梵
Sanskrit, purity, Buddhist
Readings
On'yomi
- ボン
- フウ
Kun'yomi
—
Meaning
梵 centers on the sacred and pure, especially in a Buddhist context. It is strongly associated with Sanskrit, the liturgical language of Buddhism, and by extension with purity and things Buddhist.
Most common words using 梵
- 梵ぼん
Brahman (ultimate reality of the universe in Hinduism); Brahma
- 梵天ぼんてん
Brahma (Hindu creator god)
- 梵字ぼんじ
script used to write Sanskrit (esp. Siddham)
- 梵語ぼんご
Sanskrit
- 梵僧ぼんそう
monk (esp. one who maintains his purity)
- 梵刹ぼんさつ
temple
- 梵和辞典ぼんわじてん
Sanskrit-Japanese dictionary
- 梵唄ぼんばい
song praising the virtues of the Buddha
- 梵天丸もかくありたいぼんてんまるもかくありたい
I wish the same for myself
- 梵天王ぼんてんおう
Brahma (Hindu creator god)
- 梵妻ぼんさい
Buddhist priest's wife
- 梵学ぼんがく
study of Sanskrit
- 梵文ぼんぶん
Sanskrit writing; Sanskrit text
- 梵本ぼんぽん
book in Sanskrit characters (e.g. scripture); book from India
- 梵行ぼんぎょう
ascetic practices (esp. celibacy)
- 梵鐘ぼんしょう
bonshō; Buddhist temple bell
- 薄伽梵ばがぼん
Bhagavan; Bhagwan; Lord
Study
Etymology
梵 is a phono-semantic compound. The top 林 (forest) likely contributes a sense of something elevated or pure, while the bottom 凡 (ordinary) provides the sound. Together they represent the sacred, pure realm of Buddhism and Sanskrit.
Meaning mnemonic
A forest (林) that is not ordinary (凡) but sacred and pure, like a temple grove. This is the kanji for Buddhist purity and Sanskrit.
Reading mnemonic
For ボン, imagine a Buddhist monk named Bon who chants Sanskrit sutras in a pure forest: Bon -> ボン.