The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

John Braisted Carman, The Theology of Ramanuja, 1974. Shrivatsa An auspicious mark on the god Vishnu’s chest, also found on Vish ...

specific attributes, they are thus condi- tioned forms of the ultimate Brahman. In fact, any assumption that the world as it app ...

Shudra Among the four major social groups (varnas) in the traditional Hindu soci- ety, the shudras are the lowest and least infl ...

Shula A lance or pike; one of the characteristic weapons in Hindu iconography. The most famous example of this is the tri- dent ...

Shumbha and Nishumbha are able to conquer the gods and assume control of heaven, but they are unable to resist the power of the ...

yoga, which is the first known written explanation of this tradition. Although it is best noted for these new ideas, the upanish ...

parting the hair as symbolizing an easy delivery, and since this was a rite of pro- tection, it would also give the expectant mo ...

tradition, the Kumbha Mela was orga- nized by the great philosopher Shan- karacharyato promote regular gather- ings of learned a ...

divine day is considered to be a human year, the twelve-year cycle is established. According to popular belief, at each Kumbha M ...

her eyes modestly downcast rather than look directly at another man. When Rama’s ally Hanumandiscovers where Sita is hidden, she ...

purusha (“person,” or spirit), and an unconscious but active prakrti (“nature”). According to the Samkhya proponents, failure to ...

In northern India Skanda is consid- ered a member of Shiva’s household, and although his power is acknowl- edged, he is generall ...

been sharpened through rigorous reli- gious practice, were able to “hear” and understand these vibrations, and trans- mitted the ...

Bathing is normally the last part of one’s morning rites, preceded by cleaning one’s teeth and tongue, rinsing the mouth (achama ...

Solar Line In Hindu mythology, one of the two great lineages, the other being the Lunar Line. The Solar Line traces its descent ...

the Kali[Age]” (Kalivarjya), although it had been permitted in earlier times. Somnath Temple and sacred site (tirtha) in the sta ...

(and their social status determined) by the group’s hereditary occupation, over which each group held a monopoly. Song of Manik ...

birth of a daughter can be cause for as much rejoicing as that of a son. Sopashraya (“using a support”) One of the sitting postu ...

throes of civil war between the Sinhalese and the Tamils, the island’s two major ethnic groups. The Sinhalese comprise about 70 ...

modes of religious life—that of the householder, which is based in the world, and that of the ascetic, which renounces the world ...