Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

161 sa™dhyä

hand Ÿäktism involves the use of the five

‘ms’, the transgression of ordinary

morality in secret forms of worship.

(See also DURGÄ; TANTRA(2).)

Ÿakuntalä

Daughter of the sage VIŸVAMITRAand the

APSARAMENÄ, whom INDRAhad sent

down from heaven to seduce Viÿvamitra.

When Menä had to go back to heaven

she left the child in the care of birds

(ÿakuntas), and thus she was called

Ÿakuntalä. She was brought up in a for-

est hermitage by a sage called Kanva.

King Du•yanta saw her, was charmed by

her and asked her to marry him. She bore

him a son, named BHARATA (4), who

became a universl monarch. India was

called Bhärata after him. The Ÿakuntalä

story was very popular with Indian

dramatists. One of the most famous

plays by KÄLIDÄSAis Ÿakuntalä (translat-

ed into most Western languages).

ÿäla-gräma

A round ammonite, found in the

Gandak river of Nepal, held sacred by

VAIÆŒAVAS as an emblem of Vi•æu.

Most Vai•æavas either carry a ÿälagrä-

ma or keep one or more in their homes.

samädhi (1)

(‘concentration’, ‘mindfulness’)

The title of one of the sections of the

Yoga Sütras.

samädhi (2)

A stage in the process of YOGA(‘con-

templation’).

samädhi (3)

A memorial chapel erected over the

tomb of a saint.

säman (‘tune’)

As in Sämaveda, the Veda containing

the tunes according to which the hymns

of the Øgveda are to be chanted.

Sämaveda

The third of the four vedic saƒhitäs,

dealing with sämans or melodies

appropriate to the øksor verses of the

Øgveda. The text as it is preserved

exists in three recensions: Kauthuma,

Räæäyanïya and Jaiminïya. The text

was commented upon by Säyaæa in the

14th century. Most of the verses are

identical with the verses in the Øgveda.

The most ancient melodies have not

been preserved; the notations which we

possess are of a relatively late time. (See

alsoVEDA.)

Sambandhar, also

Jñanasambandhar

(seventh century)

A famous poet and preacher of ŸAIVISM

in South India at a time when most had

turned Jainas. While the King of

Madurai had converted to JAINISM, his

chief queen and his chief minister had

remained Ÿaivites. With their help

Sambandhar arranged a debate with a

large number of Jain monks, whom he

defeated. The king then re-converted

to Ÿaivism. According to tradition

Sambandhar persuaded the king to

impale 8,000 Jains. In another part of

the Tamil country he brought back a

large number of Jains and Buddhists to

Ÿaivism. His hymns are still widely sung

in Ÿiva temples.

sa™dhyä (1), also sandhyä

(‘joining’, ‘twilight’ [both of morning

and of evening])

Personified as daughter of BRAHMÄand

wife of ŸIVA.

sa™dhyä (2)

Obligatory rituals to be performed by

brahmins at dawn and dusk.

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