Bhru, Bhrū: 23 definitions
Introduction:
Bhru means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, 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.
In Hinduism
Natyashastra (theatrics and dramaturgy)
Source: Wisdom Library: Nāṭya-śāstraBhrū (भ्रू) refers to the “eyebrows”. It is one of the six minor limbs (upāṅga) used in dramatic performance, according to the Nāṭyaśāstra chapter 8. These gestures of the eyebrows (bhrū) are performed in accordance with the corresponding gestures of the eyeballs (tārā) and the eyelids (puṭa). These gestures form a part of the histrionic representation (abhinaya).
The following are the seven gestures of the eyebrows (bhrū):
- utkṣepa (raising),
- pātana (lowering),
- bhrukuṭī (knitting),
- catura (clever),
- kuñcita (contracted),
- recita (moving)
- sahaja (natural).
Bhrū (भ्रू, “eyebrows”) refers to one of the twelve “subsidiary limbs” (upāṅga), which represents a division of Āṅgikābhinaya (gesture language of the limbs) as used within the classical tradition of Indian dance and performance, also known as Bharatanatyam.—Āṅgika-abhinaya is the gesture language of the limbs. Dance is an art that expresses itself through the medium of body, and therefore, āṅgikābhinaya is essential for any dance and especially for any classical dance of India. Upāṅgas or the subsidiary limbs consist of the eyes, the eye-brows [viz., Bhrū], pupils, cheeks, nose, jaws, lips, teeth, tongue, chin, face, and the head.
Natyashastra (नाट्यशास्त्र, nāṭyaśāstra) refers to both the ancient Indian tradition (shastra) of performing arts, (natya—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), construction and performance of Theater, and Poetic works (kavya).
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English TranslationBhrū (भ्रू) refers to the “(middle of the) eyebrows”, where Satī fixed the udāna-wind while in a yogic trance, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.30. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] having sipped water duly, covering up her body entirely with her cloth she closed her eyes and remembered her lord. She then entered the yogic trance. Keeping her face steady she balanced the winds Prāṇa and Apāna [i.e., prāṇāpāna]. She then lifted up the wind Udāna from the umbilical region, stabilised it in the cardiac region took it through the throat and finally fixed it in the middle of the eyebrows (bhrū). She desired to cast-off her body due to her anger with Dakṣa. She desired to burn off the body and retain the pure wind by yogic means. In this posture she remembered the feet of her lord and nothing else”.
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.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram1) Bhrū (भ्रू) refers to the “eyebrows”, 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, “[...] (6) The Wheel of the Command is between the eyebrows [i.e., bhrū]. It is a fire in the form of a Point. In the middle of it is the seed of power (śaktibīja), red like vermilion. [...] (Perfect) contemplation (samādhi) is with (these) sixteen aspects and is (attained) within the form of the sixfold deposition (ṣoḍhānyāsa). He who knows this is (a veritable) Lord of Yogis, the others (who do not) are (just) quoting from books. Once attained the plane that is Void and Non-void, the yogi is freed from bondage”.
2) Bhrū (भ्रू) refers to the “eyebrows”, according to the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā, an expansion of the Kubjikāmatatantra: the earliest popular and most authoritative Tantra of the Kubjikā cult.—Accordingly, “[...] What is located in the sequence of the sacred seats is in the midst of Dakṣa and the rest (in the heart) above the navel. One should know (this), the Śāmbhava state, by means of the teaching from the teacher’s mouth. One should worship (the sacred seats in the order listed above) in the same way, in the ear, mouth, nose, and above the eyebrows [i.e., bhrū—bhruvordhve] (respectively)”.
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.
Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)
Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by VarahamihiraBhrū (भ्रू) refers to the “eye-brows”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 2), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “We shall now proceed to give a brief description of (the qualifications of) a jyotiṣaka. He must be of noble birth and of agreeable appearance; meek, truthful and without jealousy; of proportional limbs; of joints well built and of good growth; have no physical defects; be of fine hands, feet, nails, eyes, chin, teeth, ears, forehead, eye-brows [i.e., bhrū] and head; of fine physique and of high, sonorous voice”.
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.
Kavya (poetry)
Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (kavya)Bhru (भ्रु) refers to the “brows”, according to Bāṇa’s Kādambarī (p. 225-226).—Accordingly, while describing the shire of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, “[Then follows the image of the Goddess Caṇḍikā, which matches the conception of Kālarātri in the passage from the Mahābhārata:] [...] she bore the coquettish apparel of a woman going out to meet Mahākāla at night, with a vine-like body furnished with a raiment reddened with saffron-dye, with a face with red eyes, whose brows were furrowed into a frown (bhṛkuṭi-kuṭila-bhru), whose lip was crimsoned with betel that was blood, whose cheeks were reddened by the light shed from ear-ornaments of pomegranate flowers, with a forehead on which there was a tilaka dot of vermillion made by a Śabara beauty, covered by a magnificent gold turban. She was worshipped by goats... mice... antelope and black serpents... She was praised on all sides by flocks of old crows; [...]”.
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’.
Shilpashastra (iconography)
Source: Shodhganga: Elements of Art and Architecture in the Trtiyakhanda of the Visnudharmottarapurana (shilpa)Bhrū (भ्रू) or “eye-brow” refers to one of the various body parts whose Measurements should follow the principles of ancient Indian Painting (citra), according to the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, an ancient Sanskrit text which (being encyclopedic in nature) deals with a variety of cultural topics such as arts, architecture, music, grammar and astronomy.—In the Viṣṇudharmottarapurāṇa, a specific measurement of every limb of a man as well as of a woman is elaborately and systematically discussed. In this book, the writer has presented the measurement of almost all the body parts that should be maintained in a picture. For example, Bhrū (“eye-brow”) should be 3 X ½ aṅgulas.
Shilpashastra (शिल्पशास्त्र, śilpaśāstra) represents the ancient Indian science (shastra) of creative arts (shilpa) such as sculpture, iconography and painting. Closely related to Vastushastra (architecture), they often share the same literature.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason BirchBhrū (भ्रू) refers to the “(space between the) eyebrows”, according to the according to the Amaraughaprabodha (6): a short 13th century treatise on Yoga attributed to Gorakṣanātha which teaches the fourfold system of yoga (Mantra, Laya, Haṭha and Rāja).—Accordingly, “That which causes the gains of the six acts [of magic] does not manifest through Mantra; the mind does not become immersed in the [space between] the eyebrows (bhrū), [the tip of] the nose and so on, by some method †[like an insect]†; and the Yogins’ breath does not go into the base [of the spine] because of various practices, without the respected Rājayoga, which is an abode of splendour full of eternal bliss”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Ayurveda (science of life)
Toxicology (Study and Treatment of poison)
Source: Shodhganga: Kasyapa Samhita—Text on Visha ChikitsaBhrū (भ्रू) refers to the “eye-brows”, as taught in the Marma (“vital points of the body”) section of the Kāśyapa Saṃhitā: an ancient Sanskrit text from the Pāñcarātra tradition dealing with both Tantra and Viṣacikitsā—an important topic from Āyurveda which deals with the study of Toxicology (Agadatantra or Sarpavidyā).—The Kāśyapasaṃhitā specifically mentions that snake-bite in the sense organs, heart, between the eye-brows (bhrū-madhya), bosom, belly, palate, joints, neck, forehead, chin, middle of the navel and joints of the feet, is highly risky.
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.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Tibetan BuddhismBhrū (भ्रू) is the name of Vidyārājñī (i.e., “wisdom queen”) mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Bhrū).
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.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
Source: DDSA: The Molesworth Marathi and English Dictionarybhrū (भ्रू).—f (S) An eye-brow. bhrūbhaṅga m Frowning or a frown.
Source: DDSA: The Aryabhusan school dictionary, Marathi-Englishbhrū (भ्रू).—f An eyebrow.
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 dictionaryBhrū (भ्रू).—f. [bhram-ḍū Uṇādi-sūtra 2.68] Brow, eyebrow; कान्तिर्भ्रुवोरायतलेखयोर्या (kāntirbhruvorāyatalekhayoryā) Kumārasambhava 1.47; विवर्तितभ्रूरियमद्य शिक्षते (vivartitabhrūriyamadya śikṣate)
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhrū (भ्रू).—f.
(-bhrūḥ) An eye-brow. E. bhram to round, Unadi aff. ḍu .
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Benfey Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhrū (भ्रू).—f. An eyebrow, [Rāmāyaṇa] 3, 52, 23.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhrū (भ्रू).—[feminine] brow (adj. —° bhru, bhrū & bhrūka, cf. also [preceding]).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Bhrū (भ्रू):—f. ([according to] to [Uṇādi-sūtra ii, 68 fr.] √bhram) an eyebrow, the brow, [Ṛg-veda]; etc. (ifc. m. (u or ū) n (u). ; also -bhrūka).
2) cf. [Greek] ὀ-φρύς; [Slavonic or Slavonian] brŭvĭ; [Anglo-Saxon] bru; [English] brow.
3) Bhru (भ्रु):—[from bhrū] in [compound] for bhrū (cf. [Pāṇini 6-3, 61], [vArttika] 3, [Patañjali])
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryBhrū (भ्रू):—(bhrūḥ) 3. f. The eyebrow.
Source: DDSA: Paia-sadda-mahannavo; a comprehensive Prakrit Hindi dictionary (S)Bhrū (भ्रू) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit words: Bhamayā, Bhamuha, Bhamuhā, Bhuma, Bhumagā, Bhumayā, Bhumā, Bhū.
[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 dictionaryBhrū (भ्रू):—(nm) an eyebrow; ~[bhaṃga/bhaṃgimā] attractive movement or contraction of eyebrows, a twist of the eyebrows; frown; ~[madhya] middle of the eyebrows; -[vikṣepa] frowning; scowling; -[vilāsa] amorous movement of the eyebrows; frowning, scowling.
...
Nepali dictionary
Source: unoes: Nepali-English DictionaryBhrū (भ्रू):—n. brow; eyebrow;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with (+61): Bhrubhanga, Bhrubheda, Bhrubhedin, Bhrubila, Bhrucapakrishtamukta, Bhrud, Bhruda, Bhrudanda, Bhrudhyana, Bhrujaha, Bhruka, Bhrukoti, Bhrukshemadhurya, Bhrukshepa, Bhrukshepajihma, Bhrukshepalapa, Bhrukshepalapamadhurya, Bhrukshepana, Bhrukula, Bhrukumsa.
Ends with (+27): Agrebhru, Ajababhru, Anchitabhru, Ancitabhru, Anupurvabhru, Arecitabhru, Arunababhru, Asitabhru, Atibhru, Ayatabhru, Babhru, Calitabhru, Grihababhru, Haribabhru, Kapishabhru, Krodhamarshajihmabhru, Lekhabhru, Mahababhru, Nartanabhru, Natabhru.
Full-text (+144): Subhru, Bhrukuti, Kumsa, Ancitabhru, Bhrubhanga, Babhru, Bhrukumsa, Bhrikuti, Bhrukshepa, Atibhru, Bhamuha, Bhu, Samhatabhru, Bhruva, Natabhru, Bhrikumsha, Agrebhru, Asitabhru, Randhrababhru, Bhrukutimukha.
Relevant text
Search found 15 books and stories containing Bhru, Bhrū; (plurals include: Bhrus, Bhrūs). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Guhyagarbha Tantra (with Commentary) (by Gyurme Dorje)
Text 7.2 (Commentary) < [Chapter 7 (text and commentary)]
Text 9.10 (Commentary) < [Chapter 9 (Text And Commentary)]
Text 10.3 (Commentary) < [Chapter 10 (Text and Commentary)]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 3.4.31 < [Chapter 4 - Descriptions of Śrī Acyutānanda’s Pastimes and the Worship of Śrī Mādhavendra]
Verse 2.23.181 < [Chapter 23 - Wandering about Navadvīpa On the Day the Lord Delivered the Kazi]
Verse 2.23.500 < [Chapter 23 - Wandering about Navadvīpa On the Day the Lord Delivered the Kazi]
Garga Samhita (English) (by Danavir Goswami)
Verse 2.15.19 < [Chapter 15 - Description of Śrī Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa’s Falling in Love]
Verse 6.10.37 < [Chapter 10 - In the Description of the Gomatī River, the Glories of Cakra-tīrtha]
Verse 4.16.5 < [Chapter 16 - The Srī Yamunā Armor]
Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (by Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī)
Verse 2.5.63 < [Part 5 - Permanent Ecstatic Mood (sthāyī-bhāva)]
Verse 2.5.65 < [Part 5 - Permanent Ecstatic Mood (sthāyī-bhāva)]
Verse 3.4.26 < [Part 4 - Parenthood (vātsalya-rasa)]
Sahitya-kaumudi by Baladeva Vidyabhushana (by Gaurapada Dāsa)
Text 10.224 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Text 10.39 < [Chapter 10 - Ornaments of Meaning]
Text 5.13 < [Chapter 5 - Second-rate Poetry]
The Great Chariot (by Longchenpa)
Part 4a.2 - Meditating on the mandala < [B. The explanation of meditation practice, together with its action of ripening and freeing]