Meaning of Pavithram

[Guest guest]

Dear Srimathy Saranathan :

 

You had invited comments on the root for " Pavithram " .

This is a Sanskrit word with elaborate Meanings.

 

Vedic Connotation of " Pavithram "

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There are three Rg Veda Manthrams that contains the word " Pavithram " :

 

A. Rg Vedam: 9.83.1( Pavithram tE vithatham-- -- )

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The whole Manthram is worthy of study since it is close to

the meaning for " Pavithram " :

 

Pavithram tE vithatham BrahmaNaspathe prabhur-gAthrANi paryEshi viswatha:

ataptatanUr na tadh aamO aSnuthE SruthAsa idh vahantas tath samaasatha

 

(Meaning) : " Oh Lord of divine enlightenment , Your processes of

purification are widely strtched out (in cosmos) ; You are the Soverign ,

who rules over the entire creation from all sides .You never get tired

(become hot) in Your work .Your divine bliss is not obtainable to those ,

who are unripened . Only the mature ones recieve the graces from You . "

 

B. Rg Vedam: 9.73.3 ( Pavithravantha: pari- - - )

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Pavithravantha: means " with the potential for purification " .

 

While the Soma Juice is being filtered and purified , this manthram

is recited .

 

C.Rg Vedam : 9. 97.24 ( PavithrObhi: pavamAnO- - - )

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The purification f the elixir (Soma Rasam) thru cosmic filters

is the subject of this Manthram .

 

This topic of " Pavithram " might be of wider interest to members of

many Aasthika groups.Hence I am copying them as well.

 

D. The 63rd Sri VishNu Sahasra Naamam: " Pavithram "

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" PavithrAya Nama: " The essential nature of the Lord as Purity incarnate

is referred to here according to Swamy ParAsara Bhattar.He says that

the affix " itra " comes after the verb " poo " ( to purify) in the sense of

the agent or the instrument , when it is employed in connection with

" rishi " , which signifies a Veda Mantra or a deity .(when appliedto Rishi ,

the force is that of an instrument and when applied to a DevathA ,

the force is that of an agent .

 

General Comments on Pavithram & SambhAvanA Manthrams :

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(1) The word Pavithram comes from the root " Poo " .

Poo is synanomous with pavathE , PooyathE , PoonAthi

meaning to cleanse , purify .Pootha means white Kusa grass

as well as an epithet for VishNu . PavamAna means wind

and also a sacred fire ( Gaarhapathya) .The Vedic usage of

" pavi " is the tire of a wheel .

 

(2) Thus there are several approaches one can take in

extracting the meaning of " Pavithram " standing for

sacred , holy , sanctified or two blades of Kusa grass

used for purification during Vedic ceremonies . Pavithra

PaaNi is One who hold Kusa grass in the hand .

 

(3) Pavithram is also the sacred thread worn by members

of three VarNAs : " Yaj~nOpavetham Paramam Pavithram

PrajApathE : yath sahajam purasthAth " etc .

 

(4) Pava: means purification and wind ; Pavana/Paavana means pure.

 

(5) In AzhwAr -AchArya SambhAvanA Manthrams , one comes across

" Pavithram " again . " PavithrENa " also appears in the second line :

 

" CharaNam Pavithram vithatham purANam yEna poothastarathy dhushkruthAni

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tEna PavithrENa suddhEna poothA: athi pApmAnamarAthim tarEma "

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---- ---- ---- Manthram I

 

(Meaning) : The Lord who has the roopam of a wheel of a chariot and who

leads us to utthama gathy protects us after purifying us. He protects us

( thrANam) from powerful weapons of the enemies like Vajram. He has

no birth (anAdhi & timeless). He is present in newly consecrated Chakrams

and He is eulogized by Vedams and other PramANams.He is celebrated amongst

the Tatthva Jn~Anis and is a friend of them . He has vyApthi across the

world . Those who carry His mark on the right upper arm become sanctified

and get rid of their accumulated sins.Moksha VirOdhis are chased away by

this Sudarsanar and we get closer to Lord Sriman NaarAyaNa ,

whose sankalpa sakthi is the Purifying Sudarsanar . May we jump over all

ills with Sudarsanar's blessings !

 

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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

lOkasya dhvAramarchimath Pavithram jyOthishmadh bhAjamAnam mahasvath

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amruthasya dhArA BahudhA dhOhamAnam charaNam nO lOkE sudhithAn dadhAthu

 

--- --- --- Manthram II

 

(Meaning): Sudarsanar is valuable in journeying to the Suddha Satthvamaya

Sri Vaikuntam and many other desired phalans . He is surrounded by radiant

rays that spreads in all directions. He is beautiful to look at . This

sacred

Sudarsanar chases away disease, hunger , old age and death and grants us

lasting blessings just as a mother cow feeds its calf with affection .May

this

Sudarsana make us all happy as we eulogize Him at the appropriate times !

 

(PraNavam ) PavithrAya Nama:

V.Sadagopan

 

 

-

" jayasartn " <jayasree_saranathan

<Oppiliappan >

Saturday, November 05, 2005 1:28 PM

Meaning of Pavithram

 

 

SRIMATHE RAMANUJAYA NAMAHA.

 

 

The general meaning of the word pavithram is purity.

The pavithram worn in the finger is that which makes one pure by

removing the dosham or impurity or mistakes or sins etc.

 

In the word Pavithram - the `thra' shows that it is to do with

protecting.

Like in manthra ( man - thra = that which protects the manas)

In puthra (pu - thra = he who protects one from the hell called `pu')

In gayathri (gaya-ti -traya -te= she who protects the one who sings

(gaayaka:) about her)

 

The object here is pavi or pavam.

What is the root word in Sanskrit? Pavi or pavam or something else?

 

These two words do exist in Tamil.

Pavam means sin (paavam) or to form or be born

`pavitthal' means that which is formed.

 

I am not sure whether this is originally taken from Sanskrit or

whether this exists in this meaning in Sanskrit.

Or is it something else in Sanskrit?

It will be enlightening if someone can shed light on the derivation

of the term.

 

Regards,

Jayasree saranathan.

 

 

 

Oppiliappan , " jayasartn "

<jayasree_saranathan@s...> wrote:

>

> SrI:

>

> Can anyone provide the sanskrit derivation and meaning of the

> term 'pavithram'?

>

> Regards,

> jayasree

>