Bhà «mikà(Sanskrit: à ¤Âà ¥Âà ¤®à ¤¿à ¤Âà ¤¾) is derived from the word, Bhà «mi, meaning earth, soil, ground or character. In the Upanishads, the Bhumikas are seven stages in the development of wisdom.
The Upanishads speak about the seven bhà «mikÃÂs or jñÃÂnabhà «mis (fields of knowledge) or the seven stages of development of wisdom, and about the four kinds of jivanmuktas. In Chapter IV of the VarahàUpanishad, with regard to the characteristics of jivanmukti, Ribhu informs Nigadha of these seven:
Nigadha is also told that the bhà «mikàwhich is of the form of pranava is formed of akÃÂra, ukÃÂra, makÃÂra and the ardhamÃÂtra.
The turiya essence of akÃÂra embraces the first, second and the third bhà «mikÃÂs whose function is called mumukshu; the turiya essence of ukÃÂra embraces the fourth bhà «mikàwhen the mind is firmly fixed on the non-dual and is called brahmavit; the turiya essence of makÃÂra embraces the fifth bhà «mikàor sushuptipada (dreamless sleep) and is called brahmavidvara; the turiya essence of ardhamÃÂtra embraces the sixth bhà «mikà(dreamless state) and is called brahmavidvariya, beyond which is the seventh bhà «mikàor gudhasupti and is called brahmavidvarishta when one remains in the secondless state without fear and with his consciousness almost annihilated.
In Buddhism, the term bhà «mikàrefers to a group of 49 to 52 mental factors that are found within the domain of consciousness. It is primarily used in the MahÃÂvibhÃÂá¹£a and the Abhidharmakoà Âa of the SarvÃÂstivÃÂda school.
Bhà «mikàcan 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 bhà «mikàis the altar on which Vedic rituals are conducted.