Alternative spellings of this word include Bhayanak.

In Hinduism

Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)

Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstra

1) Bhayānaka (भयानक) is the Sanskrit name of one of Bharata’s sons, mentioned in the Nāṭyaśāstra 1.26-33. After Brahmā created the Nāṭyaveda (nāṭyaśāstra), he ordered Bharata to teach the science to his (one hundred) sons. Bharata thus learned the Nāṭyaveda from Brahmā, and then made his sons study and learn its proper application. After their study, Bharata assigned his sons (eg., Bhayānaka) various roles suitable to them.

2) Bhayānaka (भयानक) refers to the “terrible” sentiment (rasa). It is one of the eight rasas mentioned in the Nāṭyaśāstra 6.15. The color associated with the bhayānaka is black (kṛṣṇa), and the presiding deity of of the terrible (śṛṅgāra) sentiment is Kāla.

According to the Nāṭyaśāstra, “The Terrible (bhayānaka) Sentiment has as its basis the Durable Psychological State of fear. This is created by Determinants like hideous noise, sight of ghosts, panic and anxiety due to [untimely cry of] jackals and owls, staying in an empty house or forest, sight of death or captivity of dear ones, or news of it, or discussion about it.”.

3) Bhayānakā (भयानका, “terrible”) refers to a specific “glance” (dṛṣṭi), according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. This is a type of glance that expresses the ‘terrible sentiment’ (bhayānakarasa). There are a total thirty-six glances defined. The Glance in which the eyelids are drawn up and fixed, and the eyeballs are gleaming and turning up is called Bhayānakā (terrible). It indicates a great fear and is used in the Terrible Sentiment.

Source: archive.org: The mirror of gesture (abhinaya-darpana)

A type of glance (or facial expression): Bhayānaka (inspiring fear): the eyelids raised and fixed, the pupil bright and fluttering. Usage: great fear, the terrible.

Source: Shodhganga: Mankhaka a sanskrit literary genius (natya)

Bhayānaka (भयानक) or the “sentiment (rasa) of terror”.—Bhayānakarasa has bhaya or fear for its sthāyibhāva and kāla or time as its presiding deity. It belongs to female and mean persons and it is treated under a mystical or mythological aspect by the learned as being black-coloured. The sources of fear is regarded as the ālambanavibhāvas here, the dreadful attempts etc. are uddīpanvibhāvas, the changes of colour and speaking with a stammering tone, tainting, perspiration, horripilation, trembling, looking at every direction etc. are anubhāvas, while disgust, agitation, bewilderment, terror, fatigue, distress, suspicion, epilepsy, confusion, death etc., are regarded as sañcāribhāvas in connection with the sentiment of terror.

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).

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: Shodhganga: Portrayal of Animal Kingdom (Tiryaks) in Epics An Analytical study

Bhayānaka (भयानक) (lit. “one who is terrible”) is a synonym (another name) for the Tiger (Vyāghra), according to scientific texts such as the Mṛgapakṣiśāstra (Mriga-pakshi-shastra) or “the ancient Indian science of animals and birds” by Hamsadeva, containing the varieties and descriptions of the animals and birds seen in the Sanskrit Epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata.

context information

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.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Bhayānakā (भयानका) refers to “she who is frightening” and is used to describe Goddess Carcikā, according to the Jayadrathayāmala verse 2.26.23cd-30ab.—Accordingly, “Now I will tell (you) the supreme teaching concerning Carcikā by just knowing which one attains every accomplishment. One should visualize (Carcikā) as very thin (and old), her face brilliant and frightening (bhayānakā) with her fierce gaze. She is (dark) like black lightning and is engaged in devouring the triple world. She has one face and three eyes and two arms and is adorned with a corpse. She is mounted on a buffalo and leather made of human skin is (under her) buttock. (Her) garland is made of human entrails and (she is) adorned with snakes”.

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.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

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

Bhayānaka (भयानक) 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 Bhayānaka] are dedicated to the humongous battle whose armies (known as akṣauhiṇīs) consisted of millions of soldiers, horses and elephants, etc.

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

bhayānaka : (adj.) frightful; horrible.

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

Bhayānaka, (adj.) (fr. bhaya, cp. Epic Sk. bhayānaka) frightful, horrible J. III, 428; MA 113; PvA. 24 (as °ika); Sdhp. 7, 208.—nt. °ṃ something awful Nd² 470 (in def. of bhaya). Bhara-bhara, a word imitating a confused sound M. I, 128; otherwise contracted to babbhara (q. v.). (Page 499)

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

bhayānaka (भयानक).—a (S) Frightful, terrible, formidable, dreadful.

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

bhayānaka (भयानक).—a Frightful, terrible.

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

Bhayānaka (भयानक).—a. [vibhetyasmāt, bhī-ānak; Uṇ.3.82] Fearful, horrible, terrible, frightful; किमतः परं भयानकं स्यात् (kimataḥ paraṃ bhayānakaṃ syāt) U.2; Śi.17.2; दंष्ट्राकरालानि भयानकानि (daṃṣṭrākarālāni bhayānakāni) Bg.11.27.

-kaḥ 1 A tiger.

2) Name of Rāhu.

3) The sentiment of terror, one of the eight or nine sentiments in poetry; भयानको भयस्थायिभावः कालाधिदैवतः (bhayānako bhayasthāyibhāvaḥ kālādhidaivataḥ) S. D.; see under रस (rasa).

-kam Terror, fear.

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

Bhayānaka (भयानक).—mfn.

(-kaḥ-kī-kaṃ) Frightful, formidable, terrific. n.

(-kaṃ) Terror. m.

(-kaḥ) 1. Rahu or the personified ascending node. 2. A tiger. 3. One of the nine sentiments in poetry, or the sentiment of terror, as excited by poetical or dramatic composition. E. bhī to fear, ānaka Unadi aff.

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

Bhayānaka (भयानक).—properly an old anomal. ptcple. pres. [Ātmanepada.] of bhī, viz. bhayāna + ka, I. adj. Frightful, formidable, [Bhagavadgītā, (ed. Schlegel.)] 11, 27; [Uttara Rāmacarita, 2. ed. Calc., 1862.] 43, 12. Ii. m. 1. The sentiment of terror, as excited by poetical composition. 2. A tiger. 3. Rāhu.

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

Bhayānaka (भयानक).—[adjective] dreadful, terrible.

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

1) Bhayānaka (भयानक):—[from bhaya] mf(ā)n. ([probably] [from] bhayāna for bhayamāna) fearful, terrible, dreadful, formidable, [Mahābhārata; Kāvya literature] etc.

2) [v.s. ...] n. terror (?), [Horace H. Wilson]

3) [v.s. ...] m. the sentiment of, terror (as one of the 9 Rasas in poetical or dramatic composition), [Sāhitya-darpaṇa; Pratāparudrīya] etc.

4) [v.s. ...] a tiger, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

5) [v.s. ...] Rāhu or the ascending node personified, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]

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

Bhayānaka (भयानक):—[(kaḥ-kā-kaṃ) a.] Frightful. n. Terror. m. Rāhu; a tiger.

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

Bhayānaka (भयानक) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Bhayāṇaya.

[Sanskrit to German]

Bhayanaka 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.

Hindi dictionary

Source: DDSA: A practical Hindi-English dictionary

Bhayānaka (भयानक) [Also spelled bhayanak]:—(a) dreadful, terrible, horrible, frightening, fearful, dangerous; hence ~[tā] (nf).

context information

...

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Bhayānaka (ಭಯಾನಕ):—

1) [adjective] causing fear or dread; formidable.

2) [adjective] outrageously evil or wicked; abominable.

--- OR ---

Bhayānaka (ಭಯಾನಕ):—

1) [noun] a thing, circumstance, event that causes fear or dread.

2) [noun] an outrageiously evil or wicked thing, circumstance.

context information

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: Bhayanakarasa, Bhayanakarasanirdesha, Bhayanakata, Bhayanakatva.

Ends with: Subhayanaka.

Full-text (+15): Rasa, Bhayanakarasa, Bhayanakatva, Bhayanakata, Bhayanakarasanirdesha, Bhayanaya, Subhayanaka, Bhishana, Kadadanem, Krayanaka, Bhayanak, Mahanada, Kathanaka, Nishkramana, Navarasa, Drishti, Sagana, Poetry, Valana, Maruvaka.

Relevant text

Search found 21 books and stories containing Bhayanaka, Bhayānaka, Bhayānakā; (plurals include: Bhayanakas, Bhayānakas, Bhayānakās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Malatimadhava (study) (by Jintu Moni Dutta)

Part 1.3g - Bhayānaka Rasa (The Terrible Sentiment) < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]

Part 1.3 - Delineation of Rasa in the Mālatīmādhava—Introduction < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]

Part 1.2 - Types of Rasa < [Chapter 2 - Literary Study of the Mālatīmādhava]

+ 2 more chapters / show preview

Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)

Verse 4.6.16 < [Part 5 - Dread (bhayānaka-rasa)]

Verse 2.5.124 < [Part 5 - Permanent Ecstatic Mood (sthāyī-bhāva)]

Verse 4.6.10 < [Part 5 - Dread (bhayānaka-rasa)]

+ 19 more chapters / show preview

Dasarupaka (critical study) (by Anuru Ranjan Mishra)

Part 9 - Sentiments (rasa) used in a Vīthī < [Chapter 7 - Vīthī (critical study)]

Part 9 - Sentiments (rasa) used in a Īhāmṛga < [Chapter 9 - Īhāmṛga (critical study)]

Part 9 - Sentiments (rasa) used in a Ḍima < [Chapter 4 - Ḍima (critical study)]

+ 19 more chapters / show preview

Lakulisha-Pashupata (Philosophy and Practice) (by Geetika Kaw Kher)

Kapalikas and the cult of body < [Chapter 2 - Spread and Transition]

show preview

The Matsya Purana (critical study) (by Kushal Kalita)

Part 3 - Rasa (sentiment) in the Matsyapurāṇa < [Chapter 2 - Literary aspect of the Matsyapurāṇa]

show preview

Abhinaya-darpana (English) (by Ananda Coomaraswamy)

Chapter 8 - Forty-four Glances

show preview

 

Click here for all 21 books