Daivadnya Brahmin - Etymology

Etymology

The word is written as दैवज्ञ in Devanāgarī and ದೈವಜ್ಞ in Kannaḍa. Different authorities spell the word differently. Some alternate spellings are Daivajna, Daivajnya,Daivagna, Daiwadnya, and Daivadnea. The word is pronounced in Karnataka and in Goa and Maharshtra.

Daiva jānati iti daivajñaḥ

is literally translated as the one who knows the fate is Daivadnya or "the one who knows about God is Daivadnya", and can be interpreted as the one who knows about the future is a Daivadnya; or the one is well versed in Śilpaśāstra and can craft an idol of God is called a Daivadnya.

A person mastering the following eight fields is termed as Daivadnya: Bhugolasthiti, Gaṇita Siddhānta, Horāśastra, Śakuna, Saṃhitā, Svaraśāstra, Sāmudrikā, and Śilpaśātras. According to Reginald Edward Enthoven,Daivajña is derived from Daiva (pertaining to God) and jña (to know).

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