bodha

Bodha, from Sanskrit बोध (bodha), is a term used in Indian languages and religious philosophical traditions to denote knowledge, understanding, or awakening. The root budh means to know or perceive, and bodha refers to the state or act of knowing—often implying a deeper or experiential insight beyond everyday cognitive awareness. In Hindu and Jain literature, bodha appears in discussions of discernment, realization, and spiritual insight, and it is frequently paired with other terms to describe stages of knowledge on the path to liberation. In Buddhist contexts, the related term bodhi is more common for awakening or enlightenment; bodha may appear in Sanskrit-language sutras and commentaries to indicate knowledge that contributes to awakening.

In modern usage, bodha is widely understood across many Indian languages as knowledge, awareness, or understanding. It can be found in educational, philosophical, and spiritual expressions, and it sometimes appears in proper names or toponyms in various regions. While not a distinct philosophical school or doctrine in itself, bodha functions as a core concept within discussions of epistemology and realization in South Asian thought. The term exemplifies how language reflects the difference between superficial knowing and deeper, transformative insight that different traditions associate with liberation or enlightenment.