Brahma-muhurta, Brāhma-muhūrta, Brahma-muhūrta, Brahman-muhurta: 14 definitions

Introduction
In Hinduism
Languages
1. Sanskrit
2. Kannada
See also

Introduction:

Brahma-muhurta means something in Hinduism, Sanskrit. 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

Purana and Itihasa (epic history)

Source: archive.org: Puranic Encyclopedia

Brāhmamuhūrta (ब्राह्ममुहूर्त).—The period of forty-eight minutes before the sunrise is called Brāhmamuhūrta. The deity of this period is Brahmā. In Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 155, it is instructed that one should wake up at this period and engage in prayer and meditation.

Source: archive.org: Shiva Purana - English Translation

Brāhmamuhūrta (ब्राह्ममुहूर्त) is the period between the fourth and the second ghaṭikas before sunrise, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.1.11, while explaining the mode of worshipping Śiva:—“[...] one shall get up early in the morning during the Brāhma Muhūrta (about an hour before dawn). He shall remember the preceptor and Śiva. O sage, he shall then remember the holy centres and meditate on Hari. Thereafter he shall remember me, the deities and the sages. Then he shall recite a prayer in the name of Śiva duly. Then he shall get up and evacuate his bowels in southern quarter. The evacuation of the bowels shall be done in an isolated place. [...]”.

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.

Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)

Source: Pure Bhakti: Bhajana-rahasya - 2nd Edition

Brāhmamuhūrta (ब्राह्ममुहूर्त) refers to:—The auspicious period of the day just before dawn, from one-and-a-half hours to fifty minutes before sunrise. (cf. Glossary page from Bhajana-Rahasya).

Source: Pure Bhakti: Arcana-dipika - 3rd Edition

Brāhmamuhūrta (ब्राह्ममुहूर्त) refers to the “most beneficial time of the day” (for the cultivation of spiritual life), according to the Arcana-dīpikā (manual on deity worship).—[...] In the last part of the night, the segment of time consisting of the two muhūrtas (one hour and thirty-six minutes) before sunrise, is called aruṇodaya, or dawn. The first of these two muhūrtas is called the brāhma-muhūrta. This brāhma-muhūrta is the most beneficial time of the day for the cultivation of spiritual life.

In this [brāhma-muhūrta], one rises from bed saying, śrī gurugaurāṅga śrī rādhā-vinoda-bihārījī kī jaya! and chanting the pañca-tattva-mantra and the mahā-mantra. Then one should brush one’s teeth, wash one’s mouth, face, hands and feet, and then bathe after passing stool. If for some reason one cannot bathe, then change from the cloth worn throughout the night into fresh, clean cloth. Afterward, while meditating on the lotus feet of śrī gurudeva, glorify him by chanting Śrī Guru-vandanā, Śrī Gurvāṣṭaka etc.

Source: Pure Bhakti: Brhad Bhagavatamrtam

Brāhmamuhūrta (ब्राह्ममुहूर्त) refers to:—The time early in the morning, one and a half hours before sunrise, is called brāhmamuhūrta. (cf. Glossary page from Śrī Bṛhad-bhāgavatāmṛta).

context information

Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).

Ayurveda (science of life)

Source: archive.org: Vagbhata’s Ashtanga Hridaya Samhita (first 5 chapters)

Brāhmamuhūrta (ब्राह्ममुहूर्त) refers to the “Brahmanic hour”, and is mentioned in verse 2.1 of the Aṣṭāṅgahṛdayasaṃhitā (Sūtrasthāna) by Vāgbhaṭa.—The term brāhmamuhūrta (~yud-thsam thsaṅs) “Brahmanic hour”, usually spelt brahmamuhūrta, denotes the fourteenth or second last muhūrta of the night, a full day comprising thirty muhūrtas of forty-eight minutes each. As appears from its post-noun position, thsaṅs (“Brahman”) is used here as an adjective.

Source: WJPR: Traditional method vs current scenario of Dinacharya

Brahmamuhurta refers to the period “early in the morning i.e. 90 mins before sunrise” and plays an important role in Dinacharya (daily regimen): A set of Ayurvedic principles which aims to improve physical, mental and spiritual well-being of an individual.—It is advisable to wake up during Brahma-muhurta. In the early morning sattva-guna is most prevalent, so it is the best time of the day to meditate. The body is well rested. The mind is alert, focused and peaceful. Nascent oxygen in the atmosphere in the early morning easily and readily mixes up with Haemoglobin to form oxy-Hb which nourishes the remote tissues rapidly. Exposure to bright light in the early morning (brahmamuhurta) causes the release of serotonin (neurotransmitter biochemically derived from tryptophan) which contributes to feeling of well- being and happiness and keeps the person active and alert. In the early morning, there is minimal pollution which enhances the concentration.

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.

General definition (in Hinduism)

Source: Wisdom Library: Hinduism

Brahma-muhūrta (ब्रह्म-मुहूर्त):—Name for a specific portion or phase of the day, used in ancient India during Vedic times. Brahma means “universe” and muhūrta means “division of time”, in this case, a 30^th part of a day. This is the twenty-ninth muhūrta of a day.

The specific time range this day-part refers to is 04:24–05:12 and has Very Auspicious qualities.

Source: Google Books: Japa Transformations

The brāhma-muhūrta hour is the most important time in the day, and you want to be awake for good chanting. If you’re heavy-lidded, there’s not much you can do but wash your face, grit your teeth, and do the best you can do. Don’t give in to sleepiness. The regulated life of a full night’s sleep is important. Conversing before your japa uses up energy and is a distraction and shouldn’t be indulged in. Get right down to business as soon as you get up. Call to Kṛṣṇa for help, and He will help you stay awake. Keeping up a good speed is also helpful. Gradually, you gain your wakefulness and take advantage of it. Harināma deserves your best effort.

The brāhma-muhūrta hour is recommended as the best time for spiritual duties. Devotees who have fulltime jobs should try to make the sacrifice of going to bed early at night so they can get up early. But it may be that they cannot do it because they get tired later on the job. Still, the earlier, the better. Little children and the wife may still be asleep, and you have a clear stretch to be alone with Nāma Prabhu. Or husband and wife can both make a pact and be up early for the sacred yajña.

Source: Hindu Dharma Forums: great (profound) questions...

Brahmā-muhūrta consists of 2 muhūrta (48 min x 2 = 96 min) before sunrise; some count it as 4 ghaṭīkā, yet the overall time still = 96 min. Note this period of brahmā-muhūrta is made of 2 muhūrtas . One is brahmā and the other is samudram (or samudraḥ pending its grammatical use). This word means ocean, the aerial waters ( the “ocean” of the sky).

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Brahmamuhūrta (ब्रह्ममुहूर्त).—a particular hour of the day.

Derivable forms: brahmamuhūrtaḥ (ब्रह्ममुहूर्तः).

Brahmamuhūrta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms brahman and muhūrta (मुहूर्त).

--- OR ---

Brāhmamuhūrta (ब्राह्ममुहूर्त).—a particular period of the day, the early part of the day (rātreśca paścime yāme muhūrto brāhma ucyate); cf. ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते किल तस्य देवी कुमारकल्पं सुषुवे कुमारम् (brāhme muhūrte kila tasya devī kumārakalpaṃ suṣuve kumāram) R.5.36; ब्राह्मे मुहूर्ते बुध्येत (brāhme muhūrte budhyeta) Manusmṛti 4.92.

Derivable forms: brāhmamuhūrtaḥ (ब्राह्ममुहूर्तः).

Brāhmamuhūrta is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms brāhma and muhūrta (मुहूर्त).

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

1) Brahmamuhūrta (ब्रह्ममुहूर्त):—[=brahma-muhūrta] [from brahma > brahman] m. a [particular] hour of the day, [Siṃhāsana-dvātriṃśikā or vikramāditya-caritra, jaina recension]

2) Brāhmamuhūrta (ब्राह्ममुहूर्त):—[=brāhma-muhūrta] [from brāhma > brahman] m. n. a [particular] period of the day (that included between the 4th Ghaṭikā and the 2nd before sunrise), dawn, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.] (cf. [Manu-smṛti iv, 92]).

[Sanskrit to German]

Brahma-muhurta 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.

Kannada-English dictionary

Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpus

Brāhmamuhūrta (ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಮುಹೂರ್ತ):—[noun] = ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮೀಮುಹೂರ್ತ [brahmimuhurta].

context information

Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.

Relevant text

Search found 39 books and stories containing Brahma-muhurta, Brāhma-muhūrta, Brahma-muhūrta, Brahmamuhūrta, Brahmamuhurta, Brāhmamuhūrta, Brahman-muhurta, Brahman-muhūrta; (plurals include: muhurtas, muhūrtas, Brahmamuhūrtas, Brahmamuhurtas, Brāhmamuhūrtas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Verse 4.8.19 < [Chapter 8 - In the Story of the Yajña-sītās, the Glories of Ekādaśī]

Verse 8.10.7 < [Chapter 10 - The Paddhati and Paṭala of Lord Balarāma]

Verse 4.18.14 < [Chapter 18 - The Names and Worship of Srī Yamunā]

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Verse 7.145 < [Section XII - Daily Routine of Work]

Verse 4.92 < [Section XI - Daily Duties]

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A conceptual study on brahmamuhurta < [2022: Volume 11, April issue 4]

Brahma muhurta jagarana – a review < [2022: Volume 11, November issue 15]

Traditional vs modern dinacharya for healthy morning habits. < [2019: Volume 8, April issue 5]

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A critical review on “brahme muhurte uttishtet swasthyo rakshartham ayushah” < [Volume 2, issue 6 (2014)]