The Sanskrit term, Bhānumati (Sanskrit:भानुमती), meaning – "luminous" or "shining like the Sun", is derived from the word, Bhānu (Sanskrit:भानु). In the Rig Vedic parlance, Bhanu is an epithet of the Maruts and means - "variegated colour", "shining with light" or "shining like a serpent" or "causing the motion of the wind".[1] For a very long time in India, Bhānumati was a much preferred name for girls. Bhānumati was the name of a daughter of Angiras.[2] The daughter of Raja Bhoj of Dhara Nagari was named Bhānumati who too like her father was a magician.[3]

Duryodhana’s wife's name was also Bhānumati; she is an important figure in the Sanskrit Drama of Bhatta Narayana – Venisamhara (Braiding the hair).[4] In very ancient times, there was the ever victorious king named Dharmamūrti who had destroyed hundreds of enemies and thousands of Daityas, and who though a mortal had access to each and every region of the universe. He was a friend of Indra, and his lustre eclipsed even the Sun and the Moon. His wife's name was Bhānumati, who was in those days the most beautiful woman in the three regions; matchless like the Goddess Lakshmi, she was dearer than life to the king (Matsya Purana XCII.19-20).[5] Legend has it that a granddaughter of Krishna was also named Bhānumati.[6]

Bhānumati is the name of Chakrapani Datta's commentary on Suśrutha Samhitā.[7] In the Muthuswami Dikshitar school of music, Vanaspati raga, the 4th melakarta in the seventy-two janaka ragas of Carnatic music, is called Bhānumati.[8][9][10]

References

  1. ↑ V.S.Apte. The Practical Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Digital Dictionaries of South Asia. pp. 32, 39.
  2. ↑ Sanskrit Dictionary.
  3. ↑ Mondira Sinha-Ray (September 2011). The Meditating Cat. Paragon Publishing. p. 325. ISBN 9781908341242.
  4. ↑ Arthur Berriedale Keith (1992). The Sanskrit Drama in its Origin, Development, Theory and Practice. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 212. ISBN 9788120809772.
  5. ↑ Baman Das Basu (2007). The Sacred Books of the East. genesis Publishing. pp. 243, 244. ISBN 9788130705576.
  6. ↑ Bhanumati: Granddaughter of Krishna. Amar Chitra Katha. April 1971. ISBN 9788184823462.
  7. ↑ Self as Body in Asian Theory and Practice. SUNY Press. January 1993. p. 105. ISBN 9780791410790.
  8. ↑ Sri Muthuswami Dikshitar Keertanaigal by Vidwan A Sundaram Iyer, Pub. 1989, Music Book Publishers, Mylapore, Chennai
  9. ↑ Ragas in Carnatic music by Dr. S. Bhagyalekshmy, Pub. 1990, CBH Publications
  10. ↑ Raganidhi by P. Subba Rao, Pub. 1964, The Music Academy of Madras
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