Prabhu

Prabhu means master or the Prince [1] in Sanskrit and many of the Indian languages; it is a name sometimes applied to God.[2] The term is also used by male devotees of the Hindu God Lord Krishna/Vishnu as a title and form of address. If a man sees another male devotee whom he does not know, he will address him as "Prabhu". It is also appended after a devotee's name, for example "Madhava Prabhu". In Indonesia, especially in Javanese and Sundanese culture, the term is used as a part of royal titles, especially to address Kings.

As a surname

It is also a common surname among Konkani speaking people across the Konkan Coast in India, from Maharashtra to Kerala and Tamil Nadu.[3] According to historian Anant Ramkrishna Sinai Dhume, Prabhu was a title accorded to the representative of the main village of the taluka (district) committee.[4] The Prabhus may have also occupied official posts in the central administration, without prejudice to their original posts which were hereditary.[4] Traditionally, a Prabhu was a landlord and as such a master to the many agricultural labourers that were needed to cultivate his lands.[4]

Prabhu is also a common first name among Tamils in Southern India.

Notable people with the name Prabhu

Other Uses

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bhakti Yoga Dictionary Archived June 5, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ The Master's Glossary
  3. ↑ Sarasvati's Children: A History of the Mangalorean Christians (1999), Alan Machado Prabhu, I.J.A. Publications, p. 137
  4. 1 2 3 The Last Prabhu – A Hunt for Roots: DNA, Ancient documents and migration in Goa (2011), Bernardo Elvino de Sousa, Goa 1556, p. 89
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, April 25, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.