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Shri (; , ) is a Sanskrit term denoting resplendence, wealth and prosperity, primarily used as an honorific.
The word is widely used in South and Southeast Asian languages such as Hindi language, and also among Philippine languages. It is usually transliterated as Sri, Sree, Shri, Shiri, Shree, Si, or Seri based on the local convention for transliteration. In Tamil it evolved to Tiru.
The term is used in Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia as a polite form of address equivalent to the English "Mr." in written and spoken language.
"Shri" is also used as a title of veneration for deities or as honorific title for individuals.
"Shri" is also an epithet for Hindu goddess Lakshmi, while a yantra or a mystical diagram popularly used to worship her is called Shri Yantra.
The word may also be used as an adjective in Sanskrit, which is the origin of the modern use of shri as a title. From the noun is derived the Sanskrit adjective "śrīmat" (śrimān in the masculine nominative singular, śrīmatī in the feminine) by adding the suffix indicating possession, literally "radiance-having" (person, god, etc.). This is used in modern vernacular as form of address Shrimati (abbreviated Smt) for married women, while Sushri (with "su", "good", added to the beginning) can be used for women in general (regardless of marital status).
Sanskrit is written in many other Indian scripts as well, each of which has its own equivalents of these Devanāgari characters.
Shri is also frequently used as an epithet of some Hindu , in which case it is often translated into English as Holy. Also, in language and general usage, Shri, if used by itself and not followed by any name, refers to the supreme consciousness, i.e. god.
Shri, also rendered Sridevi, is an epithet of Lakshmi. The Vedas speak of Shri as a goddess, who personified ten qualities coveted by other divine beings: food, royalty, holiness, kingdom, fortune, sovereignty, nobility, power, righteousness, and beauty. The Vedic Shri is believed to have identified with later conceptions of Lakshmi, as the embodiment of royalty and dignity.
Another usage is as an emphatic compound (which can be used several times: shri shri, or shri shri shri, etc.) in princely styles, notably in Darbar Shri, Desai Shri, and Thakur Shri or Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, the founder of the social and spiritual movement Ananda Marga (the Path of Bliss).
The honorific can also be applied to objects and concepts that are widely respected, such as the Sikh religious text, the Shri Guru Granth Sahib. Similarly, when the Ramlila tradition of reenacting the Ramayana is referred to as an institution, the term Shri Ramlila is frequently used.
A common Sikh greeting is “ Sat Shri Akaal (Gurmukhi: ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ)”, meaning “Truth is divine and eternal”. Shri here is used to denote divinity or godliness.
| Comparable to the Javanese usage: a particle prefixed to royal names, the goddess of rice-culture. | ||
| See Tamil language below. | ||
| Dhivehi | ސިރީ ( siree or sirī) | Used in the full titles of sultans and kings |
| Often used to address royal or venerated figures, such as the King of Yogyakarta, Hamengkubuwono X and the title "Sri Bhaginda" (equivalent to "your majesty"), and for names of deities, such as the Javanese rice goddess Dewi Sri. In modern Javanese, it is a common part of proper names of Javanese people, e.g the name of Indonesian finance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Indonesian marine corps officer Lt. Col Sri Utomo. "Sri" is also a widely used name in Java used for names of placements, organizations, institutions, etc | ||
| Jawi alphabet: سري, Latin: Seri (Malaysian) Sri (Indonesian) | Often used as a title of veneration for honorific titles in Malay kingdoms and sultanates. This includes the honorific title for the Sultan of Brunei: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and King of Malaysia: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda. It is also used for the name of places in the Malay world such as Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei and Siak Sri Indrapura city in Sumatra, Indonesia
Usage of "Sri" in Indonesia is used for honorary titles for a king or other great person, for example the King of Yogyakarta Hamengkubuwono X and Sri Baginda which means "Your Majesty", and is also used for people's names, mainly Javanese people such as Indonesian finance minister Sri Mulyani, Indonesian marine officer Lt. Col Sri Utomo, Indian-Indonesian businessman Sri Prakash Lohia, etc. It also refers to the Javanese rice goddess "Dewi Sri". "Sri" is also used as names of companies, placements, institutions, etc (e.g — Sriwijaya Air, Sriwijaya University, etc). | |
| Used as honorific as in Shri Biren and Shri Shri Govindaji Temple | ||
| Newar language | 𑐱𑑂𑐬𑐷 (Sri) | |
| Formerly used as an honorific title for rulers in old Indianized precolonial states and polities in the Philippines, such as Sri Lumay of Cebu or Sri Bata Shaja of Butuan or Sripada/Sipad of Lupah Sug or Sikatuna of Dapitan Kingdom. | ||
| Meaning "resplendent", as in Sri Lanka, "Resplendent Island". | ||
| The Tamil equivalent tiru is also used. | ||
| Used in many Thai place names, as seen below. | ||
| Vietnamese transcription of honorific name prefix used among the Cham ethnic minority. |
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