The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

contrast with the “Black” Yajur Veda, in
which these notes have been incorporated
into the body of the text itself. Aside from
giving instruction on the practice of rituals,
the Shatapatha Brahmana includes a wide
variety of texts, one of which is the Isha
Upanishad. The upanishad’s presence in a
Brahmana text clearly shows that there
was considerable overlap in the times of
composition of various Vedic literary
styles, rather than clear-cut “periods.”

Shatrughna

(“Foe-slayer”) In the Ramayana, the earli-
er of the two great Indian epics,
Shatrughna is the second son of King
Dasharathaand his wife Sumitra, and the
youngest brother of Rama, the epic’s pro-
tagonist. Whereas Rama’s brothers Laksh-
manaand Bharataplay important roles in
the epic—the former as Rama’s minion
and shadow, the latter serving as Rama’s
regent during his exile—Shatrughna is vir-
tually invisible and does not play an
important part in the larger epic narrative.

Shattila Ekadashi

Religious observance falling on the
eleventh day (ekadashi) of the dark

(waning) half of the lunar monthof

Magh( January–February). As with all

the eleventh-day observances, this is

dedicated to the worshipof the god

Vishnu. Most Hindu festivals have

certain prescribed rites, which usually

involve fasting (upavasa) and worship

and often promise specific benefits

for faithful performance. On this day

one should bathe an image of Vishnu

with the five auspicious things (milk,

curds, honey, ghee, and sugar water),

placing some sesame seed (tila) into

each. One should also eat food con-

taining sesame seed. During the night

one should sleep before the image of

the deity. This ekadashi’s name comes

from the six (sat) ways in which

the sesame seed has been used.

Faithfully observing this festival is said

to cause one to be reborn in Vishnu’s

realm, Vaikuntha.

Shaving

An act of ritual purification as well as

an act of hygiene. The hairof the head

and face is believed to trap impurity

(ashaucha), and shaving one or both

is a significant part of many rites of

Shaving

A man shaves an infant boy’s head. Hair is believed to trap impurities.