Braga, the see of a Roman archbishop in Portugal. The bishopric of Braga was established soon after the conquest of Portugal by the Suevi, and somewhat later it was changed into an archbishopric. Three councils (Concilia Bracarensia) were held there : in 563, against the Priscillianists and Arians (this council completed the conversion of the Suevi from Arianism to ortho- doxy) ; in 572 and 672, on church discipline.
Bragdon, C. P., a Methodist Episcopal minister, was born in Acton, Maine, September 9, 1808. In 1830 he was converted, and soon after went to the seminary at Cazenovia, N. Y., to prepare for the min- istry. In 1834 he entered the ministry of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church in the Maine Conference, and filled various churches there for ten years, when his health broke down, and he retired to Auburn, N. Y. He resumed his labors in New England in a few years, and then removed to the Rock River Conference, as better suited to his health. Here he labored effective- ly for several years, his last station being Evanston, Illinois. He died January 8, 1861. In the pulpit he "seemed like one of the old prophets risen again with the commission of God to deplore the desolations of Zion, and to denounce the sin of the people, urging the alternative of penitence or peril. Many mistook this for unnecessary severity. The mistake was in not fully knowing this ambassador of God. They did not see that he forgot that he was anything; that God's honor was to him everything, and that the deep ethical spirit within him rose to indignation that God's honor and claims should be so flagrantly violated." — Minutes of Conferences, 1861, p. 207.
Bragdon, Edmund E. E., D.D., was born in Shapley, Maine, Dec. 1, 1812. He was educated at the Cazenovia and Maine Wesleyan seminaries, and at the Wesleyan University, where he passed A.B. in 1841. After spending three years in teaching, he entered the itinerant ministry, and was appointed to Wolcott, N. York. He was successively principal of the Mexico Academy and of the Fulton Academy; pastor of Yes- try Street Church, New York ; professor of languages in Ohio University ; in Indiana, Asbury University. He held this latter post from 1854 to 185s, when he was appointed professor of languages in Genesee College, N. Y., which post he held till the day of his death, March 20,1862. "He was a constant and faithful servant of Cod. Whether engaged in the regular work of the Gospel minister or in that of a Christian educator, one object only was in view — the salvation of souls. His preaching and teaching were alwaj s to this end, and scores, both of parishioners and pupils, can date their first religious impressions to the faithful dealings of brother Bragdon with (heir souls, and his earnest pleading with God in their behalf. His death made a vacancy in the college with which he was con- nected, and in the Church and Conference, of which be was a most valued member, (hut cannot be easily fill- ed."—Minutes of Coif mice; 1862, p. 111.
Brahm (the absolute, the supreme) is the name of the highest purely spiritual divine essence in the re- ligion of India, of whom the other gods are but ser- vants. He is not an object of worship, but is revealed in the triad — Brahma, the creator; Vishnu, the pre- server; and Siva, the destroyer. The Indians glorify
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him by innumerable surnames, such as Abyiagoni (cre- ator of the clouds and the seas), Anadi (he who had no beginning), Narayana (mover of the original waters), Parabrama (the endless), Parama (the benefactor), Su- ayambhu (he who exists by himself), etc. " Brahma is the first manifestation of Brahm, and represents the creative power which created the world and man, and is the first lawgiver and teacher of the Indians (therefore the author of the Vedas). Accord- ing to the book of Mann, God's will first created the fluids, and in them was contained an egg shining like gold (Brahmanda), from which Brahm himself was born as Brahma. His will broke the shell of the egg, and from it he created all other things, men, spirits, and gods, after which he retired again into identity with Brahm. He lived ICO years of 3G5 days and as many nights, each of 1000 sadriyugams; but every four jugas are equivalent to 4,320,000 human years, consequently His life lasted 315,360,000,000,000 of our years. The destruction and reconstruction of the world are connected with his loss of activity at the end of his period of life and his awakening hereafter. Finally, his death will result in universal destruction, until a new Brahma will be created, who, in his turn shall create another universe. Thus far Brahma has died and come to life again 1001 times. Brahmi is his daugh- ter and mate. Brahma is represented with four heads and the same number of arms, each bearing a different symbol, as those of his immortality, omnipotence, and law-giving power. The swan is consecrated to him, and is his usual steed. His Paradise (Brahmaloga) is on Mount Moru ; here he receives his true followers, and they bathe in the sea of Behra, whose waters, en- dow them with perpetual youth. It is also the site of the city of Brahma, Brahmapatnam, out of the four doors of which flow the streams Sadalam, Sadasson, Fatram, and Acaguey. Brahma is also called Attima- boh (the good spirit), Bisheshrik (flower of creation), Kamalasana (sitting under the lotus), Widhada (father of fate), etc. For a fuller treatment of the subject, see Hinduism; India.