Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

Väma-deva (3)

An Upani•adic sage.

Väma-deva (4)

The name of a daÿanämi samnyäsi,

founder and president of the Akhil

Bhäratïya Sant Samiti (1986).

Vämana

The dwarf AVATÄRAof Vi•æu. (See also

BALI.)

Vämana Puräæa

One of the Upapuräæas, dealing with

the dwarf AVÄTARAof Vi•æu.

vamÿa

Genealogy, lists of succession of ø•is

(sages) as found attached to some

BRÄHMAŒAS (1); also one of the

pañcälak•ana (five subjects of a Puräæa).

vamÿänucarita

The third of the pancälak•ana

(subjects of a Puräæa). It consists of the

genealogies of various gods and

patriarchs.

Van Buitenen, Johannes

Adrianus Bernardus

(1925–89)

Dutch–American Indologist, professor

of Sanskrit at Chicago University, trans-

lator of Rämänuja’s Gïtäbhä•ya, Yamunä-

cärya’s Ägamaprämuanya, and the

Mahäbhärata (incomplete).

vänaprastha (‘forest dweller’)

The third stage in a brahmin’s life. (See

also SAMNYÄSA.)

Varäha (‘boar’)

One of the AVATÄRASof Vi•æu, who in

this form saved the earth from being

submerged in the ocean.

Varäha Puräæa

One of the UPA-PURÄŒAS, in which the

exploits of Vi•æu’s Varaha AVATÄRAare

described.

Väräæasï

One of the seven ancient holy cities of

India, and probably one of the oldest

cities on earth, it is situated on the

Gaögä, in today’s Uttar Pradesh. Its

name comes from the names of two

rivers (Väräæa and Asï) that formed the

borders of the ancient town; it is also

known as Käÿï (the shiny one),

Avimuktaka (place of highest libera-

tion). From time immemorial it was a

holy city (it was an ancient place by the

time of Buddha) and a centre of Hindu

learning. Its major temples, especially

the Viÿvanäflha (‘Golden’) temple, were

destroyed and rebuilt several times

under Muslim rule. The present shrine,

built on part of the original temple (the

other part is occupied by a mosque),

197 Väräæasï

Väräæasï and the Ganges.

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