material cause of the universe. The
energy for creation comes from the
creative and dynamic power of the
dyad’s female principle, Shakti. For fur-
ther information see Jaideva Singh,
Pratyabhijnanahrdayam, 1982.
Sadhana
(“accomplishing”) The most common
colloquial Hindu term designating
established and regular religious prac-
tice. It is given this name because it
is through such practice that one
gains spiritual attainments. In modern
Hindi, the word can also be used to
refer to anything to which one has
devoted a great deal of time, attention,
and hard work.
Sadharana (“common”) Dharma
In the dharma literature, the religious
duties required of all human beings,
including truth, generosity, and compas-
sion. One’s essential obligation, however,
is to fulfill one’s own dharma(svadharma),
which may supersede or even contradict
the requirements of the common dhar-
ma. For instance, it is generally accepted
that a king must occasionally disregard
truth to be an effective ruler. Since a
king’s primary duty is to maintain peace
and order in the country, so that other
people have the opportunity to do their
duties, he is required to do whatever it
takes to accomplish this.Sadhu
(“virtuous man”) A general term that can
be used for any ascetic, although it more
often refers to an ascetic who has not
undergone formal initiation into an
established ascetic order.Sadhubela
In the time before the partition of
India in 1947, Sadhubela was the name
of the most important asceticcenter
for the Udasiascetics; it was in SukkurSadhana
A man smokes from a chillum wrapped with a safai, a cloth used to cool the smoke before it is inhaled.