Śaiva Dharma Śāstras

Glossary

शब्दावलि

adheenam: ஆதினம் “Ownership, possession, dependence; Śaiva monastery.” A Śaivite Hindu monastery temple complex in the South Indian, Śaiva Siddhānta tradition. The aadheenam head, or pontiff, is called the guru mahāsannidhānam or aadheenakartar. §

abdicate: To give up formally; to surrender or repudiate.§

abortion: The deliberate termination of pregnancy. From the earliest times, Hindu tradition and scriptures condemn the practice, except when the mother’s life is in danger. It is considered an act against ṛita and ahiṁsā. Hindu mysticism teaches that the fetus is a living, conscious person, needing and deserving protection (a Ṛig Vedic hymn [7.36.9, RvP, 2469] begs for protection of fetuses). The Kaushītakī Upanishad (3.1 UpR, 774) describes abortion as equivalent to killing one’s parents. The Atharva Veda (6.113.2 HE, 43) lists the fetus slayer, brūnaghni, among the greatest of sinners (6.113.2). The Gautama Dharma Śāstra (3.3.9 HD, 214) considers such participants to have lost caste. The Suśruta Saṁhitā, a medical treatise (ca 100), stipulates what is to be done in case of serious problems during delivery (Chikitsāsthāna Chapter, Mūḍhagarbha), describing first the various steps to be taken to attempt to save both mother and child. “If the fetus is alive, one should attempt to remove it from the womb of the mother alive...” (sūtra 5). If it is dead, it may be removed. In case the fetus is alive but cannot be safely delivered, surgical removal is forbidden for “one would harm both mother and offspring. In an irredeemable situation, it is best to cause the miscarriage of the fetus, for no means must be neglected which can prevent the loss of the mother” (sūtras 10-11). §

Absolute: Lower case (absolute): real, not dependent on anything else, not-relative. Upper case (Absolute): Ultimate Reality, the unmanifest, unchanging and transcendent Paraśiva—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 do without. To avoid a desire, negative action or habit. See: yama-niyama. §

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 mūlādhāra chakra, which is located at the base of the spine. See: chakra, loka.§

access card: Special cards of specific duration giving access to Kauai Aadheenam and its branch monasteries for special guests, students and members. §

āchārya: आचार्य A highly respected teacher. A wise one who practices what he preaches. A title usually bestowed through dīkshā and ordination, such as in the Śivāchārya priest tradition. In the context of this book, a senior swāmī of the Śaiva Siddhānta Yoga Order, founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1949. Having completed at least 24 years of service under Gurudeva while observing brahmacharya sādhana, these swāmīs are the acknowledged examples for younger monks.§

actinic: Spiritual, creating light. From the Greek aktis, meaning “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, people and their things, manifests as masculine (aggressive) and feminine (passive), arising from the piṅgalā and iḍā currents. §

acupuncture: System of treating disease by piercing the body with needles.§

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 yogī.§

adharma: अधर्म Opposite of dharma. Thoughts, words or deeds that transgress divine law. Unrighteousness, irreligiousness; demerit. See: dharma, pāpa, sin. §

admonition: A warning to correct a fault; a mild rebuke.§

adopt: To take into one’s family. To take an idea, principle, or even a religion and henceforth live with it and use it as one’s own. See: conversion to Hinduism.§

adopted member: A śishya who, though not related by blood or marriage, is accepted into a kulapati’s extended family. A formal, written agreement between the adoptive and the family outlines the guidelines of their relationship. §

adulate: To praise and flatter highly.§

adultery: Sexual intercourse between a married man and a woman not his wife, or between a married woman and a man not her husband. Adultery is spoken of in Hindu śāstras as a serious breach of dharma. See: sexuality. §

advaita: अद्वैत “Nondual; not two.” Nonduality or monism. The philosophical doctrine that Ultimate Reality consists of a one principle 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 ṛishis, gurus, paṇḍitas and philosophers. See: Vedānta.§

Advaita Īśvaravāda: अद्वैत ईश्वरवाद “Nondual and Personal-God-as-Ruler doctrine.” The Sanskṛit equivalent of monistic theism. A general term that describes the philosophy of the Vedas and Śaiva Āgamas, which believes simultaneously in the ultimate oneness of all things and in the reality of the personal Deity. See: Advaita, Advaita Siddhānta, monistic theism.§

Advaita Siddhānta: अद्वैत सिद्धान्त “Nondual perfect conclusions.” Śaivite philosophy codified in the Āgamas which has at its core the nondual (advaitic) identity of God, soul and world. This monistic-theistic philosophy, unlike the Śaṅkara, or Smārta view, holds that māyā (the principle of manifestation) is not an obstacle to God Realization, but God’s own power and presence guiding the soul’s evolution to perfection. This unified Vedic-Āgamic doctrine is also known as Śuddha Śaiva Siddhānta. See: Advaita Īśvaravāda, monistic theism, Śaiva Siddhānta.§

adversary: A person opposing or fighting another; opponent; enemy.§

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: Dṛidhavāchana (“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. See: Anbe Sivamayam Satyame Parasivam.§

affliction: Pain; suffering; distress.§

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

Āgama: आगम “That which has come down.” An enormous collection of Sanskṛit scriptures which, along with the Vedas, are revered as śruti (revealed scripture). The Āgamas are the primary source and authority for ritual, yoga and temple construction. Each of the major denominations, Śaivism, Vaishṇavism and Śāktism, has its unique Āgama texts. See: Vedic-Āgamic. §

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

Agni Maṇḍapam: अग्नि मण्डपम् The simple pillared structure near the San Mārga Svayambhū Śivaliṅga in which havanas are conducted.§

ahaṁkāra: अहंकार “I-maker.” Personal ego. The mental faculty of individuation; sense of duality and separateness from others. Sense of I-ness, “me” and “mine.” Ahaṁkāra is characterized by the sense of I-ness (abhimāna), sense of mine-ness, identifying with the body (madīyam), planning for one’s own happiness (mamasukha), brooding over sorrow (mamaduḥkha), and possessiveness (mama idam). See: āṇava mala, ego.§

ahiṁsā: अहिंसा “Noninjury,” nonviolence; nonhurtfulness. Refraining from causing others harm, physically, mentally or emotionally. §

ākāśa: आकाश “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 ākāśa that cosmic knowledge is gathered, and the entire circle of time—past, present and future—can be known. Space, ākāśa, in this concept is a positive substance, filled with unseen energies and intelligences, in contrast with the Western conception that space is the absence of everything and is therefore nothing in and of itself. §

alchemistically: Associated with alchemy—a mystical form of chemistry which aims to transmute one thing into something different or better.§

allopathy: Modern “Western” medicine utilizing remedies that produce effects different from or opposite to those produced by the affliction.§

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

amends: To make amends, to make up for injury or loss that one has caused to another. This is done through sincere apology, expressing contrition, public penance, such as kavadi, and the abundant giving of gifts. See: pāpa, penance.§

amphetamines: A family of drugs: dangerous, habit-forming stimulants.§

amṛita: अमृत “Immortality.” Literally, “without death (mṛita).” The nectar of divine bliss which flows down from the sahasrāra chakra when one enters very deep states of meditation. §

āṇava mala: आणवमल “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 (āṇava, karma, māyā) which temporarily limit the soul. See: mala, soul.§

Anbe Sivamayam Satyame Parasivam: அன்பே சிவமயம் சத்தியமே பரசிவம் Tamil for “God Śiva is Immanent Love and transcendent Reality.” The affirmation of faith which capsulizes the entire creed of the monistic Śaiva Siddhāntin. In Sanskṛit it is Premaiva Śivamaya, Satyam eva Paraśivaḥ. §

anchorite: “Hermit.” A monk or aspirant who lives alone and apart from society, as contrasted with cenobite, a member of a religious order living in a monastery or convent. See: monk.§

animal testing: The practice of testing the effectiveness or safety of products by applying them to animal subjects before releasing them to consumers. §

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

antithesis: A contrast or opposition; the exact opposite.§

antyeshṭi: अन्त्येष्टि “Last rites.” Funeral. See: death, saṁskāra.§

anukramaṇikā: अनुक्रमणी “Succession, arrangement.” A table of contents. §

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

Appar: அப்பர் “Father.” Endearing name for Tirunavukarasu (ca 700), one of four Tamil saints, Samayāchāryas, who reconverted errant Śaivites who had embraced Jainism. Calling himself the servant of God’s servants, he composed magnificent hymns in praise of Śiva. See: Nayanar.§

archana: अर्चन A special, personal, abbreviated pūjā 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 pūjā. See: pūjā. §

archives: A place where materials having documentary interest, such as manuscripts or records, are kept; the material, etc., kept in these places.§

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

ardha-Hindu: अर्धहिन्दु “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 Hindu religion who adopt non-Hindu names.§

Ardhanārīśvara: अर्धनारीश्वर “Half-female Lord.” Lord Śiva’s androgynous form, male on the right side and female on the left, indicating that: 1) Śiva (like all Mahādevas) is genderless; 2) Śiva is All, inseparable from His energy, Śakti; 3) in Śiva the iḍā (feminine) and the piṅgalā (masculine) nāḍīs (psychic nerve currents) are balanced so that sushumṇā is ever active. This icon especially represents Śiva’s second perfection: Pure Consciousness (Satchidānanda or Parāśakti). See: kuṇḍalinī, nāḍī, Śakti, Śiva.§

Ārdrā Darśana: आर्द्रादर्शन A ten-day festival ending on Ārdrā nakshatra, near the full moon of December-January honoring Śiva Naṭarāja. In Tamil Nadu, each morning at 4AM, the mystical songs of Saint Manikkavasagar, Tiruvembavai, are sung or recited. Unmarried girls go to the temple in small groups to pray for rains, for the welfare of the land and for fine, spiritual husbands. At the famed temple of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, Lord Naṭarāja, the presiding Deity, is taken out for a grand procession in a chariot pulled through the streets by thousands of devotees. See: darśana, Naṭarāja. §

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

arena: Any place where an event, usually involving struggle or conflict, takes place. The earth is the arena of the soul’s evolution. §

Aries: Literally, “ram;” constellation known as Mesha in Hindu astrology. The Hindu year begins with the month of Aries, around mid-April.§

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

articles of conduct: Guidelines for a lifestyle that totally integrates religious culture and yogic sādhana with the mundane human affairs of the individual, family and community. The articles of conduct, taught and encouraged by the Church are as follows. 1) five obligations: pañcha kriyās, or pañcha nitya karmas; 2) five parenting guidelines: pañcha kuṭumba sādhana; 3-5) fifty-four Kulapati Sūtras, organized into three groups: 1) nine mūla sūtras, or root aphorisms; 2) thirty gṛihya sūtras, or household aphorisms; and 3) fifteen nivārita sūtras, or forbidden aphorisms; 6-7) twenty restraints and practices: yamas and niyamas; 8) sixty-four educational accomplishments: kalās; 9) five sacrifices: pañcha mahāyajña. §

articles of faith: The essential precepts distilled from the Vedas, Śaiva Āgamas and other scriptures which together comprise the unified view held by all my followers regarding God, soul and world (Pati, paśu and pāśa). The Articles of Faith of Śaiva Siddhānta Church are: 1) Śaivite Creed, 2) Affirmation of Faith, 3) Two Doctrines, 4) Scriptural Foundations and 5) Five Precepts.§

Arunagirinathar: அருணகிரிநாதர் South Indian Śaivite poet saint (ca 1500). §

āsān: ஆசாண் “Teacher; master.” A title for a respected guru.§

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

ash: See: vibhūti.§

aspirant: One who aspires to be a monk; a premonastic of the first level. Aspirants take a six-month pledge of purity and abide by the disciplines of Solemn Aspirations. Aspirants are also known as upakurvāṇīs. §

āśrama: आश्रम “Place of striving.” From śram, “to exert energy.” Hermitage; order of life. Holy sanctuary; the residence and teaching center of a sādhu, saint, swāmī, ascetic or guru; often includes lodging for students. Also names life’s four stages. §

āśrama dharma: आश्रमधर्म “Laws of each order of life.” Meritorious way of life particular to each of the four stages (āśramas) of life, following which one lives in harmony with nature and life, allowing the body, emotions and mind to develop and undergo their natural cycles in a most positive way. The four stages are as follows. •brahmacharya: Studentship, from age 12 to 24. •gṛihastha: Householder, from 24 to 48. •vānaprastha: Elder advisor, from 48 to 72. •sannyāsa: Religious solitaire, from 72 onward. The first two āśramas make up the pravṛitti mārga, the way of going toward the world through the force of desire and ambition. The last two are the nivṛitti mārga, moving away from the world through introspection and renunciation. See: dharma, gṛihastha dharma, sannyāsa dharma.§

assembly persons: Sabaiyor, those of the chakravāla who do not hold specific duties but sit in attendance, observe and voice their opinion when requested. §

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

astral body: The subtle, nonphysical body (sūkshma śarīra) in which the soul functions in the astral plane, the inner world also called Antarloka. The astral body includes the prāṇic sheath (prāṇamaya kośa), the instinctive-intellectual sheath (manomaya kośa) and the cognitive sheath (vijñānamaya kośa)—with the prāṇic sheath dropping off at the death of the physical body. See: soul. §

astral plane: The subtle world, or Antarloka, spanning the spectrum of consciousness from the viśuddha chakra in the throat to the pātāla chakra in the soles of the feet. The astral plane includes: 1) the higher astral plane, Maharloka, “plane of balance;” 2) mid-astral plane, Svarloka, “celestial plane;” 3) lower astral plane, Bhuvarloka, “plane of atmosphere,” a counterpart or subtle duplicate of the physical plane (consisting of the Pitṛiloka and Pretaloka); and 4) the sub-astral plane, Naraka, consisting of seven hellish realms corresponding to the seven chakras below the base of the spine. In the astral plane, the soul is enshrouded in the astral body, called sūkshma śarīra. See: astral body, loka, three worlds. §

astral projection: Traveling in inner bodies through subtle, nonphysical planes while the physical body remains still in sleep, trance or meditation. §

astrology: Science of celestial influences. See: birth chart, jyotisha.§

astrological compatibility: Comparison of the astrological birth charts of a man and a woman to determine compatibility for marriage. See: birth chart.§

asura: असुर “Evil spirit; demon.” (Opposite of sura: “deva; God.”) A non-physical 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 are not permanently in this state. §

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

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

ātman: आत्मन् “The soul; the breath; the principle of life and sensation.” The soul in its entirety—as the soul body (ānandamaya kośa) and its essence (Parāśakti and Paraśiva). One of Hinduism’s most fundamental tenets is that we are the ātman, not the physical body, emotions, external mind or personality. See: Paramātman, soul.§

ātmārtha pūjā: आत्मार्थपूजा “Personal worship rite.” Home pūjā—Sanskṛit liturgy performed in the home shrine. See: pūjā.§

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

attainment: Something which has been acquired, achieved or reached through effort. Spiritual accomplishment. §

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

attitude: Disposition. State of mind. Manner of carrying oneself, acting, thinking or feeling revealing one’s disposition, opinions and beliefs. See: conscience.§

Aum: ॐ or ओम् Often spelled Om. The mystic syllable of Hinduism, placed at the beginning of most sacred writings. As a mantra, it is pronounced aw (as in law), oo (as in zoo), mm. The dot above, called anusvāra, represents the Soundless Sound, Paranāda. In common usage in several Indian languages, aum means “yes, verily” or “hail.” See: nāda.§

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: Favorable, of good omen, foreboding well. Maṅgala. One of the central concepts in Hindu life. Astrology defines a method for determining times that are favorable for various human endeavors. Much of daily living and religious practice revolves around an awareness of auspiciousness. Endowed with great power and importance, it is associated with times, places and persons. See: jyotisha. §

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

authority: Influence, power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take action or make final decisions. §

autopsy: The examination and dissection of a dead body to determine the cause of death, extent of disease, etc.§

avatāra: अवतार “Descent.” A God born in a human (or animal) body. A central concept of Śāktism, Smārtism and Vaishṇavism. See: incarnation, Vaishṇavism.§

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

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

āyurveda vaidya: आयुर्वेद वैद्य A practitioner, or physician, of āyurveda. §

awareness: Sākshin, 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. §

ackbiting: Speaking maliciously or slanderously about a person who is absent.§

bālaśishya: बालशिष्य The title for children of Church members, age 1 to 15 who are studying The Master Course but have yet to formally enroll as vidyāśishyas. They may participate in Church activities under their parents’ guidance. §

balavidyārthi: बलविद्यर्थि The title for individuals who have contacted the Academy, are studying The Master Course but are not yet formally enrolled. §

barbiturates: Dangerous, habit-forming drugs—depressants, sedatives.§

begrudgingly: To give with discontent, ill will or reluctance.§

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

betrothal: Mutual pledge to marry; engagement. In Sanskṛit, vāgdāna or niśchitārtha. See: saṁskāras of adulthood.§

Bhagavad Gītā: भगवद् गीता “Song of the Lord.” One of the most popular of Hindu writings, a conversation between Lord Kṛishṇa and Arjuna on the brink of the great battle at Kurukshetra. In this central episode of the epic Mahābhārata (part of the sixth book), Kṛishṇa illumines the warrior-prince Arjuna on yoga, asceticism, dharma and the manifold spiritual path. See: Mahābhārata. §

bhakti: भक्ति “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. See: darśana, prapatti, prasāda, sacrifice, surrender.§

bhakti yoga: भक्तियोग “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. From the beginning practice of bhakti to advanced devotion, called prapatti, self-effacement is an intricate part of Hindu, even all Indian, culture. See: prapatti, sacrifice, surrender.§

bhāshya: भाष्य “Speech, discussion.” Commentary on a text. Hindu philosophies are largely founded upon the interpretations, or bhāshyas, of primary scripture. Other types of commentaries include: vṛitti, a brief commentary on aphorisms; tippani, like a vṛitti but less formal, explains difficult words or phrases; vārttika, a critical study and elaboration of a bhāshya; and tika or vyakhyana, an explanation of a bhāshya or śāstra in simpler language.§

bhava: Concentrated feeling, emotion, mature bhakti. Intense devotion towards God and the Gods.§

Bhojana Mantra: भोजन मन्त्र “Food-blessing chant.” As each meal is served, reciting the food-blessing chant, silently or aloud as a group, is an expression of gratitude, an acknowledgement of food’s ultimate source and an invocation of spiritual benefits. Its recitation prepares one for partaking of the Supreme Lord’s abundance, which should occur in the right state of mind and emotion. Food, the magical source of prāṇa, is an umbilical connection to the cosmos, the lifeline of embodied souls, nature’s means of nourishment. This chant is given in the spirit of a beggar humbly seeking alms. Water—a prāṇic bridge between the subtle and physical universes—is used in four ways in preparing to eat. First, the mouth is rinsed. Then water is used to rinse the banana leaf or plate. Water from one’s drinking cup is poured into the right hand to rinse, as food is taken with the hand, rather than with chopsticks or fork and spoon. Finally, water is sprinkled in a circle around the food with the right hand, creating a force field of purification and protection and invoking harmony of all five bodily prāṇas. In the South of India, a little bit from each food item is placed on the upper left corner of the plate as an offering to Gaṇeśa before taking one’s first bite. §

Bhūloka: भूलोक “Earth world.” The physical plane. See: loka.§

bhūmikā: भूमिका “Earth; ground; soil.” Preface; introduction to a book. From bhū, “to become, exist; arise, come into being.”§

bhuta yajña: See: yajña.§

bindu: बिन्दु “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 (kuṅkuma), 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: tilaka. §

birth chart: Janmapatrikā. An astrological map of the sky drawn for a person’s moment and place of birth. Also known as rāśi chakra or zodiac wheel, it is the basis for interpreting the traits of individuals and the experiences, prārabdha karmas, they will go through in life. See: jyotisha, karma.§

blessing: Good wishes; benediction. Seeking and giving blessings is extremely central in Hindu life, nurtured in the precepts of kāruṇya (grace), śakti (energy), darśana (seeing the divine), prasāda (blessed offerings), pūjā (invocation), tīrthayātrā (pilgrimage), dīkshā (initiation), śaktipāta (descent of grace), saṁskāras (rites of passage), sānnidhya (holy presence) and sādhana (inner-attunement disciplines). §

bodhaka: बोधक “Teacher.” One who awakens or catalyzes knowing; a religious instructor or catalyst.§

bone-gathering: Part of Hindu funeral rites. About twelve hours after cremation, family men return to the cremation site to collect the remains. Some Hindus return the ashes and bones to India for deposition in the Ganges. Or they may be put into any ocean or river. See: cremation, death.§

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

brahmachārī: ब्रह्मचारी An unmarried male spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes religious disciplines, including sādhana, devotion and service and who may be under simple vows. Also names one in the student stage, age 12–24, or until marriage. See: āśrama dharma, monastic.§

brahmachārinī: ब्रह्मचारिनी Feminine counterpart of brahmachārī. See: nunk.§

brahmacharya: ब्रह्मचर्य Sexual purity—restraint of lust and the instinctive nature. See: celibacy, sexuality, yama-niyama.§

brahmacharya āśrama: Student stage of life, approximately 12-24 years of age. See: āśrama dharma.§

brāhma muhūrta: ब्राह्ममुहूर्त “Time of God.” A very favorable time for sādhana. It is traditional to arise before this period, bathe and begin one’s morning worship. Brāhma muhūrta is defined as roughly 1.5 hours, the last muhūrta of the night in the 8-muhūrta system. It is understood as comprising the final three muhūrtas of the night in 15 or 16-muhūrta systems, equalling 144 minutes or 135 minutes respectively. §

brahma yajña: See: pañcha mahāyajna.§

Brahman: ब्रह्मन् “Supreme Being; expansive spirit.” From the root bṛih, “to grow, increase, expand.” Name of God or Supreme Deity in the Vedas, where He is described as the 1) Transcendent Absolute, 2) the allpervading energy and 3) the Supreme Lord or Primal Soul. These three correspond to Śiva in His three perfections. Thus, Śaivites know Brahman and Śiva to be one and the same God. See: Parameśvara, Parāśakti, Paraśiva.§

brāhmin (brāhmaṇa): ब्राह्मण “Mature or evolved soul.” The class of pious souls of exceptional learning. From Brāhman, “growth, expansion, evolution, development, swelling of the spirit or soul.” The mature soul is the exemplar of wisdom, tolerance, forbearance and humility. See: varṇa dharma.§

brihat kuṭumba: बृहत्कुटुम्ब “Extended family.” Also called mahākuṭumba. See: extended family, joint family.§

burning prayers: See: lekhaprārtha havana.§

allous: Unfeeling, not sensitive, lacking compassion or pity. See: yama-niyama.§

caste: A hierarchical system, called varṇa dharma (or jāti 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 (varṇas)—brāhmin, kshatriya, vaiśya and śūdra—and innumerable castes, called jāti. See: varṇa dharma.§

catalyst: A person or thing acting as a stimulus upon another, whose presence brings about change. Difficulties can be a catalyst for spiritual unfoldment. Catalyst is sometimes used to name a teacher or facilitator.§

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

celibacy: Complete sexual abstinence. Also the state of a person who has vowed to remain unmarried. Celibacy is traditionally understood as abstinence from the eight degrees of sexual activity: fantasy (smaraṇa), glorification (kīrtana), flirtation (keli), glances (prekshaṇa), secret talk (guhya bhāshana), longing (kāma saṁkalpa), rendezvous (adhyavāsāya) and intercourse (kriyā nivṛitti). See: brahmachārī, brahmacharya.§

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

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

chakra: चक्र “Wheel.” Any of the nerve plexes 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 pātāla. Thus, there are 14 major chakras in all. The seven upper chakras, from lowest to highest, are: 1) mūlādhāra (base of spine): memory, time and space; 2) svādhishṭhāna (below navel): reason; 3) maṇipūra (solar plexus): willpower; 4) anāhata (heart center): direct cognition; 5) viśuddha (throat): divine love; 6) ājñā (third eye): divine sight; 7) sahasrāra (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) talātala (calves): prolonged mental confusion; 5) rasātala (ankles): selfishness; 6) mahātala (feet): absence of conscience; 7) pātāla (located in the soles of the feet): murder and malice. §

chakravāla: चक्रवाल A circle or saṅga of devotees, seated clockwise according to a special form of seniority age, jyeshṭhatā, which invokes divine beings to hover near and give support, insight and guidance. §

chandana: चन्दन “Sandalwood paste.” One of the sacred substances offered during pūjā and afterwards distributed to devotees as a sacrament (prasāda).§

chaperone: To supervise young, unmarried people at gatherings or meetings.§

character building: Conscious development of a person’s emotional, intellectual and moral qualities.§

charyā pāda: चर्यापाद “Conduct stage.” Stage of service and character building. See: pāda, Śaiva Siddhānta, Śaivism.§

chelā: चेला “Disciple.” (Hindi.) A disciple of a guru; synonym for śishya. The feminine equivalent is chelinā or chelī. In Śaiva Siddhānta Church, an affectionate term for vishesha dīkshā śishyas.§

Chellappaswāmī: செல்லப்பாசுவாமி “Wealthy father.” Reclusive siddha and satguru (1840-1915) of the Nandinātha Sampradāya’s Kailāsa Paramparā who lived on Sri Lanka’s Jaffna peninsula near the Nallur Kandaswāmī Temple, in a small hut where today there is a small samādhi shrine. Among his disciples was Sage Yogaswāmī. See: Kailāsa Paramparā, Nātha Sampradāya.§

chiropractic: Medical therapy employing manipulation of the body joints, especially of the spine, to restore normal nerve function.§

chitta: चित्त “Mind; consciousness.” Mindstuff. 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 antaḥkaraṇa, consisting of buddhi, manas and ahaṁkāra. See: consciousness, mind (five states), mind (three phases), mind (universal).§

chūḍākaraṇa: चूडाकरण Head-shaving sacrament. See: saṁskāras of childhood.§

church: “Religious assembly, congregation.” From the Greek kyriakondoma, meaning “house of the Lord.” The full meaning encompasses the religious congregation and organization on many levels of activity. Also commonly names a place of worship.§

clairaudience: “Clear-hearing.” Psychic or divine hearing, divyaśravana. 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 innerplane beings or earthly beings not physically present. Also, hearing the nādanāḍī śakti through the day or while in meditation. See: clairvoyance, nāda.§

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

clear white light: See: light.§

cocaine: A crystalline alkaloid obtained from dried cocoa leaves; a local anesthetic and a dangerous, addictive stimulant.§

coffer: A chest or strongbox in which money or valuables are kept.§

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

commission: To give an order or power for something to be made or done.§

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

commune: 1) To communicate closely, sharing thoughts, feelings or prayers in an intimate way. To be in close rapport. 2) A comunity of people living together and sharing in work, earning, etc., §

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

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

concentration: Uninterrupted and sustained attention. §

concoction: An unusual compound made by combining various ingredients.§

concord: Harmony and agreement; peaceful relations.§

condone: To forgive, pardon or overlook.§

confession: An admission of guilt or acknowledgement of wrongdoing.§

confidentiality: The ability to keep confidences or information told in trust; not divulging private or secret matters. §

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, Parāśakti. See: awareness, mind (all entries).§

consecrate: To declare holy, or designate for sacred or religious use. §

consent: Accord; agreement; approval, especially for a proposed act.§

console: To make someone feel less sad or disappointed. To comfort.§

contemplation: Religious or mystical absorption beyond meditation. See: five steps to enlightenment, rāja yoga, samādhi.§

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: celibacy, brahmacharya.§

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

conversion to Hinduism: Entering Hinduism has traditionally required little more than accepting and living the beliefs and codes of Hindus. This remains the basic factor of adoption, although there are, and always have been, formal ceremonies recognizing an individual’s entrance into the religion, particularly the nāmakaraṇa, or naming rite. The most obvious sign of true sincerity of adoption or conversion is the total abandoning of the former name and the choosing of the Hindu name, usually the name of a God or Goddess, and then making it legal on one’s passport, identity card, social security card and driver’s license. This is true sincerity and considered by born members as the most honorable and trusted testimony of those who choose to join the global congregation of the world’s oldest religion. The acceptance of outsiders into the Hindu fold has occurred for thousands of years. As Swāmī Vivekānanda once said, “Born aliens have been converted in the past by crowds, and the process is still going on.” Dr. S. Rādhākṛishṇan confirms the swāmī’s views in a brief passage from his well known book The Hindu View of Life: “In a sense, Hinduism may be regarded as the first example in the world of a missionary religion. Only its missionary spirit is different from that associated with the proselytizing creeds. It did not regard it as its mission to convert humanity to any one opinion. For what counts is conduct and not belief. Worshipers of different Gods and followers of different rites were taken into the Hindu fold. The ancient practice of vrātyastoma, described fully in the Taṇḍya Brāhmaṇa, shows that not only individuals but whole tribes were absorbed into Hinduism. Many modern sects accept outsiders. (p. 28-29).” See: Hinduism.§

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

council on missions: preshana chakravāla, the administrative body of each Church mission. It consists of all kulapatis in the mission in conjunction with the Guru Mahāsannidhānam and one or more swāmīs. One of its main functions is to serve as the formal channel of information to and from the Kailāsa Pīṭham at Kauai Aadheenam.§

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 ājñā, or third-eye center, and the sahasrāra, at the top of the head near the pineal and pituitary glands. See: chakra.§

creed: Śraddhādhāraṇā. An authoritative formulation of the beliefs of a religion. Historically, creeds have arisen to protect doctrinal purity when religions are transplanted into foreign cultures. §

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. Embalming, commonly practiced even if the body is to be cremated, is ill-advised, as it injures the astral body and can actually be felt by the departed soul, as would an autopsy. Should it be necessary to preserve the body a few days to allow time for relatives to arrive, it is recommended that hot ice surround the body and that the coffin be kept closed. Arrangements for this service should be made well in advance with the mortuary. Note that the remains of enlightened masters are sometimes buried or sealed in a special tomb called a samādhi. This is done in acknowledgement of the extraordinary attainment of such a soul, whose very body, having become holy, is revered as a sacred presence, sānnidhya, and which not infrequently becomes the spiritual seed of a temple or place of pilgrimage. See: bone-gathering, death, reincarnation, sānnidhya.§

Creole: A general term for a wide variety of French dialects spoken in some African, Caribbean and South American communities. The lingua franca of the Republic of Mauritius.§

cross-national marriage: Marriage between couples from different countries.§

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

crux: The essential or deciding point.§

culminate: To reach the highest point or climax. Result.§

culture: Development or refinement of intellect, emotions, interests, manners, and tastes. The ideals, customs, skills and arts of a people or group that are transmitted from one generation to another. Culture is refined living that arises in a peaceful, stable society. Hindu culture arises directly out of worship in the temples.§

cultural standard: A standard of social, moral, intellectual activities and behavior patterns and beliefs that are accepted by everyone in a community.§

aṇḍa: दण्ड “Staff of support.” The staff carried by a sādhu or sannyāsin, representing the tapas which he has taken as his only support, and the vivifying of sushumṇā and consequent Realization he seeks. Daṇḍa also connotes “penalty or sanction.” See: sādhu, sannyāsin.§

darśana: दर्शन “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. §

daśama bhāga vrata: दशमभागव्रत “One-tenth-part vow.” A promise that tithers make before God, Gods and their family or peers to tithe regularly each month—for a specified time, or for life, as they wish. See: daśamāṁśa.§

daśamāṁśa: दशमांश “One-tenth sharing.” The traditional Hindu practice of tithing, giving one-tenth of one’s income to a religious institution. It was formerly widespread in India. In ancient times the term makimai was used in Tamil Nadu. See: daśama bhāga vrata, purushārtha.§

Daśanāmī: दशनामी “Ten names.” Ten monastic orders organized by Ādi Śaṅkara (ca 800): Āraṇya, Vāna, Giri, Pārvata, Sāgara, Tīrtha, Āśrama, Bhārati, Pūrī and Sarasvatī. Also refers to sannyāsins of these orders, each of whom bears his order’s name, with ānanda often attached to the religious name. For example, Rāmānanda Tīrtha. See: Śaṅkara.§

death: Death is a rich concept for which there are many words in Sanskṛit, such as: mahāprasthāna, “great departure;” samādhimaraṇa, dying consciously while in the state of meditation; mahāsamādhi, “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 (sūkshma śarīra) with the same desires, aspirations and occupations as when it lived in a physical body. See: reincarnation, suicide. §

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

Deity: “God.” Can refer to the image or mūrti installed in a temple or to the Mahādeva the mūrti represents. See: mūrti, pūjā.§

demean: To lower in status or character; degrade.§

demureness: Decorous; modest; shy; reserved.§

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

deprivations: Forced conditions of loss or neediness. §

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

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

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

Devaloka: देवलोक “Plane of radiant beings.” A synonym of Maharloka, the higher astral plane, realm of anāhata chakra. See: loka.§

Devanāgarī: देवनागरी “Divine writing of townspeople.” The alphabetic script in which Sanskṛit, Prākṛit, Hindi and Marāṭhi are written. A descendant of the Northern type of the Brāhmī script. It is characterized by the connecting, horizontal line at the top of the letters. See: Sanskṛit.§

deva yajña: See: pañcha mahāyajña.§

devasthānam: देवस्थानम् In these śāstras, a monastery facility for resident guests. Devasthānams are near the monastery but on nonadjoining Church property. §

devonic: Of or relating to the devas or their world. See: deva.§

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-śishya system. §

dharma: धर्म From dhṛi, “to sustain; carry, hold.” Hence dharma is “that which contains or upholds the cosmos.” Dharma is a complex and all-inclusive term with many meanings, including: divine law, law of being, way of righteousness, religion, 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, as follows. 1) ṛita: “Universal law.” The inherent order of the cosmos. The laws of being and nature that contain and govern all forms, functions and processes, from galaxy clusters to the power of mental thought and perception. 2) varṇa dharma: “Law of one’s kind.” Social duty. Varṇa can mean “race, tribe, appearance, character, color, social standing, etc.” Varṇa dharma defines the individual’s obligations and responsibilities within the nation, society, community, class, occupational subgroup and family. An important part of this dharma is religious and moral law. 3) āśrama dharma: “Duties of life’s stages.” Human dharma. The natural process of maturing from childhood to old age through fulfillment of the duties of each of the four stages of life—brahmachārī (student), gṛihastha (householder), vānaprastha (elder advisor) and sannyāsa (religious solitaire)—in pursuit of the four human goals: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kāma (pleasure) and moksha (liberation). See: āśrama dharma. 4) svadharma: “Personal law.” One’s perfect individual pattern through life, according to one’s own particular physical, mental and emotional nature. Svadharma is determined by the sum of past karmas and the cumulative effect of the other three dharmas. It is the individualized application of dharma, dependent on personal karma, reflected on one’s race, community, physical characteristics, health, intelligence, skills and aptitudes, desires and tendencies, religion, sampradāya, family and guru. ¶Within āśrama dharma, the unique duties of man and woman are respectively called strī dharma and purusha dharma. •purusha dharma: “Man’s duty.” Man’s proper pattern of conduct; traditional observances, vocation, behavior and attitudes dictated by spiritual wisdom. Characterized by leadership, integrity, accomplishment, sustenance of the family. Notably, the married man works in the world and sustains his family as abundantly as he can. •strī 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. See: gṛihastha dharma, varṇa dharma. §

dharmaśāla: धर्मशाल “Abode of righteousness.” A monastery or āśrama, offering religious training for monks and in some cases lay persons on pilgrimage or religious retreat. In Living with Śiva, it specifically refers to branch monasteries of Kauai Aadheenam.§

Dharma Śāstra: धर्मशास्त्र “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 Yajñavalkya, thought to have been composed as early as 600 bce. The Dharma Śāstras, along with the Artha Śāstras, are the codes of Hindu law, parallel to the Muslim Sharia, the Jewish Talmud, each of which provides guidelines for kings, ministers, judicial systems and law enforcement agencies. The Dharma Śāstras are part of the smṛiti literature, included in the Kalpa Vedāṅga, and are widely available today in many languages. §

dhotī: धोती (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. See: veshti.§

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

dhyāna: ध्यान “Meditation.” See: internalized worship, meditation, rāja yoga.§

diaspora: The dispersion of people with a common origin, background, beliefs, etc., such as the distribution of Jews when driven out of Israel.§

dīkshā: दीक्षा “Initiation.” Action or process by which one is entered into a new realm of spiritual knowledge and practice by a teacher or preceptor through the transmission of blessings. 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 bestowed by a touch, a word, a look or a thought. Most Hindu schools, and especially Śaivism, teach that only with initiation from a satguru is enlightenment attainable. Sought after by all Hindus is the dīkshā called śaktipāta, “descent of grace,” which, often coming unbidden, stirs and arouses the mystic kuṇḍalinī force. See: śaktipāta.§

dīkshā śishya: दीक्षा शिष्य The title for members of Śaiva Siddhānta Church who have received mantra dīkshā.§

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

discipline: Training or routines which mold one’s mind, character, attitudes or other dimensions of being. The Śāstric flow of monastic living is itself a self-contained discipline.§

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. §

disdain: To regard or treat as unworthy or beneath one’s dignity.§

divisive: Causing division, especially causing disagreement or dissension.§

door of Brahman: Brahmarandhra; also called nirvāna chakra. An aperture in the crown of the head, the opening of sushumṇā nāḍī through which kuṇḍalinī enters in ultimate Self Realization, and the spirit escapes at death. Only the spirits of the truly pure leave the body in this way. Saṁsārīs take a downward course. See: jñāna, kuṇḍalinī.§

dormant: Sleeping; inactive. §

dosha: दोष “Bodily humor; individual constitution.” Refers to three bodily humors, which according to āyurveda regulate the body, govern its proper functioning and determine its unique constitution. These are vāta, the air humor; pitta, the fire humor; and kapha, the water humor. Vāta has its seat in the intestinal area, pitta in the stomach, and kapha in the lung area. They govern the creation, preservation and dissolution of bodily tissue. Vāta humor is metabolic, nerve energy. Pitta is the catabolic, fire energy. Kapha is the anabolic, nutritive energy. The three doshas (tridosha) also give rise to the various emotions and correspond to the three guṇas, “qualities:” sattva (quiescence—vāta), rajas (activity—pitta) and tamas (inertia—kapha). See: āyurveda. §

dowry: Property a woman brings to her husband and his family at marriage as a condition upon which they will marry.§

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

Dvapara Yuga: द्वपर युग Third of the four yugas, or vast cycles of time of this universe. The Dvapara Yuga is described in the Dravidian Śāstras as a time of impending darkness as the gloom of the Kali Yuga approaches.§

cclesiastical: “Of the church or clergy.” By extension, relating to the authoritative body of any religion, sect or lineage. Having to do with an assembly of spiritual leaders and their jurisdiction.§

ecumenical: Universal. •ecumenism: the principles or practices of promoting cooperation and better understanding among differing faiths. §

edict: An official public order issued by an authority.§

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

ego: The external personality or sense of “I” and “mine.” Broadly, individual identity. In Śaiva Siddhānta and other schools, the ego is equated with the tattva of ahaṁkāra, “Imaker,” which bestows the sense of I-ness, individuality and separateness from God. See: āṇava mala.§

elemental: Of or like a force of nature in power or effect. An intelligent being of the antarloka connected with the basic elements of nature: rocks, the soil, plants, wind, etc.§

elemental temples: Five renowned South Indian Śiva temples, the Śivaliṅgas of which represent the five elements: 1) Earth (Pṛitivī) Liṅga, Ekambareśvara Temple at Kanchipuram; 2) Water (Āpas) Liṅga, Jambukeśvara Temple at Trichy; 3) Fire (Tejas) Liṅga, Arunchaleśvara Temple at Tiruvanamalai; 4) Air (Vāyu) Liṅga, Kalahasteśvara Temple at Śrī Kalahasti; 5) Ether (Ākāśa) Liṅga, Śrī Naṭajāra Temple at Chidambaram.§

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

embalming: The process of treating a dead body with various chemicals to prevent it from decaying rapidly. See: cremation.§

emulate: To imitate. To attempt to equal or surpass someone, generally by copying his ways, talents or successes.§

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

encroachment: Gradual or sneaking trespass or intrusion.§

endangered: On the verge of extinction, as of rare plants or animals.§

endowment: Funds that are invested for the purpose of providing a permanent income to a charitable institution such as a temple, āśrama, school or hospital, or to a family or business. The principal is held perpetually inviolate, with only the income from the investment of the funds available for expenditure. §

enlightened: Having attained enlightenment, Self Realization. A jñānī or jīvanmukta. See: enlightenment, jñāna, Self Realization.§

enlightenment: For Śaiva monists, Self Realization, samādhi without seed (nirvikalpa samādhi); the ultimate attainment, sometimes referred to as Paramātma darśana, or as ātma darśana, “Self vision” (a term which appears in Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras). Enlightenment is the experience-nonexperience resulting in the realization of one’s transcendent Self—Paraśiva—which exists beyond time, form and space. See: God Realization, kuṇḍalinī, Self Realization.§

enmity: Bitter attitude or feelings of 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 samādhi. See: samādhi, rāja yoga. §

entanglements: Involvements in difficulty; being tangled or confused.§

equivalent: Equal in value or meaning.§

equivocal: Uncertain; undecided; doubtful.§

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

esoteric: Hard to understand or secret. Teaching intended for a chosen few, as an inner group of initiates. Abtruse or private.§

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, pañcha nitya karmas, puṇya.§

evil: That which is bad, morally wrong, causing harm, pain, misery. In Western religions, evil is often thought of as a moral antagonism with God. Hindus hold that evil, known in Sanskṛit as pāpa, pāpman or dushṭā, is the result of unvirtuous acts (pāpa 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 māyā. •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, pāpa, sin. §

excommunication: Process of being formally released from a religion; deprived of all rights of membership.§

exemplar: One regarded as worthy of imitation; a model. An ideal pattern to be followed by others. §

exemplify: To show by being an example of.§

existentialist: Adjective of “existentialism”—the doctrine that concrete individual existence takes precedence over abstract, conceptual essence. Also names a adherent to this school of thought.§

expediency: Doing what is advantageous rather than what is right or just.§

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

exploitative: Making unethical use of for advantage or profit.§

extended family: Bṛihatkuṭumba or mahākuṭumba. One or more joint families plus their broader associations and affiliations. Unlike the joint family, whose members live in close proximity, the extended family is geographically widespread. The extended family is headed by the patriarch, called bṛihatkuṭumba pramukha (or mukhya), recognized as the leader by each joint family. He, in turn is under the guidance of the kulaguru, or family preceptor. See: gṛihastha dharma, joint family. §

extol: To praise highly; laud.§

extravagant: Going beyond the reasonable limits; excessive, unrestrained.§

aith: Trust or belief. Conviction. From the Latin fidere, “to 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 ṛishis speaking out the same truths over thousands of years. The Sanskṛit equivalent is śraddhā. §

family life: See: extended family, gṛihastha dharma, joint family.§

fast: To abstain 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. §

fathom: To understand thoroughly the depths of. §

favoritism: Showing more attention or kindness to some persons than to others.§

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 pūjās, penance, fasting, pilgrimage) and rejoicing (songs, dance, music, parades, storytelling and scriptural reading). §

fidelity: Faithfulness; remaining wholly loyal to and having sexual relations only with one’s spouse.§

firewalking: The trance-inducing ceremonial practice of walking over a bed of smoldering, red-hot coals as an expression of faith and sometimes as a form of penance. Participants describe it as a euphoric experience in which no pain is felt and no burns received. See: penance, Śāktism.§

five classical duties: See: pañcha nitya karmas.§

five-fold God consciousness: See: Śiva consciousness.§

Five Letters: See: Namaḥ Śivāya.§

five parenting guidelines: See: pañcha kuṭumba sādhana. §

five practices: See: pañcha nitya karma. §

five precepts: See: pañcha śraddhā. §

five steps to enlightenment: The successive phases of meditation: 1) attention, ekāgratā, or withdrawal, pratyāhāra; 2) concentration, dhāraṇa; 3) meditation, dhyāna; 4) contemplation, savikalpa samādhi; and 5) samādhi, (nirvikalpa samādhi). These five make up the last four of classical rāja yoga’s eight limbs (ashṭāṅga), as the last limb, “samādhi,” is viewed here in two stages. §

focus: Adjustment for distinctness or clarity.§

forbearance: Self-control; responding with patience and compassion, especially under provocation. Endurance; tolerance. See: yama-niyama.§

force field: The cumulative energy surrounding the monastery or a harmonious home; a spiritual shield which protects the residents from astral and physical intrusion. Built up through worship, invoking of the Deities, and through sādhana, tapas and disciplined living.§

forehead marks: See: tilaka, tripuṇḍra.§

forestall: To obstruct or hinder by doing something ahead of time.§

forfeiting: Giving up something due to a crime or fault or neglect of duty.§

foster member: A Hindu member of an extended family, not related by blood or marriage.§

four stages of dharma: See: dharma. §

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

frugal: Not wasteful; not spending freely or unnecessarily; thrifty.§

fundamentalist: Any religious or philosophical group or individual marked by extreme dogmatism and intolerance. Fundamentalists believe in a literal interpretation of their scripture as the exclusive truth, the one and only way which all souls must follow to attain salvation, and in allegiance to their messiah as the one true representative of God. A religious fanatic.§

funeral rites: See: cremation, bone-gathering, saṁskāras.§

aṇa: गण “Multitude, troop; number; a body of followers or attendants.” A troop of demigods—God Śiva’s attendants, devonic helpers under the supervision of Lord Gaṇeśa.§

Gaṇeśa: गणेश “Lord of Categories.” (From gaṇ, “to count or reckon,” and Īśa, “lord.”) Or: “Lord of attendants (gaṇa),” synonymous with Gaṇapati. Gaṇeśa is a Mahādeva, the beloved elephant-faced Deity honored by Hindus of every sect. He is the Lord of Obstacles (Vighneśvara), 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 mūlādhāra chakra and is easy of access. §

Gaṇeśa Chaturthī: गणेश चतुर्थी Birthday of Lord Gaṇeśa, a ten-day festival of August-September that culminates in a spectacular parade called Gaṇeśa Visarjana. It is a time of rejoicing, when all Hindus worship together. §

gaṅgā sādhana: गंगा साधन An internal cleansing sādhana of sitting quietly by a river or stream and listening to the Aum sound as the water flows over the rocks. When a thought arises, it is mentally placed into a leaf held in the right hand. Then the leaf is gently tossed into the water to take the thought away. Then a flower is offered to thanks the water for carrying away the thought. This is a subconscious cleansing process of letting go of hurts, anger, problems or whatever it is that rises in the mind to disturb the meditation.§

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

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

gāyatrī: गायत्री According with the gāyatrī verse form, an ancient meter of 24 syllables, generally as a triplet with eight syllables each. From gāya, “song.” —Gāyatrī: The Vedic Gāyatrī Mantra personified as a Goddess, mother of the four Vedas. §

Gāyatrī Mantra: गायत्रीमन्त्र 1) Famous Vedic mantra used in pūjā and personal chanting. Om [bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ] tatsavitur vareṇyam, bhargo devasya dhīmahi, dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt. “[O Divine Beings of all three worlds,] we meditate upon the glorious splendor of the Vivifier divine. May He Himself illumine our minds.” (Ṛig Veda 3.62.10 VE). This sacred verse is also called the Sāvitrī Mantra, being addressed to Savitṛi, the Sun as Creator, and is considered a universal mystic formula so significant that it is called Vedamātṛi, “mother of the Vedas.” §

ghee: घी Hindi for clarified butter; ghṛita in Sanskṛit. Butter that has been boiled and strained. An important sacred substance used in temple lamps and offered in fire ceremony, yajña. It is also used as a food with many āyurvedic virtues.§

God Realization: A term naming the direct and personal experience of the Divine within oneself. It can refer to either 1) savikalpa samādhi (“enstasy with form”) in its various levels, from the experience of inner light to the realization of Satchidānanda, the pure consciousness or primal substance flowing through all form, or 2) nirvikalpa samādhi (“enstasy without form”), union with the transcendent Absolute, Paraśiva, the Self God, beyond time, form and space. In Living with Śiva, the term God Realization is used to name both of the above samādhis, whereas Self Realization refers only to nirvikalpa samādhi. See: five steps to enlightenment, samādhi, Self Realization.§

Gods: Mahādevas, “great beings of light.” In Living with Śiva, 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—Śiva—and the Mahādevas who are His creation. See: Mahādeva.§

gopura: गोपुर South Indian temple entrance tower, often quite tall with ornate carvings. See: temple.§

gotra: गोत्र “Cowshed.” Family lineage or subcaste stemming from a ṛishi or satguru and bearing his name. Originally described as several joint families sharing a common cowshed. See: caste, varṇa dharma.§

grace: “Benevolence, love, giving,” from the Latin gratus, “beloved, agreeable.” God’s power of revealment, anugraha śakti (“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, śaktipāta.§

grace period: A period of six months following Satguru Purnima in which śishyas may rededicate their commitment.§

graft: The taking advantage of one’s position to illegally acquire money, goods or other material benefits. Also names goods gained by such means. §

great star: The Sun of this solar system.§

gṛihastha: गृहस्थ “Householder.” Family man or woman. Family of a married couple and other relatives. Pertaining to family life. The purely masculine form of the word is gṛihasthi. The feminine form is gṛihasthin. Gṛihasthi also names the home itself. See: āśrama dharma, extended family, gṛihastha dharma, joint family.§

gṛihastha dharma: गृहस्थधर्म “Householder law.” The virtues and ideals of family life. This dharma includes all nonmonastics, whether married, single or gay. In general, gṛihastha dharma begins with the completion of the period of studentship and extends throughout the period of raising a family (called the gṛihastha āśrama). Specific scriptures, called Dharma Śāstras and Gṛihya Śāstras, outline the duties and obligations of family life. The householder strives to fulfill the four purushārthas, “human goals” of righteousness, wealth, pleasure and liberation. While taking care of one’s own family is most central, it is only part of this dharma’s expectations. Gṛihasthas must support the religion by building and maintaining temples, monasteries and other religious institutions, supporting the monastics and disseminating the teachings. They must care for the elderly and feed the poor and homeless. See: dharma, extended family, joint family.§

grihiṇī: गृहिणी From gṛiha, “home,” hence “lady of the home.”§

grihya: From griha “home,” hence “household.”§

guru: गुरु “Weighty one,” indicating a being of great knowledge or skill. A term used to describe 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), vīṇāguru (vīṇā teacher) and satguru (spiritual preceptor). According to the Advayatāraka Upanishad (14–18), guru means “dispeller (gu) of darkness (ru).” See: guru bhakti, guru-śishya system, satguru.§

guru bhakti: गुरुभक्ति Devotion to the teacher. The attitude of humility, love and ideation 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, satguru, guru-śishya system.§

Gurudeva: गुरुदेव “Divine or radiant preceptor.” An affectionate, respectful name for the guru.§

Guru Gītā: गुरु गीता “Song of the guru.” A popular 352-verse excerpt from the Skanda Purāṇa, wherein Lord Śiva tells Pārvatī of the guru-disciple relationship. See: guru, Sri Guru Gita.§

guru hut: A building in Rishi Valley on San Marga which is used only by Gurudeva to give darshan.§

Guru Jayantī: गुरु जयन्ती Preceptor’s birthday, celebrated as an annual festival by devotees. A pādapūjā, ritual bathing of his feet, is usually performed. If he is not physically present, the pūjā is done to the tiruvadi or śrī pādukā, “holy sandals,” which represent the guru and hold his vibration.§

gurukula: गुरुकुल A training center where young boys live and learn in residence with their teacher. Kula means “family.” See: āśrama, brahmacharya.§

guru lineage: See: guru paramparā.§

Guru Mahāsannidhānam: गुरु महासन्निधानम् Spiritual head of a traditional aadheenam.§

Guru Mantra: गुरु मन्त्र A profound Vedic hymn in honor and praise of all illumined preceptors, traditionally chanted by disciples upon their guru’s arrival. This praise of his unspeakable unfoldment is generally given while standing, with hands in añjali mudrā, prayerful pose, held near the chest, or as a special sign of veneration, at the forehead. This mantra is from the Kṛishṇa Yajur Veda, Mahānārāyaṇa Upanishad, 12.3.7.§

guru paramparā: गुरुपरंपरा “Preceptorial succession” (literally, “from one 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. See: sampradāya.§

Guru Pūrṇimā: गुरु पूर्णिमा Occurring on the full moon of July, Guru Pūrṇimā is for devotees a day of rededication to all that the guru represents. It is occasioned by pādapūjā—ritual worship of the guru’s sandals, which represent his holy feet.§

guru-śishya system: गुरुशिष्य “Master-disciple system.” An important education 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.§

guru temple: Sacred room for the Satguru adjacent to Kadavul Hindu Temple.§

anumān: The member of the Senior Minority Group whose main duty is to convey messages to groups. §

harassment: Trouble, or torment.§

hasten: To move or act swiftly; hurry; to quicken.§

havana: हवन “Fire pit for sacred offering; making oblations through fire.” Same as homa. Havis and havya name the offerings.§

havana kuṇḍa: हवनकुण्ड The fire altar, made of metal or brick, in which written prayers are burned.§

havanakāra: हवनकार The four kulapatis who perform the havana. The havanakāras are the three most senior kulapatis and the one least senior kulapati present. §

hatḥa yoga: हठयोग “Forceful yoga.” Haṭha 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: kuṇḍalinī, nāḍī, yoga.§

heed: To pay close attention to; take careful notice of.§

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.§

hereditary: Ancestral. Passed down through family lines. For example, it is Hindu family dharma for the son to be taught everything that the father knows and the daughter to learn everything the mother knows. Thus they inherit knowledge, control of mind and emotions, as well as property.§

heroin: A powerful, dangerous, habit-forming narcotic drug derived from morphine.§

hierarchy: A group of beings arranged in order of rank or class; as a hierarchy of God, Gods and devas.§

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).§

Himālayan Academy: An educational and publishing institution of Śaiva Siddhānta Church founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1957. The Academy’s objective is to share the teachings of Sanātana Dharma through travel-study programs, The Master Course, books and other publications—particularly the monthly newspaper HINDUISM TODAY and Dancing with Śiva, Hinduism’s Contemporary Catechism—as a public service to Hindus worldwide. See: Hinduism Today, Subramuniyaswami.§

Himālayan Kalākshetra: हिमालयन् कलाक्षेत्र See: Himālayan Academy.§

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

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

Hindu Businessmen’s Association: Organization of Church men who own their own businesses, either fully or in partnership.§

Hindu Heritage Endowment: A public service trust which seeks to establish and maintain permanent sources of income for Hindu institutions worldwide.§

Hinduism (Hindu Dharma): हिन्दुधर्म 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 Sanātana 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: Śaivism, Vaishṇavism, Śāktism and Smārtism. 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-śishya tradition and a reliance on the Vedas as scriptural authority. §

Hinduism Today: The international, monthly newspaper published on every continent by Himalayan Academy and founded in 1979 by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. See: Subramuniyaswami. §

Hindu solidarity: Hindu unity in diversity. A major theme in contemporary Hinduism according to which the various 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, denominations and lineages is individually vibrant. See: Hinduism.§

Hindutva dhvaja: हिन्दुत्व ध्व्ज The Hindu flag. Flying at Kauai’s Hindu monastery and everywhere members reside, Hindutva dhvaja majestically proclaims the Sanātana Dharma.§

Hindu Workingmen’s Association: Organization of Church men who are employed by others.§

holy ash: See: tilaka, tripuṇḍra, vibhūti.§

holy feet: The feet of God, a God, satguru or any holy person, often represented by sacred sandals, called śrī pādukā in Sanskṛit and tiruvadi in Tamil. The feet of a divine one are considered especially precious as they represent the point of contact of the Divine and the physical, and are thus revered as the source of grace. The sandals or feet of the guru are the object of worship on his jayantī (birthday), on Guru Pūrṇimā and other special occasions. See: pādapūjā, pādukā, satguru.§

Holy Bible of the Śaivite Hindu Religion: A body of sacred texts including selections from Hindu primary and secondary scripture, including the Vedas, Āgamas, Tirumantiram and Tirukural.§

holy orders: A divine ordination or covenant, giving religious authority. Vows that members of a religious body make, especially a monastic body or order, such as the vows (holy orders of renunciation) given a sannyāsin at the time of his initiation (sannyāsa dīkshā), which establish a covenant with the ancient holy order of sannyāsa. Sannyāsins, the wearers of the ocher robe, are the ordained religious leaders of Hinduism. See: sannyāsa dīkshā.§

homa: होम “Fire-offering.” A sacred ceremony in which the Gods are offered oblations through the medium of fire in a sanctified fire pit, homakuṇḍa, usually made of earthen bricks. Homa rites are enjoined in the Vedas, Āgamas and Dharma and Gṛihya Śāstras. Many domestic rites are occasions for homa, including upanayana and vivāha. Major pūjās in temples are often preceded by a homa.§

homeopathy: Medical system using minute doses of drugs that in larger amounts would produce symptoms of the respective disease.§

homosexual: Of or characterized by sexual attraction for members of one’s own gender. A modern synonym is gay, especially for males, while female homosexuals are termed lesbian. See: sexuality.§

householder: Gṛihastha. Family man or woman. Family of a married couple and other relatives. Pertaining to family life. See: extended family, gṛihastha dharma, joint family.§

humiliate: To hurt the pride or dignity of by causing to appear foolish. §

humors (or bodily humors): See: āyurveda, dosha.§

huṇḍi: हुण्डि “Offering box,” from hun, “to sacrifice.” A strong box inside Hindu temples into which devotees place their contributions.§

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

immortality: Deathlessness. See: death.§

impeccable: Flawless, without defect or blemish.§

impropriety: Improper action or behavior.§

incarnation: Endowment with a human body. “Incarnation of Siva” means the taking of human birth by the Supreme Being. See: reincarnation.§

incognito: Without being recognized; keeping one’s identity unrevealed or disguised. Refers in this text to the protocol followed by monks traveling alone from one of our monasteries to another or to rendezvous with other monks on pilgrimage. Traveling incognito means passing through unnoticed. It means remaining centered, intent on the destination, engaged in silent sādhana, scriptural reading, japa and meditation. It includes avoiding interraction through not initiating conversation, engaging in small talk only as necessary and not volunteering information about oneself. Traveling incognito means avoiding contact and not visiting with Church members, Academy students or friends of the Church unless otherwise instructed. It means not teaching or lecturing and not giving out religious literature.§

indomitable: Not easily discouraged, defeated or subdued. Unconquerable.§

inextricable: Cannot be disentangled or separated from another thing.§

infatuated: So absorbed by attachment or affection as to become foolish or lacking in good judgment.§

infatuation: The magnetic condition of being captured by a foolish or shallow love or affection.§

infiltrate: To gradually penetrate so as to attack or seize control from within.§

initiation (to initiate): To enter into; to admit as a member. In Hinduism, initiation from a qualified preceptor is considered invaluable for spiritual progress. See: dīkshā, śaktipāta, sannyāsa dīkshā.§

injunction: An urging; an order or firm instruction.§

innate: Naturally occurring; not acquired. That which belongs to the inherent nature or constitution of a being or thing. §

innersearch: Striving inwardly to know oneself.§

Innersearch Travel-Study Program: A pilgrimage by a group of śishya who visit temples and holy sites together as they learn more of who they are on the inside.§

inscrutable: Not easily understood; completely obscure or mysterious.§

insignia: Sign or symbol of identity, rank or office, such as a badge or emblem. §

intellect: The power to reason or understand; 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 kośa. See: buddhi, mind (five states), mind (three phases).§

internalize: To take something inside of oneself. To conteplate or reflect upon. §

internalized worship: Yoga. Worship or contact with God and Gods via meditation and contemplation rather than through external ritual. This is the yogī’s path, preceded by the charyā and kriyā pādas. See: meditation, yoga.§

instinctive: “Natural or innate.” From the Latin instinctus, “to impel, instigate.” 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, as well as the emotions of greed, hatred, anger, fear, lust and jealousy. See: mind (three phases).§

instinctive mind: Manas chitta. The lower mind, the controller of basic faculties of perception, movement, ordinary thought and emotion. Manas chitta is of the manomaya kośa. See: mind (three phases).§

intimacy: The state of being intimate or very close. Having a close rapport.§

intrigue: Secret or underhanded plotting or scheming. §

intrinsic: 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.§

Iraivan: இறைவன் “Worshipful one; divine one.” One of the most ancient Tamil names for God. See: San Mārga Sanctuary.§

Iraivan Temple: See: San Mārga Sanctuary.§

itinerant: Traveling from place to place, with no permanent home. Wandering. See: monk, sādhu, vairāgī.§

ai: जै “Victory!”
japa: जप “Recitation.” Practice of concentratedly repeating a mantra, often while counting the repetitions on a mālā 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. §

Jayantī: जयन्ती Preceptor’s birthday, celebrated as an annual festival by devotees. A pādapūjā, ritual bathing of his feet, is usually performed. If he is not physically present, the pūjā is done to the śrī pādukā, “holy sandals,” which represent the guru and hold his vibration.§

jīva: जीव “Living, existing.” From jīv, “to live.” The individual soul, ātman, during its embodied state, bound by the three malas (āṇava, karma and māyā). The jīvanmukta is one who is “liberated while living.” See: ātman, soul.§

jīvanmukti: जीवन्मुक्ति “Liberation while living.” The state of the jīvanmukta. Contrasted with videhamukti, liberation at the point of death. See: death, moksha, reincarnation, videhamukti.§

Jīvana Ṛitau: जीवन ऋतौ The rainy season, from mid-August to mid-December, when Living with Śiva: Hinduism’s Contemporary Culture is the focus of study.§

jīvanopāya: जीवनोपाय “Livelihood, means of living.”§

jñāna: ज्ञान “Knowledge; wisdom.” The matured state of the soul. It is the wisdom that comes as an aftermath of the kuṇḍalinī breaking through the door of Brahman into the realization of Paraśiva, Absolute Reality. Jñāna is the awakened, superconscious state (kāraṇa chitta). It is the fruition of the progressive stages of charyā, kriyā and yoga in the Śaiva Siddhānta system of spiritual unfoldment. See: God Realization, Self Realization, samādhi.§

joint family: Kuṭumba or kula. The Hindu social unit consisting of several generations of kindred living together under the same roof or in a joining compound. Traditionally, joint families live in a large single home, but in modern times accommodations are often in individual, nuclear homes within a shared compound. The main characteristics of the joint family are that its members 1) share a common residence, 2) partake of food prepared in the same kitchen, 3) hold their property in common and, 4) ideally, profess the same religion, sect and sampradāya. Each individual family of husband, wife and children is under the guidance of the head of the joint family. All work together unselfishly to further the common good. Each joint family extends out from its home to include a second level of connections as an “extended family (bṛihatkuṭumba or mahākuṭumba).” See: extended family, gṛihastha dharma.§

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

jyoti: ज्योति Inner light.§

jyotisha: ज्योतिष 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. See: birth chart.§

jyotisha acharya: ज्योतिषाचार्य A “teacher of astrology.” §

jyotisha shastri: ज्योतिषशास्त्री “Astrologer.” A person well versed in the science of jyotisha.§

adaitswāmī: கடையிற்சுவாமி “Marketplace swāmī.” A satguru of the Nandinātha Sampradāya’s Kailāsa Paramparā. Born ca 1820; died 1875. Renouncing his career as a judge in Bangalore, South India, Kadaitswāmī became a sannyāsin and trained under the “Ṛishi from the Himālayas,” who then sent him on mission to Sri Lanka. He performed severe tapas on an island off the coast of Jaffna, awakening many siddhis. For decades he spurred the Sri Lankan Śaivites to greater spirituality through his inspired talks and demonstration of siddhis. He initiated Chellappaswāmī as the next satguru in the paramparā. See: Kailāsa Paramparā, Nātha Sampradāya.§

Kadavul: கடவுள் “Beyond and within.” An ancient Tamil name for Lord Śiva meaning, “He who is both immanent and transcendent, within and beyond.” See: Śiva.§

Kailāsa: कैलास “Crystalline” or “abode of bliss.” The four-faced Himalayan peak in Western Tibet; the earthly abode of Lord Śiva. 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. Kailāsa is represented in Śāktism by a certain three-dimensional form of the Śrī Chakra yantra (also called kailāsa chakra). §

Kailāsa Paramparā: कैलासपरंपरा A spiritual lineage of siddhas, a major stream of the Nandinātha Sampradāya, proponents of the ancient philosophy of monistic Śaiva Siddhānta. The first of these masters that history recalls was Maharishi Nandinātha (or Nandikeśvara) 2,250 years ago, satguru to the great Tirumular, ca 200 bce, and seven other disciples (as stated in the Tirumantiram): Patañjali, Vyāghrapāda, Sanatkumāra, Śivayogamuni, Sanakar, Sanadanar and Sananthanar. Tirumular had seven disciples: Malaṅgam, Indiran, Soman, Brahman, Rudran, Kalaṅga, and Kañjamalayam, each of whom established one or more monasteries and propagated the Āgamic lore. In the line of Kalaṅga came the sages Ṛighama, Māligaideva, Nādāntar, Bhogadeva and Paramānanda. The lineage continued down the centuries and is alive today—the first recent siddha known being the Ṛishi from the Himalayas, so named because he descended from those holy mountains. In South India, he initiated Kadaitswāmī (ca 1810–1875), who in turn initiated Chellappaswāmī (1840–1915). Chellappan passed the mantle of authority to sage Yogaswāmī (1872–1964), who in 1949 initiated the current satguru, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. See: Chellapaswāmī, Kadaitswāmī, Nātha Sampradāya, Subramuniyaswami, Tirumular, Yogaswāmī. §

kalā–64 (chatuḥ shashṭi kalā): चतुः षष्टिकला “Sixty-four arts.” A classical curriculum of sacred sciences, studies, arts and skills of cultured living listed in various Hindu śāstras. Its most well-known appearance is in the Kāma Sūtra, an extensive manual devoted to sensual pleasures. The kalās are among the skills traditionally taught to both genders, while emphasizing masculinity in men and femininity in women. Their subject matter draws on such texts as the Vedāṅgas and Upavedas, and the Śilpa Śāstras, or craft manuals. Through the centuries, writers have prescribed many more skills and accomplishments. These include sculpture, pottery, weaving, astronomy and astrology, mathematics, weights and measures, philosophy, scriptural study, agriculture, navigation, trade and shipping, knowledge of time, logic, psychology and āyurveda. In modern times, two unique sets of 64 kalās have been developed, one for girls and one for boys. §

Kali Yuga: कलियुग “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.§

kāma: काम “Pleasure, love; desire.” Cultural, intellectual and sexual fulfillment. One of four human goals, purushārtha. See: purushārtha.§

kamaṇḍalu: कमण्डलु “Vessel, water jar.” Traditionally earthen or wooden, carried by sannyāsins, it symbolizes the renunciate’s simple, self-contained life. The tree from which kamaṇḍalus are traditionally made is the kamaṇḍalutaru. See: sannyāsa dharma, sannyāsin.§

karma: कर्म “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 (pāpakarma or kukarma) will bring suffering. Benevolent actions (puṇyakarma 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: sañchita, prārabdha and kriyamāna. •sañchita karma: “Accumulated actions.” The sum of all karmas of this life and past lives. •prārabdha karma: “Actions begun; set in motion.” That portion of sañchita 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. •kriyamāna karma: “Being made.” The karma being created and added to sañchita in this life by one’s thoughts, words and actions, or in the inner worlds between lives. Kriyamāna karma is also called āgāmi, “coming, arriving,” and vartamāna, “living, set in motion.” While some kriyamāna karmas bear fruit in the current life, others are stored for future births. Each of these types can be divided into two categories: ārabdha (literally, “begun, undertaken;” karma that is “sprouting”), and anārabdha (“not commenced; dormant”), or “seed karma.” See: mala, moksha, sin, soul. §

karma yoga: कर्मयोग “Union through action.” The path of selfless service. See: yoga.§

karma yogī: कर्म योगी One who does acts of service while seeking no rewards.§

karmic pattern: One’s individual pattern of living based on all experiences from this and previous lives, the culmination of which is the future.§

Kārttikeya: कार्त्तिकेय Child of the Pleiades, from Kṛittikā, “Pleiades.” A son of Śiva. A great Mahādeva worshiped in all parts of India and the world. Also known as Murugan, Kumāra, Skanda, Shaṇmukhanātha, Subramaṇya 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 the practice of yoga. He holds the holy vel of jñāna śakti, which is His Power to vanquish darkness or ignorance. §

Kashmīr Śaivite: कश्मीरशैव Of or related to Kashmīr Śaivism; a follower of this sect of Hinduism. §

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 Śaiva Siddhānta Church.§

kavadi: காவடி A penance offered to Lord Murugan-Kārttikeya, 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 participant’s tongue and other parts of the body are often pierced with small silver spears or hooks. See: penance.§

kavi: காவி “Ocher-saffron color.” A Tamil term referring to the color taken on by robes of sādhus who sit, meditate or live on the banks of the Ganges. Names the color of the sannyāsin’s robes. The Sanskṛit equivalent is kāshāya. §

keśānta: केशान्त “Beard-shaving.” See: saṁskāras of adulthood.§

kolam: கோலம் 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 raṅgoli in Sanskṛit. Kolam designs are made with rice powder mixed to a watery paste, and sometimes with flowers and various-colored powdered pulses. §

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

kośa: कोश “Sheath; vessel, container; layer.” Philosophically, five sheaths through which the soul functions simultaneously in the various planes or levels of existence. •annamaya kośa: “Sheath composed of food.” The physical or odic body. •prāṇamaya kośa: “Sheath composed of prāṇa (vital force).” Also known as the prāṇic or health body, or the etheric body or etheric double. •manomaya kośa: “Mind-formed sheath.” The lower astral body, from manas, “thought, will, wish.” The instinctive-intellectual sheath of ordinary thought, desire and emotion. •vijñānamaya kośa: “Sheath of cognition.” The mental or cognitive-intuitive sheath, also called the actinodic sheath. •ānandamaya kośa: “Body of bliss.” The intuitive-superconscious sheath or actinic-causal body. Ānandamaya kośa is not a sheath in the same sense as the four outer kośas. It is the soul itself, a body of light, also called kāraṇa śarīra, causal body, and karmāśaya, holder of karmas of this and all past lives. Ānandamaya kośa is that which evolves through all incarnations and beyond until the soul’s ultimate, fulfilled merger, viśvagrāsa, in the Primal Soul, Parameśvara. Then ānandamaya kośa becomes Śivamayakośa, the body of God Śiva.§

koyil: கோயில் Tamil word for temple.§

Kṛittikā Dīpa: कृत्तिकादीप A joyous one-day festival on the Kṛittikā nakshatra (Pleiades constellation), in November-December, when God Śiva 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 Parāśakti. See: festival.§

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

kriyamāna karma: क्रियमानकर्म “Actions being made.” See: karma. §

kriyā pāda: क्रियापाद “Stage of religious action; worship.” The stage of worship and devotion, second of four progressive stages of maturation on the Śaiva Siddhānta path of attainment. See: pāda. §

kshatriya: क्षत्रिय “Governing; sovereign.” The social class of lawmakers, law-enforcers and military.§

kukarma: कुकर्म “Unwholesome acts” or the fruit therefrom. See: karma, pāpa.§

kulaguru: कुलगुरु “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.§

kulamata: See: kulapati.§

kulapati: कुलपति A married man who is the head of his joint family and its extended family. His wife is a kulamātā. A husband and wife who are part of a kulapati’s extended family are known as mukhya and grihiṇī respectively.§

kulapati desha chakravāla: कुलपति देषचक्रवाल All the kulapatis in a given country meeting all together three times a year at the beginning of each season—in mid-April, mid-August and mid-December. Also called a national council of patriarchs. Their focus for meetings is to fulfill the spirit of the “three seasons” and to set the tenor for the local missions.§

kulapati preshana chakravāla: कुलपति प्रेषन चक्रवाल See: council on missions.§

Kulapati Sūtras: कुलपति सूत्र A collection of 54 sūtras from Living with Śiva which serve as the minimum standard for membership in Śaiva Siddhānta Church as a vrataśishya.§

Kulapati Sūtra Vrata: कुलपति सूत्र व्रत the vow to uphold the 54 Kulapati Sūtras, one of the requirements to become a Novitiate Church member, vrataśishya.§

Kulārṇava Tantra: कुलार्णवतन्त्र A leading scripture of the Kaula school of Śāktism. It comprises 17 chapters totaling 2,058 verses which focus on ways to liberation, with notable chapters on the guru-śishya relationship.§

Kumāra: कुमार “Virgin youth; ever-youthful.” A name of Lord Kārttikeya as an eternal bachelor. See: Kārttikeya.§

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

kumbha: कुम्भ Another name for kalaśa, 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.§

kumbhābhisheka: कुम्भाभिषेक “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. §

kuṁkuma: कुंकुम “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.§

kuṇḍalinī: कुण्डलिनी “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 sushumṇā nāḍī. As it rises, the kuṇḍalinī awakens each successive chakra. Nirvikalpa samādhi, enlightenment, comes as it pierces through the door of Brahman at the core of the sahasrāra and enters! See: chakra, samādhi, nāḍī.§

kuttuvilaku: குத்துவிளக்கு A standing lamp (dīpastambha in Sanskṛit) found in the temple, shrine room or home.§

kuṭumba: कुटुम्ब “Family.” See: extended family, joint family.§

ambodara: लम्बोदर “Large belly.” A name of Lord Gaṇeśa cited in the Mudgala Purāṇa as the conqueror of krodha, anger. §

Leavings, food: See: prasāda, ucçhishṭa.§

lekhaprārtha havana: लेखप्रार्थहवन “Written-prayer-burning rite.” A coined term for the ancient practice of sending written prayers to the Gods by burning them in a sanctified fire in a temple or shrine. Alternately this rite can be performed at other appropriate sites, with four persons sitting around a fire and chanting to create a temporary temple. Prayers can be written in any language, but should be clearly legible, in black ink on white paper. The devas have provided a special script, called Tyaf, especially for this purpose. Its letters, from A to Z, which replace the letters of the Roman script, looks like this: §

§

Lemurian and Dravidian Śāstras: The two-volume set of inner plane writings which, along with these Śaiva Dharma Śāstras comprise The Lord Subramaniam Śāstras. The Lemurian, Dravidian and Śaivite Śāstras are a compilation of numerous ākāśic records which were revealed to Gurudeva’s clairvoyant vision by the inner-plane librarian in response to questions on various subjects.§

Lemurians: Divine souls that came to this planet in the last Sat Yuga who were the first to inhabit human bodies, during the Treta Yuga.§

lenient: Inclined not to be strict; merciful.§

Letters Five: See: Namaḥ Śivāya.§

liberal Hinduism: A synonym for Smārtism 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, sādhana and worship patterns, regardless of sectarian or religious origin. See: Smārtism.§

liberation: Moksha, release from the bonds of pāśa, after which the soul is liberated from saṁsāra (the round of births and deaths). In Śaiva Siddhānta, pāśa is the three-fold bondage of āṇava, karma and māyā, 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, videhamukti. §

light: In an ordinary sense, a form of energy which makes physical objects visible to the eye. In a religious-mystical sense, light also illumines inner objects (i.e., mental images). •inner light: light perceived inside the head and body, of which there are varying intensities. When the karmas have been sufficiently quieted, the meditator can see and enjoy inner light independently of mental images. See: Śiva consciousness.§

lineage: Line of succession of preceptors, each one initiating the next. See: guru paramparā.§

Liṅga: लिङ्ग “Mark.” See: Śivaliṅga. §

liturgy: The proper, prescribed forms of religious ritual.§

livelihood: Svajīvana. Subsistence, or the means of obtaining it. One’s profession, trade or employment. See: dharma, caste, varṇa dharma.§

loka: लोक “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) Bhūloka: “Earth world.” The world perceived through the five senses, also called the gross plane, as it is the most dense of the worlds. 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. 3) Śivaloka: “World of Śiva,” and of the Gods and highly evolved souls. The causal plane, also called Kāraṇaloka, existing deep within the Antarloka at a higher level of vibration, it is a world of superconsciousness and extremely refined energy. It is 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 viśuddha, ājñā and sahasrāra chakras and those above. See: three worlds.§

longevity: Long life; great span of life.§

Lord Subramaniam Shastras: Writings by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, which he read from ākāśic inner-plane libraries in 1973, detailing ancient monastic traditions and the early history of planet Earth.§

lottery: Game of chance in which people buy numbered tickets, and prizes are given to those whose numbers are drawn by lot.§

lucid dreaming: Being totally conscious in a dream.§

lunar calendar: A calendar based primarily on the cycles of the moon rather than the sun. For example, a month is from one full moon to the next or from the new moon to the next new moon. There are both lunar and solar based calendars in India, though today the solar is becoming prevalent.§

adurai: City in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu; home of one of the world’s most spectacular Śaivite temples, called Meenakshi-Sundaresvara.§

magic: Use of charms, spells and rituals in seeking or pretending to cause or control events, or govern certain natural or supernatural forces. Also, wondrous, producing extraordinary results.§

mahā: महा A prefix meaning “great.”§

Mahābhārata: महाभारत “Great Epic of India.” The world’s longest epic poem. It revolves around the conflict between two kingdoms, the Pāṇḍavas 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, economics and many stories illustrative of simple truths and ethical principles. The Bhagavad Gītā is one section of the work. The Mahābhārata is revered as scripture by Vaishṇavites and Smārtas. See: Bhagavad Gītā.§

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

mahāpralaya: महाप्रलय “Great dissolution.” Total annihilation of the universe at the end of a mahākalpa. It is the absorption of all existence, including time, space and individual consciousness, all the lokas and their inhabitants into God Śiva, as the water of a river returns to its source, the sea. Then Śiva 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 Bhūloka and/or the Antarloka are destroyed. §

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

maharishi (mahārshi): महार्षि “Great seer.” Title for the greatest and most influential of siddhas. §

mahāsamādhi: महासमाधि “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. Mahāsamādhi day names the anniversary of a great soul’s transition. See: cremation, death.§

Mahāśivarātri: महाषिवरात्रि “Śiva’s great night.” Śaivism’s foremost festival, celebrated on the night before the new moon in February-March. Fasting and all-night vigil are observed as well as other disciplines: chanting, praying, meditating and worshiping Śiva as the Source and Self of all that exists. §

mahātmā: महात्मा “Great soul.” Honorific title given to people held in high esteem, especially saints. See: ātman.§

mahāvākya: महावाक्य “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 Brahmāsmi (“I am God”—Bṛihadāraṇyaka U.), Tat tvam asi (“Thou art That”—çhandogya U.) and Ayam ātma Brahma (“The soul is God”—Māṇḍūkya U.).§

mala: मल “Impurity.” An important term in Śaivism referring to three bonds, called pāśa—āṇava, karma, and māyā— which limit the soul, preventing it from knowing its true, divine nature. See: liberation.§

maṇḍala: मण्डल “Circular; orb; mystic diagram.” A circle. Name of the chapters of the Ṛig Veda Saṁhitā. A circular diagram without beginning or end—which indicates the higher and the lower and other possibilities—upon which one meditates. A tapestry, picture or grouping of words used in meditation to enter the realms depicted.§

maṇḍapa: मण्डप From maṇḍ, “to deck, adorn.” Temple precinct; a temple compound, open hall or chamber. In entering a large temple, one passes through a series of maṇḍapas, each named according to its position, e.g., mukhamaṇḍapa, “facing chamber.” In some temples, maṇḍapas are concentrically arranged. See: temple.§

mandira: मन्दिर Temple or shrine; abode.” See: temple. §

Mango Maṇḍapam: A small gazebo type structure under a giant, deva-filled mango tree near Kadavul Hindu Temple.§

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

mānsāhāra: मांसाहार “Meat-eating.”§

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

mantra dīkshā: Initiation into the use of a sacred mantra. §

manusha: मनुष “Men.”§

male dharma: See: dharma.§

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

manusha manushī cha : मनुष मनुषी च “Men and women.”§

mārga: मार्ग “Path; way.” From mārg, “to seek.” See: pāda.§

marriage covenant: The written (or verbal) statements of bride and groom expressing the promises and expectations of their marriage. Known in Sanskṛit as vāñniśchaya, “settlement by word.” §

Master Course: Prābhu Sanmārga, a course on the Śaivite Hindu religion, and more specifically monistic Śaiva Siddhānta, the Advaita Īśvaravāda of Śrī Lanka and South India, Part One of which is Śaivite Hindu Religion. The Master Course is a home-study course of applied yogic tantras. §

maṭhaseva: मठसेव Service for the monastery, such as hosting visitors, giving hospitality, lodging and transportation; preparing prasāda, cooking for gatherings, harvesting produce, caring for certain areas of the grounds, sewing, making garlands and other decorations for festivals and more. §

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.§

maṭhapati: मठपति “Monastery head; abbot.” §

maṭhavāsi: मठवासि “Monastic; monastery dweller.”§

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

māyā: माया “She who measures;” or “mirific energy.” The substance emanated from Śiva through which the world of form is manifested. Hence all creation is also termed māyā. It is the cosmic creative force, the principle of manifestation, ever in the process of creation, preservation and dissolution. Māyā is a key concept in Hinduism, originally meaning “supernatural power; God’s mirific energy,” often translated as “illusion.” See: loka, mind (universal).§

mead: Wine made from the simple fermentation of water and honey.§

meat-eater: Mānsāhārī. Those who follow a nonvegetarian diet.§

meditation: Dhyāna. 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: five steps to enlightenment, rāja yoga. §

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

mendicant: A beggar; a wandering monk, or sādhu, who lives on alms.§

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.§

messenger: One who is charged with transmitting messages or performing errands as the tūtuvar does.§

metaphysics: 1) The branch of philosophy dealing with first causes and nature of reality. 2) The science of mysticism. See: darśana.§

microbe: Microscopic life form, especially a bacteria that causes disease.§

microscopic: So small as to be invisible except through a microscope. §

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

mind (five states): A view of the mind in five parts. •conscious mind: Jāgrat chitta (“wakeful consciousness”). The ordinary, waking, thinking state of mind in which the majority of people function most of the day. •subconscious mind: Saṁskāra 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: Vāsanā 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: Kāraṇa chitta. The mind of light, the all-knowing intelligence of the soul. At its deepest level, the superconscious is Parāśakti, or Satchidānanda, the Divine Mind of God Śiva. •subsuperconscious mind: Anukāraṇa chitta. The superconscious mind working through the conscious and subconscious states, which brings forth intuition, clarity and insight. See: chitta, consciousness, saṁskāra.§

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: Kāraṇa chitta, the strata of intuition, benevolence and spiritual sustenance. Its most refined essence is Parāsakti, or Satchidānanda, 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 māyā. It is the material matrix. It is everything but That, the Self within, Paraśiva. See: chitta, consciousness, māyā.§

mind-reading: Perceiving another’s thoughts without verbal communication.§

minister: Someone charged with a specific function on behalf of a religious or political body, especially in serving the spiritual needs of the people. In Hinduism, this term may be applied to temple priests, monks, preceptors, scriptural scholars and others. §

mirific: “Wonder-making; magical; astonishing.” See: māyā.§

misconception: A wrong idea or concept; misunderstanding, avidyā. §

mission house: A family home where members of a local Śaiva Siddhānta Church mission gather for weekly satsang.§

mitāhāra: मिताहार “Measured eating; moderate appetite.” A requisite to good health and an essential for success in yoga. The ideal portion per meal is described as no more than would fill the two hands held side by side and slightly cupped piled high, an amount called a kuḍava. All the six tastes should be within these foods (sweet, salty, sour, pungent, bitter and astringent), and the foods should be well cooked and highly nutritious. See: yama-niyama.§

moksha: मोक्ष “Liberation.” Release from transmigration, saṁsāra, the round of births and deaths, which occurs after karma has been resolved and nirvikalpa samādhi—realization of the Self, Paraśiva—has been attained. Same as mukti. See: kuṇḍalinī, liberation.§

Moksha Ṛitau: मोक्ष ऋतौ The third period of the year, the cool season, from mid-December to mid-April. It is the season of dissolution. The key word is resolution. Merging with Śiva: Hinduism’s Contemporary Metaphysics is the focus of study and intense investigation.§

monastic: A monk or nunk (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 maṭhavāsi, and sādhu is a rough equivalent for mendicant. See: monk, sannyāsin.§

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 theism: Advaita Īśvaravāda. 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 God has a personal form, that He creates, pervades and is all that exists—and that He ultimately transcends all existence and that the soul is, in essence, one with God. See: advaita, Advaita Īśvaravāda, Advaita Siddhānta, theism. §

monitor: To keep watch over. One who advises, warns or cautions. §

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

monk: A celibate man wholly dedicated to religious life, either cenobitic (residing with others in a monastery) or anchoritic (living alone, as a hermit or mendicant). Literally, “one who lives alone” (from the Greek monos, “alone”). Through the practice of yoga, the control and transmutation of the masculine and feminine forces within himself, the monk is a complete being, free to follow the contemplative and mystic life toward realization of the Self within. Benevolent and strong, courageous, fearless, not entangled in the thoughts and feelings of others, monks are affectionately detached from society, defenders of the faith, kind, loving and ever-flowing with timely wisdom. A synonym for monastic. Its feminine counterpart is nunk. See: monastic, sannyāsin.§

mors voluntaria religiosa: Self-willed, religious death through fasting, known in Sanskṛit as prāyopaveśa. See: suicide.§

Mount Waialeale: Sacred mountain on Kauai, the peak of which is recorded to have the most rainy days per year of any place on earth. Kauai Aadheenam is at the foot of Waialeale.§

mṛidaṅga: मृदङ्ग A South Indian concert drum, barrel-shaped and two-headed.§

mudrā: मुद्रा “Seal.” Esoteric hand gestures which express specific energies or powers. Usually accompanied by precise visualizations, mudrās are a vital element of ritual worship (pūjā), dance and yoga. Among the best-known mudrās are: 1) abhaya mudrā (gesture of fearlessness), in which the fingers are extended, palm facing forward; 2) añjali mudrā (gesture of reverence); 3) jñāna mudrā (also known as chin mudrā and yoga mudrā), in which the thumb and index finger touch, forming a circle, with the other fingers extended; 4) dhyāna mudrā (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: haṭha yoga, namaskāra.§

mukhya: मुख्य “Head; foremost.” From mukha, “face, countenance.” Leader, guide; such as the family head, kuṭumba mukhya (or pramukha).§

mūla: मूल “Root.” The root, base or bottom or basis of anything, as in mūlādhāra chakra. Foundational, original or causal, as in mūlagrantha, “original text.”§

mūlādhāra chakra: मूलाधारचक्र “Root-support wheel.” Four-petaled psychic center at the base of the spine; governs memory. See: chakra.§

Mūla Sūtras: मूल सूत्र Nine root aphorisms from the 365 Nandinātha Sūtras describing the fundamental qualities of Śaiva Hindu living. They unmistakably distinguish the ardent, devout practitioner from those who are yet to make a complete, uncompromised twenty-four-hour-a-day commitment to a life of dharma.§

muni: मुनि “Sage.” A sage or sādhu, 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.” In the hymns of the Ṛig Veda, munis are mystic shamans associated with the God Rudra.§

mūrti: मूर्ति “Form; manifestation, embodiment, personification.” An image or icon of God or a God used during worship. Another important term for the Deity icon or idol is pratimā, “reflected image.” §

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

Murugan’s six South Indian temples: Arupadai Veedu, “six places of pilgrimage” to God Murugan, or Kārtikkeya, designated by the Tamil poet Nakkirar (ca 100 ce) in his Tirumurugatruppadai. A journey to all six temples in prescribed order yields immeasurable blessings. 1) Tirupparankundram, a temple carved out of virgin rock five miles west of Madurai. Here the Deity’s mood is one of gaiety (ullasam). 2) Tiruchendur, a large seashore temple at Tiruchendur 36 miles from Tirunelveli, where Lord Murugan’s mood is carefree (nirakula). 3) Tiruvavinankudi temple at Palani Hill, a temple of meditative striving (yoga) to the the staff-carrying renunciate, Dandayuthapani. 4) Swamimalai, situated on a hillock near Kumbakonam, where devotees experience the benevolent (idam) darśana of the great guru, Lord Swaminātha. 5) Tiruttani, 84 miles from Madras, a temple to Lord Subramanya in the mood of pleasant discourse(sallabham). 6) Palamudirsolai, twelve miles from Madurai, with a mood of wonderment or marvel (arpudam) See: Kārtikkeya. §

āda: नाद “Sound; tone, vibration.” Metaphysically, the mystic sounds of the Eternal, of which the highest is the transcendent or Soundless Sound, Paranāda, the first vibration from which creation emanates. From Paranāda comes Praṇava, Aum, and further evolutes of nāda. These are experienced by the meditator as the nādanāḍī śakti, “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 śruti box. Most commonly, nāda refers to ordinary sound. See: Aum. §

nāḍī: नाडी “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 nāḍīs are named iḍā, piṅgalā and sushumṇā. •iḍā: Also known as chandra (“moon”) nāḍī, 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. •piṅgaỊā: Also known as sūrya (“sun”) nāḍī, 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. •sushumṇā: The major nerve current which passes through the spinal column from the mūlādhāra chakra at the base to the sahasrāra at the crown of the head. It is the channel of kuṇḍalinī. Through yoga, the kuṇḍalinī energy lying dormant in the mūlādhāra is awakened and made to rise up this channel through each chakra to the sahasrāra chakra. See: chakra, kuṇḍalinī, rāja yoga.§

nādanāḍī śakti: नादनाडीशक्ति “Energy current of sound.” See: nāda.§

nāgasvara: नागस्वर “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 pūjās and processions with the tavil, a large drum.§

naishtika: नैष्तिक Virgin from birth. A monastic or premonastic who has maintained the subtle connections with the inner worlds which are closed off or obscured when a connection with a member of the opposite sex is created through sexual intercourse.§

nakshatra: नक्षत्र “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 birth. See: jyotisha.§

nakshatra garden: Vegetable and herb garden of 27 different mounds at Kauai Aadheenam named after the 27 asterisms of the moon.§

Nāma Dīkshā: नामदीक्षा “Name initiation.” Also known as nāmakaraṇa saṁskāra.§

namaḥ: नमः “Adoration (or homage) to.§

Namaḥ Śivāya: नमः शिवाय “Adoration (or homage) to Śiva.” The supreme mantra of Śaivism, known as the Pañchākshara or “five letters.” Na is the Lord’s veiling grace; Ma is the world; Śi is Śiva; Vā is His revealing grace; Ya is the soul. The letters also represent the physical body: Na the legs, Ma the stomach, Śi the shoulders, Vā the mouth and Ya the eyes. Embodying the essence of Śaiva Siddhānta, it is found in the center of the central Veda (the Yajur) of the original three Vedas (Ṛig, Yajur and Sāma). (Kṛishṇa Yajur Veda, Taittirīya Saṁhitā 4.5.8). §

nāmakaraṇa: नामकरण “Name giving.” See: saṁskāras of childhood.§

namaskāra: नमस्कार “Reverent salutations.” Traditional Hindu verbal greeting and mudrā where the palms are joined together and held before the heart or raised to the level of the forehead. The mudrā is also called añjali. §

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

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

Nandinātha: नन्दिनाथ “Lord of Nandi.” A name of Śiva. Also another name for Nandinātha, the first historically known guru of the Nandikeśvara Sampradāya. See: Kailāsa Paramparā, Nātha Sampradāya.§

Nandinātha Sampradāya: नन्दिनाथसंप्रदाय See: Nātha Sampradāya.§

Nandinātha Tantras: नन्दिनाथ तन्त्र Any of a number of specific disciplines or courses of study given directly by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami as personal sādhana to qualified students and members.§

Nani Kaua waterfall: Hawaiian name for the sacred falls of the Wailua River at the river’s border of Kauai Aadheenam.§

Naraka: नरक 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. §

Nartana Ṛitau: नर्तन ऋतौ The first season, of Dancing with Śiva, beginning on the Hindu New Year. This is the period of creation, the warm season, from mid-April through mid-August. The primary teaching text is Dancing with Śiva: Hinduism’s Contemporary Catechism, Śivena Saha Nartanam.§

Naṭarāja: नटराज “King of Dance, or King of Dancers.” God as the Cosmic Dancer. Perhaps Hinduism’s richest and most eloquent symbol, Naṭarāja represents Śiva, the Primal Soul, Parameśvara, as the power, energy and life of all that exists. This is Śiva’s intricate state of Being in Manifestation. See: Parameśvara, Parāśakti, Paraśiva. §

Natchintanai: நற்சிந்தனை The collected songs of Sage Yogaswāmī (1872–1964) of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, extolling the power of the satguru, worship of Lord Śiva, the path of dharma and the attainment of Self Realization. §

Nātha: नाथ “Master, lord; adept.” Names an ancient Himalayan tradition of Śaiva-yoga mysticism, whose first historically known exponent was Nandikeśvara (ca 250 bce). Nātha—Self-Realized adept—refers to the extraordinary ascetic masters of this school. The Nāthas are considered the source of haṭha as well as rāja yoga. §

Nātha Sampradāya: नाथसंप्रदाय “Traditional doctrine of knowledge of masters.” Sampradāya means a living stream of tradition or theology. Nātha Sampradāya isa philosophical and yogic tradition of Śaivism whose origins are unknown. This oldest of Śaivite sampradāyas existing today consists of two major streams: the Nandinātha and the Ādinātha. See: Kailāsa Paramparā, Nātha, Śaivism, sampradāya.§

Nātha Yoga Sūtras: नाथयोगसूत्र Patañjali’s Yoga Aphorisms. See: Patañjali.§

natyam: नत्यम् Literally divine dancer. A Sanskṛit and Shum word naming a monk who is or is training to be a sannyāsin. It includes three levels: young sādhaka; yogī tapasvin and swāmī. §

naturopathy: Treating diseases by natural means, rejecting the use of drugs.§

Nayanar: நாயனார் “Teacher.” The 63 canonized Tamil saints of South India, as documented in the Periyapurāṇam by Sekkilar (ca 1140). All but a few were householders, recognized as outstanding exemplars of devotion to Lord Śiva. Several contributed to the Śaiva Siddhānta scriptural compendium called Tirumurai. See: Tirumurai. §

*Nayanar Neri: நாயனார் நெரி See: path of the Nayanars.§

neem forest: Part of the Sān Mārga Sanctuary, consisting of 108 sacred/medicinal neem trees just past the Rudrāksha Meditation Forest at the beginning of the straight path to the Iraivan Śivaliṅga.§

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. §

neo-Indian religion: A modern form of liberal Hinduism that 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, sādhana and worship patterns, regardless of sectarian or religious origin. Extending out of and beyond the Smārta system of worshiping the Gods of each major sect, it incorporates holy icons from all religions, including Jesus, Mother Mary and Buddha. See: Smārtism.§

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 Dīpāvalī 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. §

nicotine: The addictive, water-soluble alkaloid found in tobacco leaves. §

nine realms: The nine splendid settings of tropical beauty at Kauai Aadheenam, each with special charm and unique inner vibration. Healing plants and trees and fragrant vines and flowers make each of the following nine realms a magical kingdom unto itself. 1) Ṛishi Valley, 2) Wailua Farm, 3) Kadavul Temple, 4) San Mārga Sanctuary, 5) Wailua River, 6) Pihanakalani Trail, 7) Iraivan Temple, 8) Path of the Nayanars and 9) Maṭhavāsi Vīdhu. §

nivārita: निवारित “Kept off, hindered, forbidden, prevented.” From nivṛi: “to ward off, restrain; hinder, stop, withhold, suppress, forbid.”§

nītividyā: नीतिविद्या “Ethics; knowledge of prudent behavior.”§

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

nondualism: “Not two.” Refers to monistic philosophy. See: advaita, monism, monistic theism, Vedānta.§

“Nothing is happening”: A devonic expression to name the state of sublimity maintained within the monastery through regulation of the culture and flow of activities. When the forces are properly balanced, this feeling persists even though much is being accomplished in service to Śaivism.§

novitiate: Same as novice. A newcomer to a monastic or religious community, on probation, before taking final vows.§

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

nurturance: Same as nurture, to nourish. The act or process or furnishing the essentials to growth, development or education.§

bscurity: Something not clear; faint or undefined; not easily understood.§

occult: Hidden, or kept secret; revealed only after initiation. §

odic: Magnetic—of or pertaining to consciousness within aśuddha māyā, the realm of the physical and lower astral planes. Odic force in its rarified state is prakṛiti, the primary gross energy of nature, manifesting in the three guṇas: sattva, rajas and tamas. It is the force of attraction and repulsion between people, people and their things, and manifests as masculine (aggressive) and feminine (passive), arising from the piṅgalā and iḍā currents. These two currents (nāḍī) are found within spine of the subtle body. Odic force is a magnetic, sticky, binding substance that people seek to develop when they want to bind themselves together, such as in partnerships, marriage, guru-śishya relationships and friendships. §

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

open house: One day of the year before or during Pañcha Gaṇapati, in December, in which the mission invites students, neighbors, friends and relatives to familiarize them with the teachings and to express goodwill and appreciation for their kindnesses throughout the year. An open house may be held by one mission or by two or more missions joining together.§

Orchid Pavilion: Gazebo style structure on San Mārga decorated with orchids with individual pillars representing the major religions of the world. Also called Pavilion of Religions.§

ordain (ordination): To give someone 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: dīkshā.§

order: Specifically names the Śaiva Siddhānta Yoga Order, though “Order” is occasionally used in these Śāstras to refer to the monastic body as a whole. §

ostracize: Exclusion, by general consent, from a group.§

āda: पाद “The foot (of men and animals); quarter-part, section; stage; path.” Names the four major sections of the Āgamic texts and the corresponding stages of practice and unfoldment on the path to moksha. )•charyā pāda: “Good conduct stage.” The first stage where one learns to live righteously, serve selflessly, performing karma yoga. Traditional acts of charyā include cleaning the temple, lighting lamps and collecting flowers for worship. Worship at this stage is mostly external. •kriyā pāda: “Religious action; worship stage.” Stage of bhakti yoga, of cultivating devotion through performing pūjā and regular daily sādhana. A central practice of the kriyā pāda is performing daily pūjā. •yoga pāda: Having matured in the charyā and kriyā pādas, the soul now turns to internalized worship and rāja yoga under the guidance of a satguru. It is a time of sādhana and serious striving when realization of the Self is the goal. •jñāna pāda: “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 Mārga, “true path.” See: jñāna, yoga. §

pādapūjā: पादपूजा “Foot worship.” Ceremonial worship of the guru’s sandals (pādukā) 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 prasāda by devotees. See: pādukā, prasāda, ucçhishṭa. §

padipālar: படிப்பாளர் The śishya who occupies the third seat in the chakravāla. He is the reader, pujārī and paṇḍaram priest. He gives a scriptural reading at every meeting, conducts pūjās and other forms of worship and leads bhajana and meditation. He is also the helper of the pechālar, and both of them receive help from the tūtuvar when needed.§

pādukā: पादुका “Sandals.” Śrī Pādukā refers to the sandals of the preceptor, the traditional icon of the guru, representing his holy feet and worshiped as the source of grace. See: guru bhakti, pādapūjā.§

palmist: One who reads characters or futures from the palm of the hand.§

Pañcha Gaṇapati Utsava: पञ्जगणपतिउत्सव “Five-fold Gaṇapati festival.” A modern five-day festival observed from the 21st through 25th of December. Pañcha (five) denotes Gaṇeśa’s five faces, each representing a specific power (śakti). One face is worshiped each day, creating 1) harmony in the home, 2) concord among relatives, neighbors and friends, 3) good business and public relations, 4) cultural upliftment and 5) heartfelt charity and religiousness. The festival, a favorite among children, was conceived in 1985 by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami along with elders of various Hindu sects. It is a time of sharing gifts, renewing ties of family and friendship while focusing inwardly on this great God of abundance.§

pañcha mahāyajña: पञ्जमहायज्ञ The five daily yajñas, or sacrifices, of the householder (outlined in the Dharma Śāstras): —brahman yajña: (also called Veda yajña or ṛishi yajña) “Homage to God.” Accomplished through studying and teaching the Vedas. —deva yajña: “Homage to Gods.” Recognizing the debt due to those who guide nature, and the feeding of them by pouring into the fire. This is the homa sacrifice. —pitṛi yajña (or pitṛi tarpana): “Homage to ancestors.” Offering of cakes (piṇḍa) and water to the family line and the progenitors of mankind. —bhūta yajña: “Homage to creatures and elementals.” Placing food-offerings, bali, on the ground, intended for animals, birds, insects, wandering outcastes and beings of the invisible worlds. —manushya yajña: “Homage to men.” Feeding guests and the poor, the homeless and the student. Manushya yajña includes all acts of philanthropy, such as tithing and charity. The Vedic study is performed in the morning. The other four yajñas are performed just before taking one’s noon meal. §

Pañchākshara Mantra: पञ्जाक्षरमन्त्र “Five-lettered chant.” Śaivism’s most sacred mantra, Namaḥ Śivaya, “Homage to Siva.” See: Namaḥ Śivāya.§

pañcha kuṭumba sādhana: पञ्जकुटुम्ब शाधन “Five family disciplines” or parenting guidelines for raising children as strong, secure, responsible, tolerant and traditional citizens. 1) dharmāchāra: Good conduct. 2) dharma svagṛiha: Home worship. 3) dharma sambhāshana: Talking about religion. 4) dharma svādhyāya: Continuing self-study. 5) dharma saṅga: Following a spiritual preceptor. §

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

pañcha nitya karma(s): पञ्जनित्यकर्म “Five constant duties.” A traditional regimen of religious practice for Hindus: 1) dharma (virtuous living), 2) upāsanā (worship), 3) utsava (holy days), 4) tīrthayātrā (pilgrimage) and 5) saṁskāras (sacraments.) See: dharma, festival, pilgrimage, saṁskāra. §

pañcha śraddhā: पञ्जश्रद्धा “Five faiths, or precepts.” A concise summary of Hindu belief exactly correlated to the “five constant practices,” pañcha nitya karmas. The pañcha śraddhā are 1) sarva Brahman: God is All in all, soul is divine; 2) maṇḍira: belief in temples and divine beings; 3) karma: cosmic justice; 4) saṁsāra–moksha: rebirth brings enlightenment and liberation; 5) Vedas and satguru: the necessity of scripture and preceptor. See: pañcha nitya karma. §

Paṇḍyan Gardens: A garden at Kauai Aadheenam featuring a large collection of rare tropical heliconia and ginger flowers.§

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

Paramātman: परमात्मन् “Supreme Self,” or “transcendent soul.” Paraśiva, Absolute Reality, the one transcendent Self of every soul. Contrasted with ātman, which includes all three aspects of the soul: Paraśiva, Parāśakti and ānandamaya kośa. See: Paraśiva, Self, soul.§

paramount: Ranking higher than any other in importance.§

paramaguru: परमगुरु “Senior preceptor.” The guru of a disciple’s guru.§

Parameśvara: परमेश्वर “Supreme Lord or Ruler.” God Śiva in the third perfection as Supreme Mahādeva, Śiva-Śakti, mother of the universe. In this perfection as Personal, father-mother God, Śiva is a person—who has a body, with head, arms and legs, etc.—who acts, wills, blesses, gives darśana, guides, creates, preserves, reabsorbs, obscures and enlightens. See: Naṭarāja.§

paramparā: परंपरा “Uninterrupted succession.” Lineage. See: guru paramparā. §

parārtha pūjā: परार्थपूजा “Public liturgy and worship.” See: pūjā.§

Parāśakti: पराशक्ति “Supreme power; primal energy.” God Śiva’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 Parāśakti—Satchidānanda (“existence-consciousness-bliss”), light, silence, divine mind, superconsciousness and more. The attainment of Parāśakti is called savikalpa samādhi. See: Śiva.§

Paraśiva: परशिव “Transcendent Śiva.” The Self God, Śiva in His first perfection, Absolute Reality. God Śiva 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 samādhi. See: samādhi, Śiva.§

parent church: Śaiva Siddhānta Church headquarters at Kauai Aadheenam, Hawaii. See: Śaiva Siddhānta Church.§

parliamentarians: Political leaders or important people in government.§

Pāśupata: पाशुपत Of or related to Pāśupata Śaivism; a follower of this Hindu sect. §

Patañjali: पतञ्जलि A Śaivite Nātha 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 (darśanas) of Hinduism, known as Yoga Darśana. His great work, the Yoga Sūtras, See: rāja yoga, yoga.§

pāṭhaśāla: पाठशाल “Place of lessons.” A school for training temple priests. §

Path of the Nayanars: Nayanar Neri, the 1,300-foot-long path with seven shrines to the Tamil Śaiva saints on the east side of San Mārga. Walking this path that winds around ponds, banyan trees and tropical plants in seven distinct botanical habitats, pilgrims encounter the 63 Nayanars and other savants of Śaivism enshrined as 16-inch bronze images hand-made in India. §

pātra: पात्र Worthy; literally, a “recepticle” as in a drinking vessel. The condition of being a fit recepticle for.§

pātra gṛiha: पात्र गृह “worthy home,” a home that meets the standards of a mission house.§

Pavilion of Religions: See: Orchid Pavilion.§

pechālar: பேச்சாளர் the śishya who occupies the second seat in the chakravāla, to the left of the talaivar, the person who conveys messages to groups and makes announcements when called upon to do so by the talaivar. He is the second eldest. The pechālar of the council on missions may represent the Kailāsa Pīṭham to important people in the community by making courtesy calls. The pechālar is responsible for the care of guests, coordinating the stay, including assisting with accommodations as needed. §

penance: Prāyaśchitta. Atonement, expiation. An act of devotion (bhakti), austerity (tapas) or discipline (sukṛitya) 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, pāpa, sin. §

perfections: Describes a quality, nature or dimension that is perfect. God Śiva’s three perfections are Paraśiva, Parāśakti and Parameśvara. Though spoken of as three-fold for the sake of understanding, God Śiva ever remains a one transcendent-immanent Being. See: Śiva. §

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

Pihanakalani Trail: Kauai Aadheenam’s legendary Hawaiian path toward the volcano. The trail follows the course of the Wailua River, beginning at Kadavul Koyil and continuing just past the Orchid Pavilion of Religions.§

pilgrimage: Tīrthayātrā. “Journeying to a holy place.” Pilgrimage. One of the five sacred duties (pañcha 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: pañcha nitya karma.§

piṇḍa: पिण्ड “Roundish mass; body; part of the whole, individual; microcosm.” In worship rites, small balls of rice set aside daily in remembrance of ancestors. Philosophically, and emphasized in Siddha Siddhānta, the human body as a replica of the macrocosm, mahāsākāra piṇḍa, also called Brahmāṇḍa (cosmic egg), or simply aṇḍa (egg). §

pīṭha(m): पीठ “Seat; pedestal.” 1) The base or pedestal of the Śivaliṅga, or of any Deity idol. 2) A religious seat, such as the throne of the abbot of a monastery. 3) An aadheenam, āśrama or maṭha established around such a seat of spiritual authority. See: Śivaliṅga. §

pitṛi tarpaṇa: पितृ तर्पण “Libations to ancestors.” A sacred rite of offering water to deceased ancestors. One of the five daily sacrifices prescribed in the Dharma Śāstras. See: pañcha mahāyajñas.§

pitṛi yajña: पितृ यज्ञ See: pañcha mahāyajna, yajña.§

pitta: पित्त “Bile; fire.” One of the three bodily humors, called doshas, pitta is known as the fire humor. It is the āyurvedic principle of bodily heat-energy. Pitta dosha governs nutritional absorption, body temperature and intelligence. See: āyurveda, dosha.§

pornography: Writings, pictures, etc., intended to arouse sexual desire.§

postulant: One who has taken two-year monastic vows in Śaiva Siddhānta Church.§

pottu: See: bindu.§

pouting: Making a face showing sullenness or displeasure; to sulk.§

practicality: From practical—of, pertaining to, governed by, or gained through practice or action rather than theory, speculation or ideals.§

prāṇa: प्राण Vital energy or life principle. Literally, “vital air,” from the root praṇ, “to breathe.” Prāṇa in the human body moves in the prāṇamaya kośa as five primary life currents known as vāyus, “vital airs or winds.” These are prāṇa (outgoing breath), apāṇa (incoming breath), vyāṇa (retained breath), udāṇa (ascending breath) and samāṇa (equalizing breath). Each governs crucial bodily functions, and all bodily energies are modifications of these. Usually prāṇa refers to the life principle, but sometimes denotes energy, power or the animating force of the cosmos. See: kośa.§

praṇāma: प्रणाम “Obeisance; to bow down.” Reverent salutation in which the head or body is bowed. •ashṭāṅga praṇāma: “Eight-limbed obeisance.” The full body form for men, in which the hands, chest, forehead, knees and feet touch the ground. (Same as śashṭāṇga praṇāma.) •pañchāṅga praṇāma: “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 praṇipāta, “falling down in obeisance.” See: bhakti, namaskāra, prapatti.§

prāṇāyāma: प्राणायाम “Breath control.” See: rāja yoga.§

prapatti: प्रपत्ति “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 Vaishṇavism to name a concept extremely central to virtually all Hindu schools. See: bhakti, grace, pāda, surrender.§

prārabdha karma: प्रारब्धकर्म “Action that has been unleashed or aroused.” See: karma. §

prasāda: प्रसाद “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.§

praśnottara: प्रश्नोत्तर “Question-answer (praśna-uttara).” A term used in Dancing with Śiva for catechism, an interrogatory summation of religious doctrine. §

praśnottara satsaṅga: प्रश्नोत्तरसत्संग “Gathering for questions and answers,” the central teaching activity for Nartana Ṛitau, when śishyas and students assemble to study Dancing with Śiva. §

prāyaśchitta: प्रायश्चित्त “Predominant thought or aim.” Penance. Acts of atonement. See: penance, pāpa, puṇya. §

prayojaka: प्रयोजक “Facilitator; employer; manager.” A person who instigates, promotes. Also a name for a coordinator of religious outreach activities and literature distribution.§

prāyopaveśa: प्रायोपवेश “Resolving to die through fasting.” Self-willed death by fasting. See: death, suicide.§

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. §

predator: Any being that captures other creatures to eat their flesh.§

Premaiva Śivamaya, Satyam eva Paraśivaḥ: प्रेमैव शिवमय सत्यम् एव परशिवः “God Śiva is immanent love and transcendent Reality.” A Śaivite Hindu affirmation of faith. See: affirmation.§

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

prevail: To be strong and victorious; overcome all obstacles. To exist widely. §

Primal Soul: The uncreated, original, perfect soul—Śiva Parameśvara—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: Naṭarāja by Śaivites, Vishṇu by Vaishṇavites, Devī by Śāktas. See: Naṭarāja, Parameśvara.§

Primal Substance: The fundamental energy and rarified form from which the manifest world in its infinite diversity is derived. See: Parāśakti. §

progeny: Offspring, children; descendants.§

prohibit (prohibition): To forbid or prevent by authority.§

promiscuity: The state or character of engaging in sex indiscriminantly or with many persons. See: sexuality.§

prophets: Those who speak from divine inspiration through seeing future events.§

prostration: See: praṇāma.§

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

provocative: Stimulating, erotic, irritating. §

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.§

Puakenikeni Maṇḍapam: A Gazebo shelter at the beginning of Tiruneri, the path to Kadavul Hindu Temple. Puakenikeni is a fragrant Hawaiian flower that grows around this structure.§

pūjā: पूजा “Worship, adoration.” An Āgamic rite of worship performed in the home, temple or shrine, to the mūrti (Deity image), śrī pādukā (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 pūjā, the officiant (pujārī) recites various chants praising the Divine and beseeching divine blessings, while making offerings in accordance with established traditions. Pūjā, the worship of a mūrti through water, lights and flowers in temples and shrines, is the Āgamic counterpart of the Vedic yajña rite, in which offerings are conveyed through the sacred homa fire. These are the two great streams of adoration and communion in Hinduism. •ātmārtha pūjā: Kāraṇa Āgama, v. 2, states: Ātmārtha cha parārtha cha pūjā dvividhamuchyate, “Worship is two-fold: for the benefit of oneself and for the benefit of others.” Ātmārtha pūjā is done for oneself and immediate family, usually at home in a private shrine. •parārtha pūjā: “Pūjā for others.” Parārtha pūjā is public pūjā, performed by authorized or ordained priests in a public shrine or temple. §

pujārī: पुजारी “Worshiper.” A general term for Hindu temple priests, as well as anyone performing pūjā. Pujārī (sometimes pūjārī) is the Hindi form of the Sanskṛit pūjaka; pūsārī in Tamil. Archaka is another term for priest used in the southern tradition. Purohita is a Smārta brāhmin priest who specializes in domestic rites. See: pūjā.§

puberty: Time in youth when sexual capacity and characteristics develop.§

pundit (paṇḍita): पण्डित A Hindu religious scholar or theologian, a man well versed in philosophy, liturgy, religious law and sacred science. §

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

Pure Consciousness: See: Parāśakti.§

pūrṇimā: पुर्णिमा “Full.” Full moon. See: Guru Pūrṇimā.§

purushārtha: पुरुषार्थ “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 paramparā and sampradāya. Dharma is of four primary forms. It is the steady guide for artha and kāma. 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. The broadest concept of wealth embraces financial independence, freedom from debt, worthy children, good friends, leisure time, faithful servants, trustworthy employees, and the joys of giving, including tithing (daśamāmsha), feeding the poor, supporting religious mendicants, worshiping devoutly, protecting all creatures, upholding the family and offering hospitality to guests. See: yajña. •kāma: “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, Paraśiva. The spiritual attainments and superconscious joys, attending renunciation and yoga leading to Self Realization. Moksha comes through the fulfillment of dharma, artha and kāma (known in Tamil as aram, porul and inbam, and explained by Tiruvalluvar in Tirukural) in the current or past lives, so that one is no longer attached to worldly joys or sorrows. See: liberation, moksha.§

uantum: 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. §

ainbow Amphitheater: Kauai Aadheenam’s small forest of rainbow eucalyptus trees near the Wailua river.§

rāja yoga: राजयोग “King of yogas.” Also known as ashṭāṅga 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 Sūtras of Patañjali. The eight stages are: yama (restraints), niyama (observances), āsana (posture), prāṇāyāma (breath control) pratyāhara (withdrawal), dhāraṇa (concentration), dhyāna (meditation) and samādhi (enstasy, mystic oneness). See: enstasy, samādhi, yoga. §

rajas: रजस् “Passion; activity.”§

Rāmakṛishṇa: रामकृष्ण (1836–1886) One of the great saints and mystics of modern Hinduism, and an exemplar of monistic theism—fervent devotee of Mother Kālī and staunch monist who taught oneness and the pursuit of nirvikalpa samādhi, realization of the Absolute. He was guru to the great Swāmī Vivekānanda (1863–1902), who internationalized Hindu thought and philosophy. §

reaction: A response to an action. §

reaffirmation: A new affirming or a declaration about a thing as being true or still pertinent. See: affirmation.§

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

regenerative: Bringing into existence again; reestablishing on a new basis.§

reincarnate: Taking 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 (Paraśiva) 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, saṁsāra, soul. §

religion: From Latin religare, “to bind back.” Any system which advocates the belief in and worship of 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.§

renaissance: “Rebirth or new birth.” A renewal, revival or reawakening.§

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

renunciation: See: sannyāsa, tyāga, vairāgya. §

repressions: Experiences, problems, desires or inner conflicts that are unnaturally forced to remain hidden and unresolved in the subconscious mind. These have a negative effect on health, attitudes, relationships and hinder spiritual unfoldment. Differs from suppression which can be a conscious harnessing of yet to be transmuted instinctive-intellectual tendencies.§

reprimand: A severe or formal rebuke, especially by a person in authority.§

repudiation: The act of publicly rejecting a thing, habit or way of being. §

rescind: To cancel or revoke. §

resent (resentment): A feeling of ill-will, indignation or hostility from a sense of having been wronged. §

resident guests: Individuals from three groups—1) premonastics, 2) those on task force and 3) other special guests such as swāmīs of other orders, Hindu priests and other devout Śaiva men admitted at the discretion of the Guru Mahāsannidhānam—who are permitted to reside in the monastery devasthānam facility, living the monk’s life during their stay. §

residue: Remainder. That which is left over after a process. §

resolution: Firm determination. An act of resolving to do something.§

rigorous: Very strict or severe.§

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

Ṛishi Valley: Kauai Aadheenam’s secluded traditional-style retreat on the banks of Lake Saravaṇabhava, with a thatched Guru Kutir, hut, near a natural marsh under Hala Hala screw-pines. Nearby are six simple shrines to the satgurus of our Kailāsa Paramparā.§

ṛishi yajña: ऋषि यज्ञ The first sacrifice of the pañcha mahāyajña. Also called Brahma yajña, homage to Transcendental Śiva, the Self. It is accomplished through studying and teaching the Vedas and other sacred teachings. This sacrifice is also referred to as Veda yajña.§

ṛita: ऋत “Sacred order, cosmic law; truth.” See: dharma.§

ṛitau: ऋतौ season, approximately four months in duration.§

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

rites of passage: Sacraments marking crucial stages of life. See: saṁskāra. §

rowdy: Rough, quarrelsome and disorderly.§

Rudra: रुद्र “Controller of terrific powers;” or “red, shining one.” The name of Śiva as the God of dissolution, the universal force of reabsorption. Rudra-Śiva 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: Naṭarāja.§

rudrāksha: रुद्राक्ष “Eye of Rudra; or red-eyed.” Refers to the third eye, or ājñā chakra. Marble-sized, multi-faced, reddish-brown seeds from the Eleocarpus ganitrus, or blue marble tree, which are sacred to Śiva and a symbol of His compassion for humanity. Garlands, rudrāksha mālā, 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). See: japa, mantra.§

abda kośa: शब्दकोश “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 (saṁskāra), ceremonies sanctifying crucial events or stages of life. 2) Prasāda. Sacred substances, blessed in ceremony or by a holy person. See: saṁskāra. §

Sacred Sound: See: nada.§

sacrifice: Yajña. 1) Giving 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 yajña, from the verb yuj, “to worship.” In Hinduism, all of life is a sacrifice—called jīvayajña, a giving of oneself—through which comes true spiritual fulfillment. Tyāga, the power of detachment, is an essential quality of true sacrifice. See: surrender, tyāga, yajña. §

sadāchāra: सदाचार “Good conduct; virtue, morality.” It is embodied in the principles of dharma. See: dharma, yama-niyama, pāda. §

Sadāśiva: सदाशिव “Ever-auspicious.” A name of the Primal Soul, Śiva, a synonym for Parameśvara, which is expressed in the physical being of the satguru. Sadāśiva especially denotes the power of revealing grace, anugraha śakti, the third tattva, after which emerge Śiva’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 Sadāśivamūrti.§

sadāchāravidhi: सदाचारविधि “Protocol, etiquette, knowledge of proper conduct.”§

sādhaka: साधक “Accomplished one; a devotee who performs sādhana.” A serious aspirant who has undertaken spiritual disciplines, is usually celibate and under the guidance of a guru. He wears white and may be under vows, but is not a sannyāsin. See: sādhana. §

sādhana: साधन “Effective means of attainment.” Religious or spiritual disciplines, such as pūjā, yoga, meditation, japa, fasting and austerity. The effect of sādhana is the building of willpower, faith and confidence in oneself and in God, Gods and guru. See: pāda, rāja yoga, spiritual unfoldment. §

sādhana mārga: साधनमार्ग “The way of sādhana.” A term used by Sage Yogaswāmī 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: mysticism, pāda, sādhana, spiritual unfoldment.§

sādhana yātrika: साधन यात्रिक Serious devotees who have come Kauai Aadheenam on prearranged sacred pilgrimage, having prepared from the outset of their journey and before by fasting and other sādhanas. §

sādhu: साधु “Virtuous one; straight, unerring.” A holy person dedicated to the search for God. A sādhu may or may not be a yogī or a sannyāsin, or be connected in any way with a guru or legitimate lineage. Sādhus usually have no fixed abode and travel unattached from place to place, often living on alms. §

sahasrāra chakra: सहस्रारचक्र “Thousand-spoked wheel.” The cranial psychic force center. See: chakra.§

sahasra lekhana sādhana: सहस्रलेखनसाधन “Thousand-times writing discipline.” The spiritual practice of writing a sacred mantra 1,008 times.§

Śaiva: शैव Of or relating to Śaivism or its adherents, of whom there are about 400 million in the world today. Same as Śaivite. See: Śaivism.§

Śaiva Āgamas: शैव आगम The sectarian revealed scriptures of the Śaivas. Strongly theistic, they identify Śiva as the Supreme Lord, immanent and transcendent. They are in two main divisions: the 64 Kashmīr Śaiva Āgamas and the 28 Śaiva Siddhānta Āgamas. The latter group are the fundamental sectarian scriptures of Śaiva Siddhānta.§

Śaiva āchārya: शैव आचार्य “Respected teacher of Śaivism.” A swāmī of the Śaiva Siddhānta Yoga Order who has successfully completed 24 years of brahmacharya. Distinguished by a white sacred thread, or pulnul.§

Śaiva Ātmārtha Pūjā: शैव आत्मार्थ पूजा See pūjā.§

Śaiva Dharma Śāstras: शैव दर्म शास्त्र Śaiva Siddhānta Church’s Book of Discipline, detailing policies, membership rules and mission guidelines.§

Śaiva dharmaśāla: शैव दर्मशल Śaiva Siddhānta Church monastery that is a branch of Kauai Aadheenam.§

Śaiva Siddhānta: शैवशिद्धान्त “Final conclusions of Śaivism.” The most widespread and influential Śaivite 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 Śaiva Āgamas. The first known guru of the Śuddha (“pure”) Śaiva Siddhānta tradition was Maharishi Nandinātha of Kashmir (ca bce 250), recorded in Pāṇini’s book of grammar as the teacher of ṛishis Patañjali, Vyāghrapāda and Vasishṭha. Other sacred scriptures include the Tirumantiram and the voluminous collection of devotional hymns, the Tirumurai, and the masterpiece on ethics and statecraft, the Tirukural. For Śaiva Siddhāntins, Śiva is the totality of all, understood in three perfections: Parameśvara (the Personal Creator Lord), Paraśakti (the substratum of form) and Paraśiva (Absolute Reality which transcends all). Souls and world are identical in essence with Śiva, yet also differ in that they are evolving. A pluralistic stream arose in the middle ages from the teachings of Aghoraśiva and Meykandar. For Aghoraśiva’s school (ca 1150) Śiva is not the material cause of the universe, and the soul attains perfect “sameness” with Śiva upon liberation. Meykandar’s (ca 1250) pluralistic school denies that souls ever attain perfect sameness or unity with Śiva. See: Śaivism.§

Śaiva Siddhānta Church: शैव सिद्धान्त चुर्च् “Church of God Siva’s Revealed Truth,” founded in 1949 by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami.§

Śaiva Siddhānta Yoga Order: Ecclesiastical body of lifetime renunciate swāmīs. This saṅgam was founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1949.§

Śaivism (Śaiva): शैव The religion followed by those who worship Śiva as supreme God. Oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. The earliest historical evidence of Śaivism is from the 8, 000-year-old Indus Valley civilization in the form of the famous seal of Śiva as Lord Paśupati, seated in a yogic pose. In the Rāmāyaṇa, dated astronomically at 2000 bce, Lord Rāma worshiped Śiva, as did his rival Rāvaṇa. Buddha in 624 bce was born into a Śaivite family, and records of his time speak of the Śaiva ascetics who wandered the hills looking much as they do today. §

Śaiva Śraddhādhāraṇā Vrata: शैव श्रद्धाधारणा व्रत the pledge to uphold and preach the Śaivite Creed.§

Śaivite (Śaiva): शैव Of or relating to Śaivism or its adherents, of whom there are about 400 million in the world today. See: Śaivism.§

Śaivite saints: See: Nayanar.§

Saivite soul: An individual who was a Śaivite Hindu in past lives and is therefore at home with Śaivism in this life, whether born in the East or the West.§

śākāhāra: शाकाहार “Vegetarian diet.” From śāka, “vegetable;” and āhāra, “eating; taking food.” See: meat-eater, vegetarian, yama-niyama. §

śakāhāra vrata: शाकाहार व्रत “Vegetarian diet.” From śāka, “vegetable;” and āhāra, “eating; taking food.”§

Śākta: शाक्त Of or relating to Śāktism. A follower of the Śākta Hindu religion. See: Śāktism.§

Śakti: शक्ति “Power, energy.” The active power or manifest energy of Śiva that pervades all of existence. Its most refined aspect is Parāśakti, or Satchidānanda, the pure consciousness and primal substratum of all form. This pristine, divine energy unfolds as icçhā śakti (the power of desire, will, love), kriyā śakti (the power of action) and jñāna śakti (the power of wisdom, knowing), represented as the three prongs of Śiva’s triśūla, or trident. From these arise the five powers of revealment, concealment, dissolution, preservation and creation. In Śaiva Siddhānta, Śiva is All, and His divine energy, Śakti, is inseparable from Him. This unity is symbolized in the image of Ardhanārīśvara, “half-female God.” In popular, village Hinduism, the unity of Śiva and Śakti is replaced with the concept of Śiva and Śakti as separate entities. Śakti is represented as female, and Śiva as male. Śakti is most easily experienced by devotees as the sublime, bliss-inspiring energy that emanates from a holy person or sanctified Hindu temple. See: Ardhanārīśvara, Parāśakti, Śāktism.§

śaktipāta: शक्तिपात “Descent of grace.” Guru dīkshā, initiation from the preceptor; particularly the first initiation, which awakens the kuṇḍalinī and launches the process of spiritual unfoldment. See: dīkshā, grace, kuṇḍalinī. §

Śāktism (Śākta): शाक्त “Doctrine of power.” The religion followed by those who worship the Supreme as the Divine Mother—Śakti or Devī—in Her many forms, both gentle and fierce. Śāktism is one of the four primary sects of Hinduism. See: Śakti, tantrism. §

samādhi: समाधि “Enstasy,” which means “standing within one’s Self.” “Sameness; contemplation; union, wholeness; completion, accomplishment.” Samādhi is the state of true yoga, in which the meditator and the object of meditation are one. Samādhi is of two levels. The first is savikalpa samādhi (“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, Satchidānanda. The second is nirvikalpa samādhi (“enstasy without form or seed”), identification with the Self, in which all modes of consciousness are transcended and Absolute Reality, Paraśiva, beyond time, form and space, is experienced. This brings in its aftermath a complete transformation of consciousness. See: kuṇḍalinī, Paraśiva, rāja yoga, Self Realization, trance.§

Sambandar: சம்பந்தர் Child saint of the 7th century. Composed many Devaram hymns in praise of Śiva, reconverted at least one Tamil king who had embraced Jainism, and vehemently countered the incursion of Buddhism, bringing the Tamil people back to Śaivism. See: Nayanar.§

saṁhitā: संहिता “Collection.”1) Any methodically arranged collection of texts or verses. 2) The hymn collection of each of the four Vedas. 3) A common alternate term for Vaishṇava Āgamas. See: Vedas.§

sampradāya: संप्रदाय “Traditional doctrine of knowledge.” A living stream of tradition or theology within Hinduism, passed on by oral training and initiation. The term derives from the verb sampradā, meaning “to give, grant, bestow or confer on; to hand down by tradition; to bequeath.” Sampradāya is thus a philosophy borne down through history by verbal transmission. It is more inclusive than the related term paramparā which names a living lineage of ordained gurus who embody and carry forth a sampradāya. Each sampradāya is often represented by many paramparās. See: guru paramparā.§

saṁsāra: संसार “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. §

saṁskāra: संस्कार “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. §

saṁskāras of birth: From the rite of conception to the blessings of the new-born child. —garbhādhāna: “Womb-placing.” Rite of conception, where physical union is consecrated with the intent of bringing into physical birth an advanced soul. —punsavana: “Male rite; bringing forth a male.” A rite performed during the third month of pregnancy consisting of prayers for a son and for the well-being of mother and child. —sīmantonnayana: “Hair-parting.” A ceremony held between the fourth and seventh months in which the husband combs his wife’s hair and expresses his love and support. —jātakarma: “Rite of birth.” The father welcomes and blesses the new-born child and feeds it a taste of ghee and honey. See: saṁskāra.§

saṁskāras of childhood: From naming to education. —nāmakaraṇa: “Name-giving” and formal entry into one or another sect of Hinduism, performed 11 to 41 days after birth. The name is chosen according to astrology, preferably the name of a God or Goddess. At this time, guardian devas are assigned to see the child through life. One who converts to or adopts Hinduism later in life would receive this same sacrament. —annaprāśana: “Feeding.”-The ceremony marking the first taking of solid food, held at about six months. (Breast-feeding generally continues). —karṇavedha: “Ear-piercing.” The piercing of both ears, for boys and girls, and the inserting of gold earrings, held during the first, third or fifth year. See: earrings. —chūḍākaraṇa: “Head-shaving.” The shaving of the head, for boys and girls, between the 31st day and the fourth year. —vidyārambha: Marks the beginning of formal education. The boy or girl ceremoniously writes his/her first letter of the alphabet in a tray of uncooked rice. —upanayana: Given to boys at about 12 years of age, marks the beginning of the period of brahmacharya and formal study of scripture and sacred lore, usually with an āchārya or guru. —samāvartana: Marks the end of formal religious study. See: saṁskāra.§

saṁskāras of adulthood: From coming-of-age to marriage. —ṛitukāla: “Fit or proper season.” Time of menses. A home blessing marking the coming of age for girls. —keśānta: Marking a boy’s first beard-shaving, at about 16 years. Both of the above are home ceremonies in which the young ones are reminded of their brahmacharya, given new clothes and jewelry and joyously admitted into the adult community as young adults. —niśchitārtha “Settlement of aim.” Also called vāgdāna, “word-giving.” A formal engagement or betrothal ceremony in which a couple pledge themselves to one another, exchanging rings and other gifts. —vivāha: Marriage.” An elaborate and joyous ceremony performed in presence of God and Gods, in which the homa fire is central. See: saṁskāra.§

saṁskāras of later life: —vānaprastha āśrama: Age 48 marks the entrance into the elder advisor stage, celebrated in some communities by special ceremony. —sannyāsa āśrama vrata: The advent of withdrawal from social duties and responsibilities at age 72 is sometimes ritually acknowledged (different from sannyāsa dīkshā). See: sannyāsa dharma. —antyeshṭi: The various funeral rites performed to guide the soul in its transition to inner worlds, including preparation of the body, cremation, bone-gathering, dispersal of ashes, home purification. See: cremation, death, bone-gathering, saṁskāra. §

Sanātana Dharma: सनातनधर्म “Eternal religion” or “everlasting path.” It is a traditional name for the Hindu religion. See: Hinduism. §

sañchita karma: सञ्जितकर्म “Accumulated action.” The accumulated consequence of an individual’s actions in this and past lives. See: karma.§

sanctified waters: See: pāda pūjā, prasāda, ucçhishṭa.§

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

sandalpaste: Chandana. A yellow paste made from the heart of the sandalwood tree. One of the sacred substances offered during pūjā, and afterwards distributed to devotees as a sacrament to be placed on the forehead between the brows. See: bindu, tilaka.§

saṅgama: सङ्गम “Association; fellowship.” Coming together in a group, especially for religious purposes. §

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

Śaṅkara: सङ्कर “Conferring happiness; propitious.” A name of Śiva.§

Śaṅkara: सङ्कर One of Hinduism’s most extraordinary monks (788–820) and preeminent guru of the Smārta Sampradāya. He is noted for his monistic philosophy of Advaita Vedānta, his many scriptural commentaries, and establishing ten orders of sannyāsins 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: Vedānta.§

San Mārga: सन्मार्ग “True path.” A term especially important in Śaiva Siddhānta. 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 Mārgī names a person who is “on the path,” as opposed to saṁsārī, one engrossed in worldliness. 2) San Mārga is also an alternate term for the jñāna pāda. See: liberation, pāda.§

San Mārga Sanctuary: A sanctuary at Kauai Aadheenam on the Garden Island of Kauai, Hawaii, centered around a 1/2-mile straight path to the Supreme God, Śiva (Parameśvara-Parāśakti-Paraśiva) and the Iraivan Temple enshrining a massive 700-pound, single-pointed quartz crystal. See: Subramuniyaswami.§

sannidhāna: सन्निधान “Nearness; proximity; taking charge of.” A title of heads of monasteries: Guru Mahāsannidhāna. See: sānnidhya. §

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

sannyāsa: संन्यास “Renunciation.” “Throwing down or abandoning.” Sannyāsa 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: sannyāsa dharma, sannyāsa dīkshā, videhamukti.§

sannyāsa dharma: संन्यासधर्म “Renunciate life.” The life, way and traditions of those who have irrevocably renounced duties and obligations of the householder path, including personal property, wealth, ambitions, social position and family ties, in favor of the full-time monastic quest for divine awakening, Self Realization and spiritual upliftment of humanity. Traditionally, this dharma is available to those who are under age 25 and who otherwise meet strict qualifications. Alternately, the householder may embrace sannyāsa dharma by entering the sannyāsa āśrama after age 72 through the customary initiatory rites given by a sannyāsin and then diligently pursuing his spiritual sādhana in a state of genuine renunciation and not in the midst of his family. These two forms of sannyāsa are not to be confused with simply entering the sannyāsa āśrama, the last stage of life. See: sannyāsa, sannyāsa dīkshā, sannyāsin, videhamukti. §

sannyāsa dīkshā: संन्यासदीक्षा “Renunciate initiation.” This dīkshā is 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. An unordained, self-declared swāmī, who dons the ochre robes and throws down the world without the benefit of dīkshā, is a paramadeśī sannyāsin, “monk outside the rules or ordinances.” These are men who recognized that when the time is ripe, that’s who you are. See: sannyāsa dharma, videhamukti. §

Sannyāsa Upanishad: संन्यास उपनिषद् An Upanishad of the Atharva Veda. It deals with the transition to the vānaprastha and sannyāsa āśramas.§

sannyāsin: संन्यासिन् “Renouncer.” One who has taken sannyāsa dīkshā. A Hindu monk, swāmī, and one of a world brotherhood (or holy order) of sannyāsins. See: swāmī. §

śānti: शान्ति “Peace.” §

Sanskṛit: संस्कृत “Well-made; 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 Āgamas. Employed today as a liturgical, literary and scholarly language, but no longer used as a spoken tongue. §

Śānti Mantra: सान्ति मन्त्र “Peace chant.” So that each gathering of devotees is harmonious and productive, especially sessions of teacher and student, this mantra from the Taittirīya Upanishad (2.1.1) is recited at the outset to invoke peace, clarity and divine blessings, thus dispelling all potential enmity or confusion. It is recited again at the end as a closing benediction. It is recited in the knowledge that through harmony of will and mind, superconscious ideas and insights will flood forth. §

Saravanabhava lake: Lake in the Ṛishi Valley section of San Mārga named after the holy lake of Lord Murugan. Its mirror-like surface symbolizes a quieted, peaceful mind.§

sārī: (Hindi, सारी ) 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. §

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

śāstrī: शास्त्री One who is knowledgeable in śāstra, or scriptures.§

Śāstric flow: The patterns and systems delineated in the Lord Subramaniam Śāstras. The psychic, mental and physical environment created through adhering to these principles and guidelines.§

satguru (sadguru): सद्गुरु “True weighty one.” A spiritual preceptor of the highest attainment—one who has realized the ultimate Truth, Paraśiva, through nirvikalpa samādhi—a jīvanmukta able to lead others securely along the spiritual path. He is always a sannyāsin, 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, Sadāśiva, the source of grace and of liberation. See: guru bhakti, guru, guru-śishya system.§

satguru jayantī. सद्गुरुजयन्ती See: Jayantī§

Satguru Pūrnimā: सद्गुरु पूर्निमा See: Guru Pūrṇimā.§

satsaṅga: सत्संग gathering in the company of good souls to worship devoutly and sing loudly in praise of God, Gods and guru. In the Church, satsaṅga has two main forms: the weekly bhajana and the monthly havana satsaṅgas. The bhajana satsaṅga has three variations per year in accordance with the three climatic seasons: Nartana, Jīvana and Moksha ṛitaus. §

Sat Yuga: सत् युग The first in the repetitive cycle of yugas, representing the brightest time, when the power of Śiva is felt most easily by all. See: yuga.§

scripture (scriptural): “A writing.” A sacred text or holy book having authority for a given sect or religion. See: śāstra, smṛiti, śruti.§

secluded (seclusion): Isolated; hidden. Kept apart from others. See: muni.§

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

secular: -Not sacred or religious; temporal or worldly.§

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

self-assertive: Quality of one who makes himself, his ideas, opinions, etc., dominant. Demanding recognition.§

Self (Self God): God Śiva’s perfection of Absolute Reality, Paraśiva—That which abides at the core of every soul. See: Paramātman, Paraśiva.§

self-declared sannyāsin: Paramadeśī sannyāsin. See: sannyāsa dīkshā.§

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, Paraśiva. Self Realization is known in Sanskṛit as nirvikalpa samādhi; “enstasy without form or seed;” the ultimate spiritual attainment (also called asamprajñata samādhi). Esoterically, this state is attained when the mystic kuṇḍalinī force pierces through the sahasrāra chakra at the crown of the head. See: God Realization, liberation, kuṇḍalinī, Paraśiva, rāja yoga, samādhi.§

seminary: A recognized theological center for training monks. Kauai Aadheenam is the seminary of Śaiva Siddhānta Church.§

senior minority group: The one-third most senior members of the monastery. They meet regularly, in private, to oversee cleanliness, general procedures and the flow of guests and act as a channel to the guru and convey his instructions to the monastery in a formal way. .§

seniority age: Age in Śaiva Siddhānta Church calculated by adding together physical age, nāmakaraṇa age and membership age.§

sepulcher: A burial vault; grave; tomb. In Sanskṛit, known as a samādhi.§

servitude: Condition of a slave subject to a master. §

seva सेव “Service.” Karma yoga. An integral part of the spiritual path, where the aspirant strives to serve without thought of reward or personal gain. The central practice of the charyā pāda. See: yoga.§

severance: A breaking off or separation. §

sexuality: Hinduism has a healthy, unrepressed outlook on human sexuality, and sexual pleasure is part of kāma, one of the four goals of life. On matters such as birth control, sterilization, masturbation, homosexuality, bisexuality, petting and polygamy, Hindu scripture is tolerantly silent, neither calling them sins nor encouraging their practice, neither condemning nor condoning. The two important exceptions to this understanding view of sexual experience are adultery and abortion, both of which are considered to carry heavy karmic implications for this and future births. §

shirk: To neglect or evade doing something that should be done.§

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

Shum: A Nātha mystical language of meditation revealed in Switzerland in 1968 by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. Its primary alphabet looks like this: §

shun: To keep away from; ignore or avoid scrupulously or consistently.§

siddha: सिद्ध A “perfected one” or accomplished yogī, a person of great spiritual attainment or powers. See: siddhi. §

siddhānta: सिद्धान्त “Final attainments or conclusions.” Siddhānta refers to ultimate understanding arrived at in any given field of knowledge. See: Śaiva Siddhānta.§

Siddhānta Press: The former name of Himālayan Academy Publications, used in the Śaivite Śāstras. §

siddhi: सिद्धि “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 sādhana. 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 ahaṁkāra, I-ness, and militates against the attainment of prapatti, complete submission to the will of God, Gods and guru.§

sin: Intentional transgression of divine law. Akin to the Latin sous, “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. The term sin carries a double meaning, as do its Sanskṛit equivalents: 1) a wrongful act, 2) the negative consequences resulting from a wrongful act. In Hinduism, there are no such concepts as inherent or mortal sin. See: aura, evil, karma, pāpa. §

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

Śiva: शिव “The auspicious, gracious or kindly one.” Supreme Being of the Śaivite religion. God Śiva 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: Parameśvara (Primal Soul), Parāśakti (pure consciousness) and Paraśiva (Absolute Reality). See: Parameśvara, Parāśakti, Paraśiva, Naṭarāja, Śaivism.§

Śivachaitanya: शिवचैतन्य “God consciousness.” See: Śiva consciousness. §

Śivāchārya: शिवाचार्य The hereditary priests of the Śaiva Siddhānta tradition. The title of Ādiśaiva Brāhmins. An Ādiśaiva priest who has received the necessary training and dīkshās to perform public Śiva temple rites known as Āgamic nitya parārtha pūjā. A fully qualified Śivāchārya is also known as archaka. Śivāchārya, too, names the family clan of this priest tradition. See: brāhmin.§

Śiva consciousness: Śivachaitanya. A broad term naming the experience or state of being conscious of Śiva in a multitude of ways, such as in the five expressed in the following meditation. Vital Breath: prāṇa. Experience the inbreath and outbreath as Śiva’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: śakti. 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: darśana. Hold in your mind a sacred form, such as Naṭarāja, Śivaliṅga or the satguru—who is Sadāśiva—and think of nothing else. See every form as a form of our God Śiva. 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: nāda. 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: jñāna, mind (five states). §

Śivadhyāna: शिवध्यान Meditation on Śiva.§

Śivaliṅga: सिवलिङ्ग “Mark, or sign, of Śiva.” The most prevalent icon of Śiva, found in virtually all Śiva temples. A rounded, elliptical, aniconic image, usually set on a circular base, or pīṭha. The Śivaliṅga is the simplest and most ancient symbol of Śiva, especially of Paraśiva, God beyond all forms and qualities. The pīṭha represents Parāśakti, the manifesting power of God. Liṅgas are usually of stone (either carved or naturally existing, svayambhū, 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: mūrti, Śaivism.§

Śivaloka: शिवलोक “Realm of Śiva.” See: loka.§

Sivanadiyar: சிவனடியார் “Slave of Śiva.” Conveys a mystic relationship between the devotee and Śiva in which all spiritual, mental and physical actions are perceived as fulfilling the will and design of Śiva. See: karma yoga.§

Śivarātri: शिवरात्रि “Night of Śiva.” See: Mahāśivarātri.§

Śiva-Śakti: शिवशक्ति Father-Mother God, both immanent and transcendent. A name for God Śiva encompassing His unmanifest Being and manifest energy. See: Ardhanārīśvara, Parameśvara, Primal Soul, Śiva.§

Sivathondan: சிவதொண்டன் “Servant of Śiva.” Conveys the same mystic meaning as Sivanadiyar, denoting a devotee who regularly performs actions dedicated to God Śiva; selfless work in service to others. See: karma yoga.§

Sivathondu: சிவதொண்டு “Service to Śiva.” Akin to the concept of karma yoga. See: karma yoga.§

Śivāya: शिवाय “To Siva.”§

Śivena saha Nartanam: शिवेन सह नर्तनम् “Dancing with Śiva.”§

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

Skanda Śashṭhī: स्कन्दषष्ठी A six-day festival in October-November celebrating Lord Kārttikeya’s, or Skanda’s, victory over the forces of darkness.§

śloka: श्लोक A verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise, usually composed in a specified meter. Especially a verse of two lines, each of sixteen syllables. Śloka is the primary verse form of the Sanskṛit epics, Mahābhārata and Rāmāyaṇa. See: bhāshya, sūtra.§

Smārta Daśanāmī orders: स्मार्तदशनामी Ten liberal orders of sannyasins formalized by Adi Sankara, 9th century. See: Daśanāmī. §

Smārtism: श्मार्त “Sect based on the secondary scriptures (smṛiti).” The most liberal of the four major denominations of Hinduism, an ancient Vedic brāhminical tradition (ca 700BCE) which from the 9th century onward was guided and deeply influenced by the Advaita Vedānta teachings of the reformist Ādi Śaṅkara. Its adherents rely mainly on the classical smṛiti literature, especially the Itihāsas (Rāmāyana and Mahābhārata, the latter of which includes the Bhagavad Gītā), Purāṇas and Dharma Śāstras. These are regarded as complementary to and a means to understanding the Vedas. See: daśanāmi, Śaṅkara.§

smṛiti: श्मृति “That which is remembered; the tradition.” Hinduism’s nonrevealed, secondary but deeply revered scriptures, derived from man’s insight and experience. Smṛiti 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. In a general sense, smṛiti may refer to any text other than śruti (revealed scripture) that is revered as scripture within a particular sect. The selection of smṛiti varies widely from one sect and lineage to another. See: śruti. §

social dharma: See: dharma.§

solace: A comforting or easing of distress, pain or sorrow.§

solemn: Observed or performed according to ritual or tradition. Formal, serious, inspiring feelings of awe. •solemnize: To consecrate with formal ceremony. See: sacrament, saṁskāra.§

solitaire: One who lives alone; a hermit or anchorite. religious solitaire: refers to the stage of life after age 72, called sannyāsa āśrama. See: āśrama dharma, sannyāsa dharma.§

soul: The real being of man, as distinguished from body, mind and emotions. The soul—known as ātman or purusha—is the sum of its two aspects, the form or body of the soul and the essence of the soul—Pure Consciousness (Parāśakti or Satchidānanda) and Absolute Reality (Paraśiva). See: ātman, Paramātman, spiritual unfoldment. §

sphaṭika: श्फटिक “Quartz crystal.” From sphaṭ, “to expand; blossom; to burst open or into view.” See: sphaṭika Śivaliṅga.§

sphaṭika Śivaliṅga: स्फटिकसिवलिङ्ग “Crystal mark of God.” A quartz-crystal Śivaliṅga. See: San Mārga Sanctuary, Śivaliṅga, Svayambhū Liṅga.§

spiritual lineage vow: Paramparā vrata, giving all loyalties to a specific lineage and a closing off of intellectual inroads to all other lineages through a formal oath. This commitment is a total focus demanded of the śishya by the śishya so that learning of one unique path may mature past intellectual stages into complete experiential knowing. §

spiritual unfoldment: The unfoldment of the spirit, the inherent, divine soul of man. The gradual expansion of consciousness as kuṇḍalinī śakti slowly rises through the sushumṇā. The term spiritual unfoldment indicates this slow, imperceptible process, likened to a lotus flower’s emerging from bud to effulgent beauty. See: kuṇḍalinī, liberation, pāda, sādhana.§

spokesman: One who speaks on behalf of another or others; padipālar.§

sponsorship: To assume certain responsibilities for a person applying to be admitted into membership. “Those who sponsor new members shall be responsible for their strengths and failures.”§

spouse: A partner in a marriage; a husband or wife.§

śraddhā: श्रद्धा “Faith; belief.” See: pañcha śraddhā.§

śrāddha: श्राद्ध Relating to commemorative ceremonies for the deceased, held one week, one month after death, and annually thereafter, according to tradition. See: death, bone-gathering, saṁskāra.§

śraddhādhāraṇā: श्रद्धाधारणा “Collection or concentration of faith or belief.” A Saskṛit term for creed, a concise synopsis of religious doctrine. See: creed, faith.§

Sri Lanka श्रीलङ्का ஸ்ரீ லங்கா “Venerable lion.” Island country off the southeast tip of India, formerly called Ceylon, 80% Buddhist, home to several million Tamil Śaivites who live mostly in the arid north. It was a British colony until independence in 1948 as a member of the Commonwealth; became a republic in 1972; 25, 000 square miles, 15 million population.§

Śrī Rudram: श्रीरुद्रम् “Hymn to the wielder of terrific powers.” Preeminent Vedic hymn to Lord Śiva as the God of dissolution, chanted daily in Śiva temples throughout India. It is in this long prayer, located in the Yajur Veda, Taittirīya Saṁhitā, in the middle of the first three Vedas, that the Śaivite mantra Namaḥ Śivāya first appears.§

śruti: श्रुति “That which is heard.” Hinduism’s revealed scriptures, of supreme theological authority and spiritual value. They are timeless teachings transmitted to ṛishis, or seers, directly by God thousands of years ago. Śruti is thus said to be apaurusheya, “impersonal.” Śruti consists of the Vedas and the Āgamas, preserved through oral tradition and eventually written down in Sanskṛit. Among the many sacred books of the Hindus, these two bodies of knowledge are held in the highest esteem. For countless centuries śruti 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 śruti, used for rites of worship, both public and domestic, as well as personal prayer and japa. See: Āgama, smṛiti, Vedas. §

stalwart: Strong, well-built; brave; valiant; resolute; firm; unyielding.§

stewards: Those responsible to administrate or care for another’s property. The trustees of an institution.§

strī dharma: श्त्रीधर्म “Womanly conduct.” See: dharma.§

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

subjugate: To bring under control or subjection.§

Subramuniyaswami: சுப்பிரமுனியசுவாமி Author of this book, 162nd satguru (1927–2001) of the Nandinātha Sampradāya’s Kailāsa Paramparā. 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 samādhi in the caves of Jalani. Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami is recognized worldwide as one of foremost Hindu ministers of our times, contributing to the revival of Hinduism in immeasurable abundance. He was simultaneously a staunch defender of traditions, as the tried and proven ways of the past, and a fearless innovator, setting new patterns of life for contemporary humanity. §

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

sub-subconscious mind: Vāsanā chitta. See: mind (five states).§

subsuperconscious mind: Anukāraṇa chitta. See: mind (five states).§

succession: A number of persons or things coming one after another in order; e.g., a spiritual succession. See: guru paramparā. §

successor: A person who follows another, in office or title, as the successor to a satguru or king. §

succinctly: Clearly and briefly stated.§

Śuddha Śaiva Siddhānta: शुद्धशैवसिद्धान्त “Pure Śaiva Siddhānta,” a term first used by Tirumular in the Tirumantiram to describe his monistic Śaiva Siddhānta and distinguish it from pluralistic Siddhānta and other forms of Siddhānta that do not encompass the ultimate monism of Vedānta. See: Śaiva Siddhānta.§

śudra: शूद्र “Worker, servant.” The social class of skilled artisans, workers and laborers.§

suicide: “Self-killing.” In Sanskṛit, prāṇatyāga, “abandoning life force.” Intentionally ending one’s own life through poisoning, drowning, burning, jumping, shooting, etc. Suicide has traditionally been condemned in Hindu scripture because, being an abrupt escape from life, it creates unseemly karma to face in the future. However, in cases of terminal disease or great disability, religious self-willed death through fasting—prāyopaveśa—is permitted. The person making such a decision declares it publicly, which allows for community regulation and distinguishes the act from suicide performed privately in traumatic emotional states of anguish and despair. Ancient lawgivers cite various stipulations: 1) inability to perform normal bodily purification; 2) death appears imminent or the condition is so bad that life’s pleasures are nil; 3) the action must be done under community regulation. The gradual nature of prāyopaveśa is a key factor distinguishing it from sudden suicide, svadehaghata (“murdering one’s body”), for it allows time for the individual to settle all differences with others, to ponder life and draw close to God, as well as for loved ones to oversee the person’s gradual exit from the physical world. In the ideal, highly ritualized practice, one begins by obtaining forgiveness and giving forgiveness. Next a formal vow, mahāvrata-marana, “great vow of death,” is given to one’s guru, following a full discussion of all karmas of this life, especially fully and openly confessing one’s wrongdoings. Thereafter, attention is to be focused on scripture and the guru’s noble teachings. Meditation on the innermost, immortal Self becomes the full focus as one gradually abstains from food. At the very end, as the soul releases itself from the body, the sacred mantra is repeated as instructed by the preceptor. See: death, penance, reincarnation, soul.§

sukarma: सुकर्म See: karma, puṇya.§

Sundarar: சுந்தார் One of the four Tamil Samayāchāryas (ca 800), and composer of devotional hymns to God Śiva, which form the seventh book of the Tirumurai. In these, he pleads forth-rightly to Śiva for material as well as spiritual abundance. See: Nayanar, Tirumurai.§

superconscious mind: Kāraṇa chitta. See: mind (five states), mind (three phases).§

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

supplicant: One who is humbly begging. A premonastic who abides by the pledges of purity, humility and obedience, for six months at a time, in preparation to enter the Postulancy. §

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.§

Sūrya: सूर्य “Sun.” One of the principal Divinities of the Vedas, also prominent in the epics and Purāṇas. Śaivites revere Sūrya, the Sun God each morning as Śiva Sūrya. Smārtas and Vaishṇavas revere the golden orb as Sūrya Nārāyaṇa. As the source of light, the sun is the most readily apparent image of Divinity available to man. As the giver of life, Sūrya 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, piṅgalā. Sūrya also signifies the Self within. §

sūtra: सूत्र “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. Each sūtra is often accompanied by a commentary called bhāshya. See: wedding pendant.§

svajīvana: स्वजीवन “Personal life.”§

svayambhū mūrti: स्वयम्भूमूर्ति “Self-existent image.” A Deity image discovered in nature, and not carved or crafted by human hands. See: mūrti. §

svayambhū Śivaliṅga: स्वयम्भूसिवलिङ्ग “Self-existent mark or sign of God.” Names a Śivaliṅga discovered in nature and not carved or crafted by human hands; often a smooth cylindrical stone, called bānaliṅga, such as found in India’s Narmada River. See: Śivaliṅga.§

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

alaivar: தலைவர் “Leader.” The senior śishya in a chakravāla. He is the chairperson, host and guru’s scribe, the person who later conveys to him what has transpired at the meeting and seeks direction. In the monastery, each kulam is overseen by a talaivar, working in close communication with the guru to coordinate activities those under his care.§

tambūrā: तम्बूरा An Indian stringed instrument that sounds three drone notes.§

Tamil: தமிழ் The ancient Dravidian language of the Tamils, a Caucasoid people of South India and Northern Sri Lanka, who have now migrated throughout the world. The official language of the state of Tamil Nadu, India.§

tamil lexicon: A dictionary of the Tamil language.§

tantra: तन्त्र “Loom, methodology.” 1) Most generally, a synonym for śāstra, “scripture.” 2) A synonym for the Āgamic texts, especially those of the Śākta 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 Śaiva tradition. 3) A specific method, technique or spiritual practice within the Śaiva and Śākta traditions.§

tapasvin: तपस्विन् One who performs tapas or is in the state of tapas. A yogi; a natyam under two-year Postulant vows in training for sannyāsa dīkshā. See: tapas.§

tattva: तत्त्व “That-ness” or “essential nature.” Tattvas are the primary principles, elements, states or categories of existence, the building blocks of the universe. Ṛishis describe this emanational process as the unfoldment of tattvas, stages or evolutes of manifestation, descending from subtle to gross. §

tantrika: तन्त्रिक (Anglicized: tantric.) Adjectival form for practices prescribed in the Tantra traditions. The name of a follower of any of the tantric traditions. See: tantra.§

tapas: तपस् “Heat, fire.” 1) Purificatory spiritual disciplines, severe austerity, penance and sacrifice. The endurance of pain, suffering, through the performance of extreme penance, religious austerity and mortification. By comparison, sādhana is austerity of a simple, sustained kind, while tapas is austerity of a severe, psyche-transforming nature. Tapas is extreme bodily mortification, long term sādhanas, such as meditating under a tree in one place for 12 years, taking a lifetime vow of silence and never speaking or writing, or standing on one leg for a prescribed number of years. Scriptures generally warn against extreme asceticism which would bring harm to the body. 2) On a deeper level, tapas is the intense inner state of kuṇḍalinī “fire” which stimulates mental anguish and separates the individual from society. Life does not go on as usual when this condition occurs. The association with a satguru, Sadāśiva, brings the devotee into tapas, and it brings him out of it. The fire of tapas burns on the dross of sañchita karmas. This is the source of heat, dismay, depression and striving until the advent of final and total surrender, prapatti. The individual can mollify this heated condition by continuing his regular sādhana as outlined by the guru. The fires of self-transformation may be stimulated by the practice of tapas, or come unbidden. One can “do” tapas, but the true tapas is a condition of being and consciousness which is a state of grace, bringing positive change, transformation and purification of one’s nature. Guru bhakti is the only force that can cool the fires of tapas.§

teak-tree turnaround: Area at the end of Pihanakalani Trail where a giant teak tree grows.§

temple: A place consecrated for, and dedicated to, the worship of God or Gods. Hindus revere their temples 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 (pūjā) invoking the Deity, who uses His installed image (mūrti) as a temporary body to bless those living on the earth plane. See: darśana, pilgrimage.§

Temple Lane: The short road off Kuamoo at the entrance to Kauai Aadheenam.§

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

testimony: A public declaration regarding a religious experience. A powerful way to strenghten the faith of others and oneself.§

Tayumanavar: தாயுமானவர் A Tamil Śaivayogī, devotional mystic and poet saint (ca 17th century) whose writings are a harmonious blend of philosophy and devotion. In his poem “Chinmayānanda Guru,” Tayumanavar places himself in the genealogy of Ṛishi Tirumular. See: Tirumular.§

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 ājñā chakra. See: chakra.§

three worlds: The three worlds of existence, triloka, are the primary hierarchical divisions of the cosmos. 1) Bhūloka: “Earth world,” the physical plane. 2) Antarloka: “Inner or in-between world,” the subtle or astral plane. 3) Śivaloka: “World of Śiva,” and of the Gods and highly evolved souls; the causal plane, also called Kāraṇaloka.-These are also known as the First World, Second World and Third World. See: loka.§

tilaka: तिलक Marks made on the forehead or the brow with clay, ashes or sandalwood paste as an indication of sectarian affiliation. Vaishṇavas wear a vertical v-shaped tilaka made from clay. The Śaivite tilaka, called tripuṇḍra, consists of three horizontal strips of holy ash with a dot near the middle, or between the eyebrows. Wearing the tilaka is an expression of religious affiliation and pride in one’s beliefs, not unlike the Christian’s cross or the Jew’s yarmulke. See: bindu, Hinduism. §

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

tīrthayātrā: तीर्थयात्रा “Journeying to a holy place.” Pilgrimage. One of the five sacred duties (pañcha 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: pañcha nitya karmas, pañcha śraddhā.§

tiru: திரு “Sacred; holy.” The exact Tamil equivalent of śrī. Feminine equivalent is tirumati. §

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

Tirumantiram: திருமந்திரம் “Holy incantation.” The Nandinātha Sampradāya’s oldest Tamil scripture; written ca 200 BCE by Ṛishi Tirumular. It is the earliest of the Tirumurai, and a vast storehouse of esoteric yogic and tantric knowledge. It contains the essence of rāja yoga and siddha yoga, and the fundamental doctrines of the 28 Śaiva Siddhānta Āgamas, which in turn are the heritage of the ancient pre-historic traditions of Śaivism. §

Tirumular: திருமூலர் An illustrious siddha yogī and ṛishi of the Nandinātha Sampradāya’s Kailāsa Paramparā who came from the Himalayas (ca 200 bce) to Tamil Nadu to compose the Tirumantiram. In this scripture he recorded the tenets of Śaivism in concise and precise verse form, based upon his own realizations and the supreme authority of the Śaiva Āgamas and the Vedas. Tirumular was a disciple of Maharishi Nandinātha. See: Tirumantiram, Kailāsa Paramparā, Vedānta. §

Tirumurai: திருமுறை “Holy book.” A twelve-book collection of hymns and writings of South Indian Śaivite saints, compiled by Saint Nambiyandar Nambi (ca 1000). Of these, books 1-3 are the hymns of Saint Tirujñāna Sambandar (ca 600). Books 4-6 are the hymns of Saint Tirunavakarasu (Appar), a contemporary of Sambandar. Book 7 contains the hymns of Saint Sundaramūrti (ca 800). Book 8 contains the two works of Saint Manikkavasagar (9th century)—Tiruvasagam and Tirukovaiyar. Book 9 is the Tiruvisaippa and Tiruppallandu, which together comprise the works of nine saints. Book 10 is the Tirumantiram of Saint Tirumular (ca 200 bce). Book 11 contains the hymns of ten saints, including Saint Nakkirar and Nambiyandar Nambi, the compiler. Book 12 is the Periyapurāṇam by Saint Sekkilar (11th century), narrating the life story of the 63 Śaiva Nayanar saints. The first seven books are known as Devarams. §

tiruneri: திருநறி “Holy path,” The straight, 300-foot-long pathway through hibiscus and plumeria gardens which leads to Kadavul Hindu Temple.§

tiruvadi: திருவடி The feet of the satguru or his holy sandals, known in Sanskṛit as śrī pādukā. The guru’s feet are especially sacred, being the point of contact of the divine and physical spheres. See: pādukā.§

Tiruvalluvar: திருவள்ளுவர் “Holy weaver.” Tamil weaver and householder saint (ca 200 bce) who wrote the classic Śaivite ethical scripture Tirukural. See: Tirukural. §

tithing: Daśamāṁśa. “One-tenth sharing.” The spiritual discipline, often a vrata, of giving 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 Sanskṛit equivalent is daśamāṁśa, called makimai in the Tamil tradition. Tithing is given not as an offering, but as “God’s money.” In olden days it was a portion of one’s crops, such as one coconut out of ten. Immediately setting aside the tithe as soon as income is received sanctifies the remaining portion and reaps the greatest puṇya. It is an acknowledgement by faithful Hindus of God’s providential care, bringing a greater awareness of God’s power in the world. Because tithers are thus uplifted to a purer, spiritual consciousness, abundance naturally floods into their lives. Additional offerings should be given after this minimal obligation is paid. See: tithing vow. §

tithing vow: Daśama bhāga vrata. “One-tenth-part vow.” A promise that tithers make before God, Gods and their family or peers to tithe regularly each month—for a specified time, or for life, as they wish. §

trance mediumship: The practice of going into trance and allowing inner-plane beings to speak through oneself as a medium; also called channeling.§

trance: In general, a condition of altered consciousness, accompanied by a lack of awareness to physical surroundings, neither a state of wakefulness nor sleep. In a religious sense it is a state of intense concentration, introspection or meditation. See: samādhi. §

transcend: To go beyond one’s limitations, e.g., “to transcend one’s ego.” Philosophically, to go beyond the limits of this world, or more profoundly, beyond time, form and space into the Absolute, the Self God. §

transcendent: Surpassing the limits of experience or manifest form. In Śaiva Siddhānta, a quality of God Śiva as Absolute Reality, Paraśiva, the Self. Distinguished from immanent. See: Paraśiva.§

transition: Passing from one condition or place to another. A synonym of death which implies, more correctly, continuity of the individual rather than his annihilation. See: death.§

transmigration: Passage of a soul into another body after death.§

transmuted: Changed from one nature, form, substance or state into another; transform.§

transparent: Not drawing attention to oneself, unobtrusive. Cultured living. A term used to describe the state of mind and being in which one is centered within oneself and, though behaving in a natural and relaxed manner, does not ruffle one’s surroundings. §

trespasser: One who goes beyond the limits of what is considered right.§

tribulation: Great misery or distress, as from oppression; deep sorrow.§

tripuṇḍra: त्रिपुण्ड्र “Three marks.” The Śaivite sectarian mark, consisting of three horizontal lines of vibhūti (holy ash) on the brow, often with a dot (bindu) at the third eye. The three lines represent the soul’s three bonds: āṇava, karma and māyā. 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, vibhūti.§

Truth: When capitalized, ultimate knowing which is unchanging. Lower case (truth): honesty, integrity; virtue.§

tūtuvar: தூதூவா The śishya who is youngest in seniority, occupying the last seat in the chakravāla. He is the messenger to individuals. He posts mail and performs various other simple duties. §

Tyaef: An esoteric language of meditation and spiritual unfoldment. Together, Tyaef and Shum define the path of individual awareness as it enters inner states through the art of meditation, contemplation and samādhi.§

Tyaf: A special bamboo-like script used for writing prayers to be conveyed to the inner worlds through the sacred fire. See: lekhaprārtha havana.§

tyāga: त्याग “Letting go, detachment, renunciation.” Described in the Bhagavad Gītā as the basic principle of karma yoga, detachment from the fruits of one’s actions. See: sacrifice, sannyāsa, vairāgya. §

cçhishṭa: उच्छिष्ट “Leavings; remainder.” Religiously, the precious leavings from the guru’s food plate or the waters from the bathing of his feet or sandals which are ingested by devotees as prasāda. Partaking of the satguru’s ucçhishṭa is an important means of receiving his vibration and thus creating a psychic connection and harmony with him, being in touch with his grace in a physical way. See: prasāda, satguru, pādapūjā. §

Umādeva: उमादेव The messenger of the Senior Minority Group. The member of the Senior Group with the least resident seniority.§

Umāgaṇeśa: उमागणेश The member of the Senior Group with the most resident seniority in the monastery. The guru’s secretary in each monastery and chairman of the Senior Group of Elders, whose duty it is to keep the guru informed of all activities in the monastery.§

unambiguously: Clearly; with certainty; having only one meaning.§

unfoldment: Progression into the soul nature through awakening of kuṇḍalinī force within the chakras, subtle spiritual/psychic forces centers within the being of man.§

unscrupulous: Not restrained by ideas of right and wrong; unprincipled.§

unwavering: Not having any doubt or indecision.§

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

Upanishad: उपनिषद् “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 Vedānta and have dominated Indian thought for thousands of years. They are philosophical chronicles of ṛishis expounding the nature of God, soul and cosmos, exquisite renderings of the deepest Hindu thought. See: śruti, Veda, Vedānta.§

upāsanā: उपासना “Sitting near.” Worship or contemplation of God. One of the pañcha nitya karmas. “five constant duties.” See: pañcha nitya karmas.§

upavidyārthi: उपविद्यार्थि Students of The Master Course that have not yet taken all three vratas: Śākhāhāra, Daśama Bhāga and Paramparā.§

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

utsavaka: उत्सवक “Festival maker.” A person who coordinates arrangements for religious festivals. §

āgdāna: वाग्दान “Word-giving.” Marriage engagement ceremony. See: saṁskāras of adulthood.§

vaikasi visakam: வைகாசி விசாகம் A festival held on Viśākha nakshatra, near the full moon day of the Tamil month of Vaikāsi, May-June, to celebrate the creation, or “birth,” of Lord Kārttikeya. It is a time of gift-giving to paṇḍitas and great souls, weddings, feedings for the poor, caring for trees, spiritual initiation and conclaves of holy men.§

vairāgī: वैरागी “Dispassionate one.” An ascetic who lives by the principle of vairāgya. Also names a particular class of mendicants, generally Vaishṇavas, of North India who have freed themselves from worldly desires. See: monk, sannyāsa, tyāga.§

vairāgya: वैराग्य “Dispassion; aversion.” Freedom from passion. Distaste or disgust for worldliness because of spiritual awakening. Also, the constant renunciation of obstacles on the path to liberation. Ascetic or monastic life.§

vaishṇava: वैष्णव Of or relating to Vishṇu; same as Vaishṇavite. A follower of Lord Vishṇu or His incarnations, such as Kṛishna or Rāma. See: Vaishṇavism. §

Vaishṇavism (Vaishṇava): वैष्णव 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 Vishṇu as Personal God, His incarnations and their consorts. Vaishṇavism stresses the personal aspect of God over the impersonal, and bhakti (devotion) as the true path to salvation. The goal of Vaishṇavism is the attainment of mukti, defined as blissful union with God’s body, the loving recognition that the soul is a part of Him, and eternal nearness to Him in Vaikuṇṭha, heaven. Foremost among Vaishṇava scriptures are the Vaishṇava Āgamas, Rāmāyana, Bhagavad Gītā and Bhāgavata Purāṇa.§

Vaishṇavite: Of or relating to Vishṇu; same as Vaishṇava. A follower of Vishṇu or His incarnations. See: Vaishṇavism.§

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

vanakkam: வண்க்கம் The Tamil equivalent to namaskāra. §

vānaprastha āśrama: वानप्रस्थ आश्रम “Forest-dweller stage.” See: āśrama dharma. §

Vārāṇasī: वाराणसी Also known as Kāśī or Banāras. One of the most holy of Śaivite 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 Kāśī, revering it as a gateway to moksha.§

varṇa dharma: वर्ण धर्म “The way of one’s kind.” The hereditary social class system, generally referred to as caste, established in India in ancient times. Within varṇa dharma are the many religious and moral codes which define human virtue. Varṇa 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) varṇa, which refers to the four classes: brāhmin, kshatriya, vaiśya and śūdra; and 2) jāti, the myriad occupational subgroups, or guilds, which in India number over 3, 000. Hence this dharma is sometimes called jāti 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 jātis, or castes, within Hindu communities worldwide is limited but not impossible, and is accomplished through marrying into a new jāti, or changing professions through persistence, skill and education. Śāstrīs say that once a person breaks out of his varṇa or jāti 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. •varṇa: The four varṇas are as follows. •brāhmin (brāhmaṇa): “Mature, evolved soul.” Scholarly, pious souls of exceptional learning. Hindu scriptures traditionally invest the brāhmin 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 rājanya. •vaiśya: “Landowner, merchant.” Businessmen, financiers, industrialists; employers. Those engaged in business, commerce and agriculture. •śūdra: “Worker, servant.” Skilled artisans and laborers. It is in keeping with varṇa dharma that sons are expected to follow the occupation of their father, as that is the occupation that was chosen prior to birth. See: caste.§

varshātma nivedana sādhana: वर्षात्म निवेदन साधन “yearly self-dedication,” the traditional practice of coming forward to one’s guru with love, gifts and thankfulness, vowing full commitment for the coming year. Coming forward at this auspicious time gives the guru permission to inwardly guide the śishya for yet another year.§

vāsanā: वासना “Subconscious inclination.” From vās, “living, remaining.” The subliminal inclinations and habit patterns which, as driving forces, color and motivate one’s attitudes and future actions. Vāsanās are the conglomerate results of subconscious impressions (saṁskāras) created through experience. Saṁskāras, experiential impressions, combine in the subconscious to form vāsanās, which thereafter contribute to mental fluctuations, called vṛitti. The most complex and emotionally charged vāsanās are found in the dimension of mind called the sub-subconscious, or vāsanā chitta. See: saṁskāra, mind (five states), vāsanā daha tantra.§

vāsanā daha tantra: वासनादहतन्त्र “Subconscious purification by fire.” Daha means to burn, a tantra is a method, and vāsanās are deep-seated subconscious traits or tendencies that shape one’s attitudes and motivations. Vāsanās can be either positive or negative. One of the best methods for resolving difficulties in life, of dissolving troublesome vāsanās, the vāsanā daha tantra is the practice of burning confessions, or even long letters to loved ones or acquaintances, describing pains, expressing confusions and registering complaints and long-held hurts. Writing down problems and burning them in any ordinary fire brings them from the subconscious into the external mind, releasing the supressed emotion as the fire consumes the paper. This is a magical healing process. See: lekhaprārtha havana, vāsanā. §

vāta: वात “Movement.” Vāyu, “air-ether.” One of the three bodily humors, called dosha, vāta is known as the air humor. Principle of movement in the body. Vāta dosha governs such functions as breathing and movement of the muscles and tissues. See: āyurveda, dosha. §

Veda (s): वेद “Wisdom.” Sagely revelations which comprise Hinduism’s most authoritative scripture. They, along with the Āgamas, are śruti, “that which is heard.” The Vedas are a body of dozens of holy texts known collectively as the Veda, or as the four Vedas: Ṛig, Yajur, Sāma and Atharva. In all they include over 100, 000 verses, as well as additional prose. Each Veda has four sections: Saṁhitās (hymn collections), Brāhmaṇas (priestly manuals), Āraṇyakas (forest treatises) and Upanishads (enlightened discourses). See: śruti, Upanishad.§

Vedānta: वेदान्त “Ultimate wisdom” or “final conclusions of the Vedas.” Vedānta 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 Vedānta schools, ranging from pure dualism to absolute monism. The first and original school is Advaita Īsvaravāda, “monistic theism” or panentheism, exemplified in the Vedānta-Siddhānta of Ṛishi Tirumular (ca 250 bce) of the Nandinātha Sampradāya in his Tirumantiram, which is a perfect summation of both the Vedas and the Āgamas. See: Advaita Īśvaravāda, monistic theism, Tirumantiram.§

Vedic-Āgamic: Simultaneously drawing from and complying with both of Hinduism’s revealed scriptures (śruti), the Vedas and Āgamas, which represent two complementary, intertwining streams of history and tradition. The difference between Siddhānta and Vedānta is traditionally described in the following way. While the Vedas depict man looking for God, the Āgamas hold the perspective of God looking to help man. §

Vedic Experience: A modern English anthology of the Vedas by Professor Raimon Panikkar.§

vegetarian: Śakāhāra. 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. Natural, fresh foods, locally grown, without insecticides or chemical fertilizers, are preferred. The following foods are minimized: frozen and canned foods, highly processed foods, such as white rice, white sugar and white flour; and “junk” foods and beverages (those with abundant chemical additives, such as artificial sweeteners, colorings, flavorings and preservatives). A person following a vegetarian diet is called a śakāhārī. A nonveggie is called mānsāhārī. See: yama-niyama.§

vegetarian vow: Śakāhāra vrata, the vow to eat a strictly vegetarian diet.§

veiling grace: Tirobhāva śakti. The divine power that limits the soul’s perception by binding or attaching the soul to the bonds of āṇava, karma, and māyā— enabling it to grow and evolve as an individual being. See: grace.§

vel: வேல் “Spear, lance.” The symbol of Lord Kārttikeya’s divine authority as Lord of yoga and commander of the devas. (Known as śūla in Sanskṛit.) See: Kārttikeya.§

venerate: To look upon with feelings of deep respect or reverence.§

vīṇā: वीणा Large South Indian popular musical instrument usually having seven strings and two calabash gord resonance boxes. §

venerate: To look upon with feelings of deep respect or reverence.§

veshti: வேஷ்டி A long, unstitched cloth like a sarong, wound about the waist and reaching below the ankles. Traditional Hindu apparel for men. It can be wrapped in many different styles. A Tamil word derived from the Sanskṛit veshṭana, “encircling.” Also called vetti (Tamil) or dhoti (Hindi).§

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

vibhūti: विभूति “Resplendent, powerful.” Holy ash, prepared by burning cow dung along with other precious substances, milk, ghee, honey, etc. It symbolizes purity and is one of the main sacraments given at pūjā in all Śaivite temples and shrines. Śaivites wear three stripes on the brow as a distinct sectarian mark, as do many Smārtas. See: tilaka, tripuṇḍra.§

vibration: A distinctive emotional aura or atmosphere that can be instinctively sensed or experienced.§

victors and vanquished: Those who triumph and those who are defeated in battle, debate or any competition. A concept or attitude about winning and losing derived from dualistic beliefs, which can lead to adharma, hiṁsā, etc. §

videhamukti: विदेहमुक्ति “Disembodied liberation.” Release from reincarnation through nirvikalpa samādhi—the realization of the Self, Paraśiva—at the point of death. See: moksha, Paraśiva, Self Realization. §

vidyā: विद्या “Knowledge, learning, science.” The power of understanding gained through study and meditation. Contrasted with avidyā, ignorance. §

vidyārambha: विद्यारंभ “Commencement of learning.” See: saṁskāra.§

vilify: To use abusive or slanderous language against; to revile or defame.§

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

Vīra Śaiva: वीरशैव Of or related to Vīra Śaivism; a follower of this sect of Hinduism. §

vishesha dīkshā: विषेष दीक्षा “Distinguishing” initiation, marks the śishya’s formal entrance into the Śrī Subramuniya Ṛishi Gotra, and into confirmed membership of Śaiva Siddhānta Church. After this initiation, the devotee, affectionately known as a chela, is obligated to personally, daily perform the Śaiva Ātmārtha Pūjā, which now has new power.§

visualize (visualization): To imagine, create mental images. Exercising the power of thought to create the future.§

viśvagrāsa: विष्वग्रास “Total absorption.” The final merger of the soul in Śiva at the fulfillment of its evolution. It is ultimate union of the individual soul body with the body of Śiva—Parameśvara—within the Śivaloka, from whence the soul was first emanated. This occurs at the end of the soul’s evolution, after the four outer sheaths (annamaya kośa, prāṇamaya kośa, manomaya kośa and vijñāmaya kośa) have been dropped off. Finally, ānandamaya kośa, the soul form itself, merges in the Primal Soul. Individuality is lost as the soul becomes Śiva, the creator, preserver, destroyer, veiler and revealer. Individual identity expands into universality. Having previously merged in Paraśiva and Parāśakti in states of samādhi, the soul now fully merges into Parameśvara and is one with all three of Śiva’s perfections. Jīva has totally become Śiva—not a new and independent Śiva, as might be construed, for there is and can only be one Supreme God Śiva. This fulfilled merger can happen at the moment the physical body is dropped off, or after eons of time following further unfoldment of the higher chakras in the inner worlds—all depending on the maturity, ripeness and intentions of the soul, by which is meant the advanced soul’s choice to be either an upadeśī, a liberated soul who continues helping others, or a nirvāṇī, one who shuns all worldly involvement.§

Vivekānanda, Swāmī: विवेकानन्द Disciple of Śrī Rāmakṛishṇa who was overtaken by an ardent love of Hinduism and a missionary zeal that drove him onward. He attained mahāsamādhi 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 Rāmakṛishṇa Mission which thrives today internationally with over 100 centers and nearly 1, 000 sannyāsins. He is credited, along with Tagore, Aurobindo, Rādhākṛishṇan and others, with sparking the modern Hindu revival. §

vow: See: vrata.§

vrata: व्रत “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.§

vrataśishya: व्रत शिष्य Novitiate Church members, those who have completed the requirements in the Invitation for Membership, including any necessary reconciliation of religious loyalties, having been wholeheartedly accepted into a kulapati family. They take two additional vows: the Śaiva Śraddhādhāraṇa Vrata (the pledge to uphold and preach the Śaivite Creed) and the Kulapati Sūtra Vrata (the vow to uphold the 54 Kulapati Sūtras). §

vrātyastoma: व्रात्यस्तोम “Vow pronouncement.” The traditional purification rite, outlined in the Taṇḍya Brāhmaṇa, 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. §

Vyāghrapāda: व्याघ्रपाद “Tiger feet.” Famous Nandinātha Sampradāya siddha (ca 200 bce), trained under Maharishi Nandinātha, was a brother disciple of ṛishis Tirumular and Patañjali. He pilgrimaged south from Kashmir, settling at Tamil Nadu’s Chidambaram Śiva Temple to practice yoga. See: Kailāsa Paramparā.§

ailua Farm: The second of nine realms of tropical beauty at Kauai Aadheenam. Established in 1972, the farm provides an area of contemplative service and training for young monks in carpentry and farming in the natural beauty of groves of fruit orchards; flowers; sacred, rare and medicinal trees; vegetable gardens and much more. A small herd of Jersey and Holstein cows provide an abundant supply of milk, yogurt, cheese and butter for the monastery kitchen and ghee for cooking and temple ceremonies.§

Wailua River: The sacred Hawaiian river that flows, and sometimes rages, along the southwest edge of Kauai Aadheenam.§

wall: The monastery wall. The boundary of the monastery, both physical and psychic. Traditionally there is a physical wall built at this border of the psychic force field. It is here that newcomers to the monastery sit and beg entrance and adjust their vibration to that of the monastery before they are admitted to serve.§

waver: To vacillate, showing doubt or indecision. Characteristic of not being firm-minded. To be unsure of oneself. See: conversion to Hinduism.§

wealth: Artha. Abundance; financial stability. See: purushārtha.§

wedding pendant: A gold ornament worn by the Hindu wife around the neck representing her vows of matrimony. Known as maṅgala sūtra in Sanskṛit, and tali in Tamil. She reveres it as an image of her husband and ritually worships it during her morning devotions.§

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. See: materialism.§

written prayers: See: lekhaprārtha havana. §

ajña: यज्ञ “Worship; sacrifice.” One of the most central Hindu concepts—sacrifice and surrender through acts of worship, inner and outer. 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. See: pañcha mahāyajña.§

Yama: यम “The restrainer.” Hindu God of death; oversees the processes of death transition, guiding the soul out of its present physical body. See: death.§

yama-niyama: यम नियम The first two of the eight limbs of rāja 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. See: rāja yoga. §

yea: Yes, indeed, truly, verily. Not only that, but more. §

yoga: योग “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 darśanas, or systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy. Yoga was codified by Patañjali in his Yoga Sūtras (ca 200 bce) as the eight limbs (ashṭāĪga) of rāja yoga. It is essentially a one system, but historically, parts of rāja yoga have been developed and emphasized as yogas in themselves. Prominent among the many forms of yoga are haṭha yoga (emphasizing bodily perfection in preparation for meditation), kriyā yoga (emphasizing breath control), as well as karma yoga (selfless service) and bhakti yoga (devotional practices) which could be regarded as an expression of rāja yoga’s first two limbs (yama and niyama). See: austerity, bhakti yoga, daṇḍa, haṭha yoga, rāja yoga, siddhi. §

yoga pāda: योगपाद The third of the successive stages in spiritual unfoldment in Śaiva Siddhānta, wherein the goal is Self Realization. See: pāda, yoga. §

Yogaswāmī: யோகசுவாமீ “Master of yoga.” Sri Lanka’s most renowned contemporary spiritual master (1872–1964), a Sivajñāni and Nātha siddhar revered by both Hindus and Buddhists. He was trained in and practiced kuṇḍalinī yoga under the guidance of Satguru Chellappaswami, from whom he received guru dīkshā. Sage Yogaswāmī was in turn the satguru of Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, current preceptor of the Nātha Sampradāya’s Kailāsa Paramparā. Yogaswāmī conveyed his teachings in hundreds of songs, called Natchintanai, “good thoughts,” urging seekers to follow dharma and realize God within. Four great sayings capsulize his message: Thanai ari, “Know thy Self by thyself;” Sarvam Sivam Ceyal, “Śiva is doing it all;” Sarvam Śivamaya, “All is Śiva;” and Summa Iru, “Be still.” See: Natchintanai.§

yogī: योगी One who practices yoga, especially kuṇḍalinī or rāja yoga. §

young soul: A soul who has gone through only a few births, and is thus inexperienced or immature. See: soul.§

yuga: युग “Period, age.” One of four ages which chart the duration of the world according to Hindu thought. They are: Satya (or Kṛita), Tretā, Dvāpara and Kali. In the first period, dharma reigns supreme, but as the ages revolve, virtue diminishes and ignorance and injustice increases. At the end of the Kali Yuga, which we are in now, the cycle begins again with a new Satya Yuga. §