The English term enlightenment is the Western translation of various Buddhist terms, most notably bodhi and vimutti The abstract noun bodhi (; Sanskrit: बोधि; Pali: bodhi), means the knowledge or wisdom, or awakened intellect, of a Buddha The verbal root budh- means “to awaken,” and its literal meaning is closer to awakening Although the term buddhi is also used in other Indian philosophies and traditions, its most common usage is in the context of Buddhism...
Brahma (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मा, romanized: Brahmā) is referred to as “The Creator” within the Trimurti, the triple deity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva He is also referred to as Svayambhu (lit ‘self-born’) and is associated with creation, knowledge and Vedas Brahma is prominently mentioned in creation legends, though there are many varying versions In some Puranas, he created himself in a golden egg known as Hiranyagarbha Brahma is frequently identified with the Vedic god Prajapati...
Brahmamuhurtha (Sanskrit-ब्रह्म मुहूर्त, lit ’time of Brahman’) is a period (muhurta) that begins one hour and 36 minutes before sunrise, and ends 48 minutes before sunrise It is traditionally the penultimate phase or muhurta of the night, and is considered an auspicious time for all practices of yoga and most appropriate for meditation, worship or any other religious practice Spiritual activities performed early in the morning are said to have a greater effect than in any other part of the day...
The Brahma Purana (Sanskrit: ब्रह्मपुराण or ब्राह्मपुराण; Brahma-Purana) is one of the eighteen major Puranas collections of Hindu texts in Sanskrit Language It is listed as the first Maha-Purana in all the anthologies, and therefore also called Adi Purana Another title for this text is Saura Purana, because it includes many chapters related to Surya or the Sun God The Brahma Purana is actually just a compilation of geographical Mahatmya (Travel Guides) and sections on diverse topics
The Brahma Sūtras (Sanskrit: ब्रह्म सूत्र) is a Sanskrit text, attributed to the sage Badarayana or sage Vyasa, estimated to have been completed in its surviving form in approx 400–450 CE, while the original version might be ancient and composed between 500 BCE and 200 BCE The text systematizes and summarizes the philosophical and spiritual ideas in the Upanishads The sage Adi Shankara’s interpretation of the Brahmasutra attempted to synthesize diverse and sometimes apparently conflicting teachings of the Upanishads by arguing, as John Koller states: “that Brahman and Atman are, in some respects, different, but, at the deepest level, non-different (advaita), being identical...
Brahmacharya (; Sanskrit: ब्रह्मचर्य lit ‘pure conduct’) is a concept within Indian religions that literally means to stay in conduct within one’s own Self In Yoga, Hinduism and Jainism it generally refers to a lifestyle characterized by sexual continence or complete abstinence Brahmacharya is somewhat different from the English term “celibacy,” which merely means non-indulgence in sexual activity Brahmacharya is when a person completely controls his body and mind (chitta) through ascetic means...
In Hinduism, Brahman (Sanskrit: ब्रह्म) connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality in the universe In major schools of Hindu philosophy, it is the material, efficient, formal and final cause of all that exists It is the pervasive, infinite, eternal truth, consciousness and bliss which does not change, yet is the cause of all changes Brahman as a metaphysical concept refers to the single binding unity behind diversity in all that exists in the universe...
The Brahmanas (; Sanskrit: ब्राह्मणम्, Brāhmaṇam) are Vedic śruti works attached to the Samhitas (hymns and mantras) of the Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas They are a secondary layer or classification of Sanskrit texts embedded within each Veda, often explain and instruct Brahmins on the performance of Vedic rituals (in which the related Samhitas are recited) In addition to explaining the symbolism and meaning of the Samhitas, Brahmana literature also expounds scientific knowledge of the Vedic Period, including observational astronomy and, particularly in relation to altar construction, geometry...
In Hinduism, a Brahmarshi (Sanskrit brahmarṣi, a tatpurusha compound of brahma and ṛṣi) is a member of the highest class of Rishis (“seers” or “sages”), especially those credited with the composition of the hymns collected in the Rigveda A Brahmarshi is a sage who has attained enlightenment (Kaivalya or Moksha) and became a Jivanmukta by completely understanding the meaning of Brahman and has attained the highest divine knowledge, infinite knowledge(omniscience) and self knowledge called Brahmajnana...
The brahmavihārās (sublime attitudes, lit “abodes of brahma”) are a series of four Buddhist virtues and the meditation practices made to cultivate them They are also known as the four immeasurables (Sanskrit: apramāṇa, Pāli: appamaññā) or four infinite minds (Chinese: 四無量心) The Brahma-viharas are: loving-kindness or benevolence (maitrī/mettā) compassion (karuṇā) empathetic joy (muditā) equanimity (upekṣā/upekkhā)According to the Metta Sutta, cultivation of the four immeasurables has the power to cause the practitioner to be reborn into a “Brahma realm” (Pāli: Brahmaloka)
Brahmin (; Sanskrit: ब्राह्मण, romanized: brāhmaṇa) is a varna as well as a major caste within the Hindu society The Brahmins specialised as intellectuals, priests (purohit, pandit, or pujari), teachers (acharya or guru), and protectors of sacred learning across generations The traditional occupation of Brahmins was that of priesthood at the Hindu temples or at socio-religious ceremonies and rite of passage rituals such as solemnising a wedding with hymns and prayers...
The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Sanskrit: बृहदारण्यक उपनिषद्, Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad) is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism A key scripture to various schools of Hinduism, the Brihadaranyaka Upanisad is tenth in the Muktikā or “canon of 108 Upanishads” The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is estimated to have been composed about 7th-6th century BCE, excluding some parts estimated to have been composed after the Chandogya Upanishad The Sanskrit language text is contained within the Shatapatha Brahmana, which is itself a part of the Shukla Yajur Veda...
Brihaspati (Sanskrit: बृहस्पति, IAST: Bṛhaspati), also known as Guru, is a Hindu god In the ancient Vedic scriptures of Hinduism, Brihaspati is a deity associated with fire, and the word also refers to a rishi (sage) who counsels the devas (gods) In some later texts, the word refers to the largest planet of the solar system, Jupiter, and the deity is associated with the planet as a Navagraha
In Hindu mythology, Buddhi is one of the wives of Ganesha Buddhi is a Vedic Sanskrit word that means the intellectual faculty and the power to “form and retain concepts, reason, discern, judge, comprehend, understand”
Chakras (UK: , US: CHUK-rəz, CHAH-krəz; Sanskrit: चक्र, romanized: cakra, lit ‘wheel, circle’; Pali: cakka) are various focal points used in a variety of ancient meditation practices, collectively denominated as Tantra, or the esoteric or inner traditions of Hinduism The idea behind Chakra is found in the early traditions of Hinduism Beliefs differ between the Indian religions, with many Buddhist texts consistently mentioning five chakras, while Hindu sources reference six or seven...