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Adding local short description: "Hindu goddess and Agni's wife", overriding Wikidata description "Hindu goddess and Agni's wife" (Shortdesc helper)
 
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{{Short description|Hindu goddess and Agni's wife}}
{{Short description|Hindu invocation sometimes personified as a goddess and Agni's wife}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2016}}
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| siblings =  
| siblings =  
| affiliation =''[[Devi]]''}}
| affiliation =''[[Devi]]''}}
In [[Hinduism]] and [[Buddhism]], the [[Sanskrit]] [[lexical item]] '''''svāhā''''' (romanized Sanskrit transcription; [[Devanagari]]: स्वाहा; Chinese: 薩婆訶, ''sà pó hē'', Japanese: ''sowaka''; Tibetan: སྭཱ་ཧཱ་ ''soha''; Korean: 사바하, ''sabaha'') is a [[:wikt:dénouement|denouement]] used at the end of a [[mantra]], which is invoked during [[yajna]] fire sacrifices and worship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pal |first1=Ankit |title=why do we say swaha at the end of Mantra during Havan |url=https://www.newstrend.news/391099/why-do-we-say-swaha-after-every-mantra-in-havan/ |website=newstrend.news |publisher=Newstrend |access-date=4 March 2021}}</ref> ''Svāhā'' is chanted to offer [[oblation]] to the gods.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cappeller|first=Carl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z60SAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA655&dq=&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwic3dTw35bvAhX-Ap0JHZxmD_oQ6AEwAnoECAAQAw|title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Based Upon the St. Petersburg Lexicons|date=1891|publisher=K. Paul|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Franco|first=Rendich|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KphVAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA604&dq=&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwig1LTT4ZbvAhWUVc0KHdGlDvcQ6AEwAnoECAEQAw|title=Comparative etymological Dictionary of classical Indo-European languages: Indo-European - Sanskrit - Greek - Latin|date=2013-12-14|publisher=Rendich Franco|language=en}}</ref> As a feminine noun, ''svāhā'' in the Rigveda may also mean oblation (to Agni or Indra). Svaha also is considered to mean an auspicious ending.
In [[Hinduism]] the [[Sanskrit]] [[lexical item]] '''''svāhā''''' (romanized Sanskrit transcription; [[Devanagari]]: स्वाहा; Chinese: 薩婆訶, ''sà pó hē'', Japanese: ''sowaka''; Tibetan: སྭཱ་ཧཱ་ ''sw'a h'a''; Korean: 사바하, ''sabaha'') is a [[:wikt:dénouement|denouement]] used at the end of a [[mantra]], which is invoked during [[yajna]] fire sacrifices and worship.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pal |first1=Ankit |title=why do we say swaha at the end of Mantra during Havan |url=https://www.newstrend.news/391099/why-do-we-say-swaha-after-every-mantra-in-havan/ |website=newstrend.news |date=September 2020 |publisher=Newstrend |access-date=4 March 2021}}</ref> ''Svāhā'' is chanted to offer [[oblation]] to the gods.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cappeller|first=Carl|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z60SAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA655|title=A Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Based Upon the St. Petersburg Lexicons|date=1891|publisher=K. Paul|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Franco|first=Rendich|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KphVAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA604|title=Comparative etymological Dictionary of classical Indo-European languages: Indo-European - Sanskrit - Greek - Latin|date=2013-12-14|publisher=Rendich Franco|language=en}}</ref> As a feminine noun, ''svāhā'' in the Rigveda may also mean oblation (to Agni or Indra). Svaha also is considered to mean an auspicious ending.


In the [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan language]], "svaha" is translated as "so be it" and is often pronounced and orthographically represented as "soha".
In the [[Tibetic languages|Tibetan language]], "svaha" is translated as "so be it"{{cn|date=November 2021}} and is often pronounced as "soha".


== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==
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== Goddess ==
== Goddess ==
'''Svāhā''' is also personified as a [[Goddess]] and the consort of [[Agni]]. According to the [[Brahmavidya Upanishad]], Svāhā represents the [[shakti]] or power that cannot be burned by Agni.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1197&dq&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj-qM_855bvAhUAEVkFHaq2AZ0Q6AEwAnoECAIQAw|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>  In the Upanishads, Svāhā states to be enamoured by Agni and wishes to dwell with Agni. Other deities state that oblations will hence be offered to Agni while invoking svāhā during hymns, therefore Svāhā will dwell with Agni in perpetuity.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6JI-AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA296&dq=&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&source=gb_mobile_search&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjlj8m66pbvAhV7EVkFHdyKCicQ6AEwCHoECAgQAw|title=Original Sanskrit texts on the origin and progress of the religion and institutions of India|date=1863|publisher=Williams and Norgate|language=en}}</ref>
'''Svāhā''' is also personified as a [[Goddess]] and the consort of [[Agni]]. According to the [[Brahmavidya Upanishad]], Svāhā represents the [[shakti]] or power that cannot be burned by Agni.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalal|first=Roshen|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrk0AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT1197|title=Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide|date=2014-04-18|publisher=Penguin UK|isbn=978-81-8475-277-9|language=en}}</ref>  In the Upanishads, Svāhā states to be enamoured by Agni and wishes to dwell with Agni. Other deities state that oblations will hence be offered to Agni while invoking svāhā during hymns, therefore Svāhā will dwell with Agni in perpetuity.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6JI-AAAAcAAJ&pg=PA296|title=Original Sanskrit texts on the origin and progress of the religion and institutions of India|date=1863|publisher=Williams and Norgate|language=en}}</ref>


In some versions, she is one of the many divine mothers of [[Kartikeya]] (Skanda). She is also the mother of [[Agneya]] (Aagneya) — the daughter of Agni. She is considered to be a daughter of [[Daksha]] and his consort [[Prasuti]]. She is thought to preside over burnt offerings. Her body is said to consist of the four Vedas and her six limbs are the six Angas of the Vedas.
In some versions, she is one of the many divine mothers of [[Kartikeya]] (Skanda). She is also the mother of [[Agneya]] (Aagneya) — the daughter of Agni. She is considered to be a daughter of [[Daksha]] and his consort [[Prasuti]]. She is thought to preside over burnt offerings. Her body is said to consist of the four Vedas and her six limbs are the six Angas of the Vedas.

Latest revision as of 16:22, 14 December 2021


Svāhā
Goddess of Ash, Afterlife and Marriage
Svaha
Agni with Svaha
AffiliationDevi
AbodeAgniloka
MantraOm Svaha
Personal information
Parents
ConsortAgni[1]
ChildrenPavaka, Pavamana, Suci

In Hinduism the Sanskrit lexical item svāhā (romanized Sanskrit transcription; Devanagari: स्वाहा; Chinese: 薩婆訶, sà pó hē, Japanese: sowaka; Tibetan: སྭཱ་ཧཱ་ sw'a h'a; Korean: 사바하, sabaha) is a denouement used at the end of a mantra, which is invoked during yajna fire sacrifices and worship.[2] Svāhā is chanted to offer oblation to the gods.[3][4] As a feminine noun, svāhā in the Rigveda may also mean oblation (to Agni or Indra). Svaha also is considered to mean an auspicious ending.

In the Tibetan language, "svaha" is translated as "so be it"[citation needed] and is often pronounced as "soha".

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Etymologically, the Sanskrit term derives from the root words su- "good" and -aha "to call".[4][5]

Goddess[edit | edit source]

Svāhā is also personified as a Goddess and the consort of Agni. According to the Brahmavidya Upanishad, Svāhā represents the shakti or power that cannot be burned by Agni.[6] In the Upanishads, Svāhā states to be enamoured by Agni and wishes to dwell with Agni. Other deities state that oblations will hence be offered to Agni while invoking svāhā during hymns, therefore Svāhā will dwell with Agni in perpetuity.[7]

In some versions, she is one of the many divine mothers of Kartikeya (Skanda). She is also the mother of Agneya (Aagneya) — the daughter of Agni. She is considered to be a daughter of Daksha and his consort Prasuti. She is thought to preside over burnt offerings. Her body is said to consist of the four Vedas and her six limbs are the six Angas of the Vedas.

Story[edit | edit source]

In the Mahabharata Vana Parva, Markandeya narrates her story to the Pandavas. Svaha was the daughter of Daksha. She fell in love with the god of fire, Agni, and was pursuing him. Agni did not notice her. Agni presided over the sacrificial rituals of the Saptarshis. The god became highly besotted with the wives of the Saptarshis who were so attractive and beautiful, and kept staring at them.

Finally, Agni could not bear the guilt of longing for wives belonging to someone else and he went to the forests to perform penances. Svaha followed him and realised his desire. She took the forms of the wives of the Saptarshis (though she was unable to take the form of Arundhati, wife of Vashishtha) and approached Agni. Agni and Svaha spent many loving moments in the forest.

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Antonio Rigopoulos (1998). Dattatreya: The Immortal Guru, Yogin, and Avatara: A Study of the Transformative and Inclusive Character of a Multi-faceted Hindu Deity. State University of New York Press. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-7914-3696-7.
  2. Pal, Ankit (September 2020). "why do we say swaha at the end of Mantra during Havan". newstrend.news. Newstrend. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  3. Cappeller, Carl (1891). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Based Upon the St. Petersburg Lexicons. K. Paul.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Franco, Rendich (14 December 2013). Comparative etymological Dictionary of classical Indo-European languages: Indo-European - Sanskrit - Greek - Latin. Rendich Franco.
  5. "The mantric word svaha". www.visiblemantra.org. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
  6. Dalal, Roshen (18 April 2014). Hinduism: An Alphabetical Guide. Penguin UK. ISBN 978-81-8475-277-9.
  7. Original Sanskrit texts on the origin and progress of the religion and institutions of India. Williams and Norgate. 1863.

Template:Hindu Culture and Epics