Join FunTrivia for Free: Hourly trivia games, quizzes, community, and more!
Fun Trivia
Ask FunTrivia: Questions and Answers
Answers to 100,000 Fascinating Questions
Welcome to FunTrivia's Question & Answer forum!

Search All Questions


Please cite any factual claims with citation links or references from authoritative sources. Editors continuously recheck submissions and claims.

Archived Questions

Goto Qn #


Is there a connection between the Indian word "Rama" (avatar of Vishnu) and the Semitic (Hebrew) word "Ram", meaning high, exalted, suprem)?

Question #95835. Asked by gentlegiant17.

avatar
BRY2K
Answer has 4 votes
Currently Best Answer
BRY2K
16 year member
3707 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Possibly.

In the Vishnu sahasranama, Rama is the 394th name of Vishnu. "Rama" has two meanings: the supreme Brahman who is the eternally blissful spiritual Self in whom yogis delight or the One (i.e., Vishnu) who out of his own will assumed the enchanting form of Rama, the son of Dasaratha.

There is some speculation that the Hebrew character Abraham was also the Hindu Deity Ram.

Ram and Abraham were possibly the same person or clan. For
example, the syllable "Ab" or "Ap" means "father" in Kashmiri. The prototypical Jews could have called Ram "Ab-Ram" or "Father Ram."

It's also conceivable that the word "Brahm" evolved from "Ab-Ram" and not vice-versa. The Kashmiri word for "Divine Mercy," Raham, likewise derives from Ram. Ab-Raham = "Father of Divine Mercy."

The word "Abraham" is none other than a malpronunciation of the word Brahma. This can be clearly proven if one investigates the root meanings of both words. Abraham is said to be one of the oldest Semitic prophets. His name is supposed to be derived from the two Semitic words 'Ab' meaning 'Father' and 'Raam/Raham' meaning 'of the exalted.' In the book of Genesis, Abraham simply means 'Multitude.' The word Abraham is derived from the Sanskrit word Brahma.

The root of Brahma is 'Brah' which means - 'to grow or multiply in number.' In addition Lord Brahma, the Creator God of Hinduism is said to be the Father of all Men and Exalted of all the Gods, for it is from him that all beings were generated. Thus again we come to the meaning 'Exalted
Father.' This is a clear pointer that Abraham is none other than the heavenly father Brahma."

link http://www.indiadivine.org/audarya/vedic-culture/189821-more-vedic-roots-abraham.html

link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rama

May 19 2008, 9:22 AM
Arpeggionist star
Answer has 2 votes
Arpeggionist star
20 year member
2173 replies

Answer has 2 votes.
It is certainly possible that the words in both languages share a common etymological background, the same origins and the same general ideas. Certainly there is a great deal of overlap between Semitic and Indo-European languages. (Though I'm betting that in this case, the Indian word is more derived from the Arabic or Aramaic, as Persian influances spread east with Zoroastrianism and Manicheanism and affected the Hindu culture. The word "ram" does not appear in the European tongues to which Indian is more closely related than to Hebrew.)

May 19 2008, 10:42 AM
free email trivia FREE! Get a new mixed Fun Trivia quiz each day in your email. It's a fun way to start your day!


arrow Your Email Address:

Sign in or Create Free User ID to participate in the discussion