Archives Glossary of special terms (909)

bha-mandala

halo (cf. mandala)

bhadra

Central reliefed or projected part from each side of the body of the vimana or prasada as distinct from the corner projection (karna). Bhadra (भद्र) is an asana; Sitting cross-legged as in Kurmasana and holding the toes with the hands.

bhadra-sala

Oblong, wagon-topped miniature shrine of ayatasra type in the center of each side of the hara over the storeys of the vimana.

bhadrapitha

Bhadrapīṭha (भद्रपीठ), square or rectangular supplemental pedestal to which an image and its padmapitham are attached and which they rest.

bhadrāsana

Bhadrāsana (भद्रासन), square or rectangular supplemental pedestal to which an image and its padmapitham are attached and which they rest; Bhadrāsana posture, the legs are crossed as in the kūrmāsana, and the right and the left big toes are caught… Continue Reading →

bhakta

devotee; one who practices bhakti or devotion

bhakti

deep, intense, uncompromising devotion to a personal godhead, aspiring to mystical union with the divine (cf. bhakta)

bhanga

Bhaṅga (भङ्ग) are the flexions of the body and is one of the three subdivisions of pratimalakshana (postures of icons). The three bhangas are: abhanga, samabhanga and atibhanga.

bhava

emotion

bhendipala

Bheṇḍipāla is a vegetable.

bhiṇḍipāla

Bhiṇḍipāla (Sanskrit: भिण्डिपाल) a kind of spear or one-pointed arrow

bhitti

the wall (cf. kal)

bhitti-torana

Ornamental festoon on the wall, usually a makara-torana supported by two pilasters (cf. torana, makara-torana).

bhittika

one of the five sthānas or positions

bhogiyar

mistress, concubine

bhramaraka

ringlets of hair

Bhringi

ancient sage; devotee of Shiva

Bhū

earth; the goddess Earth

bhujanga-trasita

‘scared by snake’, a dance-pose suggesting movement away from a snake out of fear

bhujanga-valaya

ornament on waist in the form of a coiled snake

bhumi

the storeys (cf. tala); Stage in the curvilinear superstructure (sikhara) or anda of a northern-style temple, often marked off at the corners by compressed amalaka’s – the karna-malakas or bhumia-malakas (bhumi, Tamil: பூமி).

bhumisparsa

(cf. bhusparsa); The attitude of ‘touching the earth’, calling her to witness of virtue of Gautama. In this hand-pose, the right hand is placed over the right knee. The hand, with palm inward, all fingers down, touches the lotus seat… Continue Reading →

bhusparsa

(cf. bhumisparsa); The attitude of ‘touching the earth’, calling her to witness of virtue of Gautama. In this hand-pose, the right hand is placed over the right knee. The hand, with palm inward, all fingers down, touches the lotus seat… Continue Reading →

bhuta

goblin

bhuta-gana

dwarfish goblin

bhutadamara

The hand pose that inspires awe. In this, the wrists are crossed in front of the chest. It is one of the mudras of Vajrapani.

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