bhaggava 1 · bhaggava 2
Bhaggava [cf. Sanskrit bhārgava, a derivation from bhr̥gu, and bhargaḥ, of same root as Latin fulgur lightning; Greek ϕλόξ light; German blitzen, blank; Anglo-Saxon blanca white horse, all of the idea of "shining, bright, radianeuter" — How the meaning "potter" is connected with this meaning, is still a problem, perhaps we have to take the word merely as an epithet at the one passage where it occurs, which happens to be in the Kumbhakāra-jātaka, verse 6, 7. i.e. the "Jātaka of the potter"] potter (?) Ja III 381, 382, in vocative bhaggava (masculine) and bhaggavī (feminine). The terms are not explained in commentary, evidently because somewhat obscure. According to Kern, Toev. sub voce the Sanskrit form in this meaning occurs at MBh I 190, 47; Saddhp. 191 f., Mvu III 347.
<b> <c c="#a00149">Bhaggava</c> </b> <br>A potter in Rājagaha in whose dwelling the Buddha met and conversed with Pukkusāti. <c c="#3b6bd3">MN.iii.237</c> <br>Bhaggava seems to have been a generic name for all potters, perhaps a special form of address used towards members of the kumbhakāra “caste.” In the Saṃyutta Nikāya <c c="#3b6bd3">SN.i.36</c> <c c="#3b6bd3">SN.i.60</c> the Buddha addresses Ghaṭīkāra Brahmā as “Bhaggava”; he had been a potter of Vehaliṅga in his previous birth and the name “Ghaṭīkāra” itself means “jar maker.”<br> <br> </deftext>
(masc, masc, patr, from bhaggu) family name [lit.] from Bhaggu Construction: bhaggu > bhaggav + *a
(masc, masc, patr, from bhaggu) potter; ceramicist [lit.] from Bhaggu Construction: bhaggu > bhaggav + *a