Swami

In Hinduism, a swami (स्वामी sʋaːmiː; sometimes abbreviated sw.), is an ascetic or yogi who has been initiated into a religious monastic order. The meaning of the Sanskrit root of the word is '[he who is] one with his self' ( stands for 'self'). The term is applied to religious gurus as well as yogis, with or without disciples. The term is also used in Advaita Vedanta. As a direct from of address, or as a stand-in for a swami's name, it is often rendered Swamiji (also Swami-ji or Swami Ji). The Oxford English Dictionary gives the etymology as: In Bengali, the word (pronounced ˈʃami), while carrying its original meaning, also has the meaning of 'husband' in another context. The word also means 'husband' in Malay, in which it is spelled , and in Khmer and Odiya. The Thai word for 'husband', (), like the Tagalog] word for 'spouse', , are also cognates of the word. ==References== Category:Honorifics Category:Indian culture Category:Sanskrit words and phrases Category:Titles and occupations in Hinduism