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ArchivesRe: Names meaning life
in reply to a message by Rene
Re: http://www.babynames.ch/Info/Group/orPranav
Pranav is actually not related to prana etymologically: except both have the prefix pra- (cognate with English fore-) in them. The root in praNava is nu- to make a sound, roar, bellow, etc., and praNava (etymologically, thus, meaning the roar or bellow) specialized to mean the mystical syllable oM, possibly cognate with, but with very different symbolism and usage pattern than, the Amen in Christian usage, possibly again, originally implying assent. Mystically, the sound symbolizes the invocation of the Hindu trinity (the creator, maintainer, and destroyer) and precedes or is associated with the utterance of holy words, often from the vedas: in the caste system, it is supposed to be used very freely by the priestly caste, and in very ritualized setting by the settled people of the land, with the warrior class falling somewhere in the middle.
The root in prANa, however, is an, cognate with the root of animal in English, and meant to breath. Amongst the various intakes and release of air from the living body, this one symbolized the breath taken in, and thus generally life.
So, praNava should not be classed under life.
Pranav is actually not related to prana etymologically: except both have the prefix pra- (cognate with English fore-) in them. The root in praNava is nu- to make a sound, roar, bellow, etc., and praNava (etymologically, thus, meaning the roar or bellow) specialized to mean the mystical syllable oM, possibly cognate with, but with very different symbolism and usage pattern than, the Amen in Christian usage, possibly again, originally implying assent. Mystically, the sound symbolizes the invocation of the Hindu trinity (the creator, maintainer, and destroyer) and precedes or is associated with the utterance of holy words, often from the vedas: in the caste system, it is supposed to be used very freely by the priestly caste, and in very ritualized setting by the settled people of the land, with the warrior class falling somewhere in the middle.
The root in prANa, however, is an, cognate with the root of animal in English, and meant to breath. Amongst the various intakes and release of air from the living body, this one symbolized the breath taken in, and thus generally life.
So, praNava should not be classed under life.
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Replies
Thanks for the information.
I am not sure, but I think I took my info from one of the many sites that explain some kind of Yoga, like e.g. the following:
http://www.vyanayoga.com/om.php
This site sports the following info: "The sound of Om is also called Pranava, meaning that it sustains life and runs through Prana or breath."
Did I misunderstand something, or is that info misleading or even wrong?
I am not sure, but I think I took my info from one of the many sites that explain some kind of Yoga, like e.g. the following:
http://www.vyanayoga.com/om.php
This site sports the following info: "The sound of Om is also called Pranava, meaning that it sustains life and runs through Prana or breath."
Did I misunderstand something, or is that info misleading or even wrong?
1
Well, it hinges on the meaning of meaning :-) Mystical meanings have little to do with either etymology or historical origins. In Hindu mysticism, moreover, there is no central authority, so anybody is free to turn what originally was a misconception into a sectarian belief. Ultimately a folk etymology does provide a meaning if enough people believe it.
In this case, I do not know what the author is talking about since (i) it is unfamiliar to me and (ii) I wonder whether he meant it as a pun (or folk etymology) between pranava and prana, except the pun does not work in Sanskrit: the -a- in pranava (both of them) is a schwa, whereas the first -a- in prana is the wide open -a- as in English car, and change of this long A to a short a is rather rare morphological transformation (the opposite is not uncommon), and sounds odd to the native ear.
But, the mystical sound oM is supposed to be the mystical sound behind all creation, behind all life and consciousness. And, sound is connected deeply to breath. But, by now, we are in the soft territory of semantic fuzziness and I do not know what to say.
In this case, I do not know what the author is talking about since (i) it is unfamiliar to me and (ii) I wonder whether he meant it as a pun (or folk etymology) between pranava and prana, except the pun does not work in Sanskrit: the -a- in pranava (both of them) is a schwa, whereas the first -a- in prana is the wide open -a- as in English car, and change of this long A to a short a is rather rare morphological transformation (the opposite is not uncommon), and sounds odd to the native ear.
But, the mystical sound oM is supposed to be the mystical sound behind all creation, behind all life and consciousness. And, sound is connected deeply to breath. But, by now, we are in the soft territory of semantic fuzziness and I do not know what to say.
1