Himalayan Academy: The educational institution of Saiva Siddhanta Church, founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1957.

Hindu: A follower of, or relating to, Hinduism. Generally, one is understood to be a Hindu by being born into a Hindu family and practicing the faith, or by professing oneself a Hindu. Acceptance into the fold is recognized through the name-giving sacrament, a temple ceremony called namakarana samskara, given to born Hindus shortly after birth, and to Hindus by choice who have proven their sincerity and been accepted by a Hindu community. See: Hinduism.

Hindu astrology: See: jyotisha.

Hinduism (Hindu Dharma): India's indigenous religious and cultural system, followed today by nearly one billion adherents, mostly in India, but with large diaspora 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.

Hinduism Today: The Hindu family magazine founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1979, issued bimonthly by Himalayan Academy to affirm Sanatana Dharma and record the modern history of a billion-strong global religion in renaissance, reaching 150,000 readers in over 100 countries. See: Himalayan Academy.

Hindu solidarity: Hindu unity in diversity. A major contemporary theme according to which Hindu denominations are mutually supportive and work together in harmony, while taking care not to obscure or lessen their distinctions or unique virtues. The underlying belief is that Hinduism will be strong if each of its sects and lineages is vibrant. See: Hinduism.

homa: "fire-offering." A sacred ceremony in which the Gods are offered oblations through the medium of fire in a sanctified fire pit, homakunda, usually made of earthen bricks. Homa rites are enjoined in the Vedas, Agamas and Dharma and Grihya Shastras. See: yajna.

icchha shakti: "Desire; will." See: Shakti.
ida nadi: "Soothing channel." The feminine psychic current flowing along the spine. See: kundalini, nadi, pingala.

initiation (to initiate): Diksha. Entering into; admission as a member. In Hinduism, initiation from a qualified preceptor is considered invaluable for spiritual progress. See: diksha, shaktipata.

Ishta Devata: "Cherished or chosen Deity." The Deity that is the object of one's special pious attention.

Ishvara: "Highest Lord." Supreme or Personal God. See: Parameshvara.

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: smriti.

Iyengar: A South Indian Vaishnavite brahmin caste.

Iyer: Iaq A common name for brahmin priests, often a Smarta brahmin.

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.

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.

jina: "Conqueror." The root of the word Jain, implying conquest over the bondage imposed by the phenomenal world. See: Jain.

jiva: "Living, existing." From jiv, "to live." The individual soul, atman, bound by the three malas (anava, karma and maya). The individuated self (jiva-atman) as opposed to the transcendental Self (parama atman). See: atman, jivanmukta, soul.

jivanmukta: "Liberated soul." One who has attained nirvikalpa samadhi -- the realization of the Self, Parashiva -- and is liberated from rebirth while living in a human body. (Contrasted with videhamukta, one liberated at the point of death.) This attainment is the culmination of lifetimes of intense striving, sadhana and tapas, requiring total renunciation, sannyasa (death to the external world, denoted in the conducting of one's own funeral rites), in the current incarnation. While completing life in the physical body, the jivanmukta enjoys the ability to re-enter nirvikalpa samadhi again and again. See: jivanmukti, jnana, moksha, Self Realization, videhamukti.

jivanmukti: "Liberation while living." The state of the jivanmukta. Contrasted with videhamukti, liberation at the point of death. See: jivanmukta, moksha, reincarnation, videhamukti.

jnana: "Knowledge; wisdom." (Tamil: jnanam) 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 sometimes misunderstood as book knowledge, as a maturity or awakening that comes from simply understanding a complex philosophical system or systems. See: God Realization, Self Realization, samadhi.

jnana marga: See: jnana pada.

jnana pada: "Stage of wisdom." According to the Saiva Siddhanta rishis, jnana is the last of the four successive padas (stages) of spiritual unfoldment. It is the culmination of the third stage, the yoga pada. Also names the knowledge section of each Agama. See: jnana, pada.

Judaic-Christian: Concerned with two of the three religions descended from Abraham, Judaism and Christianty, especially in the sense of their shared beliefs.

Judaism: The religion of over 12 million adherents worldwide (over half in the United States), first of the Abrahamic faiths, founded about 3,700 years ago in Canaan (now Israel) by Abraham, who started the lineage, and in Egypt by Moses, who emancipated the enslaved Jewish tribes. Its major scripture is the Torah.

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.

jyotisha shastri: One who is versed in the jyotisha shastras and qualified to cast and analyze horoscopes and give counsel and advice on karmic events and timing of innovations in people's lives. See: jyotisha.

jyotishi: See: jyotisha shastri.

Kabir: Saint Kabirdas (1440-1518), an Indian mystic and world-renowned poet who attempted to bridge Hindu and Muslim thought and preached the essential equality of all men. He was a forerunner of Sikhism, the faith established by his disciple Nanak. The Sikh holy scripture Adi Granth contains over 500 verses by Kabir.

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 Parampara: "Crystaline lineage." A spiritual 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.

Kali: "Black" Goddess. A form of Shakti in Her fierce aspect worshiped by various sects within Shaktism. She is dark, nude, primordial and fiercely powerful, as of a naked energy untamed. But from the perspective of devotees, She is the incomparable protectress, champion of sadhana and mother of liberation. The Goddess Durga, seated on a tiger, has similar characteristics and is often identified with Kali. See: Shakti, Shaktism.

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. See: moksha, soul.

karma yoga: "Union through action." Selfless service. See: yoga.

karmic: Relating to or caused by karma.

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.

Kashi: See: Varanasi.

katha: "Story; discussion." Also, the literary form involving the telling of stories. Kathakas are bards, storytellers.

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

kosha: "Sheath; vessel, container; layer." Philosophically, five sheaths through which the soul functions simultaneously in the various planes or levels of existence.

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. In Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Krishna is the Godhead.

Krittika Dipa: A joyous one-day festival on the Krittika nakshatra (Pleiades constellation), in November-December, when God Siva is worshiped as an infinite pillar of light. Great bonfires are lit at night on hills and in villages in India and elsewhere to represent the divine, all-permeating light of Parashakti. See: festival.

kriya: "Action." In a general sense, kriya can refer to doing of any kind. Specifically, it names religious action, especially rites or ceremonies. 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.

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

kulapati: A married man who is the head of his joint family and its extended family. His wife is a kulamata. A husband and wife who are part of a kulapati's extended family are known as mukhya and grihini respectively.

Kumara: "Virgin youth; ever-youthful." A name of Lord Karttikeya as an eternal bachelor.

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.

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. See: Goddess, Shakti.

liberal Hinduism: A synonym for SmArtism and the closely related neo-Indian religion. The latter form carries forward basic Hindu cultural values -- such as dress, diet and the arts -- while allowing religious values to subside. Neo-Indian religion encourages Hindus to follow any combination of theological, scriptural, sadhana and worship patterns, regardless of sectarian or religious origin. See: Smartism.

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.

linga: "Mark." See: Sivalinga.

Madurai Aadheenam: The oldest (1,400 years) of the major aadheenams of South India, founded by Saivite Saint Tirujnana Sambandar, located two blocks from the huge Madurai Meenakshi-Sundareshvara temple, one of the most famous Siva-Shakti shrines in the world. Madurai Aadheenam is currently an active center of Saiva Siddhanta philosophy under the direction of Shrila-Shri Arunagirinatha Shri GNanasambanda Deshika Paramachariya, 292nd abbot of the monastery.

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. See: Gods, Parameshvara, Siva.

Mahashivaratri: "Siva's great night." Saivism's foremost festival, celebrated on the night before the new moon in February-March. Fasting and an all-night vigil are observed as well as other disciplines: chanting, praying, meditating and worshiping Siva as the Source and Self of all that exists. See: festival.

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.

manana: "Thinking; deep reflection."

mandira: "Abode." A temple or shrine; sanctuary. See: temple.

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.

mantra diksha: Initiation which gives blessings to chant a sacred mantra given by a satguru or priest at an auspicious time after serious preparations and sadhana well performed by the devotee. Also called samaya diksha. See: diksha, mantra.

Manu Dharma Shastra: "Sage Manu's law book." An encyclopedic treatise of 2,685 verses on Hindu law assembled as early as 600 BCE. These "Laws of Manu" are the oldest and considered the most authoritative of the greater body of Dharma Shastras. See: caste, dharma, Dharma Shastras.

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

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.

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.

Meru: See: Kailasa.

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

mleccha: "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.

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.

moringa: A medicinal tree, Moringa longituba, which produces a red flower.

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. See: 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.

muni: "Sage." A sage or sadhu, especially one vowed to complete silence or who speaks but rarely and who seeks stillness of mind. A hermit. The term is related to mauna, "silence."

murti: "Form; manifestation, embodiment, personification." An image or icon of God or one of the many Gods used during worship.

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

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.

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. See: chakra, kundalini, raja yoga.

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

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.

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.

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. See: vahana.

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.

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 is a 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.

Nehru, Pandit Motilal: (1861-1931) Indian nationalist politician who was an associate of Mahatma Gandhi and an influential leader in the years leading to India's independence. His son Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), also greatly involved in the movement for self-governance, was the political heir to Gandhi and the first Prime Minister of independent India (1947-1964).

Neo-Vaishnavas: A term used by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) referring to non-Indian devotees of Shri Krishna.

New Year: The majority of Hindus in India celebrate the New Year according to traditional, pre-colonial calendars, several of which are still in use. There are, therefore, various New Year's days in different states of India, the two major ones being Dipavali in October-November, observed in North India, and the day when the sun enters Mesha (Aries) in April, celebrated in Tamil Nadu, Bengal and Nepal.

Nirguna Brahman: "God without qualities." See: Brahman.

nirvana: "Extinction." In Buddhism it is the indescribable ultimate attainment or disinterested wisdom and compassion. In Hinduism it is the emancipation from ignorance and the end of all attachment. Also an ideal condition of rest, harmony, stability, or joy.

nirvikalpa samadhi: "Undifferentiated trance, enstasy (samadhi) without form or seed." The realization of the Self, Parashiva, a state of oneness beyond all change or diversity; beyond time, form and space. See: enstasy, raja yoga, samadhi, Self Realization.

niyama: "Restraint." See: yama-niyama.

offering basket: See: archana basket.
orthodox: "Of right (correct) opinion." Conforming to established doctrines or beliefs. Opposite of heterodox, "different opinion."

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, prasada, ucChhishta.

paNcha mahayajNas: The householder's five daily sacrifices: to Gods, ancestors, rishis, creatures and men.

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, samskara, tirthayatra.

PaNcha Silanyasa: The five-stone placement ceremony in consecration of a temple's grounds prior to erecting the temple edifice.

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.

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: atman, kosha, 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. In Truth, it is Siva-Shakti who does all. The term Primal Soul, Paramapurusha, designates Parameshvara as the original, uncreated soul, the creator of all other souls. Parameshvara has many other names and epithets, including those denoting the five divine actions -- Sadashiva, the revealer; Maheshvara, the obscurer; Brahma, the creator; Vishnu the preserver; and Rudra the destroyer. See: Nataraja.

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.

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.

patha: "Path."

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.

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. Penance is often suggested by spiritual leaders and elders. See: prayashchitta, tapas.

periannan "Big brother" or "elder brother."

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

pitri-tarpana: Ceremonial offerings to departed ancestors, constituting one of the paNcha mahayajNas. See: paNcha mahayajNas.

plague: To distress, afflict, trouble or torment.

pottu: See: bindu, tilaka.

prakriti: "Primary matter; nature." See: purusha, tattva.

prana: Vital energy or life principle. Literally, "vital air," from the root pran, "to breathe." 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.

pranayama: "Breath control." See: raja yoga.

pranic: Relating to prana. See: prana.

prapatti: "Throwing oneself down." Bhakti -- total, unconditional submission to God, often coupled with the attitude of personal helplessness, self-effacement and resignation. See: bhakti, grace, pada, surrender.

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.

prayashchitta: "Predominant thought or aim." Penance. Acts of atonement. See: penance.

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

priya: "Beloved, dear to."

proselytize: To induce someone to convert to another religious faith.

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.

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

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.

Radhakrishnan, Dr. S.: (1888-1975) A President of India (1962-1967), 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, making Hinduism better known and appreciated at home and abroad, especially in the intellectual world. He was a proponent of panentheism. See also: Vedanta.

Radha Rani: "Queen of prosperity." Mythologically, Radha Rani is a consort of Lord Krishna. In Hindu mythology, Radha is the creative, life-sustaining, auspicious, benevolent, loving and redemptive Goddess, chief among the Gopis. In the bhakti tradition of Krishna she symbolizes the soul's yearning for salvation and union with God.

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.

Rajarajeshvari: "Royal lady." The Goddess of world-sustaining transcendental knowledge. She whose glances delight the universe. A form of Parvati.

rajarishi: "Kingly seer."

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.

Ramakrishna: (1836 -- 1886) One of the great saints and mystics of modern Hinduism, and an exemplar of monistic theism -- 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.

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.

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. See: shruti, Veda.

rishi: "Seer." A term for an enlightened being, emphasizing psychic perception and visionary wisdom. In the Vedic age, rishis lived in forest or mountain retreats, either alone or with disciples. These rishis were great souls who were the inspired conveyers of the Vedas.

Sabbath: The last day of the week designated by the fourth Commandment as a day of worship and rest, observed by Jews and Christians.
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, grace-filled gifts, blessed in sacred ceremony or by a holy person. See: prasada, samskara.

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.

sadhana marga: "The way of sadhana." A phrase used by Sage Yogaswami to name his prescription for seekers of Truth -- a path of intense effort, spiritual discipline and consistent inner transformation, as opposed to theoretical and intellectual learning. See: pada, sadhana, spiritual unfoldment.

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.

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 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 Church (Saiva Siddhanta Dharmasabha): "Church of God Siva's Revealed Truth," founded in 1949 by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.

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.

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. 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, Shaktism.

shaktipata: "Descent of grace." Guru diksha, initiation from the preceptor; particularly the first initiation, which awakens the kundalini and launches the process of spiritual unfoldment. See: diksha, grace, kundalini.

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.

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.

samapatti: The second in the stages of the Path of Attainment in Buddhism, a continuation of dhyana (meditation), the first stage, leading through a progressive nullification of psychic, mental and emotional activity to a state which is perfect solitude, neither perception nor nonperception.

Sama Veda: "Song of wisdom." Third of the four Vedas. Ninety percent of its 1,875 stanzas are derived from the Rig Veda. It is a collection of hymns specially arranged and notated for chanting with a distinctive melody and cadence by the Udgata priests during yajNa, fire ceremony, together with stanzas from the Yajur Veda. This Veda forms the oldest known form of Indian music. See: shruti, Vedas.

sampradaya: "Tradition," "transmission;" a philosophical or religious doctrine or 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: 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.

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. See: puja.

Shankara: One of Hinduism's most extraordinary monks (788 -- 820) and preeminent guru of the Smarta Sampradaya. He is noted for his monistic philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, his many scriptural commentaries, and formalizing ten orders of sannyasins with pontifical headquarters at strategic points across India. He only lived 32 years, but traveled throughout India and transformed the Hindu world in that time. See: Smartism, Vedanta.

Shankaracharya pitha: Advaita monasteries established by Shankara (ca 788 -- 820) as centers of Smarta authority in India, each with a distinct guru parampara and a reigning pontiff entitled Shankaracharya, and one of the four Upanishadic mahavakyas as a mantra. East coast: Govardhana Matha, in Puri (center of the Aranya and Vana orders). Himalayas: Jyotih Matha, near Badrinath (Giri, Parvata and Sagara orders). West coast: Sharada Matha, in Dvaraka (Tirtha and Ashrama orders). South: Shringeri Matha (Bharati, Puri and Sarasvati orders). A fifth prominent pitha, associated with Sringeri Matha, is in Kanchipuram, also in the South. See: Smartism, Shankara.

Sankhya: "Enumeration, reckoning." See: tattva.

San Marga: "True path." The straight spiritual path leading to the ultimate goal, Self Realization, without detouring into unnecessary psychic exploration or pointless development of siddhis. A San Margi is a person "on the path," as opposed to a samsari, one engrossed in worldliness. San Marga also names the jnana pada. See: pada, sadhana marga.

San Marga Sanctuary: A meditation tirtha at the foot of the extinct volcano, Mount Waialeale, on Hawaii's Garden Island, Kauai. Here pilgrims follow the H-mile path, San Marga, to a natural Sivalinga, walk the path of the Tamil Nayanars around picturesque lotus lakes and ponds and visit the six shrines of the Kailasa Parampara on the banks of Sharavanabhava Lake in Rishi Valley. Paths lead visitors to the sacred Wailua River, then up stone stairs to the Chola-style white-granite Iraivan Temple, hand-carved in Bangalore, India. In the sanctum sanctorum, the Supreme God, Siva (Parameshvara-Parashakti-Parashiva), will be enshrined as a massive 700-pound, single-pointed earthkeeper quartz crystal. San Marga Sanctuary, founded in 1970, is among many public services of Saiva Siddhanta Church, one of America's senior Hindu religious institutions. See: Subramuniyaswami, tirtha.

sannidhana: "Nearness; proximity; taking charge of." A title of heads of monasteries: Guru Mahasannidhana. See: sannidhya.

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

Sanskrit (Samskrita): "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.

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.

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.

Satan: The devil; evil personified. A being who in Christian and other Semitic religions opposes God's will and tempts souls into wickedness. In Hinduism, all is seen as the manifestation of God, and there is no Satan.

Satchidananda (Sachchidananda): "Existence-consciousness-bliss." A synonym for Parashakti. Lord Siva's Divine Mind and simultaneously the pure superconscious mind of each individual soul. Perfect love and omniscient, omnipotent consciousness, the fountainhead of all existence, yet containing and permeating all existence. Also called pure consciousness, pure form, substratum of existence, and more. One of the goals of the meditator or yogi is to experience the natural state of the mind, Satchidananda, subduing the vrittis through yogic practices. See: tattva.

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.

Satguru Purnima: See: Guru Purnima.

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

satya: "Truthfulness." See: yama-niyama.

savikalpa samadhi: "Enstasy with form" or "seed." See: raja yoga, samadhi.

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

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: liberation, kundalini, Parashiva, raja yoga, samadhi.

Semitic: Of or relating to the Semites or their languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Amharic, and Aramaic) or their cultures.

severance: A breaking off or separation.

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

Sharma: A North Indian Brahmin caste.

Shum: A Natha mystical language of meditation revealed in Switzerland in 1968 by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.

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.

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. See: Nataraja, Parameshvara, Parashiva, Saivism.

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. See: murti, Saivism.

Sivam: Same as Siva.

Sivathondar: One who performs Sivathondu, selfless service to God Siva.

Sivathondu: "Service to Siva." Akin to the concept of karma yoga. See: karma yoga.

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: 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 prescribed 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.

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.

shraddha: "Faith; belief."

shraddha shuddhi: See: shuddhi.

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. 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.

Subramuniyaswami: 162nd satguru (1927 -- 2001 ) of the Nandinatha Sampradaya's Kailasa Parampara. He was ordained Sivaya Subramuniyaswami by Sage Yogaswami on the full-moon day of May 12, 1949, in Jaffna, Sri Lanka, at 6:21 PM. This was just days after he had attained nirvikalpa samadhi in the caves of Jalani. The name Subramuniya is a Tamil spelling of the Sanskrit Shubhramunya (not to be confused with Subramanya). It is formed from shubhra meaning "light; intuition," and muni, "silent sage." Ya means "restraint; religious meditation." Thus, Subramuniya means a self-restrained soul who remains silent or, when he speaks, speaks out from intuition.

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.

shunya: "The void, the distinctionless absolute."

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.

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

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.

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: sannyasin.

Tagore, Rabindranath: One of India's most highly acclaimed modern-day writers and poets (1861 -- 1941), son of Devendranath Tagore. He wrote in Bengali and in English. His most famous poetic religious work is GitaNjali, which centers around dialogs between the soul and God Vishnu. He received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1913.

tandava: "Violent dance." Any vigorous dance sequence performed by a male dancer. There are many forms of tandava. Its prototype is Siva's dance of bliss, ananda tandava. The more sublime, female dance is called lasya, from lasa, "lively." Dance in general is nartana. See: Nataraja.

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: 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.

Tatha astu: A pronouncement meaning, "Be it so."

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.

tejas: "Brilliance, fire, splendor." Heat or fire, one of the five elements -- earth, water, fire, air, ether. Tejas also names the glow of tapas in the shining expression of the tapasvin. Tejas is increased through brahmacharya, control of the sexual energies by lifting the heat into the higher chakras. See: brahmacharya, tapas.

temple: Mandira. 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: darshan, tirthayatra.

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.

theistic dualism: Any dualistic philosophy that is also theistic. Theism is the belief that God exists as a real, conscious, personal Supreme Being. Dualism describes a philosophy which view reality as ultimately composed of two irreducible principles, entities or truths, such as God and soul, which are seen as eternally separate.

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

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.

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

tithing: Dashamamsha. "One-tenth sharing." Religion's dues. The spiritual discipline, often a vrata, of paying one-tenth of one's gainful and gifted income to a religious organization of one's choice, thus sustaining spiritual education and upliftment on Earth. The Sanskrit dashamamsha is called makimai in the Tamil tradition. See: tithing vow.

tithing vow: Dashama bhaga vrata. "One-tenth-part vow." A promise tithers make before God, Gods and their family or peers to tithe regularly each month -- for a specified time, or for life.

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.

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).

uchhishta: "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.

upadesha: "Advice; religious instruction." Often given in question-and-answer form, the satguru's spiritual discourses.

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.

upasana: "Sitting near." Worship or contemplation of God. One of the paNcha nitya karmas. "five constant duties."

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.

vahana: "Vessel, conveyance." The mount, or vehicle, of a Deity, often an expression of an aspect of the Deity.

Vaidika Dharma: "The way of the Vedas." An alternate term for Hinduism. See: Hinduism.

Vaikuntha: "Vishnu's heaven." See: Vaishnavism.

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.

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

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.

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.

vanaprastha ashrama: "Forest-dweller stage." See: ashrama dharma.

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: "External appearance, covering; type, species, kind, color; caste. See: varna dharma.

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. Hence this dharma is sometimes called jati dharma. The class-caste system is still very much a part of Indian life today. Many modern Hindus propose that social status is now (and was originally) more properly determined by a person's skills and accomplishments than by birth. Mobility between jatis, or castes, within Hindu communities worldwide is limited but not impossible, and is accomplished through marrying into a new jati, or changing professions through persistence, skill and education. Shastris say that once a person breaks out of his varna or jati of birth and changes "caste," it takes three generations for his family to become fully established in that new strata of society, provided the continuity is unbroken.

-- varna: The four varnas are as follows. -- brahmin (brahmana): "Mature, evolved soul." Scholarly, pious souls of exceptional learning. Hindu scriptures traditionally invest the brahmin class with the responsibility of religious leadership, including teaching and priestly duties. -- kshatriya: "Governing; endowed with sovereignty." Lawmakers and law enforcers and military, also known as rajanya. -- vaishya: "Landowner, merchant