Bhūta

Bhūta may refer to:

·         Bhoot (ghost), the ghost of a deceased person or a bodiless spirit in the Indian subcontinent

·         Bhoot (wind) is the name of a dust devil in India^[1]

·         of an heretical sect (with Jainas, a class of the Vyantaras)

·         the 14th day of the dark half of the lunar month

·         the lived world (bhūtajagata)

·         well-being, welfare, prosperity

·         In Hindu philosophy and Buddhism, bhūta denotes a classical element. The five elements: Akasha (Spirit/Essence), Vayu (Air), Agni (Fire), Ap (Water), and Prithvi(Earth) (in the same order) constitute the Pancha Mahabhutas (five great elements).

The Bhutas, spirits of defied heroes, of fierce and evil beings, of Hindu deities and of animals, etc., are wrongly referred to as "ghosts" or "demons" and, in fact, are protective and benevolent beings. Though it is true that they can cause harm in their violent forms, as they are extremely powerful, they can be pacified through worshipings or offerings referred to as Bhuta Aradhana.^[2]

References

1.     ^ John E. Oliver: Encyclopedia of World Climatology. (Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series) Springer Netherlands, Dordrecht 2005, p. 468 (Online at google books)

2.     ^ "Museums of India - National Handicrafts and Handilooms Museum, New Delhi" (ISBN 0-944142-23-0) by Jyontindra Jain and Aarti Aggarwala.

·         Cologne Digital Sanskrit Lexicon

·         Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dhallapiccola