇū (वेणू) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.48.2) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Veṇū) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

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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.

Shilpashastra (iconography)

Muraḷi or Veṇu (वेणु) is a flute made, as its name indicates, from a thin and hollow bamboo. In a piece of bamboo, suitably chosen holes are bored in proper places. By blowing in the hole which is near to the closed end and stopping one or more of the other holes with the fingers as required, music of a very high standard of perfection is often elicited from this simple instrument.

Venu or Murali refers to a type of musical instrument, representing one of the several “attributes” (āyudha) or “accessories” of a detiy commonly seen depicted in Hindu iconography, defined according to texts dealing with śilpa (arts and crafs), known as śilpaśāstras.—Venu or Murali is a flute made, as its name indicates, from a thin and hollow bamboo. In a piece of bamboo, suitably chosen, holes are bored in proper places. By blowing in the hole which is near the closed end and stopping one or more of the other holes with the fingers as required, music of a very high standard of perfection is often elicited from this simple instrument.

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Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Veṇu (वेणु) refers to one of the thirty-three alaṃkāras (embellishments), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 29. These alaṃkāras, or, ‘embellishments of song’, depend upon the four types of varṇas, which refers to a specific order of musical notes (svara). They are attached to the songs of seven forms, although not generally used in the dhruvās.

According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “veṇu is that in which the tempo (laya) is playlike”.

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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).

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Veṇu (वेणु) refers to one of the ten kinds of sounds (śabda) according to the Padārthādarśā of Rāghavabhaṭṭa, the Matsyendrasaṃhitā and the Haṃsa-upaniṣad.

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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.

Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)

Veṇu (वेणु) refers to “bamboo” and represents one of the seven forest-products that are fit for oblation according to verse 25.59 of the Īśvarasaṃhitā, dealing with the classification of the places for building the fire-pits (kuṇḍa). Accordingly, “bamboo (veṇu), śyāmāka, nīvāra (wild gram), jartila, gavīdhuka, karkaṭa and kanaka are the seven which grow in the forest. Śāli is important among them. Others are to be taken in its absence, or that of others”.

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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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Veṇu (वेणु) in the Atharvaveda and later denotes a ‘reed’ of bamboo. It is described in the Taittirīya-saṃhitā as ‘hollow’ (su-ṣira). In the Rigveda it occurs only in a Vālakhilya hymn in a Dānastuti (‘praise of gifts’), where Roth thinks that ‘ flutes of reed ’ are meant, a sense which Veṇu has in the later texts. The Kauṣītaki-brāhmaṇa couples Veṇu with Sasya, stating that they ripen in Vasanta, ‘spring’. Apparently bamboo reeds are meant.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

A river in Ceylon, on the way from Anuradhapura to Dakkhinadesa. It lay between the Tissavapi and Jajjaranadi. VibhA. p. 446.

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Veṇu (वेणु) refers to one of the four bodhivṛkṣadevatās “deity of the Bodhi-tree” according to the according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter VI). In the Lalitavistara the bodhivṛkṣadevatās are four in number: Veṇu, Valgu, Sumanas and Ojāpati. In the same place, there is a detailed description of the bodhi tree.

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Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

India history and geogprahy

Venu, Vamsa or Kicaka is the name of a tree mentioned in the Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva (10th century A.D).—Venu refers to the “Bamboo-tree” and its woods in the Vindhya mountains and great and marvellous forests on the Hemakuta peak of the Himalaya mountain are mentioned.

Somadeva mentions many rich forests, gardens, various trees (eg., Venu), creepers medicinal and flowering plants and fruit-bearing trees in the Kathasaritsagara. Travel through the thick, high, impregnable and extensive Vindhya forest is a typical feature of many travel-stories. Somadeva’s writing more or less reflects the life of the people of Northern India during the 11th century. His Kathasaritsagara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Venu, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravahanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyadharas (celestial beings).

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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

veṇu : (m.) bamboo.

Veṇu, (cp. Vedic veṇu. Another P, form is veḷu (q. v.)) bamboo; occurs only in cpds. e.g. —°gumba thicket of bamboo DhA. I, 177; —°tinduka the tree Diospyros J. V, 405 (=timbaru C.); —°daṇḍaka jungle-rope J. III, 204; —°bali a tax to be paid in bamboo (by bamboo workers) DhA. I, 177; °-vana bamboo forest J. V, 38. (Page 647)

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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

vēṇu (वेणु).—m S A bamboo. 2 A bamboo flute or pipe.

vēṇu (वेणु).—m Bamboo; a bamboo flute or pipe.

Sanskrit-English dictionary

Veṇu (वेणु).—[veṇ-uṇ Uṇ.3.38]

1) A bamboo; मलयेऽपि स्थितो वेणुर्वेणुरेव न चन्दनम् (malaye'pi sthito veṇurveṇureva na candanam) Subhāṣ; R.12.41.

2) A reed, cane; प्राप्तापराधास्ताड्याः स्यू रज्ज्वा वेणुदलेन वा (prāptāparādhāstāḍyāḥ syū rajjvā veṇudalena vā) Ms.8.299.

3) A flute, pipe; वेणुं क्वणन्तीं क्रीडन्तीम् (veṇuṃ kvaṇantīṃ krīḍantīm) Bhāg.1.3.18; नामसमेतं कृतसंकेतं वादयते मृदु वेणुम् (nāmasametaṃ kṛtasaṃketaṃ vādayate mṛdu veṇum) Gīt.5.

4) A banner;. त्रिवेणुं पञ्चबन्धुरम् (triveṇuṃ pañcabandhuram) (ratham) Bhāg.4.26.1; cf. त्रिवेणु (triveṇu).

Derivable forms: veṇuḥ (वेणुः).

Veṇu (वेणु).—n. of one of the 4 devatās of the bodhivṛkṣa: LV 278.10.

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