Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

International Transcendental Meditation Society 86

public chanting of the Hare-Kø•æa

MAHÄ-MANTRA. It is by now established

in all Western countries and has a size-

able presence in India. Among the inno-

vations that ‘Prabhupäda’ Bhakti-

vedanta Swami introduced is the award-

ing of brahmin status to all initiates, the

accepting of non-Hindus into SAM-

NYÄSA, and the establishment of a great

number of temples under the care of

non-Indian devotees. ISKCON is very

active in publishing, in relief work and

in maintaining authentic traditional

image worship.

International Transcendental

Meditation Society (TM)

Founded by Mahesh Yogi Maharishi in

the late 1950s, it initially attracted a

very large number of people in all

Western countries by its teaching of

Transcendental Meditation, a simplified

form of Yoga. Followers of TM claim

that it relieves tension and worries.

Mahesh Yogi Maharishi also set out to

teach SIDDHIS(miraculous higher powers).

He established the Maharishi International

University in Fairfield, Iowa which aims

at integrating modern Western science

with ancient Hindu traditions. Mahesh

Yogi Maharishi developed various plans

to give worldwide coverage to his ideas.

Ïÿa, also Ïÿäna (‘lord’)

Title of ŸIVA, ‘maheÿa’ (‘Mahä’ + ‘ïsä’:

Maheÿa – Great Lord).

Ïÿa(vasya) Upani•ad

The shortest of the principal Upani•ads,

said to contain the essence of all. It is read

out to a dying person to ensure a good

passage. It has been commented upon by

ŸA¢KARA(2) and other Vedäntins.

i•fla devatä (‘deity of choice’)

The form of the divine most appealing

to a person and therefore singled out for

worship, without denying the existence

of others.

ïÿvara (‘Lord’)

A generic title given to the creator of the

world.

Ïÿvara Kø•æa (third centuryCE)

Author of the Säƒkhyakärikäs.

Ïÿvara Muni (tenth century CE)

A great PÄÑCARÄTRAteacher, father of

NÄfiHAMUNI, the first of the ÄCÄRYAS

of Ÿrïraögam.

itihäsa (‘so it has been said’)

A generic term for traditional history,

specifically applied to the RÄMÄYAŒA

and the MAHÄBHÄRATA.

Swami A. C. Bhaktivedänta, called

‘Prabhupäda’, founder of ISKCON.

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