Swami
Swami or Svami ( Sanskrit , m., स्वामिन, svāmin , master) is a Hindu religious title that simply means "Lord" and is usually given to respected men and teachers.
Swami is put in front of the name. The title indicates that someone is considered to be taught and 'respected' in a religious or spiritual field. Many yogis and gurus carried this title, for example Vivekananda , Sivananda , Sri Yukteswar and Paramahamsa Yogananda .
Etymologically, the term is not limited to the religious area: It is derived from sva (proper, self). The range of meanings in Sanskrit includes owner, owner, master, lord, boss, commander (of an army), husband, lover, king, prince, spiritual teacher .
In Hindi the meaning "head of a religious order, title for the Supreme Being ( Vishnu or Shiva ), title for a famous sage or admirer" is added.
In the Malay, Bengali, Khmer and Oriya languages, Swami means husband.
In Germany the title became known through the practice of Osho (Bhagwan) , whose male followers were always addressed as "Swami".
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry in Duden
- ^ Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. London: Chambers Harrap, 2009. sv "Swami"