Presenting the Past Anxious History and Ancient Future in Hindutva India

Glossary 187

raksha to protect

rakshasas demons

Ramarajya state of Ram

Ramayana a Hindu epic (Struggle of Ram)

Rambaan Ram panacea; single dose of medicine for every possible disease

Ramjanmabhumi birthplace of Ram

Ramlila Ram's play

Ramraksha Ram protection

Ramshila foundation-laying ceremony for Ram's temple

rathyatra car procession

sadbhavana communal amity

sadhus Hindu religious figures

sadhu sammelan convention of sadhus

samraksha protection

samskars any of various sanctifying or purification rites
Sanatana Dharma Immemorial Dharma: Hinduism as involving acceptance of
orthodox belief and practice

sandhya twilight

Sangh Parivar (Rashtriya Swayamsevak) Sangh family; RSS and other Hindutva
outfits

santaan descendants

sants Hindu religious figures
sanyasa renouncing the world

sanyasi one who has renounced the world

sarsanghchalak supremo (literally "highest director")
sarvodaya welfare of all

satya truth
Sawan fifth month of the Hindu lunar calendar (July-August)

shamiana a large tent

shoba yatra a jubilant procession

Somwar Monday

suryanamaskara sun worship

swadeshi encouraging the use of indigenous articles and boycotting the foreign
goods

swaraj self-rule

swayamsevaks (RSS) volunteers

talukdar large landholder; owner of an estate

Upanishads Hindu religious scriptures