Balarama Balarama (Sanskrit: बलराम, IAST: Balarāma) is a god and the elder brother of Krishna. He is also known as Baladeva, Balabhadra, Haladhara and Halayudha, and sometimes simply Rama. The first two epithets refer to his strength, the last two associate him with Hala (Langala, “plough”) which he uses as his weapon. In the Puranas and in Mahabharata, Balarama is considered as…
Bahlika Bahlika (Sanskrit: बाह्लिक) was the elder brother of Shantanu and became the king of Bahlika. Being Bhishma’s uncle, Bahlika was the oldest warrior to fight in the Mahabharata war. His son Somadatta and grandson Bhurishravas joined him to fight against the Pandavas in the Kurukshetra war. He was slain by Bhima on the 14th day of…
Bhurishravas Bhurishravas (Sanskrit: भूरिश्रवस् / भूरिश्रवा) was a prince of a minor kingdom called Bahlika. He was the grandson of king Bahlika, who was the elder brother of Shantanu, the king of Hastinapur. Bahlika was the crown prince of Hastinapur but he devoted his life to conquer Balkh. So Shantanu became the king of Hastinapur. Thus Bahlika was the uncle of Bhishma and he, with his…
Bakula Tree Bakula or Mimusops elengi is a medium-sized evergreen tree found in tropical forests in South Asia, Southeast Asia and northern Australia. English common names include Spanish cherry, medlar, and bullet wood. Its timber is valuable, the fruit is edible, and it is used in traditional medicine. As the trees give thick shade and flowers…
BrahmanaBrahmana (ब्राह्मण) is a Varna (class, caste) in Hinduism specialising as priests, teachers (Acharya) and protectors of sacred learning across generations.The earliest inferred reference to “Brahmana” as a possible social class is in the Rigveda, occurs once, and the hymn is called Purusha Sukta. According to this hymn in Mandala 10, Brahmanas are described as having…
Brahma Brahma – the creator Brahma (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मा, IAST: Brahmā) is a creator god in Hinduism. He has four faces. Brahma is also known as Svayambhu (self-born), Vāgīśa (Lord of Speech), and the creator of the four Vedas, one from each of his mouths. Brahma is sometimes identified with the Vedic god Prajapati, as well as linked to Hiranyagarbha (the cosmic egg). He is…
Ganga presenting son Devavrata to ShantanuBhishma taking the terrrible oath Bhishma kidnapping the Kashi girlsBhishma fights ArjunaKrishna wields a weapon against Bhishma against hiw own oathBhishma revealing to the Pandavas how he can be killed in the battle Bhishma on a bed of arrowsDeath of Bhishma BhishmaIn the epic Mahabharata, Devavrata also known…
BaliBali, an asura, was the son of Devamba and Virochana. He grew up under the tutelage of his grandfather, Prahlada, who instilled in him a strong sense of righteousness and devotion. Bali would eventually succeed his grandfather as the king of the Asuras, and his reign over the realm was characterized by peace and…
Bharadwaj Bharadwaj, also spelled Bharadwaaj (Sanskrit: भारद्वाज, Bhāradvāja), was one of the greatest Hindu sages (Maharṣis) descendant of Sage Aṅgirasā, whose accomplishments are detailed in the Purāṇas. He is one of the Saptaṛṣis (Seven Great Sages) in the present Manvantara; with others being Atri, Vasiṣṭha, Viswamitra,Gautama, Jamadagni, Kaśyapa. Bharadvāja Bārhaspatya…
Maharshi Bhrigu Bhrigu Maharishi Bhrigu (Sanskrit: Bhṛgu) was one of the seven great sages, the Saptarshis, one of the many Prajapatis (the facilitators of Creation) created by Brahma (The God of Creation), the first compiler of predictive astrology, and also the author of Bhrigu Samhita, the astrological (Jyotish) classic. Bhrigu is considered as a Manasa Putra (mind-born-son) of Brahma. The adjectival form of…