Bhaya, Bhayā: 32 definitions

Introduction

Introduction
In Hinduism
In Buddhism
In Jainism
1. General definition
Languages
1. Pali
2. Marathi
3. Sanskrit
See also

Introduction:

Bhaya means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Jainism, Prakrit, Marathi, Hindi. 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.

Alternative spellings of this word include Bhay.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

1) Bhaya (भय, “fear”).—One of the eight ‘permanent states’ (sthāyibhāva), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 7.31. These ‘permanent states’ are called ‘the source of delight’ and are not interfered with by other States. The term is used throughout nāṭyaśāstra literature. (Also see the Daśarūpa 4.43-44)

2) Bhaya (भय, “terror”) refers to one of the twenty-one sandhyantara, or “distinct characteristics of segments (sandhi)” according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 21. The segments are divisions of the plot (itivṛtta or vastu) of a dramatic play (nāṭaka) and consist of sixty-four limbs, known collectively as the sandhyaṅga.

Source: archive.org: Natya Shastra

Bhaya (भय, “fear”) relates to women and persons of the inferior type. It is caused by determinants (vibhāva) such as acts offending one’s superiors and the king, roaming in a forest, seeing an elephant and a snake, staying in an empty house, rebuke [from one’s superiors], a dark rainy night, hearing the hooting of owls and the cry of animals that go out at night, and the like. It is to be represented on the stage by consequents (anubhāva) such as, trembling hands and feet, palpitation of the heart, paralysis, dryness of the mouth, licking the lips, perspiration, tremor, apprehension [of danger], seeking safety, running away, loud crying and the like.

context information

Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (śāstra) of performing arts, (nāṭya, e.g., theatrics, drama, dance, music), as well as the name of a Sanskrit work dealing with these subjects. It also teaches the rules for composing dramatic plays (nataka) and poetic works (kavya).

Dharmashastra (religious law)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-śāstra

Bhaya (भय) is a Sanskrit technical term, used in jurisdiction, referring to “fear”. It is mentioned as one of the causes for giving false evidence. The word is used throughout Dharmaśāstra literature such as the Manusmṛti. (See the Manubhāṣya 8.120)

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.

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: Wisdom Library: Viṣṇu-purāṇa

Bhaya (भय) refers to “fear” and represents a type of Ādhyātmika pain of the mental (mānasa) type, according to the Viṣṇu-purāṇa 6.5.1-6. Accordingly, “the wise man having investigated the three kinds of worldly pain, or mental and bodily affliction and the like, and having acquired true wisdom, and detachment from human objects, obtains final dissolution.”

Ādhyātmika and its subdivisions (e.g., bhaya) represents one of the three types of worldly pain (the other two being ādhibhautika and ādhidaivika) and correspond to three kinds of affliction described in the Sāṃkhyakārikā.

The Viṣṇupurāṇa is one of the eighteen Mahāpurāṇas which, according to tradition was composed of over 23,000 metrical verses dating from at least the 1st-millennium BCE. There are six chapters (aṃśas) containing typical puranic literature but the contents primarily revolve around Viṣṇu and his avatars.

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

1) Bhayā (भया).—A demoness, sister of Kāla who presides over the land of death. She was married to Heti, son of Brahmā and brother of Praheti. Vidyutkeśa was their son and he married Sālakaṇṭakā, daughter of Sandhyā. (Uttara Rāmāyaṇa).

2) Bhaya (भय).—Hiṃsā is the wife of Adharma. They got a son named Anṛta and a daughter named Nikṛti. From them were born Bhaya, Naraka, Māyā and Vedanā. Of these Māyā produced Mṛtyu, destroyer of matter. Vedanā got of her husband Raurava son named Duḥkha. From Mṛtyu were born Vyādhi, Jarā, Śoka, Tṛṣṇā and Krodha. (Chapter 20, Agni Purāṇa). Another version about the birth of Bhaya is found in Śloka 54, Chapter 66 of Ādi Parva, Mahābhārata Adharma married Nirṛtī and to them were born Bhaya, Mahābhaya and Mṛtyu, three sons of demoniac disposition. These three sons led a sinful life.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Bhaya (भय) refers to “fear”, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.35. Accordingly, as Viṣṇu said to Dakṣa:—“[...] poverty, death and fear (bhaya), these three take place when people worthy of worship are not worshipped and when undeserving people are honoured. Hence with all efforts, the bull-bannered deity shall be respected and revered. A great terror has befallen us because lord Śiva has been dishonoured here”.

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index

1a) Bhaya (भय).—A son of Kali and Duruktī.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa IV. 8. 4.

1b) Lord of the Yavanas: adopted the daughter of Kāla as his sister; his brother was Prajvāra;¹ when attacking the city of Purañjana he captured Purañjana himself;² allegorically death; the Yavanas represent mental worries.³

1) Bhāgavata-purāṇa IV. 27. 23 and 30.
2) Ib. IV. 28. 22-23.
3) Ib. IV. 29. 22, 23.

1c) A son of Droṇa, a Vasu.^*

* Bhāgavata-purāṇa VI. 6. 11.

1d) A son of Nikṛti.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa II. 9. 64; Vāyu-purāṇa 10. 39.

1e) A son of Tāmasa Manu.^*

* Vāyu-purāṇa 62. 43.

2) Bhayā (भया).—A Kalā of Rudra.^*

* Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa IV. 35. 96.

Source: JatLand: List of Mahabharata people and places

Bhaya (भय) is a name mentioned in the Mahābhārata (cf. I.60.53) and represents one of the many proper names used for people and places. Note: The Mahābhārata (mentioning Bhaya) is a Sanskrit epic poem consisting of 100,000 ślokas (metrical verses) and is over 2000 years old.

Source: valmikiramayan.net: Srimad Valmiki Ramayana

Bhaya (भय) refers to the “panics” (viz., of a forest-dweller), according to the Rāmāyaṇa chapter 2.28. Accordingly:—“[...] soothening with kind words to Sītā, when eyes were blemished with tears, the virtuous Rāma spoke again as follows, for the purpose of waking her turn back: ‘[...] An inhabitant living in a forest has to face various bodily troubles and panics (bhaya). Hence, forest- life is really a misery’”.

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Bhaya (भय, “fear”):—In Vedic hinduism, he is one of the three sons of Adharma (‘sin’) and his wife Nirṛti (‘misery’).

In Buddhism

Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Dhamma Dana: Pali English Glossary

N Vision of a danger caused by the observation of mental and physical phenomena.

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).

Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

Bhaya (भय) refers to “fear”, as mentioned in the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra chapter XXXI in the section called “four foundations of mindfulness (smṛtyupasthāna)”.—Accordingly:—“[...] there are two kinds of suffering (duḥkha): inner suffering and outer suffering. [...] Inner suffering (ādhyātmika-duḥkha) is of two types: physical suffering and mental suffering. Mental suffering is grief (daurmanasya), sadness (śoka), hatred (dveṣa), fear (bhaya), jealousy (īrṣyā), doubt (vicikitsā), etc.: those are mental suffering. These two sufferings together are inner suffering. [...]”.

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.

General definition (in Buddhism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Dharma-samgraha

Bhaya (भय) or Pañcabhaya refers to the “five fears” as defined in the Dharma-saṃgraha (section 71):

ājīvikā-bhaya: fear for (one’s) livelihood,
śoka-bhaya: fear of grief,
maraṇa-bhaya: fear of death,
durgati-bhaya: fear of a bad destination,
parṣadaśādya-bhaya: fear through timidity.

The Dharma-samgraha (Dharmasangraha) is an extensive glossary of Buddhist technical terms in Sanskrit (e.g., bhaya). The work is attributed to Nagarjuna who lived around the 2nd century A.D.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: archive.org: Jaina Yoga

1) Bhaya (भय, “fear”).—The seven types of fear (bhaya) according to Cāmuṇḍarāya in his Caritrasāra are:

ihaloka (fear of this world),
paraloka (fear of the next world),
vyādhi (fear of sickness),
maraṇa (fear of death),
agupti (fear of being without protection),
atrāṇa (fear of being without defence),
akasmika (fear of something unexpected)

2) Bhaya (भय, “fear”) refers to a subclass of the interal (abhyantara) division of parigraha (attachment) and is related to the Aparigraha-vrata (vow of non-attachment). Amṛtacandra (in his Puruṣārthasiddhyupāya 116), Somadeva, and Āśādhara among the Digambaras and Siddhasena Gaṇin (in his commentary on the Tattvārtha-sūtra 7.24) among the Śvetāmbaras mention fourteen varieties of abhyantara-parigraha (for example, bhaya).

Source: archive.org: Een Kritische Studie Van Svayambhūdeva’s Paümacariu

Bhaya (भय) participated in the war between Rāma and Rāvaṇa, on the side of the latter, as mentioned in Svayambhūdeva’s Paumacariu (Padmacarita, Paumacariya or Rāmāyaṇapurāṇa) chapter 57ff. Svayambhū or Svayambhūdeva (8th or 9th century) was a Jain householder who probably lived in Karnataka. His work recounts the popular Rāma story as known from the older work Rāmāyaṇa (written by Vālmīki). Various chapters [mentioning Bhaya] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 6: Influx of karmas

Bhaya (भय).—What is meant by fear (bhaya)? Frightening ownself or others is fear.

Source: Encyclopedia of Jainism: Tattvartha Sutra 8: Bondage of karmas

Bhaya (भय, “fear”) refers to one of the nine types of the Akaṣāya (“quasi passions”) classification of of Cāritramohanīya “conduct deluding (karmas)” according to the 2nd-century Tattvārthasūtra chapter 8. Cāritramohanīya refers to one of the two main classifications of Mohanīya, or “deluding (karmas)”, which represents one of the eight types of Prakṛti-bandha (species bondage): one of the four kinds of bondage (bandha). What is meant by fear (bhaya) karmas? The karmas rise of which cause feeling of fear are called fear karmas.

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.

Languages of India and abroad

Pali-English dictionary

Source: BuddhaSasana: Concise Pali-English Dictionary

bhaya : (nt.) fear; fright.

Source: Sutta: The Pali Text Society's Pali-English Dictionary

Bhaya, (nt.) (fr. bhī, cp. Vedic bhaya, P. bhāyati) fear, fright, dread A. II, 15 (jāti-maraṇa°); D. III, 148, 182; Dh. 39, 123, 212 sq. , 283; Nd¹ 371, 409; Pug. 56; Vism. 512; KhA 108; SnA 155; DhA. III, 23. There are some lengthy enumerations of objects causing fear (sometimes under term mahabbhaya, mahā-bhaya), e.g. one of 17 at Miln. 196, one of 16 (four times four) at A. II, 121 sq. , the same in essence, but in different order at Nd² 470, and at VbhA. 502; one of 16 (with remark “ādi,” and so on) at Vism. 645. Shorter combinations are to be found at Sn. 964 (5, viz. ḍaṃsā, adhipātā, siriṃsapā, manussaphassā, catuppādā); Vbh. 379 (5, viz. ājīvika°, asiloka°, parisa-sārajja°, maraṇa°, duggati°, explained at VbhA. 505 sq.), 376 (4: jāti°, jarā°, vyādhi°, maraṇa°) 367 (3: jāti°, jarā°, maraṇ°); Nd¹ 402 (2: diṭṭha-dhammikaṃ & samparāyikaṃ bh.).—abhaya absence of fear, safety Vin. I, 75 (abhay-ûvara for abhaya-vara?); Dh. 317; J. I, 150; DhA. III, 491.

—ñāṇa insight into what is to be feared: see Cpd. 66.—dassāvin seeing or realising an object of fear, i.e. danger Vbh. 244, 247 and passim.—dassin id. Dh. 31, 317.—bherava fear & dismay M. I, 17 (=citt’uttrasassa ca bhayānak’ārammaṇassa adhivacanaṃ MA 113), N. of Suttanta No. 4 in Majjhima (pp. 16 sq.), quoted at Vism. 202; SnA 206. (Page 498)

context information

Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.

Marathi-English dictionary

Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionary

bhaya (भय).—n (S) Fear, dread, painful apprehension of evil. Pr. ēka bhaya dōhō jāgīṃ Expresses mutual fear in both parties. 2 Ground for fear; danger, risk, hazard, jeopardy. bhaya ghēṇēṃ To take fright or alarm. bhaya dākhaviṇēṃ To exhibit (unto) some ground for fear; to apply to the fears of.

--- OR ---

bhāya (भाय).—f C dim. bhāyaṭī f C A branch or bough.

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

bhaya (भय).—n Fear, dread. Risk.

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.

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Bhaya (भय).—[vimetyasmāt, bhī-apādāne ac]

1) Fear, alarm, dread, apprehension, (oft. with abl.); भोगे रोगमयं कुले च्युतिभयं वित्ते नृपालाद्भयम् (bhoge rogamayaṃ kule cyutibhayaṃ vitte nṛpālādbhayam) Bh.3.35; यदि समरमपास्य नास्ति मृत्योर्भयम् (yadi samaramapāsya nāsti mṛtyorbhayam) Ve.3.4.

2) Fright, terror; जगद्भयम् (jagadbhayam) &c.

3) A danger, risk, hazard; तावद्भयस्य भेतव्यं यावद्भयमनागतम् । आगतं तु भयं वीक्ष्य नरः कुर्याद्यथोचितम् (tāvadbhayasya bhetavyaṃ yāvadbhayamanāgatam | āgataṃ tu bhayaṃ vīkṣya naraḥ kuryādyathocitam) H.1.54.

4) The sentiment of fear; see भयानक (bhayānaka) below; रौद्रशक्त्या तु जनितं चित्तवैकल्यजं भयम् (raudraśaktyā tu janitaṃ cittavaikalyajaṃ bhayam) S. D.6.

5) The blossom of Trapa Bispinosa (Mar. śiṃgāḍā)

-yaḥ Sickness, disease.

Derivable forms: bhayam (भयम्).

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

Bhaya (भय).—[, read Abhaya (4), q.v.: Mahāvastu i.135.7.]

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

Bhaya (भय).—mfn.

(-yaḥ-yā-yaṃ) Frightful, fearful, horrible, dreadful. n.

(-yaṃ) 1. Fear, alarm, fright, dread. 2. The flower of the Trapa bispinosa. m.

(-yaḥ) Sickness. E. bhī to be afraid, ac aff.

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

Bhaya (भय).—i. e. bhī + a, n. 1. Fear, [Pañcatantra] v. [distich] 67. 2. Fright, [Pañcatantra] 242, 21. 3. Danger, [Pañcatantra] ii. [distich] 14.

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

Bhaya (भय).—[neuter] fear, dread, anxiety, terror, danger, distress ([with] [ablative] or —°).

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

1) Bhaya (भय):—n. (√bhī) fear, alarm dread apprehension

2) fear of ([ablative] [genitive case] or [compound]) or for ([compound]), [Ṛg-veda] etc. etc. (yāt ind. ‘from fear’; bhayaṃ-√kṛ with [ablative] ‘to have fear of’; bhayaṃ-√dā, ‘to cause fear, terrify’)

3) sg. and [plural] terror, dismay, danger, peril, distress

4) danger from ([ablative] or [compound]) or to, ([compound]), [ib.]

5) the blossom of Trapa Bispinosa, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

6) m. sickness, disease, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

7) m. Fear personified (as a Vasu, a son of Nir-ṛti or Ni-kṛti, a prince of the Yavanas and husband of the daughter of Time), [Purāṇa] (also n.; and f(ā). as a daughter of Kāla or Vaivasvata, and wife of the Rākṣasa Heti).

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

Bhaya (भय):—(yaṃ) 1. n. Fear. a. Fearful.

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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