Vardhamāna
/ʋər.d̪ʱəˈmɑː.n̪ə/noun
A Sanskrit term meaning growing or increasing, and the birth name of Mahāvīra, the 24th Jain Tīrthaṅkara.
Did you know?In Jain tradition, Vardhamāna later became Mahāvīra, “Great Hero,” after renouncing worldly life and attaining spiritual liberation.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*werdʰ-
“To grow, become greater, or increase”
Proto-Indo-Iranian
PII
*wardʰ-
“To grow or prosper”
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
vṛdh / vardh-
“To grow, increase, strengthen, or prosper”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
vardhamāna
“Growing, increasing, prospering; also used as a personal name”
Ancient Prakrit
Ardhamāgadhī
Vaddhamāṇa
“The vernacular form of Vardhamāna, the birth name of Mahāvīra”
Medieval Jain Usage
Prakrit/Sanskrit
Vardhamāna Mahāvīra
“Vardhamāna the Great Hero, a central Jain religious title”
Modern English
English
Vardhamāna
“A Sanskrit/Jain proper name, especially referring to Mahāvīra”
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