Bahu, Bāhu: 44 definitions

Introduction:

Bahu means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi, 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Baahu.

In Hinduism

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Google Books: Cultural History from the Vāyu Purāna

The Taittirīya Saṃhitā emntions another measure of distance, namely, ‘Bāhu’ which is often mentioned in the Sūtras. This ‘Bāhu’ may be the same as ‘Hasta’.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Bāhu (बाहु).—A king of the Sūrya-vaṃśa (solar dynasty). He was the father of Sagara. He is known by the name Subāhu also. This king was once defeated in a battle and being weary and sad he entered the hermitage of Aurva. His queen was given poison by another wife of the King. But the child in her womb did not die. The queen wanted to jump into the fire in which the body of her husband was to be burned. But Aurva told her that her son would become a famous king and that she should not commit suicide. Thus she desisted from committing suicide. A son was born to her. As she had been poisoned when the child was in her womb the son was given the name Sagara (with poison). It is said in Mahābhārata, Ādi Parva that this prince became a famous king later.

2) Bāhu (बाहु).—Mention is made in Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 4, Stanza 22, that the Pāṇḍavas thought of sending an invitation to a king named Bāhu for the battle between the Kurus and themselves.

3) Bāhu (बाहु).—A king of the Sundara dynasty. Mention is made about this king in Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 74.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Bāhu (बाहु) refers to “fighting with one’s hands”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.5.17 (“The fight between Viṣṇu and Jalandhara”).—Accordingly, as Sanatkumāra narrated to Vyāsa: “[...] Then a great battle ensued between Viṣṇu and Jalandhara, the ruler of Asuras, both filling up the sky with their arrows. [...] Then both of them equally powerful had a hand to hand fight (bāhu-yuddha) hitting each other with arms (bāhu), fists and knees. They filled the earth with reverberating sounds. [...]”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Bāhu (बाहु).—Son of Vṛka; driven away from his kingdom; retired with his wife to the forest; gave birth to Sagara.*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 8. 2-4; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 63. 119. Matsya-purāṇa 12. 38.

1b) A son of Dhṛtaka (Vṛka, Viṣṇu-purāṇa); was attacked and deprived of his kingdom by the Haihayas and the Tālajanghas with the help of the Śakas, Yavanas, Kāmbojas, Pāradas, and Palhavas, the five tribes; hence the king abdicated and took to a life of penance with his wife in the forest as an old man. Once he went to bring water when he slipped into the waters and died; his wife Yādavī followed him though she was in the family way; she had been poisoned by her co-wife to prevent pregnancy; she got into the funeral pyre. Aurva, the Bhārgava withdrew her from the fire; she was in his āśrama and brought forth Sagara (Saha Gara).*

  • * Vāyu-purāṇa 88. 121-33; Viṣṇu-purāṇa IV. 3. 25-35.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Bāhu (बाहु) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. V.72.15) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Bāhu) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: Shodhganga: The saurapurana - a critical study

Bāhu (बाहु) is the son of Kuruka and grandson of Vijaya, according to the Vaṃśānucarita section of the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, [...] Dhundhu had two sons—Sudeva and Vijaya. Kuruka was born to Vijaya. Vṛka was born of Kuruka, and from Vṛka was born Bāhu. The illustrious king Sagara was the son of Bāhu and Aṃśumān was born from Sagara.

Bāhu is also known as Bāthuka in the Viṣṇupurāṇa chapter IV.3.

Purana book cover
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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.

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Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

Bāhu (बाहु) refers to the “arms”. It is one of the parts of the human body with which gestures (āṅgika) are performaned, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. These gestures form a part of the histrionic representation (abhinaya).

There are ten kinds of ‘movements of the arms’ (bāhu) defined:

  1. tiryak,
  2. ūrdhvagata,
  3. adhomukha,
  4. āviddha,
  5. apaviddha,
  6. maṇḍala,
  7. svastika,
  8. añcita,
  9. kuñcita,
  10. pṛṣṭhaga
Source: Shodhganga: The significance of the mūla-beras (natya)

Bāhu (बाहु, “arm ”) refers to one of the nine “minor limbs” (pratyaṅga), which represents a division of Āṅgikābhinaya (gesture language of the limbs) as used within the classical tradition of Indian dance and performance, also known as Bharatanatyam.—Āṅgika-abhinaya is the gesture language of the limbs. Dance is an art that expresses itself through the medium of body, and therefore, āṅgikābhinaya is essential for any dance and especially for any classical dance of India. Pratyaṅgas or the minor limbs consist of shoulders, shoulder blades, arms [viz., Bāhu], back, thighs and calves; at times the wrists, knees and elbows are also counted among minor limbs.

Natyashastra book cover
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Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing Dramatic plays (nataka), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).

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Vyakarana (Sanskrit grammar)

Source: Wikisource: A dictionary of Sanskrit grammar

Bahu (बहु).—Plural, many, the word is used in the sense of abundance also; cf. बहुषु बहुवचनम् (bahuṣu bahuvacanam) P. I.4.21 and बहोलोपो भू च बहोः (baholopo bhū ca bahoḥ) VI. 4.158.

Vyakarana book cover
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Vyakarana (व्याकरण, vyākaraṇa) refers to Sanskrit grammar and represents one of the six additional sciences (vedanga) to be studied along with the Vedas. Vyakarana concerns itself with the rules of Sanskrit grammar and linguistic analysis in order to establish the correct context of words and sentences.

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Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Bahu (बहु) refers to “exceedingly”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 8), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The first year of the next yuga sacred to Viśvedeva is Śobhakṛt; the next year is known as Subhakṛt; the third is Krodhī; and the remaining years are known as Viśvāvasu and Parābhava. During the first two years mankind will be happy; during the third they will feel exceedingly miserable [i.e., bahu-doṣa] and during the last two years they will be neither happy nor miserable; but in the year Parābhava there will be fear from fire and suffering from weapons and from disease; the Brāhmins and cows will also suffer”.

Source: Wikibooks (hi): Sanskrit Technical Terms

Bāhu (बाहु).—1. The base of a right angled triangle. 2. The bāhu (or bhūja) corresponding to a planet's anomaly or to any arc/angle. Note: Bāhu is a Sanskrit technical term used in ancient Indian sciences such as Astronomy, Mathematics and Geometry.

Jyotisha book cover
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Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

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Kavya (poetry)

Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

Bāhu (बाहु) is the name of a warrior (sainya) in service of king Vikramāditya from Ujjayinī, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 121. Accordingly, “... and the following speeches of the military officers, assigning elephants and horses, were heard in the neighbourhood of the city [Ujjayinī] when the kings started, and within the city itself when the sovereign started: ‘[...] and Bāhu and Subāhu [must take] the two horses Śaravega and Garuḍavega...’”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Bāhu, is a famous Sanskrit epic story revolving around prince Naravāhanadatta and his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The work is said to have been an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā consisting of 100,000 verses, which in turn is part of a larger work containing 700,000 verses.

Kavya book cover
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Kavya (काव्य, kavya) refers to Sanskrit poetry, a popular ancient Indian tradition of literature. There have been many Sanskrit poets over the ages, hailing from ancient India and beyond. This topic includes mahakavya, or ‘epic poetry’ and natya, or ‘dramatic poetry’.

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Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: gurumukhi.ru: Ayurveda glossary of terms

1) Bahu (बहु):—Much , many , frequent , abundant , numerous , great or considerable in quantity. An attribute of Vāta.

2) Bāhu (बाहु):—[bāhuḥ] Upper limb

Ayurveda book cover
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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.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Bāhu (बाहु) refers to the “arms”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “He has eight faces and, very powerful, shines like a white lotus. He is mightily proud and has sharp teeth and great body. He is terrible and fierce and his face is deformed. O Śambhu, he has twenty arms [i.e., viṃśa-bāhu] and the goddess sits on his lap. He holds a sword, mallet and noose, a double-headed drum, a dagger, the Kaustubha jewel, a rosary, a skull bowl full of fruit and the like and a piece of human flesh. [...]”.

Shaktism book cover
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Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

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Vastushastra (architecture)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (architecture)

Bāhu (बाहु) (Cf. Bāhuka) refers to the “arm”, according to the Devyāmata (in the section śalyoddhāra-paṭala or “excavation of extraneous substances”).—Accordingly, “[...] If someone scratches his arm (bāhu-kaṇḍūyamāna), there is armlet [at the depth] up to the arm (bāhuka). [That extraneous thing] exists [at a depth of] three and a half cubits [underground]. There is no doubt about it. If [someone] touches his [left?] hand, [the officiant] should prognosticate the leg of a couch [beneath the site]. If [someone] touches his finger, [the officiant] should know [that the extraneous thing] is situated at a depth up to the knee. [...]”.

Vastushastra book cover
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Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.

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Ganitashastra (Mathematics and Algebra)

Source: archive.org: Hindu Mathematics

Bāhu (बाहु) represents the number 2 (two) in the “word-numeral system” (bhūtasaṃkhyā), which was used in Sanskrit texts dealing with astronomy, mathematics, metrics, as well as in the dates of inscriptions and manuscripts in ancient Indian literature.—A system of expressing numbers by means of words arranged as in the place-value notation was developed and perfected in India in the early centuries of the Christian era. In this system the numerals [e.g., 2—bāhu] are expressed by names of things, beings or concepts, which, naturally or in accordance with the teaching of the Śāstras, connote numbers.

Ganitashastra book cover
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Ganitashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, gaṇitaśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science of mathematics, algebra, number theory, arithmetic, etc. Closely allied with astronomy, both were commonly taught and studied in universities, even since the 1st millennium BCE. Ganita-shastra also includes ritualistic math-books such as the Shulba-sutras.

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Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Bāhu (बाहु) refers to the “arms”, according to the Mataṅgapārameśvaratantra (Mataṅgapārameśvara’s Yogapāda) verse 2.23-27.—Accordingly, while discussing ancillary and seated poses in Yoga: “[...] Having raised and broadened the chest and having made the arms (bāhu) loose, the wise [Yogin] should extend his back and raise the region of the shoulders. He should diligently hold the neck still, very steady and straight [but] not too rigid nor bent [to one side]. [...]”.

Yoga book cover
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Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

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General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: archive.org: Vedic index of Names and Subjects

Bāhu (बाहु), “arm”, as a measure of length, is found in the Taittirīya Saṃhitā (vi. 2, 11, 1) and often in the Sūtras.

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Bahu (बाहु): A king of the Solar race. who was vanquished and driven out of his country by the tribes of Haihayas and TaIajanghas. He was father of Sagara.

In Buddhism

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Bāhu (बाहु, “arm”) refers to that part of the human body from which the Buddha emitted numerous rays when he smiled with his whole body after contemplating the entire universe, according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XIV).—Accordingly, having himself arranged the lion-seat, the Bhagavat sat down cross-legged; holding his body upright and fixing his attention, he entered into the samādhirājasamādhi. Then, having tranquilly come out of this samādhi and having contemplated the entire universe with his divine eye (divyacakṣus), the Bhagavat smiled with his whole body. Wheels with a thousand spokes imprinted on the soles of his feet (pādatala) shoot out six hundred prabhedakoṭi of rays. In the same way, beams of six hundred prabhedakoṭi of rays are emitted from his arms (bāhu).

Mahayana book cover
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Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.

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Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan Buddhism

1) Bāhu (बाहु) refers to one of the male Vidyā-beings mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Bāhu).

2) Bāhu (बाहु) is also the name of a Dānava king (i.e., Dānavendra) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa.

Tibetan Buddhism book cover
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Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

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In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Trisastisalakapurusacaritra

Bāhu (बाहु) refers to one of the sons of king Vajrasena, according to chapter 1.1 [ādīśvara-caritra] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra: an ancient Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three illustrious persons in Jainism.

Accordingly,

“in the continent Jambūdvīpa, in the East Videhas, in the province Puṣkalāvatī in the vicinity of the ocean, in the city Puṇḍarīkiṇī, they were born in succession as the five sons of King Vajrasena by his wife Dhāriṇī. [...] The soul of the prince was the second, named Bāhu [...] Bāhu, performing service to the Sādhus, acquired for himself karma which had as its fruit the pleasures of a Cakravartin”.

Bāhu and Pīṭha later incarnated as twins from Sumaṅgalā (one of Ṛṣabha’s wifes), as mentioned in chapter 1.2.—Accordingly,

“[...] when a little less than six pūrvas had passed after the wedding, while the Lord enjoyed himself with them, the Jīvas of Bāhu and Pīṭha fell from Sarvārthasiddhi and entered Sumaṅgalā’s womb as twins. Likewise the jīvas of Subāhu and Mahāpīṭha fell from Sarvārthasiddhi and entered Sunandā’s womb. [...] Sumaṅgalā bore children, Bharata and Brāhmī, as the east bears the sun and (morning) twilight lighting up the quarter of the sky”.

Source: HereNow4u: Lord Vṛṣabhanātha

Bāhu (बाहु) was one of the four friends and brother of Vajranābha: Vṛṣabhanātha’s eleventh incarnation (bhava).—After completing his life as a deva Jīvānanda was born in Puṣkalāvatī to the wife of king Vajrasena, Dharaṇī. At the time of conception the mother saw 14 great dreams. Vajrasena named his son Vajranābha, who went on to become a cakravartī (emperor). His four friends were born as his brothers Bāhu, Subāhu, Pīṭha and Mahāpīṭha and became provincial kings. When his father, Tīrthaṅkara Vajrasena, after attaining omniscience (kevalī), started delivering his religious sermons, the cakravartī Vajranābha (due to his past good merits) too accepted initiation (renounced the world).

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra

Bahu (बहु, “more”).—What is the meaning of more (bahu)? The meaning of bahu is many (number or quantity). This is an indicator of numerous.

The opposite (setara) of bahu is eka (one).—Knowledge of a small part or one in number of an object is called eka.

according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra 1.16, “The subdivisions of each of these (kinds of mati, or ‘mind-based knowledge’) are: more (bahu), many kinds, quick, hidden, unexpressed, lasting, and their opposites”.

General definition book cover
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Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

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India history and geography

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Indian Epigraphical Glossary

Bāhu.—(IE 7-1-2; EI 25), ‘two’. Note: bāhu is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.

Source: Singhi Jain Series: Ratnaprabha-suri’s Kuvalayamala-katha (history)

Bahu (बहु) refers to one of the various shops or “market places” (Sanskrit: Haṭṭa, Prakrit: Cauhaṭṭa) for a medieval town in ancient India, which were vividly depicted in Kathās (narrative poems), for example, by Uddyotanasūri in his 8th-century Kuvalayamālā.—The Kuvalayamala (779 A.D.) is full of cultural material which gains in value because of the firm date of its composition. [...] In the Kuvalayamālā, some names of shops according to articles displayed in them is given, [i.e., bahu] [...] Thus Uddyotana has in his view a complete form of a medieval market place with the number of lines full of different commodities.

India history book cover
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The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.

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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)

Bahu in India is the name of a plant defined with Chenopodium murale in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Rhagodia baccata (Labill.) Moq. (among others).

Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):

· Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen (1805)
· Species Plantarum (1753)
· London Journal of Botany (1847)
· Flora AegyptiacoArabica (1775)
· Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis
· Plantae Preissianae (1845)

If you are looking for specific details regarding Bahu, for example pregnancy safety, extract dosage, side effects, chemical composition, diet and recipes, health benefits, have a look at these references.

Biology book cover
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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.

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Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

bahu : (adj.) much; many; plenty; abundant. (plu.) many persons. || bāhu (m.) the arm.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Bāhu, (cp. Vedic bāhu, prob. to bahati2; cp. Gr. ph_xus in same meaning, Ohg. buoc. It seems that bāhu is more frequent in later literature, whereas the by-form bāhā belongs to the older period) the arm J. III, 271 (bāhumā bāhuṃ pīḷentā shoulder to shoulder); Vism. 192.—°ṃ pasāreti to stretch out the arm (cp. bāhaṃ) PvA. 112; pacchā-bāhuṃ (cp. bāhaṃ) PvA. 4 (gāḷha-bandhanaṃ bandhāpetvā).—(p)pacālakaṃ (adv.) after the manner of one who swings his arms about Vin. II, 213 (see expln at Vin. IV, 188). (Page 486)

— or —

Bahu, (adj.) (Vedic bahu, doubtful whether to Gr. paxQs; fr. bṛh2 to strengthen, cp. upabrūhana, paribbūḷha) much, many, large, abundant; plenty; in compn also: very, greatly (°-) Instr. sg. bahunā Dh. 166; Nom. pl. bahavo Vin. III, 90; Dh. 307, & bahū Dh. 53; J. IV, 366; V, 40; VI, 472; Bu 2, 47; Pv IV. 14; Mhvs 35, 98; PvA. 67; nt. pl. bahūni Sn. 665, 885; Gen. Dat. bahunnaṃ S. I, 196; Sn. 503, 957, & bahūnaṃ J. V, 446; Kvu 528 (where id. p. M. I, 447 reads bahunnaṃ); Instr. bahūhi PvA. 241; Loc. bahūsu PvA. 58.—nt. Nom. bahu Dh. 258; bahuṃ PvA. 166, & bahud in compn bahud-eva (d may be euphonic) J. I, 170; Bu 20, 32. As nt. n. bahuṃ a large quantity A. II, 183 (opp. appaṃ); Abl. bahumhā J. V, 387. As adv. bahu so much Pv. II, 1311.—Compar. bahutara greater, more, in greater number A. I, 36 (pl. bahutarā, opp. appakā); II, 183; S. V, 457, 466; J. II, 293; VI, 472; Pv. II, 117; Miln. 84; PvA. 38, 76.—In composition with words beginning with a vowel (in sandhi) bahu as a rule appears as bavh° (for bahv°, see Geiger, P. Gr. § 49, 1), but the hiatus form bahu is also found, as in bahu-itthiyo J. I, 398 (besides bahutthika); bahuamaccā J. I, 125; bahu-āyāsa (see below). Besides we have the contracted form bahû as in bahûpakāra, etc.).—ābādha (bavh°) great suffering or illness, adj. full of sickness, ailing much M. II, 94; A. I, 107; II, 75, 85; Miln. 65; Sdhp. 89 (cp. 77).—āyāsa (bahu°) great trouble Th. 2, 343.—(i)tthika (bahutthika) having many women Vin. II, 256; S. II, 264.—ûdaka containing much water J. III, 430 (f. bahūdikā & bahodikā).—ûpakāra of great service, very helpful, very useful S. IV, 295; V, 32; M. III, 253; It. 9; Vin. V, 191; J. I, 121; Pv IV. 156; PvA. 114.—odaka (bavh°)=°ûdaka Th. 1, 390.—kata (a.) benevolent, doing service Vin. IV, 57, 212. (b) much moved or impressed by (Instr.), paying much attention to Vin. I, 247.—karaṇīya having much to do, busy D. II, 76; Vin. I, 71; S. II, 215; A. III, 116; DA. I, 237.—kāra (a) favour Dāvs. IV, 39 (b) doing much, of great service, very helpful M. I, 43, 170; A. I, 123, 132; II, 126; S. V, 67; Pv. II, 1219; J. IV, 422; Miln. 264.—kāratta service, usefulness KhA 91.—kicca having many duties, very busy Vin. I, 71; D. I, 106; II, 76; S. II, 215; A. III, 116; DA. I, 237.—khāra a kind of alkali (product of vegetable ash) J. VI, 454.—jañña see bāhu°.—jana a mass of people, a great multitude, a crowd, a great many people D. I, 4; It. 78; J. VI, 358; Pug. 30, 57; Pv. II, 77; PvA. 30. At some passages interpreted by Bdhgh as “the unconverted, the masses,” e.g. D. I, 47, expld at DA. I, 143 by “assutavā andha-bāla puthujjana”; Dh. 320 (bahujjana), expld at DhA. IV, 3 by “lokiya-mahājana.” —jāgara very watchful Dh. 29 (=mahante sativepulle jāgariye ṭhita DhA. I, 262); Sn. 972 (cp. Nd1 501).—jāta growing much, abundant J. VI, 536.—ṭhāna (-cintin) of far-reaching knowledge, whose thoughts embrace many subjects J. III, 306; IV, 467; V, 176.—dhana with many riches PvA. 97.—patta having obtained much, loaded with gifts Vin. IV, 243.—pada many-footed, a certain order of creatures, such as centipedes, etc. Vin. II, 110; III, 52; A. II, 34; It. 87.—(p)phala rich in fruit Sn. 1134, cp. Nd2 456.—(b)bīhi t. t. g. , name of cpds. with adj. sense, indicating possession.—bhaṇḍa having an abundance of goods, well-to-do Vin. III, 138; KhA 241.—bhāṇika=°bhāṇin PvA. 283.—bhāṇitā garrulousness PvA 283.—bhāṇin garrulous A. III, 254, 257; Dh. 227.—bhāva largeness, richness, abundance DhA. II, 175.—bherava very terrible A. II, 55.—maccha rich in fish J. III, 430.—mata much esteemed, venerable Cp. VI, 7; PvA. 117.—manta very tricky DhA. II, 4 (v. l. māya).—māna respect, esteem, veneration J. I, 90; PvA. 50, 155, 274.—māya full of deceit, full of tricks J. V, 357 (cp. °manta).—vacana (tt. g.) the plural number J. IV, 173; PvA. 163.—vāraka the tree Cordia myxa Abhp 558.—vighāta fraught with great pain Th. 2, 450.—vidha various, multiform Cp. XV. 7; Pgdp 37.—sacca see bāhu°.—(s)suta having great knowledge, very learned, welltaught D. I, 93, 137; III, 252, 282; J. I, 199; IV, 244; A. I, 24; II, 22, 147, 170, 178; III, 114; Sn. 58 (see Nd2 457); It. 60, 80; Th. 1, 1026; Dh. 208; Vin. II, 95; J. I, 93; Miln. 19; ThA. 274, 281; SnA 109, 110.—(s)sutaka of great knowledge (ironical) D. I, 107 (see Dial. I. 132). (Page 484)

Pali book cover
context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

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Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

bahu (बहु).—a (S) Many or much. Used esp. in comp. as bahupāda Many-footed; bahubhuja That has many arms; bahupriya Dear to many; bahubhakṣa Gluttonous; bahugandha, bahuguṇa, bahutantrī, bahuparṇa, bahupatra &c.; and answers to the English Many- Multi- Poly-.

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bāhu (बाहु).—m (S) The whole arm. 2 The upper arm. 3 See bhuja Sig. V. The sine of the arc &c. 4 A side of a polygon. 5 The base of a right-angled triangle.

Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-English

bahu (बहु).—a Many or much.

context information

Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.

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Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Bahu (बहु).—a. ([hu] or [hī] f.; compar. bhūyas; super. bhūyiṣṭha)

1) Much, plentiful, abundant, great; तस्मिन् बहु एतदपि (tasmin bahu etadapi) Ś.4. 'even this was much for him' (was too much to be expected of him); बहु प्रष्टव्यमत्र (bahu praṣṭavyamatra) Mu.3; अल्पस्य हेतोर्बहु हातुमिच्छन् (alpasya hetorbahu hātumicchan) R.2.47.

2) Many, numerous; as in बह्वक्षर, बहुप्रकार (bahvakṣara, bahuprakāra).

2) Frequented, repeated.

4) Large, great.

5) Abounding or rich in (as first member of comp.); बहुकण्टको देशः (bahukaṇṭako deśaḥ) &c. ind.

1) Much, abundantly, very much, exceedingly, greatly, in a high degree.

2) Somewhat, nearly, almost; as in बहुतृण (bahutṛṇa). (kiṃ bahuna 'why say much', 'in short'; bahu man to think or esteem highly, rate high, prize, value; tvatsaṃbhāvitamātmānaṃ bahu manyāmahe vayam Kumārasambhava 6.2; yayāteriva śarmiṣṭhā bharturbahumatā bhava Ś.4.7;7. 1; R.12.89; yeṣāṃ ca tvaṃ bahumato bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 2. 35; Bhaṭṭikāvya 3.53;5.84;8.12.)

See also (synonyms): bahī.

Bāhu (बाहु).—[bādh ku dhasya haḥ Tv.]

1) The arm; शान्तमिदमाश्रमपदं स्फुरति च बाहुः कुतः फलमिहास्य (śāntamidamāśramapadaṃ sphurati ca bāhuḥ kutaḥ phalamihāsya) Ś.1.16; so महाबाहुः (mahābāhuḥ) &c.

2) The fore-arm.

3) The fore-foot of an animal.

4) A door-post.

5) The base of a right-angled triangle (in geom.).

6) (In medic.) The whole upper extremity of the body (opp. sakthi).

8) The bar of a chariotpole.

9) The shadow of the gnomon on a sun-dial.

1) The arm as a measure of length (= 12 Aṅgulas).

11) The limb of a bow.

-hū (du.) The lunar mansion Ārdrā.

Derivable forms: bāhuḥ (बाहुः).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bahu (बहु).—mfn. (-huḥ-huḥ-hvī-hu) 1. Much, many. 2. Large, great. E. bahi to increase, Unadi aff. ku; it is less correctly derived from vah to obtain and written vahu .

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Bāhu (बाहु).—m.

(-huḥ) 1. The arm. 2. The side of any angular geometrical figure, the leg of a triangle, &c. 3. A door-post. E. bādh to oppose, ku Unadi aff. and dha changed to ha .

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bahu (बहु).—adj., f. hu and hvī, comparat. bahu + tara, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 13, 13, and bhūyaṃs, i. e. bahu + īyams, superl. bhūyiṣṭha, i. e. bhūyaṃs + tha. 1. Much, [Hitopadeśa] 82, 5, M.M.; many, [Hitopadeśa] ii. [distich] 35. 2. Large, great. 3. bahunā, with kim, In short, [Vedāntasāra, (in my Chrestomathy.)] in Chr. 219, 10. Comparat. I. bhūyaṃs. 1. More, largest, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 89, 4. 2. Greater part, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 7. 3. Stronger, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] 65, 12. 4. More important, Da- śak. in Chr. 198, 6. yas, acc. sing. n., adv. 1. Repeatedly. 2. Again, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 184; [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 94. 3. With following api, Again, [Pañcatantra] 24, 12; anew, [Rājataraṅgiṇī] 5, 296. 4. Doubled, bhūyobhūyas, Repeatedly, [Pañcatantra] 37, 25. bhūyasā, instr. sing. n. Generally, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 128, 1. Ii. bahutara + m, adv. with following stokam, More than, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] [distich] 7. Superl. bhūyiṣṭha, 1. Very rich, [Śākuntala, (ed. Böhtlingk.)] 3, 11. 2. Very many. 3. Almost all, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 8. adv. ºṭham, For the greatest part, [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 114, 2.

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Bāhu (बाहु).—m. The arm, [Vikramorvaśī, (ed. Bollensen.)] [distich] 50.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bahu (बहु).—[feminine] bahvī much, many, numerous, frequent, abundant, rich in ([instrumental]), large, great, mighty.

— [neuter] subst. [with] [genetive]; as [adverb] much, frequently, often, greatly; almost, nearly, as it were (only °—); [with] man cf. [substantive] v.

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Bāhu (बाहु).—[masculine] arm, [especially] fore-arm, (of beasts) foreleg, [especially] its upper part; a cert. measure of length; [Name] of a Daitya & [several] princes.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Bahu (बहु):—[from bah] a mf( or u)n. much, many, frequent, abundant, numerous, great or considerable in quantity (n. also as [substantive] with [genitive case]), [Ṛg-veda] (rarely in Maṇḍ. i-ix), [Atharva-veda] etc. etc. (tadbahu-yad, ‘it is a great matter that’ [Mahābhārata]; tvayā me bahu kṛtaṃ-yad, ‘you have done me a great service by — or that —’ [Nalopākhyāna]; kim bahunā, ‘what occasion is there for much talk?’ id est. ‘in short’ [Śakuntalā; Hitopadeśa])

2) [v.s. ...] abounding or rich in ([instrumental case]), [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]

3) [v.s. ...] large, great, mighty, [Atharva-veda] etc. etc.

4) [v.s. ...] ind. much, very, abundantly, greatly, in a high degree, frequently, often, mostly, [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc. (often [in the beginning of a compound], where also = nearly, almost, rather, somewhat ; cf. bahu-tṛṇa, bahu-trivarṣa and, [Pāṇini 5-3, 68]; bahu-√man = to think much of esteem highly, prize, value)

5) [v.s. ...] n. the [plural] number, [Aitareya-brāhmaṇa]

6) b etc. See p.724.

7) Bāhu (बाहु):—1. bāhu mf. (f., [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]) ([from] √bah, baṃh; for 2. bāhu See [column]3) the arm, ([especially]) the fore-arm, the arm between the elbow and the wrist (opp. to pra-gaṇḍa q.v.; in [medicine] the whole upper extremity of the body, as opp. to sakthi, the lower ext°), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc.

8) the arm as a measure of length (= 12 Aṅgulas), [Śulba-sūtra]

9) the fore-foot of an animal ([especially] its upper part), [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda; Brāhmaṇa; Āśvalāyana-gṛhya-sūtra]

10) the limb of a bow, [Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa]

11) the bar of a chariot-pole, [Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa]

12) the post (of a door; See dvāra-b)

13) the side of an angular figure ([especially] the base of a right-angled triangle), [Sūryasiddhānta]

14) the shadow of the gnomon on a sun-dial, [ib.]

15) (also [dual number]) the constellation Ārdrā, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

16) m. Name of a Daitya, [Mahābhārata]

17) of a prince (who brought ruin upon his family by his illegal actions), [ib.]

18) of a son of Vṛka, [Harivaṃśa]

19) of a son of Vajra, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]

20) cf. [Greek] πᾶχυς, πῆχυς; [German] buog, Bug; [Anglo-Saxon] bōg; [English] bough.

21) 2. bāhu (for 1. See [column]2), Vṛddhi form of bahu in [compound]

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English Dictionary

1) Bahu (बहु):—[(huḥ-huḥ-hvī-hu) a.] Much, large.

2) Bāhu (बाहु):—(huḥ) 2. m. The arm; the leg of a triangle.

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)

Bahu (बहु) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Bahu, Bahua, Bahuaya, Bāha, Bāhā, Bāhu.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bahu in German

context information

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.

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Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

1) Bahu (बहु):—(a) many; several; plural; ~[janana] fecund; prolific; ~[jananatā] fecundity; prolificity; ~[jalpa] talkative, loquacious; ~[jña] well-versed in many things, master of many trades; ~[jñatā] the state of being well-versed in many things; mastery of many trades; ~[taṃtra] polyarchy; ~[tva] plurality; ~[tvavāda] pluralism; ~[devapūjana] polytheism; ~[devavāda] polytheism; hence ~[devavādī; ~dhaṃdhī] multipurpose; variously occupied; occupied; busy in multifarious activities; •[honā] to have too many irons in the fire; ~[pakṣī/~pakṣīya] multilateral; ~[patikā] polyandrous; ~[patitva] polyandry; ~[pati-prathā] polyandry; polyandrous system; ~[patnīka] polygamist; ~[patnī-prathā] polygamy; polygamous system; ~[pada] polynomial; polypod; ~[padī] polynomial; ~[pāda] polypod; ~[bhāṣī] polyglot; multilingual; talkative; loquacious; ~[bhuja] polygon; ~[bhojī] gluttonous; ~[mata] majority; •[śāsana] majority rule; ~[mānya] universally respected; reputed; ~[mukha/mukhī] multifarious; ~[mukhatā] multifariousness; ~[mūtra] suffering from polyuria; ~[mūtratā] polyuria; ~[mūlya] precious; invaluable; very costly; ~[raṃgā/raṃgī] multicoloured; polychrome; ~[rūpiyā] an expert in disguising oneself through a variety of make-up, one who assumes various forms; multi-morphic; ~[rūpī] multiform; pleomorphic, polymorphous; variegated; ~[liṃgī] polygamous; ~[varṇa] multicoloured; pleochromc; variegated; ~[varṇatā] multicolouredness; pleochromism; ~[varṇā] multi-coloured; variegated; ~[vidha] multifarious, varied; polygenous; ~[vidhatā] multifariousness; variety; polygenousness; ~[vivāha] polygamy/polyandry; ~[vrīhi] a relative or adjective compound, the last member of which loses its character of a substantive and together with the first member serves to qualify a noun; ~[śruta] well-informed; polymath; ~[saṃkhyā] majority; ~[saṃkhyaka] majority; ~[svara] polyphonic; ~[svaratā] polyphonic.

2) Bahū (बहू):—(nf) wife; daughter-in-law; a newly-wed woman.

3) Bāhu (बाहु) [Also spelled baahu]:—(nm) an arm; ~[daṃḍa] an arm as strong as a staff; ~[pāśa] an arm-embrace; arm-girdle; ~[bala] strength of one’s arms, valour; ~[mūla] the juncture of the arm; -[yuddha] hand to hand fight, close fight; wrestling.

context information

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Prakrit-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary

1) Bahu (बहु) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Bahu.

2) Bāhu (बाहु) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Bāhu.

context information

Prakrit is an ancient language closely associated with both Pali and Sanskrit. Jain literature is often composed in this language or sub-dialects, such as the Agamas and their commentaries which are written in Ardhamagadhi and Maharashtri Prakrit. The earliest extant texts can be dated to as early as the 4th century BCE although core portions might be older.

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Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Bahu (ಬಹು):—[adjective] great in size, bulk, amount or degree; much; ಬಹುಮಟ್ಟಿಗೆ [bahumattige] bahu maṭṭige = ಬಹುತೇಕ [bahuteka].

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Bahu (ಬಹು):—[noun] that which is great in size, amount or degree.

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Bāhu (ಬಾಹು):—

1) [noun] something swollen; an abnormally swollen part of the body; swelling.

2) [noun] a sore, usu. Infected spot on the body, as an ulcer, boil, blister, etc.

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Bāhu (ಬಾಹು):—

1) [noun] an upper limb of the human body, between the shoulder and elbow; the arm.

2) [noun] (loosely) the entire part from the shoulder to the hand.

3) [noun] a measure of length (equal to twelve inches.

4) [noun] a reddish first magnitude star in Orion's shoulder.

5) [noun] (math.) a symbol for the number two.

6) [noun] any of the lines that bound or limit a geometric figure.

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

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