Loving Ganesha – Glossary

aadheenam: Endowment, foundation, institution, establishment, estate, property. A Saivite Hindu monastery and temple complex in the South Indian Saiva Siddhanta tradition. Also known as matha or pitha, as in Kailasa Pitha. The aadheenam head, or pontiff, is called the Guru Mahasannidhanam or Aadheenakarthar.

abhaya mudra: The hand gesture common in Hindu icons, betokening “fear not,” in which the fingers of the right hand are raised and the palm faces forward. See: mudra.

abhimana: “Egoism.”

abhisheka: “Sprinkling; ablution.” Ritual bathing of the Deity’s image with water, curd, milk, honey, ghee, rosewater, etc. A special form of puja prescribed by Agamic injunction. Also performed in the inauguration of religious and political monarchs and other special blessings. See: puja.

abhyasa: “Throwing towards.” Dedicated striving and practice.

ablution: Snana. A washing of the body, especially as a religious ceremony.

Absolute: Lower case (absolute): real, not dependent on anything else, not relative. Upper case (Absolute): Ultimate Reality, the unmanifest, unchanging and transcendent Parashiva — utterly nonrelational to even the most subtle level of consciousness. It is the Self God, the essence of man’s soul. Same as Absolute Being and Absolute Reality.

abstain: To hold oneself back, to refrain from or doing without. To avoid a desire, negative action or habit.

abyss: A bottomless pit. The dark states of consciousness into which one may fall as a result of serious misbehavior; the seven chakras (psychic centers) or talas (realms of consciousness) below the muladhara chakra, which is located at the base of the spine. See: chakra, loka.

acharya: “Going toward;” “approaching.” A highly respected teacher. The wise one who practices what he preaches. A title generally bestowed through diksha and ordination, such as in the Sivacharya priest tradition.

actinic: Spiritual, creating light. Adjective derived from the Greek aktis, “ray.” Of or pertaining to consciousness in its pure, unadulterated state.

actinodic: Spiritual-magnetic; a mixture of odic and actinic force. Actinic refers to consciousness in its pure, unadulterated state. Odic energy, the force of attraction and repulsion between people, and between people and their things, manifests as masculine (aggressive) and feminine (passive), arising from the pingala and ida currents.

adage: An old saying that has been popularly accepted as truth.

adept: Highly skilled; expert. In religion, one who has mastered certain spiritual practices or disciplines. An advanced yogi.

adharma: “Unrighteousness.”The opposite of dharma. Thoughts, words or deeds that transgress divine law. Unrighteousness, irreligiousness; demerit. See: dharma, papa, sin.

adhyaya: “Chapter.”

adopt: To recognize as one’s own, especially an idea, principle, or even a religion and henceforth live with it and by it.

adulate: To praise, revere, admire or flatter highly.

advaita: “Non-dual; not two-fold.” Nonduality or monism. The philosophical doctrine that Ultimate Reality consists of a one principal substance, or God. Opposite of dvaita, dualism. Advaita is the primary philosophical stance of the Vedic Upanishads and of Hinduism, interpreted differently by the many rishis, gurus, pandits and philosophers.

adversity: A state of misfortune, difficulty and trouble; the cause of such.

advocate: To speak or write in support of; to be in favor of.

affirmation: Dridhavachana. “Firm statement.” A positive declaration or assertion. A statement repeated regularly while concentrating on the meaning and mental images invoked, often used to attain a desired result.

affirmation of faith: A brief statement of one’s faith and essential beliefs.

affliction: Pain; suffering; distress.

affluence: An abundance of riches; wealth; opulence; plenty.

Agama: The tradition that has “come down.” An enormous collection of Sanskrit scriptures which, along with the Vedas, are revered as shruti (revealed scripture). The Agamas are the primary source and authority for ritual, yoga and temple construction. Each of the major denominations — Saivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism — has its unique Agama texts.

agarbhatti: “Stick incense.” (Gujarati) See: Incense.

agni: “Fire.” 1) One of the five elements, panchabhuta. 2) God of the element fire, invoked through Vedic ritual known as yajna, agnikaraka, homa and havana. The God Agni is the divine messenger who receives prayers and oblations and conveys them to the heavenly spheres. See: yajna.

ahamkara: “I-maker.” Personal ego. The mental faculty of individuation; sense of duality and separateness from others. Sense of “I-ness,” “me” and “mine.” Ahamkara is characterized by the sense of “I-ness” (abhimana), “mine-ness,” identifying with the body (madiyam), planning for one’s own happiness (mamasukha), brooding over sorrow (mamaduhkha) and possessiveness (mama idam). See: anava mala, ego.

ahimsa:“Noninjury,” nonviolence or nonhurtfulness. Refraining from causing harm to others, physically, mentally or emotionally. Ahimsa is the first and most important of the yamas (restraints). It is the cardinal virtue upon which all others depend.

ajapa: “Non-recitation.” Silent incantation of a mantra. See: japa.

ajna chakra: “Command wheel.” The third-eye center. See: chakra.

akasha: “Space.” The sky. Free, open space. Ether, the fifth and most subtle of the five elements — earth, air, fire, water and ether. Empirically, the rarified space or ethereal fluid plasma that pervades the universes, inner and outer. Esoterically, mind, the superconscious strata holding all that exists and all that potentially exists, wherein all happenings are recorded and can be read by clairvoyants. It is through psychic entry into this transcendental akasha that cosmic knowledge is gathered and the entire circle of time — past, present and future — can be known. See: mind (universal).

akshata: “Unbroken.” Unmilled, uncooked rice, often mixed with turmeric, offered as a sacred substance during puja or in blessings for individuals at weddings and other ceremonies. See: puja.

alankara: “Ornamentation.” Adornment worn by the Deity.

all-pervasive: Diffused throughout or existing in every part of the universe.

amendable: Pliable, willing, open to.

amra: “Mango.”

amrita: “Immortality.” Literally, “without death (mrita).” The nectar of divine bliss which flows down from the sahasrara chakra when one enters very deep states of meditation.

amritakumbha: “Pot of immortality.” This emblem held by loving Ganesha contains the divine amrita that flows from the sahasrara chakra during deep meditation. It is the nectar of immortality.

ananasa: “Pineapple.”

ananda: “Bliss.” The pure joy, ecstasy or enstasy, of God-consciousness or spiritual experience. In its highest sense, ananda is expressed in the famous Vedic description of God: Sat-chit-ananda, “existence-consciousness-bliss” — the divine or superconscious mind of all souls. See: God Realization.

anava mala: “Impurity of smallness; finitizing principle.” The individualizing veil of duality that enshrouds the soul. It is the source of finitude and ignorance, the most basic of the three bonds (anava, karma and maya) which temporarily limit the soul. The presence of anava mala is what causes the misapprehension about the nature of God, soul and world, the notion of being separate and distinct from God and the universe. See: evolution of the soul, grace, mala, soul.

anjali mudra: “Reverence gesture.” Also called pranamanjali. A gesture of respect and greeting, in which the two palms are held gently together and slightly cupped. Often accompanied by the verbal salutation namaskara, meaning “reverent salutation.” See: mudra, namaskara.

ankusha: Goad, the elephant prod, symbol of Lord Ganesha’s power to remove obstacles from the devotee’s path, and to spur the dullards onward.

Antarloka: “Inner plane,”or “in-between world.” The astral plane. See: loka.

antaryamin: “Inner controller.” The conscience, the knowing voice of the soul.

anthology: A choice “flower collection” of prose or poetry excerpts.

antyeshti: “Last rites.” Funeral. See: death, samskara.

anubhava: “Perception, apprehension; experience.” Personal experience; understanding; impressions on the mind not derived from memory.

anugraha shakti: “Graceful or favoring power.” Revealing grace. God Siva’s power of illumination, through which the soul is freed from the bonds of anava, karma and maya and ultimately attains liberation, moksha. See: anava mala, grace, Nataraja.

apostate: One who has abandoned what he formerly believed in.

Appar: mg;gh “Father.” Endearing name for Tirunavukarasu (ca 700), one of four Tamil saints, Samayacharyas, who reconverted Saivites who had embraced Jainism. Calling himself the servant of God’s servants, he composed magnificent hymns in praise of Siva. See: Nayanar.

appellative: A name; title.

Aranyaka: “Forest treatise.” Third section of each of the four Vedas. Texts containing esoteric, mystical knowledge, largely on the inner meanings and functions of the Vedic yajna, or fire ceremonies. See: Vedas.

arati: “Light.” The circling or waving of a lamp — usually fed with ghee, camphor or oil — before a holy person or the temple Deity at the high point of puja. The flame is then presented to the devotees, each passing his or her hands through it and bringing them to the eyes three times, thereby receiving the blessings. Arati can also be performed as the briefest form of puja. See: archana, puja.

archana: A special, personal, abbreviated puja done by temple priests in which the name, birthstar and family lineage of a devotee are recited to invoke individual guidance and blessings. Archana also refers to chanting the names of the Deity, which is a central part of every puja. See: puja.

ardent: Intensely enthusiastic or devoted; warm or intense in feeling.

ardha-Hindu: “Half-Hindu.” A devotee who has adopted Hindu belief and culture to a great extent but has not formally entered the religion through ceremony and taking a Hindu first and last name. Also refers to Easterners born into the faith who adopt non-Hindu names.

arduous: Difficult; requiring much labor, energy or strain.

artha: “Goal” or “purpose;” wealth, substance, property, money. Also has the meaning of utility; desire. See: dharma, purushartha.

aruhu grass: Tamil name for a common type of grass sacred to Lord Ganesha, used as an offering in archana and for making wreaths for the Deity image. Also known in Tamil as hariali, in Sanskrit it is called durva, and botanically as Cynodon dactylon. See also: durva.

Arunagirinathar: South Indian Saivite poet saint (ca 1500). Also, a title for a respected guru meaning “teacher; master.”

Arya “Honorable, noble” or “respectable one; a master, lord.”

asan: “Teacher; master.” A title of honor for a respected guru.

ascetic: A person who leads a life of contemplation and rigorous self-denial, shunning comforts and pleasures for religious purposes.

ash: See: vibhuti.

ashtavibhuti: “Eight powers.” Supernormal siddhis mentioned in numerous texts: 1) anima: to be as small as an atom; 2) mahima: to become infinitely large; 3) laghima: super-lightness, levitation; 4) prapti: pervasiveness, extension, to be anywhere at will; 5) prakamya: fulfillment of desires; 6) vashitva: control of natural forces; 7) ishititva: supremacy over nature; 8)Êkama-avasayitva: complete satisfaction. See also: siddhi.

Ashtavinayaka: “The Eight [obstacle] removers.” Eight Ganesha murtis that attract thousands of pilgrims each year at eight temples in Maharashtra on the outskirts of Pune in Morgaon, Thevoor, Siddhatek, Ranjangaon, Ojhar Kshetra, Lenyadhri Cave, Mahad and Pali.

ashrama: “Place of striving.” From shram, “to exert energy.” Hermitage; order of life. Holy sanctuary; the residence and teaching center of a sadhu, saint, swami, ascetic or guru; often includes lodging for students. Also names life’s four stages.

ashrama dharma: “Laws of life’s orders.” See: dharma.

astral: Of the subtle, nonphysical sphere (astral plane) which exists between the physical and causal planes. See also: astral plane.

astral body: The subtle, nonphysical body (sukshma sharira) in which the soul functions in the astral plane, the inner world also called Antarloka. The astral body includes the pranic sheath (pranamaya kosha), the instinctive-intellectual sheath (manomaya kosha) and the cognitive sheath (vijnanamaya kosha) — with the pranic sheath dropping off at the death of the physical body. See: kosha, soul.

astral plane: From the word astral, meaning “of the stars.” Belonging to the subtle, non-physical dimension also known as the Antarloka, or Second World. “Astral forces” exist in the Second World but can be felt psychically in the First. See also: loka.

astrology: Science of celestial influences. See: jyotisha.

asura: “Evil spirit; demon.” (Opposite of sura, meaning “deva; God.”) A being of the lower astral plane, Naraka. Asuras can and do interact with the physical plane, causing major and minor problems in people’s lives. Asuras do evolve and do not remain permanently in this state. See: Naraka.

asuric: Of the nature of an asura, “not spiritual.”

atala: “Bottomless region.”The first chakra below the muladhara, at the hip level. Region of fear and lust. See: chakra, loka, Naraka.

atheism: The rejection of all religion or religious belief, or simply the belief that God or Gods do not exist.

atman: “The soul; the breath; the principle of life and sensation.” The soul in its entirety — as the soul body (anandamaya kosha) and its essence (Parashakti and Parashiva). One of Hinduism’s most fundamental tenets is that we are the atman, not the physical body, emotions, external mind or personality. See: Paramatman, soul.

AtmarthaPuja: “Personal worship rite.” Home puja. See: puja.

atone: To make amends or reconcile. See: papa, penance, sin.

attainment: Acquisition, achievement or realization through effort. Spiritual accomplishment.

attire: Clothes, especially rich or fine apparel; finery.

Aum: Often spelled Om. The mystic syllable of Hinduism, placed at the beginning of most sacred writings. A symbol of loving Ganesha. As a mantra, it is pronounced aw (as in law), oo (as in zoo), mm. The dot above, called anusvara, represents the Soundless Sound, Paranada. In common usage in several Indian languages, aum means “yes, verily” or “hail.” See also: nada.

aura: The luminous colorful field of subtle energy radiating within and around the human body, extending out from three to seven feet. The colors of the aura change constantly according to the ebb and flow of one’s state of consciousness, thoughts, moods and emotions. See: mind (five states).

auspicious: Mangala. Favorable, of good omen, boding well. One of the central concepts in Hindu life. Astrology defines a method for determining times that are favorable for various human endeavors. See: jyotisha.

austerity: Self-denial and discipline, physical or mental, performed for acquiring powers (siddhis), attaining grace, conquering the instinctive nature and burning the seeds of past karmas. See: penance, tapas.

Auvaiyar: A woman saint of Tamil Nadu (ca 800 ce), a contemporary of Saint Sundarar, devotee of Lord Ganesha and Karttikeya, or Murugan, and one of the greatest literary figures in ancient India. (See Chapter 17.) Among the most famous are Atti Chudi, Konrai Ventan, Ulaka Niti, Muturai and Nalvali. Her Tamil primer is studied by children to this day. An earlier traditional date for Auvaiyar of 200 BCE is from a story about her and Saint Tiruvalluvar.

avastha: “Condition or state” of consciousness or experience.” In Vedic perceptions of consciousness, avastha refers to four states of being discussed in the Mandukya Upanishad: jagrat (or vaishvanara), “wakefulness;” svapna (or taijasa), “dreaming;” sushupti, “deep sleep;” and turiya, “the fourth,” state, of superconsciousness. A fifth state, “beyond turiya,” is turiyatita.

avatara: “Descent.” A God born in a human (or animal) body. A central concept of Shaktism, Smartism and Vaishnavism. See: incarnation, Ishta Devata, Vaishnavism.

avidya: Spiritual “ignorance.” Wrongful understanding of the nature of reality. Mistaking the impermanent for the everlasting.

awareness: Sakshin, or chit. Individual consciousness, perception, knowing; the witness of perception, the “inner eye of the soul.” The soul’s ability to sense, see or know and to be conscious of this knowing. See: consciousness.

ayurveda: “Science of life,” “science of longevity.” A holistic system of medicine and health native to ancient India. The aims of ayurveda are ayus, “long life,” and arogya, “diseaselessness,” which facilitate progress toward ultimate spiritual goals. Health is achieved by balancing energies (especially the doshas, bodily humors) at all levels of being.

Bala Ganapati: A name and traditional murti, or image, of Ganesha meaning the “little (or young) one.” He holds five kinds of sweets: banana, mango, sugar cane, jackfruit and modaka.

balasthapana: “Initial establishing.” The religious rites of firmly determining and blessing the site of a new temple.

Ballaleshvara: “Lord of Ballala” [after the name of a young devotee].” The Ganesha murti enshrined at the Pali Temple of Maharashtra.

begrudgingly: Given with ill will or reluctance.

betoken: To be a token or sign of; indicate; show.

Bhagnadanta: “He of broken tusk.” An epithet of loving Ganesha.

bhajana: Spiritual song. Individual or group singing of devotional songs, hymns and chants. See also: kirtana.

bhakta: “Devotee.” A worshiper. One who is surrendered to the Divine.

bhakti: “Devotion.” Surrender to God, Gods or guru. Bhakti extends from the simplest expression of devotion to the ego-decimating principle of prapatti, which is total surrender. Bhakti is the foundation of all denominations of Hinduism, as well as yoga schools throughout the world. See: bhakti yoga, darshana, prapatti, prasada, sacrifice, surrender, yajna.

Bhakti Ganapati: “Dear to devotees” is a popular murti, unique in that He holds a coconut and a bowl of pudding, mango and banana.

bhakti yoga: “Union through devotion.” Bhakti yoga is the practice of devotional disciplines, worship, prayer, chanting and singing with the aim of awakening love in the heart and opening oneself to God’s grace. Bhakti may be directed toward God, Gods or one’s spiritual preceptor. Bhakti yoga is embodied in Patanjali’s Yoga Darshana in the second limb, niyama (observances), as devotion (Ishvarapranidhana). See: prapatti, yajna.

bhangima: “Posture.” The position of the limbs, as of a murti.

Bharata: The ancient and original name of Indian lands and the constitutional name of independent India (Bharat In Hindi). Also, Bharatavarsha “land of Bharata,” a legendary monarch and sage.

Bharatkhand: “Land of Bharat,” India.

bhava: Concentrated feeling, emotion, mature bhakti.

Bhuloka: “Earth world.” The physical plane. See: loka.

bhumika: “Earth; ground; soil.” Preface; introduction to a book. From bhu, “to become, exist; arise, come into being.”

bija mantra: “Seed syllable.” A Sanskrit sound associated with a particular Deity used for invocation during mystic rites.

bindu: “A drop, small particle, dot.” 1) The seed or source of creation. 2) Small dot worn on the forehead between the eyebrows or in the middle of the forehead, made of red powder (kunkuma), sandalpaste, clay, cosmetics or other substance. It is a sign that one is a Hindu. Mystically, it represents the “third eye,” or the “mind’s eye,” which sees things that the physical eyes cannot see. See also: tilaka.

blessing: Good wishes; benediction. Seeking and giving blessings is extremely central in Hindu life, nurtured in the precepts of karunya (grace), shakti (energy), darshana (encountering/seeing the divine), prasada (blessed offerings), puja (invocation), tirthayatra (pilgrimage), diksha (initiation), shaktipata (descent of grace), samskaras (rites of passage), sannidhya (holy presence) and sadhana (inner-attunement disciplines).

bond (bondage): See: evolution of the soul, mala, pasha.

boon: Varadana. A welcome blessing, a gracious benefit received. An unexpected benefit or bonus. See: blessing, grace.

bountiful: Giving abundantly and without restraint; plentiful.

Brahma: The name of God in His aspect of Creator. Saivites consider Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra to be three of five aspects of Siva. Smartas group Brahma, Vishnu and Siva as a holy trinity in which Siva is the destroyer. Brahma the Creator is not to be confused with 1) Brahman, the Transcendent Supreme of the Upanishads; 2) Brahmana, Vedic texts; 3) brahmana, the Hindu priest caste (also spelled brahmin). See: Brahman, Parameshvara.

brahmachari: “He who is moving in God.” An unmarried male spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes religious disciplines, including sadhana, devotion and service and who may be under simple vows. Also names one in the student stage (age 12 — 24, or until marriage). See: ashrama dharma.

brahmacharini: Feminine counterpart of brahmachari.

brahmacharya: “Path to God,” or “moving in God.” Sexual purity — restraint of lust and the instinctive nature. See: yama-niyama.

Brahman: “Supreme Being; expansive spirit.” From the root brih, “to grow, increase, expand.” Name of God or Supreme Deity in the Vedas, where He is described as 1) the Transcendent Absolute, 2) the all-pervading energy and 3) the Supreme Lord or Primal Soul. These three correspond to Siva in His three perfections. Thus, Saivites know Brahman and Siva to be one and the same God. — Nirguna Brahman: God “without qualities (guna),” i.e., formless, Absolute Reality, Parabrahman, or Parashiva — totally transcending guna(quality), manifest existence and even Parashakti,all of which exhibit perceivable qualities. — Saguna Brahman: God “with qualities;” Siva in His perfections of Parashakti and Parameshvara — God as superconscious, omnipresent, all-knowing, all-loving and all-powerful. See: Parameshvara, Parashakti, Parashiva.

Brahmana: “Knower of God.” 1) One of four primary sections of each Veda; concerned mainly with details of yajna, or sacrificial fire worship, and specific duties and rules of conduct for priests, but also rich in philosophical lore. 2) The first of the four varnas, or social classes, comprising pious souls of exceptional learning, including priests, educators and humanity’s visionary guides. Also spelled brahmin. See: brahmin, varna dharma, Vedas.

Brahmanaspati: “Divine artisan.” Lord of the Holy Word.

Brahmanda: “Egg of God,” or “Cosmic egg.” The cosmos; inner and outer universe. See: loka, three worlds, world.

brahmarandhra: “Door of Brahman.” See: door of Brahman.

Brahma Sutra(s): “Threads (aphorisms) of the Absolute.” Also known as the Vedanta Sutras, composed by Badarayana (ca 400 BCE) as the first known systematic exposition of Upanishadic thought. Its 550 aphorisms are so brief as to be virtually unintelligible without commentary. It was through interpretations of this text, as well as the Upanishads themselves and the Bhagavad Gita, that later schools of Vedanta expressed and formulated their own views of the Upanishadic tenets. See: Upanishad,Vedanta.

brahmin (brahmana): “Mature or evolved soul.” The class of pious souls of exceptional learning. From Brahman, “growth, expansion, evolution, development, swelling of the spirit or soul.” The mature soul is the exemplar of wisdom, tolerance, forbearance and humility.

brahminical tradition: The hereditary religious practices of the Vedic brahmins, such as reciting mantras, and personal rules for daily living.

Brihaspati: “Lord of Prayer.” Vedic preceptor of the Gods and Lord of the Word, sometimes identified with Lord Ganesha. See: Ganesha.

Buddha: “The Enlightened.” Usually the title of Siddhartha Gautama (ca 624 — 544 BCE), a prince born of the Shakya clan — a Saivite Hindu tribe in eastern India on the Nepalese border. He renounced the world and became a monk. After his enlightenment he preached the doctrines upon which his followers later founded Buddhism. See also: Buddhism.

buddhi: “Intellect, reason, logic.” The intellectual or disciplined mind. It is a faculty of manomaya kosha, the instinctive-intellectual sheath. See: intellectual mind, kosha, mind (individual).

Buddhi and Siddhi: “Wisdom and attainment (or fulfillment);” names of the two symbolic consorts of Lord Ganesha.

Buddhism: The religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha (ca 624 — 544 BCE). He refuted the idea of man’s having an immortal soul and did not preach of any Supreme Deity. Instead he taught that man should seek to overcome greed, hatred and delusion and attain enlightenment through realizing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path. See also: Buddha.

cajan: Rectangular panels of woven palm fronds used as roof, wall and fencing material.

camphor: Karpura. An aromatic white crystalline solid derived from the wood of camphor trees (or prepared synthetically from pinene), prized as fuel in temple arati lamps. See: arati, puja.

caste: A hierarchical system, called varna dharma (or jati dharma), established in India in ancient times, which determined the privileges, status, rights and duties of the many occupational groups, wherein status is determined by heredity. There are four main classes (varnas) — brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra — and innumerable castes, called jati. See also: varna dharma.

causal plane:Highest plane of existence, Sivaloka. See: loka, three worlds.

celebrant: A person who performs a religious rite.

celestial: “Of the sky or heavens.” Of or relating to the heavenly regions or beings. Highly refined, divine.

ceremony: A formal rite established by custom or authority as proper to special occasions. From the Latin caerimonia, “awe; reverent rite.”

chaitanya: “Spirit, consciousness, especially higher consciousness; Supreme Being.”A widely used term, often preceded by modifiers, e.g., sakshi chaitanya, “witness consciousness,” or bhakti chaitanya, “devotional consciousness,” or Sivachaitanya, “God consciousness.” See: chitta, consciousness, mind (five states).

chakra: “Wheel.” A) In iconography, a disk-shaped weapon among the insignia of loving Ganesha (and of Lord Vishnu as well). It is a symbol of the sun and of the mind. Wielded as a weapon, it is the intellect divinely empowered. B) Metaphysically, any of the nerve plexuses or centers of force and consciousness located within the inner bodies of man. In the physical body there are corresponding nerve plexuses, ganglia and glands. The seven principal chakras can be seen psychically as colorful, multi-petaled wheels or lotuses. They are situated along the spinal cord from the base to the cranial chamber. Additionally, seven chakras, barely visible, exist below the spine. They are seats of instinctive consciousness, the origin of jealousy, hatred, envy, guilt, sorrow, etc. They constitute the lower or hellish world, called Naraka or patala. Thus there are 14 major chakras in all. The seven upper chakras, from lowest to highest, are: 1)muladhara (base of spine): memory, time and space; 2) svadhishthana (below navel): reason; 3) manipura (solar plexus): willpower; 4) anahata (heart center): direct cognition; 5) vishuddha (throat): divine love; 6) ajna (third eye): divine sight; 7) sahasrara (crown of head): illumination, Godliness. The seven lower chakras, from highest to lowest, are 1) atala (hips): fear and lust; 2) vitala (thighs): raging anger; 3) sutala (knees): retaliatory jealousy; 4) talatala (calves): prolonged mental confusion; 5) rasatala (ankles): selfishness; 6) mahatala (feet): absence of conscience; 7) patala (located in the soles of the feet): murder and malice.

chamara: Fly-whisk fan.

chandana: “Sandalwood” paste. One of the sacred substances offered during puja and afterwards distributed to devotees as a sacrament (prasada). See: sandalwood.

chandra: “The moon.” Of central importance in Hindu astrology and in the calculation of the festival calendar. Considered the ruler of emotion.

Chintamani: “Jewel of consciousness.” The Ganesha murti enshrined at the Thevoor Temple near Pune, Maharashtra.

chit: “Consciousness” or “awareness.” Philosophically, “pure awareness; transcendent consciousness,” as in Sat-chit-ananda. In mundane usage, chit means “perception; consciousness.” See: awareness, chitta, consciousness, mind (universal).

chitta: “Mind; consciousness.” Mind-stuff. On the personal level, it is that in which mental impressions and experiences are recorded. Seat of the conscious, subconscious and superconscious states and of the three-fold mental faculty called antahkarana, consisting of buddhi, manas and ahamkara. See: consciousness, mind (individual), mind (universal).

chudakarana: “Head-shaving sacrament.” See: samskara.

chhuri: “Dagger.” A rare weapon among Ganesha’s insignia. Its sharp blade is like the “razor’s edge,” the narrow path spiritual aspirants must walk.

circumambulation: Pradakshina. Walking around, usually clockwise. See: pradakshina, puja.

clairaudience: “Clear-hearing.” Psychic or divine hearing, divyashravana. The ability to hear the inner currents of the nervous system, the Aum and other mystic tones. Hearing in one’s mind the words of inner-plane beings or earthly beings not physically present. Also, hearing the nadanadi shakti through the day or while in meditation. See: clairvoyance, nada.

clairvoyance: “Clear-seeing.” Psychic or divine sight, divyadrishti. The ability to look into the inner worlds and see auras, chakras, nadis, thought forms, nonphysical people and subtle forces. The ability to see from afar or into the past or future — avadhijnana, “knowing beyond limits.”Also the ability to separate the light that illumines one’s thoughts from the forms the light illumines.

clear white light: Inner light at a high level of intensity, very clear and pure. When experienced fully, it is seen to be permeating all of existence, the universal substance of all form, inner and outer, pure consciousness, Satchidananda. This experience, repeated at regular intervals, can yield “a knowing greater than you could acquire at any university or institute of higher learning.” See: Siva consciousness, tattva.

cognition: Knowing; perception. Knowledge reached through intuitive, superconscious faculties rather than through intellect alone.

commitment: Dedication or engagement to a long-term course of action.

commune: To communicate closely, sharing thoughts, feelings or prayers in an intimate way. To be in close rapport.

compatible: Capable of combining well; getting along, harmonious.

compromise: A settlement in which each side gives up some demands or makes concessions; a weakening, as of one’s principles.

concentration:Uninterrupted and sustained attention.

conscience: The inner sense of right and wrong, sometimes called “the knowing voice of the soul.” However, the conscience is affected by the individual’s training and belief patterns, and is therefore not necessarily a perfect reflection of dharma.

conscious mind: The external, everyday state of consciousness. See: mind.

consciousness: Chitta or chaitanya. 1) A synonym for mind-stuff, chitta; or 2) the condition or power of perception, awareness, apprehension. There are myriad gradations of consciousness, from the simple sentience of inanimate matter, to the consciousness of basic life forms, to the higher consciousness of human embodiment, to omniscient states of superconsciousness, leading to immersion in the One universal consciousness, Parashakti. Five classical “states” of awareness are discussed in scripture: 1) wakefulness (jagrat), 2) “dream” (svapna) or astral consciousness, 3) “deep sleep” (sushupti) or subsuperconsciousness, 4) the superconscious state beyond (turiya “fourth”) and 5) the utterly transcendent state called turiyatita (“beyond the fourth”). See: awareness, chaitanya, chitta, mind (all entries).

consort: Spouse, especially of a king or queen, God or Goddess. Among the Gods there are actually no sexes or sexual distinctions, though in mythological folk-narratives, Hinduism traditionally represents these great beings in elaborate anthropomorphic depictions. Matrimony and human-like family units among the Gods are derived from educational tales intended to illustrate the way people should and should not live. See: Shakti.

contemplation: Religious or mystical absorption beyond meditation. See: raja yoga, samadhi.

contemplative: Inclined toward a spiritual, religious, meditative way of life.

contempt: Attitude that considers someone or something as low, worthless.

continence (continent): Restraint, moderation or, most strictly, total abstinence from sexual activity. See: brahmacharya.

contradiction: A statement in opposition to another; denial; a condition in which things tend to be contrary to each other.

convert: To change from one religion or philosophy to another. A person who has so changed.

covenant: A binding agreement to do or keep from doing certain things.

covet: To want ardently, especially something belonging to another. To envy.

cranial chakras: The ajna, or third-eye center, and the sahasrara, at the top of the head near the pineal and pituitary glands. See: chakra.

Creator: He who brings about creation. Siva as one of His five powers. See: Nataraja, Parameshvara.

cremation: Dahana. Burning of the dead. Cremation is the traditional system of disposing of bodily remains, having the positive effect of releasing the soul most quickly from any lingering attachment to the earth plane. In modern times, cremation facilities are widely available in nearly every country, though gas-fueled chambers generally take the place of the customary wood pyre.

creole: Any one of numerous mixed, usually subliterary, languages, such as the French creoles spoken in Louisiana or Mauritius.

crown chakra: Sahasrara chakra. The thousand-petaled cranial center of divine consciousness. See: chakra.

dadima: Pomegranate.

dakshina: A fee or honorarium given to a priest at the completion of any rite; also a gift given to gurus as a token of appreciation for their infinite spiritual blessings.

dakshinayana: “Southern way.” Names the half-year, ayana, beginning with summer solstice, when the sun begins its apparent southward journey.

dana: “Generosity, giving; gift.” See: yama-niyama.

danda: “Stick,” or “staff of support.” The staff carried by a sadhu or sannyasin, representing the tapas which he has taken as his only support, and the vivifying of sushumna and consequent Realization he seeks. Danda also connotes “penalty or sanction.” This sign of authority is one of the emblems of loving Ganesha. See: sannyasin.

darshana: “Vision, sight.” Seeing the Divine. Beholding, with inner or outer vision, a temple image, Deity, holy person or place, with the desire to inwardly contact and receive the grace and blessings of the venerated being or beings. Also: “point of view,” doctrine or philosophy.

day of Brahma: One kalpa, or period, in the infinitely recurring periods of the universe’s creation, preservation and dissolution. One day of Brahma is equal to 994 mahayugas (a mahayuga is one cycle of the four yugas: Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali). This is calculated as 4,294,080,000 years. After each day of Brahman occurs a pralaya (or kalpanta, “end of an eon”), when both the physical and subtle worlds are absorbed into the causal world. This state of withdrawal or “night of Brahma,” continues for the length of an entire kalpa until creation again issues forth.

death: Death is a rich concept for which there are many words in Sanskrit, such as mahaprasthana, “great departure;” samadhimarana, dying consciously while in the state of meditation; mahasamadhi, “great merger, or absorption,” naming the departure of an enlightened soul. Hindus know death to be the soul’s detaching itself from the physical body and continuing on in the subtle body (sukshma sharira) with the same desires, aspirations and occupations as when it lived in a physical body. See: reincarnation.

decorum: Propriety and good taste in behavior, speech, dress, etc.

deformity: Condition of being disfigured or made ugly in body, mind or emotions.

Deity: “God.” Can refer to the image or murti installed in a temple or to the Mahadeva the murti represents. See: murti, puja.

demean: To lower in status or character; degrade.

demureness: Decorousness, modesty, shyness, reserved manner.

denomination: A name for a class of things, especially for various religious groupings, sects and subsects. See: guru parampara, sampradaya.

deprivations: Forced conditions of loss or neediness.

destiny: Final outcome. The seemingly inevitable or predetermined course of events. See: karma.

deter: To keep one from doing something by instilling fear, anxiety, doubt, etc.

detractor: One who discredits, slanders or disparages someone else.

deva:“Shining one.” A being inhabiting the higher astral plane, in a subtle, nonphysical body. Deva is also used in scripture to mean “God or Deity.” See: Mahadeva.

Devanagari: “Divine city [script].” The alphabetic script in which Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi and Marathi are written. A descendant of the Northern type of the Brahmi script. It is characterized by the connecting, horizontal line at the top of the letters. See also: Sanskrit.

Devi: “Goddess.” A name of Shakti, used especially in Shaktism. See: Shakti, Shaktism.

devonic: Angelic, heavenly. Of the nature of the higher worlds, in tune with the refined energies of the higher chakras or centers of consciousness.

devotee: A person strongly dedicated to something or someone, such as to a God or a guru. The term disciple implies an even deeper commitment. See: guru bhakti, guru-shishya system.

dhanush: “Bow.” Anything bow shaped; a weapon for shooting arrows.

dharma: “Righteousness.” From dhri, “to sustain; carry, hold.” Hence dharma is “that which contains or upholds the cosmos.” Dharma, religion, is a complex and comprehensive term with many meanings, including divine law, law of being, way of righteousness, ethics, duty, responsibility, virtue, justice, goodness and truth. Essentially, dharma is the orderly fulfillment of an inherent nature or destiny. Relating to the soul, it is the mode of conduct most conducive to spiritual advancement, the right and righteous path. There are four principal kinds of dharma, known collectively as chaturdharma: “four religious laws:” 1) rita: “Universal law.” The inherent order of the cosmos. 2) varna dharma: “Law of one’s kind.” Social duty. 3) ashrama dharma: “Duties of life’s stages.” Human or developmental dharma. The natural process of maturing from childhood to old age through fulfillment of the duties of each of the four stages of life — brahmachari (student), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (elder advisor) and sannyasa (religious solitaire). 4) svadharma: “Personal path, pattern or obligation.” One’s perfect individual pattern through life, according to one’s own particular physical, mental and emotional nature.

Dharma Shastra: “Religious law book.” A term referring to all or any of numerous codes of Hindu civil and social law composed by various authors. The best known and most respected are those by Manu and Yajnavalkya, thought to have been composed as early as 600 BCE. See: Smriti.

dhoti: (Hindi) A long, unstitched cloth wound about the lower part of the body, and sometimes passed between the legs and tucked into the waist. A traditional Hindu apparel for men.

Dhumravarna: “Smoke-colored.” Ganesha’s aspect as the conqueror of abhimana, pride.

Dhundhi Ganapati: “Ganesha, the sought after,” enshrined in Varanasi, having four arms, an axe, prayer beads, tusk and a pot of gems.

dhvaja: “Flag.” Part of the pageantry of Hinduism, orange or red flags and banners, flown at festivals and other special occasions, symbolize the victory of Sanatana Dharma. See: festival.

dhyana: “Meditation.” See: internalized worship, meditation, raja yoga.

diaspora: From the Greek, “scattering.” A dispersion of religious or ethnic group(s) to foreign countries, such as the scattering of Jews when driven out of the land of Israel, or Hindus driven from Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

diksha: “Initiation.” Solemn induction by which one is entered into a new realm of awareness and practice by a teacher or preceptor through the bestowing of blessings and the transmission of pranas. Denotes initial or deepened connection with the teacher and his lineage and is usually accompanied by ceremony. Initiation, revered as a moment of awakening, may be conferred by a touch, a word, a look or a thought. Most Hindu schools, and especially Saivism, teach that only with initiation from a satguru is enlightenment attainable. Sought after by all Hindus is the diksha called shaktipata, “descent of grace,” which, often coming unbidden, stirs and arouses the mystic kundalini force.

dilute: To change or weaken by mixing with something else.

dipastambha: “Standing light.” A standing lamp found in the temple, shrine room or home. It is made of metal, with several wicks fed by ghee or special oils. Used to light the home and in puja, part of temple and shrine altars, the standing lamp is sometimes worshiped as the divine light, Parashakti or Parajyoti. Returning from the temple and lighting one’s dipastambha courts the accompanying devas to remain in the home and channels the vibration of the temple sanctum sanctorum into the home shrine. Kuttuvilaku in Tamil.

discrimination: Viveka. Act or ability to distinguish or perceive differences. In spirituality, the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, real and apparent, eternal and transient.

divisive: Causing division, especially causing disagreement or dissension.

docile: Easy to teach, tractable, obedient.

door of Brahman: Brahmarandhra; also called nirvana chakra. A subtle or esoteric aperture in the crown of the head, the opening of sushumna nadi through which kundalini enters in ultimate Self Realization, and the spirit escapes at death. Only the spirits of the truly pure leave the body in this way. Samsaris take a downward course. See: jnana, kundalini.

dormant: Sleeping; inactive; not functioning.

dossier: A comprehensive collection of documents about a subject or person.

doxology: Praising, or gloriying.

dualism: Opposite of monism. Any doctrine which holds that there are two eternal and distinct realities in the universe, e.g., God-world, good-evil.

Durga Ganapati: The “invincible,” “unconquerable” fortress or stronghold. An eight-armed murti distinguished by the flag of victory, bow and arrow and strand of prayer beads.

durva: A type of grass, also called aruhu and harali, sacred to Ganesha, traditionally offered to Him in puja. Cynodon dactylon. See: aruhu grass.

dvaita-advaita: “Dual-nondual; twoness-not twoness.” Among the most important terms in the classification of Hindu philosophies. Dvaita and advaita define two ends of a vast spectrum. — dvaita: The doctrine of dualism, according to which reality is ultimately composed of two irreducible principles, entities, truths, etc. God and soul, for example, are seen as eternally separate. — dualistic: Of or relating to dualism, concepts, writings, theories which treat dualities (good-and-evil, high-and-low, them-and-us) as fixed, rather than transcendable. — pluralism: A form of nonmonism which emphasizes three or more eternally separate realities, e.g., God, soul and world. — advaita: The doctrine of nondualism or monism, that reality is ultimately composed of one whole principle, substance or God, with no independent parts. In essence, all is God. — monistic theism: A dipolar view which encompasses both monism and dualism. See: monistic theism.

Dvija Ganapati: “The twice-born.” A name and traditional murti, or form, of Ganesha. He holds a scripture, a staff and a japa mala, reminding devotees of the need for disciplined striving.

Dvimukha Ganapati: The unmistakable “double-faced” murti of Lord Ganesha. He holds a noose, goad, broken tusk and a pot of gems.

earrings: Decorative jewelry worn in the ears by Hindu women and many men. Ear-piercing for earrings is said to bring health (right ear) and wealth (left ear).

ecumenical: General or universal. — ecumenism: the principles or practices of promoting worldwide cooperation and better understanding among differing denominations, especially among Christians. From the Greek oecumene, “the inhabited world.” A Christian term. The broader term interfaith is used by all religions striving for peace and harmony.

edampuri: “Left-turning.” Images of Ganesha in which the trunk is turning to the Deity’s left. This is the common form. Cf: valampuri.

edict: An official public order issued by an authority.

effigy:  Image, likeness, icon, statue, figure.

effulgent: Having great brightness; radiance; brilliant; full of light.

ego: The external personality or sense of “I” and “mine.” Broadly, individual identity. In Saiva Siddhanta and other schools, the ego is equated with the tattva of ahamkara, “I-maker,” which bestows the sense of I-ness, individuality and separateness from God. See: anava mala.

Ekadanta Ganapati: He of “single tusk” is the four-armed Ganesha murti holding axe, beads, laddu (sweet) and His broken tusk.

Ekakshara Ganapati: He of “single-syllable” ( gam) sits in lotus pose upon Mushika, offering the boon-giving gesture, abhaya mudra.

eloquent: Vivid, forceful, fluent, graceful and persuasive speech or writing.

enchantment: A magic spell; a bewitching, captivating power.

enlightened:  Having attained enlightenment, Self Realization. A jnani or jivanmukta. See: enlightenment, jnana, Self Realization.

enlightenment: For Saiva monists, Self Realization, samadhi without seed (nirvikalpa samadhi); the ultimate attainment, sometimes referred to as Paramatma darshana, or as atma darshana, “Self vision” (a term which appears in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras). Enlightenment is the experience-nonexperience resulting in the realization of one’s transcendent Self — Parashiva — which exists beyond time, form and space. See: God Realization, kundalini, Self Realization.

enmity: Bitter attitude or adverse feelings to an enemy; hostility; antagonism.

enstasy: A term coined in 1969 by Mircea Eliade to contrast the Eastern view of bliss as “standing inside oneself” (enstasy) with the Western view as ecstasy, “standing outside oneself.” A word chosen as the English equivalent of samadhi. See: raja yoga, samadhi.

entanglements: Involvements in difficulty; being tangled or confused.

ephemeral: Transient, temporary, not lasting.

epithet:  Descriptive name, or title of a Deity.

equivocal: Uncertain; undecided; doubtful.

eradicate: To “root out,” destroy, get rid of.

erukku: Tamil name for flower (Botanically Calotropis) sacred to Lord Ganesha. Erukku flowers are strung together and placed ’round the crown and neck of Ganesha during worship ceremonies, especially at festival times.

esoteric: Beyond the understanding of all but a few, or the initiated.

ether: Akasha. Space, the most subtle of the five elements. See: akasha, tattva.

ethical restraints: See: yama-niyama.

ethical observances: See: yama-niyama.

ethics: The code or system of morals of a nation, people, religion, etc. See: dharma, pancha nitya karmas, punya, yama-niyama.

evil: That which is bad, morally wrong, causing harm, pain, misery. In Western religions, evil is often thought of as a moral antagonism to God. Hindus hold that evil, known in Sanskrit as papa, papman or dushta, is the result of unvirtuous acts (papa or adharma) caused by the instinctive-intellectual mind dominating and obscuring deeper, spiritual intelligence. The evil-doer is viewed as a young soul, ignorant of the value of right thought, speech and action, unable to live in the world without becoming entangled in maya. — intrinsic evil: Inherent, inborn badness. Hinduism holds that there is no intrinsic evil, and the real nature of man is his divine, soul nature, which is goodness. See: hell, karma, papa, sin.

evolution of the soul: Adhyatma prasara. In Saiva Siddhanta the soul’s evolution is a progressive unfoldment, growth and maturing toward its inherent, divine destiny, which is complete merger with Siva. In its essence, each soul is ever perfect. But as an individual soul body emanated by God Siva, it is like a small seed yet to develop. As an acorn needs to be planted in the dark underground to grow into a mighty oak tree, so must the soul unfold out of the darkness of the malas to full maturity and realization of its innate oneness with God. The soul is not created at the moment of conception of a physical body. Rather, it is created in the Sivaloka. It evolves by taking on denser and denser sheaths — cognitive, instinctive-intellectual and pranic — until finally it takes birth in physical form in the Bhuloka. Then it experiences many lives, maturing through the reincarnation process. Thus, from birth to birth, souls learn and mature. See: mala, moksha, samsara.

exemplify: To show by being an example of.

experience: From the Latin experior, “to prove; put to the test.” Living through an event; personal involvement. In Sanskrit, anubhava. See: anubhava.

extol: To praise highly; laud.

faith: Trust or belief. Conviction. From the Latin fides, “trust.” Faith in its broadest sense means “religion,” “dharma.” More specifically, it is the essential element of religion — the belief in phenomena beyond the pale of the five senses, distinguishing it sharply from rationalism. Faith is established through intuitive or transcendent experience of an individual, study of scripture and hearing the testimony of the many wise rishis speaking out the same truths over thousands of years. The Sanskrit equivalent is shraddha.

fast: Abstaining from all or certain foods, as in observance of a vow or holy day. Hindus fast in various ways. A simple fast may consist of merely avoiding certain foods for a day or more, such as when nonvegetarians abstain from fish, fowl and meats. A moderate fast would involve avoiding heavier foods, or taking only juices, teas and other liquids. Such fasts are sometimes observed only during the day, and a normal meal is permitted after sunset. Serious fasting, which is done under supervision, involves taking only water for a number of days and requires a cessation of most external activities.

fellowship: Companionship. Mutual sharing of interests, beliefs or practice. A group of people with common interests and aspirations.

festival: A time of religious celebration and special observances. Festivals generally recur yearly, their dates varying slightly according to astrological calculations. They are characterized by acts of piety (elaborate pujas, penance, fasting, pilgrimage) and rejoicing (songs, dance, music, parades, storytelling and scriptural reading).

First World: The physical universe, called Bhuloka, of gross or material substance in which phenomena are perceived by the five senses. See: loka.

five classical duties: See: pancha nitya karmas.

Five Letters (syllables): See: Namah Sivaya.

forehead marks: See: bindu, tilaka, tripundra.

forestall:  Prevent, hinder, obstruct, intercept.

forfeiting: Losing something due to a crime or fault or neglect of duty.

four traditional goals: Chaturvarga, “four-fold good,” or purushartha, “human goals or purposes” — duty (dharma), wealth (artha), love (kama) and liberation (moksha). See: purushartha.

funeral rites: See: cremation.

gada: “Mace.” A rough-headed club, one of the insignia of Ganesha, representing His power to cast karmas back on devotees until fully resolved.

gaja: The elephant, king of beasts, representative of Lord Ganesha and sign of royalty and power. Many major Hindu temples keep one or more elephants.

Gajanana: “Elephant-faced.” A popular name of Ganesha, which appears in the Mudgala Purana, as the vanquisher of lobha, greed.

Gam Mantra: The seed sound, or bija mantra, of Loving Ganesha. Bija mantras, being on one syllable, represent the essence of more complex sound combinations. Gam is the root sound within the muladhara chakra.

gana(s): “Number,” hence “throng,” “troop,” “retinue;” a body of followers or attendants.” A troop of demigods — God Siva’s attendants, devonic helpers under the supervision of Lord Ganesha. See: Ganapati, Ganesha.

Gananathas: “Lords of hosts.” As a singular, Gananatha refers to Lord Ganesha. Plural, to the many divine beings who help in guiding the flow of consciousness under the direction of the Mahadevas.

Ganapati: “Leader of the ganas.” A name of Ganesha.

Ganapati Upanishad: A later Upanishad on Lord Ganesha, not connected with any Veda; date of composition is unknown. It is a major scripture for the Ganapatians, a minor Hindu sect which reveres Ganesha as Supreme God and is most prevalent in India’s Maharashtra state. See: Ganesha.

gandha: “Smell, odor, fragrance.” Gandha is the fifth of five tanmatras, “primal substances,” from which the gross elements, mahabhutas (or panchbautikas), arise in the evolution of the tattvas. Smell is the tanmatra corresponding to the earth element, prithivi. See: tanmatra.

Ganesha: “Lord of Categories.” (From gan, “to count or reckon,” and Isha, “lord.”) Or: “Lord of attendants (gana),” synonymous with Ganapati. Ganesha is a Mahadeva, the beloved elephant-faced Deity honored by Hindus of every sect. He is the Lord of Obstacles (Vighneshvara), revered for His great wisdom and invoked first before any undertaking, for He knows all intricacies of each soul’s karma and the perfect path of dharma that makes action successful. He sits on the muladhara chakra and is easy of access.

Ganesha Chaturthi: Birthday of Lord Ganesha, a ten-day festival of August-September culminating in a spectacular parade called Ganesha Visarjana. It is a time of rejoicing, when all Hindus worship together.

Ganesha Visarjana: “Ganesha departure.” A parade usually occurring on the 11th day after Ganesha Chaturthi, in which the Ganesha murtis made for the occasion are taken in procession to a body of water and ceremoniously immersed and left to dissolve. This represents Ganesha’s merging with the ocean of consciousness. See: Ganesha.

Ganges (Ganga): India’s most sacred river, 1,557 miles long, arising in the Himalayas above Hardwar under the name Bhagiratha, and named Ganga after joining the Alakanada (where the Sarasvati is said to join them underground). It flows southeast across the densely populated Gangetic plain, joining its sister Yamuna (or Jumna) at Prayaga (Allahabad) and ending at the Bay of Bengal.

Gangetic: Near to or on the banks of the Ganges river in North India.

Garitra: “Grains.” E.g., wheat or barley.

gayatri: According with the gayatri verse form, an ancient meter of 24 syllables, generally as a triplet (tercet) with eight syllables each. From gaya, “song.” — Gayatri: The Vedic Gayatri Mantra personified as aGoddess, mother of the four Vedas.

Gayatri Mantra: 1) Famous Vedic mantra used in puja and personal chanting. Om [bhur bhuvah svah] tat savitur varenyam, bhargo devasya dhimahi, dhiyo yo nah prachodayat. “[O Divine Beings of all three worlds,] we meditate upon the glorious splendor of the Vivifier divine. May He illumine our minds” (Rig Veda 3.62.10 VE). This sacred verse is also called the Savitri Mantra, being addressed to Savitri, the Sun as Creator, and is considered a universal mystic formula so significant that it is called Vedamatri, “mother of the Vedas.” 2) Any of a class of special tantric mantras called Gayatri. Each addresses a particular Deity.

ghanta: “Bell.” Akin to ghant, “to speak.” An important implement in Hindu worship (puja), used to chase away asuras and summon devas and Gods. See: puja.

ghee: Hindi for clarified butter; ghrita in Sanskrit. Butter that has been boiled and strained. An important sacred substance used in temple lamps and offered in fire ceremony, yajna. It is also used as a food with many ayurvedic virtues. See: yajna.

Girijatmaja: “Mountain born.” The Ganesha murti enshrined at the Lenyadhri Cave Temple of Maharashtra.

Goddess: Female representation or manifestation of Divinity; Shakti or Devi. Goddess can refer to a female perception or depiction of a causal-plane being (Mahadeva) in its natural state, which is genderless, or it can refer to an astral-plane being residing in a female astral body. To show the Divine’s transcendence of sexuality, sometimes God is shown as having qualities of both sexes, e.g., Ardhanarishvara, “Half-woman God;” or Lord Nataraja, who wears a feminine earring in one ear and a masculine one in the other.

God Realization: Direct and personal experience of the Divine within oneself. It can refer to either 1) savikalpa samadhi (“enstasy with form”) in its various levels, from the experience of inner light to the realization of Satchidananda, the pure consciousness or primal substance flowing through all form, or 2) nirvikalpa samadhi (“enstasy without form”), union with the transcendent Absolute, Parashiva, the Self God, beyond time, form and space. In Loving Ganesha, the expression God Realization is used to name both of the above samadhis, whereas Self Realization refers only to nirvikalpa samadhi. See: samadhi, Self Realization.

Gods: Mahadevas, “great beings of light.” In Loving Ganesha, the plural form of God refers to extremely advanced beings existing in their self-effulgent soul bodies in the causal plane. The meaning of Gods is best seen in the phrase, “God and the Gods,” referring to the Supreme God — Siva — and the Mahadevas who are His creation. See: Mahadeva.

goshta:  “Cow pen; niche.” Also names a small alcove shrine.

grace: “Benevolence, love, giving,” from the Latin gratia, “favor, goodwill.” God’s power of revealment, anugraha shakti (“kindness, showing favor”), by which souls are awakened to their true, Divine nature. Grace in the unripe stages of the spiritual journey is experienced by the devotee as receiving gifts or boons, often unbidden, from God. The mature soul finds himself surrounded by grace. He sees all of God’s actions as grace, whether they be seemingly pleasant and helpful or not. See: prapatti.

guna: “Strand; quality.” The three constituent principles of prakriti, primal nature. The three gunas are: — sattva: “Purity,” quiescent, rarified, translucent, pervasive, reflecting the light of Pure Consciousness. — rajas: “Passion,” inherent in energy, movement, action, emotion, life. — tamas: “Darkness,” inertia, density, the force of contraction, resistance and dissolution. The gunas are integral to Hindu thought, as all things are composed of the combination of these qualities of nature, including ayurveda, arts, environments and personalities. See: ayurveda, prakriti, tattva.

guru: “Weighty one,” indicating an authority of great knowledge or skill. A title for a teacher or guide in any subject, such as music, dance, sculpture, but especially religion. For clarity, the term is often preceded by a qualifying prefix. Hence, terms such as kulaguru (family teacher), vinaguru (vina teacher) and satguru (spiritual preceptor). According to the Advayataraka Upanishad (14 — 18), guru means “dispeller (gu) of darkness (ru).” See: guru bhakti, guru-shishya system, satguru.

guru bhakti: “Devotion to the teacher.” The attitude of humility, love and loyality held by a student in any field of study. In the spiritual realm, the devotee strives to see the guru as his higher Self. By attuning himself to the satguru’s inner nature and wisdom, the disciple slowly transforms his own nature to ultimately attain the same peace and enlightenment his guru has achieved. See: guru, guru-shishya system, satguru.

guru lineage: See: guru parampara.

guruparampara: “Preceptorial succession” (literally, “from one teacher to another”). A line of spiritual gurus in authentic succession of initiation; the chain of mystical power and authorized continuity, passed from guru to guru. Cf: sampradaya.

guru-shishya system: “Master-disciple” system. An important educational system of Hinduism whereby the teacher conveys his knowledge and tradition to a student. The principle of this system is that knowledge, especially subtle or advanced knowledge, is best conveyed through a strong human relationship based on ideals of the student’s respect, commitment, devotion and obedience and on personal instruction by which the student eventually masters the knowledge the guru embodies. See: guru, guru bhakti, satguru.

Hanuman: (Hindi) “Large jawed.” The powerful monkey God-King of the epic, Ramayana, and the central figure in the famous drama, Hanuman-Nataka. The perfect devoted servant to his master, Rama, this popular Deity is the epitome of dasya bhakti.

Hari: “Vishnu.” See: Brahma, Vishnu.

Haridra Ganapati: “The golden one” holds four prevalent emblems: noose, goad, tusk and modaka.

hatha yoga: “Ui “Forceful yoga.” Hatha yoga is a system of physical and mental exercise developed in ancient times as a means of preparing the body and mind for meditation. See: kundalini, nadi, yoga.

heaven: The celestial spheres, including the causal plane and the higher realms of the subtle plane, where souls rest and learn between births, and mature souls continue to evolve after moksha. Heaven is often used by translators as an equivalent to the Sanskrit Svarga. See: loka.

hell: Naraka. An unhappy, mentally and emotionally congested, distressful area of consciousness. Hell is a state of mind that can be experienced on the plane of physical existence or in the sub-astral plane (Naraka) after the death of the physical body. It is accompanied by the tormented emotions of hatred, remorse, resentment, fear, jealousy and self-condemnation. However, in the Hindu view, the hellish experience is not permanent, but a temporary condition of one’s own making. See: asura, loka.

Heramba Ganapati: “Protector of the weak” is a five-faced murti of Ganesha. He rides a lion and gestures protection and blessing.

heritage: A tradition passed down from preceding generations.

higher nature, lower nature:Expressions indicating man’s refined, soulful qualities on the one hand, and his base, instinctive qualities on the other. See: mind (five states).

Himalayas: “Abode of snow.” The mountain system extending along the India-Tibet border and through Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan.

Hindu: A follower of, or relating to, Hinduism. See: Hinduism.

Hinduism (Hindu Dharma): India’s indigenous religious and cultural system, followed today by nearly one billion adherents, mostly in India but with large populations in many other countries. Also called Sanatana Dharma (“Eternal Religion”) and Vaidika Dharma, (“Religion of the Vedas“). Hinduism is the world’s most ancient religion and encompasses a broad spectrum of philosophies ranging from pluralistic theism to absolute monism. It is a family of myriad faiths with four primary denominations: Saivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Smartism. These four hold such divergent beliefs that each is a complete and independent religion. Yet, they share a vast heritage of culture and belief — karma, dharma, reincarnation, all-pervasive Divinity, temple worship, sacraments, manifold Deities, the guru-shishya tradition and a reliance on the Vedas as scriptural authority.

holy ash: Vibhuti. See: tilaka, tripundra, vibhuti.

hundi: “Collection box,” from hun, “to sacrifice.” A strong box inside Hindu temples into which devotees place their contributions.

icchha shakti: “Desire; will.” See: Shakti, trishula.

icon: A sacred image, usually of God or one of the Gods. English for murti. See: murti.

ida nadi: “Soothing channel.” The feminine psychic current flowing along the spine. See: kundalini, nadi, pingala.

ikshukanda: “Sugar cane.”

ikshukarmuka: “Sugar cane bow.” A weapon or emblem held by loving Ganesha.

immanent: Indwelling; present and operating within. Relating to God, immanent means present in all things and throughout the universe, not aloof or distant.

immolate: Sacrifice. Offer as sacrifice.

implore: To ask, beg, beseech or entreat earnestly or pathetically.

incarnation: From incarnate, “made flesh.” The soul’s taking of repeated physical birth. In some schools, notably Vaishnavism, God is believed to incarnate in human form to help humanity. This is called avatara. See: avatara, reincarnation.

incense: Dhupa. Substance that gives off pleasant aromas when burned, usually made from natural derivatives such as tree resin. A central element in Hindu worship rites, waved gently before the Deity as an offering, especially after ablution. Hindi terms include sugandhi and lobana. A popular term for stick incense is agarbatti (Gujarati). See: puja.

individuality: Quality that makes one person or soul other than, or different from, another. See: ahamkara, anava mala, ego, soul.

Indra: “Ruler.” Vedic God of rain and thunder, warrior king of the devas.

indriya: “Agent, sense organ.” The five agents of perception (jnanendriyas), hearing (shrotra), touch (tvak), sight (chakshus), taste (rasana) and smell (ghrana); and the five agents of action (karmendriyas), speech (vak), grasping, by means of the hands (pani), movement (pada), excretion (payu) and generation (upastha). See: kosha, soul, tattva.

Indus Valley: Region of the Indus River, now in Pakistan, where in 1924 archeologists discovered the remains of a high civilization which flourished between 5000 and 1000 BCE. There, a seal was found with the effigy of Siva as Pashupati, “Lord of Animals,” seated in a yogic posture. Neither the language of these people nor their exact background is known. They related culturally and carried on an extensive trade with peoples of other civilizations far to the West, using sturdy ships that they built themselves. For centuries they were the most advanced civilization on Earth. See: Saivism.

initiation (to initiate): Entering into; admission as a member. In Hinduism, initiation from a qualified preceptor is considered invaluable for spiritual progress. Usually the beginning of more advance learning.See: diksha.

instinctive: “Natural or innate.” From the Latin instinctus, “staff,” “prick;” a participle of instigere, “impelling,” “pricking,” “instigating.” The drives and impulses that order the animal world and the physical and lower astral aspects of humans — for example, self-preservation, procreation, hunger and thirst, and the emotions of greed, hatred, anger, fear, lust and jealousy.

instinctive mind: Manas chitta. The lower mind, which controls the basic faculties of perception and movement as well as ordinary thought and emotion. Manas chitta is of the manomaya kosha. See: mind (three phases).

intellect: The factulty of reason and understanding; power of thought; mental acumen. See: buddhi, intellectual mind.

intellectual mind: Buddhi chitta. The faculty of reason and logical thinking. It is the source of discriminating thought, rather than the ordinary, impulsive thought processes of the lower or instinctive mind, called manas chitta. Buddhi chitta is of the manomaya kosha. See: buddhi, mind (individual).

internalize: To take something inside of oneself.

internalized worship: Yoga. Worship or contact with God and Gods via meditation and contemplation rather than through external ritual. This is the yogi’s path, preceded by the charya and kriya padas. See: meditation, yoga.

intrinsic: Inward, essential; inherent. Belonging to the real nature of a being or thing. — intrinsic evil: See: evil.

intuition (to intuit): Direct understanding or cognition, which bypasses the process of reason. Intuition is a far superior source of knowing than reason, but it does not contradict reason. See: cognition, mind (five states).

invincible: That which cannot be overcome; unconquerable.

invocation (to invoke): A “calling or summoning,” as to a God, saint, etc., for blessings and assistance. Also, a formal prayer or chant. See: mantra.

ipso facto: “By the fact itself.” A result accomplished by the deed itself, e.g. in some faiths declaring oneself apostate means ipso facto excommunication.

Iraivan: “Worshipful one; divine one.” One of the most ancient Tamil epithets for God. See: San Marga Sanctuary.

Iraivan Temple: See: San Marga Sanctuary.

Isha: “Ruler, lord or sovereign.”

Ishta Devata: “Cherished or chosen Deity.” The Deity that is the object of one’s special pious attention.

Itihasa: “So it was.” Epic history, particularly the Ramayana and Mahabharata (of which the famed Bhagavad Gita is a part). This term sometimes refers to the Puranas, especially the Skanda Purana and the Bhagavata Purana (or Shrimad Bhagavatam). See: Mahabharata, Ramayana, smriti.

jagrat: “Wakefulness.” The state of mind in which the senses are turned outward. Conscious mind. One of four states of consciousness, avasthas, described in the Mandukya Upanishad. See: avastha, consciousness.

jaya: (jai) “Victory!”

Jainism: (Jaina) An ancient non-Vedic religion of India made prominent by the teachings of Mahavira (“Great Hero”), ca 500 BCE. The Jain Agamas teach reverence for all life, vegetarianism and strict renunciation for ascetics. Jains focus great emphasis on the fact that all souls may attain liberation, each by his own effort. Their great historic saints, called Tirthankaras (“Ford-Crossers”), are objects of worship, of whom Mahavira was the 24th and last. Jains number about six million today, living mostly in India.

jambira: “Lime.”

jambu: “Rose apple.”

japa: “Recitation.” Practice of concentrated repetition of a mantra, often while counting the repetitions on a mala or strand of beads. It is recommended as a cure for pride and arrogance, anger and jealousy, fear and confusion. It fills the mind with divine syllables, awakening the divine essence of spiritual energies.

japa mala: “Garland for incantation.” A strand of beads for holy recitation, japa, usually made of rudraksha, tulasi, sandalwood or crystal.

jatakarma: “Rite of birth.” See: samskara.

jatamukuta: “Crown of matted hair.”

jati: “Birth; genus; community or caste.” See: varna dharma.

jiva: “Living, existing.” From jiv, “to live.” The individual soul, atman, during its embodied state, bound by the three malas (anava, karma and maya). The jivanmukta is one who is “liberated while living.” See: atman, evolution of the soul, purusha, soul.

jnana: “Knowledge; wisdom.” The matured state of the soul. It is the wisdom that comes as an aftermath of the kundalini breaking through the door of Brahman into the realization of Parashiva, Absolute Reality. Jnana is the awakened, superconscious state (karana chitta). It is the fruition of the progressive stages of charya, kriya and yoga in the Saiva Siddhanta system of spiritual unfoldment. See: God Realization, samadhi, Self Realization.

jnana pada: “Stage of wisdom.” Also names the knowledge section of each Agama. See: jnana, pada.

jnana shakti: “Knowing power.” The universal force of wisdom. See: Shakti, trishula.

jnanendriya: “Agent of perception.” See: indriya.

jurisdiction: A sphere of authority; the territorial range of authority.

jyoti: “Light.”

jyotisha: From jyoti, “light.” “The science of the lights (or stars).” Hindu astrology, the knowledge and practice of analyzing events and circumstances, delineating character and determining auspicious moments, according to the positions and movements of heavenly bodies. In calculating horoscopes, jyotisha uses the sidereal (fixed-star) system, whereas Western astrology uses the tropical (fixed-date) method.

kadaliphala: “Banana fruit.”

Kailasa: “Crystalline” or “Abode of bliss.” The four-faced Himalayan peak in Western Tibet; the earthly abode of Lord Siva. Associated with Mount Meru, the legendary center of the universe, it is an important pilgrimage destination for all Hindus as well as for Tibetan Buddhists. Kailasa is represented in Shaktism by a certain three-dimensional form of the Shri Chakra yantra (also called kailasa chakra).

Kailasa Parampara: “Crystaline lineage.” Aspiritual lineage of siddhas, a major stream of the Nandinatha Sampradaya, proponents of the ancient philosophy of monistic Saiva Siddhanta, of whom Sivaya Subramuniyaswami is the current representative. See also: Yogaswami.

kalasha: “Pot;” “pitcher,” “jar.” In temple rites, a pot of water, kalasha, topped with mango leaves and a husked coconut represents the Deity during special pujas. Kalasha also names the pot-like spires that adorn temple roofs.

Kali Yuga: “Dark Age.” The Kali Yuga is the last age in the repetitive cycle of four phases of time the universe passes through. It is comparable to the darkest part of the night, as the forces of ignorance are in full power and many of the subtle faculties of the soul are obscured. See: yuga.

kalpavriksha: “Wish-fulfilling tree.” An important symbol in Hindu theology.

kama: “Pleasure, love; desire.” Cultural, intellectual and sexual fulfillment. One of four human goals, purushartha. See: purushartha.

kamandalu: Small water vessel, such as that carried by sannyasins.

kapittha: “On which monkeys dwell.” The wood apple tree, Limonia acidissima, native to the dry plains of India and Ceylon and cultivated along roads and edges of fields and occasionally in orchards. The kapittha fruit, also known as elephant apple, monkey fruit and kath bel, is tough shelled, astringent and renowned for its ayurvedic potencies.

karanaloka: “The causal plane,” also called Sivaloka, existing deep within the Antarloka at a higher level of vibration, it is a world of superconsciousness and extremely refined energy. See: loka.

karanda mukuta: “Basket-shaped crown.” A headdress or crown shaped like a conical basket with the narrow end upwards, often topped with a series of smaller flattened spheres, worn by the Deities.

karma: “Action, deed.” One of the most important principles in Hindu thought, karma refers to 1) any act or deed; 2) the principle of cause and effect; 3) a consequence or “fruit of action” (karmaphala) or “after effect” (uttaraphala), which sooner or later returns upon the doer. What we sow, we shall reap in this or future lives. Selfish, hateful acts (papakarma or kukarma) will bring suffering. Benevolent actions (punyakarma or sukarma) will bring loving reactions. Karma is a neutral, self-perpetuating law of the inner cosmos, much as gravity is an impersonal law of the outer cosmos. Karma is threefold: sanchita, prarabdha and kriyamana. — sanchita karma: (“Accumulated actions.”) The sum of all karmas of this life and past lives. — prarabdha karma: (“Actions begun; set in motion.”) That portion of sanchita karma that is bearing fruit and shaping the events and conditions of the current life, including the nature of one’s bodies, personal tendencies and associations. — kriyamana karma:(“Being made.”) The karma being created and added to sanchita in this life (or in the inner worlds between lives) by one’s thoughts, words and actions. See: mala, moksha, sin, soul.

karma yoga: “Union through action.” Selfless service. See: yoga.

karmendriya: “Agent of action.” See: indriya.

karnavedha: “Ear-piercing.” See: samskara.

karpura: “Camphor.” The white resinous exudation of the camphor tree burned in arati lamps during puja. See: arati.

Karttikeya: Child of the Pleiades, from Krittika, “Pleiades.” Second son of Siva, the brother of Ganesha. A great Mahadeva worshiped in all parts of India and the world. Also known as Murugan, Kumara, Skanda, Shanmukhanatha, Subrahmanya and more, He is the God who guides that part of evolution which is religion, the transformation of the instinctive into a divine wisdom through yoga. He holds the holy vel of jnana shakti,His Power to vanquish ignorance.

karuna: “Compassionate; loving, full of grace.”

Kauai: Northernmost of the Hawaiian islands; 555 sq. mi., pop. 50,000.

Kauai Aadheenam: Monastery-temple complex founded by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970; international headquarters of Saiva Siddhanta Church.

kavacha: “Armor; covering.” A decorative mask-like casing, usually made of silver or gold, that adorns the face, hands or entire Deity image.

kavadi: A penance offered to Lord Murugan-Karttikeya, especially during Tai Pusam, consisting of carrying in procession a heavy, beautifully decorated wooden object from which pots of milk hang which are to be used for His abhisheka. The penitent’s tongue and other parts of the body are often pierced with silver spears or hooks. See: penance.

keshanta: “Beard-shaving.” See: samskara.

khadga: “Sword.” A powerful symbol in Hindu iconography, depicting the power of the Gods to aid devotees in overcoming human weaknesses.

khetaka: “Shield.” As a religious emblem, it represents protection, divine security and the upholding of dharma.

kirtana: “Praising.” Devotional singing and dancing in celebration of God, Gods and guru. An important form of congregational worship in many Hindu denominations. See: bhajana.

kolam: Traditional household and priestly art of “drawing” intricate decorative patterns at the entrance to a home or temple or at the site of a religious ceremony. Known as rangoli in Sanskrit. Kolam designs are made with rice powder mixed to a watery paste, and sometimes with flowers and various-colored powdered pulses.

konrai: The Golden Shower tree, Cassia fistula; symbol of Siva’s cascading, abundant, golden grace.

kosha: “Sheath; vessel, container; layer.” Philosophically, five sheaths through which the soul functions simultaneously in the various planes or levels of existence. — annamaya kosha: “Sheath composed of food;” the physical or odic body. — pranamaya kosha: “Sheath composed of prana (vital force);” also known as the pranic or health body, or the etheric body or etheric double. — manomaya kosha: “Mind-formed sheath;” the lower astral body (from manas, “thought, will, wish”); the instinctive-intellectual sheath of ordinary thought, desire and emotion. — vijnanamaya kosha: “Sheath of cognition;” the mental or cognitive-intuitive sheath, also called the actinodic sheath. — anandamaya kosha: “Body of bliss;” the intuitive-superconscious sheath or actinic-causal body. Anandamaya kosha is not a sheath in the same sense as the four outer koshas. It is the soul itself, a body of light, also called karana sharira, causal body, and karmashaya, holder of karmas of this and all past lives. Anandamaya kosha is that which evolves through all incarnations and beyond until the soul’s ultimate, fulfilled merger, vishvagrasa, in the Primal Soul, Parameshvara. Then anandamaya kosha becomes Sivamayakosha, the body of God Siva.

kraal: An enclosure for livestock (Afrikaans); the herd itself.

Krishna: “Black.” Also related to krishtih, meaning “drawing, attracting.” One of the most popular Gods of the Hindu pantheon. He is worshiped by Vaishnavas as the eighth avatara, incarnation, of Vishnu. He is best known as the Supreme Personage depicted in the Mahabharata, and specifically in the Bhagavad Gita. For Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Krishna is the Godhead.

kriya: “Action.” In a general sense, kriya can refer to doing of any kind. Specifically, it names religious action, especially rites or ceremonies. In yoga terminology, kriya names involuntary physical movements caused by the arousal of the kundalini. See: pada.

kriya pada: “Stage of religious action; worship.” The stage of worship and devotion, second of four progressive stages of maturation on the Saiva Siddhanta path of attainment. See: pada.

kriya shakti: “Action power.” The universal force of doing. See: Shakti, trishula.

krodha: “Anger.” The emotion of the second chakra below the muladhara, called vitala. Scripture describes it as one of the gates to hell.

kshatriya: “Governing; sovereign.” The social class of lawmakers, law-enforcers and the military. See: varna dharma.

kshetra: “Place,” “field.”A property or region; often naming a sacred place.

Kshipra Ganapati: A name and traditional murti, or form, of Ganesha. “He who is immediate” (or quick). He holds a kalpavriksha sprig and a pot of gems.

Kshipra Prasada Ganapati: “The quick rewarder” presides from a kusha-grass throne holding pomegranate, noose, goad and more.

kukarma: “Unwholesome acts” or the fruit therefrom. See: karma, papa.

kulaguru: “Family preceptor or teacher.” The kulaguru guides the joint and extended family, particularly through the heads of families, and provides spiritual education. He may or may not be a satguru.

Kularnava Tantra: A leading scripture of the Kaula school of Shaktism. It comprises 17 chapters totaling 2,058 verses which focus on ways to liberation, with notable chapters on the guru-shishya relationship.

Kumara: “Virgin youth; ever-youthful.” A name of Lord Karttikeya as a perpetual bachelor. See: Karttikeya.

kumbha: “Water vessel,” Another name for kalasha, a pot of water on which a husked coconut is nested on five mango leaves to represent the Deity; integral to certain sacred Hindu rites.

kumari: “Ever youthful.” A young virgin girl, particularly age 10-12.

kumbhabhisheka: “Water-pot ablution.” The formal consecration of a new temple and its periodic reconsecration, usually at twelve-year intervals, following renovation, extensive cleaning and renewal. The rites culminate with the priests’ pouring sanctified water over the temple spires, which resemble an inverted pot, or kumbha.

kundalini: “She who is coiled; serpent power.” The primordial cosmic energy in every individual which, at first, lies coiled like a serpent at the base of the spine and eventually, through the practice of yoga, rises up the sushumna nadi. As it rises, the kundalini awakens each successive chakra. Nirvikalpa samadhi, enlightenment, comes as it pierces through the door of Brahman at the core of the sahasrara and enters! See: chakra, samadhi, nadi.

kunkuma: “Saffron; red.” The red powder, made of turmeric and lime, worn by Hindus as the pottu, dot, at the point of the third eye on the forehead. Names the saffron plant, Crocus sativus, and its pollen.

kuttuvilaku: A standing lamp (dipastambha in Sanskrit) found in the temple, shrine room or home. See: dipastambha.

laddu: A sweet made with milk, flour and sugar in South India, and with chickpea flour, ghee and sugar in North India.

Lakshmi: “Mark or sign,” often of success or prosperity. Shakti, the Universal Mother, as Goddess of wealth. The mythological consort of Vishnu. Usually depicted on a lotus flower. Prayers are offered to Lakshmi for wealth, beauty and peace. — Dhanya Lakshmi: “Bestower of wealth.” See: Goddess, Shakti.

Lakshmi Ganapati: A name and traditional murti, or form, of Ganesha. “Lord of abundance.” Flanked by Wisdom and Achievement (Buddhi and Siddhi) and holds a green parrot, shukhi.

Lambodara: “Large belly.” A name of Lord Ganesha cited in the Mudgala Purana as the conqueror of krodha, anger.

left-handed: Vama marga. A term describing certain tantric practices in which the instincts and intellect are transcended and detachment is sought through practices and behavior contrary to orthodox social norms. See: tantra, tantric, tantrism.

liberation: Moksha, release from the bonds of pasha, after which the soul is liberated from samsara (the round of births and deaths). In Saiva Siddhanta, pasha is the three-fold bondage of anava, karma and maya, which limit and confine the soul to the reincarnational cycle so that it may evolve. Moksha is freedom from the fettering power of these bonds, which do not cease to exist, but no longer have the power to fetter or bind the soul. See: mala, moksha, reincarnation, Self Realization.

lila: “Play.” Ease or facility in doing. A term used to describe God’s Divine cosmic drama of creation, preservation, dissolution, concealment and revelation.

liturgy: The proper, prescribed forms of ritual.

lobha: “Greed.” One of the principal obstacles on the path, counteracted by dana (selfless giving) and aparigraha, greedlessness. See: Gajanana.

loka: “World, habitat, realm, or plane of existence.” From loc, “to shine, be bright, visible.” A dimension of manifest existence; cosmic region. Each loka reflects or involves a particular range of consciousness. The three primary lokas are 1) — Bhuloka: “Earth world.” The world perceived through the five senses, also called the gross plane, as it is the most dense of the worlds. Sometimes referred to as the First World. 2) — Antarloka: “Inner” or “in-between world.” Known in English as the subtle or astral plane, the intermediate dimension between the physical and causal worlds, where souls in their astral bodies sojourn between incarnations and when they sleep. Also referred to as the Second World. 3) — Sivaloka: “World of Siva,” and of the Gods and highly evolved souls. The causal plane, also called Karanaloka, existing deep within the Antarloka at a higher level of vibration. It is a world of superconsciousness and extremely refined energy, the plane of creativity and intuition, the quantum level of the universe where souls exist in self-effulgent bodies made of actinic particles of light. It is here that God and Gods move and lovingly guide the evolution of all the worlds and shed their ever-flowing grace. Its vibratory rate is that of the vishuddha, ajna and sahasrara chakras and those above. Also referred to as the Third World. See: three worlds.

lustration: Ritual cleansing.

macrocosm: “Great world or universe.” See: microcosm-macrocosm, three worlds.

madhukumbha: “Honey vessel.”

madhyama vak: “Intermediate word.” See: vak.

Madurai: City in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu; home of one of the world’s most magnificent Saivite temples, called Meenakshi-Sundaresvara.

maha: An adjective or prefix meaning “great.”

Maha Ganapati: “The great one.” A classical murti accompanied by one of His shaktis. He holds a pomegranate, blue lily and a pot of gems.

Mahabharata: “Great Epic of India.” The world’s longest epic poem. It revolves around the conflict between two royal families, the Pandavas and Kauravas, and their great battle of Kurukshetra near modern Delhi in approximately 1424 BCE. Woven through the plot are countless discourses on philosophy, religion, astronomy, cosmology, polity and economics as well as many stories illustrative of simple truths and ethical principles. The Bhagavad Gita is one section of the work. The Mahabharata is revered as scripture by Vaishnavites and Smartas. See: Bhagavad Gita.

Mahadeva: “Great shining one; God.” Referring either to God Siva or any of the highly evolved beings who live in the Sivaloka in their natural, effulgent soul bodies. God Siva in His perfection as Primal Soul is one of the Mahadevas, yet He is unique and incomparable in that He alone is uncreated, the Father-Mother and Destiny of all other Mahadevas. He is called Parameshvara, “Supreme God.” He is the Primal Soul, whereas the other Gods are individual souls. See: Gods, Parameshvara, Siva.

mahakarana: The Great Causality.” See: vak.

mahaparashu: “Great axe.”

mahapralaya: “Great dissolution.” Total annihilation of the universe at the end of a mahakalpa. It is the absorption of all existence, including time, space and individual consciousness, all the lokas and their inhabitants into God Siva, as the water of a river returns to its source, the sea. Then Siva alone exists in His three perfections, until He again issues forth creation. During this incredibly vast period there are many partial dissolutions, pralayas, when either the Bhuloka and/or the Antarloka are destroyed.

maharaja: “Great king.” Indian monarch. Title of respect for political or (in modern times) spiritual leaders.

Maharashtra: Central state of modern India whose capital is Mumbai (Bombay). Area 118,717 square miles, population 63 million.

mahasamadhi: “Great enstasy.” The death, or dropping off of the physical body, of a great soul, an event occasioned by tremendous blessings. Also names the shrine in which the remains of a great soul are entombed. — Mahasamadhi daynames the anniversary of a great soul’s transition. See also: cremation, death.

mahatala: “Vast netherworld.” The sixth lowest astral world. Region of consciencelessness. See: chakra.

mahatma: “Great soul.” Honorific title given to people held in high esteem, especially saints. See: atman.

mahavakya: “Great saying.” A profound aphorism from scripture or a holy person. Most famous are four Upanishadic proclamations: Prajanam Brahma (“Pure consciousness is God” — Aitareya U.), Aham Brahmasmi (“I am God” — Brihadaranyaka U.), Tat tvam asi (“Thou art That” — Chhandogya U.) and Ayam atma Brahma (“The soul is God” — Mandukya U.).

Mahodara: “Big-bellied.” Ganesha’s aspect as the dispeller of moha, infatuation or delusion.

mala: “Impurity.” An important term in Saivism referring to three bonds, called pasha — anava, karma, and maya — which limit the soul, preventing it from knowing its true, divine nature. See: liberation, pasha.

mala: “Garland.” A strand of beads for holy recitation, japa, usually made of rudraksha, tulasi, sandalwood or crystal. Also a flower garland.

mamata: “Egoity, self-interest, selfishness.”

manas: “Mind; understanding.” The lower or instinctive mind, seat of desire and governor of sensory and motor organs, called indriyas. Manas is termed the undisciplined, empirical mind. Manas is characterized by desire, determination, doubt, faith, lack of faith, steadfastness, lack of steadfastness, shame, intellection and fear. It is a faculty of manomaya kosha, the lower astral or instinctive-intellectual sheath. See: awareness, indriya, instinctive mind, kosha, mind (individual).

mandapa: From mand, “to deck, adorn.” Temple precinct; a temple compound, open hall or chamber. In entering a large temple, one passes through a series of mandapas, each named according to its position, e.g., mukhamandapa, “front chamber.” In some temples, mandapas are concentrically arranged. See: temple.

mandira: “Abode.” A temple or shrine; sanctuary. See: temple.

Mandukya Upanishad: A “principal” Upanishad (belonging to the Atharva Veda) which, in 12 concise verses, teaches of Aum and the four states (avastha) of awareness: waking (vishva), dreaming (taijasa), dreamless sleep (prajna) and transcendent, spiritual consciousness (turiya).

manipura chakra: “Wheeled city of jewels.” Solar-plexus center of willpower. See: chakra.

Manikkavasagar: “He of ruby-like utterances.” Tamil saint who contributed to the medieval Saivite renaissance (ca 850). He gave up his position as prime minister to follow a renunciate life. His poetic Tiruvasagam, “Holy Utterances” — a major Saiva Siddhanta scripture (part of the eighth Tirumurai) and a jewel of Tamil literature — express his aspirations, trials and yogic realizations.

mansahari: “Meat-eater.” Those who follow a non-vegetarian diet. See: meat-eater, vegetarian.

mantra: “Mystic formula.” A sound, syllable, word or phrase endowed with special power, usually drawn from scripture. Mantras are chanted loudly during puja to invoke the Gods and establish a force field. To be truly effective, such mantras must be given by the preceptor through initiation.

marga: “Path; way.” From marg, “to seek.” See: pada.

Markali Pillaiyar: A month-long, December-January (Markali) festival to Ganesha in the form of Lord Pillaiyar, the Noble Child. Worship, prayer and other spiritual disciplines are commenced during this special period of sadhana, and the home is cleaned thoroughly each day.

materialism (materialistic): The doctrine that matter is the only reality, that all life, thought and feelings are but the effects of movements of matter, and that there exist no worlds but the physical. See: worldly.

materialist: One who believes that physical comfort, pleasure and wealth are the only or the highest goals of life; that matter is the only reality.

matrikakshara: A syllable of the Sanskrit alphabet (numbering 51). From matrika, “little mother,” and akshara, “imperishable,” immutable,” hence “syllable.”

matsarya: “Jealousy.”

maya: “Consisting of; made of,” as in manomaya, “made of mind.”

maya: From the verb root ma, “to measure,” “to limit,” “give form.” The principle of appearance or manifestation of God’s power or “mirific energy,” “that which measures.” The substance emanated from Siva through which the world of form is manifested. Hence all creation is also termed maya. It is the cosmic creative force, the principle of manifestation, ever in the process of creation, preservation and dissolution. See: loka, mind (universal).

mayura: “Peacock.” The vahana, or mount, of Lord Karttikeya, symbolizing effulgent beauty and religion in full glory. The peacock is able to control powerful snakes, such as the cobra, symbolizing the soulful domination of the instinctive elements — or control of the kundalini, which is yoga. See: Karttikeya, vahana.

Mayureshvara: “Peacock Lord.” The Ganesha murti enshrined at the Morgaon Temple south of Pune, Maharashtra.

meandering: Tortuous, winding back and forth.

meat-eater: Mansahari. Those who follow a nonvegetarian diet. See: vegetarianism.

meditation: Dhyana. Sustained concentration. Meditation describes a quiet, alert, powerfully concentrated state wherein new knowledge and insights are awakened from within as awareness focuses one-pointedly on an object or specific line of thought. See: raja yoga, yoga.

mediumship: Act or practice of serving as a channel through which beings of inner worlds communicate with humans. See: folk-shamanic, trance.

menses: A woman’s monthly menstruation period, during which, by Hindu tradition, she rests from her usual activities and forgoes public and family religious functions.

mentor: One who advises, teaches, instructs, either formally or informally.

merge: To lose distinctness or identity by being absorbed. To unite or become one with.

merger of the soul: See: evolution of the soul, vishvagrasa.

metabolism: The system of physical and chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life. The life processes, consisting of anabolism (the changing of food into living tissue) and catabolism (the degeneration of living tissue).

microcosm-macrocosm: “Little world” or “miniature universe” as compared with “great world.” Microcosm refers to the internal source of something larger or more external (macrocosm). In Hindu cosmology, the outer world is a macrocosm of the inner world, which is its microcosm and is mystically larger and more complex than the physical universe and functions at a higher rate of vibration and even a different rate of time. The microcosm precedes the macrocosm. Thus, the guiding principle of the Bhuloka comes from the Antarloka and Sivaloka. Consciousness precedes physical form. In the tantric tradition, the body of man is viewed as a microcosm of the entire divine creation. “Microcosm-macrocosm” is embodied in the terms pinda and anda. See: quantum, tantra, tattva.

millennium: A period of 1,000 years. millennia: Plural of millennium.

mind (five states): A view of the mind in five parts. — conscious mind (Jagrat chitta, “wakeful consciousness”): The ordinary, waking, thinking state of mind in which the majority of people function most of the day. — subconscious mind (Samskara chitta, “impression mind”): The part of mind “beneath” the conscious mind, the storehouse or recorder of all experience (whether remembered consciously or not) — the holder of past impressions, reactions and desires. Also, the seat of involuntary physiological processes. — subsubconscious mind (Vasana chitta, “mind of subliminal traits”): The area of the subconscious mind formed when two thoughts or experiences of the same rate of intensity are sent into the subconscious at different times and, intermingling, give rise to a new and totally different rate of vibration. This subconscious formation later causes the external mind to react to situations according to these accumulated vibrations, be they positive, negative or mixed. — superconscious mind (Karana chitta): The mind of light, the all-knowing intelligence of the soul. At its deepest level, the superconscious is Parashakti, or Satchidananda, the Divine Mind of God Siva. — subsuperconscious mind (Anukarana chitta): The superconscious mind working through the conscious and subconscious states, which brings forth intuition, clarity and insight. See: chitta, consciousness, samskara.

mind (individual): At the microcosmic level of individual souls, mind is consciousness and its faculties of memory, desire, thought and cognition. Individual mind is chitta, “mind, consciousness” and its three-fold expression is called antahkarana, “inner faculty,” composed of: 1) buddhi (“intellect, reason, logic,” higher mind); 2) ahamkara (“I-maker,” egoity); 3) manas (“lower mind,” instinctive-intellectual mind, the seat of desire).

mind (three phases): A perspective of mind as instinctive, intellectual and superconscious. — instinctive mind (Manas chitta): the seat of desire and governor of sensory and motor organs. — intellectual mind (Buddhi chitta): the faculty of thought and intelligence. — superconscious mind (Karana chitta): the strata of intuition, benevolence and spiritual sustenance. Its most refined essence is Parasakti, or Satchidananda, all-knowing, omnipresent consciousness, the One transcendental, self-luminous, divine mind common to all souls. See: consciousness, mind (five states).

mind (universal): In the most profound sense, mind is the sum of all things, all energies and manifestations, all forms, subtle and gross, sacred and mundane. It is the inner and outer cosmos. Mind is maya. It is the material matrix. It is everything but That, the Self within, Parashiva. See: chitta, consciousness, maya.

mirific: “Wonder-making, magical, astonishing.”

mleccha: “One who speaks indistinctly (like a foreigner).” A foreigner or barbarian, one who does not conform to Hindu culture; a non-Hindu.

moda: “Arrogance.” Ganesha’s aspect as the conquerer of mamata, egoity.

modaka: “Sweets.” A round lemon-sized sweet made of rice, coconut, sugar, etc. It is a favorite treat of Ganesha. Esoterically, it corresponds to siddhi (attainment or fulfillment), the gladdening contentment of pure joy, the sweetest of all things sweet. See: Ganesha.

modakapatra: “Bowl of sweets.” The modaka, loving Ganesha’s favorite sweet, represents all good things, especially moksha, liberation.

moha: “Infatuation, delusion.”

moksha: “Liberation.” Release from transmigration, samsara, the round of births and deaths, which occurs after karma has been resolved and nirvikalpa samadhi — realization of the Self, Parashiva — has been attained. Same as mukti. See: kundalini, liberation.

monastic: A monk or nun (based on the Greek monos, “alone”). A man or woman who has withdrawn from the world and lives an austere, religious life, either alone or with others in a monastery. (Not to be confused with monistic, having to do with the doctrine of monism.) A monastery-dweller is a mathavasi, and sadhu is a rough equivalent for mendicant. See: sannyasin.

monism: “Doctrine of oneness.” 1) The philosophical view that there is only one ultimate substance or principle. 2) The view that reality is a unified whole without independent parts. See: advaita.

monistic: Expressive of the belief that reality is of one kind or substance.

monistic theism: Advaita Ishvaravada. Monism is the doctrine that reality is a one whole or existence without independent parts. Theism is the belief that God exists as a real, conscious, personal Supreme Being. Monistic theism is the dipolar doctrine, also called panentheism, that embraces both monism and theism, two perspectives ordinarily considered contradictory or mutually exclusive, since theism implies dualism. Monistic theism simultaneously accepts that 1) God has a personal form, 2) that He creates, pervades and is all that exists, and 3) that He ultimately transcends all existence and that the soul is, in essence, one with God. See: advaita, theism.

monotheism: “Doctrine of one God.” Contrasted with polytheism, meaning belief in many Gods. The term monotheism covers a wide range of philosophical positions, from exclusive (or pure) monotheism, which recognizes only one God (such as in Semitic faiths), to inclusive monotheism, which also accepts the existence of other Gods. Generally speaking, the denominations of Hinduism are inclusively monotheistic in their belief in a one Supreme God and in their reverence for other Gods, or Mahadevas.

mridanga: A kind of Indian drum, barrel-shaped and two-headed.

mrigi mudra: “Deer gesture.” The right hand is held in the shape of the profile of a deer’s head: the thumb, second finger and third finger touching to form the upper jaw, and the first and fourth fingers kept straight, forming the ears. During puja a flower is held in this mudra (in the “deer’s mouth,” facing outward) to sprinkle water and waft food essences toward the Deity.

mudgara: “A hammer or mallet.” An emblem of arts and crafts, also a weapon in Hindu iconography.

mudra: “Seal.” Esoteric hand gestures which express specific energies or powers. Usually accompanied by precise visualizations, mudras are a vital element of ritual worship (puja), dance and yoga. Among the best-known mudras are: 1) abhaya mudra (gesture of fearlessness), in which the fingers are extended, palm facing forward; 2) anjali mudra (gesture of reverence); 3) jnana mudra (also known as chin mudra and yoga mudra), in which the thumb and index finger touch, forming a circle, with the other fingers extended; 4) dhyana mudra (seal of meditation), in which the two hands are open and relaxed with the palms up, resting on the folded legs, the right hand atop the left with the tips of the thumbs gently touching. See: abhaya mudra, anjali mudra, hatha yoga, namaskara.

mukti: “Release.” A synonym for moksha. See: moksha.

muladhara chakra: “Root support center,” from mula, “root,” and adhara, “supporting.” The psychic center located at the base of the spine and governing memory, time and space. The first of seven nerve plexuses or centers of force and consciousness in the psychic nerve system of man, located along the spinal column from its base to the cranial chamber. Loving Ganesha, seated on the four-petalled muladhara, rules memory and knowledge as gatekeeper to the six chakras above and as guard of the seven below.

mulaka: “Radish.”

murti: “Form; manifestation, embodiment, personification.” An image or icon of God or one of the many Gods used during worship. Murtis range from aniconic (avyakta, “nonmanifest”), such as the Sivalinga, to vyakta “fully manifest,” e.g., anthropomorphic images such as Nataraja. In-between is the partially manifest (vyaktavyakta), e.g., the mukha linga, in which the face of Siva appears on the Sivalinga. Other Deity representations include symbols, e.g., the banyan tree, and geometric designs such as yantras and mandalas. Svayambhu names a murti discovered in nature and not carved or crafted by human hands. Another important term for the Deity icon or idol is pratima, “reflected image.” See: Ishta Devata.

Murugan: “Beautiful one,” a favorite name of Karttikeya among the Tamils of South India, Sri Lanka and elsewhere. See: Karttikeya.

mushika: From mush, “to steal.” The mouse, Lord Ganesha’s mount, traditionally associated with abundance. Symbolically, the mouse carries Lord Ganesha’s grace into every corner of the mind. See: Ganesha, vahana.

nada: “Sound; tone, vibration.” Metaphysically, the mystic sounds of the Eternal, of which the highest is the transcendent or Soundless Sound, Paranada, the first vibration from which creation emanates. From Paranada comes Pranava, Aum, and further evolutes of nada. These are experienced by the meditator as the nadanadi shakti, “the energy current of sound,” heard pulsing through the nerve system as a constant high-pitched hum, much like a tambura, an electrical transformer, a swarm of bees or a shruti box. Most commonly, nada refers to ordinary sound. See: Aum, Siva consciousness.

nadi: “Conduit.” A nerve fiber or energy channel of the subtle (inner) bodies of man. It is said there are 72,000. These interconnect the chakras. The three main nadis are named ida, pingala and sushumna. — ida: Also known as chandra (“moon”) nadi, it is pink in color and flows downward, ending on the left side of the body. This current is feminine in nature and is the channel of physical-emotional energy.— pingala: Also known as surya (“sun”) nadi, it is blue in color and flows upward, ending on the right side of the body. This current is masculine in nature and is the channel of intellectual-mental energy. — sushumna: The major nerve current which passes through the spinal column from the muladhara chakra at the base to the sahasrara at the crown of the head. It is the channel of kundalini. Through yoga, the kundalini energy lying dormant in the muladhara is awakened and made to rise up this channel through each chakra to the sahasrara chakra. See: chakra, kundalini, raja yoga, tantrism.

naga: “Serpent,” often the cobra; symbol of the kundalini coiled on the four petals of the muladhara chakra. See: kundalini, muladhara chakra.

nagapasha: “Snake cord,” worn by Ganesha in His various murtis, both as a waist band and as a sacred thread (yajnopavita), representing mastery of the life forces and transmutation of instinctiveness into spirituality.

nagasvara: “Snake note.” A double-reed woodwind about three feet long, similar to an oboe but more shrill and piercing, common in South India, played at Hindu pujas and processions with the tavil, a large drum.

naivedya: Food offered to the Deity at the temple or home altar. An important element in puja. See: prasada, puja.

nakshatra: “Star cluster.” Central to astrological determinations, the nakshatras are 27 star-clusters, constellations, which lie along the ecliptic, or path of the sun. An individual’s nakshatra, or birth star, is the constellation the moon was aligned with at the time of his birth. See: jyotisha.

namah: “Adoration (or homage) to.”

Namah Sivaya: “Adoration (or homage) to Siva.” The supreme mantra of Saivism, known as the Panchakshara or “five syllables.” Na is the Lord’s veiling grace; Ma is the world; Shi is Siva; Va is His revealing grace; Ya is the soul. The letters also represent the physical body: Na the legs, Ma the stomach, Shi the shoulders, Va the mouth and Ya the eyes. Embodying the essence of Saiva Siddhanta, it is found in the center of the central Veda (the Yajur) of the original three Vedas (Rig, Yajur and Sama) — Krishna Yajur Veda, Taittiriya Samhita 4.5.8.

namakarana: “Name giving.” See: samskara.

namaskara: “Reverent salutations.” Traditional Hindu verbal greeting and mudra where the palms are joined together and held before the heart or raised to the level of the forehead. The mudra is also called anjali.

namaste: “Reverent salutations to you.” A traditional verbal greeting. A form of namas, meaning “bowing, obeisance.” See: namaskara.

Nandi: “The joyful.” A white bull with a black tail, the vahana, or mount, of Lord Siva, symbol of the powerful instinctive force tamed by Him. Nandi is the perfect devotee, the soul of man, kneeling humbly before God Siva, ever concentrated on Him. The ideal and goal of the Siva bhakta is to behold Siva in everything. See: vahana.

Nandinatha Sampradaya: See: Natha Sampradaya.

Naraka: Abode of darkness.Literally, “pertaining to man.” The lower worlds. Equivalent to the Western term hell, a gross region of the Antarloka. Naraka is a congested, distressful area where demonic beings and young souls may sojourn until they resolve the darksome karmas they have created. Here beings suffer the consequences of their own misdeeds in previous lives. Naraka is understood as having seven regions, called tala, corresponding to the states of consciousness of the seven lower chakras as follows: 1) Put, “childless” (atala chakra, “wheel of the bottomless region”): Fear and lust (located in the hips). 2) Avichi, “joyless” (vitala chakra: “wheel of negative region”): Center of anger (thighs). 3) Samhata, “abandoned” (sutala chakra: “Great depth”): Region of jealousy (knees). 4) Tamisra, “darkness” (talatala chakra: “wheel of the lower region”): Realm of confused thinking (calves). 5) Rijisha, “expelled” (rasatala chakra: “wheel of subterranean region”): Selfishness (ankles). 6) Kudmala, “leprous” (mahatala chakra: “wheel of the great lower region”): Region of consciencelessness (feet). The intensity of “hell” begins at this deep level. 7) Kakola, “black poison” (patala chakra, “wheel of the fallen or sinful level”): Region of malice (soles of the feet). See: hell, loka, tala (also, individual tala entries).

narikela: “Coconut.” In front of Ganesha shrines the world over, husked coconuts are broken as an act of prayer, symbolizing the ego’s shattering to reveal the soul’s innate sweet, pure nature. The coconut, circled by five mango leaves, nested on a pot of water, is worshiped as a Deity image, especially as Lord Ganesha, during certain puja rites.

Nataraja: “King of Dance,” or “King of Dancers.” God as the Cosmic Dancer. Perhaps Hinduism’s richest and most eloquent symbol, Nataraja represents Siva, the Primal Soul, Parameshvara, as the power, energy and life of all that exists. This is Siva’s intricate state of Being in Manifestation. See: nada, Parameshvara, Parashakti, Parashiva.

Natchintanai: “Good thoughts.”The collected songs of Sage Yogaswami (1872 — 1964) of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, extolling the power of the satguru, worship of Lord Siva, the path of dharma and the attainment of Self Realization.

Natha: “Master, lord; adept.” Names an ancient Himalayan tradition of Saiva-yoga mysticism, whose first historically known exponent was Nandikeshvara (ca 250 BCE). Natha — Self-Realized adept — designates the extraordinary ascetic masters (or devotees) of this school. The Nathas are considered the source of hatha as well as raja yoga.

Natha Sampradaya: “Transmitted doctrine (or theology) of the masters.” Sampradaya means a living stream of tradition or theology. Natha Sampradaya isa philosophical and yogic tradition of Saivism whose origins are unknown. This oldest of Saivite sampradayas existing today consists of two major streams: the Nandinatha and the Adinatha. See: Kailasa Parampara, Natha, Saivism, sampradaya.

Nayanar: “One who shows the way.” The 63 canonized Tamil saints of South India, as documented in the Periyapuranam by Sekkilar (ca 1140). All but a few were householders, honored as exemplars of radical devotion to Lord Siva, though their biographies are perhaps historically inaccurate and the actions of some were violent, even heinous. Several contributed to the Saiva Siddhanta scriptural compendium called Tirumurai.

negative attachment: A fear, worry or doubt of the future or a lingering regret about the past that keeps one from “flowing with the river of life” (living fully in the moment as an independent, spiritual being, facing each experience in the light of understanding).

nervine: An ingestive substance that strengthens activity of the nervous system, such as stimulants and sedatives.

nilapadma: “Blue water lily.”

Nirguna Brahman: “God without qualities.” See: Brahman.

nityavak: “The eternal Word.” An expression from the Vedas describing the primal sound, the Word, the first impulse of creation. See: vak.

niyama: “Restraint.” See: yama-niyama.

nondualism: “Not two-ness.” Monistic philosophy. See: advaita, monism, monistic theism, Vedanta.

Nritya Ganapati: A name and traditional murti, or form, of Ganesha. “He who is dancing,”a four-armed golden murti under a kalpavriksha, wish-fulfilling, tree.

nurture: To raise or promote development, train; educate or foster.

occult: Hidden, secret; revealed only after initiation.

olai: “Leaf.” An ancient form of Indian books used in South India, made of strips of fronds from the palmyra (trindruma) and talipot (talapatra, “fan-leaf”) palms. Prepared birch bark (bhurja patra) was the medium in the North. These books are average about 2 inches high and 8 inches wide and up to 11 or 12 inches thick, wound with string and generally protected in colored cloth.

old soul: One who has reincarnated many times, experienced much and is therefore farther along the path. Old souls may be recognized by their qualities of compassion, self-effacement and wisdom. See: soul.

Om: “Yes, verily.” The most sacred mantra of Hinduism. An alternate transliteration of Aum (the sounds A and U blend to become O). See: Aum.

Omkara: “Impulse of the cosmic sound.” A name of God as the source, or creator, of Primal Sound, Aum. See: Aum.

omnipotent: All-powerful. Able to do anything.

omnipresent: Present everywhere and in all things.

omniscient: Possessing infinite knowledge, all-knowing.

ordain (ordination): To confer the duties and responsibilities, authority and spiritual power of a religious office, such as priest, minister or satguru, through religious ceremony or mystical initiation. See: diksha.

orifice of Brahman: See: door of Brahman.

pada: “The foot (of men and animals); quarter-part, section; stage; path.” Names the four major sections of the Agamic texts and the corresponding stages of practice and unfoldment on the path to moksha. — charya pada (“Good conduct stage”): Stage one, learning to live righteously and serve selflessly, performing karma yoga. Traditional acts of charya include cleaning the temple, lighting lamps and collecting flowers for worship. Worship at this stage is mostly external. — kriyapada (“Religious action; worship stage”): Stage of bhakti yoga, of cultivating devotion through performing puja and regular daily sadhana. A central practice of the kriya pada is performing daily puja. — yogapada: (“Stage of uniting”): Having matured in the charya and kriya padas, the soul now turns to internalized worship and raja yoga under the guidance of a satguru. It is a time of sadhana and serious striving when realization of the Self is the goal. — jnanapada (“Stage of wisdom”): Once the soul has attained Realization, it is henceforth a wise one, who lives out the life of the body, shedding blessings on mankind. This stage is also called the San Marga, “true path.” See: jnana, yoga.

pada puja: “Foot worship.” Ceremonial worship of the guru’s sandals or holy feet, often through ablution with precious substances and offering of fruit and flowers. After the ceremony, the water of the bath, the fruit and other precious substances are partaken of as prasada by the devotees. See: guru, guru bhakti, paduka, prasada, ucchhishta.

padma: The lotus flower, Nelumbo nucifera, symbol of spiritual development and the chakras. Because it grows out of mud and rises to perfect purity and glory, it is an apt representation of spiritual unfoldment.

padmasana: “Lotus posture.” The most famous hatha yoga asana, the optimum pose for sustained meditation. The legs are crossed, the soles of the feet upward, resembling a lotus flower. In this pose the intellectual-emotional energies are balanced and quieted. See: raja yoga, yoga.

paduka: “Sandals.” Shri Paduka refers to the sandals of the preceptor, the traditional icon of the guru, representing his venerable feet and worshiped as the source of grace. Paduka also names one of Vira Saivism’s eight aids (ashtavarana) to faith — the practice of drinking the water from the ceremonial washing of the Sivalinga or the guru’s feet. See: guru bhakti, prasada, satguru, ucchhishta.

panasa phala: Jackfruit.

panchabhuta: “Five elements.” Earth, water, fire, air and ether. Also called mahabhuta. See: indriya, tattva.

Pancha Ganapati: A name and murti of Lord Ganesha with five (pancha) heads (more fully Panchamukha “Five-faced”). Ganesha in this form is worshiped especially during the Pancha Ganapati festival, December 20-25, a time of gift-giving, celebration and renewal of harmony in personal relationships.

pancha kriya(s): “Five duties.” See: pancha nitya karma(s).

Panchakshara Mantra: “Five-syllabled incantation.” Saivism’s most sacred mantra, Namah Sivaya, “Homage to Siva.” See: Namah Sivaya.

panchanga: “Five limbs.” The traditional Hindu sacred calendar, so named for its five basic elements: tithi (lunar day), nakshatra (asterism), karana (half lunar day), yoga (sun-moon angle) and vara (week day). Panchangas are used by priests, astrologers and lay persons to determine the optimum times for various types of actitivies.

pancha nitya karma(s): “Five constant duties.” A traditional regimen of religious practice for Hindus: 1) dharma (virtuous living), 2)upasana (worship), 3) utsava (holy days), 4) tirthayatra (pilgrimage) and 5) samskaras (sacraments.) See: dharma, festival, pilgrimage, samskara.

pandit (pandita): “Learned one.”Hindu religious scholar or theologian, well versed in philosophy, liturgy, religious law and sacred science.

panentheism: “All-in-God doctrine.” The view that the universe is part of the being of God, as distinguished from pantheism (“all-is-God doctrine”), which identifies God with the total reality. In contrast, panentheism holds that God pervades the world, but is also beyond it. He is immanent and transcendent, relative and Absolute. This embracing of opposites is called dipolar. For the panentheist, God is in all, and all is in God. Panentheism is the technical term for monistic theism. See: dvaita-advaita, monistic theism.

pantheon: All the Gods of a religion together.

papa: “Wickedness; sin, crime.” 1) Bad or evil. 2) Wrongful action. 3) Demerit earned through wrongdoing. Papa includes all forms of wrongdoing, from the simplest infraction to the most heinous crime. Each act of papa carries its karmic consequence, karmaphala, “fruit of action,” for which scriptures delineate specific penance for expiation. See: evil, karma, penance, punya, sin.

Paramatman: “Supreme Self,” or “transcendent soul.” Parashiva, Absolute Reality, the one transcendent Self of every soul. Contrasted with atman, which includes all three aspects of the soul: Parashiva, Parashakti and anandamaya kosha. See: Parashiva, Self, soul.

Parameshvara: “Supreme Lord or Ruler.” God Siva in the third perfection as Supreme Mahadeva, Siva-Shakti, mother of the universe. In this perfection as Personal, father-mother God, Siva is a person — who has a body, with head, arms and legs, etc. — who acts, wills, blesses, gives darshana, guides, creates, preserves, reabsorbs, obscures and enlightens. See: Nataraja.

paramount: Most important, highest.

parampara: “Uninterrupted succession.” Lineage. See: guru parampara.

Parartha Puja: “Public liturgy and worship.” See: puja.

Parashakti: “Supreme power; primal energy.” God Siva’s second perfection, which is impersonal, immanent, and with form — the all-pervasive, Pure Consciousness and Primal Substance of all that exists. There are many other descriptive names for Parashakti — Satchidananda (“existence-consciousness-bliss”), light, silence, divine mind, superconsciousness and more. The attainment of Parashakti is called savikalpa samadhi. See: Siva.

Parashiva: “Transcendent Siva.” The Self God, Siva in His first perfection, Absolute Reality. God Siva as That which is beyond the grasp of consciousness, transcends time, form and space and defies description. Attainment of this is called Self Realization or nirvikalpa samadhi. See: samadhi, Siva.

parashu: “Axe.”

parashvadha: “Battleaxe.”

Paravak: “The Primal Word.” See: vak.

Parvati: “Mountain’s daughter.” One of many names for the Universal Mother. Prayers are offered to Her for strength, health and eradication of impurities. Mythologically, Parvati is wedded to Siva. See: Goddess, Shakti.

pasha: “Tether; noose.” The whole of existence, manifest and unmanifest. That which binds or limits the soul and keeps it (for a time) from manifesting its full potential. Pasha refers to the soul’s three-fold bondage of anava, karma and maya. See: liberation, mala, Pati-pashu-pasha.

Pashanadarana: “Pick axe.”

pashyanti vak: “The word that perceives.” See: vak.

patala: “Fallen or sinful region.” The seventh chakra below the muladhara, centered in the soles of the feet. Corresponds to the seventh and lowest astral netherworld beneath the earth’s surface, called Kakola (“black poison”) or Patala. This is the realm in which misguided souls indulge in destruction for the sake of destruction, of torture, and of murder for the sake of murder. Patala also names the netherworld in general, and is a synonym for Naraka. See: chakra, loka, Naraka.

Patanjali: “Possessed of reverence.” Saivite Natha siddha (ca 200 BCE) who codified the ancient yoga philosophy which outlines the path to enlightenment through purification, control and transcendence of the mind. One of the six classical philosophical systems (darshanas) of Hinduism, known as Yoga Darshana. His great work, the Yoga Sutras, comprises 200 aphorisms delineating ashtanga (eight-limbed), raja (kingly) or siddha  (perfection) yoga. Still today it is the foremost text on meditative yoga. See: raja yoga, yoga.

pathashala: “Place of lessons.” A school for training temple priests.

Pati: “Master; lord; owner.” A name for God Siva indicating His commanding relationship with souls as caring ruler and helpful guide. In Saiva Siddhanta the term is part of the analogy of cowherd (pati), cows (pashu, souls) and the tether (pasha — anava, karma and maya) by which cows are tied. See: Pati-pashu-pasha, Siva.

Pati-pashu-pasha: Literally: “master, cow and tether.” These are the three primary elements (padartha, or tattvatrayi) of Saiva Siddhanta philosophy: God, soul and world — Divinity, man and cosmos — seen as a mystically and intricately interrelated unity. Pati is God, envisioned as a cowherd. Pashu is the soul, envisioned as a cow. Pasha is the all-important force or fetter by which God brings souls along the path to Truth. See: pasha, Saiva Siddhanta, soul.

patra: Worthy; literally, a “receptacle” as of a drinking vessel. The condition of being a fit receptacle for.

patronymic: A name derived from the name of a father or ancestor, especially through a suffix or prefix indicating descent.

payasa:  “Prepared with milk.”ÊTapioca or rice pudding.

penance: Prayashchitta. Atonement, expiation. An act of devotion (bhakti), austerity (tapas) or discipline (sukritya) undertaken to soften or nullify the anticipated reaction to a past action. Penance is uncomfortable karma inflicted upon oneself to mitigate one’s karmic burden caused by wrongful actions (kukarma). It includes such acts as prostrating 108 times, fasting, self-denial, or carrying kavadi (public penance), as well as more extreme austerities, or tapas. See: evil, kavadi, papa, sin.

Periyapuranam: Twelfth book of the Tirumurai. Story of the 63 Saiva Nayanar saints of Tamil Nadu, written by Sekkilar (CA 1140).

perpetuate: Cause to continue or be remembered; to keep from being lost.

phala: “fruit.”

pilgrimage: Tirthayatra. “Journeying to a holy place.” Pilgrimage. One of the five sacred duties (pancha nitya karmas) of the Hindu is to journey periodically to one of the innumerable holy spots in India or other countries. Preceded by fasting and continence, it is a time of austerity and purification, when all worldly concerns are set aside and God becomes one’s singular focus. See: pancha nitya karma.

pingala: “Tawny channel.” The masculine psychic current flowing along the spine. See: kundalini, nadi, raja yoga.

pitri tarpana: “Libations to ancestors.” A sacred rite of offering water to deceased ancestors. One of the five daily sacrifices prescribed in the Dharma Shastras. See: pancha mahayajnas.

plague: To distress, afflict, trouble or torment.

polytheism: Belief in or worship of many Gods. See also: monotheism.

pontiff: High priest; a spiritual leader endowed with great honor and authority.

prabhavali: “Luminous circle.” The ornate arch, made of stone or metal, that stands just behind and above Deity images in temples and shrines. It connotes the cycle of creation, preservation and destruction. At the top of the arch is the fierce face of Mahakala, the God of time, who transcends form and ultimately claims everything.

pradakshina: “Moving rightward.” Worshipful circumambulation, walking clockwise around the temple sanctum or other holy place, with the intention of shifting the mind from worldly concerns to awareness of the Divine. Clockwise has esoteric significance in that the chakras of muladhara and above spin clockwise, while those below spin counterclockwise, taking one down into the lower regions of selfishness, greed, conflict and turmoil.

prakriti: “Primary matter; nature.” In the 25-tattva Sankhya system — which concerns itself only with the tangible spectrum of creation — prakriti, or pradhana, is one of two supreme beginningless realities: matter and spirit, prakriti and purusha, the female and male principles. Prakriti is the manifesting aspect, as contrasted with the quiescent unmanifest (purusha) which is pure consciousness. In Saivite cosmology, prakriti is the 24th of 36 tattvas, the potentiality of the physical cosmos, the gross energy from which all lower tattvas are formed. Its three qualities are sattva, rajas and tamas. See: purusha, tattva.

prana: Vital energy or life principle. Literally, “vital air,” from the root pran, “to breathe.” Prana in the human body moves in the pranamaya kosha as five primary life currents known as vayus, “vital airs or winds.” These are prana (outgoing breath), apana (incoming breath), vyana (retained breath), udana (ascending breath) and samana (equalizing breath). Each governs crucial bodily functions, and all bodily energies are modifications of these. Usually prana refers to the life principle; but sometimes it denotes energy, power or the animating force of the cosmos. See: kosha, tattva.

pranama: “Obeisance; bowing down.” Reverent salutation in which the head or body is bowed. — ashtanga pranama (“Eight-limbed obeisance”): the full prostration for men, in which the hands, chest, forehead, knees and feet touch the ground. (Same as shashtanga pranama.) — panchanga pranama (“Five-limbed obeisance”): the woman’s form of prostration, in which the hands, head and legs touch the ground (with the ankles crossed, right over the left). A more exacting term for prostration is pranipata, “falling down in obeisance.” See: bhakti, namaskara, prapatti.

Pranava: “Humming.” The mantra Aum, denoting God as the Primal Sound. It can be heard as the sound of one’s own nerve system, like the sound of an electrical transformer or a swarm of bees. The meditator is taught to inwardly transform this sound into the inner light which lights the thoughts, and bask in this blissful consciousness. Pranava is also known as the sound of the nadanadi shakti. See: Aum,.

pranayama: “Breath control.”See: raja yoga.

prapatti: “Throwing oneself down.” Bhakti — total, unconditional submission to God, often coupled with the attitude of personal helplessness, self-effacement and resignation. A term especially used in Vaishnavism to name a concept extremely central to virtually all Hindu schools. See: bhakti, grace, pada, surrender.

prarabdha karma: “Action that has been unleashed or aroused.” See: karma.

prasada: “Clarity, brightness; grace.” 1) The virtue of serenity and graciousness. 2) Food offered to the Deity or the guru, or the blessed remnants of such food. 3) Any propitiatory offering. See: sacrament.

prashnottara: “Question-answer (prashna-uttara).” A term for catechism, an interrogatory summation of religious doctrine.

precept: A commandment meant as a rule of action or conduct.

preceptor: Highly respected teacher and head of a spiritual order and clan; the equivalent of the word satguru.

preside: To be chairman at a gathering, in a position of authority within a group. To have charge of; to dominate.

Primal Soul: The uncreated, original, perfect soul — Siva Parameshvara — who emanates from Himself the inner and outer universes and an infinite plurality of individual souls whose essence is identical with His essence. God in His personal aspect as Lord and Creator, depicted in many forms: Nataraja by Saivites, Vishnu by Vaishnavites, Devi by Shaktas. See: Nataraja, Parameshvara.

Primal Sound: In Hinduism, sound is the first manifestation, even before light, in the creative scheme of things. The Primal Sound is also known as Pranava, the sound of the mula mantra, “Aum.” See: Pranava.

prithivi tattva: “Earth element.” See: tanmatra, tattva.

prostration: See: pranama.

protocol: Customs of proper etiquette and ceremony, especially in relation to religious or political dignitaries. See: culture.

psychic: “Of the psyche or soul.” Sensitive to spiritual processes and energies. Inwardly or intuitively aware of nonphysical realities; able to use powers such as clairvoyance, clairaudience and precognition. Nonphysical, subtle; pertaining to the deeper aspects of man. See: clairaudience, clairvoyance.

puja: “Worship, adoration.” An Agamic rite of worship performed in the home, temple or shrine, to the murti (Deity image), shri paduka (holy sandals), or other consecrated object, or to a person, such as the satguru. Its inner purpose is to purify the atmosphere around the object worshiped, establish a connection with the inner worlds and invoke the presence of God, Gods or one’s guru. During puja, the officiant (pujari) recites various chants praising the Divine and beseeching divine blessings, while making offerings in accordance with established traditions. Puja, the worship of a murti through water, lights and flowers in temples and shrines, is the Agamic counterpart of the Vedic yajna rite, in which offerings are conveyed through the sacred homa fire. These are the two great streams of adoration and communion in Hinduism. — Atmartha Puja: Karana Agama, v. 2, states: Atmartha cha parartha cha puja dvividhamuchyate, “Worship is two-fold: for the benefit of oneself and for the benefit of others.” Atmartha Puja is done for oneself and immediate family, usually at home in a private shrine. — Parartha Puja: “Puja for others.” Parartha Puja is public puja performed by authorized or ordained priests in a public shrine or temple.

pujari: “Worshiper.” A general term for Hindu temple priests, as well as anyone performing puja. Pujari (sometimes pujari)  is the Hindi form of the Sanskrit pujaka; pusari in Tamil. Archaka is another term for the officiant priest used in the southern tradition. Purohita is a Smarta brahmin priest who specializes in domestic rites. See: puja.

punarjanma: “Reincarnation.”From punah, “again and again,” and janma, “taking birth.” See: reincarnation.

pundit: See: pandit.

punya: “Holy; virtuous; auspicious.” 1) Good or righteous. 2) Meritorious action. 3) Merit earned through right thought, word and action. Punya includes all forms of doing good, from the simplest helpful deed to a lifetime of conscientious beneficence. Each act of punya carries its karmic consequence, karmaphala, “fruit of action” — the positive reward of actions, words and deeds that are in keeping with dharma. See: karma, papa, penance.

Purana: “Ancient (lore).” Hindu folk narratives containing ethical and cosmological teachings relative to Gods, man and the world. They revolve around five subjects: primary creation, secondary creation, genealogy, cycles of time and history. There are 18 major Puranas which are designated as either Saivite, Vaishnavite or Shakta.

Pure Consciousness: See: Parashakti.

purusha: “The spirit that dwells in the body/in the universe.”ÊPerson; spirit; man. Metaphysically, the soul, neither male nor female. Also used in Yoga and Sankhya for the transcendent Self. A synonym for atman. Purusha can also refer to the Supreme Being or Soul, as it sometimes does in the Upanishads. See: atman, jiva, prakriti, soul, tattva.

purushartha: “Human wealth or purpose.” The four pursuits in which humans may legitimately engage, a basic principle of Hindu ethics. — dharma (“Righteous living”): The fulfillment of virtue, good works, duties and responsibilities, restraints and observances — performing one’s part in the service and upliftment of society. This includes pursuit of truth under a guru of a particular parampara and sampradaya. See: dharma. — artha (“Wealth”): Material welfare and abundance, money, property, possessions. Artha is the pursuit of wealth, guided by dharma. It includes the basic needs — food, money, clothing and shelter — and extends to the wealth required to maintain a comfortable home, raise a family, fulfill a successful career and perform religious duties. See: yajna. — kama (“Pleasure, love; enjoyment”): Earthly love, aesthetic and cultural fulfillment, pleasures of the world (including sexual), the joys of family, intellectual satisfaction. Enjoyment of happiness, security, creativity, usefulness and inspiration. — moksha (“Liberation”): Freedom from rebirth through the ultimate attainment, realization of the Self God, Parashiva. The spiritual attainments and superconscious joys, attending renunciation and yoga leading to Self Realization. Moksha comes through the fulfillment of dharma, artha and kama in the current or past lives, so that one is no longer attached to worldly joys or sorrows. See: liberation, moksha.

pushpashara: “Flower arrow.” A weapon wielded by loving Ganesha.

quantum: Quantity or amount. In science’s quantum theory, a fixed basic unit, usually of energy. — quantum particles of light: Light understood not as a continuum, but as traveling bundles each of a same intensity. Deeper still, these particles originate and resolve themselves in a one divine energy. — at the quantum level (of the mind): Deep within the mind, at a subtle energy level.

quatrain: A stanza or poem of four lines.

quell: To quiet, subdue or put an end to.

Radhakrishnan, Dr. S.: (1888-1975) A President of India (1962 to 1967), an outstanding scholar, philosopher, prolific writer, compelling speaker and effective spokesman of Hinduism. Along with Vivekananda, Tagore, Aurobindo and others, he helped bring about the current Hindu revival. See also: Vedanta.

raga: “That which enraptures.” In the structure of melody in Indian music, a specific collection of sounds or notes. Raga is similar to “scale” in Western notation, but raga includes the unique emotional or mystical mood created when the melody is heard.

rajas: “Passion; activity.” See: guna.

raja yoga: “King of yogas.” Also known as ashtanga yoga, “eight-limbed yoga.” The classical yoga system of eight progressive stages to Illumination as described in various yoga Upanishads, the Tirumantiram and, most notably, the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. The eight stages are: yama (restraints), niyama (observances), asana (posture), pranayama (breath control), pratyahara (withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (enstasy, mystic oneness). See: enstasy, samadhi, yoga.

Rama: “Pleasing.” Venerated hero of the Ramayana epic, and one of the two most popular incarnations of Vishnu, along with Krishna. His worship is almost universal among Vaishnavas, and extensive among Smartas and other liberal Hindus. He was a great worshiper of Siva; and a Siva temple called Rameshvaram was built in his name at the southern tip of India.

Ramakrishna: (1836 — 1886) One of the great saints and mystics of modern Hinduism, a champion and exemplar of monistic theism. A fervent devotee of Mother Kali and staunch monist who taught oneness and the pursuit of nirvikalpa samadhi, realization of the Absolute. He was guru to the great Swami Vivekananda (1863 — 1902), who internationalized Hindu thought and philosophy.

Ramanuja: Philosopher (1017 — 1137), saint, great bhakta, founder of one of five major Vaishnava schools, and considered the greatest critic of advaita. In his famous Shri Bhashya on the Brahma Sutras, he countered Sankara’s absolute monism point-by-point with his qualified monism, called Vishishtadvaita Vedanta. See: Vedanta.

Ramayana: “Vehicle of Rama.” One of India’s two grand epics (Itihasa) along with the Mahabharata. It is Valmiki’s tragic love story of Rama and Sita, whose exemplary lives have helped set high standards of dignity and nobility as an integral part of Hindu dharma. Astronomical data in the story puts Rama’s reign at about 2015 BCE. See also: Itihasa, Mahabharata, Rama.

rangoli:  Traditional household and priestly art of “drawing” intricate decorative patterns at the entrance to a home or temple or at the site of a religious ceremony. Known as kolam in Tamil. Rangoli designs are made with rice powder mixed to a watery paste, and sometimes with flowers and various-colored powdered pulses.

rasatala: “Subterranean region.” The fifth chakra below the muladhara, centered in the ankles. Corresponds to the fifth astral netherworld beneath the earth’s surface, called Rijisha (“expelled”) or Rasatala. Region of selfishness, self-centeredness and possessiveness. Rasa means “earth, soil; moisture.” See: chakra, loka, Naraka.

ratnakumbha: “Pot of gems.”

reaction: A response to an action.

reconciliation: To harmonize quarrels or mend differences. A tithing reconciliation is a written accounting of income and tithing.

reincarnate: To take birth in another body, having lived and died before.

reincarnation: “Re-entering the flesh.” Punarjanma; metempsychosis. The process wherein souls take on a physical body through the birth process. The cycle of reincarnation ends when karma has been resolved and the Self God (Parashiva) has been realized. This condition of release is called moksha. Then the soul continues to evolve and mature, but without the need to return to physical existence. See: karma, moksha, samsara, soul.

religion: From Latin religare, “to bind back.” Any system of belief in and worship of suprahuman beings or powers and/or a Supreme Being or Power. Religion is a structured vehicle for soul advancement which often includes theology, scripture, spiritual and moral practices, priesthood and liturgy. See: Hinduism.

remorse: Deep guilt or regret over a wrong one has committed.

renunciate: One who has given up worldly life; a monk. See: sannyasin.

restraints: See: yama-niyama.

Rig Veda: “Veda of verse (rik).” The first and oldest of the four Veda compendia of revealed scriptures (shruti), including a hymn collection (Samhita), priestly explanatory manuals (Brahmanas), forest treatises (Aranyakas) elaborating on the Vedic rites, and philosophical dialogs (Upanishads). The oldest and core portion is the Samhita, believed to date back, in its oral form, as far as 8,000 years. It embodies prayerful hymns of praise and invocation to the Divinities of nature and to the One Divine. The Rig Veda Samhita, which in length equals Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey combined, is the most important Vedic hymn collection, for it lends a large number of its hymns to the other three Veda Samhitas (the Sama, Yajur and Atharva). Chronologically, after the Samhitas came the Brahmanas, followed by the Aranyakas, and finally the Upanishads, also called the Vedanta, meaning “Veda’s end.” See: shruti, Veda.

Rinamochana Ganapati: “The remover of bondage” is unique in that He holds a rose apple, goad, noose and His broken tusk.

rishi: “Seer.” A term for an enlightened being, emphasizing psychic perception and visionary wisdom.

rite (or ritual): A religious ceremony. See: sacrament, sacrifice, samskara.

rites of passage: Sacraments marking crucial stages of life. See: samskara.

rotundity: Roundness, plumpness.

Rudra: “Controller of awesome powers;” or “red, shining one.” The name of Siva as the God of dissolution, the universal force of reabsorption. Rudra-Siva is revered both as the “terrifying one” and the “lord of tears,” for He wields and controls the terrific powers which may cause lamentation among humans. See: Nataraja.

rudraksha: “Eye of Rudra;” or “red-eyed.” From rud, “to cry,” and aksha, meaning “eye.” Marble-sized, multi-faced, reddish-brown seeds from the Eleocarpus ganitrus, or blue marble tree, which are sacred to Siva and a symbol of His compassion for humanity. Garlands, rudraksha mala, of larger seeds are worn around the neck by monks; and nonmonastics, both men and women, often wear a single bead on a cord at the throat. Smaller beads (usually numbering 108) are strung together for japa (recitation). Indian legend records that God shed a tear when looking down upon the sorrowful plight of humanity. That tear fell to Earth and from it grew the first rudraksha tree. Thus its seeds are worn by Hindus as a symbol of Siva’s love and compassion. See: japa, mantra.

rudraksha mala: “Garland of Siva’s tears.” A strand of prayer beads, usually 108, to count the repetitions of a mantra. Ganesha’s holding a japa mala reminds us all to perform our daily japa yoga. See: rudraksha.

shabda kosha: “Sheath of sounds, or words.” Vocabulary; a dictionary or glossary of terms.

sacrament: 1) Holy rite, especially one solemnized in a formal, consecrated manner which is a bonding between the recipient and God, Gods or guru. This includes rites of passage (samskara), ceremonies sanctifying crucial events or stages of life. 2) Prasada. Sacred substances, blessed in ceremony or by a holy person. See: samskara.

sacred thread: Yajnopavita. See: upanayana.

sacrifice: Yajna. 1) Making offerings to a Deity as an expression of homage and devotion. 2) Giving up something, often one’s own possession, advantage or preference, to serve a higher purpose. The literal meaning of sacrifice is “to make sacred,” implying an act of worship. It is the most common translation of the term yajna, from the verb yuj, “to worship.” In Hinduism, all of life is a sacrifice — called jivayajna, a giving of oneself — through which comes true spiritual fulfillment. Tyaga, the power of detachment, is an essential quality of true sacrifice. See: surrender.

Sadashiva: “Ever-auspicious.” A name of the Primal Soul, Siva, a synonym for Parameshvara, which is expressed in the physical being of the satguru. Sadashiva especially denotes the power of revealing grace, anugraha shakti, the third tattva, after which emerge Siva’s other four divine powers. This five-fold manifestation or expression of God’s activity in the cosmos is depicted in Hindu mantras, literature and art as the five-faced Sadashivamurti. See: Parameshvara, tattva.

sadhaka: From sadh, “going straight to the goal.” A spiritual aspirant; a devotee who performs sadhana. A serious seeker who has undertaken spiritual disciplines, is usually celibate and under the guidance of a guru. He wears white and may be under simple vows, but is not a yogi or sannyasin. See: sadhana.

sadhana: “Effective means of attainment.” Self-effort, spiritual discipline; the way. Religious or spiritual disciplines, such as puja, yoga, meditation, japa, fasting and austerity. The effect of sadhana is the building of willpower, faith and confidence in oneself and in God, Gods and guru. See: pada, raja yoga, spiritual unfoldment.

sadhu: “Virtuous one; straight, unerring.” A holy man dedicated to the search for God. A sadhu may or may not be a yogi or a sannyasin, or be connected in any way with a guru or legitimate lineage. Sadhus usually have no fixed abode and travel unattached from place to place, often living on alms.

sadhvi: Feminine counterpart of sadhu. See: sadhu.

Saguna Brahman: Brahman “with qualities.” Describes Siva’s perfections of Satchidananda and Maheshvara, the Primal Soul and His Divine Mind — that part of God which is divine, all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful and omnipotent. See: Brahman.

sahasrara chakra: “Thousand-spoked wheel.” The cranial psychic force center. See: chakra.

Saiva: “Auspicious.” Of or relating to Saivism or its adherents, of whom there are about 400 million in the world today. Same as Saivite. See: Saivism.

Saiva Atmartha Puja: See: puja.

Saiva Siddhanta: “Final conclusions of Saivism.” The most widespread and influential Saivite school today, predominant especially among the Tamil people in Sri Lanka and South India. It is the formalized theology of the divine revelations contained in the twenty-eight Saiva Agamas. For Saiva Siddhantins, Siva is the totality of all, understood in three perfections: Parameshvara (the Personal Creator Lord), Parashakti (the substratum of form) and Parashiva (Absolute Reality which transcends all). Souls and world are identical in essence with Siva, yet also differ in that they are evolving. A pluralistic stream arose in the middle ages from the teachings of Aghorashiva and Meykandar, which denies that souls ever attain perfect sameness or unity with Siva. See: Saivism.

Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order: Ecclesiastical body of lifetime renunciate swamis, a sangam was founded by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1949.

Saivism(Saiva): The religion followed by those who worship Siva as supreme God. Oldest of the four denominations of Hinduism. The earliest historical evidence of Saivism is from the Indus Valley civilization (purported to be 6,000 to 8,000 years old) in the form of the renowned seal of Siva as Lord Pashupati, seated in a yogic pose. In the Ramayana, Lord Rama worshiped Siva, as did his rival Ravana. In 624 BCE Buddha was born a Saivite Hindu prince in a royal family, and records of his time speak of the Saiva ascetics who wandered the hills looking much as they do today.

Saivite(Saiva): Of or relating to Saivism or its adherents, of whom there are about 400 million in the world today. See: Saivism.

Saivite saints: See: Nayanar.

shakahara: “Vegetarian diet.” From shaka, “vegetable,” and ahara, “eating; taking food.” See: meat-eater, vegetarian, yama-niyama.

Shakta: “Powerful,” Of or relating to Shaktism. A follower of the Shakta Hindu religion. See: Shaktism.

shakti: “Power, energy” (from the root shak, “to be able”). The active power or manifest energy of Siva that pervades all of existence. Its most refined aspect is Parashakti, or Satchidananda, the pure consciousness and primal substratum of all form. In Saiva Siddhanta, Siva is All, and His divine energy, Shakti, is inseparable from Him. Shakti is most easily experienced by devotees as the sublime, bliss-inducing energy that emanates from a holy person or sanctified Hindu temple. See: kundalini, Parashakti, Shaktism.

Shakti Ganapati: “The powerful” is four-armed and seated with Shakti on His knee. He holds a garland and gestures abhaya mudra.

Shaktis: “Consorts.” Loving Ganesha is often seen with two female consorts, or shaktis. They represent ida and pingala, the two life currents, emotion and intellect, that hold us close to Earth.

Shaktism (Shakta): “Doctrine of power.” The religion followed by those who worship the Supreme as the Divine Mother — Shakti or Devi — in Her many forms, both gentle and fierce. Shaktism is one of the four primary denominations of Hinduism. See: Shakti, tantrism.

shalipallava: “Rice sprig.”

samadhi: “Enstasy,” which means “standing within one’s Self.” “Sameness; contemplation; union, wholeness; completion, accomplishment.” Samadhi is the state of true yoga, in which the meditator and the object of meditation are one. Samadhi is of two levels. The first is savikalpa samadhi (“enstasy with form or seed”), identification or oneness with the essence of an object. Its highest form is the realization of the primal substratum or pure consciousness, Satchidananda. The second is nirvikalpa samadhi (“enstasy without form or seed”), identification with the Self, in which all modes of consciousness are transcended and Absolute Reality, Parashiva, beyond time, form and space, is experienced. This brings in its aftermath a complete transformation of consciousness. See: kundalini, Parashiva, raja yoga, Self Realization.

sampradaya: “Tradition,” “transmission;” a philosophical or religious doctrineor lineage. A living stream of tradition or theology within Hinduism, passed on by oral training and initiation. The term derives from the verb samprada, meaning “gift, grant, bestowing or conferring; handing down by tradition; bequeathing.” See: guru parampara.

samsara: “Flow.” The phenomenal world. Transmigratory existence, fraught with impermanence and change. The cycle of birth, death and rebirth; the total pattern of successive earthly lives experienced by a soul.

samskara: “Impression, activator; sanctification, preparation.” 1) The imprints left on the subconscious mind by experience (from this or previous lives), which then color all of life, one’s nature, responses, states of mind, etc. 2) A sacrament or rite done to mark a significant transition of life. These make deep and positive impressions on the mind of the recipient, inform the family and community of changes in the lives of its members and secure inner-world blessings. See: mind (five states), sacrament.

Sanatana Dharma: “Eternal religion” or “everlasting path.” It is the original designation for the Hindu religion. See: Hinduism.

Sanatani: “Of the eternal.” A Hindu, a follower of the eternal path.

sanctified waters: See: pada puja, prasada, ucchhishta.

sandalwood: Chandana. The Asian evergreen tree Santalum album. Its sweetly fragrant heartwood is ground into the fine, tan-colored paste distributed as prasada in Saivite temples and used for sacred marks on the forehead, tilaka. Sandalwood is also prized for incense, carving and fine cabinetry.

sangama: “Association; fellowship.” Also sanga. Coming together in a group, especially for religious purposes. See: Satsanga.

sankalpa: “Will; purpose; determination.” A solemn vow or declaration of purpose to perform any ritual observance. Most commonly, sankalpa names the mental and verbal preparation made by a temple priest as he begins rites of worship. During the sankalpa, he informs all three worlds what he is about to do. He recites the name of the Deit, and the present time and place according to precise astrological notations and announces the type of ritual he is about to perform. Once the sankalpa is made, he is bound to complete the ceremony. See: puja.

Shankara: “Conferring happiness; propitious.” A name of Siva, or Adi Shankara. One of Hinduism’s most extraordinary monks (788 — 820) and preeminent guru of the Smarta Sampradaya. Noted for his monistic philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, his many scriptural commentaries, and the establishment of ten orders of sannyasins with pontifical headquarters at strategic points across India. He lived only 32 years, but traveled throughout India and transformed the Hindu world of that time. See: Vedanta.

Sankatahara Ganapati: “Dispeller of sorrow,” seated on a red lotus flower, holds a bowl of pudding and displays varada mudra.

shankha: “Conch.” The water-born conch symbolizes the origin of existence, which evolves in spiraling spheres. In ancient days its sound signaled battle’s victory; today it heralds the high point of puja in Hindu temples. In the Deity’s hands it stands for protection from evil, sounding the sacred.

San Marga: “True path.” A term especially important in Saiva Siddhanta. 1) In general, the straight spiritual path leading to the ultimate goal, Self Realization, which does not detour into unnecessary psychic exploration or pointless development of siddhis. San Margi names a person who is “on the path,” as opposed to samsari, one engrossed in worldliness. 2) San Marga is also an alternate term for the jnana pada. See: liberation, pada.

San Marga Sanctuary: A sanctuary at Kauai Aadheenam on the Garden Island of Kauai, Hawaii, centered around a -mile straight path to the Supreme God, Siva (Parameshvara-Parashakti-Parashiva) and the Iraivan Temple, which enshrines a massive 700-pound, single-pointed quartz crystal.

sannidhya: “(Divine) presence; nearness, proximity.” The radiance and blessed presence of shakti within and around a temple or a holy person.

sannyasa: “Renunciation.” “Throwing down or abandoning.” Sannyasa is the repudiation of the dharma, including the obligations and duties, of the householder and the acceptance of the even more demanding dharma of the renunciate. See: sannyasin.

sannyasin: “Renouncer.” One who has taken sannyasa diksha, a formal rite, or less often an informal blessing, entering the devotee into renunciate monasticism, binding him for life to certain vows which include chastity, poverty and obedience, and directing him on the path to Self Realization. A Hindu monk, swami, and one of a world brotherhood (or holy order) of sannyasins. See: swami.

Sanskrit (Sanskrita): “Well-made;” “refined,” “perfected.” The classical sacerdotal language of ancient India, considered a pure vehicle for communication with the celestial worlds. It is the primary language in which Hindu scriptures are written, including the Vedas and Agamas. Employed today as a liturgical, literary and scholarly language, but no longer used as a spoken vernacular.

sant: “Saint.” A Hindi or vernacular term derived from the Sanskrit sat, meaning “truth; reality.”

shanti: “Peace.”

shara: “Arrow.” Loving Ganesha has power over thought, and each one hits its mark. Bow drawn, arrow aimed, He teaches us to precisely begin all beginnings with good intentions.

sharana: “Refuge.” Saranam in Tamil.

Sarasvati: “The flowing one.” Shakti, the Universal Mother; Goddess of the arts and learning, mythological consort of the God Brahma. Sarasvati, the river Goddess, is usually depicted wearing a white sari and holding a vina, sitting upon a swan or lotus flower. Prayers are offered to her for refinements of art, culture and learning. Sarasvati also names one of seven sacred rivers (Sapta Sindhu) mentioned in the Rig Veda. See: Goddess, Shakti.

sari: (Hindi) The traditional outer garment of a Hindu woman, consisting of a long, unstitched piece of cloth, usually colorful cotton or silk, wrapped around the body, forming an ankle-length skirt, and around the bosom and over the shoulder.

shashikala: “Period of the moon.” Specifically, the crescent moon that adorns Lord Siva’s hair, the moon of the dark fortnight’s second day.

shastra: “Sacred text; teaching.” 1) Any religious or philosophical treatise, or body of writings. 2) A department of knowledge, a science; e.g., the Dharma Shastras on religious law, Artha Shastras on politics.

Shatapatha Brahmana: “Priest manual of 100 paths.” A supplement of Shukla Yajur Veda on theology, philosophy and modes of worship.

satguru (sadguru): “True weighty one.” A spiritual preceptor of the highest attainment — one who has realized the ultimate Truth, Parashiva, through nirvikalpa samadhi — a jivanmukta able to lead others securely along the spiritual path. He is always a sannyasin, an unmarried renunciate. All Hindu denominations teach that the grace and guidance of a living satguru is a necessity for Self Realization. He is recognized and revered as the embodiment of God, Sadashiva, the source of grace and of liberation. See: guru, guru bhakti, guru-shishya system.

satsanga: “Holy gathering.” Association of devotees for temple or home worship, celebration, selfless service and religious studies.

sattva guna: “Purity.” The quality of goodness or purity. See: guna.

Satya Mantra: “Sacred syllable of truth.” Aum. See: Aum.

Second World: The astral or subtle plane. Here the soul continues its activities in the astral body during sleep and after the physical body dies. It is the in-between world which includes the Devaloka and the Narakaloka. The Second world exists “within” the First World or physical plane. See: loka.

secular: Not sacred or religious; temporal or worldly.

secular humanism: A system that rejects religious faith and worship and holds that one need not look beyond man for life’s ethical meaning.

seer: Visionary; rishi. A wise being or mystic who sees beyond the limits of ordinary perception. See: akasha, rishi.

Self (Self God): God Siva’s perfection of Absolute Reality, Parashiva — That which abides at the core of every soul. See: Paramatman, Parashiva.

self-declared sannyasin: Paramadeshi sannyasin. See: sannyasin.

self-effacement: Modest, retiring behavior; giving all credit to God, preceptor and other persons and not accepting praise for one’s accomplishments.

self-erasement: The process of wiping out or eradicating the personal ego and the dross of the past, lodged in the memory patterns of the subconscious.

Self Realization: Direct knowing of the Self God, Parashiva. Self Realization is known in Sanskrit as nirvikalpa samadhi; “enstasy without form or seed;” the ultimate spiritual attainment (also called asamprajnata samadhi). Esoterically, this state is attained when the mystic kundalini force pierces through the sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head. See: God Realization, liberation, kundalini, Parashiva, raja yoga, samadhi.

sentamarai: “Red lotus flower.”

severance: A breaking off or separation.

Shamanism:  From the Sanskrit shramana, “ascetic,” akin to shram, meaning “to exert.” Generally refers to any religion based on the belief that good or evil spirits can be influenced by priests, or shamans, who serve as intermediaries between man and divine forces. Descriptive of many of the world’s tribal, indigenous faiths. See also: Shaktism, trance.

Shanmukha: “Six-faced.” A name for Lord Murugan or Karttikeya, denoting the multiplicity of His divine functions. See: Karttikeya.

shatkona: “Six-pointed star,” formed by two interlocking triangles, the upper one representing Siva’s transcendent Being, and the lower one Siva’s manifest energy, Shakti. The shatkona is part of Lord Karttikeya’s yantra. A similar emblem, the Star of David, appears in Judaism. See: Karttikeya.

shrouded: Covered, protected, screened, veiled, sheltered.

siddhanta: “Final attainments” or “conclusions.” Siddhanta refers to ultimate understanding arrived at in any field of knowledge.

siddha: A “perfected one” or accomplished yogi, a person of great spiritual attainment or powers. See also: siddhi, siddha yoga.

siddha yoga: “Yoga of perfected attainment or of supernatural powers.” 1) A term used in the Tirumantiram and other Saiva scriptures to describe the yoga which is the way of life of adepts after attaining of Parashiva. Siddha yoga involves the development of magical or mystical powers, or siddhis, such as the eight classical powers. It is a highly advanced yoga which seeks profound transformation of body, mind and emotions and the ability to live in a flawless state of God Consciousness. 2) The highly accomplished practices of certain alchemists. See: siddha yogi, siddhi.

siddhi: “Power, accomplishment; perfection.” Extraordinary powers of the soul, developed through consistent meditation and deliberate, grueling, often uncomfortable tapas, or awakened naturally through spiritual maturity and yogic sadhana. Through the repeated experience of Self Realization, siddhis naturally unfold according to the needs of the individual. Before Self Realization, the use or development of siddhis is among the greatest obstacles on the path because it cultivates ahamkara, I-ness, and militates against the attainment of prapatti, complete submission to the will of God, Gods and guru. See: ashtavibhuti.

Siddhi and Buddhi: “Attainment and Wisdom;” names of the two symbolic consorts of Lord Ganesha.

Siddhidata: “Giver of success, fulfillment,” an epithet of Lord Ganesha.

Siddhi Ganapati: A name and traditional murti, or form, of Ganesha, “the accomplished one,” who holds a bouquet of flowers, an axe, mango, sugarcane and, in His trunk, a sesame sweet.

Sikhism: “Discipleship.” Religion of nine million members founded in India about 500 years ago by the saint Guru Nanak. A reformist faith which rejects idolatry and the caste system, its holy book is the Adi Granth, and its main holy center is the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

sin: Intentional transgression of divine law. Akin to the Latin sons, “guilty.” Hinduism does not view sin as a crime against God, but as an act against dharma — moral order — and one’s own self. It is thought natural, if unfortunate, that young souls act wrongly, for they are living in nescience, avidya, the darkness of ignorance. Sin is an adharmic course of action which automatically brings negative consequences. In Hinduism, there are no such concepts as inherent or mortal sin. See: aura, evil, karma, papa.

sindura: “Red lead, vermillion.” (Sindur in Hindi.) A red powder used to make the forehead mark (pottu, or tilaka) on the Deity image. See: tilaka.

Sinha Ganapati: “The lionine one” rides a lion and holds another in one hand. He also holds a vina, a lotus and pot of jewels.

shishya: “A pupil or disciple,” especially one who has proven himself and has formally been accepted by a guru.

Siva: “The auspicious, gracious or kindly one.” Supreme Being of the Saivite religion. God Siva is All and in all, simultaneously the creator and the creation, both immanent and transcendent. As personal Deity, He is creator, preserver and destroyer. He is a one being, perhaps best understood in three perfections: Parameshvara (Primal Soul), Parashakti (pure consciousness) and Parashiva (Absolute Reality). See: Nataraja, Parameshvara, Parashakti, Parashiva, Saivism.

Sivacharya: “Moving toward Siva,” the hereditary priests of the Saiva Siddhanta tradition. The title of Adishaiva Brahmins. An Adishaiva priest who has received the necessary training and dikshas to perform public Siva temple rites known as Agamic Nitya Parartha Puja. A fully qualified Sivacharya is also known as archaka. Sivacharya, too, names the family clan of this priest tradition. See: Brahma.

Siva consciousness: Sivachaitanya. A broad term naming the experience or state of being conscious of Siva in a multitude of ways, such as the five expressed in the following meditation. Vital Breath (prana): Experience the inbreath and outbreath as Siva’s will within the body. Become attuned to the ever-present pulse of the universe, knowing that nothing moves but by His divine will. All-Pervasive Energy (shakti): Become conscious of the flow of life within the body. Realize that it is the same universal energy within every living thing. Practice seeing the life energy within another’s eyes. Manifest Sacred Form (darshana): Hold in your mind a sacred form, such as Nataraja, Sivalinga or the satguru — who is Sadashiva — and think of nothing else. See every form as a form of our God Siva. Inner Light (jyoti): Observe the light that illumines the thoughts. Concentrate only on that light, as you might practice being more aware of the light on a TV screen than of its changing pictures. Sacred Sound (nada): Listen to the constant high-pitched ee sounding in the head. It is like the tone of an electrical transformer, a hundred tamburas distantly playing or a humming swarm of bees. See: jnana, mind (five states).

Sivalinga: “Mark (or sign) of Siva.” The most prevalent icon of Siva, found in virtually all Siva temples. A rounded, elliptical, aniconic image, usually set on a circular base, or pitha. The Sivalinga is the simplest and most ancient symbol of Siva, especially of Parashiva, God beyond all forms and qualities. The pitha represents Parashakti, the manifesting power of God. Lingas are usually of stone (either carved or naturally existing, svayambhu, such as shaped by a swift-flowing river), but may also be of metal, precious gems, crystal, wood, earth or transitory materials such as ice. See: murti, Saivism.

Sivaloka: “Realm of Siva.” See: loka.

Siva-Shakti: Father-Mother God, both immanent and transcendent. A name for God Siva encompassing His unmanifest Being and manifest energy. See: Parameshvara, Siva.

Sivaya: “To Siva.” Siva’s name in dative case.

Skanda: “Quicksilver; leaping one.” One of Lord Karttikeya’s oldest names, and His form as scarlet-hued warrior God. See: Karttikeya.

shloka: “Verse,” from the verbal root, shlok,”to compose.” A verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise, usually composed in a specified meter. Especially a verse of two lines, each of sixteen syllables. Shloka is the primary verse form of the Sanskrit epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana. See also: sutra.

Smarta: “Of or related to smriti,” the secondary Hindu scriptures. Of or related to Smartism; a follower of Smartism. See: Smartism.

Smartism: Sect based on the secondary scriptures (smriti). The most liberal of the four major denominations of Hinduism, an ancient Vedic brahminical tradition (ca 700 BCE) which from the 9th century onward was guided and deeply influenced by the Advaita Vedanta teachings of the reformist Adi Shankara. Its adherents rely mainly on the classical smriti literature, especially the Itihasas (Ramayana and Mahabharata, the latter of which includes the Bhagavad Gita), Puranas and Dharma Shastras. These are regarded as complementary to and a means to understanding the Vedas. See: Dashanami, Shankara.

smriti: That which is “remembered;” the tradition. Hinduism’s nonrevealed, secondary but deeply revered scriptures, derived from man’s insight and experience. Smriti speaks of secular matters — science, law, history, agriculture, etc. — as well as spiritual lore, ranging from day-to-day rules and regulations to superconscious outpourings. 1) The term smriti refers to a specific collection of ancient Sanskritic texts. 2) In a general sense, smriti may refer to any text other than shruti (revealed scripture) that is revered as scripture within a particular sect.

snana: “Bathing.” Ceremonial ablution, especially in sacred waters, traditionally presribed as an obligatory Hindu duty.

soul: The real being of man, as distinguished from body, mind and emotions. The soul (known as atman or purusha) is the sum of its two aspects: 1) the form or body of the soul and 2) the essence of the soul — Pure Consciousness (Parashakti or Satchidananda) and Absolute Reality (Parashiva). See: atman, Paramatman, spiritual unfoldment.

specious: Apparent, seeming to be good, sound, true, correct, without really being so.

spiritual unfoldment: The unfoldment of the spirit, the inherent, divine soul of man. The gradual expansion of consciousness as kundalini shakti slowly rises through the sushumna. The term spiritual unfoldment indicates this slow, imperceptible process, likened to a lotus flower’s emerging from bud to effulgent beauty. See: kundalini, liberation, pada, sadhana.

spurious: Illegitimate, not true or genuine.

shraddha: “Faith; belief.” See: pancha shraddha.

shraddha: “Memorial.” Relating to commemorative ceremonies for the deceased, held one week, one month after death, and annually thereafter, according to tradition. See: death, samskara.

Shri Chakra: “Venerated wheel.” See: yantra.

Shri Rudram: Hymn to the “Wielder of awesome powers.” Preeminent Vedic hymn to Lord Siva as the God of dissolution, chanted daily in Siva temples throughout India. It is in this long prayer, located in the middle of the Yajur Veda, Taittiriya Samhita, the first of the three Vedas, that the Saivite mantra Namah Sivaya first appears.

srishti “Creation.”

Srishti Ganapati: “The creator God” rides a mouse and holds a noose, a goad, His tusk (representing selfless sacrifice) and a mango.

shruti: “That which is heard.” Aurally, or clairaudiently, received scripture. Hinduism’s revealed scriptures, of supreme theological authority and spiritual value. They are timeless teachings transmitted to rishis, or seers directly by God Siva and the Gods thousands of years ago. Shruti is thus said to be apaurusheya, “impersonal,” or rather “suprahuman.” Shruti essentially consists of the Vedas and the Agamas, preserved initially through oral tradition and eventually written down in Sanskrit. Among the many sacred books of the Hindus, these two bodies of knowledge are held in the highest esteem. For countless centuries shruti has been the basis of philosophical discussion, study and commentary, and this attention has given rise to countless schools of thought. It is also the subject of deep study and meditation, to realize the wisdom of the ancients within oneself. Most mantras are drawn from shruti, used for rites of worship, both public and domestic, as well as for personal prayer and japa. See: Agama, smriti, Veda.

sthapati: From stha, “building” or “place,” and pati, “lord or father.” A master of Agamic temple architecture, sculpture, city planning and other traditional building arts. A sthapati must be well versed in the Shilpa Shastras, experienced in all aspects of temple construction, pious, mystically trained and a good administrator, able to direct and guide a team of shilpis, stonecutters, carvers, sculptors, woodworkers, etc.

sthula: “Gross; physical.” See: vak.

stri dharma: “Woman’s duty.” Traditional conduct, observances, vocational and spiritual patterns which bring spiritual fulfillment and societal stability. Characterized by modesty, quiet strength, religiousness, dignity and nurturing of family. Notably, she is most needed and irreplaceable as the maker of the home and the educator of their children as noble citizens of tomorrow.

subatomic: Of the inner parts of atoms; anything smaller than an atom.

subconscious mind: Samskara chitta. See: aura, conscience, mind (five states).

sub-subconscious: Vasana chitta. Area of the subconscious where past experiences mix and merge, forming new images, reactions and beliefs. See: mind (five states).

substratum: A substance or element which lies beneath and supports another.

subsuperconscious mind: Anukarana chitta. See: mind (five states).

shuddhi: “Purification.” Also, shraddha shuddhi, “purification of faith.”The rite of accepting back into the Hindu fold individuals who have been converted to other faiths or otherwise require purification to rejoin the Hindu congregation. An alternate term to vratyastoma, “oath affirmation.”

shudra: “Worker, servant.” The social class of skilled artisans, workers and laborers. See: varna dharma.

suffuse: Pour beneath, diffuse beneath, spread, as light through clouds or divine energy flowing out from puja or from a holy personage.

shuka: “Parrot.”

sukarma: “Good actions.” See: karma, punya.

sukhasana: “Pleasant, easy pose.” Often applies to any comfortable seating pose. More specificially, a synonym for the swastikasana, in which the legs are crossed, the feet tucked under the knees.

sukshma: “Subtle.” See: vak.

shunda: “Elephant trunk.”

Sundarar: “Beautiful.”One of the four Tamil Samayacharyas (ca 800), and composer of devotional hymns to God Siva, which form the seventh book of the Tirumurai. In these, he pleads forthrightly to Siva for material as well as spiritual abundance. See: Nayanar.

superconscious mind: Karana chitta. See: mind (five states; three phases).

supplicate (supplication): To ask for humbly. To earnestly pray for.

supreme: Highest in rank, power, authority.

Supreme God: Highest God, the source or creator of all other Gods, beings and all manifestation.

surrender: Giving up or yielding. Surrender to the Divine is called prapatti, a complete giving over of oneself to God’s will in total trust and abandonment. See: bhakti, prapatti, sacrifice.

Surya: “Sun.” One of the principal Divinities of the Vedas, also prominent in the epics and Puranas. Saivites revere Surya, the Sun God, each morning as Siva Surya. Smartas and Vaishnavas revere the golden orb as Surya Narayana. As the source of light, the sun is the most readily apparent image of Divinity available to man. As the giver of life, Surya is worshiped during harvest festivals everywhere. Esoterically, the sun represents the point where the manifest and unmanifest worlds meet or unite. In yoga, the sun represents the masculine force, pingala. Surya also signifies the Self within.

sushumna nadi: “Most gracious channel.” Central psychic nerve current within the spinal column. See: kundalini, nadi, samadhi.

sushupti: “Deep sleep.” A state more refined than the ordinary dream state, the perceptions of which are often too subtle to be remembered upon awakening. This is the state of visionary dreams. One of the four avasthas described in the Mandukya Upanishad. See: avastha, consciousness.

sutala: “Great abyss.” Region of obsessive jealousy and retaliation. The third chakra below the muladhara, centered in the knees. Corresponds to the third astral netherworld beneath the earth’s surface, called Samhata (“abandoned”) or Sutala. See: chakra, hell, loka, Naraka.

sutra: “Thread.” An aphoristic verse; the literary style consisting of such maxims. From 500 BCE, this style was widely adopted by Indian philosophical systems and eventually employed in works on law, grammar, medicine, poetry, crafts, etc.

svadharma: “One’s own way.” See: dharma.

svadhishthana: “One’s own base.” See: chakra.

svadhyaya: “Self-reflection; scriptural study.” See: yama-niyama.

svapna: “Dream.” Astral consciousness. The sleeping-dreaming state of subtle perception and experience. One of the four states of consciousness, avasthas, described in the Mandukya Upanishad. See: avastha, consciousness.

svayambhu murti: “Self-existent image.” A Deity image discovered in nature, and not carved or crafted by human hands. See: murti.

swami: “Lord; owner.”He who knows or is master of himself. A respectful title for a Hindu monk, usually a sannyasin. The term swami is sometimes applied more broadly to include nonmonastics dedicated to spiritual work. See: monastic, sannyasin.

swastika: “Sign of auspiciousness,” From su (“wellness,” “auspiciousness”) and astu, “be it so.” The ancient Hindu symbol of auspiciousness and good fortune, representing the sun and often associated with Ganesha. The right-angled arms of the swastika denote the indirect way in which Divinity is reached — through intuition and not by intellect — and how life is filled with change and indirection. It has been a prominent symbol in many cultures. (Svastu is a salutation meaning “blessings,” “good health,” or “may it be well with you.”) See: murti.

taijasa: “Full of light.” A term for the dreaming state, equivalent to svapna. See: avastha, svapna.

tala: “Plane or world; level; base, bottom; abyss.” Root of the name of the seven realms of lower consciousness centered in the seven chakras below the muladhara. See: chakra, hell, loka, Naraka.

tala: “Time measure.” In Indian music, the organization of time into meter and rhythmic pulse with sometimes complex subdivisions. Tala is similar to “time signature” in Western notation except that tala includes the unique emotional or mystical mood.

talatala chakra: “Lower region.” The fourth chakra below the muladhara, centered in the calves. Region of chronic mental confusion and unreasonable stubbornness. Corresponds to the fourth astral netherworld beneath the earth’s surface, called Tamisra (“darkness”) or Talatala. This state of consciousness is born of the sole motivation of self-preservation. See: chakra, loka, Naraka.

tambura: (Hindi) A long-necked, four-stringed fretless lute that provides a drone accompaniment for a singer or instrumentalist.

Tamil: A Dravidian language and Caucasian race of South India.

Tamil Nadu: State in South India, 50,000 square miles, population 55 million. Land of countless holy scriptures, saints, sages and over 40,000 magnificent temples, including Chidambaram, Madurai, Palani Hills and Rameshvaram.

tanmatra: “Primal matter.” The five fundamental subtle “substances” of the five gross elements, mahabhutas. The five tanmatras and their corresponding elements are: 1) shabda (sound), akasha (ether); 2) sparsha (touch), vayu (air); 3) rupa (sight), tejas (fire); 4) rasa (taste), apas (water); 5) gandha (smell), prithivi (earth).

tantra: “Loom, methodology.” 1) Most generally, a synonym for shastra, “scripture.” 2) A synonym for the Agamic texts, especially those of the Shakta faith, a class of Hindu scripture providing detailed instruction on all aspects of religion, mystic knowledge and science. The tantras are also associated with the Saiva tradition. 3) A specific method, technique or spiritual practice within the Saiva and Shakta traditions. See: tantrism.

tantric (tantrika): Adjectival form for practices prescribed in the tantra traditions. The name of a follower of any of the tantric traditions. See: tantra, tantrism.

tantrism: The enlightenment path outlined in the Tantra scriptures. 1)Tantrism is sometimes considered a parallel stream of history and tradition in Hinduism, running alongside and gradually interweaving with the Vedic brahminical tradition. 2) Tantrism refers to traditions, mainly within Saivism and Shaktism, that focus on the arousal of the kundalini force and which view the human body as a vehicle of the Divine and an instrument for liberation. Tantrism’s ultimate aim is a channeling of the kundalini life force through the sushumna, the gracious channel, upwards into the sahasrara chakra and beyond, through the door of Brahman (brahmarandhra) into Parashiva, either before or at the time of death. The stress is on the transformation of all spheres of consciousness, spiritual, psychic, emotional and material. It is a path of sadhana. 3) — Shakta Tantrism: Brings a strong emphasis on the worship of the feminine force. Depending on the school, this may be symbolic or literal in rites involving sexual intercourse, etc. Shakta Tantrism’s main principle is the use of the material to gain the spiritual. In certain schools, historically, this implies embracing that which is normally forbidden and manipulating the forces to attain transcendent consciousness rather than lower consciousness. See: kundalini, raja yoga, Shaktism, tantra.

tapas: “Warmth, heat,” hence psychic energy, spiritual fervor or ardor. Austerity, asceticism, penance. State of accelerated unfoldment and working with the forces through spiritual practices. A state of humble submission to the divine forces and surrender to the processes of inner purification which occurs almost automatically at certain stages. Denotes religious austerity, intense meditation, penance, bodily mortification; connotes spiritual purification and transformation as a “fiery process” that “burns up” impurities, ego, vasanas and past karmas that obstruct God Realization. See: kundalini, penance, sadhana.

Taruna Ganapati: A name and traditional murti, or form, of Ganesha, “the youthful one,” with eight arms, holding noose, goad, modaka, wood apple, rose apple, tusk, paddy and sugar cane.

tattva: “That-ness” or “essential nature.” Tattvas are the primary principles, elements, states or categories of existence, the building blocks of the universe. Rishis describe this emanational process as the unfoldment of thirty-six tattvas, stages or evolutes of manifestation, descending from subtle to gross. At mahapralaya, cosmic dissolution, they enfold into their respective sources, with only the first two tattvas surviving the great dissolution. See: mahapralaya.

temple: An edifice in a consecrated place dedicated to the worship of God or the Gods. From the Latin templum, “temple, sanctuary; marked space.” Hindu temples, over one million worldwide, are revered as sacred, magical places in which the three worlds most consciously commune — structures especially built and consecrated to channel the subtle spiritual energies of inner-world beings. The temple’s psychic atmosphere is maintained through regular worship ceremonies (puja) invoking the Deity, who from the Third World uses His installed image (murti) as a temporary body through which bless those living on the earth plane, the First World. See: darshana, pilgrimage.

tenet: A principle, doctrine, or belief held as a truth, as by some group.

theism: Belief that God exists as a real, conscious, personal Supreme Being, creator and ruler of the universe. May also include belief in the Gods.

third eye:The inner organ of psychic vision, located above and between the two physical eyes at the location of the ajna chakra. See: ajna chakra, chakras.

Third World: See: loka.

three worlds: The three worlds of existence, triloka, are the primary hierarchical divisions of the cosmos. 1) Bhuloka: “Earth world,” the physical plane. 2) Antarloka: “Inner or in-between world,” the subtle or astral plane. 3) Sivaloka: “World of Siva,” and of the Gods and highly evolved souls; the causal plane, also called Karanaloka. See: loka, world.

tila gola: “Sesame ball.” A type of Indian sweet.

tilaka: “Sesamum-like mark,” from tila, “sesame seed.” Distinctive marks made on the forehead or the brow with clay, ashes or sandalwood paste as an indication of sectarian affiliation. Vaishnavas wear a vertical v-shaped tilaka made of clay. The Saivite tilaka, called tripundra, consists of three horizontal lines of white holy ash with a dot, usually red, below the middle of the forehead. See: bindu, Hinduism.

tirtha: “Passageway; ford.” A bathing ghat or place of pilgrimage, especially on the banks of sacred waters. Also refers to water offered in puja.

tirthayatra: “Journeying to a holy place.” Pilgrimage. One of the five sacred duties (pancha nitya karmas) of the Hindu is to journey periodically to one of the innumerable holy spots in India or other countries. Preceded by fasting and continence, it is a time of austerity and purification, when all worldly concerns are set aside and God becomes one’s singular focus. See: pancha nitya karmas, pancha shraddha.

Tirukural: “Holy couplets.” A treasury of Hindu ethical insight and a literary masterpiece of the Tamil language, written by Saiva Saint Tiruvalluvar (ca 200 BCE) near present-day Madras. See: Tiruvalluvar.

Tirumantiram: “Holy incantation.” The Nandinatha Sampradaya’s oldest Tamil scripture; written ca 200 BCE by Rishi Tirumular. It is the earliest part of the Tirumurai, and a vast storehouse of esoteric yogic and tantric knowledge. It contains the essence of raja yoga and siddha yoga and the fundamental doctrines of the 28 Saiva Siddhanta Agamas, which in turn are the heritage of the ancient pre-historic traditions of Saivism.

Tirumular: An illustrious siddha yogi and rishi of the Nandinatha Sampradaya’s Kailasa Parampara who came from the Himalayas (ca 200 BCE) to Tamil Nadu to compose the Tirumantiram. In this scripture he recorded the tenets of Saivism in concise and precise verse form, based upon his own realizations and the supreme authority of the Saiva Agamas and the Vedas. Tirumular was a disciple of Maharishi Nandinatha. See: Kailasa Parampara, Tirumantiram, Vedanta.

Tirumurai: “Holy book.” A twelve-book collection of hymns and writings of South Indian Saivite saints, compiled by Saint Nambiyandar Nambi (ca 1000).

Tiruvalluvar: “Holy weaver.” Tamil weaver and householder saint (ca 200 BCE) who wrote the classic Saivite ethical scripture Tirukural. See: Tirukural.

transcendent: Surpassing the limits of experience or manifest form. In Saiva Siddhanta, a quality of God Siva as Absolute Reality, Parashiva, the Self. Distinguished from immanent. See: Parashiva.

transliteration: Writing words, sentences, etc., in the corresponding characters of another alphabet.

translucent: Partially transparent; allowing some light to shine through.

tribhanga: “Three bends.” A standing pose in which the body’s center line passes through the left (or right) eye, the middle of the chest, and between the heels. The hips are shifted to the right (or left), the upper torso to the left (or right), and the head leans to the right (or left).

tribal: Relating to, or having the character of a tribe, a group, clan or village related by ancestry, race or allegiance to a common leader or lineage. Often used in derogation in referring to so-called primitive peoples. Also neutral in reference to indigenous peoples worldwide.

Trimukha Ganapati: The contemplative “three-faced” Lord sits on a lotus flower, telling His beads and gesturing protection and blessings.

trina: “Grass.”

tripundra: “Three marks.” The Saivite sectarian mark, consisting of three horizontal lines of vibhuti (holy ash) on the brow, often with a dot (bindu) at the third eye. The three lines represent the soul’s three bonds: anava, karma and maya. Holy ash, made of burnt cow dung, is a reminder of the temporary nature of the physical body and the urgency to strive for spiritual attainment and closeness to God. See: bindu, tilaka, vibhuti.

trishula: “Trident.”A three-pronged spear or trident wielded by Lord Siva and certain Saivite ascetics. Also held by loving Ganesha, it symbolizes God’s three fundamental shaktis or powers — icchha (desire, will, love), kriya (action) and jnana (wisdom).

Tritiyakshi:  “The third eye.” See: third eye.

Tryakshara Ganapati: “The Lord of three letters” (A-U-M) has fly whisks in His ears. He is often seen holding a tasty modaka in His trunk.

turiya: “The fourth.” The superconscious state beyond waking, dreaming and deep sleep. One of the four states of consciousness, avasthas, described in the Mandukya Upanishad. See: avastha, consciousness.

turiyatita: “Beyond the fourth.” The utterly transcendent, superconscious state. A state of samadhi. See: avastha, consciousness.

ubiquitous: Present everywhere at the same time. Omnipresent.

ucchhishta: “Leavings; remainder.” Religiously, the precious leavings from the guru’s food plate or the waters from the bathing of his feet or sandals (or of a Deity) which are ingested by devotees as prasada. See: prasada, satguru.

Ucchhishta Ganapati: A name and traditional murti, or form, of Ganesha as “Lord of offerings (of that which has been offered and blessed).” A six-armed murti, He sits with His shakti, holding a vina and a japa mala.

udarabandha: “Waist band.”

Uddanda Ganapati: “The enforcer of dharma” is a ten-armed murti holding a pot of gems, sugar cane, lotus, a mace and more.

Uma: “O do not.” A name for Shakti said to derive from the exclamation addressed to Parvati by her mother in the Siva Purana, beseeching her to desist from practicing austerities. Others connect it with the word amma, meaning “mother” in South Indian languages.

Umasundari: “Goddess of Beauty,” or “Beauteous Mother.”

Umaganesh (Umaganesha): “Motherly Lord of Hosts.” A name of Ganesha.

unmanifest: Not evident or perceivable. Philosophically, akin to transcendent. God Siva is unmanifest in His formless perfection, Parashiva. See: Parashiva.

upadesha: “Advice; religious instruction.” Often given in question-and-answer form from guru to disciple. The satguru’s spiritual discourses.

upanayana: “Bringing near.” A youth’s formal initiation into Vedic study under a guru, traditionally as a resident of his ashrama, and the investiture of the sacred thread (yajnopavita or upavita), signifying entrance into one of the three upper castes. The upanayana is among twelve samskaras prescribed in the Dharma Shastras and explained in the Grihya Sutras. See: samskara.

Upanishad: “Sitting near devotedly.” The fourth and final portion of the Vedas, expounding the secret, philosophical meaning of the Vedic hymns. The Upanishads are a collection of profound texts which are the source of Vedanta and have dominated Indian thought for thousands of years. They are philosophical chronicles of rishis expounding the nature of God, soul and cosmos, exquisite renderings of the deepest Hindu thought. See: shruti, Veda, Vedanta.

Urdhva Ganapati: “The elevated one” sits with one of His shaktis on His left knee. His six hands hold a sprig of paddy, a lotus and more.

utkutakasana: “Sitting on the hams,” usually with one or both knees raised. The name of a common bhangima, or pose, of Lord Ganesha.

utsava: “Festival.” Religious celebrations or holy days and their observance in the home and temple. Utsava is one of the five constant duties, pancha nitya karmas. See: festival, pancha nitya karmas.

uttarayana: “Northern way.” The half-year, ayana, beginning with winter solstice, when the sun begins its apparent northward journey.

vahana: “Bearing, carrying” or “conveying.” Each Hindu God is depicted as riding an animal/bird vahana, which is symbolic of a function of the God. For example, Siva rides the bull, Lord Murugan rides the peacock and Lord Ganesha rides the mouse.

vaidyuta: “Proceeding from lightning.” Electric energy.

vaikhari vak: “The faculty of speech.” See: vak.

Vaishnava: “Way of Vishnu.” Of or relating to Vishnu. A follower of Lord Vishnu or His incarnations, such as Krishna or Rama. See: Vaishnavism.

Vaishnavism (Vaishnava): One of the four major religions or denominations of Hinduism, representing roughly half of the world’s one billion Hindus. It gravitates around the worship of Lord Vishnu as Personal God, His incarnations and their consorts. Vaishnavism stresses the personal aspect of God over the impersonal, and bhakti (devotion) as the true path to salvation. Foremost among Vaishnava scriptures are the Vaishnava Agamas, Ramayana, Bhagavad Gita and Bhagavata Purana.

Vaishnavite: A follower of Vishnu or His incarnations. See: Vaishnavism.

vaishvanara: “Referring to all human beings.” A term referring to the waking state of beings in general, the cosmic soul in the conscious mind. Vaishvanara is one of the four states of consciousness, avasthas. It is a name for agni, as the fire that controls body, mind and emotions in the waking state. Also an alternate term for jagrat, wakefulness. See: avastha, jagrat.

vaishya: “Landowner; merchant.” The social class of bankers, businessmen, industrialists; employers. Merchant class, originally those whose business was trade as well as agriculture. See: varna dharma.

vajra: “Lightning bolt.” Also vajratrishula. A symbol of spiritual power. Usually two tridents, without staffs, joined together with the two sets of three prongs pointing away from one another at 180. Vajra can also refer to the single trident.

vak: “Speech.” Theologically, it is through the supreme Vak (or Paravak), the “Primal Word” of the Vedas, and its various aspects, that creation issues forth. Vak, the word, is said to descend in four cosmic steps or levels: mahakarana, the great causal; karana, the causal, the mind principle; sukshma, the vital life force; and sthula, physical matter. These correspond to the four states, avasthas, of consciousness: jagrat, wakefulness; svapna, dreaming; sushupti, deep sleep; and turiya, the fourth. Related to the human microcosm in the tantrika tradition, vak is correlated to the chakras. Paravak, the great causal, mahakarana, is said to center in the base of the spinal column in the muladhara chakra, the abode of Ganapati as Brahmanaspati, Master of the Word. Pasyanti vak, “the word that perceives,” is located in the navel center, manipura chakra. Madhyama vak, the intermediate word, is centered between the navel and the throat, from whence speech, vaikhari vak, is expressed. Ganapati as Brahmanaspati is the Master of the Word, the Lord of Satya Mantra. And so, the Tantra conceives Him having His abode in the muladhara of beings, from where speech originates in the form of Paravak.

Vakratunda: “He of crooked trunk.” An aspect of Lord Ganesha cited in the Mudgala Purana as the conqueror of matsara, jealousy.

valampuri: “Right-turning.” A term for the rather rare images of Ganesha in which the trunk is turning to the Deity’s right. Cf: edampuri.

vama: 1) “Pleasant; beautiful; benignant; striving after” — as in Vamadeva, a name of Siva. 2) “Left; crooked; acting in the opposite way” — as in vama marga, the left-handed tantric path. See: left-handed, tantrism.

vanakkam: The Tamil equivalent to namaskara.

Varada Ganapati: “The boon-giver” is the murti distinguished by the prominent third eye, dish of honey and crowning crescent moon.

varada mudra: “Boon-giving gesture.” A hand pose shown by the Gods or a guru, in which the palm hangs loose at the wrist, facing the benefactor, with the fingers pointing downward, usually outstretched.

Varada Vinayaka: “Lord of boons.” The Ganesha murti enshrined at the Mahad Hamlet Temple of Maharashtra.

Varanasi: Also known as Kashi or Banaras. (Derived from the name of two rivers, the Varana, “warding off,” and Asi, “sword.”) One of the most holy of Saivite cities, and among the oldest cities in the world. Located in North India on the Ganges River. Hindus consider it highly sanctifying to die in Kashi, revering it as a gateway to moksha.

varna dharma: “The way of one’s kind.” The hereditary social class system, generally referred to as caste, established in India in ancient times. Within varna dharma are the many religious and moral codes which define human virtue. Varna dharma is social duty, in keeping with the principles of good conduct, according to one’s community, which is generally based on the craft or occupation of the family. Strictly speaking it encompasses two interrelated social hierarchies: 1) varna, which refers to the four classes: brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya and shudra; and 2) jati, the myriad occupational subgroups, or guilds, which in India number over 3,000.

varnashrama dharma: “The way of one’s caste and stage of life.” Names the social structure of four classes (varna), hundreds of castes (jati) and four stages of life (ashramas). It is the combined principles of varna dharma and ashrama dharma. See: ashrama dharma, dharma.

vasana: “Abode.” Subconscious inclinations. From vas, “dwelling, residue, remainder.” The subliminal inclinations and habit patterns which, as driving forces, color and motivate one’s attitudes and future actions. Vasanas are the conglomerate results of subconscious impressions (samskaras) created through experience. Samskaras, experiential impressions, combine in the subconscious to form vasanas, which thereafter contribute to mental fluctuations, called vritti. The most complex and emotionally charged vasanas are found in the dimension of mind called the sub-subconscious, or vasana chitta. See: samskara, mind (five states).

Vasishtha: “Most excellent.” Disciple of Maharishi Nandikeshvara (Nandinatha) (ca 250 BCE) along with Patanjali and Vyaghrapada (as recorded in Panini’s book of grammar). Also the name of several other famous sages, including the rishi attributed with composing the hymns of the Rig Veda’s seventh mandala, another who plays a central role in the epics and certain Puranas and Upanishads, and a third who expounds the ancient yogic wisdom to Lord Rama in the 29,000-verse Yoga Vasishtha.

Veda: “Wisdom.” Sagely revelations which comprise Hinduism’s most authoritative scripture. They, along with the Agamas, are shruti, “that which is heard.” The Vedas are a body of dozens of holy texts known collectively as the Veda, or as the four Vedas: Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva. In all they include over 100,000 verses as well as additional prose. Each Veda has four sections: Samhitas (hymn collections), Brahmanas (priestly manuals), Aranyakas (forest treatises) and Upanishads (enlightened discourses). See: Aranyaka, Brahmana, shruti, Upanishad.

Vedanta: “Ultimate wisdom” or “final conclusions of the Vedas.” Vedanta is the system of thought embodied in the Upanishads (ca 1500-600 BCE), which give forth the ultimate conclusions of the Vedas. Through history there developed numerous Vedanta schools, ranging from pure dualism to absolute monism. The first and original school is Advaita Ishvaravada, “monistic theism” or panentheism, exemplified in the Vedanta-Siddhanta of Rishi Tirumular (ca 250 BCE) of the Nandinatha Sampradaya in his Tirumantiram, which is a perfect summation of both the Vedas and the Agamas. See: monistic theism, panentheism, Tirumantiram.

Vedic-Agamic: Simultaneously drawing from and complying with both of Hinduism’s revealed scriptures (shruti), Vedas and Agamas, which represent two complementary, intertwining streams of history and tradition. The difference between Siddhanta and Vedanta is traditionally described in that while the Vedas represent man looking for God, the Agamas hold the perspective of God looking to help man.

vegetarian: Shakahara. Of a diet which excludes meat, fish, fowl and eggs. Vegetarianism is a principle of health and environmental ethics that has been a keystone of Indian life for thousands of years. Vegetarian foods include grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes and dairy products. A person following a vegetarian diet is called a shakahari. A nonveggie is called mansahari. See: guna, non-veggie, veggie, yama-niyama.

vegetarianism: The priciples and practices of vegetarians. See: vegetarian.

veggie: A vegetable. A vegetarian. See: non-veggie, vegetarian.

veiling grace: Tirobhava shakti. The divine power that limits the soul’s perception by binding or attaching the soul to the bonds of anava, karma, and maya — enabling it to grow and evolve as an individual being. See: grace.

vel: “Spear, lance.” The symbol of Lord Karttikeya’s divine authority as Lord of yoga and commander of the devas. (Known as shula in Sanskrit.)

venerate: To respect deeply; to revere.

vermillion: Bright red.

vestments: The clothing, especially official robes or other garb, worn by religious persons, often as a sign of their spiritual position or ordination.

vibhuti: Powerful,” “pervading,” “appearing.” From bhu “existence,” or “manifestation” and vi, “apart.” Holy ash, a whitish powder prepared by burning cow dung along with other precious substances — milk, ghee, honey, etc. It symbolizes purity and is one of the main sacraments offered to God and given to worshipers after puja in all Saivite temples and shrines. Saivites wear three stripes on the brow as a distinct sectarian mark, as do many Smartas. Vibhuti is also a synonym for siddhi, supernormal powers developed through yoga practice. See: tilaka, tripundra.

vidya: “Knowledge, learning, science.” The power of understanding gained through study and meditation. Contrasted with avidya, ignorance.

vidyarambha: “Commencement of learning.” See: samskara.

Vighnaraja Ganapati: “The Lord of Obstacles” is bedecked in jewels. His special implements are the conch, discus and flower arrow. This is Ganesha’s aspect as the conqueror of mamata, egoity.

Vighneshvara: “Lord of Obstacles.” A name for Lord Ganesha describing His power to both remove and create obstacles to guide souls along the right path. See: Ganesha.

Vijaya Ganapati: “The victorious one” rides the mouse and holds four primary symbols: the broken tusk, goad, noose and mango.

Vikata: “Deformed; having an unusual size or aspect.” A name of Ganesha cited in the Mudgala Purana as the conqueror of kama, lust.

vina: Large South Indian popular musical instrument usually having seven strings and two calabash gourd resonance boxes.

Vinayaka: “Remover.” A name of Lord Ganesha, meaning the remover of obstacles (sometimes preceded by vighna, “obstacle”). See: Ganesha.

Vinayaka Ahaval: “Ode to Vinayaka.” Famous Tamil poem in praise of Ganesha by the woman saint, Auvaiyar (ca 200BCE).

Vinayaka Vratam: A 21-day festival to Lord Ganesha beginning on the full-moon day of November-December. An important festival in Tamil Nadu and in Tamil communities worldwide, when special pujas are conducted in Ganesha temples and devotees make a vow (vrata), such as to attend the daily puja or to fast by taking only one meal a day.

Vira Ganapati: “The valiant warrior” is a murti recognized by His sixteen hands, holding a variety of weapons: mace, bow, axes and more.

visarjana: “Departure.” See: Ganesha Chaturthi.

Vishnu: “The All-Pervasive.” Supreme Deity of the Vaishnavite religion. God as personal Lord and Creator, the All-Loving Divine Personality, who periodically incarnates and lives a fully human life to reestablish dharma whenever necessary. In Saivism, Vishnu is Siva’s aspect as Preserver. See: Vaishnavism.

visualize (visualization): To imagine, create mental images. Exercising the power of thought to plan for and shape the future.

vishvagrasa: “Total absorption.” The final merger, or absorption, of the soul in Siva, by His grace, at the fulfillment of its evolution. It is the ultimate union of the individual soul body with the body of Siva — Parameshvara — within the Sivaloka, from whence the soul first emanated. This occurs at the end of the soul’s evolution, after the four outer sheaths — annamaya kosha, pranamaya kosha, manomaya kosha and vijnamaya kosha — have been discarded. Finally, anandamaya kosha, the soul form itself, merges in the Primal Soul. Individuality is lost as the soul becomes Siva, the Creator, Preserver, Destroyer, Veiler and Revealer. Individual identity expands into universality. Having previously merged in Parashiva and Parashakti in states of samadhi, the soul now fully merges into Parameshvara and is one with all three of Siva’s perfections. Jiva has totally become Siva — not a new and independent Siva, as might be construed, for there is and can only be one Supreme God Siva. See: atman, evolution of the soul, samadhi, soul.

vitala: “Region of negation.” Region of raging anger and viciousness. The second chakra below the muladhara, centered in the thighs. Corresponds to the second astral netherworld beneath the earth’s surface, called Avichi (“joyless”) or Vitala. See: chakra, loka, Naraka.

vivaha: “Marriage.” See: samskaras.

Vivekananda, Swami: “Of blissful discrimination.”blissful sciple of Shri Ramakrishna who was overtaken by an ardent love of Hinduism and a missionary zeal that drove him onward. He attained mahasamadhi at age 39 (1863 — 1902). Most notable among his achievements was a trip around the world on which he gave brilliant lectures, especially in Europe and America, that created much respect for Hinduism. In India he founded the Ramakrishna Mission which thrives today internationally with over 100 centers and nearly 1,000 sannyasins. He is credited, along with Tagore, Aurobindo, Radhakrishnan and others, with sparking the modern Hindu revival.

vow: See: vrata.

vrata: “Vow, religious oath.” Often a vow to perform certain disciplines over a period of time, such as penance, fasting, specific mantra repetitions, worship or meditation. Vratas extend from the simplest personal promise to irrevocable vows made before God, Gods, guru and community.

vratyastoma: “Vow pronouncement.” The traditional purification rite, outlined in the Tandya Brahmana, to welcome back into a Hindu community those who have become impure. It is performed for Hindus returning to India from abroad and for those who have embraced other faiths.

vriksha: “Tree.”

wealth: Artha. Abundance; financial stability. See: purushartha.

wood apple: The kapittha fruit. See: kapittha.

world: In Hindu theology, world refers to 1) loka: a particular region of consciousness or plane of existence. 2) maya:The whole of manifest existence; the phenomenal universe, or cosmos, including the mental, spiritual and physical realms of existence, depending on its use. Also denoted by the terms prakriti and Brahmanda. 3) pasha:  In Saivism, the term world is often used to translate the term pasha in the Agamic triad of fundamentals — Pati, pashu, pasha, “God, soul, world.” It is thus defined as the “fetter” (pasha) that binds the soul, veiling its true nature and enabling it to grow and evolve through experience as an individual being. In this sense, the world, or pasha, is three-fold, comprising anava (the force of individuation), karma (the principle of cause and effect) and maya (manifestation, the principle of matter, Siva’s mirific energy, the sixth tattva). See: Brahmanda, loka, maya, microcosm-macrocosm, pasha, tattva.

worldly: Materialistic, unspiritual. Devoted to or concerned with the affairs or pleasures of the world, especially excessive concern to the exclusion of religious thought and life. Connoting ways born of the lower chakras: jealousy, greed, selfishness, anger, guile, etc. — worldliness: The state or quality of being worldly.

yajna: “Worship; sacrifice.” One of the most central Hindu concepts — sacrifice and surrender through acts of worship, inner and outer. 1) A form of ritual worship especially prevalent in Vedic times, in which oblations — ghee, grains, spices and exotic woods — are offered into a fire according to scriptural injunctions while special mantras are chanted. The element fire, Agni, is revered as the divine messenger who carries offerings and prayers to the Gods.

yajnopavita: “Sacred thread.” See: upanayana.

Yajur Veda: “Wisdom of sacrificial formulas.” One of the four compilations of revelatory texts called Vedas (Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva). When used alone, the term Yajur Veda generally refers to this Veda’s central and oldest portion — the Samhita, “hymn collection.” Of this there are two recensions: 1) theKrishna (“black”) Yajur Veda (so called because the commentary, Brahmana, material is mixed with the hymns); and 2) the Shukla (“white or clear”) Yajur Veda (with no commentary among the hymns). See: Vedas.

yama-niyama: “Restraints-observances.” The first two of the eight limbs of raja yoga, constituting Hinduism’s fundamental ethical codes, the ten yamas and ten niyamas are the essential foundation for all spiritual progress. The yamas are the ethical restraints; the niyamas are the religious practices. Here are the ten traditional yamas and ten niyamas. — yamas: 1) ahimsa: “Noninjury.” 2)satya: “Truthfulness.” 3)asteya: “Nonstealing.” 4)brahmacharya: “Sexual purity.” 5) kshama: “Patience.” 6)dhriti: “Steadfastness.” 7) daya: “Compassion.” 8) arjava: “Honesty, straightforwardness.” 9)mitahara: “Moderate appetite.” 10) shaucha: “Purity.” — niyamas: 1) hri: “Remorse.” 2) santosha: “Contentment.”3)dana: “Giving.” 4) astikya: “Faith.” 5)ÊIshvarapujana: “Worship of the Lord.” 6)siddhanta shravana: “Scriptural listening.” 7)mati: “Cognition.” 8) vrata: “Sacred vows.”9) japa: “Recitation.” 10) tapas: “Austerity.” See: raja yoga.

yantra: “Restrainer,” “limiter,” a mystic diagram composed of geometric and alphabetic figures — usually etched on small plates of gold, silver or copper. Sometimes rendered in three dimensions in stone or metal. The purpose of a yantra is to focus spiritual and mental energies according to computer-like yantric pattern, be it for health, wealth, childbearing or the invoking of one God or another. It is usually installed near or under the  temple Deity.

yoga: “Union.” From yuj, “to yoke, harness, unite.” The philosophy, process, disciplines and practices whose purpose is the yoking of individual consciousness with transcendent or divine consciousness. One of the six darshanas, or systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy. Yoga wascodified by Patanjali in his Yoga Sutras (ca 200 BCE) as the eight limbs (ashtanga) of raja yoga. It is essentially a one system, but historically, parts of raja yoga have been developed and emphasized as yogas in themselves. Prominent among the many forms of yoga are hatha yoga (emphasizing bodily perfection in preparation for meditation), kriya yoga (emphasizing breath control), as well as karma yoga (selfless service) and bhakti yoga (devotional practices) which could be regarded as an expression of raja yoga’s first two limbs (yama and niyama). See: bhakti yoga, hatha yoga, raja yoga.

yogadanda: “Meditation staff.” A curved arm rest used during meditation, usually made of wood and attached to a staff about two feet long.

Yoga Ganapati: “The meditator” is a special murti of Ganesha, seated in yogic pose holding a yoga staff and a strand of prayer beads.

Yogaswami: “Master of yoga.” Sri Lanka’s renowned spiritual master (1872 — 1964); a siddhar of the Nandinatha Sampradaya’s Kailasa Parampara who initiated Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1949. See: Kailasa Parampara.

yogi: One who practices yoga, especially kundalini yoga or raja yoga. (More properly yogin. Feminine, yogini.)

yuga: “Eon,” “age.” One of four ages which chart the duration of the world: Satya (or Krita), Treta, Dvapara and Kali. In the first period, dharma reigns supreme; but as the ages revolve, virtue diminishes and ignorance and injustice increase. At the end of the Kali Yuga (our current period), the cycle begins again with Satya Yuga.

**Credits to and published by Himalayan Academy