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ArchivesBharavi and Bhairavi
How do these names originate?
Bharavi is a Sanskrit poet's name and Bhairavi is a pattern of notes.
Bharavi is a Sanskrit poet's name and Bhairavi is a pattern of notes.
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The root bhA, meaning to appear, to reveal oneself or to shine, and cognate with the root of English banner, is a very old root (attested in the Rgveda); and as a noun or adjective could mean the sun or shining. ravi is of slightly later origin (the post vedic period of the epics), and it means sun. Its etymology is unclear: it is said to be from ru meaning to roar, but might instead be connected with the root of rashmi (which originally, and probably etymologically, meant a rope, but through an old metaphor, transferred to mean a ray). bhAravi is a copulative compund of these two. The poet's name is mentioned in a 634 AD inscription.
The root bhI means to fear, from which we obtain bhIru meaning afraid, and thence bhairava meaning terrible or formidable. This was long used as a name of shiva and other entities, animals, humans and a musical mode.
The root bhI means to fear, from which we obtain bhIru meaning afraid, and thence bhairava meaning terrible or formidable. This was long used as a name of shiva and other entities, animals, humans and a musical mode.
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