S
Sabarmati
Northern Indian river that rises in the
Aravalli Hillsin the state of Rajasthan,
and flows south to the Gulf of Cambay in
the state of Gujarat. It is best known as
the site of the Sabarmati Ashram, across
the river from the city of Ahmedabad in
Gujarat. The Sabarmati Ashram was
home to Mohandas K. Gandhifor six-
teen years after he returned from South
Africain 1915. He organized much of
the struggle for Indian independence
from this ashram.
Sacchidananda
Sanskritcompound word denoting the
three generally accepted attributes of
the supreme Brahman (the Ultimate
Reality of the universe according to
some Hindu traditions): being (sat),
consciousness (chit), and bliss (ananda).
The differences between the form of the
individual words and their form in the
compound are the result of sandhior
euphonic combination.
In certain Hindu philosophical tradi-
tions, but particularly in the Advaita
Vedantaschool, the supreme Brahman
is considered the Ultimate Reality
behind all things. Although Brahman is
considered to be without particular
qualities, these three attributes are
believed to be inseparable from its very
nature. It has the attribute of being,
because it is the reality from which all
other “being” comes. In the same way, it
is consciousness, as the source of all
conscious thought. Finally, bliss pro-
ceeds from its perfection, which is ulti-
mate and complete.
Sacred Ash
Substance used in rituals and by devo-
tees (bhakta) of the god Shivato mark
their bodies, in imitation of their patron
deity. The name given to this ash is vib-
huti. See vibhuti.Sacred Sites
Hindu religious life is intimately con-
nected to the land of India itself, which
is studded with sacred sites, known as
tirthas. These can be lakes, rivers,
mountains, or any other natural feature;
they can also be cities, temples, or any
other created environment; they can
even be the presence of holy men and
women. Pilgrimage (tirthayatra) to any
sacred site is a means of spiritual and
religious advancement. See tirtha.Sacred Thread
A circular cord made of three strands (in
which each strand itself has three
strands), which is worn over the left
shoulder, crossing the body to fall on the
right hip. The sacred thread is given to a
boy as part of the upanayana samskara,
which is the adolescent religious initia-
tionalso known as the “second birth.”
Second birth entitles a boy to study the
Vedas, the oldest Hindu religious texts.
In the dharma literaturethis initiatory
rite is prescribed for all young men
belonging to the three “twice-born”
social groups (varnas)—that is, the
brahmins, kshatriyas, and vaishyas.
The sacred thread would have been the
most visible sign of a twice-born man,
for whom wearing the thread was
mandatory, since any religious acts per-
formed without wearing it were said to
be ineffective.
In modern times its presence gener-
ally means that the wearer is a brahmin,
since it is mainly the brahmins who
carry out this rite today. The sacred
thread is worn for extended periods of
time, although it must be changed at
certain times: after the wearer has suf-
fered violent impurity (ashaucha), such
as that of death; after performing anySabarmati