Baladeva, Bala-deva: 26 definitions

Introduction:

Baladeva means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit. 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

[«previous next»] — Baladeva in Purana glossary
Source: archive.org: Nilamata Purana: a cultural and literary study

Baladeva (बलदेव) refers to a deity that was once worshipped in ancient Kashmir (Kaśmīra) according to the Nīlamatapurāṇa.—As is clear from his plough and his worship at Kṛṣyārambha, Baladeva is a deity of agriculture. He is stated to have been a devotee of Vāsudeva and is identified with Ananta.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

Baladeva (बलदेव).—See Balarāma (also Balabhadra) married Suvratā, daughter of Kakudmi.*

  • * Bhāgavata-purāṇa IX. 3. 33-6; Vāyu-purāṇa 86. 29.
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Baladeva (बलदेव) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.61.91) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Baladeva) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Purana book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of Purana from relevant books on Exotic India

Kavya (poetry)

[«previous next»] — Baladeva in Kavya glossary
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara

1) Baladeva (बलदेव) is the father of Śaktideva: a Brāhman  living in the city Vardhamana and addicted to gambling, according to the “story of the golden city”, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 24. Śaktideva fraudulently claimed to have seen the Golden city.

2) Baladeva (बलदेव) is the name of a warrior who fought on Śrutaśarman’s side, but was slain by Śatānīka, who fought on Sūryaprabha’s side, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 48. Accordingly: “... then a fight took place between those Vidyādhara princes on the one side and Prabhāsa and his comrades on the other, in which there was a great slaughter of soldiers. And in the single combats between the two hosts many warriors were slain on both sides, men, Asuras and Vidyādharas... and Baladeva, [and nine others]—these ten were slain by the Prince Śatānīka”.

The story of Baladeva was narrated by the Vidyādhara king Vajraprabha to prince Naravāhanadatta in order to relate how “Sūryaprabha, being a man, obtain of old time the sovereignty over the Vidyādharas”.

The Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’), mentioning Baladeva, 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
context information

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’.

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of Kavya from relevant books on Exotic India

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: archive.org: A History of Indian Philosophy (vaishnavism)

Baladeva (बलदेव) or “Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa” was Vaiśya by caste and born in a village near Remuna in the Balesvar subdivision of Orissa; he was a pupil of vairāgī Pītāmvara Dāsa, and was generally known as Govinda Dāga. He was the disciple of a Kanouj Brahmin, Rādhā Dāmodara Dāsa, the author of Vedānta-Syamantaka. [...] Baladeva himself had two well known disciples, Nanda Miśra and Uddhava Dāsa; he wrote his commentary on Rūpa Gosvāmī’ś Stava-mālā in the Śaka era 1686 (or A.D. 1764).

Baladeva Vidyābhūṣaṇa is known to have written at least the following fourteen works:

  1. Sāhityakaumudī and its commentary, Kṛṣṇānandī;
  2. Govindabhāṣya;
  3. Siddhāntaratna ;
  4. Kāvyakaustubha ;
  5. Gītābhūṣaṇa, a commentary on the Gītā ;
  6. a commentary on Rādhā Dāmodara’s Chandaḥ-Kaustubha ;
  7. Prameyaratnāvalī and its commentary, Kāntimālā ;
  8. a commentary on Rūpa’s Stava-mālā ;
  9. a commentary on Rūpa’s Laghubhāgavatāmṛta;
  10. Nāmārtha-śuddhikā, a commentary on Sahasranāma;
  11. a commentary on Jaya Deva’s Candrāloka ;
  12. Siddhāntadarpaṇa ;
  13. a commentary on Tattvasandarbha ;
  14. a commentary on Rūpa’s Nāṭakacandrikā.
Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd Edition

Baladeva (बलदेव) refers to:—The first plenary expansion of the Supreme lord, Śrī kṛṣṇa;kṛṣṇa’s elder brother. (cf. Glossary page from Arcana-dīpikā).

Vaishnavism book cover
context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of Vaishnavism from relevant books on Exotic India

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Baladeva (बलदेव) or Baladevapaṭṭana refers to a country belonging to “Dakṣiṇa or Dakṣiṇadeśa (southern division)” classified under the constellations of Uttaraphālguni, Hasta and Citrā, according to the system of Kūrmavibhāga, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 14), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “The countries of the Earth beginning from the centre of Bhāratavarṣa and going round the east, south-east, south, etc., are divided into 9 divisions corresponding to the 27 lunar asterisms at the rate of 3 for each division and beginning from Kṛttikā. The constellations of Uttaraphālguni, Hasta and Citrā represent the southern division consisting of [i.e., Baladeva] [...]”.

Jyotisha book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of Jyotisha from relevant books on Exotic India

Yoga (school of philosophy)

[«previous next»] — Baladeva in Yoga glossary
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (yoga)

Baladeva (बलदेव) or Baladevamiśra was the elder brother of Bhavadevamiśra, the author of the Yuktabhavadeva, a 17th-century text dealing with Yoga.—Apart from the fact that Bhavadeva cited a wide range of Sanskrit works, the breadth of his learning is attested by the commentaries attributed to him on various śāstras. Manuscript colophons state that he was a Brahmin from Mithila and that his father was Kṛṣṇadevamiśra, his elder brother Baladevamiśra and his teacher Bhavadeva Ṭhakkura.

Yoga book cover
context information

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).

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of Yoga from relevant books on Exotic India

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: WikiPedia: Hinduism

Baladeva (बलदेव): Balarama, elder brother of Sri Krishna.

Source: Gaudiya History: Baladeva Vidyabhusana

Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana was a niskincana-parama bhagavata, fully-renounced topmost Devotee of Lord Krishna. Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana (Sri Govinda Dasa) appeared in the 1600's near Remuna, Orissa. In his youth, he mastered Sanskrit grammar, poetry, and logic. After carefully studying the commentries of Sankara and Madhva he took initiation in the Tattva-vadi disciplic succession of Sripad Madhvacarya. Baladeva Vidyabhusana became a dig vijaya pandit (conqueror of all opponents) and began visiting the holy places. Wherever he went he defeated the local sages, scholars, and sannyasis.

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Pali Kanon: Pali Proper Names

The second of the sons of Devagabbha, the brothers known as the Andhakavenhuputta.

Baladeva killed Canura and Mutthika. The latter, when dying, vowed vengeance and, having been born as a goblin in the Kalamattika forest, assumed the form of a wrestler when Baladeva passed that way and killed and ate him. J.iv.81, 82, 88; PvA.11, 93.

context information

Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of Theravada from relevant books on Exotic India

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: archive.org: Bulletin of the French School of the Far East (volume 5)

Baladeva (बलदेव) is the name of a Nāgarāja appointed as one of the Divine protector deities of Kesarī, according to chapter 17 of the Candragarbha: the 55th section of the Mahāsaṃnipāta-sūtra, a large compilation of Sūtras (texts) in Mahāyāna Buddhism partly available in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese.—In the Candragarbhasūtra, the Bhagavat invites all classes of Gods and Deities to protect the Law [dharma?] and the faithful in their respective kingdoms of Jambudvīpa [e.g., the Nāgarāja Baladeva in Kesarī], resembling the time of the past Buddhas.

Mahayana book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of Mahayana from relevant books on Exotic India

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: Google Books: Jainism: An Indian Religion of Salvation

Baladeva (बलदेव).— Baladevas, Vāsudevas and the Prativāsudevas are three heroes who appear always simultaneously, and that too on the whole nine times in a world-period. Baladeva and Vāsudeva are half-brothers, sons of a king from different wives; the Prativāsudeva is their antagonist.

Baladeva (also called Balabhadra) has a bright, white body-colour, always wears a blue-black robe and toddy palm in his banner. His four insignias are: bow, two different clubs (gadā and musala) and ploughshare; according to Digambaras: chain of precious stones, two clubs and ploughshare. His appearance in the world is announced by this mother by telling that she has seen four of the famous dreams.

Source: Google Books: Jaina Iconography

Baladeva (बलदेव).—According to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara, each Vāsudeva has a step-brother, white in complexion and known as Baladeva. Nine in number, they are intimately associated with the exploits of Vāsudevas, and are depicted as superior to them in as much as the first eight Baladevas obtrain emancipation and the last of the list is said to have obtained one of the heavens. The Vāsudevas, as already shown, go to one of the different hells after death.

The Samavāyāṅga-sūtra (a Śvetāmbara text) gives the following list of the Baladecas and their mothers, who lived in the present Avasarpiṇī age:

  1. Acala (mother Bhadrā),
  2. Vijaya (mother Subhadrā),
  3. Bhadra (mother Suprabhā),
  4. Suprabha (mother Sudarśanā),
  5. Sudarśana (mother Vijayā),
  6. Ānanda (mother Vaijayantī),
  7. Maṇḍana (mother Jayantī),
  8. Padma (mother Aparājitā),
  9. Rāma (mother Rohiṇī).

The Digambara texts give the following list:

  1. Vijaya,
  2. Acala,
  3. Sudharma,
  4. Suprabha,
  5. Sudarśana,
  6. Nandī,
  7. Nandīmitra,
  8. Rāma,
  9. Padma.

According to both Śvetāmbara and Digambara, they wear garments of dark-blue colour. On their banners is seen the mark of the palm-tree (tāla). They carry the bow, the plough, the pestle and the arrow according to the Śvetāmbara tradition while the Digambaras describe the following symbols: the club, the garland of jewels, the plough, and the pestle. the Tiloyapaṇṇatti however notes the following iconographic marks of a Baladeva: the plough, the pestle, a chariot and a garland ogf jewels (ratnāvali).

Source: WikiPedia: Jainism

Baladeva (बलदेव) (or Balabhadra, Balarāma, Rāma, Bala) refers to a set of nine “gentle heroes” and half-brothers of Vasudevas (or Viṣṇus, Nārāyaṇas), mentioned in both Śvetāmbara and Digambara literature.—In every half time cycle, there are 9 sets of Balabhadras (gentle heroes), Vasudevas (violent heroes) and Prativāsudevas (anti-heroes). Baladevas, half-brothers of Vasudevas, are described as fair in complexion and wear garments of dark blue and have a banner of palm tree. Their symbols or weapons are: bow, plough, pestle and arrow. The two brothers are inseparable and they jointly rule three continents as half-Chakravarti. Although Narayana is the mightier of the two, Balabhadra is depicted as superior for his non-violent ways and he achieves liberation. According to the Jain puranas, the Balabhadras lead an ideal Jain life.

Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I

Baladeva (बलदेव) or Baladevakathā refers to one of the 157 stories embedded in the Kathāmahodadhi by Somacandra (narrating stories from Jain literature, based on the Karpūraprakara), which is included in the collection of manuscripts at the ‘Vincenzo Joppi’ library, collected by Luigi Pio Tessitori during his visit to Rajasthan between 1914 and 1919.—The Kathāmahodadhi represents a repository of 157 stories [e.g., Baladeva-kathā] written in prose Sanskrit, although each of them is preceded by a verse. Together, they stage a large number of Jain characters (including early teachers). [...]

General definition book cover
context information

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.

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of General definition from relevant books on Exotic India

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Baladeva (बलदेव).—

1) air, wind.

2) Name of the elder brother of Kṛṣṇa; see बलराम (balarāma) below.

Derivable forms: baladevaḥ (बलदेवः).

Baladeva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bala and deva (देव).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Edgerton Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Dictionary

Baladeva (बलदेव).—name of a nāga king: Mahāvyutpatti 3300; Mahā-Māyūrī 247.4.

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

Baladeva (बलदेव).—m.

(-vaḥ) Baladeva, the elder brother of Krishna. 2. Air, wind. f.

(-vā) A medicinal plant, commonly Trayamana. E. bala the same and deva divine, or bala strength, and deva who sports.

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

Baladeva (बलदेव).—m. 1. Air, wind. 2. The elder brother of Kṛṣṇa.

--- OR ---

Baladeva (बलदेव).—see s. v.

Baladeva is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bala and deva (देव).

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

Baladeva (बलदेव).—[masculine] [Name] of the elder brother of Kṛṣṇa.

--- OR ---

Bāladeva (बालदेव).—[masculine] [Name] of a man.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Aufrecht Catalogus Catalogorum

1) Baladeva (बलदेव) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—father of Śrīdhara Bhaṭṭa (Nyāyakandali). Report. Cxliv.

2) Baladeva (बलदेव):—poet. [Sūktikarṇāmṛta by Śrīdharadāsa]

3) Baladeva (बलदेव):—son of Keśava: Śṛṅgārahāra alaṃk.

4) Bāladeva (बालदेव):—father of Bāvādeva (Arpaṇamīmāṃsā). Hall. p. 191.

5) Baladeva (बलदेव):—called Vidyābhūṣaṇa: Prameyaratnāvalī and—[commentary] Kāntimālā. Brahmasūtrabhāṣya Govindabhāṣya and—[commentary] Siddhāntaratna.

6) Bāladeva (बालदेव):—C. on Hāla’s Gāthāsaptaśatī.

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

1) Baladeva (बलदेव):—[=bala-deva] [from bala > bal] m. wind, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

2) [v.s. ...] Name of the elder brother of Kṛṣṇa (said to have been produced from a white hair of Viṣṇu, and regarded as a Nāga), [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

3) [v.s. ...] of a Nāga-rāja, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

4) [v.s. ...] of a Brāhman, [Kathāsaritsāgara]

5) [v.s. ...] of sub voce authors (also with vidyābhūṣaṇa), [Catalogue(s)]

6) Bāladeva (बालदेव):—[=bāla-deva] [from bāla] m. Name of a man, [Catalogue(s)]

7) [v.s. ...] [patronymic] [from] bala-d, [Patañjali]

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

Baladeva (बलदेव):—[bala-deva] (vaḥ) 1. m. Baladeva; air, wind. f. () Medicinal plant.

[Sanskrit to German]

Baladeva 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.

Discover the meaning of baladeva in the context of Sanskrit from relevant books on Exotic India

See also (Relevant definitions)

Relevant text

Related products

Like what you read? Consider supporting this website: