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A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History and Literature - John Dowson, 1820 - Complete Book

English

" 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 K?'/sh7ia and Kadlia, 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. BRAHMA YARTTA. "Between the two divine rivers, SaraswatI and Dr ishadwati, lies the tract of land which the sages have named Brahmavartta, because it was frequented by the gods." — Manu, ii. 17. BRAHMA- YED A. A name given to the Atharvan or fourth Yeda, the Yeda of prayers and charms. BRAHMA-YUGA. 'The age of Brahmans.' The first or Knta-yuga. See Yuga. BRAHMOTTARA PURAYA. See Brahma Purawa. BEIRAI) ARAi\^YAKA, Bi?/HAD IJPANISHAD. The B?'iliad Ara?i,yaka Upanishad belongs to the /S'atapatha Brah- mawa, and is ascribed to the sage Yajnawalkya. It has been translated by Dr. Roer, and published in the Bibliotheca Inclica. See Arawyaka and Yajnawalkya. Bi^/HAD-DEYATA. An ancient work in slokas by the sage /S'aunaka, which enumerates and describes the deity or deities to which each hymn and verse of the i^ig-veda is addressed. It frequently recites legends in support of its attri- butions. B^/HAD-RATHA. The tenth and last king of the Maurya dynasty, founded by Chandragupta. Bi^/HAX NARADIYA PURAYA. See ^rada Pura?za. Bit/HASPATI. In the J?ig-veda the names B?7haspati 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 64 BRIHASPATI—BUDHA. also designated as 'the sliining' and 'the gold-coloured,' and as ' havino: the thunder for his voice.' " In later times he is a i^/shi. lie is also regent of the planet Jupiter, and the name is commonly used for the planet itself. In this character his car is called Niti-ghosha and is drawn by- eight pale horses. He was son of the iti'shi Angiras, and he bears the patronymic Angirasa. As preceptor of the gods he is called Animishacharya, Chakshas, Ijya, and Indrejya. His wife, Tara, was carried off by Soma, the moon, and this gave rise to a war called the Taraka-maya. Soma was aided by Usanas, Eudra, and all the Daityas and Danavas, while Indra and the gods took the part of Brdiaspati. " Earth, shaken to her centre," appealed to Brahma, who interposed and restored Tara to her husband. She was delivered of a son which Br/haspati and Soma both claimed, but Tara, at the command of Brahma to tell the truth, declared Soma to be the father, and the cliild was named Budlia. There is an extraordinary story in the Matsya and Bhagavata Purawas of the itishis having milked the earth through Brihaspati. {See Vish?iu Pura7ia, i. pp. i88, 190.) Brdiaspati was father of Bharadwaja by Mamata, wife of Utathya. {See Bharadwaja,) An ancient code of law bears the name of BrHiaspati, and he is also represented as being the Yyasa of the " fourth, Dwapara age." There was a itislii of the name in the second Manwan- tara, and one who was founder of an heretical sect. Other epi- thets of B)-diaspati are Jiva, ' the living,' Didivis, ' the bright,' DhishaTia, 'the intelligent,' and, for his eloquence, Gish-pati, ' lord of speech.' Bit/HAT-KATHA. A large collection of tales, the original of the Katha-sarit-sagara (q.v.). Bi^/HAT-SANHITA. A celebrated work on astronomy by Yaraha Miliira. It has been printed by Kern in the Bihliotheca Indica, who has also published a translation in Jour. B. A. S. for 1870 and following years. BUDDHxi. Gotama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. VisliTiu's ninth incarnation. See Avatara. BUDHA. 'Wise, intelligent' The planet Mercury, son of Soma, the moon, by Rohi?iI, or by Tiirfi, wife of B^/haspati. (See B7-ihaspati.) He married Ha, daughter of the ]\Ianu Vaivaswata, and by her had a son, Pururavas. Budha was author of a liymn in the itig-veda. {See Ha.) Prom his parents he is called CHAITANYA-CHANDRODA YA—CIIAMUNDA. 65 Saiimya and Raiiliineya, He is also called PraliarsliaTza, Rod- hana, Tunga, and AS'yamanga, 'black-bodied.' The intrigue of Soma with Tara was the cause of a great quarrel, in which the gods and the Asuras fought against each other. Brahma com- pelled Soma to give up Tara, and when she returned to her husband she was pregnant. A son was born, who was so beau- tiful that B?'zhaspati and Soma both claimed him. Tara for a long time refused to tell his paternity, and so excited the wrath and nearly incurred the curse of her son. At length, upon the command of Brahma, she declared Soma to be the father, and he gave the boy the name of Budha. This name is distinct from Buddha. CHAIT ANYA-CHANDRODAYA. ' The rise of the moon of Chaitanya.' A drama in ten acts by Kavi-kar?ia-pura. It is published in the Bihliotheca Indica. Chaitanya was a modern Vaishwava reformer, accounted an incarnation of l\.Tishna. CHAITRA-RATHA. The grove or forest of Kuvera on Mandara, one of the spurs of Meru ; it is so called from its being cultivated by the gandharva Chitra-ratha. CHAKORA. A kind of partridge. A fabulous bird, supposed to live upon the beams of the moon. CHAKRA-YARTI. A universal emperor, described by the YisliTiu Pura?^a as one who is born with the mark of Yish/iu's discus visible in his hand ; but, Wilson observes, " the gram- matical etymology is, ' He who abides in or rules over an exten- sive territory called a Chakra,'" CHAKSHUSHA. The sixth Manu. See Manu. CHAMPA. Son of Prithu-laksha, a descendant of Yayati, through his fourth son, Anu, and founder of the city of Champa. CHAMPA, CHAMPAYATI, CHAMPA-MALINI, CHAM- PA-PURL The capital city of the country of Anga. Traces of it still remain in the neighbourhood of Bhagalpur. It was also called Malinl, from its being surrounded with champaka trees as with a garland (maid). It is said to have derived its name from Champa, its founder, but the abundant champaka trees may assert a claim to its designation. CHAMTJiYDA. An emanation of the goddess Durga, sent forth from her forehead to encounter the demons ChaTz^a and 'Munch. She is thus described in the MarkawtZeya Purana : — E 66 CHANAKY A— CHANDRA-GUPTA. " From the foreliead of Ambika (Durga), contracted with wrath- ful frowns, sprang swiftly forth a goddess of black and formid- able aspect, armed with a scimitar and noose, bearing a ponde- rous mace, decorated with a garland of dead corses, robed in the hide of an elephant, dry and withered and hideous, with yawning mouth, and loUing tongue, and bloodshot eyes, and filling the regions with her shouts. " "When she had killed the two demons, she bore their heads to Durga, who told her that she should henceforth be known, by a contraction of their names, as Cha- munda. CHAiVAKYA. A celebrated Brahman, who took a leading part in the destruction of the Nandas, and in the elevation of Chandra-gupta to their throne. He was a great master of finesse and artifice, and has been called the Machiavelli of India. A work upon morals and polity called Cha?iakya Siitra is ascribed to him. He is the chief character in the drama called Mudra- rakshasa, and is known also by the names Vish/iu-gupta and Kau^il3"a. His maxims have been translated by Weber. CHAA^Z>A, CRANDl. The goddess Durga, especially in the form she assumed for the destruction of the Asura called Mahisha. CHAiVi)I-MAHATMYA, CHAA^Z>IKA-MAHATMYA The same as the Chawc?ipa^ha. CKANDlFAT, CRANDIFATRA. A poem of 700 verses, forming an episode of the Markam?eya Pura7za. It cele- brates Durga's victories over the Asuras, and is read daily in the temples of that goddess. The work is also called Devi- mahatmya. It has been translated by Foley and by Burnouf. CHANDRA The moon, either as a planet or a deity. See Soma. CHANDRA-GUPTA This name was identified by Sir W. Jones with the Sandracottus or Sandrocyptus mentioned by Arrian and the other classical historians of Alexander's cam- paign ; and somewhat later on as having entered into a treaty with Seleucus Nicator througli the ambassador Mcgasthenes.