Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

43 Braja

brahma-randhra

(‘Brahma’s crevice’)

Aperture at the crown of the head, iden-

tified by the ŸIKHA, the small tuft of hair

kept unshaven. According to popular

Hindu tradition it is the opening

through which the soul of a good per-

son leaves the body at the time of death.

Bad souls are forced downwards

through the excretionary channels.

Brahma-rekha (‘Brahmä’s line’)

According to popular Hindu belief

BRAHMÄinscribes a child’s destiny on its

forehead on the sixth day after its birth.

brahmästra (‘Brahma’s weapon’)

An unfailing device, mentioned in the

epics.

Brahma-sütra

Also called Vedäntasütra, a collection

of 550 aphorisms. It is arranged in four

pädas (parts), subdivided into four

adhyäyas(chapters), each containing a

number of sütras(aphorisms) purport-

ing to summarize the content of the

UPANIÆADS. The present Brahmasütras

are ascribed to BÄDARÄYANA, although

the names of former authors of such

works (all of them lost) are mentioned.

The Brahmasütrashave become the

most important text of the Vedänta sys-

tems: its brevity necessitates lengthy

commentaries (bhä•yas) which have

become the main sources of the various

systems. Each of these has a proper

name: Ÿaökara’s commentary is called

Ÿarïrakabhä•ya, RÄMÄNUJA’s Ÿrïbhä•ya

and MADHVA’s Aæubhä•ya.

brahma-vädinï

A class of women mentioned in the

HARITA-SMØTI, who remained celibate

and devoted themselves to study and

ritual.

Brahma-vaivarta Puräæa

A rather late Vai•æava Puräæa which

relates in great detail the story of KØÆŒA

and RÄDHÄ.

brahmävarta

(‘The country where brahmins dwell’)

The Hindu heartland, considered the

ideal living space for Brahmins.

Brahmins living in brahmävartawere

held up as exemplars to the others.

brahma-vidyä

(‘brahman knowledge’)

The highest kind of knowledge, knowl-

edge that liberates: ‘Those who know

brahman become brahman.’ To attain it

a person has to practise SÄDHANAS

and fulfil a variety of conditions

(ADHIKÄRAS).

brahmin

See BRÄHMAŒA(2).

Brahmo Samäj

(‘Brahman Association’)

A reformist Hindu movement founded

by Ram Mohan ROY in 1828 as

‘Brahmo Sabhä’ and in 1843 restruc-

tured and renamed ‘Brahmo Samäj’ by

Debendranath TAGORE. It aimed at

purifying Hinduism and developing a

strong ethical consciousness among

Hindus.

Braja, also Brajbhümi, Vraja

The district around Mathurä, Uttar

Pradesh, associated with Kø•æa. It com-

prises, besides Mathurä, the birthplace

of Kø•æa, Gokula, the hometown of his

foster-parents, where he grew up,

Vøndävana, the place where he frol-

icked with the GOPIS, Govardhana,

where he sheltered the shepherds from

torrential rains, and many other forests

and ponds associated with his exploits.

Revived in the 16th century by the

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