We even see this Persian-Urdu jigar come into modern Tamil in the sherbet type drink of Tamil Nadu, jigarthanda, which cools the heart/stomach/core, in its popular understanding.
Dr. Andrea Gutiérrez Assistant Professor of Instruction Department of Asian Studies The University of Texas at Austin https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/asianstudies/faculty/alg3485 https://utexas.academia.edu/AndreaLoreneGutierrez On Sat, Aug 9, 2025 at 8:15 AM Satyanad Kichenassamy via INDOLOGY < [email protected]> wrote: > Did anyone mention that today is World Sanskrit Day ? > > Le 09/08/2025 à 03:26, Madhav Deshpande via INDOLOGY a écrit : > > Thanks Hans. That is a very good suggestion. > > > > Madhav > > > > Madhav M. Deshpande > > Professor Emeritus, Sanskrit and Linguistics > > University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA > > Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Hindu Studies > > Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, > India > > > > [Residence: Campbell, California, USA] > > > > > > On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 12:30 PM Hock, Hans Henrich <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > >> Interesting evidence, esp. the Jaina Prakrit one. Could jagri and > jigar(u) > >> be variant vernacularizations of Skt. yak.rt, plus additional Prakritic > >> changes (e.g. a > i after palatal, comparable to madhyama > majjihima? > >> > >> Hans Henrich > >> > >> On Aug 8, 2025, at 14:06, Uskokov, Aleksandar via INDOLOGY < > >> [email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> > >> > >> Curiously skipping arguably the most famous reference of them all, in > the > >> very opening of the *Bṛhad-āraṇyaka, *which raises the question of what > >> is often sheer randomness of how ai engines operate. > >> > >> Best wishes, > >> Aleksandar > >> > >> Aleksandar Uskokov > >> > >> Senior Lector and Associate Research Scholar > >> > >> South Asian Studies Council & Department of Religious Studies, Yale > >> University > >> > >> 203-432-1972 | [email protected] > >> > >> "The Philosophy of the Brahma-sutra: An Introduction" > >> > >> https://www.amzn.com/1350150002/ > >> < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.amzn.com/1350150002/__;!!DZ3fjg!7empG3RZB65PWHDWZivLaKrN86ZLoEMwKy9oIFuSdPC7-Wi-CY4O5u-3jVndiUib2RgecbhnxRofluIewH3spp2MW0kH$ > > > >> > >> > >> > >> *Office Hours Sign-up:* https://calendly.com/aleksandar-uskokov > >> < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://calendly.com/aleksandar-uskokov__;!!DZ3fjg!7empG3RZB65PWHDWZivLaKrN86ZLoEMwKy9oIFuSdPC7-Wi-CY4O5u-3jVndiUib2RgecbhnxRofluIewH3spl0GFnt_$ > > > >> ------------------------------ > >> *From:* INDOLOGY <[email protected]> on behalf of > >> Madhav Deshpande via INDOLOGY <[email protected]> > >> *Sent:* Friday, August 8, 2025 2:58 PM > >> *To:* Rolf Heinrich Koch <[email protected]>; Indology < > >> [email protected]> > >> *Subject:* Re: [INDOLOGY] Claude > >> > >> For whatever it's worth, the DeepSeek AI provided the following textual > >> references: > >> > >> 1. Sanskrit (यकृत् / Yakṛt) – Ayurvedic Texts > >> > >> The liver is extensively discussed in classical Ayurveda as part of the > *"Raktavaha > >> Srotas"* (blood-carrying channels). > >> Key References: > >> > >> - > >> > >> Charaka Samhita (चरकसंहिता, ~300 BCE–200 CE) > >> - > >> > >> *Chikitsāsthāna 15/16* – Discusses liver disorders ( > >> *yakṛd-dalyudara*, enlarged liver). > >> - > >> > >> *Sūtrasthāna 28* – Lists *yakṛt* among major organs. > >> - > >> > >> Sushruta Samhita (सुश्रुतसंहिता, ~4th century CE) > >> - > >> > >> *Sharīrasthāna 4* – Describes the liver’s anatomical position. > >> - > >> > >> *Nidānasthāna 7* – Diagnoses liver diseases (*yakṛt-plīhodara*). > >> - > >> > >> Ashtanga Hridaya (अष्टाङ्गहृदय, 6th century CE) > >> - > >> > >> *Sūtrasthāna 12* – Mentions *yakṛt* in the context of digestion. > >> > >> Example Verse (Charaka): > >> > >> *"यकृत्प्लीहानमुदरं गुल्मः..."* > >> *("Disorders of the liver, spleen, and abdomen...")* > >> — *Charaka Samhita, Chikitsāsthāna 15* > >> > >> ------------------------------ > >> 2. Pali (यकन / Yakana) – Buddhist Texts > >> > >> The Pali Canon refers to the liver in medical and metaphorical contexts. > >> Key References: > >> > >> - > >> > >> Vinaya Piṭaka (विनयपिटक, Mahāvagga VI.14.6) > >> - > >> > >> Prohibits monks from consuming animal livers (as part of strict > >> dietary rules). > >> - > >> > >> Milindapañha (मिलिन्दपञ्ह, ~1st century BCE) > >> - > >> > >> Compares the liver to a "storehouse of blood" in anatomical > >> discussions. > >> - > >> > >> Pali Jātaka Tales (e.g., Jātaka 319) > >> - > >> > >> Metaphorically uses *"yakana"* in descriptions of bodily > suffering. > >> > >> Example Passage: > >> > >> *"Yakanaṃ hadayaṃ kilomakaṃ antogataṃ..."* > >> *("The liver, heart, and kidneys are inside...")* > >> — *Vinaya Piṭaka commentary* > >> > >> ------------------------------ > >> 3. Jain Prakrit (जिगर / Jigara) – Ardhamāgadhī & Śaurasenī > >> > >> Jain texts in Prakrit use *"jigara"* (from Sanskrit *yakṛt*). > >> Key References: > >> > >> - > >> > >> Uttarādhyayana Sūtra (उत्तराध्ययन सूत्र, 5th–3rd century BCE) > >> - > >> > >> Verse 36.75: Lists *jigara* among organs affected by karma. > >> - > >> > >> Sūtrakṛtāṅga (सूत्रकृताङ्ग 1.6.27) > >> - > >> > >> Forbids harming creatures "from liver to bones" (*jigara-aṭṭhi*). > >> - > >> > >> Paiyalacchi (पैयलच्छी, 10th-century Prakrit lexicon) > >> - > >> > >> Defines: *"Jigara = Yakṛt"* (यकृत्). > >> > >> Example Verse (Sūtrakṛtāṅga): > >> > >> *"जिगर-अट्ठी-मज्जाणं..."* > >> *("From liver to bones and marrow...")* > >> — *Sūtrakṛtāṅga 1.6.27* > >> > >> ------------------------------ > >> 4. Apabhraṃśa (जिगरु / Jigaru) – Medieval Jain & Medical Texts > >> > >> The transitional form *"jigaru"* appears in late Prakrit/Apabhraṃśa. > >> Key References: > >> > >> - > >> > >> Bhavisayatta Kaha (भविसयत्त कहा, 8th–10th century CE) > >> - > >> > >> A Jain story describing a king’s *"jigaru-roga"* (liver disease). > >> - > >> > >> Ravidatta’s Medical Works (रविदत्त, ~9th century CE) > >> - > >> > >> Uses *jigaru* in prescriptions for liver ailments. > >> > >> Example Line: > >> > >> *"जिगरु दुक्खु"* ("Liver pain") > >> — *Bhavisayatta Kaha* > >> > >> ------------------------------ > >> Evolution Summary: > >> > >> 1. > >> > >> Vedic Sanskrit: *Yakṛt (यकृत्)* > >> 2. > >> > >> Pali: *Yakana (यकन)* > >> 3. > >> > >> Early Prakrit: *Yakai (यकइ)* > >> 4. > >> > >> Later Prakrit (Jain): *Jigara (जिगर)* > >> 5. > >> > >> Apabhraṃśa: *Jigaru (जिगरु)* > >> 6. > >> > >> Modern Hindi/Urdu: *Jigar (जिगर)* > >> > >> These references contain the use of *jigara *or *jigaru *from ancient > >> Jain Prakrit texts and Apabhraṃśa texts. The Deśīnāmamāla also lists it. > >> Assuming these textual references are accurate, the word *jigar/jigaru > *goes > >> back to Prakrit/Apabhraṃśa ancestry. I wonder if we would still > consider it > >> a borrowing from Persian. > >> > >> Madhav M. Deshpandee > >> Professor Emeritus, Sanskrit and Linguistics > >> University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA > >> Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Hindu Studies > >> Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, > India > >> > >> [Residence: Campbell, California, USA] > >> > >> > >> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 11:46 AM Madhav Deshpande <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> > >> Dear Rolf, > >> > >> I am not an expert in all these languages. But from the > information > >> provided by Open.AI and Claude.AI, it seems to me that the Persian > *jigar > >> *is cognate with Sanskrit *yakr̥t*. The reason I am reluctant to think > *jagrī > >> *coming from Persian *jigar*, is that such a borrowing does not explain > >> the *ī *at the end of *jagrī*, and then we have to assume that somehow > >> the * i *of *jigar *changed to *a* of *jagrī*. That requires too many ad > >> hoc changes. On the other hand, in numerous modern IA languages, the *y > *of > >> Sanskrit is replaced with *j*, and the *r̥ *is routinely pronounced as > *rī > >> *in North India. The loss of final Sanskrit consonants is a common > >> feature of all Prakrit languages. Given these considerations, I see > more of > >> a clear line of connection between Sanskrit *yakr̥t* and your *jagrī*, > >> than to the Persian word. This is my thinking. > >> > >> Madhav > >> Madhav M. Deshpande > >> Professor Emeritus, Sanskrit and Linguistics > >> University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA > >> Senior Fellow, Oxford Center for Hindu Studies > >> Adjunct Professor, National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore, > India > >> > >> [Residence: Campbell, California, USA] > >> > >> > >> On Fri, Aug 8, 2025 at 9:57 AM Rolf Heinrich Koch < > >> [email protected]> wrote: > >> > >> Dear Madhav, > >> > >> just learning the Open.ai system, I asked Open.ai exactly the same as > you > >> did with Claude.ai. > >> > >> This is the answer (which I cannot fully understand): > >> > >> The Persian word *jigar* (جگر), meaning *“liver”*, has a > well-established > >> history within the *Indo-Iranian branch* of the *Indo-European language > >> family*. Here’s the full etymological breakdown: > >> ------------------------------ > >> 🔹 1. *Persian jigar (جگر) – meaning: liver* > >> > >> - > >> > >> In *Classical Persian*, *jigar* refers both to: > >> - > >> > >> The *anatomical liver*, and > >> - > >> > >> *Metaphorical qualities* like *courage*, * passion*, and *deep > >> emotion* — much like how “heart” is used in English. > >> > >> ------------------------------ > >> 🔹 2. *Etymology: from Middle and Old Iranian* > >> > >> - > >> > >> *Middle Persian*: > >> - > >> > >> The word appears as *jigar* (same as modern) or * jekar*. > >> - > >> > >> *Old Persian*: > >> - > >> > >> The word is not directly attested, but is *reconstructed* based > on > >> related Avestan and Indo-Iranian forms. > >> > >> ------------------------------ > >> 🔹 3. *Reconstructed Indo-Iranian and Proto-Indo-European (PIE) roots* > >> > >> - > >> > >> *Avestan* (East Iranian): > >> - > >> > >> *yakarə* (liver) – a clear cognate. > >> - > >> > >> *Proto-Iranian*: > >> - > >> > >> Reconstructed as *jigar* or *jakar*, derived from an earlier > >> Indo-Iranian form. > >> - > >> > >> *Proto-Indo-Iranian*: > >> - > >> > >> Reconstructed as *yákṛt* (same as Sanskrit *yakṛt* = liver) > >> - > >> > >> *Proto-Indo-European (PIE)* root: > >> - > >> > >> **iék̂wṛ̥* → This is the PIE word for *“liver”*, and it gives > rise > >> to many cognates across Indo-European languages. > >> > >> ------------------------------ > >> 🔹 4. *Cognates in other Indo-European languages* > >> Language Word for "liver" Notes > >> *Sanskrit* *yakṛt* (यकृत्) Exact Indo-Aryan match > >> *Avestan* *yakarə* East Iranian cognate > >> *Latin* *iecur* PIE root preserved (with changes) > >> *Ancient Greek* *hēpar* (ἧπαρ) Different root, not cognate (likely > non-IE > >> origin) > >> *Old English* *lifere* → *liver* Possibly unrelated, or influenced by > >> metaphorical use ("life-organ") > >> ------------------------------ > >> 🔹 5. *Semantic development in Persian* > >> > >> - > >> > >> In Persian and later Urdu and Hindi, *jigar* became * highly > >> metaphorical*: > >> - > >> > >> *jigar-dil* = “liver-hearted” → brave > >> - > >> > >> *jigar-pāra* (lit. “a piece of liver”) = a beloved person > >> - > >> > >> *jigar khun hona* (“liver bleeding”) = intense grief > >> > >> This is *cultural* — just as the *heart* became the seat of emotion in > >> European traditions, *the liver* was seen in Persianate culture as the > >> seat of * strong emotions*, especially *courage and deep love*. > >> ------------------------------ > >> ✅ Summary: > >> > >> - > >> > >> *Jigar (جگر)* is *an authentic Iranian word*, descending from > *Proto-Indo-European > >> *iék̂wṛ̥* via *Indo-Iranian *yakṛt*. > >> - > >> > >> It is *cognate with Sanskrit yakṛt*, Latin *iecur*, and Avestan > >> *yakarə*. > >> - > >> > >> The *metaphorical richness* of the word in Persianate cultures > >> (courage, love, pain) is a *later cultural development*, not > >> etymological. > >> > >> Would you like a linguistic family tree of this word across > Indo-European > >> languages? > >> > >> > >> > >> Am 08.08.2025 um 16:59 schrieb Madhav Deshpande via INDOLOGY: > >> > >> https://claude.ai/share/2fe502db-185f-447d-b742-88e87ff1c17c > >> < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://claude.ai/share/2fe502db-185f-447d-b742-88e87ff1c17c__;!!DZ3fjg!7empG3RZB65PWHDWZivLaKrN86ZLoEMwKy9oIFuSdPC7-Wi-CY4O5u-3jVndiUib2RgecbhnxRofluIewH3spllBBM6k$ > > > >> > >> Some interesting connections of the Persian word jigar to Sanskrit word > >> taker for liver. > >> > >> Madhav Deshpande > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> INDOLOGY mailing [email protected]:// > list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology__;!!DZ3fjg!7empG3RZB65PWHDWZivLaKrN86ZLoEMwKy9oIFuSdPC7-Wi-CY4O5u-3jVndiUib2RgecbhnxRofluIewH3spug9qFoj$ > > > >> > >> -- > >> Dr. R. H. Koch - Germany/Sri Lanka www.rolfheinrichkoch.wordpress.com < > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.rolfheinrichkoch.wordpress.com/__;!!DZ3fjg!7empG3RZB65PWHDWZivLaKrN86ZLoEMwKy9oIFuSdPC7-Wi-CY4O5u-3jVndiUib2RgecbhnxRofluIewH3spnf2lNt0$ > > > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> INDOLOGY mailing list > >> [email protected] > >> > >> > >> > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology__;!!DZ3fjg!7empG3RZB65PWHDWZivLaKrN86ZLoEMwKy9oIFuSdPC7-Wi-CY4O5u-3jVndiUib2RgecbhnxRofluIewH3spug9qFoj$ > >> > >> > > > > _______________________________________________ > > INDOLOGY mailing list > > [email protected] > > https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology > > -- > ********************************************** > Satyanad KICHENASSAMY > Professor of Mathematics > Laboratoire de Mathématiques de Reims (CNRS, UMR9008) > and GREI (EPHE-Paris and Sorbonne-Université) > Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne > F-51687 Reims Cedex 2 > France > Web: https://www.normalesup.org/~kichenassamy > ********************************************** > > > _______________________________________________ > INDOLOGY mailing list > [email protected] > https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology >
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