Bhala: 20 definitions

Introduction:

Bhala means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi, Jainism, Prakrit, 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.

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In Hinduism

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstra

Bhala (भल) is a Sanskrit word for Semecarpus anacardium, identified by various scholars in their translation of the Śukranīti. This tree is mentioned as bearing good fruits. The King should plant such domestic plants in and near villages. He should nourish them by stoole of goats, sheep and cows, water as well as meat.

The following is an ancient Indian recipe for such nourishment of trees:

According to Śukranīti 4.4.105-109: “The trees (such as bhala) are to be watered in the morning and evening in summer, every alternate day in winter, in the fifth part of the day (i.e., afternoon) in spring, never in the rainy season. If trees have their fruits destroyed, the pouring of cold water after being cooked together with Kulutha, Māṣa (seeds), Mudga (pulse), Yava (barley) and Tila (oil seed) would lead to the growth of flowers and fruits. Growth of trees can be helped by the application of water with which fishes are washed and cleansed.”

Dharmashastra book cover
context information

Dharmashastra (धर्मशास्त्र, dharmaśāstra) contains the instructions (shastra) regarding religious conduct of livelihood (dharma), ceremonies, jurisprudence (study of law) and more. It is categorized as smriti, an important and authoritative selection of books dealing with the Hindu lifestyle.

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Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Bhāla (भाल) refers to the “forehead”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] The four groups of four are said to be, the one which begins with the first (letters) (A to Ī), the fifth (letters) (U to -), the ninth (letters) (ŀ to AI), and the thirteenth (O to Až). The first group of four on the face is, along with the two cheeks, on the forehead [i.e., bhāla] and chin. Your second (group of four) is on the left, right, west, and east. The third deposition, that of the vowels, is at the beginning and end with the two eyes. The fourth set of four is in the row of teeth (below) and above”.

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

Bhāla (भाल) refers to the “forehead”, according to the King Vatsarāja’s Pūjāstuti called the Kāmasiddhistuti (also Vāmakeśvarīstuti), guiding one through the worship of the Goddess Nityā.—Accordingly, “[...] O goddess, those great people who are honoured with your greatness achieve Śivahood as they attain perfection. They are the people who have attained perfection following the regimen prescribed in the [system of] Siddhānta for the purpose of supernatural powers as well the ultimate goal [of liberation]. O moon-faced [goddess, they] bear [the characteristics of Śiva]: the third-eye on the forehead (bhāla-ikṣaṇa), the moon on the head, and the ornaments of serpents”.

Shaktism book cover
context information

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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Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Bhāla (भाल) refers to the “forehead”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.3.18 (“Description of the perturbation caused by Kāma”).—Accordingly, as Brahmā narrated: “When Kāma did not secure any entry within the great Yogin, he became deluded and frightened much through the magical power of Śiva. Who could gain access to Śiva in meditation, who could fix an eye in his forehead [i.e., bhāla-netra-samanvita] that resembled fire with shooting blazing flames? In the mean time Pārvatī came there along with her two maids and brought various kinds of flowers for Śiva’s worship. [...]

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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Biology (plants and animals)

Source: Wisdom Library: Local Names of Plants and Drugs

Bhala [ভলা] in the Assamese language is the name of a plant identified with Semecarpus anacardium from the Anacardiaceae (Cashew) family having the following synonyms: Anacardium orientale. For the possible medicinal usage of bhala, 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)

Bhala in India is the name of a plant defined with Semecarpus anacardium in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Anacardium orientale auct. (among others).

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

· Flora de Filipinas (1837)
· Suppl. (1782)
· Taxon (1981)
· Bijdr. Fl. Ned. Ind.
· Journal of Cytology and Genetics (1990)
· Journal of Ethnopharmacology (2007)

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

Biology book cover
context information

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

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

bhala (भल).—n (bhalla S) The head of a spear, pike, arrow, &c.

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bhala (भल).—a Abridged from bhalā Good or fine, and used specifically, implying Fine, grand, superb, splendid, noble, capital; as bhalaghōḍā, bhalagājīmarda, bhalabhālēkarī, bhaladāṇḍagā, bhalajēvaṇa; also arch, arrant, adept, thoroughgoing; as bhalasōdā, bhalaluccā, bhalalabāḍa; also great, large, vast, immense, extraordinary; as bhalaōjhēṃ, bhalagōṇī, bhalakōsa, bhalamajala, bhalahēla. Used also with nouns and adjectives enhancingly; as bhalamajēcā, bhalanāmī, bhalakhāsā.

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bhalā (भला).—a (bhadra S through H) Good, virtuous, worthy; of good disposition or habits: also creditable or respectable; of good esteem, honor, reputation. 2 In poetry it is used for barā. 3 It is used extensively as an adjective or adverb of praise, implying Just as it should be; of the proper quality or quantity; fine, capital, noble, superb, splendid. Ex. āja bhalā pāūsa paḍalā; bhalī mauja kēlī; tulā bhalēṃ uttara sucalēṃ; tō kārakūna bhalā lihiṇāra āhē; myāṃ tyālā bhalēṃ māralēṃ. bhalā ghēṇēṃ To give it to finely; to beat or abuse in fine style bhalēṃ ghēūna (phiraṇēṃ-pusaṇēṃ-vicāraṇēṃ) g. of o. To be officiously sympathizing or kind; to concern one's self obstrusively about the welfare of. Ex. mājhēṃ bhalēṃ kāṃ ghēūna phiratōsa?

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bhaḷa (भळ).—f A fissure, cleft, crack, chasm.

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bhāla (भाल).—f (bhalla S) The head or blade of a spear, lance, dart, arrow. Pr. suvarṇācī bhāla karaḍānta ghāla Try your feeble weapon upon a feeble antagonist. 2 m n (S) The forehead. 3 f A shrub, Hemiontes cordifolia.

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bhāla (भाल).—f A term in the play iṭīdāṇḍū. Striking the iṭī back. v hāṇa, māra.

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bhālā (भाला).—m (bhalla S through H) A spear or pike. Pr. khāndyāvara bhālā āṇi jēvāyāsa ghālā. 2 A spear's length. 3 The cord with which the legs of a cow &c. are bound during milking. v ghāla, bāndha, lāva. 4 The piece appended to the lāṭa (the transverse member of a pounding contrivance) and to which is attached the kōḷambēṃ.

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bhāḷa (भाळ).—n (bhāla S) The forehead.

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

bhala (भल).—n The head of a spear, &c. a Fine. Ex. bhalaghōḍā. Arch, arrant. Ex. bhalasōdā Great. Ex. bhalaōjhēṃ.

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bhalā (भला).—a Good, virtuous; of the proper quality. bhalā ghēṇēṃ Give it to finely; beat or abuse in fine style.

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bhaḷa (भळ).—f A fissure, crack. cleft.

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bhāla (भाल).—f The head of a spear. m n The forehead. A term in the play iṭīdāṇḍū. A striking the iṭī back.

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bhālā (भाला).—m A spear; a spear's length.

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bhāḷa (भाळ).—n The forehead.

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

Bhala (भल).—ind. (Vedic.) Certainly, indeed; cf. Mar. भलें (bhaleṃ).

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Bhāla (भाल).—[bhā-lac]

1) The forehead, brow; यद्धात्रा निजभालपट्टलिखितं स्तोकं महद्वा धनम् (yaddhātrā nijabhālapaṭṭalikhitaṃ stokaṃ mahadvā dhanam) Bhartṛhari 2.49; (smarasya) वपुः सद्यो भालानलभसितजालास्पदमभूत् (vapuḥ sadyo bhālānalabhasitajālāspadamabhūt) Bv.1.84; स्वामिन् भङ्गुरयालकं सतिलकं भालं विलासिन् कुरु (svāmin bhaṅgurayālakaṃ satilakaṃ bhālaṃ vilāsin kuru) S. D.

2) Light.

3) Darkness.

Derivable forms: bhālam (भालम्).

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

Bhāla (भाल).—m.

(-laḥ) 1. The forehead. 2. Darkness. E. bhal to explain, and aff.; a man’s fortunes being supposed to be legible on his forehead; or bhā to shine, aff. lac .

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

Bhāla (भाल).—m. 1. The forehead, [Bhartṛhari, (ed. Bohlen.)] 2, 48. 2. i. e. bhā + la, Lustre.

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

Bhala (भल).—[adverb] certainly, indeed.

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Bhāla (भाल).—[neuter] forehead.

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

1) Bhala (भल):—1. bhala ind. certainly, indeed, [Ṛg-veda; Atharva-veda] (cf. bal, baṭ, and Marāṭhī bhalla, ‘well’)

2) 2. bhala m. (only [dative case] bhalāya) a term used in addressing the Sun, [Mantra-brāhmaṇa; Gobhila-śrāddha-kalpa] (cf. bhalla).

3) Bhāla (भाल):—n. ([cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] also m.; [from] √bhā?) the forehead, brow, [Kāvya literature; Rājataraṅgiṇī] etc.

4) splendour, lustre, [Inscriptions]

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

Bhāla (भाल):—(laḥ) 1. m. Forehead; light.

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

Bhāla (भाल) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Bhāla.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bhala 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) Bhalā (भला):—(a) gentle, noble, good; (nm) well-being; good; —[ādamī] a gentleman; good/noble person; -[caṃgā] hale and hearty, healthy, in good health, sound; reasonably good; -[burā] good and evil, good and bad; virtue and vice, one’s own interest; reproach, admonition; ~[mānasa] a gentleman, good/noble person.

2) Bhāla (भाल) [Also spelled bhal]:—(nm) the forehead; used as the second member in the compound [dekha bhāla] meaning looking after, keeping a watch, supervision.

3) Bhālā (भाला):—(nm) a spear, lance, javelin; ~[dhārī] a lance-bearer, spearsman.

context information

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Prakrit-English dictionary

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

1) Bhala (भल) in the Prakrit language is related to the Sanskrit word: Bhal.

2) Bhāla (भाल) also relates to the Sanskrit word: Bhāla.

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

Bhala (ಭಲ):—[interjection] = ಭಲಾ [bhala].

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Bhalā (ಭಲಾ):—[interjection] an interjection used in praising a performer; well done!; bravo!.

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Bhāla (ಭಾಲ):—[noun] the part of the face above the eyebrows; the forehead.

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Bhāḷa (ಭಾಳ):—[noun] the part of the face above the eyebrows; the forehead.

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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