Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

followers of CAITANYA, Brajbhümi is the

destination of many millions Hindu pil-

grims 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 devo-

tional works.

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SeePRÄŒAYAMA.

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 Ÿata-

patha Brähmaæa and combines both

ÄRAŒYAKA and Upani•ad. (See also

BRÄHMAŒA(1).)

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 con-

notations. In the Vedas he is a deity, the

priest of the gods. In later times he is a

ØÆI. The ø•iBøhaspati was the son of the

ø•iANGIRAS, 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

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 Bud-

dhism, often described in Hindu writ-

ings as the worst enemy of Hinduism;

also listed as the ninth AVATÄRAof

VIÆŒUwho descended to earth in order

to lead astray people who were destined

not to be saved by Vi•æu.

buddhi

(Sense-related) mind, sensus communis.

(See alsoMANAS.)

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

SAMNYÄSIand practised severe forms of

self-mortification (TAPAS). After gaining

enlightenment and becoming a Buddha,

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Buddha, the founder of Buddhism,

depicted as the ninth avatära

of Vi•æu.

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