Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

come into existence without human

intervention.

Liöga Puräæa

One of the Ÿaiva Puräæas, containing

many stories about Ÿiva LI¢GAS(3).

Liægäyat(s)

A sect of Ÿaivas reformed by Basava

(12th century), also called Vïra-ÿaivas

(heroic Ÿaivas), that insists on each of its

members always wearing a small LI¢GA

(3) on their body to remind them of

their innate Ÿiva nature. Liögäyats

emphasize the equality of men and

women, do not recognize CASTEdiffer-

ences and give great importance to pro-

ductive work and social responsibility.

They bury their dead, instead of cremat-

ing them, as most Hindus do. They are

found mainly in today’s Karæätaka.

lobha (‘greed’)

One of the three ‘root sins’ or ‘gates to

hell’, which must be overcome to

achieve LIBERATION. (See alsoKRODHA;

MOHA.)

loka (‘world’, ‘universe’)

The Vedic TRILOKA(‘three worlds’) con-

sists of earth, heaven and hell. The

Puräæic universe is subdivided into a

great many different lokas: the upper

regions consist of Satyaloka (the realm

of Brahmä), Tapoloka, Janaloka and

Maharloka; the middle regions, also

called ‘regions of the consequences of

work’, are Svarloka (planets), Bhuvar-

loka (sky) and Bhuloka (earth). The

region of the netherworlds is subdivided

into eight lokas, below which there are

28 NÄRAKAS (hells) in which sinners

receive punishment according to their

deeds. Over and above these lokasthe

various saƒpradäyas (sects) have their

own sectarian cosmologies: for Vai•æavas,

Vaikuæflha is the supreme heaven of

Vi•æu; for Ÿaivas, Kailäsa is Ÿiva’s

abode; Ÿäktas believe that Devï resides

in MAŒIDVÏPA.

Lokäloka (‘world and no world’)

The outermost ring of mountains, sepa-

rating the visible world from the sphere

of darkness.

loka-päla

Guardians of the world; the eight deities

that preside over the eight points of the

compass: Indra (east); Agni (south-east);

Yama (south); Sürya (south-west),

Varuæa (west); Väyu (north-west);

Kubera (north); Soma (north-east).

Each of the LOKAPÄLAShas an elephant

who assists in the defence of the respec-

tive quarter. Indra’s elephant is

Airävata. (See alsoDIG-GAJA.)

loka-saögraha

(‘well-being of the world’)

Expression used by Kø•æa in the

Bhagavadgïtä to explain the motivation

of his activity in this world.

Lomahar•aæa, also

Romahar•aæa

A pupil of VYÄSAwho recited several

major Puräæas to ŸAUNAKA.

Lopä, also Lopämudrä,

Kauÿïtakï, Varapradä

A girl fashioned by AGASTYAfrom the

most beautiful parts of different ani-

mals, so as to have the most desirable

wife. She grew up as the daughter of the

king of Vidarbha. Before consenting to

marry Agastya she demanded great

wealth which Agastya finally obtained

from the demon Ilvala.

105 Lopä

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