By Swami Harshananda
Bahvṛca literally means ‘relating to that which contains many ṛks’.
A verse of the Ṛgveda is known as a ‘ṛk.’ That in which there are a large number of such ṛks is ‘bahvṛc,’ (bahu = many) the Ṛgveda itself. Anything related to this is ‘bahvṛca.’
The word is generally used to indicate a follower of the Ṛgveda. The hotṛ priest in a sacrifice is also called as a bahvṛca since he represents the Ṛgveda.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore