Bhringi, Bhṛṅgī, Bhṛṅgi, Bhṛṃgī, Bhrimgi: 20 definitions
Introduction:
Bhringi means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
The Sanskrit terms Bhṛṅgī and Bhṛṅgi and Bhṛṃgī can be transliterated into English as Bhrngi or Bhringi or Bhrmgi or Bhrimgi, using the IAST transliteration scheme (?).
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Ayurveda (science of life)
Rasashastra (Alchemy and Herbo-Mineral preparations)
Source: Wisdom Library: Rasa-śāstraBhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी):—One of the sixty-eight Siddhauṣadhi, as per Rasaśāstra texts (rasa literature). These drugs give siddhi (success) in mercurial operations. Even so, they are more powerful than rasa (mercury) itself. These may perform all the kāryas (‘effects’) and grant dehasiddhi (‘perfection of body’) and lohasiddhi (‘transmutation of base metals’) both.
Kalpa (Formulas, Drug prescriptions and other Medicinal preparations)
Source: Shodhganga: Edition translation and critical study of yogasarasamgrahaBhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी) refers to the medicinal plant known as “Clerodendrum serratum L. Moon” and is dealt with in the 15th-century Yogasārasaṅgraha (Yogasara-saṅgraha) by Vāsudeva: an unpublished Keralite work representing an Ayurvedic compendium of medicinal recipes. The Yogasārasaṃgraha [mentioning bhṛṅgī] deals with entire recipes in the route of administration, and thus deals with the knowledge of pharmacy (bhaiṣajya-kalpanā) which is a branch of pharmacology (dravyaguṇa).
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)
Source: Wisdom Library: Skanda-puranaBhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी) is the name of a gaṇa (attendant of Śiva), mentioned in the Skandapurāṇa 4.2.53. In this chapter, Śiva (Giriśa) summons his attendants (gaṇas) and ask them to venture towards the city Vārāṇasī (Kāśī) in order to find out what the yoginīs, the sun-god, Vidhi (Brahmā) were doing there.
While the gaṇas such as Bhṛṅgī were staying at Kāśī, they were desirous but unable of finding a weakness in king Divodaśa who was ruling there. Kāśī is described as a fascinating place beyond the range of Giriśa’s vision, and as a place where yoginīs become ayoginīs, after having come in contact with it. Kāśī is described as having both the power to destroy great delusion, as well as creating it.
The Skandapurāṇa narrates the details and legends surrounding numerous holy pilgrimages (tīrtha-māhātmya) throughout India. It is the largest Mahāpurāṇa composed of over 81,000 metrical verses, with the core text dating from the before the 4th-century CE.
Source: archive.org: Puranic EncyclopediaBhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी).—A Maharṣi who was a devotee of Śiva. Once he went to Kailāsa and began to go round Śiva to pay homage to him. But since Pārvatī and Śiva were sitting together as one body, he could not go round Śiva separately. He did not have much reverence for Pārvatī. So he took the form of a female beetle (Bhṛṅgī) and bored his way through a hole made in the place where their bodies were united and thus went round Śiva alone. Pārvatī was angry at this slight shown to her and cursed him to become physically weak. His legs became so weak that they were unable to support his body. So he prayed to Śiva again and he blessed him with a third leg. In this way Bhṛṅgī became a Maharṣi with three legs. (Maharṣis).
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationBhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी) is the name of a deity who fought on Vīrabhadra’s side in his campaign to destroy Dakṣa’s sacrifice, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.37. Accordingly:—“[...] Vīrabhadra took up all the great miraculous weapons for his fight with Viṣṇu and roared like a lion. [...] A noisy terrible fight ensued between the Gaṇas and the guardians of the quarters, both roaring like lions. [...] Bhṛṅgī was struck by the wind god with his weapon of great force. Vāyu was struck (in return) by Bhṛṅgī with a powerful trident”.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Bhṛṅgi (भृङ्गि).—The head of a Śiva gaṇa.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 41. 28; IV. 30. 75; 34. 89.
1b) An image of, in attendance on Śiva.*
- * Matsya-purāṇa 259. 24; 266. 42.
Bhṛṅgi (भृङ्गि) is the name of a Gaṇa-chief who was previously known as the demon Andhaka, according to the 10th century Saurapurāṇa: one of the various Upapurāṇas depicting Śaivism.—Accordingly, “[...] Bhairava having pierced the demon [Andhaka] at the edge of the dart danced. Thereby Andhaka became free from the sin of running towards his mother and ultimately praised Śiva with a lengthy stotra. Śiva was pleased with the demon and granted him the status of the leader of Gaṇas called Bhṛṅgi. Then Śiva gave Andhaka a form with three eyes, blue neck and matted hair and Pārvatī adopted him as her son”.
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.
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Shodhganga: Temples of Salem region Up to 1336 ADBhṛṅgi (भृङ्गि).—Bhṛṅgi is three- legged and two-handed. He has a Jaṭa coiffuer. He wears necklaces and upavīta made of bells. Bhṛṅgi is supposed to have a rickety figure, with his skeletal frame prominently visible. But in this example, he is not represented so. He has a supple body but the idea of his skeleton is symbolically represented through prominently visible ribs on his chest.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraBhṛṅgi (भृङ्गि) refers to a kingdom or tribe of people, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 4), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “If Venus should be eclipsed by the lunar disc the people of Magadha, the Yavanas, the Mlecchas, men of Pulinda (a barbarous tribe), the Nepālīs, the Bhṛṅgīs and the Mārwārīs (Marus), the men of Kaccha and of Surat, the Madras, the Pāñcālas, the Kaikayas, the Kulūtakas, the Cannibalas (Pūruṣādas) and the men of Uśīnara (Gāndhāra) will suffer miseries for seven months”.
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Source: Google Books: The Bijak of KabirThe buzzing of the black bee (bhṛngī), symbolizing the guru, attracts the insect, which becomes so entranced that it is eventually transformed into a bhṛngī.
Source: academia.edu: Tessitori Collection I (hinduism)Bhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी) or Bhṛṅgīpurāṇa is the name of a work by “Haradāsa Misaṇa”, who is also the author of the Jālandharapurāṇa (classified as Rajasthani literature), 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.—Haradāsa, the author, was a cāraṇa (bard), who was active between VS 1550 and 1650. He was born as Avacaladāna Misaṇa in the village of Boganīāi ( Jaisalmer district). He is said to have received large amounts of money from king Mānsingh of Jaipur and amber but he donated it. Haradāsa Misaṇa is the author of two works, the Bhṛṃgī-purāṇa and the Jālandharapurāṇa.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: archive.org: The Indian Buddhist IconographyBhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी) is the name of a Goddess commonly depicted in Buddhist Iconography, and mentioned in the 11th-century Niṣpannayogāvalī of Mahāpaṇḍita Abhayākara.—Her Colour is blue; she has four arms.
Bhṛṅgī is described in the Niṣpannayogāvalī (dharmadhātuvāgīśvara-maṇḍala) as follows:—
“Bhṛṅgī is blue in colour and he holds in the first pair of hands the blue rosary and the kamaṇḍalu. In the second pair the añjali is shown”.
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.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and DrugsBhringi [भ्रिंगी] in the Nepali language is the name of a plant identified with Maharanga emodi (Wall.) DC. from the Boraginaceae (Forget-me-not) family having the following synonyms: Onosma emodi, Maharanga wallichiana, Onosma vestita. For the possible medicinal usage of bhringi, you can check this page for potential sources and references, although be aware that any some or none of the side-effects may not be mentioned here, wether they be harmful or beneficial to health.
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)1) Bhringi in India is the name of a plant defined with Aconitum heterophyllum in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Aconitum heterophyllum Wall..
2) Bhringi is also identified with Aristolochia bracteata.
3) Bhringi is also identified with Ficus benghalensis It has the synonym Ficus cotoneaefolia Hort. ex Miq. (etc.).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Ann. Mus. Bot. Lugduno-Batavi (1867)
· Illustrations of the Botany … of the Himalayan Mountains (1833)
· Species Plantarum
· Numer. List (4722)
· Ethnobotany (2004)
· Taxon (1979)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Bhringi, for example side effects, health benefits, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, extract dosage, chemical composition, 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
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Bhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी):—[from bhṛṅga] f. (cf. [gana] gaurādi) idem, [Kāvya literature; Kathāsaritsāgara]
2) [v.s. ...] Aconitum Ferox, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
3) Bhṛṅgi (भृङ्गि):—[from bhṛṅga] m. Name of one of Śiva’s attendants (cf. next), [Vāmana-purāṇa; Religious Thought and Life in India 441.]
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Bhṛṅgī (भृङ्गी) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Bhaṃgī.
[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.
Hindi dictionary
Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionaryBhṛṃgī (भृंगी) [Also spelled bhrangi]:—(nf) a female black-bee.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusBhṛṃgi (ಭೃಂಗಿ):—
1) [noun] name of one of the attendants of Śiva.
2) [noun] the fig tree, Ficus carica, of Moraceae family.
3) [noun] its fruit.
--- OR ---
Bhṛṃgi (ಭೃಂಗಿ):—[noun] a female bumble bee.
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: Bhrimgipa, Bhringi-phal, Bhringin, Bhringini, Bhringiphala, Bhringiphalla, Bhringipurana, Bhringirita, Bhringiriti, Bhringisha, Bhringishasamhita, Bhringishasamhitayam vitastamahatmyam, Bhringishvara.
Ends with: Pita-bhringi, Pitabhringi.
Full-text (+32): Bhringisha, Bhringiphala, Bhringin, Bhringiriti, Jringi, Bhangi, Shivakirtana, Bhrimgipa, Pita-bhringi, Nadisneha, Bhrangi, Nadideha, Riti, Jringa, Asthivigraha, Nadivigraha, Bhringi-phal, Bimgi, Bhringa, Dashapushpa.
Relevant text
Search found 18 books and stories containing Bhringi, Bhrimgi, Bhṛṃgi, Bhṛṃgī, Bhrmgi, Bhṛṅgī, Bhrngi, Bhṛṅgi, Bhṛngi; (plurals include: Bhringis, Bhrimgis, Bhṛṃgis, Bhṛṃgīs, Bhrmgis, Bhṛṅgīs, Bhrngis, Bhṛṅgis, Bhṛngis). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Yoga Vasistha [English], Volume 1-4 (by Vihari-Lala Mitra)
Chapter CXV - Description of the triple conduct of men < [Book VI - Nirvana prakarana part 1 (nirvana prakarana)]
Chapter LXXV - On mancipation and emancipation < [Book V - Upasama khanda (upashama khanda)]
Chapter XXII - Account of past ages < [Book VI - Nirvana prakarana part 1 (nirvana prakarana)]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.12.5 < [Chapter 12 - Subduing Kāliya and Drinking the Forest Fire]
The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 38 - Origin of Eminent Śiva Gaṅgā Pool < [Section 3 - Arbuda-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 34 - Śiva Loses to Pārvatī in a Game of Dice < [Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa]
Chapter 4 - A Fight between Vīrabhadra and Viṣṇu and Others < [Section 1 - Kedāra-khaṇḍa]
Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice) (by Geetika Kaw Kher)
Iconographical Explanation < [Chapter 5 - The Mythological Bridge]
Amarakoshodghatana of Kshirasvamin (study) (by A. Yamuna Devi)
The Divine Attendants < [Chapter 4 - Cultural Aspects]
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 1: Initiation, Mercury and Laboratory (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 4 - The Rasalinga or Rasalingam (Phallus made of Mercury) < [Chapter I - Requisites for metallurgical operations]