noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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UK:/dʒəˈnɑː.nə/
South-Asia:/dʒnɑːn(ə)/
South-Asia:/ɡjɑːn(ə)/
1
noun
Meaning 1
The knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Hinduism, countable, uncountable
Examples
1969, Swami Rāmānandasarasvatī, The Hindu Ideal, Sri Ramananda Centenary Memorial Committee, page 291, The dualists, Sri Vaishnavas in particular, seem to entertain a strong opinion that Bhakti alone is the cause of Moksha, and that Jnana is but a step towards Bhakti.
1986, The Vedanta Kesari, Ramakrishna Math, page 316, The knower of Atman realizes Him by Jnana Yoga (the path of knowledge).
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Pure awareness that is free of conceptual encumbrances.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Topics: Buddhism, lifestyle, religion
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ǵneh3- Sanskrit ज्ञा (jñā) Proto-Indo-European *-nós Sanskrit -अन (-ana) Sanskrit ज्ञान (jñāna)bor. English jnana Borrowed from Sanskrit ज्ञान (jñāna, “knowledge”).
Across languages
Translations
12 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bengali:
জ্ঞান
(gên)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Burmese:
ဉာဏ
(nyana.)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Chinese Mandarin:
智
(zhì)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Hindi:
ज्ञान
(jñān)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Khmer:
ញាណ
(ñiən)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Lao:
ຍານ
(nyān)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Pali:
ñāṇa
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Russian:
джня́на
(džnjána)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Russian:
джна́на
(džnána)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Russian:
гья́на
(gʹjána)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Sanskrit:
ज्ञान
(jñā́na)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Thai:
ญาณ
(yaan)
— (Hinduism) the knowledge, acquired through meditation, that one's self (atman) is identical with Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
