Viveka: 30 definitions
Introduction:
Viveka means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
Alternative spellings of this word include Vivek.
In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationViveka (विवे�) refers to the “power of discrimination�, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.15:—“[...] the swan (ṃs) has the power of going up steadily. It has the power of discriminating (viveka) between the real and the unreal as in (ٲٳٱٲٳٱ) separating milk from water. The swan (ṃska) understands the distinction between ignorance and knowledge (ñԲñԲ). Hence I (Brahmā) the Creator, assumed the form of Swan. O Nārada! But I failed to cognize the refulgent form of Śiva and therefore could not exercise my power of discrimination (viveka). How can real knowledge dawn on one who is engaged in activities of creation (ṛṣṭiṛtپ)? Hence though in the form of Swan I could not attain the power of discrimination (viveka)�.

The Purana (पुरा�, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
: Pure Bhakti: Brhad BhagavatamrtamViveka (विवे�) refers to:—Discriminating intelligence. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu�).
Ayurveda (science of life)
: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of termsViveka (विवे�):—[첹ḥ] Discrimination : the faculty of distinguishing and classifying things according to their real properties , a state of wisdom

Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramViveka (विवे�, “discernment�) refers to one of the sixteen phases leading to the perception of any object (meya), according to Abhinavagupta’s Mālinīvijayavārtika:—[...] The sixteen phases [i.e., discernment (viveka) ...] leading to the perception of any object, if correctly and fully experienced, culminate in the liberated condition of the sixteenth phase, which is equated with the sixteenth energy of the Moon. [...] To the degree in which objectivity (meyamaya) is made manifest in this way, sixteen-fold, that is said to be the Moon of consciousness (ñԲ) considered to be the basic state (sthiti) of the sixteen energies.

Shakta (शाक्�, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Vedanta (school of philosophy)
: Pondicherry University: Consciousness in Viśiṣṭādvaita and DvaitaViveka (विवे�) refers to “discrimination� and represents one of the seven moral and spiritual disciplines (Բ-ٲ첹), according to the religious practices of Rāmānuja’s ethics () for attaining liberation.—Discrimination (viveka) means purification of the body through the intake only of sattvika-food or pure-food which has not become impure due to spices, dwelling house, or adventitious causes. [...] Rāmānuja emphasizes that persistent and sincere practise of these ethical disciplines [e.g., viveka], together with detachment, discrimination, and performance of one’s duties, practise of attention and constant contemplation on God, will purify the mind of an aspirant and produce competence for realizing God as one’s inner self.

Vedanta (वेदान्�, vedānta) refers to a school of orthodox Hindu philosophy (astika), drawing its subject-matter from the Upanishads. There are a number of sub-schools of Vedanta, however all of them expound on the basic teaching of the ultimate reality (brahman) and liberation (moksha) of the individual soul (atman).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
: archive.org: Catalogue of Pancaratra Agama TextsViveka (विवे�) or Vivekaṇḍ refers to one of the twenty-five Maṇḍalas (“esoteric designs�) mentioned in chapter 5 of the ʲṣkṃh: a Pāñcarātra text of almost 5900 verses divided into forty-three chapters presented as a frame-work dialogue between Pauṣkara and Bhagavān dealing with the esoteric meaning of ṇḍ-designs, worship routines and temple-building.—[Cf. chapter 5 named ٴDz徱ṇḍ-ṣaṇa].

Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
: Pali Kanon: Manual of Buddhist Terms and DoctrinesViveka (“detachment�) or “seclusion�, is according to Niddesa, of 3 kinds:
- bodily detachment (ⲹ-첹), i.e. abiding in solitude free from alluring sensuous objects;
- mental detachment (citta-viveka), i.e. the inner detachment from sensuous things;
- detachment from the substrata of existence (upadhi-viveka).
In the description of the 1st absorption,
- the words "detached from sensuous things" (vivicc'eva kāmehi) refer, according to Vis.M. IV, to 'bodily detachment';
- the words "detached from karmically unwholesome things" (vivicca akusalehi dhammehi) refer to 'mental detachment';
- the words "born of detachment" (vivekaja), to the absence of the 5 hindrances.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
: academia.edu: A Study and Translation of the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā1) Viveka (विवे�) (Cf. Vivekalakṣaṇa) refers to �(complete) transcendence�, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā: the eighth chapter of the Mahāsaṃnipāta (a collection of Mahāyāna Buddhist Sūtras).—Accordingly, “[...] The Bodhisattva Gaganagañja then sustained the jewel-canopy of ten thousand yojanas high over the Lord’s lion throne in the sky, joined the palms of his hands, saluted, and praised the Lord with these suitable verses: ‘[...] (17) No forms are seen in open space, the forms of every living being are also like that. The dharma has the essential character of a form being neither form nor non-form, such it is to understand things (artha) as complete transcendence (viveka). [...]�.
2) Viveka (विवे�) or Vivekagocara refers to the “transcendent (realm)�, according to the Gaganagañjaparipṛcchā.—Accordingly, “Then, the Lord went on to speak these verses: �(68) Even though they remain in the inner and outer aspects of existence, they are not dependent on the parts of personality, fields of the senses, or realm (첹ԻⲹٲԲٳ). [Staying] in the transcendent realm (viveka-gocara) of tranquility (ܱ貹śԳٲ), the wise are always in the state of concentration (ٲ). [...]’�.

Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many ūٰ of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā ūٰ.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: Wisdom Library: JainismViveka (विवे�, “discrimination�) represents one of the seven types of ⲹśٳٲ (‘expiation�). Prāyaścitta means ‘purification� of from the flaws or transmigressions.—Viveka is a Sanskrit technical term defined in the Tattvārthasūtra (ancient authorative Jain scripture) from the 2nd century, which contains aphorisms dealing with philosophy and the nature of reality.
: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 9: Influx of karmasViveka (विवे�).—What is meant by discrimination-expiation (viveka-ⲹśٳٲ)? Separation of food, drinks and implements of self control is called discrimination-expiation.
: The University of Sydney: A study of the Twelve Reflections1) Viveka (विवे�) refers to the “discrimination�, according to the 11th century Jñānārṇava, a treatise on Jain Yoga in roughly 2200 Sanskrit verses composed by Śubhacandra.—Accordingly, “This [virtuous meditation] confers upon corporeal souls the pleasure, produced from the tranquillity of discrimination (viveka) because of endless non-attachment, which is the experience of one’s own self [and] is beyond the senses�.
2) Viveka (विवे�) refers to the “difference� (between the body and the self), according to the Yaśastilaka Campū verse 2.123-214.—Accordingly, “Never imagine that thou art composed of the body, because the body is utterly different (viveka�vapuṣa� paramo 첹�) from thee. Thou art all consciousness, an abode of virtue and bliss; whereas the body, because it is inert, is an unconscious mass. The body exists and grows so long as thou art in existence. When thou art dead, it disappears in the form of earth, air and the like. Composed of the elements it is devoid of feelings such as joy, like a corpse. Hence the blissful self is surely different from the body.

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance�) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionaryviveka : (m.) detachment; seclusion.
: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English DictionaryViveka, (fr. vi+vic) detachment, loneliness, separation, seclusion; “singleness� (of heart), discrimination (of thought) D. I, 37, 182; III, 222, 226, 283=S. IV, 191 (°ninna citta); S. I, 2, 194; IV, 365 sq.; V, 6, 240 sq.; A. I, 53; III, 329; IV, 224; Vin. IV, 241; Sn. 474, 772, 822, 851, 915, 1065; Nd1 158, 222; J. I, 79; III, 31; Dhs. 160; Pug. 59, 68; Nett 16, 50; DhsA. 164, 166; ThA. 64; PvA. 43; Sdhp. 471.�viveka is given as fivefold at Ps. II, 220 sq. and VbhA. 316, cp. K. S. I. 321 (Bdhgh on S. III, 2, 8), viz. tadaṅga°, vikkhambhana°, samuccheda° paṭippassaddhi°, nissaraṇa°; as threefold at Vism. 140, viz. kāya°, citta°, vikkhambhana°, i.e. physically, mentally, ethically; which division amounts to the same as that given at Nd1 26 with kāya°, citta°, upadhi°, the latter equivalent to “nibbāna. � Cp. on term Dial. I. 84. See also Բ. Cp. 貹°. (Page 638)

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionaryŧ첹 (विवे�).—m (S) Discrimination or judgment; the faculty of distinguishing and classing. 2 Discretion; knowledge to direct or govern one's self. 3 In the Vedanta system. The power of separating Brahma the invisible spirit from the visible or objective system, truth from untruth, reality from illusion. See the five sections in pañca- daśīgrantha named tatvaŧ첹, pañcabhūtaŧ첹, pañcakōśa- ŧ첹, māyādvaitaŧ첹, mahāvākyaŧ첹. Certain useful compounds are current, and others may be formed ad libitum; as 岹屹ŧ첹 Discrimination of the good and the bad or of the right and the wrong of. For others see under , substituting ŧ첹 for and Discrimination for Consideration. vi0 岵ṇĸ To awaken, arouse, or stir up discrimination or discernment. Ex. taisē� prathamārambhī duḥkha || parī pariṇāmī� atyanta sukha || tē anubhavī jāṇati samyak || jyānī� ŧ첹 jāgavilā ||.
: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishŧ첹 (विवे�).�m Discrimination; discretion.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryViveka (विवे�).�
1) Discrimination, judgment, discernment, discretion; काश्यप� यातस्तवापि � विवेकः (kāśyapi yātastavāpi ca 첹�) Bv.1.68,66; ज्ञातोऽय� जलधर तावक� विवेकः (jñāto'ya� jaladhara tāvako 첹�) 96; विवेकभ्रष्टाना� भवति विनिपातः शतमुखः (vivekabhraṣṭānā� bhavati vinipāta� śatamukha�) ṛh 2.1.
2) Consideration, discussion, investigation; यच्छृङ्गारविवेकतत्त्वमपि यत� काव्येषु लीलायितम� (yacchṛṅgāravivekatattvamapi yat kāvyeṣu līlāyitam) Gītagovinda 12; so द्वैत�, धर्म° (dvaita°, dharma°).
3) Distinction, difference, discriminating (between two things); नीरक्षीरविवेक� हंसालस्य� त्वमेव तनुष� चेत् (nīrakṣīraviveke haṃsālasya� tvameva tanuṣe cet) Bv.1.13; एकतामि� गतस्� विवेकः कस्यचिन्� महतोऽप्युपलेभे (ekatāmiva gatasya 첹� kasyacinna mahato'pyupalebhe) Kirātārjunīya 9.12; Bhaṭṭikāvya 17.6.
4) (In Vedānta phil.) The power of distinguishing between the visible world and the invisible spirit, or of separating reality from mere semblance or illusion.
5) True knowledge.
6) A receptacle for water, basin, reservoir.
Derivable forms: 첹� (विवेकः).
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit DictionaryViveka (विवे�).�m., (1) (= Pali id., e.g. Vism. 140.17 ff.) separation, aloofness (from sin): rāgadveṣamoha-viveka- kuśalamūlāś ca bhavanti Ѳ屹ٳ i.134.3 (prose); (2) (= Pali id.) solitude, seclusion (of life): ete…vivekārāmā vive- kābhiratā�; naite kulaputrā devamanuṣyān upaniśrāya viharanty asaṃsargacaryābhiratā� ṇḍī첹 309.10�11 (rightly Kern, wrongly Burnouf); sukho vivekas tuṣṭasya Lalitavistara 380.16 (verse), Tibetan dben pa; atyabhīkṣṇa� viveka� sevanti Ѳ屹ٳ i.96.6, of backsliding Bodhisattvas, they devote them- selves too earnestly to solitude (which violates the Bodhi- sattva ideal); vivekādaya� Ѳ屹ܳٱ貹ٳپ 2987 = Tibetan dben paḥi rnam paḥi mi� la, names for varieties of solitude (list includes prānta, araṇya, etc.); °kam anubṛṃhayet Բ xiii.6 = Pali Dhammapada (Pali) 75 °kam anubrūhaye; saṃgaṇikayāpi vivekagocara� Śṣāsܳⲹ 202.20, even with a crowd, he ranges in solitude.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryViveka (विवे�).—m.
(-첹�) 1. Discrimination, judgment, the faculty of distinguishing things by their properties, and classing them according to their real not apparent nature; in the Vedanta system, it is applied to the power of separating Brahma or invisible spirit, from the ostensible world, truth from untruth, or reality from illusion. 2. Discussion, investigation. 3. A reservoir, a basin, a bath. E. vi severally, vic to judge, aff. ghañ .
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryViveka (विवे�).—i. e. vi-vic + a, m. 1. Discrimination, [Բśٰ] 1, 26; [ʲñٲԳٰ] i. [distich] 294. 2. Judgment, [ṛh, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 10. 3. Discussion, investigation. 4. True knowledge, [ṛh, (ed. Bohlen.)] 1, 89. 5. A reservoir.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryViveka (विवे�).—[masculine] separation, discrimination, discernment, examination, consideration, judgment insight, penetration; poss. vivekavant & vivekin.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus CatalogorumViveka (विवे�) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—in law. See Kāla, Jāti, Tithi, Dāna, Prāyaścitta, Śuddhi, Śrāddha, Sambandha, Smṛti.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Viveka (विवे�):—[=vi-veka] [from vi-vic] a m. discrimination, distinction, [Manu-smṛti; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha; Suśruta]
2) [v.s. ...] consideration, discussion, investigation, [Gīta-govinda; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa; Sarvadarśana-saṃgraha]
3) [v.s. ...] true knowledge, discretion, right judgement, the faculty of distinguishing and classifying things according to their real properties, [Chāndogya-upaniṣad; Kapila] etc.
4) [v.s. ...] (in Vedānta) the power of separating the invisible Spirit from the visible world (or spirit from matter, truth from untruth, reality from mere semblance or illusion)
5) [v.s. ...] a water trough (= Ჹ-ṇ�), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] Name of [work]
7) [=vi-veka] b etc. See under -√v.
: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryViveka (विवे�):—[vi-veka] (첹�) 1. m. Discrimination; investigation; a reservoir.
: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Viveka (विवे�) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Vivega.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम� (ṃsṛt), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Hindi dictionary
: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryViveka (विवे�) [Also spelled vivek]:�(nm) reason, discretion; judgment; wisdom; ~[ka-buddhi] reason; discretion; wisdom; ~[첹-ṣṭ/śūԲⲹ/īԲ] irrational, illogical; ~[kavāna ~kaśīla] see ~[ī; ~kādhīna] discretionary; at the discretion of; •[śپ�] discretionary powers; ~[ī] prudent, wise, discreet.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
: Alar: Kannada-English corpusVivēka (ವಿವೇ�):�
1) [noun] an analytical study.
2) [noun] a judging of the worth, quality, etc. of; evaluation.
3) [noun] the power of judging rightly and following the soundest course of action, based on knowledge, experience, understanding, etc.; good judgement; sagacity; wisdom.
4) [noun] (phil.) the penetrating intelligence required for discriminating and understanding the difference between the phenomenal world and the Supreme Being immanent therein.
5) [noun] ವಿವೇ� ಬೃಹಸ್ಪತಿ [viveka brihaspati] ŧ첹 bṛhaspati a person who is very wise.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryViveka (विवे�):—n. 1. judgment; discretion; discernment; 2. prudence; conscience; 3. investigation; consideration; 4. discriminating; distinction; 5. true knowledge; 6. wisdom; understanding;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Vica, Veka, Vi, Na.
Starts with (+13): Viveka Sukha, Viveka Sutta, Vivekabhrashta, Vivekacandrodaya, Vivekacudamani, Vivekadhairyashraya, Vivekadipaka, Vivekadipika, Vivekadrishvatva, Vivekagocara, Vivekaja, Vivekakama, Vivekakatha, Vivekakaumudi, Vivekalakshana, Vivekamakaranda, Vivekamanjari, Vivekamukura, Vivekanimna, Vivekaphala.
Full-text (+396): Aviveka, Nirviveka, Vivekajna, Vivekata, Vivekadrishvan, Vivekamartanda, Praviveka, Kalaviveka, Vivekavishranta, Bhavaviveka, Vivekadrishvatva, Vivekapadavi, Vivekakhyati, Vivekasara, Vivekadhairyashraya, Vivekajnana, Nareshvaraviveka, Vivekacudamani, Caturdashamataviveka, Bhavasaraviveka.
Relevant text
Search found 152 books and stories containing Viveka, Vivēka, Vi-veka, Vi-vica-na, Vi-vica-ṇa; (plurals include: Vivekas, Vivēkas, vekas, nas, ṇas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Notices of Sanskrit Manuscripts (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Sankalpa Suryodaya of Venkatanatha (Critical Study) (by R. Laxmi)
The character of King Viveka (the Hero of the Drama) < [Chapter 4a - Characterisation of the play]
Chapter 3 - Commencement of the Adoption of the means for Moksa < [Chapter 3 - Significance]
Chapter 8 - The defeat of Mahamoha < [Chapter 3 - Significance]
Prasthanatrayi Swaminarayan Bhashyam (Study) (by Sadhu Gyanananddas)
12.5. Viveka (Discernment) < [Chapter 4 - Analysis on the Basis of Spiritual Endeavour]
Pratyabhijna and Shankara’s Advaita (comparative study) (by Ranjni M.)
5.1. Internal Sense Organs < [Chapter 3 - The nature of Universe and Individual Self in Pratybhijñā and Advaita]
5. Importance of Knowledge in Liberation < [Chapter 5 - Concept of Māyā in Pratyabhijñā and Advaita]
5.2. Three Bodies: Sthūla, Sūkṣma and Kāraṇa < [Chapter 3 - The nature of Universe and Individual Self in Pratybhijñā and Advaita]
A History of Indian Philosophy Volume 2 (by Surendranath Dasgupta)
Part 26 - Nṛsiṃhāśrama Muni (a.d. 1500) < [Chapter XI - The Śaṅkara School of Vedānta (continued)]
Part 7 - The Stage of the Saint (Jīvan-mukta) < [Chapter XII - The Philosophy of the Yogavāsiṣṭha]
Part 4 - Teachers and Pupils in Vedānta < [Chapter XI - The Śaṅkara School of Vedānta (continued)]
Padma Purana (by N.A. Deshpande)
Chapter 8 - Account of the Soul < [Section 2 - Bhūmi-khaṇḍa (section on the earth)]
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