Bhagwan
/ˈbɑːɡ.wən/noun
A title meaning God, the Supreme Being, or a revered divine person in Hinduism and related South Asian religious traditions.
Did you know?Sanskrit bhagavān was traditionally analyzed as one who possesses bhaga—divine fortune, power, glory, wisdom, and prosperity—rather than simply “a god.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bhag-
“To apportion, share, or distribute; by extension, to receive a share of fortune.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
bhaga
“A share, good fortune, prosperity, or a deity associated with fortune and allotment.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
bhagavat
“Possessing bhaga—fortunate, glorious, venerable, or divine; an honorific applied to gods and revered beings.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
bhagavān
“The Blessed or Fortunate One; a formal title for God or an exalted divine teacher.”
Medieval and Modern Indo-Aryan
Hindi
bhagvān / bhagwān
“God, the Lord, or a divine person; the form widely used in North Indian speech.”
Modern English
English
Bhagwan
“An English loanword used for the Hindu concept or title of God, and sometimes as a personal or religious title.”
Explore more surprising origins