Purohita: 27 definitions
Introduction:
Purohita means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Buddhism, Pali, 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 Purohit.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�) refers to the 鈥�(chief) priest鈥�, according to the 艢ivapur膩峁嘺 2.3.7.鈥擜ccordingly, after the Goddess (Um膩/艢iv膩) incarnated as P膩rvat墨 by becoming the daughter of Men膩:鈥斺�淸...] The superintendent of the harem immediately informed the king about the birth of P膩rvat墨 which was pleasant and conducive to the work of the gods. To the superintendent of the harem who brought the news, there was nothing which the king could not give even including his royal white umbrella. Accompanied by the chief priest [i.e., sa-purohita] and learned brahmins, the lord of mountains came there and saw the child who shone in her lovely clothes. [...]鈥�.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana IndexPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�).鈥擮f the Asuras;1 versed in the Atharvan rites; performed homa prior to Rukmin墨's marriage;2 of the king;3 does expiatory ceremonies to ward off evils to the state.4
- 1) Bh膩gavata-pur膩峁嘺 VII. 5. 1.
- 2) Ib. X. 53; 12.
- 3) Brahm膩峁囜笉a-pur膩峁嘺 II. 29. 76; III. 26. 22; 27, 30; V膩yu-pur膩峁嘺 57. 70; 90, 72; 101. 81; Vi峁ａ箛u-pur膩峁嘺 V. 34. 29; VI. 6. 26.
- 4) Matsya-pur膩峁嘺 229. 12; 230. 9-11; 231. 9.
The Purana (啶啶班ぞ啶�, pur膩峁嘺s) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India鈥檚 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.
Arthashastra (politics and welfare)
: Shodhganga: Kakati Ganapatideva and his times (artha)Purohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�, 鈥減riest鈥�) is an official title designating one of the seventy-two officers (niyoga) of the B膩hattaraniyog膩dhipati circle, according to the Inscriptional glossary of Andhra Pradesh (艢膩sana-艣abdako艣膩mu). The 产腻丑补迟迟补谤补苍颈测辞驳补-补诲丑颈辫补迟颈 is the highest executive officer of this circle (including a Purohita). For example: During the reign of 骋补峁嘺辫补迟颈诲别惫补, the area extending between P膩nagal to M膩rjav膩岣峣 was entrusted to Ga峁囜笉ape峁囜笉膩ru Gangayas膩hi峁噄 as B膩hattaraniyog膩dhipati. Later on, this office was entrusted to K膩yastha Jannigadeva.
: Brill: 艢aivism and the Tantric Traditions (artha)Purohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�) refers to a 鈥渃haplain鈥�, according to the Artha艣膩stra verse 1.9.9-10.鈥擜ccordingly, 鈥淗e should appoint as chaplain (purohita) a man who comes from a very distinguished family and has an equally distinguished character, who is thoroughly trained in the Veda together with the limbs, in divine omens, and in government, and who could counteract divine and human adversities through Atharvan means. He should follow him as a pupil his teacher, a son his father, and a servant his master鈥�.
Arthashastra (啶呧ぐ啷嵿ぅ啶多ぞ啶膏啶む啶�, artha艣膩stra) literature concerns itself with the teachings (shastra) of economic prosperity (artha) statecraft, politics and military tactics. The term arthashastra refers to both the name of these scientific teachings, as well as the name of a Sanskrit work included in such literature. This book was written (3rd century BCE) by by Kautilya, who flourished in the 4th century BCE.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�) (Cf. N峁沺apurohita) refers to the 鈥渞oyal chaplain鈥�, according to the B峁沨atsa峁僪it膩 (chapter 3), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Var膩hamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyoti峁).鈥擜ccordingly, 鈥淚f, when the rays are turned away from the earth the colour of the sun be that of copper the commander-in-chief [i.e., 蝉别苍腻辫补迟颈] dies; if it be green or yellow the king鈥檚 son dies; if it be white the royal chaplain [i.e., purohita] dies. If the sun (腻诲颈迟测补) be variegated in colour or of the colour of smoke there will be either immediate rain or mankind will suffer from robbers and from weapons鈥�.
Jyotisha (啶溹啶啶むた啶�, 箩测辞迟颈峁 or jyotish) refers to 鈥榓stronomy鈥� or 鈥淰edic astrology鈥� and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.
Kavya (poetry)
: Brill: 艢aivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Purohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�) refers to the 鈥渃haplain鈥�, according to K膩lid膩sa鈥檚 Raghuva峁兣沘 verse 17.13.鈥擜ccordingly: 鈥淭he Brahmins headed by the chaplain (purohita-puroga) began to consecrate him who was destined to victory first with Atharvavedic mantras that lead to victory鈥�.
Kavya (啶曕ぞ啶掂啶�, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or 鈥榚pic poetry鈥� and natya, or 鈥榙ramatic poetry鈥�.
Pancaratra (worship of N膩r膩ya峁嘺)
: University of Vienna: Sudar艣ana's Worship at the Royal Court According to the Ahirbudhnyasa峁僪it膩Purohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�) (Cf. Purodhas) refers to a 鈥渃ourt officiant鈥�, according to the Ahirbudhnyasa峁僪it膩, belonging to the P膩帽car膩tra tradition which deals with theology, rituals, iconography, narrative mythology and others.鈥擜ccordingly, 鈥淪uch a Court Officiant (purohita) who is [himself] like a Guru to Kings is difficult to find. Such a one is verily capable of warding off the flood of misdeeds [and their consequences] for Kings. Therefore, he alone is able to perform the rituals of protection of Kings. He who has such a Guru [by his side] shall become a sovereign King, one with a long life, one free of enemies and diseases and a slayer of hostile heroes鈥�.
Pancaratra (啶ぞ啶炧啶氞ぐ啶距い啷嵿ぐ, p膩帽car膩tra) 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.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)Purohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�) or 鈥渇amily priests鈥� refers to a certain class of personalities which follows specific guidelines in the tradition of ancient Indian Painting (citra), according to the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.鈥擨n the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺, the rules of Painting of different classes have been elaborately discussed. According to this work, the personalities like [e.g., Purohita], [...] are to be drawn to project them as noble and polite. Like cloths, accessories of different character also vary in their pictures. The ornaments of ministers, astrologers and family priests should not be very gaudy and they should have 耻峁ａ箛墨峁 i.e., turbans in their heads instead of crowns in their picture. Thus the Vi峁ａ箛udharmottarapur膩峁嘺 establishes the fact that even in the pictures; the people belonging to different class and profession [e.g., Purohita] were projected with specific attire so that general people can equate the picture with the practical character.
Shilpashastra (啶多た啶侧啶ざ啶距じ啷嵿い啷嵿ぐ, 艣ilpa艣膩stra) 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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
: Google Books: Jainism: An Indian Religion of SalvationPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�, 鈥渉ouse-priest鈥�).鈥擮ne of the fourteen gems (ratna) serving the Cakravartin;鈥擳he purohita is the house-priest who conducts the religious ceremonies, conversant with magic mantras and is an artistic poet.
Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, 鈥榮elf-reliance鈥�) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
India history and geography
: archive.org: Mithila under the KarnatasPurohita refers to a 鈥渞eligious head鈥� and represents one of the various administrative titles used in the Karnataka kingdom of Mithila, according to the Varnaratnakara by Jyotiriswara Thakur鈥擟f. C.P.N. Sinha in his Mithila under the Karnatas (C. 1097鈥�1325 A.D.) and (2) Radhakrishna Choudhary in The Political and Cultural Heritage of Mithila.鈥擬ithila under the Karnatas did not lag behind other parts of India in gradually evolving an organised administrative system with a sound and efficient machinery. Certain important administrative and technical constitutional terms [e.g., purohita] are available from the contemporary sources.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical GlossaryPurohita.鈥�(CII 4; SII 1; BL; ASLV; HD), a priest; a family priest; the royal priest; occurs in the list of functionaries in records like those of the G膩ha岣峚v膩las (Ep. Ind., Vol. IX, p. 305) and Senas (ibid., Vol. XII, p. 9). See Hist. Dharm., Vol. III, pp. 111-12, 117. Note: purohita is defined in the 鈥淚ndian epigraphical glossary鈥� 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
Pali-English dictionary
: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionarypurohita : (m.) a king's religious adviser.
: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryPurohita, (purah+pp. of 诲丑腻, ch. Vedic purohita) 1. placed in front, i.e. foremost or at the top, in phrase dev膩 Inda-purohit膩 the gods with Inda at their head J. VI, 127 (=Inda峁� pure-c膩rika峁� katv膩 C.).鈥�2. the king鈥檚 headpriest (brahmanic), or domestic chaplain, acting at the same time as a sort of Prime Minister D. I, 138; J. I, 210; V, 127 (his wife as br膩hma峁嚹�); Pug. 56 (br膩hma峁嘺 p.); Miln. 241, 343 (dhamma-nagare p.); PvA. 74. (Page 470)
Pali is the language of the Tipi峁璦ka, which is the sacred canon of Therav膩da Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha鈥檚 speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarypur艒hita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�).鈥攎 (S) The family-priest; the Brahman that conducts all the ceremonials and sacrifices of a house or family.
: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishpur艒hita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�).鈥�m The family-priest.
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
: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�).鈥�p. p.
1) Placed in front.
2) Appointed, charged, entrusted.
-迟补岣� 1 One charged with a business, an agent.
2) A family-priest, one who conducts all the ceremonial rites of the family. 啶え啷嵿い啷嵿ぐ啶苦お啷佮ぐ啷嬥す啶苦い啶膏啶� (尘补苍迟谤颈辫耻谤辞丑颈迟补蝉补办丑补岣�) (谤腻箩腻); ......... 啶呧ぎ啶距い啷嵿く啶距え啷佮お啶оぞ啶た啶� 啶多啶氞く啷囙い啷� (am膩ty膩nupa诲丑腻bhi岣� 艣aucayet) Kau. A.1.1; 啶啶班啶灌た啶む 啶灌た啶む 啶掂啶︵じ啷嵿ぎ啷冟い啶苦啷嵿啶� 啶膏い啷嵿く啶掂ぞ啶曕 啶多啶氞た啶� (purohito hito vedasm峁泃ij帽a岣� satyav膩k 艣uci岣�) 碍补惫颈办补濒辫补濒补迟腻.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�).鈥擜dj. 1. Placed in front. 2. Charged. m.
(-迟补岣�) The purohita or family priest, conducting all the ceremonials and sacrifices of a house or family. E. puras first, and hit held, revered.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�).鈥攕ee 诲丑腻 with puras.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�).鈥擺adjective] set before, commissioned, appointed; [masculine] an appointed priest, [especially] house-priest of a prince.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Purohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�):鈥擺=puro-hita] [from puro > pur] mfn. (puro-.) placed foremost or in front, charged, commissioned, appointed
2) [v.s. ...] m. one holding a charge or commission, an agent
3) [v.s. ...] ([especially]) a family priest, a domestic chaplain, [峁歡-veda] etc. etc. ([Religious Thought and Life in India 352 etc.])
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�):鈥擺puro-hita] (迟补岣�) 1. m. A family priest.
: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Purohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Purohia.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled 啶膏啶膏啶曕啶むぎ啷� (蝉补峁僺办峁泃补尘), 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
: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�) [Also spelled purohit]:鈥�(nm) a Hindu priest; priest; patrico; ~[迟补-迟补峁僼谤补] priestly hierarchy; ~[迟腻墨/迟墨] priesthood, priestdom; office and function of a priest; ~[迟腻苍墨] wife of a [purohita]; a female [purohita].
...
Kannada-English dictionary
: Alar: Kannada-English corpusPur艒hita (嗖硜嗖班硧嗖灌部嗖�):鈥�
1) [adjective] placed in front.
2) [adjective] appointed; entrusted with; authorised to.
--- OR ---
Pur艒hita (嗖硜嗖班硧嗖灌部嗖�):鈥�
1) [noun] one who conducts all the ceremonial rites of a family or in a palace; a family priest or a priest of a king.
2) [noun] a man appointed for managing some affair.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryPurohita (啶啶班啶灌た啶�):鈥攏. family priest;
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)
Starts with: Purohitadi, Purohitakarman, Purohitaprabhutva, Purohitapuroga, Purohitaratna, Purohitashahi, Purohitatva, Purohitavara.
Full-text (+196): Brahmapurohita, Rajapurohita, Paurohita, Purohitatva, Indrapurohita, Paurohitya, Purodha, Devapurohita, Brihaspatipurohita, Purohitakarman, Purodhaniya, Daityapurohita, Paurodhasa, Yajuhsvamin, Apurohita, Upapurohita, Nakanayakapurohita, Aggapurohita, Rajyanga, Purohitaprabhutva.
Relevant text
Search found 112 books and stories containing Purohita, Pur艒hita, Puro-hita; (plurals include: Purohitas, Pur艒hitas, hitas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Kathasaritsagara (cultural study) (by S. W. Chitale)
Purohita (Family priest or Chaplain) < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
Appointment of Ministers < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
The Prime Minister or the Chief Minister (Agramantri) < [Chapter 2 - Political conditions]
Warfare and Military System in Vedic Literature (by Rinki Deka)
The Status of the Royal Priest and His Characteristics < [Chapter 3 - The Religious observances and other Beliefs related to the Warfare]
The Office of the Royal Priest and His Duties < [Chapter 3 - The Religious observances and other Beliefs related to the Warfare]
Religious Beliefs and other Practices related to Warfare < [Chapter 3 - The Religious observances and other Beliefs related to the Warfare]
Markandeya Purana (by Frederick Eden Pargiter)
Canto CXVII - Khanitra鈥檚 exploits
Canto CXVIII - Khanitra鈥檚 exploits concluded
Mahabharata (English) (by Kisari Mohan Ganguli)
Section LXXVI < [Rajadharmanusasana Parva]
Section CXXXII < [Apaddharmanusasana Parva]
Section XXXVII < [Anusasanika Parva]
The Skanda-purana on the Dharana Gotra < [Purana, Volume 7, Part 1 (1965)]
Dharmadhikarana and Dharmadhikarin < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 2 (1964)]
The Story of Samvarana and Tapati < [Purana, Volume 12, Part 1 (1970)]
Brahma Purana (critical study) (by Surabhi H. Trivedi)
40. Description of the Sages < [Mythology]
9. The concept of Sacrifice < [Religion]
Chapters 126-150 < [A summary of the Contents of Brahma-Purana]
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