Bahurupa, Bahurūpa, Bahurūpā, Bahu-rupa: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Bahurupa means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi. 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
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Wisdom Library: Elements of Hindu Iconograpy1) Bahurūpa (बहुरूप):—Seventh of the eleven emanations of Rudra (ekādaśa-rudra), according to the Viśvakarma-śilpa. He keeps in his right hands the ḍamaru, chakra, sarpa, śūla, aṅkuśa, kaumudi and akṣamālā (the eight object is not mentioned); and in the left hands the ghaṇṭa, kapāla, khaṭvāṅga, tarjanī, kamaṇḍalu, dhanus, paraśu and paṭṭiśa.
2) Bahurūpa (बहुरूप):—Eleventh of the twelve emanations of Rudra, according to the Rūpamaṇḍana.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Agni PurāṇaBahurūpa (बहुरूप):—One of the Eleven Rudras (ekādaśa-rudra), according to the Agni-purāṇa. The Agni Purāṇa is a religious text containing details on Viṣṇu’s different incarnations (avatar), but also deals with various cultural subjects such as Cosmology, Grammar and Astrology.
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaBahurūpa (बहुरूप).—One of the eleven Rudras. Eleven Rudras were born to Kaśyapa by his wife Surabhi. Surabhi, who had been purified by Maheśvara whom she had pleased by her penance, got as sons, Aja, Ekapād, Ahirbudhnya, Tvaṣṭṛ and Rudra. The renowned Viśvarūpa was the son of Tvaṣṭṛ. The eleven Rudras are Hara, Bahurūpa, Tryambaka, Aparājita, Vṛṣākapi, Śambhu, Kapardin, Raivata, Mṛgavyādha, Sarpa and Kapālin The number of the Rudras is one hundred lakhs. They pervade everything moving and not moving. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 18).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Bahurūpa (बहुरूप).—A son of Medhātithi of Śākadvīpa.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa V. 20. 25; Viṣṇu-purāṇa 1. 15. 122.
1b) One of the eleven Rudras; son of Bhūta and Sarūpā.*
- * Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 6. 18. Matsya-purāṇa 5. 29.
Bahurūpa (बहुरूप) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. XIV.8) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Bahurūpa) 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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Wisdom Library: ŚāktismBahurūpā (बहुरूपा, “manifold, variegated”):—Name of one of the sixty-four mātṛs to be worshipped during Āvaraṇapūjā (“Worship of the Circuit of Goddesses”, or “Durgā’s Retinue”), according to the Durgāpūjātattva. They should be worshipped with either the five upācāras or perfume and flowers.
Her mantra is as follows:
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantramॐ बहुरूपायै नमः
oṃ bahurūpāyai namaḥ.
1) Bahurūpa (बहुरूप) refers to “(that which is filled with) many forms”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “(Pūrṇagiri) is on the northern peak of Kailāśa and is full of countless flames. [...] That divine city of the supreme Lord is made of pillars of adamantine. It is surrounded by temple arches and palaces of the Fire of Time. It is filled with many forms [i.e., bahurūpa-samākīrṇa] and adorned with knowledge and (divine) qualities. [...]”.
2) Bahurūpa (बहुरूप) refers to one of the eight Bhairavas associated with Jālandhara (which is in the southern quarter), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—[...] The eight Bhairavas: Ruru, Kāla, Bahurūpa, Pracaṇḍaka, Tryambaka, Tripurānta, Ūrdhvakeśa, Aghora.
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.
Chandas (prosody, study of Sanskrit metres)
Source: Journal of the University of Bombay Volume II: Apabhramsa metres (1)Bahurūpā (बहुरूपा) refers to a variety of Mātrā: the only metre consisting of five lines, as discussed in books such as the Chandonuśāsana, Kavidarpaṇa, Vṛttajātisamuccaya and Svayambhūchandas.—Mātrā seems to be a very old Apabhraṃśa metre since it was known to Virahāṅka (see Vṛttajātisamuccaya) who describes four different varieties [...]. Hemacandra’s normal mātrā contains 16 mātrās in the odd lines and 12 mātrās in the even ones. He gives five more varieties [viz., Bahurūpā] derived from mātrā but does not reckon them as the divisions of it. The uneven lines of these contain 14, 16 or 17 mātrās, while the even ones have either 11, 12 or 13 mātrās.
Chandas (छन्दस्) refers to Sanskrit prosody and represents one of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines belonging to the study of the Vedas). The science of prosody (chandas-shastra) focusses on the study of the poetic meters such as the commonly known twenty-six metres mentioned by Pingalas.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraBahurūpa (बहुरूप) refers to “that which has various shapes”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 11), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The etherial Ketus appear in flag staffs, instruments of war, houses, trees, horses, elephants and the like. The celestial Ketus appear in stellar regions and the terrestrial ones appear in pits and low grounds in the surface of the Earth. Some writers say that the Ketus are 101 in number; others say that they are 1,000 in number; Nārada says that there is but one Ketu which appears in various shapes [i.e., bahurūpa] at various times”.
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.
In Jainism
General definition (in Jainism)
Source: archive.org: TrisastisalakapurusacaritraBahurūpā (बहुरूपा) or Bahurūpiṇī is the name of a Vidyā, according to the Jain Ramayana and chapter 7.7 [The killing of Rāvaṇa] of Hemacandra’s 11th century Triṣaṣṭiśalākāpuruṣacaritra (“lives of the 63 illustrious persons”): a Sanskrit epic poem narrating the history and legends of sixty-three important persons in Jainism.—Accordingly, “Wounded in his heart very much by their speech about the return of Sītā, as if struck in a vital spot, Daśamukha reflected for a long time. Having decided in his heart on the subjugation of the vidyā Bahurūpā, Rāvaṇa, his passions subdued, went to Śrī Śānti’s shrine. [...]”.
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.
India history and geography
Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study (history)Bahurūpa (बहुरूप) is the name of a sacred spot mentioned in the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—Bahurūpa is recognised in the village Bīru situated 74° 39' long. 34° 1' lat. in the pargana of Bīru towards the mountains of Pīr Pañcāl.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarybahurūpa (बहुरूप).—n S Theatrical representation, acting, mimicry, buffoonery &c.
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bahurūpa (बहुरूप).—a (S) Multiform or manifold.
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.
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryBahurūpa (बहुरूप).—a.
1) many-formed, multiform, manifold.
2) variegated, spotted, chequered; वैश्वदेवं बहुरूपं हि राजन् (vaiśvadevaṃ bahurūpaṃ hi rājan) Mahābhārata (Bombay) 14.1.3. (-paḥ) 1 a lizard, chameleon.
2) hair.
3) the sun.
4) Name of Śiva.
5) of Viṣṇu.
6) of Brahmā.
7) of the god of love.
Bahurūpa is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bahu and rūpa (रूप). See also (synonyms): bahīrūpa.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryBahurūpa (बहुरूप).—mfn.
(-paḥ-pī-paṃ) Multiform. m.
(-paḥ) 1. Resin. 2. Siva. 3. Vishnu. 4. Love, Cupid. 5. A chameleon. 6. Brahma. 7. Hair. 8. One of the Jinas or Jaina saints. E. bahu many, rūpa shape.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryBahurūpa (बहुरूप).—[adjective] many-coloured, multiform, manifold.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Bahurūpa (बहुरूप):—[=bahu-rūpa] [from bahu > bah] mf(ā)n. multiform, variegated, checkered
2) [v.s. ...] manifold, [Vājasaneyi-saṃhitā] etc. etc.
3) [v.s. ...] m. Name of Śiva, [Mahābhārata]
4) [v.s. ...] of Rudra, [ib.; Purāṇa]
5) [v.s. ...] of a son of Medhātithi, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
6) [v.s. ...] (only [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]) a chameleon
7) [v.s. ...] hair
8) [v.s. ...] the resin of Shorea Robusta
9) [v.s. ...] the sun
10) [v.s. ...] Name of Brahmā
11) [v.s. ...] of Viṣṇu
12) [v.s. ...] of the god of love
13) [v.s. ...] of a Buddha
14) Bahurūpā (बहुरूपा):—[=bahu-rūpā] [from bahu-rūpa > bahu > bah] f. Name of one of the seven tongues of fire, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
15) Bahurūpa (बहुरूप):—[=bahu-rūpa] [from bahu > bah] n. Name of a Varṣa, [Bhāgavata-purāṇa]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryBahurūpa (बहुरूप):—[bahu-rūpa] (paḥ-pā-paṃ) a. Multiform. m. Resin; Shiva; Vishnu; Cupid; Brahmā; chameleon; hair; a Jaina.
[Sanskrit to German]
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
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusBahurūpa (ಬಹುರೂಪ):—[adjective] having many forms or shapes.
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Bahurūpa (ಬಹುರೂಪ):—
1) [noun] (used in pl.) many forms or shapes.
2) [noun] a show as of a drama in which a single person assumes many roles.
3) [noun] a man acting in many roles (in a drama).
4) [noun] (myth.) name of one of seven tongues (flames) of fire.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Bahurupagarbhastotra, Bahurupaka, Bahurupakalpa, Bahurupakashobhita, Bahurupashtaka, Bahurupashtakatantra, Bahurupavat.
Full-text (+8): Bahurupya, Bahurupakalpa, Bahurupagarbhastotra, Bahirupa, Bahurupi, Bahurupashtakatantra, Tittira, Agnijihva, Bahurupin, Rudra, Ekadasharudras, Kapardin, Bhoripa, Tryambaka, Pracandaka, Tripuranta, Sarisripa, Vrishakapi, Urdhvakesha, Rupay.
Relevant text
Search found 22 books and stories containing Bahurupa, Bahurūpa, Bahurūpā, Bahu-rupa, Bahu-rūpa, Bahu-rūpā; (plurals include: Bahurupas, Bahurūpas, Bahurūpās, rupas, rūpas, rūpās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 31 - Description of Creation (2) < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
Chapter 20 - Worshipping an earthen phallic image by chanting Vedic mantras < [Section 1 - Vidyeśvara-saṃhitā]
Chapter 35 - Śiva-sahasranāma: the thousand names of Śiva < [Section 4 - Koṭirudra-Saṃhitā]
Rudra-Shiva concept (Study) (by Maumita Bhattacharjee)
42. Number of Rudra < [Chapter 5 - Rudra-Śiva in the Purāṇic Literature]
5. Epithets of Rudra-Śiva tracked in the Upaniṣadic literature < [Chapter 6b - Epithets (References)]
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
1.15. Use of Sarjarasa < [Chapter 1 - Cosmetics]
Bhagavati-sutra (Viyaha-pannatti) (by K. C. Lalwani)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Part 6: Stuti by Daśānana for Śrī Śānti (Śāntinātha) < [Chapter VII - The killing of Rāvaṇa]