Jagannath
/ˌdʒəɡəˈnɑːθ/noun
A name for the Hindu deity Jagannātha, a form of Krishna worshipped especially at Puri in Odisha, India.
Did you know?The English word “juggernaut” comes from Jagannath, but the famous story of worshippers throwing themselves beneath his chariot is widely regarded as a sensationalized colonial distortion.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷem-
“To go or come; the ancient root associated with movement and arrival.”
Vedic Sanskrit
Sanskrit
jagat
“That which moves; the world or all moving beings.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
nātha
“Lord, master, protector, or refuge.”
Medieval Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Jagannātha
“Lord of the world; a title of Krishna and the deity worshipped at Puri.”
17th Century
English
Juggernaut
“An English rendering of Jagannath, initially referring to the deity or his festival procession.”
Modern English
English
jagannath
“A proper name for the deity; “juggernaut” later developed the figurative sense of an unstoppable force.”