t.r.s.n.a ̄ (trishna) “thirst” (for things which are actually impermanent,
according to early Buddhism); fundamental human problem. (Pa ̄li:
tan.ha ̄.)
turiya the perception of non-duality; the highest stage of consciousness,
according to S ́an.kara’s Veda ̄nta.
udgatr. name for priests and priestesses who sang/chanted hymns of the
Sa ̄ma Veda
‘ulama ̄ ‘ (A) scholars and/or clergy who are qualified to offer moral
guidance to individuals and at times to Islamic society at large.
‘urs (A) wedding or a joyous occasion signifying the meeting of two beings;
in Su ̄fı ̄sm, the passing of a saint, seen as the ultimate unification with God
the Beloved; also, the anniversary of same.
va ̄c speech; also, name of a goddess.
vaidika orthodox; one who traces one’s lineage to the Vedic period; of, or
relating to, the Vedas.
vais ́ya maintainers of the social order; third of four-fold class structure.
va ̄ naprastha “seeker”; literally, “forest” or “going forth to the forest”; third
of the Four Stages of Life (a ̄s ́ramas).
varn.a color or class, as in the four-fold class structure of brahman,ks.atriya,
vais ́ya, and s ́u ̄ dra.
varn.as ́rama dharma system formulated by brahmans that describes one’s
“position” in society according to one’s class (varn.a), life-stage (a ̄s ́rama),
and proper mode of acting (dharma).
vastra ritual dressing of an icon.
va ̄ stupurus.aman.d.ala a geometric design combining space and the human
body, which is then placed horizontally onto the temple floor; symbolic
of the homologization between the human body and the cosmos.
vidhi rules for ritual.
viha ̄ra Buddhist monastery.
vima ̄n
̄
a the “tower” in South Indian Hindu temple architecture.
vinaya rules; one of the “baskets” of the Buddhist Tripit.ika(“three baskets”),
or Therava ̄da Buddhist canon, that elaborates rules for monastic life.
vı ̄rya heroism; strength.
vrata penance in consequence of a vow.
vyavaha ̄ra the manifold, phenomenal world (emphasized by Ra ̄ma ̄nujan).
yaks.a (yaksha)yaks. ̄ıattendant of the Buddha; dwarf-like figures found on
entries to stu ̄pagrounds.
yama restraint (e.g., non-stealing, celibacy); associated with ethical yoga
(laya).
yantra a ritual map that is geographically expressed; a diagram for ritual/
meditation.
yasna (AV) the Zoroastrian ritual invocation of fire; corresponds to the
Hindu ritual of yagna.
258 Glossary