Kø•æa’s youthful exploits, especially his
dalliance with the GOPÏS, the milkmaids
of Braja, as described in the Harivamÿa
and the Bhägavatam. It owes its present
status and popularity to its rediscovery
and revival by CAITANYAand his associ-
ates, who settled there in the late 16th
century and began building major tem-
ples, identifying the locations men-
tioned in the BHÄGAVATAMand starting
a prolific literary activity. Its closeness
to Delhi (120 km to the north) and its
accessibility from the Agra–Delhi trunk
road has created an enormous influx of
visitors in recent years. Many retired
people spend their lives in Vøndävana,
participating in the rich fare of temple
worship, raslïläperformances (re-enact-
ments of the life of Kø•æa) and presenta-
tions by famous religious leaders.Vø•æi
A descendant of Yadu, of the lunar
dynasty, an ancestor of Kø•æa, also
called Var•æeya. (See also YÄDAVAS.)Vøtra
The antagonist of INDRAin the Øgveda,
sometimes identified with drought or
darkness, the embodiment of everything
oppressive, whom Indra slays, thereby
relieving his followers.vyäkaraæa
Grammar, one of the six VEDÄŒGAS, a
major preoccupation in Hindu scholar-
ship. Study of grammar was an indis-
pensable prerequisite for any higher
studies, and in itself was considered a
religious discipline. The major grammar-
ians, such as PÄŒIŒÏ, enjoy a high status.Vyäsa (‘arranger’)
A celebrated sage, the arranger of the
Vedas, and the compiler of theMahäbhärata and all the Puräæas.
According to tradition he was the illegiti-
mate child of PARÄŸARAand SATYAVATÏ
(1) (before her marriage to King Ÿäntanu)
and retired to the forest to practise aus-
terities immediately after birth. He was
called upon by his mother to beget sons
on the widows of her son Vicitravïrya,
and became the father of Päæõu and
Dhøtarä•flra as well as of Vidura and
Ÿuka. He was called Kø•æa because of his
dark complexion, and Dvaipäyana
because of his birth on an island (dvïpa)
in the Yamunä. He is one of the seven
cira-jïvins, or deathless persons. (The oth-
ers are Aÿvathämä, Bali, Hanumän,
Vibhï•ana, Køpa and Paraÿuräma).vyavahära (‘conduct’, ‘action’,
‘transaction’, ‘procedure’)
In general it denotes all manner of deal-
ings, especially legal procedure. In
Vedänta, especially in ADVAITA
VEDÄNTA, it is used to desribe the mun-
dane, innerwordly, imperfect stand-
point (vyavahärika) over against the
perfect, eternal (paramärthika) perspec-
tive on reality.vyühas (‘arrangement’)
In VIŸIÆfiÄDVAITA, the fourfold form of
BRAHMAN, manifesting himself as
Väsudeva (possessing all six divine
attributes), Saökar•aæa (possessing
knowledge and strength), Pradyumna
(endowed with lordship and virility) and
Aniruddha (possessed of potency and
splendour) for purposes of meditation by
the devotees and creation of the universe.
Each of the four descends into three sub-
vyühas who are the presiding deities of
the twelve months of the year. Their
names are Keÿava, Näräyaæa, Mädhava,
Govinda, Vi•æu, Madhusüdana,
Trivikrama, Vämana, Ÿrïdhara, Hø•ïkeÿa,
Padmanäbha and Dämodara.207 vyühasEncyclo - Letter V 10/2/03 10:03 am Page 207