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Bhruṇahatyā

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia
(Redirected from Bhrunahatya)

By Swami Harshananda

Bhruṇahatyā literally means ‘killing the foetus’.

The topics of puṇya (merit or virtue) and pāpa (demerit or sin) have been dealt with in great detail in the purāṇas and the dharmaśāstras. The origin of these concepts can be found even in the Ṛgveda.

Pāpas (also called patakas) or sins have been classified as mahāpātakas (heinous sins) and upapātakas (minor sins). ‘Bhruṇahatyā’ is one of the sins included in these lists. The word ‘bhraṇa’ has three senses:

  1. A learned brāhmaṇa
  2. A brāhmaṇa who is a Vedic student
  3. The foetus or the unborn baby

In all these senses, bhruṇahatyā has been listed as a heinous sin, with practically no expiation.

References[edit]

  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Krishna Maheshwari

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