The Sanskrit term ānanda means bliss. It is an experience that cannot be described in ordinary language. It is sometimes used to define the nature of something like Brahman, ultimate reality. The enlightenment experience is frequently described as blissful. Over the course of Indian history, it became associated with certain types of devotional practices that were deemed blissful.
In the Ṛg Veda (9.133.11), ānanda is often associated with the results of consuming soma, an elixir of immortality. Bliss is generated by soma that is paraphrased by joy, pleasure, rapture, and the fulfillment of one’s desires. From ancient times, it has had sexual connotations along with association with the pleasure of drinking, dancing, and music. The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa (10.3.5.13) uses ānandain a sense that includes knowledge of the true self and to describe the situation of the gods who are encompassed by bliss. To have knowledge of the genuine self means to be a god, which is a blissful experience. It...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Dasgupta S (1962–1969) A history of Indian philosophy, 5 vols. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Dimock EC (1989) The place of the hidden moon: erotic mysticism in the Vaiṣṇava-sahajiyā cult of Bengal. University of Chicago Press, Chicago
Dyczkowski MSG (1987) The doctrine of vibration: an analysis of the doctrines and practices of Kashmir Shaivism. State University of New York Press, Albany
Olivelle P (1997) Orgasmic rapture and divine ecstasy: the semantic history of ‘Ānanda’. J Indian Philos 25(2):153–180
Olson C (2007) The many colors of Hinduism: a thematic-historical introduction. Rutgers University Press, New Brunswick
Van Buitenen JAB (1979) ‘Ānanda,’ or all desires fulfilled. Hist Relig 19(1):27–36
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature B.V.
About this entry
Cite this entry
Olson, C. (2022). Ānanda. In: Long, J.D., Sherma, R.D., Jain, P., Khanna, M. (eds) Hinduism and Tribal Religions. Encyclopedia of Indian Religions. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1188-1_482
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-024-1188-1_482
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-024-1187-4
Online ISBN: 978-94-024-1188-1
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Humanities