abhäva (‘non-being’)

Absence of reality, a category in NYÄYA.

Abhinav Bhärat Society

‘Young India Society’, founded by

Vinayak Damodar SAVARKARand his

brother Ganesh Savarkar in the 1930s ‘to

take up the sword and destroy the

Government because it is foreign and

oppressive’.

Abhinavagupta (12th century CE)

Representative of KASHMIRŸAIVISMand

one of the most prolific thinkers and

writers of Hinduism. Author of the

multi-volume Tanträlokä.

abhiniveÿa

(‘attachment’ [to bodily life])

A form of AVIDYÄ(ignorance) and a

cause for suffering and rebirth accord-

ing to PATAÑJALAYOGA.

Äbhïras

Ancient and populous clan of semi-

nomadic cattlebreeders in northern

India often mentioned in ancient Indian

literature in connection with KØÆŒA.

abhi•ekha (‘aspersion’)

Anointment, consecration of either a

king or an image.

äcamanïya

The offering of water to a deity during

worship for rinsing the mouth.

äcära (‘behaviour’)

Rules of life for specific castes, orders or

religions, laid down in texts such as

Äcära-dïpa.

äcärya (‘master’)

Honorific title of recognized teachers.

äcäryä

A female teacher.

acyuta (‘the unfallen’)

Name of VIÆŒU(and KØÆŒA), either indi-

cating that he did not fall down from

heaven (as other minor deities did) or

that he is imperishable.

adbhuta (‘wonderment’)

One of the eight RASAS (sentiments,

emotional experiences) of Indian aes-

thetics.

adharma (‘unrighteousness’)

The opposite of DHARMAand the cause

of the breakdown of law and order.

Kø•æa says in the Bhagavadgïtä that

whenever adharmathreatens to eclipse

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