janam

Janam is a term widely used in Hindi and many Indic languages to mean birth or origin. It derives from the Sanskrit janma, itself from the verb root jan- meaning “to be born.” In everyday language, janam can refer to the moment of birth, a person’s lineage, or one’s life story, and it appears in phrases such as janam din (birthday) and janam patri (birth record) in some languages.

In religious and philosophical contexts, janam is linked to concepts of life, death, and rebirth. In Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, the idea of janma is tied to samsara, the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. A person’s janm is one life within this cycle, and liberation from repeated janmas is a central goal in these traditions, achieved through various spiritual practices and attainments.

In astrology, particularly in the Indian system known as Jyotisha, janam is central to the creation of the janam kundli or birth chart. This chart maps the positions of planets at the time of birth (date, time, and place) and is used to interpret personality, life events, and periods of influence known as dashas. Predictions and guidance are often framed around the janam chart and its transits.

Administratively, janam appears in forms of official documentation and civil records. The term is used in reference to birth certificates (janam praman patra in several languages), which record essential details of a person’s birth for legal and identification purposes.

Culturally, janam is a common motif in literature and cinema, where themes of origin, family lineage, and the events surrounding birth are explored.