Thread by @vakibs

In this thread, I will translate the names of different western religions into Telugu (into Sanskrit, so other Indians can comment) based on their native etymological meanings.

Thanks to @exC_Esther who inspired this with her threads on the meanings behind “Jesus” and “Christ”.

To start off, “Christianity” which comes from “Christ” meaning “anointed person” (via Greek translation of Hebrew “Messiah”). Thanks to @mprafulprabhu who suggested “abhishikta” अभिषिक्त for this.

Christianity can be translated as “Ābhishiktam” आभिषिक्तम् ఆభిషిక్తం ఆభిషిక్తమతము.

“Christian” as follower of Christ can be translated with the same Taddhita derivation “Ābhishikta” आभिषिक्त ఆభిషిక్తుడు/ఆభిషిక్తులు.

Other compound words can be easily created “Follower of Christ” Abhishiktānuyāin अभिषिक्तानुयायिन् అభిషిక్తానుయాయిడు and so on.

Christianity has many denominations and sects. Let’s translate some.

“Catholic” (adj) from Greek root (meaning holistic) can be translated as Sārvapratīka सार्वप्रतीक సార్వప్రతీక.

Catholicism will be Sārvapratīkavāda सार्वप्रतीकवाद సార్వప్రతీకవాదము.

“Evangelical” also from Greek meaning “messengers of good (tidings)”. In Germany where they originated, Protestants are called “Evangelische”.

This can be translated as Sudautya सुदौत्य సుదౌత్య.

Evengelism/Protestantism can be translated as Sudautyavāda सुदौत्यवाद సుదౌత్యవాదము.

In Telugu, evangelical missions are translated as “Suvārta” (good news). That’s fine, but Vārta has a very temporary meaning (local context). It is not the kind of permanent epoch defining “news” they might have in mind. A lot of weird translations exist in the translated Bibles.

Let’s move on to “Orthodoxism” from Greek “right belief”. It refers to the “correct traditional path”. It can be translated as Kramāgatamata क्रमागतमत క్రమాగతమతము.

If we want to specify “Orthodox Christianity”, it can be Kramāgatābhishiktam क्रमागताभिषिक्तम्
క్రమాగతాభిషిక్తము.

Then we go to “Islam” which is from Arabic meaning “submission (to the God’s law)”. In Sanskrit, submissiveness is Vidhēyatvam. A Taddhita derivation can be made for Islam as “Vaidhēyam” वैधेयम् వైధేయము, which can refer to the religion that comes from submission (to the Quran).

“Shia Islam” meaning “faction or party” (of Ali and Husain) can be translated as Pakshavāda Vaidhēyam पक्षवादवैधेयम् పక్షవాదవైధేయము.

“Sunni Islam” from “Sunnah” meaning “tradition, practices (of Mohamed) can be translated as Kramāchāra Vaidhēyam क्रमाचारवैधेयम् క్రమాచారవైధేయము.

I think a good translation of the names of the different religions is a good first step in drawing them into a respectful debate (संवाद) in our own languages. An accurate rendition of the key concepts in our own languages will amount to a good Pūrva Paksha.