Bhagavan, also written
Bhagwan or
Bhagawan, from the
Sanskrit nt-stem
bhaga-vant- (nominative/vocative
?????? Bhagavan) literally means "possessing fortune, blessed, prosperous" (from the noun
bhaga, meaning "fortune, wealth", cognate to Slavic
bog "
god"), and hence "illustrious, divine, venerable, holy", etc.
[1]In some traditions of Hinduism it is used to indicate the Supreme Being or Absolute Truth, but with specific reference to that Supreme Being as possessing a personality (a personal God)[2]. This personal feature indicated in Bhagavan differentiates its usage from other similar terms[3] such as Brahman, the "Supreme Spirit" or "spirit", and thus, in this usage, Bhagavan is in many ways analogous to the general Christian conception of God.
Bhagavan used as a title of veneration is often translated as "Lord", as in "Bhagavan Krishna", "Bhagavan Shiva", "Bhagavan Swaminarayan", etc. In Buddhism and Jainism, Gautama Buddha, Mahavira and other Tirthankaras, Buddhas and bodhisattvas are also venerated with this title. The feminine of Bhagavat is Bhagawati and is an epithet of Durga and other goddesses.
The title is also used as a respectful form of address for a number of contemporary spiritual teachers in India.