Banke is the most prominent district of Bheri Zone with Nepalgunj city as its capital. Many zonal offices are also in this district. The population of this district is 287,689. Also see Nepalgunj.
BALMIKI
Balmiki is a great saint in the Hindu pantheon who had the vision to look through ages and was aware of things happening and also those to happen in the days and years to come. He is also known as the author of the great epic, Ramayana.
BALARAMA
The elder brother of Krishna who played a very important role in the Mahabharat without siding of any of the warring parties in the battle between Pandavas and Kauravas. He is also a great character by himself and is also known as the incarnation of Vishnu, just like his brother, Krishna. According to this version of belief, Vishnu is said to have taken the form of two strings of hair, one white and the other black. Balarama with white complexion and Krishna with black complexion, both of them are supposed to be the incarnation of the single entity Vishnu who is all-pervasive. Some people also believe him as the incarnation of Sheshnag, or the Serpent God.
BALA BHADRA, THE BRAVE
A true patriot and a doughty warrior, Bala Bhadra is the gem of Nepalese history. His most remarkable feat was seen at the khalanga fort of Nalapani during the battle between Nepal and British India from 1814 to1816 A.D. Few hundred Nepalese soldiers with their wives and children under his command were attacked by a much bigger army equipped with better arms and ammunition. However the troop of Bala Bhadra fought from inside the fortress where even women were engaged in throwing missiles of stones and brickbats on the enemy. English troops were at disadvantage and suffered many casualties. Later, they cut of the water supply of the Nepalese fort, which caused inevitable distress to the Nepalese troops. At the brave command of Bala Bhadra, the brave, the surviving soldiers came out with unmatched courage splashing their naked swords amidst the enemy troop. There they fought till the last person survived. But Bala Bhadra could reach another fort at Jaitagarh, which he saved from another troop of British army. Bala Bhadra was praised by the enemy side also who, in his honour established a stone tablet at Nalapani describing his astounding bravery.
Bajura
This is a remote district of the Seti Zone of the Far Western Region of Nepal. Martadi is the headquarters of this district. Population of this district is approximately 108,781.
BAJRAYOGINI
Bajrayogini is an important and popular Goddess. She has three forms and conforms to two distinct types.
In one form she has no head, but carries it in her hand. In another, she has her head intact. The former form is identical in appearance with the Hindu goddess Chhinamasta of the group of Mahavidyas, She is always accompanied by two yoginis by her sides. She is yellow in colour and carries her own head in her left hand. The head was severed by herself with her own knife held in her right hand. She is projected in the nude, her right leg stretched and the left leg bent down.
Another form of Bajrayogini is red in colour. She is no less terrible than the headless form, surrounded on all sides by the terrible burning grounds. She stands in a ferocious mood and rides on top of a corpse. She is nude and has three red eyes. With round, contorted eye-brows, a protruding belly and tongue, she carries the kapala in the left hand and the Bajra in the right. The Khawanga hangs from her left shoulder. This form of Bajrayogini is similar in many respects to the form of Nairatma and Vajravarahi.. Also see Bajrojogini
In one form she has no head, but carries it in her hand. In another, she has her head intact. The former form is identical in appearance with the Hindu goddess Chhinamasta of the group of Mahavidyas, She is always accompanied by two yoginis by her sides. She is yellow in colour and carries her own head in her left hand. The head was severed by herself with her own knife held in her right hand. She is projected in the nude, her right leg stretched and the left leg bent down.
Another form of Bajrayogini is red in colour. She is no less terrible than the headless form, surrounded on all sides by the terrible burning grounds. She stands in a ferocious mood and rides on top of a corpse. She is nude and has three red eyes. With round, contorted eye-brows, a protruding belly and tongue, she carries the kapala in the left hand and the Bajra in the right. The Khawanga hangs from her left shoulder. This form of Bajrayogini is similar in many respects to the form of Nairatma and Vajravarahi.. Also see Bajrojogini
BAJRAYANA BUDDHISM
Bajra is thunderbolt and at the same time it also connotes diamond. Tantric tradition of Buddhism has chosen this word because of its being indestructible as well as its ability to cut through all substances. Having accepted most of the principles and assumptions of Mahayana, Bajrayana further expands and elaborates these. Boddhi as the supreme matrix of enlightenment characterizes the goal. Every sentient being is considered as a potential Buddha. The constraints and bottlenecks for anybody to attain Buddha-hood is ignorance and impurities of mind and action. Once it is removed, Boddhi or the enlightenment is attainable. This state of reality may be achieved through combination of Prajna, the transcendental knowledge and Upaya or well-meaning action in combination with karuna or compassion. Thus, both literally and figuratively, Bajrayana is the belief in the twin principles of insight and compassion and in their co-emergence leading to the state of Mahasukha or the attainment of greatest of blessings.
Mahayana Buddhism is dominated by Mantras or sacred spells, and therefore, it is also known as Mantrayana, Tantrayana or Vajrayana. It is characterized as the path, which leads to perfect enlightenment. Vajrayana literally means the adamantine path or vehicle, but its technical meaning is the “Sunya Vehicle” where Sunya or nothingness or a state of total absence is used to represent vajra – “Thundebolt” or “diamond” and Yana means “Path, Way or Vehicle”.
Mahayana Buddhism is dominated by Mantras or sacred spells, and therefore, it is also known as Mantrayana, Tantrayana or Vajrayana. It is characterized as the path, which leads to perfect enlightenment. Vajrayana literally means the adamantine path or vehicle, but its technical meaning is the “Sunya Vehicle” where Sunya or nothingness or a state of total absence is used to represent vajra – “Thundebolt” or “diamond” and Yana means “Path, Way or Vehicle”.
BAJRAVARAHI
Consecrated to the boar incarnation of Vishnu or Narayan, this temple is located in the middle of a small woodland near Chapagaon, about nine miles southeast of Kathmandu city. Located in the district of Lalitpur district, this place is well known as a pilgrimage site and as a popular picnic spot of Kathmandu valley.
BAJRASATTWA
Bajrasatwa is the sixth Dhyani Buddha. Nepalese Buddhists regard him as the priest of the Five Dhyani Buddhas. He is not represented in the stupa like other Dhyani Buddhas, but independent shrines are dedicated to him. His worship is always performed in secret and is not open to those who are not initiated into the mysteries of the Vajrayana. Bajrasattwa is represented in two forms, single and labium. This Dhyani Buddha wears all ornaments, a rich dress and a crown. He is white in colour. He sits cross-legged, in the meditative pose like other Dhyani Buddhas and carries the vajra in his right hand with palm upwards against the chest and the ghant or the bell in the left hand resting upon the left thigh.
BAJRAPANI
Bajrapani (also spelt Vajrapani) is the Bodhisattva holding a Bajra, which is also his family emblem. One of the Dhyani Buddhas Akshobhya also holds Bajra in his hand. Although Bajrapani is not as popular as Avalokitesvara or Padmapani or Manjusri, yet Bajrapani is often presented together with Lord Buddha or with other Bodhisatwas. He carries a Bajra or Vajra usually placed on top of a lotus, but sometimes held directly in the right hand . He may be shown in a standing position or in a sitting position. The literal meaning of Bajrapani is the one with a thunderbolt in hand and thus, Bajrapani belongs to the family of Buddha Amoghsiddhi, one of the Pancha Buddhas who embodies dauntlessness. According to Buddhist texts Bajrapani is also regarded as a God with magical power who forced Shiva to accept the supremacy of the doctrines of the Buddhas.
Bajrapani with the Bajra symbol is also the spiritual son of the Dhyani Buddha Akoshobhya who is the progenitor of the Bajra family. His spiritual mother is Mamaki. Bajrapani is also known as God of Rain. It is said that when the Nagas (serpents) appeared before Buddha to listen to his teachings, Bajrapani was charged by Tathagata to guard them from the attacks of their mortal enemies, the Garudas. To deceive and combat the Garudas, Bajrapani assumed a form with head, wings and claws like that of Garuda themselves. Hence, Bajrapani as the protector of Nagas is looked upon as the Rain God and so, Northern Buddhists appeal when they need rain or when rain is too much in abundance. One can also find Bajrapani in Garuda form among the various forms of Barapani. Bajrapani, is represented either standing or sitting and usually carrying a lotus on which is placed the family symbol of Vajra. Sometime, he holds the vajra against the chest in one of his hands. Please scan through all entries like Vajra or Bajra and Vajrapani or Bajrapani for all details.
Bajrapani with the Bajra symbol is also the spiritual son of the Dhyani Buddha Akoshobhya who is the progenitor of the Bajra family. His spiritual mother is Mamaki. Bajrapani is also known as God of Rain. It is said that when the Nagas (serpents) appeared before Buddha to listen to his teachings, Bajrapani was charged by Tathagata to guard them from the attacks of their mortal enemies, the Garudas. To deceive and combat the Garudas, Bajrapani assumed a form with head, wings and claws like that of Garuda themselves. Hence, Bajrapani as the protector of Nagas is looked upon as the Rain God and so, Northern Buddhists appeal when they need rain or when rain is too much in abundance. One can also find Bajrapani in Garuda form among the various forms of Barapani. Bajrapani, is represented either standing or sitting and usually carrying a lotus on which is placed the family symbol of Vajra. Sometime, he holds the vajra against the chest in one of his hands. Please scan through all entries like Vajra or Bajra and Vajrapani or Bajrapani for all details.
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