by Alla ̄h for mankind to make contact with him. It is a worship of the
whole person; heart, mind, tongue, and body. It is the second of the Five
Pillars of Islam.
na ̄ stika atheist, or non-believer (see also: a ̄stika).
nirgun.a without qualities or form; deities tend to be worshiped either as
having qualities (see also: sagun.a) or not having qualities, i.e., spirit.
nirodha cessation (of duh.kha), which is the third of the Four Noble Truths;
also, according to Yoga philosophy, the “cessation/suppression of the
transformations of awareness” is yoga.
nirva ̄n.a literally, the “blowing out” of the “flame” of existence, as in a
candle; the goal of early forms of Buddhism; the cessation of thirst; a
change in consciousness, not a place. (Pa ̄li: nibba ̄na.)
niyama “commission”; appropriate actions, according to ethical yoga (laya);
(see also yama).
om. Sanskrit sacred syllable which becomes, among other things, equated
with the totality of the universe.
pa ̄ ca (T) The “bonds” of existence, according to S ́aiva Siddha ̄nta thought
(see also: a ̄n.ava,ma ̄ya ̄,karma, and pacu).
pacu (T) “soul” or “cow”; takes the form to which it adheres; S ́aiva Siddha ̄nta
term (see also: pa ̄ca).
paks ́a (paksha)fifteen days.
Pa ̄li language of early Buddhist canon; actually, the designation of the
corpus of early Buddhist literature, which later became the name of the
language in which that corpus was written.
pantha ̄ “path” (see also: ma ̄rga).
parama ̄ tman the “One”; supreme a ̄tman, emphasized by S ́an.kara.
pati lord; also, husband.
pı ̄r folk hero in some sects of Shı ̄ite Islam; pı ̄rsare worshiped at cemeteries
after death.
pitr.loka (pitri loka)heaven; literally, “world of the fathers” in Vedas.
prajña ̄ (prajana) “wisdom” or “perfection”; especially important in
Maha ̄ya ̄na schools of Buddhism; in Yogaca ̄ra philosophy, the ten
perfections become personified.
praka ̄ra “world”; concrete manifestation of brahman.
prakr.ti (prakriti)original, natural form or condition; matter, female (see
also:purus.a).
pra ̄n.apratis..tha ̄ consecration of an icon; literally, breathing life into an
icon.
pra ̄n.ayama breath control; literally “suspension of breath.”
prapatti surrender (as to a deity).
prasa ̄da favor or grace; symbolized by the offering of camphor, food, etc.
to devotees after such items have been “blessed” by the deity.
254 Glossary