Bädämi

Ancient temple site in the Deccan, home

to the famous Malegitti Ÿivälaya temple

(seventh century) and others.

Bädaräyaæa

Legendary author of the BRAHMA-

SÜTRAS (also called Vedäntasütras)

which systematize the content of the

Upani•ads in 550 SÜTRAS. Dates suggested

for the compilation of the Brahma-

sutras vary from 300 BCEto 300 CE.

Badrïnäth

Famous place of pilgrimage in the

Himälayas, close to the source of the

Ganges.

Bahiæabäï (1628–1700)

A Mahärä•flrian poet-saint, whose

abhaögas (hymns) are very popular to

this day. Born into a poor brahmin fam-

ily in Deogaon (Mahärä•flra) she was

married at age five to a 30-year-old

widower. In her autobiography,

Ätmanivedan, she describes him as a

man of a very angry disposition, who

severely beat her, out of jealousy. After

the family moved to Dehu, where

Tukäräm had started the Värkarï move-

ment, Bahiæäbäï enjoyed more freedom

to participate in religious activities in

honour of Viflhobä. She continued both

her family life (she had a son and a

daughter) and her composition of

religious lyrics, which were highly

appreciated.

Baladeva,alsoBalaräma

In North Indian traditions he is the

elder brother of Kø•æa; in Tamil

mythology he is the elder brother of

Vi•æu, also called VALIYON. Sometimes

listed as the eighth AVATÄRAof Vi•æu,

sometimes as an avatäraof Ÿe•a, the

subject of many stories in the Hari-

vamÿa and in Vai•æava Puräæas, espe-

cially the Bhägavatam. (See also

KAߟA.)

Bäla-käæda (‘Book of Childhood’)

The first section of the RÄMÄYAŒA

describing the childhood and youth of

Räma.

Bali

A pious DAITYA king, grandson of

PRAHLÄDA. His good deeds earned him

rulership over the three worlds. The

gods implored Vi•æu to restore their

realms. Vi•æu, in the form of the dwarf

Vämana, asked Bali for a boon: as much

land as he could cover with three

strides. Bali agreed, and then Vi•æu

stepped with two strides over heaven

and earth. Bali offered his head as a rest

for Vi•æu’s third stride. Out of consid-

eration for his kindness and Prahläda’s

devotion Vi•æu left the netherworlds to

Bali. His capital was MAHÄBALIPURA.

B

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