Pūjyam as a euphemism for śūnyam

[Suresh Kolichala]

In the South Indian languages (including Marathi), the word  पूज्य (pūjya) is used to mean zero, nothingness. Is there any evidence of such usage in Sanskrit texts?

I notice that Marathi dictionaries also give a similar meaning:

पूज्य pūjya —न. १ शून्य; टिंब.'विद्येच्या नांवानें पूज्य.' [सं.]

(Date, Yasavanta Ramakrshna. Maharashtra śabdakosa)

My question is whether such usage is limited only to the South Indian languages or is it found in other languages too. It would be interesting if there are Sanskrit, Prakrit or Pali texts with such usage.

Thanks,

Suresh.

[Sivasenani Nori]

Very interesting observation, Sir. Though I am familiar with this usage, never thought about it. 

Initially when Buddhism was rampant, SUnya must have been pUjya and then after Buddhism waned, this usage must have remained. Just like we (Telugu speakers) still start practice of writing with ओं नमः शिनायः, सिद्धं नमः on the day of aksharAbhyAsa, 

Regards 

Senani 

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[Nagaraj Paturi]

As Sri Suresh mentioned, this is a euphemism. 

In Telugu, in the case of rice and other food grains and auspices things like kumkum, euphemism for 'exhausted' is 'full' or 'became/filled full' 

'Poornam' in Sanskrit is considered to be standing for zero. 

Pujyam for zero /s'unyam seems to be on the same lines. 

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Nagaraj Paturi

 

Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.

Director, Indic Academy

BoS, MIT School of Vedic Sciences, Pune, Maharashtra

BoS Kavikulaguru Kalidasa Sanskrit University, Ramtek, Maharashtra

BoS Veda Vijnana Gurukula, Bengaluru.

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BoS Rashtram School of Public Leadership

Editor-in-Chief, International Journal of Studies in Public Leadership

Former Senior Professor of Cultural Studies, 

FLAME School of Communication and FLAME School of  Liberal Education, 

Hyderabad, Telangana, INDIA.

 

 

 

[Deena Bandhu Pandey]

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[Subrahmanyam Korada]

नमो विद्वद्भ्यः

Telugu -- पूज्यम्  ----

What about Devadatta - what is he doing ?

वाडो पेद्द पूज्यम् ( वाडु =he ; ओ = oka = certain ; पेद्द = big - ए  is lengthened for special effect , otherwise short ; पूज्यम् =  zero = useless (deserves worship but you get nothing in return) .

पूज्यम् -- पूजाम् अर्हति  --  पूज पूजने , चुरादिः - पूजयति --  ’ अर्हे कृत्यतृचश्च ’ पा सू  3-3-169 ( लिङ्बाधनार्थं सूत्रम् ) -  कृत्यल्युटो  बहुळम् पा सू 3-3-113 यत्  -- पूज्यः  ।

In Telugu  ’ पूज्यम् ’  is used to denote ' शून्यम् ’  (it is taken as ’ अमहत् ’ -- समुद्रमु / समुद्रुडु ) ।

’ विग्रहपुष्टि  नैवेद्यनष्टि ’ ( a mammoth icon ( bulgy body )  waste of  oblation -- the person  eats a lot  but doesn't do anything - a useless fellow ..

When पूजाम् अर्हति - how can it denote the opposite meaning ?

There is चित्राधिकरणन्याय in पूर्वमीमांसा 1-4-2 --

चित्रया यजेत पशुकामः ( तैत्तिरीयसंहिता 2-4-9) - one who is desirous of animals should perform चित्रयाग ।

Okay , Devadatta performed चित्रयाग - but he did not get  animals !! - why ?

The above वैदिकवाक्यम्  does not say  the that the person who performed चित्रयाग would  get animals immediately .

The  same is the case with पूजा also - the देवता (both genders) does not grant your wish immediately .

So the one who expected his wish to be granted immediately thinks the पूजा as a mere waste -- so पूज्यम् .

 

On the other hand , it is a Sanskrit word  (not used in that language in this sense) but used as a तत्सम in Telugu in the specific sense .

Sanskrit -- 

Panini  registered 35 तत्पुरुषसमासs  as निपातs --

शब्दs are offered by Panini in two  ways --

1. विधिः -- both प्रकृति and प्रत्यय  are given and one has to just put them together -- कृ + तव्य = कर्तव्यम् ।

2. निपातः -- a शब्द  , that can be used is given ( निपातः = उच्चारणम् ) and one has to deduce the प्रकृति and the  प्रत्यय  -- श्रोत्रियंश्छन्दो’धीते  -- श्रुति + घन् ।

पात्रेसमितादयश्च पा सू 2-1-47 -- एते निपात्यन्ते क्षेपे (=निन्दायाम्) । अयम् आकृतिगणः (there may be more) |

पात्रेसमिताः -- they get together at the time of भोजनम्  but not  in कार्यम् ।

गेहेशूरः -- he is a warrior in the house not outside .

वन्ध्यापुत्रः - गगनकुसुमम्  etc also can be taken as examples .

धन्यो’स्मि

Dr.Korada Subrahmanyam
Professor of Sanskrit (Retd)

299 Doyen , Serilingampally, Hyderabad 500 019
Ph:09866110741

Skype Id: Subrahmanyam Korada

Blog: Koradeeyam.blogspot.in 

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