Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,313

Date uploaded in London – 16 October 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx

Last Part: HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL-129; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி-129 (Post.16,313)

LAST PART IN ENGLISH; Last Part in Tamil will be posted Tomorrow.

Z Words……………….

Zend-Avesta

Zoroaster (also known as Zarathustra) was an ancient spiritual teacher and the founder of Zoroastrianism, one of the world’s oldest monotheistic faiths.

His sacred scripture, the Zend Avesta, shares deep linguistic and cultural parallels with Vedic Sanskrit. Scholars like Kanchi Paramacharya (1894-1994) Swamikal have proposed etymological links, suggesting that “Zoroaster” and “Zend Avesta” derive from ancient Indian terms such as Saurashtra and Chando Avesta.

Zend-Avesta refers to the holy scriptures of Zoroastrianism, encompassing hymns, rituals, and theological discussions vital to the faith. Historically, in relation to India, it signifies the sacred texts upon which the liturgy for the priest-class was constructed. These texts are central to understanding Zoroastrian beliefs and practices.

It is the primary collection of sacred scriptures in Zoroastrianism, containing the hymns, liturgical laws, and theological teachings attributed to the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra).

.

Kanchi Paramacharya pointed out that their arrival in Gujarat not merely as a random refuge, but as a “return” to an ancestral homeland, pointing to ancient Vedic-Iranian cultural ties and the historical migration of shared tribes.

He taught the worship of the supreme deity Ahura Mazda, reverence for fire (Agni) as a symbol of purity, and the use of sacred rituals closely tied to ancient Indo-Iranian traditions

Beginning in the 8th to 10th centuries CE, the Muslim conquest of Persia led to severe religious persecution of Zoroastrians. Their fire temples were destroyed, scriptures burned, and practitioners were marginalized as “kafirs”.

Qissa-i Sanjan, the local Hindu ruler of Sanjan, Raja Jadi Rana, initially hesitated to grant asylum and presented a bowl filled to the brim with milk to show the land was full. The Parsi high priest added a spoonful of sugar to the milk without spilling a single drop, symbolizing that they would blend in harmoniously, enrich the local culture, and sweeten the kingdom without displacing anyone.

Historians generally place him between the 6th and 10th centuries BCE, though traditional and comparative linguistic accounts suggest he may have lived even earlier, prior to the Buddha and Mahavira.

Regarding the date and birthplace of Zoroaster utter confusion prevails; no agreement among scholars until today. But one could say that he lived before Buddha and Mahavira. So, we can safely say that he lived before 2600 years ago, may be 3000 years ago.

Those who are familiar with Vedic Sanskrit can easily see the similarities between Avestan language and Vedic Sanskrit. Asva= horse (aspa) is found in most of the names.

Zoroaster founded Zoroastrianism (Parsi Religion). They followed Vedic Brahmins and worshipped Fire. Their emblem was Fire altar. They wore sacred thread like Brahmins. Zoroaster is a Greek word for Zaratushtra.

Kanchi Paramacharya (1894-1994) was a great linguistic scholar and he said that word Sourashtra (a region in modern Gujarat of India) gave the word Zoroaster. Their holy book Zend Avesta has the Vedic Chandas (Zend). He was proved right because the Parsees (Persians from Persia, now called Iran, came back to same Saurashtra area when Muslims started killing them

***

KANCHI PARAMACHARYA (1894-1994) SWAMI ON ZOROASTER

Kanchi Paramacharya (1894-1994) was not only great Saint but also a great linguist. He says,

“All castes have rites to be performed with the sacred fire. During marriage people belonging to all

varnas must do Aupasana and the fire in which the rite is performed must be preserved throughout.

Today only Parsis seem to keep up such a practice of preserving the fire. Their scripture is called Zend Avesta

which name must have been derived from the Vedic Chando-vasta. Their teacher was Zoroaster /Zarathustra.

This name must have been derived from Saurashtra. Their homeland is Iran/ Arya. If the fire kept by them is extinguished at any time they spend a good deal of money in expiatory rites.

Source- HINDU DHARMA THE UNIVERSAL WAY OF LIFE,

BHARATIYA VIDYA BHAVAN, MUMBAI, 2000 (with my inputs)

***

His name in old Persian or Avestan was Zarath + ushtra (Ushtra is camel in Sanskrit; he was from a family of camel breeders is one theory)

****

Zoroaster

Like any saint, Zoroaster’s life is also full of miracles; following are some of them:

Miracle 1

When he was born, it is said that he laughed whereas other children cry. In the Farvardin Yasht, we are told that the whole of Nature rejoiced at the birth of the Prophet.  Pliny (23-79 CE) in his  Natural History writes that the vibrations of the child’s head were so strong that no hand could be held on it.

xxx

Miracle 2

A black magician , DORASURAN, and his followers made several attempts to kill the child.  He was kidnapped and thrown among a herd of cattle to be trampled to death, but a sturdy cow stood over him till his mother found the baby and took him home.

My comments

It is similar to the miracles in the life of Lord Krishna. He also had to tackle a lot of Asuras sent by the king Kamsa. Here we should note the word ‘Asura’ in Dorasuran. Asura is used as epithet to several gods in the Rig Veda, the oldest book in the world. Even today Tamils and others use this word whenever they wanted to say ‘great force’ – e.g asura vega, asura balam

Later mythology gave only negative meaning to this word. Even the kings of the Assyrian dynasty  called themselves ‘Asuras’.

XXX

Miracle 3

Then Dorasuran and his men placed the child in a wolf’s lair after the baby wolves had been slain. When the wolf pair returned, they wanted to devour the infant, but their jaws locked, and they were paralysed. A pair of she goats passed by and carried the baby with them. At last, DUGHDOVA, his mother found him and took him home.

My comments

Here also we see some similarities with lord Krishna’s life. Dughdova means, milkmaid, similar to Yasoda, foster mother of lord Krishna . Krishna also tackled Denukasura, a Calf Demon.

XXX

Miracle 4

One last attempt was made by Dorasuran himself. He crept into the bed chamber of the sleeping child, javelin in hand, but as he lifted the weapon his hand was paralysed. The javelin fell to the floor with a clatter. He fled.

At the age of 20, Zarathushtra is said to have left his home to meditate in a cave, like a typical Hindu ascetic. His first vision of Ahura Mazda, Lord of Life and Wisdom, was received when he was thirty. Seven other visions, six communications with Ahura Mazda’s Powers, later known as the Amesha Spenta , Immortal Shining Ones, or Benevolent Immortals.

His first convert was his own cousin Maidhyomaongha, mentioned in the Gathas. The two men wandered from village to village, but none would listen to their preaching.

My comments

Here we come across a lot of Sanskrit words.

Gatha – song found in the Rig Veda

Amesha – Amrita , liquid or juice of Immortality

Spenta – Sveta = white= Pure

Ahura = Asura = great strength= great force

Mazda = Mahat = great = big

Maidhyomaongha- Vidya Maha Tunga = great peak of knowledge

Maidhya may be vidya/knowledge/education or

Vaidhya = doctor, medicine man

Zarath ushtra= yellow camel or camel lovers/breeders

xxx

Miracle 5

At long last they were invited by Kavi Vishtaspa , the ruling prince of Bactria = Afghanistan to explain the new doctrine to him and his court. For three days Zarathushtra preached his doctrine. But certain courtiers became jealous. They smuggled dead matter, human hairs, bones, putrid nails, under the pillow of the prophet who stayed at an inn. The terrified innkeeper was made to swear silence or else he would be killed.

In open court the noblemen accused the Prophet of being a black magician. The evidence was produced Vishtaspa was enraged and ordered Zarathushtra to be flung into a dungeon. At the moment prince’s favourite horse Aspa Siha , was rolling on the ground in agony as his four legs disappeared into his stomach. Not all the Hakims of the land could cure him.

Here we see the materials used in black magic. This is what the author of SKANDA SHASHTI KAVASAM also said in the Tamil hymn. Whoever recited the Tamil hymn can tackle the black magicians.

My comments

So, the black magic materials were the same in Tamil Nadu, southern most part of India and north west part of India- Afghanistan.

The name of the prince also has the word Aspa= Asva. In India we had Dasa Ratha= Ten Chariots and Maharatha, Adhiratha etc. In Iran, we have Asva instead of Chariots.

Asva may be a dynasty name!

In the Mahabharata we have at least six names ending with Asva and six more names ending with Ratha.

All these show Indian influence. Moreover Hindu queens Gandhari and Kaikeyi came from Afghanistan and border area near Iran.

Afghanistan , Iran etc have Sanskrit words (Iran=Aryan)

Afghanistan = Upaghani+ Stan

Black magic people used human hair, bones, dead animals, putrid nails according to both this story and Tamil hymn. It has been there for 3000 years.

Here we see the horse name Asva Siha; Tamil literature and Sanskrit literature also give names of horses ad elephants. This is a custom followed by them from the Epic Period.

*******

FROM THE RIG VEDA

JATUSTHIRA (JAATUUSTHIRA) occurs in one verse of the Rig Veda (2-13-11),

where Sayana and Ludwig interpret the word as a proper name .

Roth renders it as n adjective  meaning ‘naturally powerful’.

GRIFFITH SAYS-

JATUSTHIRA- a certain man of that name, says Sayana ; perhaps the institutor of sacrifice.

The mantra runs like this

Meet for high praise, O Hero, is thy power, that with thy single wisdom, thou obtainest wealth.

The life support of conquering JATUSTHIRA.  Indra, for all thy deeds, worthy of lauds art thou.

(The hymn also refers to Dabhiti, Narmera and Turviti; Narmera is the name of an Egyptian king)

FROM THE RIG VEDA – A  HISTORICAL ANALYSIS BY SHRIKANT G TALAGERI:-

The major historical event of this MIDDLE PERIOD OF THE RIG VEDA –  the great battle which took place

in Afghanistan between a section of Vedic Aryans ( led by Rjasva and the descendants of Sudas) on the one hand ,

and the Iranians ( led by Zarathustra and Vistaspa ) on the other.

The leader of the Iranians in the battle was Kavi Vistaspa, the patron of Zarathustra

(mentioned by him in his Gathas  Y.28-7, 46-16, 51-16, 53.2)

In the Rig Veda Istasva (Vistaspa) is mentioned in 1-122-13  attributed to Kaksivan Dairghatamas Ausija.

And Talageri finishes the chapter The Indo-Iranian Homeland with the final paragraph:-

“It is not therefore , Central Asia, but India, which is the original area from which the

Iranians migrated to their later historical habitats.

VARAHA MIHIRA

J H Dave in Immortal India (B V Bhavan Publication) says in Chapter 37.Konarak,

“Varahamihira , the great astronomer and astrologer of 550 AD (CE) , states in his

Brihat Samhita 60-19 that the installation and other ceremonies connected with the temples of the

Sun Temples should be traced to the Magas who were the special priests of the Sun God.

It is said that one Brahmin of the Mithra Gotra called Sujihva. The Sun God fell in love with his daughter ,

Nikshubha, and a son called JARASASTRA was born to them. The Magas are descendants

of this Jarasattra  who is identified with he Avesta Prophet Zarathustra. These Magas put on a

girdle round their waist which was called Avyanga and are stated to be residing in Saka Dwipa.

Samba, the son of Krishna , who established the sun temple , is said to have gone to Saka Dwipa

and brought some of these Maga priests to carry on the worship ithe Sun Temple.

Here we see connection between Dwaraka (Gujarat) and Iran and Krishna’s son Samba,

Saka Dwipa and Sun Worship.

Varaha Mihira was a great devotee of the Sun  God and the first verse in his famous

Brhat Jataka  is a prayer to Sun God to grant the power of speech.

FROM HUTCHINSON ENCYCLOPEDIA:–

ZORASTER OR ZARATHUSTRA 638-553 BCE

A PERSIAN TEACHER AND FOUNDER OF ZOROASTRIANISM. ZORASTER BELIEVED

HE HAD SEEN GOD AHURA MAZDA IN VISION  VISION. HIS FIRST VISION CAME AT THE AGE OF 30,

AND AFTER INITIAL REJECTION AND VIOLENT ATTACK, HE CONVERTED KING VISHTASPA.

SUBSEQUENTLY HIS TEACHIINGS SPREAD RAPIDLY, BECOMING THE OFFICIAL

RELIGION OF THE KINGDOM.

xxxx

MY COMMENTS

Scholars couldn’t even agree on the date of Zoroaster.

They couldn’t even say from where he came.

They differ widely in their conjectures.

But Hindu scriptures speak only about outward movement; not about people migrating to India.

Latest scientific research on Saraswati River bed push the date of Vedic civilization beyond 2000 BCE.

Unless one agrees on the date of Vedic civilization , nothing precise can be said about the date of Zoroaster.

What we know so far is that he was a rebel and disagreed with the Vedic Hindus on certain aspects.

He kept the fire sacrifice alive   and the sacred thread ceremony alive,

but demoted Indra and promoted Varuna.

Also he demoted Cow and promoted Dog as divine.

Also he asked his people to throw the dead bodies to vultures instead of cremation.

Also praised Asuras and criticised Devas.

What is interesting is the words like Saka Dwipa (Iran??) Krishna’s Son Samba,

Surya Worship, Zara thustra’s link with Saurashtra

(Saurashtra= Surya + Rashtra; both words are in Vedas).

More research will bring to light interesting details. Shrikant Talageri

has assimilated all the data available so far and

concluded those people went out of India. He said that it happened in the

Middle period  of the Rig Veda.

Rig Veda, the oldest book in the world, mentioned a demon by name Druh and a Goddess by name Aramati (araamati). Both are in the Zend Avesta of Parsees (Parsi or Zoroastrians). Not much attention is paid to these references by the scholars for some reason. If more research is done, one can pinpoint the age of Zoroaster.

Zoroaster ‘s period, his birth place and etymology of his name are all in utter confusion. Druh is also found in Atharvana Veda (AV).

Another interesting point would be to analyse it with Druids of Europe and Dravidas of South India.

An A V hymn is punning on the word Hari. If Zora is a corrupted form of Hari as some scholars think, then Zoroaster ‘s name would be Golden Camel or Yellow camel or a horse and camel breeder.

AV-20-30, 31 – (618, 619 SUKTAS)

Word Hari is in poet’s name as well (Varu Sarva Harirva)

Five mantras are in the first hymn. The poet plays with the sound Hri, Hari etc

HRI = TO TAKE

HARYATA = DELIGHTFUL

HARYAN = LOVING, DEAR, DARLING

HARI = HORSE IN TAWNY OR BAY COLOUR

HARIT = GOLDEN, YELLOW; ALSO GREEN

(Dictionary meaning of BAY = REDDISH BROWN; TAWNY= ORANGE BROWN; IN SUN LIGHT GOLDEN COLOUR)

DEVAS AND ASURAS

Zoroaster demonised Devas and glorified Asuras. Rig Veda also praise Asuras and give this epithet to Gods Agni, Varuna and Indra. There is nothing new in it. Later scriptures demonised Asuras completely.

Hindu religion revitalizes itself to suit the times and circumstances. Adi Shankara wiped out the unwanted 90 odd Hindu sects and established Shanmatha- Six Sects or Types of worship.

Ramalinga Swamikal and Narayana Guru and others established new type of worship in Tamil Nadu and Kerala respectively.

In the North, Arya Samaj and Brahma Samaj tried newer things. So do Theosophical society in south and north.

Degrading Lord Shiva

In our own days a great saint Bhakti Vedanta Prabhupada who spread Hare Krishna movement throughout world, for no reason belittled Lord Shiva as Demi God. This is also not new. We find such tendency in the Saivite and Vasihnavite Puranas and the Hymns by Tamil Alvars and Tamil Nayanmras . One degrading the God worshipped by another sect or opposite sect.

Buddhists and Jains also did this. They replaced all Hindu Gods in temples and established their own. Later Hindus reversed it. Sri Lankan Buddhists wiped out the Ramayana traces and symbols in Sri Lanka. Now Sri Lanka government is renewing them for tourist money.

Christians and Muslims destroyed all that looked Pagan and Kafir to them. And yet the customs prevailed in one form or another.

If we look at Zoroaster’s demonising of Devas with this in background, we would understand him better.

Armaiti in Avesta = devotion, love, piety, zeal; one of the Amesha Spenta

(in Vedas we see good and bad things are personified as Goddesses or Demons)

Druj in Avesta = Lie

Drujo Demana= House of Lies/ Hell

My Old Articles

SANSKRIT WORDS IN ZEND AVESTA-PART 1

I have collected Sanskrit words from Zoroastrian scripture Zend Avesta and other Parsi literature. Most of them are from the books published in the past 125 years, particularly from the book The Parsis by Martin Haug. If I have guessed some other words derived from Sanskrit, I will give them withing brackets.

Avestan f = ph, p, bh

Sanskrit nabhi/navel = nafa

Vipra / clever = vifra

Drapsa /banner = drafsa

Prasna /question = frasna

Pasu /cattle = fsu; fsuta/cheese; fsumant= possessing cattle; fsuso-matra= cattle owner/ a charm

Stana /breast = fstana; stin/Armenian ;

Urdhvastanii / high breasts = eredva fnya

Piivas/ fat = pig/Baluchi =pih/Pahlavi

Pitu = pitu/food/avestan Meat and food)

(Pittu in Tamil as well/ Food in English)

Priya = friya

Adding ‘na’ makes a word negative ; Afrin=blessing; nafrin= curse

Fryn / blessing (is it vara/m?)

Prathama / first = fratema

Martin Haug shows that it is in Hebrew Old Testament with im suffix – partemim

Xxxx

X = k

Khara /donkey = xara

Kumbha = xumba /pot (Sombu in Tamil is a pot like vessel in Tamil)

Chakra /wheel = caxra

Deerga / long = Dareya

Kshar / flow= yzar or yzrad

Dhanus / bow = tanvan

XXX

ASHA = artam= Rta in Sanskrit

Sh = accented ‘r’

Mashyeng = martyaan in Sanskrit

Asha becomes Arta in royal names; it is RTA in Rigveda.

Xxx

FROM ARYA TARANGINI of Kalyanaraman:–

Vendidad = Vedavad ; Aryatarangini page 144

Ahura mazda = Asura Mahathaa; Oromazdes in Greek; Aryatarangini p.144

Arta = Rta in Rigveda

Angra Mainyu=  Angaara manyu= Ahriman= Aryaman ; p 144

( I guess it as Ahankara Manyu= anger out of Ahankara= Ego)

Druja= falsehood (in Rig Veda as well)

Yima = Yama (it becomes Jamshed in Parsi names)

Dakma = burial ground ; Dakma means burning in Persian; originally Persians cremated; (later they threw the dead bodies to birds as the Parsis do now).

Zarathushtra = Jarath Twashtaar; the creator of Agni/fire; p.146 (other derivations given in my earlier article; Martin Haug says it means Elder Preacher or Teacher Jara+ Ushtra)

Arur- Maaghas = Ahura Mazda

Cyrus = Kyros= Kurush

Xxx

Genealogy of  Cyrus = Kyros= Kurush

Brother – Airya Ramana = Arya Raman

Father – Chishpish (In Vishnu Sahasranama we have several names with Sri; is it Srisas?)

His father – Hakhamanush= Sakamanushya

Xxx

Gayamardhana – putative ancestor of Aryan race in Avesta ; page 148 (may be Jayamardhana)

He was followed by Havoshyaha , the king of Paradata dynasty , who settled in Mount Hara in East Persia

Yima , son of Vivahant ; Yama , son of Vivaswant in Sanskrit ; he pressed haoma/soma exceedingly liberally and gave the land peace, plenty and good climate

Xxx

Gaathaa (song), Indra, Mithra, Varuna, Aramaiti, Druj/g, Deva, Asura etc are used in Zend Avesta without much change; only difference is Deva=Demon; Asura= God in Zend.

H= S or Z

HUMATA= SU MATHI IN SANSKRIT (H=S)

HUKHTA= SU UKTA IN SANSKRIT

HVRASHTA = SU VARISHTA IN SANSKRIT

HAOMA = SOMA

VOHU MANO or  BAHMAN = GOOD MIND

Mano =Mind = Manam are used in Sanskrit, Tamil and Avestan- three ancient languages for over 2000 years!

In the same way P/B= V in both Avestan, Persian and Tamil

(I have explained it in my article ‘Amazing Linguistics show Hindu Migration’)

xxx

Source books-

DR MODI MEMORIAL VOLUME, written by several scholars, Bombay ,1930

The Parsis , Martin Haug, 1878

Arya Tarangini by Kalyanaraman

SANSKRIT WORDS IN ZEND AVESTA-PART 2 (Post No.10,690)

For Pictures of Parsi Families, go to swamiindology.blogspot.com

WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Post No. 10,690

Date uploaded in London – –    25 FEBRUARY   2022

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

FIRST PART OF THIS ARTICLE WAS POSTED ON 18^TH FEBRUARY, 2022. POST NO.10,670. HERE IS THE SECOND PART.

THESE WORDS ARE COLLECTED FROM VARIOUS BOOKS:-

Zend Avesta is the sacred book of Parsi/ Zoroastrian Religion. Oldest part of it is in Avestan language. It is extinct now.

Though modern meaning of Zend is a ‘commentary’ on the scripture, original meaning is CHANDAS/prosody as in the Rig Veda. Gathas are the oldest part in Zend Avesta. Gatha means song in Rig Veda. Fire Worship and Soma plant worship are continued by them until today.

(FIRST WORD IS SANSKRIT, THEN EQUIVALENT AVESTA GIVEN WITH ENGLISH MEANING; SANSKRIT WORDS ARE FROM VEDIC AND CASSICAL PERIODS).

1)NUU=  NUU/NOW

2)SRUTI, SRAVANAM  = SRAV/SRU/ TO LISTEN

TAMIL WORD SEVI FOR EAR IS FROM THE SAME ROOT.

3)DUURA = DUURA/FAR

(TAMIL WORD THOLAIVU IS FROM THE SAME ROOT; DUR= DUL= TOL)

TOL IN TAMIL IS USED IN TIME AND SPACE FOR DISTANCE.

4)ICCHA= ISA/ TO WISH

TAMILS CHANGED IT TO ICHCHAI= VIRUPPAM

XXX

TAMILS USE AAKUM = IS, WILL BE; AVESTA ‘AHU’= BEING

XXXX

5)MAN = MANYU/THINK/ FEELING

MANTRA, MANAS, TAMIL WORD MANAM/MANATHU HAVE THE SAME ROOT.

6)BRU = MRV-MRAV (B=M=V CHANGES ARE EXPLAINED IN MY ARTICLES HERE)

AVESTAN SENTENCE – MRAVOT AHURO MAZDAA ZARAATUSTRAA= ASURA MAZDA SAID TO ZARATHUSTRA

TAMIL WORD MOZINTHAAN= SAID IS RELATED TO THIS (MRAV= MOZI)

7)MANAS = MANAH/MIND (TAMIL WORD MANAM, MANATU) IT BECOMES MANYU IN NEUTER

8)AHAM KARA MANAS/ FEELING OF I; EGO =  AHRIMAN IN AVESTAN IS EVIL SPIRIT; ALSO WRITTEN ANGRA MAINYU.

9)HETU = XRATU/REASON  (H=S; AS IN HINDU/SINDU) IN SANSKRIT IT IS RASON/KAARANA

(TAMILS ALSO USE KAARANAM=RASON)

10)VID = VIDVAS/KNOWING

WORDS VEDA, VIDWAN, VIDURA, VIDHYA – ALL FROM THE SAME ROOT.

11) UVACHA= VAVACAT /SAID

12).ASURA = AHURA (H=S) /WISE

( IN THE OLDER PARTS OF THE RIG VEDA GODS VARUNA, INDRA, AGNI ETC ARE CALLED ‘ASURA’,  MEANING STRONG; LATER BOOKS USED IT FOR ‘DEMON’, EVIL FORCE; PROBABLY THAT IS THE TIME THE CLASH BETWEEN THE VEDIC HINDUS AND PARSIS HAPPENED)

13).MANTRA = MANTHRA/ THOUGHT/SACRED THOUGHT

14). AAH = AVAAI/ ALAS

(TAMIL WORD AYYO, ENGLISH WORD ALAS – RELATED)

15.ADHAMA= APAMA/LAST

16.TRAYA= TRAYAS/THREE

( I HAVE ALREDY GIVEN THE NUMERALS; AVESTAN USE THE SAME NUMBERS AS IN SANSKRIT)

17.RTA= RTAVAN/JUSTICE/DIVINE ORDER (ARTA IN OLD PERSIAN)

THIS IS USED MORE IN THE RIG VEDA FOR ‘RHYTHM’, ‘TRUTH’, DHARMA, DIVIE ORDER; IT IS IN THE EMBLEM OF INDIAN GOVERNMENT.

(TAMILS ADD ‘A’ OR ‘U’ OR ‘E’ BEFORE WORDS BEGINNING IN’ L’ OR ‘R’; PROBABLY OLD PERSIAN FOLLOWED THE SAME RULE AND ADDED ‘A’ BEFORE ‘RTA’!)

18.APRI HYMNS= AFRIVAACAS/BLESSING (All the Mandalas/books of the Rig Veda have Apri Hymns invoking Sarasvati, Bharati and Ila)

(STRANGELY PERSIANS USED THE SAME WORD FOR CURSE AND BLESSING)

19.GO = GAUS/BULL (English word cow and Tamil word Ko—have the same root)

20)ASVA= ASPAS/HORSE/STEED

( In old Sangam Tamil literature also we see this V=P change. Eg. Tapas= Tavam; This gives credence to my theory that all ancient words come from Sanskrit and Tamil)

21.SOMA = HAOMA OR HOMA (MYSTERIOUS ELIXIR; PLANT)

22.HOTA = ZAUTAR/CALLING

HOTA / PRIESTS OF RIG VEDA ARE CALLED ZOTA IN PARSI RELIGION; H= S OR Z

23.BAVA = BHUYAS/TO BECOME; 9 IN ENGLISH IT BECOMES ‘BE’

24.DUS and SU – DAUS/BAD, HU/GOOD

25.MAAM – MAAM / ME

26.SVASTAM = HVASSTAM (WELL COOKED, SPICED)

SWASTIKA, SWASTI, SVASTA – ALL MEAN GOOD, AUSPICIOUS IN SANSKRIT; BUT IN AVESTA IT IS USED WITH COOKING AND FOOD only.

27.BAGA= BAXSHAI/ SHARE

(BHAAGAM FOR PART , PORTION IS IN SANSKRIT AND TAMIL; PAKU= SHARE, DIVIDE in Tamil)

28.TVAM = TUVAM/YOU (Upanishad Tat Tvam Asi= That You Are) )

29.PASU = FASUNYAHAI/ CATTLE

30.NARA = NARYAS/ MAN; NAARI IN SANSKRIT IS WOMAN. IT IS SAME IN AVESTAN

(Like Avestan and Sanskrit, ancient Tamils also added ‘I’ to make feminine words; Siva= Sivani; Bhava=Bhavani in Sanskrit; Kurvan= Kuraththi, Veduvan=Veduvachi in Tamil)

31.VAA= VAA/ OR

32.PUTRA = PUTHRA/SON (IN OLD Tamil Sangam literature it becomes PUTHALVAN)

33.BHARA= BARTAARAM/CARRY; BARAAMI= BARAAMI/ I CARRY

33.MAA = MAA/NO ; DON’T DO

34.RCCHA = ARVATAAM/ TO MOVE (A is added like Tamil before R; Tamils also do it for words beginning in R or L; Tamils write loka as Uloka and Ramayana as Iramayana; one vowel will be added A or E or U or I)

35.YOGA, YUGA = YUXTA, YUG /CONNECT (ENGLISH WORD YOKE IS DERIVED FROM IT)

36.PURU – PARU/NUMEROUS (IN TAMIL PERU MEANS BIG, MANY, FAT/PARUMAN)

36.KRUSHI= KRS/TO MAKE FURROWS/ PLOUGH (Farming)

ALL THESE WORDS ARE TAKEN FROM ONE HYMN IN SOMA/HOMA YASHT.

THIS IS ONLY A SAMPLE.

IN FACT, ALMOST ALL AVESTAN WORDS ARE FROM SANSKRIT; FOR SOME WORDS WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH OLD ERSIAN AND MIDDLE PERSIAN TO SEE THE ACTUAL ROOT)

More articles on Iran-India Connection and Tamil-Avestan language Connection are in my blogs.

Hindu- Dictionary in English concluded.

–subham—

Tags- Hindu Dictionary in English and Tamil, Part 129, Last part in English, Zoroaster, Parsi Religion, Zoroastrianism, Kanchi Sankaracharya View, Zend Avesta

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,298

Date uploaded in London – 12 October 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan

xxxx 

Words beginning with Y continued…………………….

Yavana

Earliest reference to YAVANAS comes from Ramayana. Later Sangam Tamil literature mentioned Yavanas in six places. But neither Ramayana reference nor 2000 year old Sangam Tamil reference meant Greeks. In Tamil, it is very clear that they meant Romans from Rome, Italy who brought wine and gold in exchange of pearls and pepper (black pepper). In Ramayana and Mahabharata they meant people living in North Western India. Greeks knew India evn before Allexander’s invasion. Yavanas were shown in very bad light in Hindu literature. They were caught by the Tamil Chera (Kerala) king and punished severely because they attacked Hindu commercial ships. Tamil King tied their hands behind, shaved off their hair, and poured oil on their  heads. When they apologised, they were asked to give gold and gems. Chera king got them and distributed to poets and bards according to Sangam Tamil literature. In Sanskrit books, they were shown as people eating lying down. Many references in the Mahabaharata showed them as the defeated Mlechas, a drogatory term for beef eaters and dog eaters in Sanskrit.

Yavanas in Ramayana era.—When Viswamitra showed his Kshatriya power to Vasistha Maharishi and forcefully took the Divine cow Nandini, Vasistha showed Brahmin power that can destroy rulers. From the tail of the divine cow, he created all bad armies and defeated Viswamitra. It is mentioned in Balakanda of Ramayana , Vasishtha produced Kambojas, Pahlavas, Yavanas and Sakas to counter King Vishvamitra.

Around middle ages Muslim or Non Muslim business men from the Middle East were dubbed Yavanas or Yonas.

Yavana (यवन).—General. There are many references to Yavanas and the land of Yavanas in the Purāṇas. There is a statement in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 85, Verse 34, that the Yavana race takes its source from Turvasu, the son of Yayāti. There is another version in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 174, Verse 36, that Yavanas were born from the sides of Nandinī, the Divine Cow.

(i) Arjuna’s brother Sahadeva once conquered the Yavana land. (Mahābhārata Sabhā Parva, Chapter 31, Verse 73).

(ii) Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 32, Verse 17, mentions that on another occasion, Nakula defeated the Yavanas.

(iii) According to Mahābhārata, Vana Parva, Chapter 188, Verse 35, the world will be filled with Yavanas and other Mleccha (low class) kings.

(iv) In the course of his conquests, Karṇa once subdued the Yavanas. (Mahābhārata Vana Parva, Chapter 254, Verse 8).

(v) Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 19, Verse 21, mentions that king Sudakṣiṇa of Kāmboja approached Duryodhana with an “Akṣauhiṇī” along with the Yavanas, to take part in Bhārata Yuddha.

(vi) Mahābhārata, Bhīṣma Parva, Chapter 9, Verse 65 states that at the time of Mahābhārata, Yavana land was part of India.

(vii) Originally Yavanas were Kṣatriyas. But they became Śūdras by the curse of Brāhmaṇas. (Mahābhārata Anuśāsana Parva, Chapter 35, Verse 18).

Black Yavana /Kaala Yavana :An asura who besieged Mathurā with three crores of mlecchas; Kala Yavana  ran towards Kṛiṣhṇa and Krishna tricked him to enter a cave. Black Yavana followed him and in the cave saw somebody sleeping; thought it was Kṛiṣhṇa and kicked him, when he woke up and burnt the asura to ashes by his energy. The sleeping person was Mucukunda .Thus he was vanquished by Kṛiṣhṇa. The sleeping person had got a boon to burn anyone who wakes him.

Yavanas in Mahabharata Era.—In Adi Parva, it is mentioned that a Yavana king was also present in Svayamvara of Panchali. Sabha Parva records that Nakula subjugated Yavanas, Sakas, Pahlavas, Kiratas etc. and made all of them pay tributes. Evidently, Mahabharata generally groups Yavanas with the Kambojas, Sakas and Pahlavas and indicates them to be Mlechchas/barbarians. Shanti Parva and Anushasana Parva also mentions Yavana kings. Udyoga Parva records that Yavanas, Kambojas and Sakas supported Kauravas in Mahabharata war under the leadership of Kamboja King Saddakshina.

In short, Yavanas were not Hindus, but Mlechchas, i.e.beef and dog eaters.

***

Yoga

Yoga (योग).— The word yoga, the basic meaning of which is “yoking, uniting”, also derives from the same verb-root, √yuj, “to yoke, conjoin”. In the religious-spiritual sphere, its meaning obtains in the sense of meditation, concentration of the mind, and techniques pertaining to them. Controlling the mind so that it focuses on God is called Yoga.

According to Pāṇini, a 8th-century BCE Sanskrit grammarian, the term yoga can be derived from either of two roots, yujir yoga (to yoke) or yuj samādhau (to concentrate). In the context of the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the root yuj samādhau (to concentrate) is considered by traditional commentators as the correct etymology.

A practical methodology attributed to sage Patañjali who taught that the means to liberation was eight-fold — aṣṭāṅga yoga. Four of the limbs apply to physical and moral development and the other four deal with meditation.

Sanskrit dictionary

[«previous (Y) next»] — Yoga in Sanskrit glossary

Yoga (योग).—[yuj bhāvādau ghañ kutvam]

1) Joining, uniting.

2) Union, junction, combination; उपरागान्ते शशिनः समुपगता रोहिणी योगम् (uparāgānte śaśinaḥ samupagatā rohiṇī yogam) Ś.7.22; गुणमहतां महते गुणाय योगः (guṇamahatāṃ mahate guṇāya yogaḥ) Kirātārjunīya 1.25; (vāṃ) योगस्तडित्तोयदयोरिवास्तु (yogastaḍittoyadayorivāstu) R.6.65.

***

Yoga Vasishta

The Yoga-vasistha is believed by some Hindus to answer all the questions that arise in the human mind, and can help one to attain Moksha (liberation). It recounts a discourse of sage Vasistha to Prince Rama. The content of Vasistha’s teaching to Rama is associated with Advaita Vedanta, the illusory nature of the manifest world and the principle of non-duality.

Other names of this text are

– Vālmīki Yogavāsiṣṭha (वाल्मीकि योगवासिष्ठ) or Valmiki Yoga-vasishtha

– Mahārāmāyaṇa (महारामायण) or Maharamayana,

– Ārṣarāmāyaṇa (आर्षरामायण) or Arsharamayana,

– Vāsiṣṭharāmāyaṇa (वासिष्ठरामायण) or Vasishtharamayana,

– Yogavāsiṣṭhamahārāmāyaṇa (योगवासिष्ठमहारामायण) or Yoga-vāsiṣṭha-mahārāmāyaṇa,

– Jñānavāsiṣṭha (ज्ञानवासिष्ठ) or Jnana-vasishtha.

The complete text contains over 29,000 verses, while the short version of the text, called Laghu Yogavāsiṣṭham, contains 6,000 verses, translated into Persian by the 15th-century. This is one of the longest Hindu texts in Sanskrit after the Mahabharata, and an important text of Yoga. It consists of numerous short stories and anecdotes used to help illustrate its ideas and message.

The traditional belief is that reading this book leads to spiritual liberation. The text discusses consciousness, cosmology, nature of the universe and consciousness, the ultimate dissolution of body, the liberation of the soul and the non-dual nature of existence. It is likely that the text evolved over several centuries, reaching its current form between the 10th and 14th centuries, incorporating influences from various Indian philosophical traditions,

***

Yuga

There are four yuga’s, 1. Kṛta or Satya, 2. Tretā, 3. Dvāpara, 4. Kali, of which the first three have already elapsed, while the Kali, which began at midnight between the 17th and 18th of Feb. 3102 BC. The duration of each yuga is said to be respectively 1,728,000, 1,296,000, 864,000, and 432,000 years of humanity, the descending numbers representing a similar physical and moral deterioration of men in each age.

The ages see a gradual decline of dharma, wisdom, knowledge, intellectual capability, life span, emotional and physical strength.

• Satya Yuga (Virtue reigns supreme),
• Treta Yuga (3 quarter virtue & 1 quarter sin),
• Dwapar Yuga (1 half virtue & 1 half sin),
• Kali Yuga (1 quarter virtue & 3 quarter sin).
• Kali Yuga is mentioned in Aihole inscription and Parthiva sekarapuram Tamil Inscription. One more inscription is reported from Yogabadari

This is inscribed in a copper plate (mentioning Yuga), preserved in the temple of Yogabadarī (one of the Pañcabadarī) at Pāṇḍukeśvar (Pāṇḍukeśvara). It records the grant of many pieces of land, situated in the viṣayas (districts) of Ṭaṅgaṇāpura and Antaraṅga made by king Subhikṣa in favour of three deities.

 An age of the world; (the Yugas are four:-kṛta or satya, tretā, dvāpara and kali; the duration of each is said to be respectively 1,728,; 1,296,; 864.; and 432, years of men, the four together comprising 4,32, years of men which is equal to one Mahāyuga q. v.; it is also supposed that the regularly descending length of the Yugas represents a corresponding physical and moral deterioration in the people who live during each age, Krita being called the ‘golden’ and Kali or the present age the ‘iron’ age); धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय संभवामि युगे युगे (dharmasaṃsthāpanārthāya saṃbhavāmi yuge yuge) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 4.8; युगशतपरिवर्तान् (yugaśataparivartān) Ś7.34.

Geographical Spread: Inscriptions utilizing Kali Yuga calendar markers are found not only across India (such as in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam, and Kerala) but also internationally—such as the Sanskrit Jaiya Inscription in southern Thailand tied to King Candrabhanu of Tambralinga.

The Aihole inscription, found in a Jain temple in Karnataka, praises Chālukya king Pulakeśin II and provides key evidence for Kali Yuga’s date. However, a single reference to Bhārata has sparked controversy, with two interpretations: it refers to either Kali Yuga’s start or the Mahābhārata war’s start.

Two researchers used the Aihole inscription to date the Mahābhārata: one (Chandru Ramesh) linked Kali Yuga’s date to the war, placing it at 3101 BCE (Kali Yuga’s actual start), and another (Vedveer Arya) interpreted it as the war’s date, placing it at 3162 BCE. Both are incorrect. This article clarifies the inscription’s meaning through word-by-word analysis and allied inputs. Two verses of this inscription, numbered 33 and 34 give the date of the Jain temple built by Ravikīrti. The importance of the verse is that it gives the time in both Kali years and the Śaka years.

Latest News in year 25-11-2025:

Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi released the books “Kali Yuga Dated Inscriptions – A Basis of Indian History and Chronology (Volumes 1 & 2)”, authored by historian and epigraphist Dr. M. L. Raja, at a function attended by hundreds of historians, scholars, researchers and students.

This Raj Bhavan–led initiative draws on around 1,000 ancient inscriptions spanning over 5,000 years from across India and its neighbouring regions. By providing a credible, evidence-based chronological framework, the work strengthens efforts to decolonise India’s history, deepens civilisational understanding and gives fresh impetus to future research.

***

Yupa

Yūpa.—(EI 2, 24, 33), sacrificial pillar; it was sometimes made of stone and inscribed

This Sanskrit word is found in 2000 year old Sangam Tamil literature. Yupa pillars erected after performing Yagas were found in the deepest forest of Borneo Island, now part of Indonesia. They belonged to Mula Varman and Purana Varman of fifth century CE. Tamil references are from first century CE or BCE.

Yūpa (यूप):—m. ([probably] [from] √yup; but according to, [Uṇādi-sūtra iii, 27], [from] √2. yu) a post, beam, pillar, ([especially]) a smooth post or stake to which the sacrificial victim is fastened, any sacrificial post or stake (usually made of bamboos or Khadira wood; in [Rāmāyaṇa i, 13, 24; 25], where the horse sacrifice is described, 21 of these posts are set up, 6 made of Bilva, 6 of Khadira, 6 of Palāśa, one of Uḍumbara, one of Śleṣmātaka, and one of Deva-dāru), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

***

Yuwang suvang

Hiuen Tsang (commonly known today as Xuanzang) is pronounced roughly as “shwahn tsang” in standard Mandarin or “hyoo-en tsahng” in traditional English approximations.

Hiuen Tsang (629-645 CE) was a prominent Chinese traveller and Buddhist monk who visited India during the 7th century, significantly contributing to historical and cultural understanding. His extensive writings documented various aspects of Indian society, including religious practices, educational systems, and the prevalence of Siva worship. He is noted for his accounts of significant locations such as Nalanda and Takshashila, and for bringing valuable Buddhist teachings and artifacts back to China, influencing Buddhism’s spread in Asia; documented Indian charity practices during his expeditions, providing valuable insights into cultural and religious exchanges between China and India, highlighting the significance of altruism in both societies. When Hiuen-tsang visited India during Harsha’s reign, he found Taxila to be a dependency of Kashmir, indicating its reduced political status at that time; found shrines dedicated to local Nagas in Kashmir.

Even before Hiuen Tsang , Faxian visited India during Gupta period; after Hiuen Tsang,  Chinese traveller I-tsing journeyed to India to collect sacred texts and document ancient South Asian culture, education, and medicine.

—Subham—

Tags- Chinese traveller, Yuga, Yoga, Yavana, Yoga Vasistha, HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL-127; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி-127

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,282

Date uploaded in London – 8 October 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx 

 Words beginning with letter Y continued………………….

Yakshma /illness

Yakṣma (यक्ष्म) in the Rigveda and the Atharvaveda frequently denotes ‘illness’, in general, perhaps as rendering the body emaciated. A hundred kinds of Yakṣma are referred to in the Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā, and ayakṣma in the Kāṭhaka-saṃhitā, denotes ‘free from disease’.

In the Yajurveda-saṃhitās an account is given of the origin of Yakṣma, which is distinguished as of three kinds—

1. Rāja-yakṣma, ‘royal Yakṣma’,
2. Pāpa-yakṣma, ‘evil Yakṣma’
3. and Jāyenya, most probably ‘syphilis’.

The second of the series is elsewhere unknown, and can hardly be defined, for it merely means ‘serious or deadly disease’. Cf. also Ajñātayakṣma.

Yakṣma (यक्ष्म):—[from yakṣ] 1. yakṣma m. sickness, disease in general or Name of a large class of diseases ([probably] of a consumptive nature), [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā]

2) [v.s. …] pulmonary disease, consumption, [Taittirīya-saṃhitā; Kāṭhaka etc.]

***

Yama in Yoga

Yama (यम) refers to “self-restraint”. It is the first of the eight means of attaining mental concentration. The rest are “niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna” and “samādhi”. Yamas are usually said to be ten.

Yama (यम, “forbearance”) is a Sanskrit word referring to “respect for others”. It is one of the eight brances of yoga, also known as the eightfold-path (aṣṭānga yoga).

Yama is of ten kinds:

1. ahiṃsā (nonviolence)
2. satya (truthfulness)
3. asteya (not stealing)
4. brahmacarya (celibacy when single, not cheating on one’s partner)
5. kṣamā (forgiveness)
6. dhṛti (fortitude)
7. dayā (compassion)
8. ārjava (non-hypocrisy, sincerity)
9. mitāhāra (measured diet)
10. śauca (purity, cleanliness).

***

Yama, Vedic God

Yama (यम, “binder, restraint”):—He is the Vedic deity of death and judges them before his throne. He represents the embodiment of righteousness (Dharma). He is the son of Vivasvat, the Sun God, his brother is Manu and his twin sister is Yamī. He is with his scribe Citragupta, meaning Hidden Picture. All our good and bad thoughts are pictured in Citra Gupta’s Super computer which can store billions and billions bits of information. When the soul goes up this picture Citra Gupta also goes up and this decides our future in the heaven or Yama Loka.

Yama is the son of the resplendent Sun god —Vivasvat (Rig Veda 10.14.5), the embodiment of social morality represented as one of the aspects of the Sun and envisaged as the progenitor of humankind. Yama’s brother is the Lawgiver, Manu, who shares with him the title of progenitor of humankind.

Yama (यम) controls our lives and gives the result of our lives. In the Ṛgveda, god Yama is prayed for leading the devotees to the path through which their ancestors departed. In the Ṛgveda, two dogs of Yama are referred to as yamadūta i.e., the messenger of Yama.

He plays major role in the stories of Nachiketas (Katha Upanishad), Satyavan Savitri and Yakshaprashna

Brahmins worship him thrice everyday facing South reciting Yama Vandhana

यमय नमः । यमाय धर्मराजाय मृत्यवे चान्तकाय च । वैवस्वताय कालाय सर्वभूतक्षयाय च । औदुम्बराय दध्नाय नीलाय परमेष्ठिने । वृकोदराय चित्राय चित्रगुप्ताय वै नमो नमः ॥ चित्रगुप्ताय वै नम ॐ नम इति ॥

yamāya namaḥ | yamāya dharma-rājāya mṛtyave cāntakāya ca |
vaivasvatāya kālāya sarva-bhūta-kṣayāya ca ||
audumbarāya dadhnāya nīlāya parameṣṭhine |
vṛkodarāya citrāya citra-guptāya vai namo namaḥ ||
citra-guptāya vai nama oṃ nama iti

Yama (यम): The Restrainer or Controller; he who keeps mankind in check.

Dharmaraja (धर्मराज): The King of Righteousness or Justice.

Mrityu (मृत्यु): Death personified.

Antaka (अन्तक): The Ender; he who brings life to a termination.

Vaivasvata (वैवस्वत): The son of Vivasvat (the Sun God).

Kala (काल): Time, the ultimate devourer.

Sarvabhutakshaya (सर्वभूतक्षय): The destroyer or dissolver of all living beings.

Audumbara (औदुम्बर): The one possessing immense strength (often symbolized by the glaucous fig tree).

Dadhna (दध्न): The sustainer. English word DEATH is derived from this Sanskrit word.

Neela (नील): The dark or blue-black complexioned one.

Paramesthi (परमेष्ठी): The supreme lord or high official of cosmic order.

Vrikodara (वृकोदर): The one with a vast appetite or a powerful physical frame.

Chitra (चित्र): The wonderful or multifaceted one.

Chitragupta (चित्रगुप्त): Frequently invoked alongside Yama; his cosmic scribe who records all human deeds

In Sangam Tamil literature and Tirukkural we come across him.

Sangam Age Tamil Books, which are 2000 years old, have lots of references to God of Death; they clearly meant Vedic God because like Vedic God he is assigned South as his residence.

***

Yamuna (Jamuna)

Tamils never mentioned Sindhu/Indus River in Sangam literature. They have no knowledge of Indus Valley or Harappan Civilization. But they mentioned River Ganga in at least 17 places and Yamuna t one place. They not only mentioned it with a strange name THOZUNAI with Gopi’s bathing incident in Akananuru book. This raises many questions. Gopis are known to Tamils even 2000 years ago. So Bhagavatha Purana must be placed in BCE  period. Yamuna’s reference in the Vedas explode all Aryan migration theories. Eastern direction is assigned to Indra which shows they migrated to western countries from the Gangetic plains.

1) Yamunā (यमुना):—[from yam] f. Name of a river commonly called the Jumnā (in, [Harivaṃśa] and, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa] identified with Yamī q.v.; it rises in the Himālaya mountains among the Jumnotri peaks at an elevation of 10,849 feet, and flows for 860 miles before it joins the Ganges at Allahabad, its water being there clear as crystal, while that of the Ganges is yellowish; the confluence of the two with the river Sarasvatī, supposed to join them underground, is called tri-veṇī q.v.), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

Yamunā (यमुना, ‘twin’) the name of a river, so called as running parallel with the Ganges, is mentioned thrice in the Rigveda. According to the Rigveda, the Tṛtsus and Sudās won a great victory against their foes on the banks of Yamunā; there is no reason whatever to accept Hopkins’ view that the Yamunā here was another name of the Paruṣṇī (Ravi). In the Atharvaveda the salve (Āñjana) of the Yamunā (Yāmuna) is mentioned along with that of Trikakud (Traikakuda) as of value. In the Aitareya and the Śatapatha-brāhmaṇas the Bharatas are famed as victorious on the Yamunā. Other Brāhmaṇas also mention this river. In the Mantrapāṭha the Sālvas are spoken of as dwelling on its banks. Yamuna river is black in colour and Ganga river is white in colour. Kalidasa used this geographical fact to compare them with Krishna/black and Balarama/white in his work.

Yamuna (जमुना): A river (also spelled Jamuna), joining with the Ganges. Literally meaning “twins” in Sanskrit, as it runs parallel to the Ganges

The river Is mentioned also by the name Kālindī in Eran Stone inscription of Budhagupta. The river is identical with modern Jumna or Yamunā, joining the Gaṅgā near Prayag (Allahabad) the Triveṇī Saṃgama.

***

Yaudheya

Yaudheya (यौधेय).—The Yaudheyas seem to have been in existence from the time of Pāṇini, who speaks of them as an āyudha-jīvin Saṃgha. This expression is the same as śastr-ōpajīvin used by Kautilya. And both denote a tribal corporation “subsisting on arms”. Originally they seem to have been a tribal band of mercenaries and constituted one kind of a king’s army. In the time of Pāṇini they were an ēka-rāja Kṣatriya tribe which means that so far as their tribal constitution was concerned they were governed by one ruler, but exercised no political power.

Yaudheya coins are ancient copper and silver currencies issued between the 2nd century BCE and the 4th century CE by the Yaudheyas.

• Design & Deities: Most coins feature Karttikeya (the Hindu war god also called Brahmanyadeva or Skanda) holding a spear or javelin on the obverse, often accompanied by a peacock. In coins he is shown with his six heads.

• Inscriptions: They commonly bear the Brahmi legend “Yaudheya Ganasya Jaya” (Victory of the Yaudheya tribe), celebrating military success.

• Symbols: Reverses often display a deer, an elephant, a bull, or an architectural temple structure.

• Denominations: Minted primarily in copper and bronze as punch-marked or cast coins, varying in weight from roughly 3 grams to over 11 grams

They are identified with the Jats clan Joiyas or Johiya of Bahawalpur and Multan Divisions (Pakistan) and Bikaner, Rajasthan (India). Yaudheyas were the rulers of South-Eastern Punjab and Rajasthan. Even today these areas are inhabited by the Johiyas.

1) Yaudheya (यौधेय).—A son of Dharmaputra. Mahābhārata. Ādi Parva, Chapter 95, Verse 76, states that this prince was born to Dharmaputra by Devikādevī, daughter of Govāsana, king of Śibi land.

2) Yaudheya (यौधेय).—A native of Yaudheya country. Mahābhārata, Sabhā Parva, Chapter 52, Verse 14, mentions, that the Yaudheyas had participated in Yudhiṣṭhira’s Rājasūya.

***

Yayati (Two Yayatis)

Scholars say that there were two Yayatis; the one in the Rig Veda is different from Yayati of Mahabharata. But later stories merged them adding to confusion. They showed him as King of Sp;ar Dynasty and Lunar Dynasty.

1) Yayati was a Kuru prince, of the Chandra/Lunar dynasty. He once happened to rescue Devayani from a well in the forest. Later, with her father’s consent he married her. He broke a promise to his father-in-law, that of remaining faithful to his wife, by marrying Sharmishta, the daughter of the King Vrishaparva of the Asuras. For this he was cursed with premature old age, which could be alleviated if one of his sons would agree to bear it instead. Only Puru, his youngest son (by Sharmishta) would agree.

2) Yayati was a king of the solar dynasty, the son of Nahusha, and an ancestor of Rama. Nabhaga is his son.

Yayāti (ययाति).—The middle son of Nahuṣa and Virajā, the mindborn daughter of Ajyapas: married Śarmiṣṭhā, daughter of Vṛṣaparvan,¹ and had three sons by her; pleased with him Indra gave him a golden chariot yoked with swift horses and which became the ratha of the Paurava kings.² Became king after his father: desire for more territory; placed his younger brothers in charge of the four quarters of the kingdom; nature of his good rule described; in the course of a hunting expedition, he heard the cry of a girl coming out of a well and going near it found a girl inside standing helpless and naked; he gave her his upper cloth to wear and lifted her up. She was Devayānī, the daughter of Śukra and she became his wife and bore him two sons, Yadu and Turvasu.

Śukra in offering his daughter to the king asked him not to share his bed with Śarmiṣṭhā. In a weak moment, forgetting his promise, he yielded to the entreaties of Śarmiṣṭhā and on this Devayānī departed to Śukra’s place. Yayāti followed her and was cursed by Śukra to become old; but Śukra said that he could take the youth of somebody by exchanging it for his old age. He enquired of all his sons and all except Pūru refused to comply with his request. With Pūru’s youth he enjoyed for long the company of Devayānī; narrated to her an old story of an ewe found in a well, loving a ram, who was not faithful at first but who spent ultimately a long time of enjoyment with her. He compared himself to that ram and said that he should thereafter bestow his thought on Hari. So he returned his youth to Pūru and led a life of penance at Bhṛgutunga after anointing Pūru on the throne and appointing his other sons in different parts of the kingdom.

Yayati, son of Nahuṣa, was dated 1800 BCE by Morton Smith in his book Dates and Dynasties in Earliest India.

D R Mankad in his well-researched book Date of Rgveda (year 1952) says this:

Under RV.IX.47 add the following:

It should be noted this Yayati is not the Yayari who was the great grandson of Pururuva. The name of the father of this Yayati was also Nahusa, but this Nahusa is called Manava, i.e, son of Manu in the Anukramani and this Manu, in his turn called son of Samvaruna Therefore this Yayati is was different from Yayati, the great grandson of Pururuva. He thus can be a contemporary of Andhigu. It is this Yayati who gave his daughter Madhavi (Mahabharata) to Galava, who was married her in turn to , Haryasva, Divodasa, Usinara and Visvamitra. Therefore this Yayati and other Rsis of this hymn belong to Rama period. This preserves the genealogy:- Yayati—Nahusa—Manu—Samvarana—i.e. four generations.

Since both of them had fathers named Yayati, that led to big confusion. Story about Madhavi also confirmed there were two Yayatis, one from solar dynasty and another from lunar dynasty.

 Mādhavī (माधवी).—Daughter of King Yayāti. A lady recluse she always wore deer-hide as her garment and went on observing a Vrata called Mṛgavrata: Yayāti gave this daughter in marriage to Gālava. (Śloka 12, Chapter 145, Udyoga Parva). Mādhavī bore a son named Vasumān alias Vasumanas to Haryaśva, King of Ayodhyā. She got of Divodāsa, King of Kāśī, another son named Pratardana; of the King of Uśīnara she got a son named Śibi. Besides these she got a son named Aṣṭaka of Viśvāmitra. (See under Gālava). When the accrued merit of Yayāti was exhausted and he fell down from heaven Mādhavī consented to part with half of her stock of merit to Yayāti.

To be continued…………………..

Tags. Yakshma, Yaudheya, Yayati , HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL-125; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி-125, Yamuna

Written by London Swaminathan

Post No. 16,273

Date uploaded in London – 5 October 2026

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

xxxx 

Part 123

Words beginning with letter Y in English Alphabet

Yadhava- yadu

Descendants of Yadu also called Yādhavas and Vṛṣṇis; a tribe who had Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as their lords;1 the maternal uncle line of Sagara with capital at Mathurā; Kakudmin was their king for some time;  consisted of Kukuras, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas; to deprive them of all their possessions was the plan of Kaṃsa;

On Kṛṣhṇa’s advice and in fulfilment of the curse of sages to die of the iron club born to Sāmba, Yadhavas left Dvārakā for Prabhāsa; having drunk they attacked one another and finally took hold of rushes grown out of the iron pieces of musala ((मुसल) denotes a wooden pestle or rod used for pounding and cleaning rice.)and killed themselves. Lates Dvaraka went into sea.

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Yajna

Yajña (यज्ञ) refers to:—(1) a sacrifice in which a deity is propitiated by the chanting of prayers and mantras and the offering of ghee into the sacrificial fire; (2) any kind of intense endeavour which is directed at achieving a particular goal.

Second meaning – An act of worship, any pious or devotional act

Yajna is an ancient ritual of offering and sublimating the havana sámagri (herbal preparations and Samit sticks) in the fire. The sublime meaning of the word yajna is derived from the Sanskrit verb yaj, which has a three-fold meaning of worship of deities (devapujana), unity (sangatikarana) and charity (dána). An essential element is the ritual fire – the divine Agni – into which oblations are poured, as everything that is offered into the fire is believed to reach God.

Rituals associated with temple worship in Hinduism are called agamic, while those involving communication with divinity through Agni are Vedic. Temple rites in modern-day Hinduism are a combination of both Vedic and agamic rituals. The ritualistic portion of the Hindu scriptures is called Karma-Kanda. Parts of Vedas which describe or discuss Yajnas fall into this portion.

Sanskrit dictionary

1)      A sacrifice, sacrificial rite; any offering or oblation; यज्ञेन यज्ञमयजन्त देवाः (yajñena yajñamayajanta devāḥ); तस्माद्यज्ञात् सर्वहुतः (tasmādyajñāt sarvahutaḥ) &c.; यज्ञाद् भवति पर्जन्यो यज्ञः कर्मसमुद्भवः (yajñād bhavati parjanyo yajñaḥ karmasamudbhavaḥ) Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 3.14.

2)     Five Daily Yajnas:

2) An act of worship, any pious or devotional act. (Every householder, but particularly a Brāhmaṇa, has to perform five such devotional acts every day; their names are :-bhūtayajña, manuṣyayajña, pitṛyajña, devayajña, and brahmayajña, which are collectively called the five ‘great sacrifices’; see mahāyajña, and the five words separately.)

Third meaning – In Sangam Age, Tamils called even war as Battle Field Yajna (Kala Velvi in Tamil )

Velvi is a word used in 2000 year old Sangam Tamil Literature with the same meaning of Yajna. (Yaj=Vettal in Tamil)

Kanchi Paramacharya (1894-1994) explained it and emphasized that this has been part of Tamil Life. Even 2000 years ago, they coined the word VELVI and it is found in all the books of Sangam Age.

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Yaga

Sanskrit dictionary

Yāga (याग).—[yaj ghañ kutvam]

Also called Havan, Homa.

1) An offering, a sacrifice, an oblation; इष्टिर्यागः (iṣṭiryāgaḥ) Śatapata Brahmana. on Manu Smriti.6.8.7.

2) Any ceremony in which oblations are presented, with a direct reference to a deity; प्रत्यक्षदेवतासम्बद्धो हि त्यागो यागः (pratyakṣadevatāsambaddho hi tyāgo yāgaḥ) ŚB. on MS.9.4.47; ऋषिदेवगणस्वधाभुजां श्रुतयागप्रसवैः स पार्थिवः (ṛṣidevagaṇasvadhābhujāṃ śrutayāgaprasavaiḥ sa pārthivaḥ) (anṛṇatvamupeyivān) R.8.3.

3) Presentation, grant.

There are 400 types of Yagas and Yajnas according to Kanchi Paramacharya (1894-1994).

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Yajnavalkya

Yājñavalkya of Videha (fl. c. 8th century BCE) was a sage and philosopher of Vedic India. He was one of the first philosophers in recorded history, alongside Uddalaka Aruni. In the court of King Janaka of Mithila, he was renowned for his expertise in Vedic ritual and his unrivalled talent in theological debate. He expounded a doctrine of neti neti to describe the universal Self or Ātman. He later became a wandering ascetic. His teachings are recorded in the Shatapatha Brahmana and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

He is traditionally credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha Brahmana (including the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad), besides the Yoga Yajnavalkya and the Yājñavalkya Smṛti. He is also a major figure in the Upanishads.

According to traditional accounts, Yājñavalkya was the son of Devarāta and was the pupil of sage Vaisampayana .

Yājñavalkya married two wives. One was Maitreyi and the other Katyaayanee. Of the two, Maitreyi was a Brahmavadini (one who is interested in the knowledge of Brahman). Wisdom of Yājñavalkya is shown in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad where he gives his teachings to his wife Maitreyi and King Janaka. He also participates in a competition arranged by King Janaka about the selecting great Brhama Jnani (knower of Brahman). His intellectual dialogues with Miss Gargi (a learned scholar of the times) form a beautiful chapter filled with lot of philosophical and mystical question-answers in Brhadaranyaka Upanishad. He was then praised as the greatest Brahmajnyani by all the sages at the Philosophers Conference organised by king Janaka. In the end, Yājñavalkya took Vidvat Sanyasa (renunciation after the attainment of the knowledge of Brahman) and retired to the forest.

He was also King Janaka’s priest.

Yājñavalkya quarrelled with his guru and vomited the yaju (s.v.) he learnt; propitiated the Sun god to get chandas unknown to his guru. Pleased with him the Sun god instructed him in Vājasenyastas (Yajus ayātayāma, Viṣṇu-purāṇa); in the form of a horse.

(Vomitted- vowed not to use it anymore).

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Yajur Veda

It was Vyāsa who divided the Vedas into four parts. After dividing them, the sage Vyāsa taught Rg Veda to Paila, Yajurveda to Vaiśampāyana, Sāmaveda to Jaimini and Atharvaveda to Sumantu.

The rules for Japa, Homa etc. of Yajurveda were taught to Vyāsa by Agnideva. If all the rules of Yajurveda are correctly observed, all desires will be fulfilled. There are special rules for the observance of homa for the fulfilment of particular desires.

Yajurveda (यजुर्वेद).—See Yajus;¹ divided into four parts from which originated yajña, performed by four orders of priests —adhvaryu to recite yajus, hota, the rks, and udgāta, the sāman, and Brahmā, the atharvamantras.

its śākhas/branches are 27; arranged by Vaiśampāyana, pupil of Vyāsa, and taught to his disciples including Yājñavalkya; the latter was made to vomit (banned from using it and he promised not to use it) for his behaviour, all the texts, which the other disciples digested, in the form of partridges and hence this portion came to be known as Taittirīya; but Yājñavalkya prayed to the Sun-god who initiated him into the other portions of the Yajus in the form of a horse and hence called Vājaseneya; part of Viṣṇu.(Tittiri-Partridge; Vaji-Horse)

Yajurveda often consisting of the prose Yajus, are frequently identical with the Mantras of the Ṛg-veda, the Yajur-veda being only a sort of sacrificial prayer-book for the Adhvaryu priests formed out of the Ṛg-veda. its division into two distinct collections of texts, the Taittirīya-saṃhitā and the Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā, the former of which is also called Kṛhṣṇa / ‘Black’, and the latter Śukla ‘White’, however, two of the principal being the Darśa-pūrṇa-māsa or sacrifice to be performed at new and full moon, and the Aśva-medha or horse-sacrifice are similar.

***

Yaksha

Yakṣa (यक्ष):— Yakṣas represent a group of mysterious beings, with Kubera as their chief. They are also known as Guhyaka (‘the secret-ones’) and are often associated with Rākṣasas (‘the night-wanderers’) and Nāgas (‘serpents’). Kubera is the Vedic God of wealth presiding over all earthly treasures. They are the protectors of environment. In Sangam Tamil Books Anangu (nymphs) paly the same role of guarding environment. Because of this belief, they don’t pollute natural treasures.

Yaksha is the name of a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, who are caretakers of the natural treasures hidden in the earth and tree roots. In many stories, they harass mortals( when they try to pollute them), chiefly by enchanting forests, lakes and rivers and killing any human who ventures near them. The Yakshas are said to be very wealthy. Their king Kubera is said to be the wealthiest of all beings.

A class of Semi-gods. There are chiefly three classes of inhabitants in Heaven:—Devas, Gaṇadevas and Upadevas. Gaṇadevas consist of the 12 Ādityas, 10 Viśvadevas, 8 Vasus, 36 Tuṣitas, 64 Ābhāsvaras, 49 Anilas 220 Mahārājikas, 12 Sādhyas and 11 Rudras.

Among the Upadevas there are 10 subdivisions. They are, Vidyādharas, Apsaras, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Piśācas, Guhyakas, Siddhas and Bhūtas.

Origin. There are different views relating to the origin of the Yakṣas. In Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter l we find that the Yakṣas took birth after Brahmā’s birth from “Virāṭ Puruṣa’s” aṇḍa. According to a statement in Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 19, Yakṣas and Rākṣasas were born from Munī, the grand daughter of Kaśyapa prajāpati. Thus Yakṣas and Rākṣasas are related as brothers. In Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva, Chapter 66, Verse 7, there is another passage which says that Yakṣas are the progeny of the sage Pulastya.

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Yaksha prashna in Mahabharata (Yaksha’s Questions)

The Yaksha Prashna features around 124 to 126 individual questions (grouped across 34 main sets or verses).

•          The Setting: Found in the Vana Parva (Forest Book) of the Mahabharata.

•          The Participants: Yudhishthira and a Yaksha (who is actually Lord Yama in disguise).

•          The Format: The spirit asks rapid-fire ethical and metaphysical questions about life, duty (dharma), and death.

•          The Outcome: Yudhishthira answers every question correctly, and his fallen brothers are brought back to life

Yudhishthira, upon seeing his brothers lying dead on the ground, was overwhelmed with grief and began to lament their loss. He came across a Yaksha who had slain his brothers for taking water without permission, and in order to bring them back to life, Yudhishthira had to answer a series of questions posed by the Yaksha. Throughout the questioning, Yudhishthira displayed his wisdom, knowledge, and adherence to virtue, impressing the Yaksha with his answers. He emphasized the importance of behaviour in determining one’s status as a Brahmana, the value of virtues such as generosity and honest conduct, and the consequences of various actions in this life and the next.

Yudhishthira explained that true happiness lies in contentment, proper conduct, and adherence to one’s duties. He highlighted the importance of good behaviour and restraint in determining one’s status as a learned person or a Brahmana. He also discussed the significance of virtues such as patience, forgiveness, and charity, and the detrimental effects of vices like pride, anger, and covetousness. Yudhishthira’s responses reflected his deep understanding of moral and ethical principles, and his commitment to upholding righteousness in all aspects of life.

The Yaksha, impressed by Yudhishthira’s wisdom and virtue, offered to revive one of his brothers. Yudhishthira, true to his principles of fairness and equality, chose Nakula (his step brother) to be revived, demonstrating his love and respect for all his siblings, regardless of their birth order or biological relationships. He emphasized the importance of treating all family members with equal care and concern, regardless of any perceived differences.

By choosing Nakula to be revived, Yudhishthira not only displayed his love and affection for his step-brother but also upheld the principles of fairness and equality in his decision-making. Nakula was born to Madhuri while Yudhishthira was born to Kunthi. At the end all the brothers are revived.

The story serves as a powerful reminder of the value of virtue and righteousness, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

To be continued…………………..

Tags-Yaga, Yajna, Yajnavalkya, Yajur Veda, Yaksha Prashna, HINDU DICTIONARY IN ENGLISH AND TAMIL-123; இந்து மத கலைச்சொல் அகராதி-123