Babhru: 18 definitions
Introduction:
Babhru means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
1) Babhru (बभ्रु) is a Sanskrit word referring to the animal “large brown mongoose”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Babhru is part of the sub-group named prasaha, refering to animals “who take their food by snatching”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.
2) Babhru (बभ्रु) is a Sanskrit word referring to the “Bengal-tree pie”. The meat of this animal is part of the māṃsavarga (‘group of flesh’), which is used throughout Ayurvedic literature. The animal Babhru is part of the sub-group named Pratuda, refering to animals “who eat while striking”. It was classified by Caraka in his Carakasaṃhitā sūtrasthāna (chapter 27), a classical Ayurvedic work. Caraka defined such groups (vargas) based on the dietic properties of the substance.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
1) Babhru (बभ्रु).—A maharṣi of the line of preceptors from Vyāsa. (See Guruparamparā).
2) Babhru (बभ्रु).—A Yādava of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty. He was one of the ablest of Yādava warriors. (Chapter 14, Dākṣiṇātya Pāṭham, Mahābhārata). Even in his old age he used to do penance. Śiśupāla carried away his wife when once he was away in Dvārakā. He was a friend of Śrī Kṛṣṇa. He died when hit by an arrow from Vyāsa. (Chapter 4, Mausala Parva, Mahābhārata).
3) Babhru (बभ्रु).—A king of Kāśī. By the help of Śrī Kṛṣṇa he attained Rājyalakṣmī. (Chapter 28, Udyoga Parva, Mahābhārata).
4) Babhru (बभ्रु).—A son of King Virāṭa. (Śloka 33, Chapter 57, Udyoga Parva, Mahābhārata).
5) Babhru (बभ्रु).—One of the sons of Viśvāmitra who were Brahmavādīs. (Śloka 50, Chapter 4, Anuśāsana Parva, Mahābhārata).
1a) Babhru (बभ्रु).—One of the two sons of Druhyu and father of Setu (Ripu, Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa)*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 23. 14; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 74. 7; Vāyu-purāṇa 99. 7; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 17. 1-2.
1b) A son of Romapāda; (Lomapāda, Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa) and father of Kṛti.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 2; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 70. 38; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 12. 39.
1c) A disciple of Śunaka (Śaunaka-br. p., vi. p.) who taught him a Samhitā.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa XII. 7. 3; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 35. 60; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III, 6. 12.
1d) A son of Devavṛdha and Gāndhinī; the best among men; righteous and truthful; a Mahāratha of the Sātvatas; through his precept and that of his father, several thousands attained immortality;1 performed sacrifices and lavished gifts; got the jewel Syamantaka and gave it to Kṛṣṇa, to be returned by the latter.2
- 1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 24. 9-11; Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 15; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 13. 3-6, 107; Matsya-purāṇa 44. 56-60.
- 2) Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 71. 13, 81-2, 96 and 98.
1e) A son of Sampāti.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 6. 35.
1f) Is Akrūra.*
- * Vāyu-purāṇa 96. 56.
1g) Of Kauśika gotra.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 66. 71.
Babhru (बभ्रु) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. II.31.15 ) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Babhru) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Babhru (बभ्रु) is the name of a Mantra discussed in chapter 28 (Caryāpāda) of the Padmasaṃhitā: the most widely followed of Saṃhitā covering the entire range of concerns of Pāñcarātra doctrine and practice (i.e., the four-fold formulation of subject matter—jñāna, yoga, kriyā and caryā) consisting of roughly 9000 verses.—Description of the chapter [yajñamūrtyādi-mantroddhāra]: Bhagavān continues to give instructions regarding the composition, the japa-repetitions and the respective potencies of other mantras: [e.g., babhru-mantra (155-158a)] [...] Also with those mantras addressed to Saṃkarṣaṇa, Aniruddha, Pradyumna and the avatāra-forms (169b-194).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Babhru (बभ्रु) is a Sanskrit word translating to the color ‘brown’.
Babhru (बभ्रु) is the name, in the Rigveda, of a Ṛṣi who received gifts from King Ṛṇaṃcaya [Ṛṇañcaya]. The same Babhru may be meant in another passage, where he is mentioned as a protégé of the Aśvins; but it is doubtful whether the word is a proper name at all in the Atharvaveda.
Biology (plants and animals)
Babhru in India is the name of a plant defined with Blepharis ciliaris in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Acanthodium spicatum Delile (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Revisio Generum Plantarum (1891)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· Synopseos Plantarum (Persoon) (1806)
· Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh (1956)
· Flora Indica (1768)
· Systema Naturae ed. 12 (1767)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Babhru, for example chemical composition, side effects, pregnancy safety, health benefits, diet and recipes, extract dosage, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Babhru (बभ्रु).—a. [bhṛ-ku dvitvam; babhr-u vā Uṇādi-sūtra 1.21]
1) Deepbrown, tawny, reddish-brown; ज्वालाबभ्रुशिरोरुहः (jvālābabhruśiroruhaḥ) R.15. 16;19.25; बबन्ध बालारुणबभ्रु वल्कलम् (babandha bālāruṇababhru valkalam) Kumārasambhava 5.8.
2) Baldheaded through disease.
-bhruḥ 1 Fire.
2) An ichneumon; सखिभिर्न्यवसत् सार्धं व्याघ्राखुवृकबभ्रुभिः (sakhibhirnyavasat sārdhaṃ vyāghrākhuvṛkababhrubhiḥ) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 1.14.27.
3) The tawny colour.
4) A man with tawny hair.
5) Name of a Yādava; आलप्यालमिदं बभ्रोर्यत् स दारानपाहरत् (ālapyālamidaṃ babhroryat sa dārānapāharat) Śiśupālavadha 2.1.
6) An epithet of Śiva.
7) Of Viṣṇu.
8) The Chātaka bird.
9) A sweeper, cleaner.
1) Name of a country. -n.
1) A tawny or brown colour.
2) Any object of a brown colour.
-bhrūḥ f. A reddish-brown cow (kapilā); अजानन्नहनद्बभ्रोः शिरः शार्दूलशङ्कया (ajānannahanadbabhroḥ śiraḥ śārdūlaśaṅkayā) Bhāgavata 9.2.6.
Babhru (बभ्रु).—mfn. (-bhruḥ-bhruḥ or -bhrūḥ-bhru) 1. Large, great. 2. Tawny, &c. 3. Baldheaded through disease. m.
(-bhruḥ) 1. A name of Vishnu. 2. Siva. 3. Agni or fire. 4. A large ichneumon. 5. The name of a Muni or holy sage. 6. A rat. n. (-bhru) 1. A tawny or brown colour. 2. Any object of that colour. E. bhṛ to fill, aff. ku, and the initial repeated; or babhra, u aff.
Babhru (बभ्रु).—I. adj. 1. Large. 2. Tawny. 3. Bald-headed through disease. Ii. m. 1. Viṣṇu, Śiva, fire. 2. A large ichneumon. Iii. n. 1. A tawny or brown colour. 2. Any object of that colour; e. g. a tawny (red-) haired man, [Mānavadharmaśāstra] 4, 130.
— Cf. [Old High German.] brūn.
Babhru (बभ्रु).—([feminine] babhru or babhrū) reddish brown, tawny; [masculine] a large kind of ichneumon, [Epithet] of [several] gods & men.
1) Babhru (बभ्रु):—mf(u, or ū)n. (according to, [Uṇādi-sūtra i, 23 fr.] √bhṛ) deep-brown, reddish-brown, tawny, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.
2) bald-headed, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) m. a kind of large ichneumon, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
4) any ichneumon, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa]
5) a man with deep-brown hair, [Manu-smṛti iv, 30] (others ‘a reddish-brown animal’ or ‘the Soma creeper’)
6) Cuculus Melanoleucus (= cātaka), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
7) a species of vegetable, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) Name of Kṛṣṇa-Viṣṇu or of Śiva, [Mahābhārata]
9) a king, prince, [ib.]
10) a [particular] constellation (= babhruka), [Varāha-mihira’s Bṛhat-saṃhitā [Scholiast or Commentator]]
11) Name of sub voce men (cf. [gana] gargādi)
12) of a descendant of Atri (author of [Ṛg-veda v, 30]), [Anukramaṇikā] (also with the [patronymic] Daivāvṛdha and Kaumbhya, [Brāhmaṇa; Mahābhārata; Purāṇa])
13) of a disciple of Śaunaka, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
14) of a son of Viśvā-mitra, [Mahābhārata] (also [plural] [Harivaṃśa])
15) of a son of Viśva-garbha, [Harivaṃśa]
16) of a Vṛṣṇi, [Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa]
17) of a son of Druhyu, [Harivaṃśa]
18) of a son of Roma-pāda or Loma-pāda, [ib.]
19) of a Gandharva, [Rāmāyaṇa]
20) of a country (= -deśa), [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
21) (u) f. a reddish-brown cow, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
22) n. a dark-brown colour or any object of that c°, [Horace H. Wilson]
23) cf. [Greek] φρύνη, φρῦνος; [Lithuanian] béras, brúnas; [German] brūn, braun; [English] brown.
Babhru (बभ्रु):—[(bhruḥ-bhruḥ-bhru) a.] Large; tawny; baldheaded. m. A name of Vishnu, of Shiva, of Agni, of a sage; an ichneumon, a rat. n. Brown colour.
Babhru (बभ्रु):—[Uṇādisūtra 1, 23.] [Patañjali] zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 6, 1, 12.] Zeitschr. f. vgl. [Spr. 1, 200. 7, 183.]
1) adj. (f. babhru und babhrū) a) rothbraun, braun (eine Mischfarbe [Suśruta 1, 274, 17).] [Amarakoṣa 3, 4, 25, 172.] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1397.] [Anekārthasaṃgraha 2, 441.] [Medinīkoṣa r. 65.] [Halāyudha 4, 51.] [Dharaṇīkoṣa] bei [UJJVAL.] Farbe des Rindes und anderer Thiere [Taittirīyasaṃhitā 1, 8, 8, 1. 2, 1, 3, 3.] [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 24, 2. 29, 58.] [The Śatapathabrāhmaṇa 5, 2, 5, 12.] [Kāṭhaka-Recension 15, 4.] [Kātyāyana’s Śrautasūtrāṇi 7, 6, 14.] der Rosse Indra's [Ṛgveda 4, 32, 22.] des Rudra [2, 33, 5. 8.] [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 16, 6.] [Atharvavedasaṃhitā 6, 93, 1.] des Soma [Ṛgveda 9, 11, 4. 31, 5. 33, 2. 8, 29, 1.] [Atharvavedasaṃhitā 5, 7, 5.] surā [Vājasaneyisaṃhitā 20, 28.] der Würfel (Nüsse) [Ṛgveda 10, 34, 5. 11. 14.] [Atharvavedasaṃhitā 7, 110, 1. 7.] Pflanzen [1, 140, 6.] svaja [Atharvavedasaṃhitā 6, 56, 2.] [Suśruta 2, 265, 14.] pipīlikāḥ [Kauśika’s Sūtra zum Atuarvaveda 116.] babhruṣṇaḥ śaradyarkaḥ [Suśruta 1, 23, 2.] bālāruṇababhru valkalam [Kumārasaṃbhava 5, 8.] jvālābabhruśiroruha [Raghuvaṃśa 15, 16.] śmaśrūṇi [Mahābhārata 1, 4278.] jaṭājūṭa [Kathāsaritsāgara 25, 231.] kauśeyavarṇa [Mahābhārata 7, 994.] cūrṇa (śayana) [Raghuvaṃśa 19, 25.] [Prātiśākhya zum Ṛgveda 17, 9.] [VARĀH.] [LAGHUJ. 1, 6] in [Weber’s Indische Studien 2, 278.] piṅgala (ulūka) [Mahābhārata 10, 38.] von einem Manne mit rothbraunen Haaren [Manu’s Gesetzbuch 4, 130.] subst. eine rothbraune Kuh: ahanadbabhroḥ śiraḥ śārdūlaśaṅkayā [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9.2, 6. 9, 31.] Beiname Kṛṣṇa’s oder Viṣṇu’s [Amarakoṣa] [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 217.] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [Halāyudha 1, 23.] [Dharaṇīkoṣa] [Mahābhārata 12, 1511. 13, 6962.] Śiva’s [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] [Mahābhārata 13, 589. 1263.] — b) kahlköpfig [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 453.] —
2) m. a) eine grosse (daher die Bed. gross bei [WILSON] und im [Śabdakalpadruma]) Ichneumonart [Amarakoṣa] [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] Ichneumon überh. [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1302.] [Halāyudha 5, 30.] [Dharaṇīkoṣa] gaṇa aṅgulyādi zu [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 5, 3, 108.] vyāghrākhuvṛkababhrubhiḥ [Mahābhārata 1, 5568.] mūṣiko saṃnibhaḥ [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 15, 9.] vaktra [Harivaṃśa 1131. 14299.] gati [Hemacandra’s Abhidhānacintāmaṇi 1247.] — b) Cuculus melanoleucus (s. cātaka) [Trikāṇḍaśeṣa 2, 5, 17.] — c) eine best. Gemüsepflanze (sitāvara) [Rājanirghaṇṭa im Śabdakalpadruma] — d) Feuer [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Medinīkoṣa] — e) Nomen proprium verschiedener Männer [Dharaṇīkoṣa] [Pāṇini’s acht Bücher 4, 1, 106.] gaṇa gargādi zu [105.] eines Liedverfassers aus Atris' Geschlecht [Ṛgveda 5, 30, 14. 8, 22, 10.] [Atharvavedasaṃhitā 4, 29, 2.] Daivāvṛdha [Aitareyabrāhmaṇa 7, 34.] [Mahābhārata 8, 4322.] [Harivaṃśa 2010.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa 424.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 24, 9. fg.] Kaumbhya [Pañcaviṃśabrāhmaṇa 15, 3, 13.] [Śāṅkhāyana’s Gṛhyasūtrāṇi 4, 10. 6, 1.] babhroḥ kaubhyasya sāma [Weber’s Indische Studien 3, 225.] babhroḥ kārttaveśasya sāma ebend.— [Hemacandra’s Anekārthasaṃgraha] [Oxforder Handschriften 266,b,3.] ein Schüler Śaunaka’s [?55,b,36.Viṣṇupurāṇa.283.] ein Sohn Viśvāmitra’s [Mahābhārata 13, 249.] babhravaḥ [Harivaṃśa 1464. 1770.] ein Sohn Viśvagarbha’s [5252.] ein Vṛṣṇi [Mahābhārata 1, 7915.] [Harivaṃśa 5078. 5090. 9150.] = akrūra [2091. fgg.] ein Sohn Druhyu's [Harivaṃśa 1837.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa 443.] [Bhāgavatapurāṇa 9, 23, 14.] Romapāda’s (Lomapāda’s [Harivaṃśa] [LANGL. I,
166) 24, 2.] [Viṣṇupurāṇa 422.] ein Gandharva [Rāmāyaṇa 4, 41, 61.] — f) Nomen proprium eines Landes (vgl. babhrudeśa) [Śabdaratnāvalī im Śabdakalpadruma] — Vgl. aja, aruṇa, hari, bābhrava, bābhravya, bābhruka .
--- OR ---
Babhru (बभ्रु):—als Synonym von rājan [Mahābhārata 3, 12705.]
Babhru (बभ्रु):——
1) (f. ebenso und babhrū) — a) rothbraun , braun. — b) rothbraune Haare habend. — c) *kahlköpfig. —
2) m. — a) eine grosse Ichneumonart. — b) *Cuculus melanoleucus. — c) *eine best. Gemüsepflanze [Rājan 4,50.] — d) Beiname — α) Kṛṣṇa’s oder Viṣṇu's. — β) Śiva's. — e) unter den Synonymen von Fürst , König [Mahābhārata] — f) eine best. Constellation. banbhruka
2) [UTPALA] ZU [Varāhamihira’s Bṛhajjātaka 2.19] — g) Nomen proprium — α) eines Gandharva. — β) verschiedener Männer. — γ) *eines Landes. —
3) f. babhru eine rothbraune Kuh.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Babhru (ಬಭ್ರು):—[adjective] of the colour brown.
--- OR ---
Babhru (ಬಭ್ರು):—
1) [noun] the brown colour.
2) [noun] a slender, ferret-like carnivore, Herpestes edwardsi, of India, that feeds on rodents, birds and eggs, noted esp. for its ability to kill cobras and other venomous snakes; a mongoose.
3) [noun] fire.
4) [noun] Viṣṇu.
5) [noun] Śiva.
6) [noun] the brow of a horse.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
1) Babhru (बभ्रु):—adj. deep-brown; tawny; reddish brown;
2) Babhru (बभ्रु):—n. 1. Zool. mongoose; 2. tawny color; 3. Mythol. an epithet of Shiva;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+1): Babhrudaivavridha, Babhrudesha, Babhrudhatu, Babhrudhuta, Babhruka, Babhrukarna, Babhrukavaktra, Babhrukesha, Babhruloman, Babhrumali, Babhrumalin, Babhrumantra, Babhrumutra, Babhrunikasha, Babhrupingala, Babhrusetu, Babhrusha, Babhrusmriti, Babhruvaha, Babhruvahana.
Full-text (+50): Babhruvahana, Randhrababhru, Babhrava, Grihababhru, Arunababhru, Babhruvaha, Babhrudhatu, Mahababhru, Babhrudesha, Babhrudhuta, Babhrunikasha, Shukababhru, Babhrumalin, Babhrukarna, Subabhru, Ajababhru, Babhruloman, Haribabhru, Babhrusha, Kaumbhya.
Relevant text
Search found 55 books and stories containing Babhru; (plurals include: Babhrus). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rig Veda (translation and commentary) (by H. H. Wilson)
Brihaddevata attributed to Shaunaka (by Arthur Anthony Macdonell)
Part 7 - Rnamcaya's gifts to Babhru < [Chapter 5 - Deities of Rigveda IV.33–VII.49]
Part 15 - Detailed account of Rgveda VIII.29,31; Deities of Rigveda VIII.32-34 < [Chapter 6 - Deities of Rigveda VII.50–X.17]
Brihat Jataka by Varahamihira [Sanskrit/English] (by Michael D Neely)
Verse 1.20 < [Chapter 1 - Zodiac Signs]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
2.27. Rudra as Kṛṣṇa Asita < [Chapter 6a - The Epithets of Rudra-Śiva]
1. Epithets and Attributes of Rudra-Śiva (Introduction) < [Chapter 6a - The Epithets of Rudra-Śiva]
1. Ṛgveda (a): Physical appearance of Rudra < [Chapter 2 - Rudra-Śiva in the Saṃhitā Literature]
Jivanandana of Anandaraya Makhin (Study) (by G. D. Jayalakshmi)
Sannipātas (fevers due to Vāta, Pitta and Kapha) < [Chapter 4 - Āyurvedic principles in Jīvanandana Nāṭaka]
Act II (Summary) < [Chapter 3 - Summary of the Play Jīvānandana Nāṭaka]
Harivamsha Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter 32 - An Account of Riceyu’s Family < [Book 1 - Harivamsa Parva]