Anandamaya

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. A term in Hindu philosophy referring to the state of bliss or ultimate happiness, often associated with divine consciousness and the experience of pure joy
2. Describing the aspect of being enveloped in bliss, particularly in the context of spiritual enlightenment and unity with the divine
3. Denoting a state characterized by profound happiness and fulfillment, central to certain interpretations of spiritual existence in various religious traditions

Etymology: Anandamaya is a Sanskrit compound, built from "ānanda," meaning bliss or joy, and the suffix "-maya," meaning made of, consisting of, or full of. Taken together it means "consisting of bliss" or "filled with bliss." The suffix "-maya" appears in many Sanskrit compounds, and the pattern is productive: a word can be attached to "-maya" to name what something is made of. The term matters most in Vedantic philosophy, where it names one of the layers, or "koshas" (sheaths), that veil the self. In the Taittiriya Upanishad, the innermost sheath is described as the bliss-made body, anandamaya kosha, which is the subtlest layer, lying beyond the mind and intellect. The word therefore shifted from a plain descriptive adjective into a technical label for a stage of spiritual experience.

Synonyms: blissful, joyful, delightful, beatific, ecstatic

Antonyms: miserable, unhappy, sorrowful, distressed