Bhūmikā (

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...

: भूमिका) is derived from the word, ''Bhūmi'', meaning ''earth'', ''soil'', ''ground'' or ''character''.

Hinduism

The

Upanishads The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...

speak about the seven ''bhūmikās'' or ''jñānabhūmis'' (fields of knowledge) or the seven stages of development of wisdom, and about the four kinds of ''jivanmuktas''. In Chapter IV of the Varahā

Upanishad The Upanishads (; sa, उपनिषद् ) are late Vedic Sanskrit texts that supplied the basis of later Hindu philosophy.Wendy Doniger (1990), ''Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism'', 1st Edition, University of Chicago Press, , ...

, with regard to the characteristics of ''jivanmukti'', Ribhu informs Nigadha of these seven: *''Subheccha'' or good desires *''Vichārāna'' or inquiry *'' tanumānasī'' or pertaining to the thinned mind *''Sattvāpatti'' or the attainment of ''sattva'' *''Asamśakti'' or non-attachment *''Padārthabhāvanā'' or analysis of objects *''

Turiya In Hindu philosophy, ''turiya'' (Sanskrit: तुरीय, meaning "the fourth") or chaturiya, chaturtha, is pure consciousness Consciousness, at its simplest, is sentience and awareness of internal and external existence. However, the la ...

'' or the final stage. Nigadha is also told that the bhūmikā which is of the form of ''

pranava ''Om'' (or ''Aum'') (; sa, ॐ, ओम्, Ōṃ, translit-std=IAST) is a sacred sound, syllable, mantra, or an invocation in Hinduism. ''Om'' is the prime symbol of Hinduism.Krishna Sivaraman (2008), ''Hindu Spirituality Vedas Through Ved ...

'' is formed of ''akāra'', ''ukāra'', ''makāra'' and the ''ardhamātra''. The ''turiya'' essence of ''akāra'' embraces the first, second and the third ''bhūmikās'' whose function is called ''mumukshu''; the ''turiya'' essence of ''ukāra'' embraces the fourth bhūmikā when the mind is firmly fixed on the non-dual and is called ''brahmavit''; the ''turiya'' essence of ''makāra'' embraces the fifth ''bhūmikā'' or ''sushuptipada'' (dreamless sleep) and is called ''brahmavidvara''; the ''turiya'' essence of ''ardhamātra'' embraces the sixth ''bhūmikā'' (dreamless state) and is called ''brahmavidvariya'', beyond which is the seventh ''bhūmikā'' or ''gudhasupti'' and is called ''brahmavidvarishta'' when one remains in the secondless state without fear and with his consciousness almost annihilated.

Buddhism

In Buddhism, the term ''bhūmikā'' refers to a group of 49 to 52 mental factors that are found within the domain of consciousness. It is primarily used in the '' Mahāvibhāṣa'' and the '' Abhidharmakośa'' of the

Sarvāstivāda The ''Sarvāstivāda'' (Sanskrit and Pali: 𑀲𑀩𑁆𑀩𑀢𑁆𑀣𑀺𑀯𑀸𑀤, ) was one of the early Buddhist schools established around the reign of Ashoka (3rd century BCE).Westerhoff, The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy ...

school.

Alternate definitions

''Bhūmikā'' can also refer to a tablet or board for writing, subject, object or a receptacle, theatrical dress or an actor's costume, decoration of an image, a preface or introduction to a book. The ''yajña bhūmikā'' is the altar on which Vedic rituals are conducted.

References

Hindu philosophical concepts Sanskrit words and phrases Upanishadic concepts Vedas {{Hindu-philo-stub