Bhagavān
Bhagavān · bhaga-vān, “the one who possesses bhaga, all excellences in fullness”
Bhāgavata has other meanings too: see all meanings of Bhāgavata.
Grammar: adjective and masculine noun, bhagavat, from bhaga (fortune, excellence) with the suffix -vat (possessing); its nominative is bhagavān. “One who possesses bhaga.”
Meaning: the one in whom all excellences are full; the Parabrahman, Śrī Hari. Used in pūjā for other devatās and for the great, it is a word of honour.
In the scriptures: in his teaching on Brahma-vijñāna, Agnideva explains the word bhagavat itself. It is the Parabrahman that is principally (mukhya) meant by the word bhagavat; its use for others in pūjā and the like is aupacārika, by courtesy.
He explains its parts:
- the letter bha has two meanings: the one who nourishes (sambhartā) and the one who is the support of all (sarvādhāra);
- the letter ga has the meanings the leader (netā), the one who leads on (gamayitā) and the creator (sṛshṭi);
- bhaga is the six together in fullness: aiśvarya (sovereignty), vīrya (valour), yaśas (glory), lakshmī (śrī, fortune), jñāna (knowledge) and vairāgya (dispassion).
All beings dwell in Bhagavān Vishṇu; he is the support of all and the Trimūrti. Therefore the principal use of the word bhagavat is for Hari alone, and its use for others is gauṇa, secondary.
Agnideva gives two further marks of the one who is to be called by this name. He who knows the origin and the dissolution of all beings, their coming and going, and vidyā and avidyā, is to be called so; and he in whom there are no qualities to be rejected (heya guṇas), and in whom jñāna, śakti, bala, aiśvarya, vīrya and tejas are complete, is to be called so. In the same teaching, one who first meditates on the form of Bhagavān Vishṇu, since meditation on the formless is hard, attains bhagavad-bhāva (the state of being one with him) and oneness with the Paramātmā (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 379).
Related terms: Bhaga · Aiśvarya · Parabrahman · Hari · Vishṇu · Bhāgavata
Sources
- Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 379