represented by symbolic substitutes in
“right hand” (dakshinachara) tantric
ritual. “Respectable” Hindu society
strongly condemns the consumption of
nonvegetarian food, so this ritual use
must be seen in the larger tantric
context. One of the underlying tantric
assumptions is the ultimate unity of
everything that exists. From a tantric
perspective, to affirm that the entire
universe is one principle means that the
adept must reject all concepts based on
dualistic thinking. The “Five Forbidden
Things” provide a ritual means for
breaking down duality. In this ritual the
adept breaks societal norms forbidding
consumption of intoxicants, nonvege-
tarian food, and illicit sexuality in a con-
scious effort to sacralize what is
normally forbidden. Tantric adepts cite
such ritual use of forbidden things as
proof that their practice involves a more
exclusive qualification (adhikara), and
is thus superior to common practice. For
further information see Arthur Avalon
(Sir John Woodroffe), Shakti and Shakta,
1978; Swami Agehananda Bharati, The
Tantric Tradition, 1977; and Douglas
Renfrew Brooks, The Secret of the Three
Cities, 1990.
Matsya Avatar
The first of the ten avatarsor incarna-
tions of the god Vishnu, which all took
place at moments of crisis in the cos-
mos. See Fish avatar.
Matsyagandhi
(“[she whose] smell is fish”) In Hindu
mythology, another name for queen
Satyavati. Matsyagandhi is a fisher-girl
who stinks of fish. She attracts the eye of
a powerful sage, who later uses his
magic powers to give her a pleasant
scent. See Satyavati.
Matsyendranath
According to tradition, the guruof the
sage Gorakhnathand the founder of the
Nathpanthis, a group of renunciant
asceticswho are devotees (bhakta) of
the god Shiva. He is also known as
Minanath. According to the Nathpanthi
tradition, Matsyendranath received his
teaching from Shiva himself, by taking
the form of a fish (in Sanskrit, the words
matsyaand minaboth mean “fish”), and
eavesdropping while Shiva was teaching
his wife Parvati. For further information
about Gorakhnath and the Nathtradi-
tion, see George Weston Briggs,
Gorakhnath and the Kanphata Yogis,- See also tantra.
Matter, Primeval
The general translation given to the
Sanskritword prakrti, one of the two
first principles in the Samkhyaphilo-
sophical school. See prakrti.Mauni
Derived from the word muni(“sage”),
mauni designates a person who is
observing a vow of silence as a religious
act. Just as members of certain Christian
monastic orders observe a vow of
silence to turn their thoughts inward
and enrich their inner lives, in the same
way Hindu asceticshave taken vows of
silence as a tool for spiritual develop-
ment. At times these vows may be for a
finite period of time (a week, a month,
and so on), but even now there are
ascetics who have not spoken in
decades, communicating through
expression, gesture, and writing on a
piece of paper or a slate.Mauni Amavasya
This festival falls on the day of the
new moon(amavasya) in the lunar
monthof Magh ( January–February).
Those observing this holiday pass the
day in silence. The word mauni(speech-
less) is derived from the word muni
(sage); silence is seen as one of the reli-
gious practices helping to promote spir-
itual awareness. During the entire
month of Magh, bathing (snana) in the
Ganges(or another sacred river) is seen
as meritorious. Bathing on the day of
the new moon offers greater sanctity. AMatsya Avatar