The prefix 'pra-'

[Guest guest]

Namaste Shri Sreenath

 

In your message #40127 of Mar 25, you asked about the word praj~NAnam

(pronounced 'prajnyaanam') and its prefix 'pra-'.

 

'Pra-' is an interesting prefix, because it has a double meaning. It

can mean 'pro-' as in the English 'proceed', and it can also

mean 'pre-' as in 'precede'. ('Pra-' is etymologically related to

both 'pro-' and 'pre-'.)

 

'Pro-' means 'forward' or 'onward', and it thus implies a sense

of 'carrying on' or 'continuity'. 'Pre-' means 'before' or 'prior',

and it thus implies a sense of 'origination' and 'underlying

priority'.

 

In the word 'praj~NAnam', both these senses are implied. On the one

hand, by taking 'pra-' to mean 'onward', 'praj~NAnam' is what carries

on through different states of 'j~NAnam' or 'knowledge'. And on the

other hand, by taking 'pra-' to mean 'prior', 'praj~NAnam' is that

logically prior principle of knowledge which is found to underlie all

manifested appearances of knowing. It is that underlying principle

called 'consciousness', which logically precedes all different

instances of knowledge. And it thus carries on through time, in every

changing mind, beneath all knowing states that appear and disappear.

 

So also, in the word 'prakRti' (more commonly transliterated

as 'prakriti'), the prefix 'pra-' implies a logically prior and

temporally continuing principle of 'kRti' or 'activity'. Thus prakRti

is that underlying principle called 'nature', which logically

precedes all different instances of action. That principle

called 'prakRti' or 'nature' is what carries on through time, beneath

all bodily and sensual and mental acts that keep appearing and

disappearing before the ever-present light of consciousness, in

everyone's experience.

 

For Sanskrit etymology, the best reference is 'A Sanskrit-English

Dictionary', by Monier-Williams. It is available both as a paper-

printed book (published by Motilal Banarsidass) and in an electronic

version that can be accessed on the Web.

 

You can try the following URLs:

http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/monier

http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/

 

Or try a Google web-search with " Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English

Dictionary " .

 

Ananda

[Guest guest]

advaitin , " Ananda Wood " <awood wrote:

>

> >

> In your message #40127 of Mar 25, you asked about the word

praj~NAnam

> (pronounced 'prajnyaanam') and its prefix 'pra-'.

>

> 'Pra-' is an interesting prefix, because it has a double meaning.

It

> can mean 'pro-' as in the English 'proceed', and it can also

> mean 'pre-' as in 'precede'. ('Pra-' is etymologically related to

> both 'pro-' and 'pre-'.)

>

> 'Pro-' means 'forward' or 'onward', and it thus implies a sense

> of 'carrying on' or 'continuity'. 'Pre-' means 'before' or 'prior',

> and it thus implies a sense of 'origination' and 'underlying

> priority'.

>

> >

> Ananda

>

 

 

Namste:

 

search `pra' in `Apte Dic'

meanings of " pra "

 

ind.

 

1.as a prefix to verbs it means 'forward', 'forth', 'in

front', 'onward', 'before', 'away';

 

2.with adjectives it means 'very', 'excessively', 'very much' & c.;

 

3.with nouns whether derived from verbs or not, it is used in the

following senses according to G. M. -beginning, commencement

 

#31752

 

 

In my opinion the correct meaning of " pra " (upasarga)- sound " pr "

means the leading edge of beginning where the change begins.

 

This meaning appears to satisfy most of the words I came across in

Sanskrit and many other languages.

 

For illustrating this meaning concentrate on the sound " pr " in the

following words (I have inserted a " - " between the sound pr- and the

rest of the word):

 

pr-akaasha, pr-ema, pr-alaya, pr-amaaNa, pr-amudha (where the

stupidity begins (an absolute fool), pr-amoda, pra-muda, pra-vaasa,

praa-Na, pr-eta (Live body becomes a dead body when pr-aaNa leaves

the envelope of the body), pr-abhaa, pr-asaara, pr-avesha, pr-ashna,

pr-aakR^ita, pr-athama, pr-amatha, sam-pr-adaaya, sa-pr-ema, pr-

oxaNa, pr-akshaalana, pr-j~naa, ......... etc.

 

Sanskrit language has an intrinsic beauty that needs to be

experienced.

 

Incidentally, the meaning of this sound does not appear to have

changed in indo-europen languages as well.

 

pr-efix, pr-imary, pr-emier, pr-iminister, pr-euniversity, pr-ime,

 

Hope this helps.

 

Regards,

 

Dr. Yadu