What is Prasna?
Prasna (Sanskrit: प्रश्न, IAST: praśna) literally means "question" or "inquiry" in Sanskrit. It can refer to several related concepts within Hinduism and Indian philosophy:
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A Question or Inquiry: In its most basic sense, "prasna" simply refers to a question or inquiry.
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A Section of a Text: It can also refer to a section or chapter of a Vedic text that is structured around a series of questions and answers. A notable example is the Prasna Upanishad.
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Prasna Upanishad: One of the principal Upanishads, belonging to the Atharvaveda. It consists of six questions posed by students to the sage Pippalada regarding fundamental philosophical issues. Each question forms a distinct section or "Prasna" of the Upanishad. Key topics include the origin of life, the nature of the soul (Atman), and the concept of Brahman. A reliable source for more information is Wisdom Library.
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In Astrology: Prasna can also refer to a branch of Vedic astrology that deals with answering specific questions based on the time the question is asked.
In summary, the meaning of "Prasna" depends on the context, but it generally relates to the idea of questioning, inquiry, or a section of a text organized around questions.