A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature / by John Dowson.

  • Dowson, John, active 1913.
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A classical dictionary of Hindu mythology and religion, geography, history, and literature / by John Dowson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    / brahma VARTTA—BRIHASPA 77. 63 stanzas.” Tlie copies known rather exceed this number of stanzas, but the contents do not answer to this description. “ The character of the work is so decidedly sectarial, and the sect to which it belongs so distinctly marked—that of the wor- shippers of the juvenile Krishna and Eadha, a form of belief of known modern origin ”—that it must be a production of a com- paratively late date. A specimen of the text and translation has been published by Stenzler. BRAH]\IAVAKTTA “ Between the two divine rivers, Saraswati and Drishadwati, lies the tract of land which the sages have named Brahmavartta, because it was frequented by the gods.”—Manu, ii. 17. BRAHINIA-^TEDA. A name given to the Atharvan or fourth Veda, the Veda of prayers and charms. BRAH^IA-YUGA ‘ The age of Brahmans.’ The first or Kn’ta-yuga. See Yuga. BRAHMOTTARA PURAiVA. See Brahma Purana. BR/HAD ARAAYAKA, BAJHAD UPANISHAJD. The Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad belongs to the ^atapatha Brah- mana, and is ascribed to the sage Yajnawalkya. It has been translated by Dr. Roer, and pubhshed in the Bibliotheca Indica. See Arawyaka and Yajnawalkya. Bif/HAD-DEVATA An ancient work in slokas by the sage /Skunaka, which enumerates and describes the deity or deities to which each hymn and verse of the ifig-veda is addressed. It frequently recites legends in support of its attri- butions. BR/HAD-RATIIA. The tenth and last king of the Maurya dynasty, founded by Chandragupta. BA/HAN NARADlYA PURAAA. See Narada Purana. BiZ/HASPATI. In the itig-veda the names Brihaspati and Brahmanaspati alternate, and are equivalent to each other. They are names “ of a deity in whom the action of the wor- shipper upon the gods is personified. He is the suppliant, the sacrificer, the priest, who intercedes with gods on behalf of men and protects mankind against the wicked. Hence he appears as the prototype of the priests and priestly order; and is also designated as the Purohita (family priest) of the divine com- munity. He is called in one place ‘the father of the gods,’ and a widely extended creative power is ascribed to him. He is
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