A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

eath control 44
followers of CAITANYA, Brajbhümi is the
destination of many millions Hindu pilgrims
every year and a preferred place
of retirement for many pious
VAIÆŒAVAS. The local language,
Brajbhä•a, a dialect of Hindi, is a major
literary language especially for devotional
works.
breath control
See PRÄŒAYAMA.
Bøhad-äraæyaka Upani•ad
One of the oldest major UPANIÆADS, the
longest of all, extensively used by
Vedäntins. It is the last part of the Ÿatapatha
Brähmaæa and combines both
ÄRAŒYAKA and Upani•ad. (See also
BRÄHMAŒA (1).)
on astronomy/ASTROLOGY, the making
of IMAGES and TEMPLES, and other
matters of importance in connection
with worship.
Buddha (sixth century BCE)
Gautama Buddha, founder of Buddhism,
often described in Hindu writings
as the worst enemy of Hinduism;
also listed as the ninth AVATÄRA of
VIÆŒU who descended to earth in order
to lead astray people who were destined
not to be saved by Vi•æu.
Bøhad-devatä
An ancient vedic work (fifth century
BCE) containing a systematics of the
deities that are addressed in the Vedic
HYMNS.
Bøhaspati
This name is frequently encountered in
Hindu literature, with a variety of connotations.
In the Vedas he is a deity, the
priest of the gods. In later times he is a
ØÆI. The ø•i Bøhaspati was the son of the
ø•i ANGIRAS, and is also called Ängirasa.
His wife, TÄRÄ, was carried off by Soma
(the moon); this led to a war, after
which Tärä was restored to Bøhaspati.
She subsequently bore a son, BUDHA,
who was claimed by both Bøhaspati and
Soma. Soma was declared the father.
Bøhaspati is also the presiding deity of
the planet Jupiter, and a day of the
week, Bøhaspativära (Thursday), is
named after him.
Bøhat-saƒhitä
A famous work by Varäha Mihira
(sixth century) containing information
Buddha, the founder of Buddhism,
depicted as the ninth avatära
of Vi•æu.
buddhi
(Sense-related) mind, sensus communis.
(See also MANAS.)
Buddhism
At the time of Gautama Buddha (sixth
century BCE) there were many different
schools of thought and many teachers
of practices that claimed to lead to
emancipation. When Prince Siddhärtha
left his home in search of enlightenment
he underwent the usual training of a
SAMNYÄSI and practised severe forms of
self-mortification (TAPAS). After gaining
enlightenment and becoming a Buddha,