Pandit

A Pandit (Sanskrit: पण्डितः, romanized: paṇḍita; Hindi: पंडित;^[1] also spelled Pundit, pronounced /ˈpʌndɪt, ˈpændɪt/;^[2] abbreviated Pt.) is an individual with specialised knowledge or a teacher of any field of knowledge whether it is shashtra (Holy Books) or shastra (Weapons) in Hinduism,^[1] particularly the Vedic scriptures, dharma, or Hindu philosophy; in colonial-era literature, the term generally refers to lawyers specialized in Hindu law.^[3] Whereas, today the title is used for experts in other subjects, such as music.^[4]^[5] Pundit is a loanword in English meaning "an expert in a particular subject or field who is frequently called upon to give their opinions to the public".

Ustad is the equivalent title for a Muslim man in the musical sense.^[5] The equivalent titles for a Hindu woman are Vidushi,^[6]^[7] Pandita, or Panditain;^[8] however, these titles are not currently in widespread use.^[9]

In Sanskrit, pandit generally refers to any "wise, educated or learned man" with specialized knowledge.^[10] The term is derived from paṇḍ (पण्ड्) which means "to collect, heap, pile up", and this root is used in the sense of knowledge.^[11] The term is found in Vedic and post-Vedic texts, but without any sociological context.

^ ^a ^b Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Pundit" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 649.
^ "pandit" Archived 2014-10-21 at the Wayback Machine. Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.
^ Timothy Lubin; Donald R. Davis Jr; Jayanth K. Krishnan (2010). Hinduism and Law: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-139-49358-1.
^ Axel Michaels; Barbara Harshav (2004). Hinduism: Past and Present. Princeton University Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-691-08952-2. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
^ ^a ^b Daniel Neuman (1980). The Life of Music in North India. Wayne State University Press. p. 44.
^ "Behind the titles". Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-23.
^ https://www3.nd.edu/~adutt/Links/documents/NagandGhosh2016.pdf Archived 2021-11-18 at the Wayback Machine ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ "Overlooked No More: Pandita Ramabai, Indian Scholar, Feminist and Educator". The New York Times. 14 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
^ "The sitar from different angles (Pt. 2): Modern players, global experiments". Archived from the original on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
^ Monier Monier-Williams (1872). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. 527. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
^ Monier Monier-Williams (1872). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. pp. 526–527. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2016-10-23.

[EB1911-1] Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Pundit" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 649.

[2] "pandit" Archived 2014-10-21 at the Wayback Machine. Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.

[3] Timothy Lubin; Donald R. Davis Jr; Jayanth K. Krishnan (2010). Hinduism and Law: An Introduction. Cambridge University Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-1-139-49358-1.

[michaelsharshav190-4] Axel Michaels; Barbara Harshav (2004). Hinduism: Past and Present. Princeton University Press. p. 190. ISBN 978-0-691-08952-2. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2016-10-23.

[Daniel_Neuman_1980_44-5] Daniel Neuman (1980). The Life of Music in North India. Wayne State University Press. p. 44.

[Behind_the_titles-6] "Behind the titles". Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-23.

[www3.nd.edu-7] ttps://www3.nd.edu/~adutt/Links/documents/NagandGhosh2016.pdf Archived 2021-11-18 at the Wayback Machine ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[nytimes.com-8] "Overlooked No More: Pandita Ramabai, Indian Scholar, Feminist and Educator". The New York Times. 14 November 2018. Archived from the original on 11 March 2022. Retrieved 23 June 2021.

[9] "The sitar from different angles (Pt. 2): Modern players, global experiments". Archived from the original on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2021-06-25.

[10] Monier Monier-Williams (1872). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. p. 527. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2016-10-23.

[11] Monier Monier-Williams (1872). A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Oxford University Press. pp. 526–527. Archived from the original on 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2016-10-23.

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