Concept
Bhagavan
Overview
The word Bhagavan (Sanskrit: भगवान्, romanized: Bhagavān; Pali: Bhagavā), also spelt as Bhagwan (sometimes translated in English as "Lord", "God"), is an epithet within Indian religions used to denote figures of religious worship. In Hinduism it is used to signify a deity or an avatar, particularly for Krishna and Vishnu in Vaishnavism, Shiva in Shaivism and Durga or Adi Shakti in Shaktism. In Jainism the term refers to the Tirthankaras, and in Buddhism to the Buddha.
In many parts of India and South Asia, Bhagavan represents the concept of a universal God or Divine to Hindus who are spiritual and religious but do not worship a specific deity.
In bhakti school literature, the term is typically used for any deity to whom prayers are offered. A particular deity is often the devotee's one and only Bhagavan. The female equivalent of Bhagavān is Bhagavatī. To some Hindus, the word Bhagavan is an abstract, genderless concept of God.
In Buddhism's Pali and Sanskrit scriptures, the term is used to denote The Buddha, referring him as Bhagavā or Bhagavān (translated with the phrase "Lord" or "The Blessed One"). The term Bhagavan is also found in Theravada, Mahayana and Tantra Buddhist texts.
Overview adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0; see the article history for authors).
Possible passages
Found by search and not yet checked by a person; they may only mention the idea in passing.
There was also a name of forty-two letters known among them. Every intelligent person knows that one word of forty-two letters is impossible. But it was a phrase of several words which had together forty-two letters. There is no doubt that the words had such a meaning as to convey a correct notion of the essence of God, in the way we have stated. This phrase of so many letters is called a name because, like other…
Moses Maimonides, The guide for the perplexed
States what Bhagavan is.
On the other hand, the names which signify essence in an adjectival manner are predicated of the three persons plurally, by reason of the plurality of _supposita._ For we say there are three "existent" or three "wise" beings, or three "eternal," "uncreated," and "immense" beings, if these terms are understood in an adjectival sense. But if taken in a substantive sense, we say "one uncreated, immense, eternal being,"…
Aquinas Thomas, Summa Theologica, Part I
States what Bhagavan is.
So, when any impression comes on the _chitta_, or “mind stuff,” it vibrates a little. This state of the mind is called the _manas_. Then comes the reaction, the will. There is another thing behind this will which accompanies all the acts of the mind, which is called egoism, the _ahamkâra_, the self-consciousness, which says “I am,” and behind that is what is called _Buddhi_, the intellect, the highest form of…
Swami Vivekananda, Jnâna Yoga, Part II
States what Bhagavan is.
Philosophers who discussed Bhagavan
Related ideas
- Durga
- Avatar
- Tirthankara
- Bhagavata Purana
- Ishvara
- Hinduism
- Hindus
- Indian religions
- Vedas
- Jainism
- Bhagavata Sampradaya
- International Society for Krishna Consciousness
- Buddhahood
- Bhakti
- Veneration
- Vishnu
- Rama
- Mahabharata
- Brahman
- Nirvana
- South Asia
- Taxila
- Bhagavad Gita
- Mahavira
Place in the tradition
Part of Vedanta.