Baladhara, Baladharā: 6 definitions
Introduction:
Baladhara means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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)
Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and placesBaladharā (बलधरा) refers to the name of a Lady mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.90.84). Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Baladharā) 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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Wisdom Library: Kathāsaritsāgara1 Baladhara (बलधर) is the commander in service of king Yaśodhana from Kanakapura, according to the seventeenth story of the Vetālapañcaviṃśati in the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 91. Accordingly, “... then, by the king’s [Yaśodhana’s] orders, the merchant, the father of the maiden Unmādinī, gave her in marriage to the commander of the king’s forces, named Baladhara. And she lived happily with her husband in his house, but she thought that she had been dishonoured by the king’s abandoning her on account of her supposed inauspicious marks”.
2 Baladhara (बलधर) is the name of a Brāhman from Nāgasthala, according to the Kathāsaritsāgara, chapter 112. Accordingly, as a heavenly voice said to king Malayasiṃha: “... long ago, there lived in a village called Nāgasthala a virtuous Brāhman, of the name of Baladhara, the son of Mahīdhara. When his father had gone to heaven, he was robbed of his wealth by his relations, and being disgusted with the world he went, with his wife, to the bank of the Ganges”.
The story of Baladhara is mentioned in the Vetālapañcaviṃśati (twenty-five tales of a vetāla) which is embedded in the twelfth book of the Kathāsaritsāgara (‘ocean of streams of story’). The main book is a famous Sanskrit epic detailing the exploits of prince Naravāhanadatta in his quest to become the emperor of the vidyādharas (celestial beings). The Kathā-sarit-sāgara is is explained to be an adaptation of Guṇāḍhya’s Bṛhatkathā which consisted of 100,000 verses and in turn forms part of an even larger work containing 700,000 verses.
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’.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: ManthanabhairavatantramBaladhara (बलधर) refers to “one who possess the strength (of the Command)”, 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, [while describing the Niṣkala Form of Śrīnātha]—“[...] The (Sūtra of) Twelve (verses concerning the Lord) of the Tree is located there and it is divided into fifty branches. Vṛkṣanātha, who is the lord of the Kula in the teaching, is its fruit. According to the teacher’s teaching, Śrīnātha is born from the body in the form of emanation. That form (which is generated) by the Supreme Lord is the venerable teacher in the Kula teachings. All (the teachers) possess the strength of the Command (ājñābala-dhara). This Tantra belongs to the Deccan. [...]”.
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Baladhara (बलधर):—[=bala-dhara] [from bala > bal] m. ‘might-bearer’, Name of a Brāhman, [Kathāsaritsāgara]
2) [v.s. ...] of a warrior, [ib.]
[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.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Baladharaniya.
Ends with: Ajnabaladhara.
Full-text: Mahidhara.
Relevant text
Search found 3 books and stories containing Baladhara, Baladharā, Bala-dhara; (plurals include: Baladharas, Baladharās, dharas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
List of Mahabharata people and places (by Laxman Burdak)
Kathasaritsagara (the Ocean of Story) (by Somadeva)
Trishashti Shalaka Purusha Caritra (by Helen M. Johnson)
Appendix 1.6: New and rare words < [Appendices]