Date uploaded in London – – 28 FEBRUARY 2024
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The earliest reference to the Bees comes from Hinduism. Rig Veda refers to it in many places with different names. Rig Veda is dated 2000 BCE by Wilson. Max Muller concluded that no one could tell the age of Rig Veda. It may be older than 1500 BCE. Hindu scriptures say that the Vedas were there even before the creation.
The mysterious Vedic Twins Asvins are linked to Honey and Bees. Later references are available in Egypt and Greece and Mayan Civilization.
The most interesting thing is each foreign culture repeats at least one aspect of bees from Hinduism.
Two thousand year old Sangam Tamil literature has innumerable references. They are mentioned as Six Legged in Tamil and Sanskrit literature which means both beetle and Bees.
Two Temples
sri sailam temple
Brahmari means black bee. We have at least two temples with this name for goddess. One of the two temples of Bee Goddess is very famous , because it is one of the twelve Jyotir Linga Shrines (Sthalaas). Sri Sailam in Andhra Pradesh has Lord Shiva known as Mallikarjuna and Goddess Parvati as Brahmaramba (Bee Goddess).
There is a very interesting story about Brahmari in Devi Bhagavata. The tenth book and thirteenth chapter of this book records the exploits of the goddess Bhramari in detail.
Aruna was a powerful Asura/demon. Since Asuras also were Hindus, they also pray to same Hindu Gods but with bad intentions (Half baked foreigners deliberately misled the world by dubbing Asuras as aborigines; all Asuras in Tamil and Sanskrit literature are shown praying to same Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva like Devas). After praying to Brahma for a long time Aruna received a boon from Him so that he could not be killed by by any man or any woman, by any biped or quadruped creature, or any combination of the two. He also got the boon of not meeting his end at any war, nor by any arms or weapons,. When he got this absolute power he carried out all sorts of atrocities. Devas were worried and prayed to Goddess and she took the form of Bees and Beetles (Brahmaramba). She killed all the soldiers of Aruna with her normal powers and then faced Aruna. He never thought he would die from insects. Now Devi (goddess) used her Bee form to enter all over his body and he was killed by the bees. So , the goddess in Sri Sailam temples is called Brahmaramaba.
Interestingly Greeks also called one of their Goddesses as Bee Goddess.
Temple in West Bengal
Bhramari Devi Mandir is one of the 51 Shaktipeethas belonging to Devi Sati/ Durga where the left leg of Devi Sati fell at Trisotra, Salbari village, Bodaganj, Jalpaiguri, West Bengal .
The Place is 18.5 kms from Jalpaiguri Town. It is also directly accessible from Siliguri Town via Belakopa. It is about 42 kms from Siliguri.
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Bees in Rig Veda
Aarangara Rig Veda 10-106-10;
Bhrngaa Atharva Veda 9-2-22; Yajur Veda- Maitraayani Samhitaa 3-14-8; Vaajasaneyi Samhitaa 24-29; it is one of the sacrificed creatures in Asvamedha yaga.
Maksaa / Maksikaa – fly or bee – Rig Veda 1-162-9; 10-40-6; 1-119-9; later Upanishads also use these words
Atharva Veda 11-1-2; 9, 10
Madhukara –Prasna Upanishad 2-4 madhukara rajan= king bee .
Madhukrt – honey maker- Taittriya Samhita; Taittriya brahmana ; Satapata Brahmana use this word; also Chandogya Upanishad
Saragh – Rig Veda 1-112-21
Taittriya Samhita v.3.12.12; Satapata Brahmana 13-3-1-4
Panini also mentioned it.
Throughout four Vedas, the mysterious Twins- Asvins are called Honey Whip.
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Sangam Tamil Literature
Akananuru -4-10; 46
Ainkurunuru – 90
Narrinai 290 men are like bees visiting many women , 277
Kuruntokai 2, 392
Purananuru – 70; narrinai -55; akam 332 -six legged
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Kalidasa – Sakuntala; 3-23; 4-7; 5-1, 8; shadpata 1-23; 3-23; 5-19;
Kumarasambhava – 3-36; shadpata 5-9
Vikramaorvaseeyam 4-22, 21; 2-23
Raghuvamsa – shadpata – 6-59; 8-55; 9-26; 11-27
Raghuvamsa- elephant rut/ beetle – 5-43; 6-7; 30-57; 12-102
Bhasa’s Svapnavasavadatta also mentioned it.
To be continued………………………………….
Tags- Brahmari, Bees, Brahmaramba , Sri Sailam, Bee Goddess, Vedas, Tamil
Tamil and Vedas 