Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism

TORTOISE, a form assumed by Vi•æu,

took the king of snakes, Vasuki, as a

rope and successively obtained the fiery

poison HALÄHALÄ, the heavenly elephant

AIRÄVATA, and DHANVANTARIwith a pot

filled with the nectar of immortality. To

prevent the daityas from gaining immor-

tality, Vi•æu appeared in the form of

Mohinï (seductress) and distracted their

attention while the devas shared amøta.

Cidambaram

Famous temple city in Tamilnäõu,

South India, sacred to ŸIVA. Ÿiva is

believed to have first performed the

TAδAVAdance at Cidambaram, which

is repeated daily in his honour by pro-

fessional temple dancers.

Cinmayananda, Swami(1915–97)

Founder of Sandipani Hindu Mission

and instrumental in founding the VIŸVA

HINDÜPARIÆADin Bombay in 1964.

circumambulation, also

parikramä, pradak•iæä

Ritually walking around a person, an

IMAGE, a place, keeping the venerated

object to one’s right; a widespread

Hindu custom showing respect. Besides

the circumambulation of an image in a

temple, or the temple complex itself, cir-

cumambulation of sacred cities such as

Väräæasï or Vøndävana, or a district

such as BRAJA, takes place. The circum-

ambulation of the river NARBADÄor of

the whole of India is a custom still prac-

tised by many SÄDHUStoday.

cit

See CONSCIOUSNESS.

citra näõï

One of the inner vessels of the subtle

body according to KUŒ¥ALINÏ YOGA.

(See alsoBODY.)

Cidambaram 50

The Churning of the Ocean: Devas and asuras churn the ocean from which wonderful

objects such as the elephant Airävata, the wish-fulfilling tree, the vessel of ambrosia,

and many more are obtained.

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