Sivachara: (Sanskrit) "Treating all as God."

See: Vira Saivism.

(See also: Sivachara , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivamaya: (Sanskrit) "Formed, made, consisting of or full of Siva."

Denotes that all of existence - all worlds, all beings, all of manifestation, that which undergoes creation, preservation and destruction, all dualities and paradoxes - consists of and is pervaded by Siva. An important concept of monistic Saivism.

See: sarvabhadra, world, tattva.

(See also: Sivamaya , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivamayakosha: (Sanskrit) "Sheath composed of Siva."

The Primal Soul form, Parameshvara - the body of God Siva - into which the individual soul merges as the fulfillment of its evolution.

See: Parameshvara, vishvagrasa.

(See also: Sivamayakosha , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

self-reflection: Observation of, or meditation upon, oneself, one's mind, emotions, thinking. Introspection. Playing back memories and impressions locked within the subconscious, endeavoring to deal with them. It is anticipating one's future and how the past will react upon it, enhance or detract from it.

See: spiritual unfoldment.

(See also: Self-reflection , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivaloka: (Sanskrit) "Realm of Siva."

See: loka.

(See also: Sivaloka , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

servitude: Condition of a slave subject to a master.

(See also: Servitude , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivanadiyar: (Tamil) "Slave of Siva." Conveys a mystic relationship between the devotee and Siva in which all spiritual, mental and physical actions are perceived as fulfilling the will and design of Siva.

See: karma yoga.

(See also: Sivanadiyar , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivananda: (Sanskrit) "Bliss of Siva."

See: Swami Sivananda.

(See also: Sivananda , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivasayujya: (Sanskrit) "Intimate union with Siva." Becoming one with God.

The state of perpetual Siva consciousness; simultaneous perception of the inner and the outer. A permanent state of oneness with Siva, even in the midst of ordinary activities, the aftermath or plateau which comes after repeated Self Realization experiences.

Rishi Tirumular says: "Sayujya is the state of jagratita - the 'Beyond Consciousness.' Sayujya is to abide forever in upashanta, the peace that knows no understanding. Sayujya is to become Siva Himself. Sayujya is to experience the infinite power of inward bliss forever and ever (Tirumantiram 1513)."

In many Hindu schools of thought it is the highest attainment. It dawns when the kundalini resides coiled in the sahasrara chakra.

See: jivanmukti, kaivalya, kundalini, moksha.

(See also: Sivasayujya , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivaratri: (Sanskrit) "Night of Siva."

See: Mahasivaratri.

(See also: Sivaratri , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivanubhava Mandapa: (Sanskrit) The "hall of Siva experience," where the Vira Saivites gathered to develop the basic doctrines of the movement in the 12th century.

(See also: Sivanubhava Mandapa , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivaness: Quality of being Siva or like Siva, especially sharing in His divine state of consciousness.

See: samarasa, Siva consciousness, Sivasayujya.

(See also: Sivaness , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

seva: (Sanskrit) "Service." Karma yoga.

An integral part of the spiritual path, where the aspirant strives to serve without thought of reward or personal gain. The central practice of the charya pada.

See: yoga.

(See also: Seva , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivalaya: (Sanskrit) The holy Siva temple. "Siva's house or dwelling (alaya)."

See: temple.

(See also: Sivalaya , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivachaitanya: (Sanskrit) "God consciousness."

See: Siva consciousness.

(See also: Sivachaitanya , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Siva Sutra (Siva Sutras): (Sanskrit) The seminal or seed scripture of Kashmir Saivism, 77 aphorisms revealed to Sage Vasugupta (ca 800).

See: Vasugupta.

(See also: Siva Sutra( , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Siva: (Sanskrit) "The auspicious, gracious or kindly one."

Supreme Being of the Saivite religion. God Siva is All and in all, simultaneously the creator and the creation, both immanent and transcendent. As personal Deity, He is creator, preserver and destroyer. He is a one being, perhaps best understood in three perfections: Parameshvara (Primal Soul), Parashakti (pure consciousness) and Parasiva (Absolute Reality).

See: Ishta Devata, Parameshvara, Parashakti, Parasiva, Nataraja, Sadasiva, Saivism, Satchidananda.

(See also: Siva , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

shakahara: (Sanskrit) "Vegetarian diet." From shaka, "vegetable;" and ahara, "eating; taking food."

See: meateater, vegetarian, vegetarianism, yama-niyama.

(See also: Shakahara , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sikhism: "Discipleship." Religion of nine million members founded in India about 500 years ago by the saint Guru Nanak. A reformist faith which rejects idolatry and the caste system, its holy book is the Adi Granth, and main holy center is the Golden Temple of Amritsar.

See: Adi Granth.

(See also: Sikhism , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

shabda kosha: (Sanskrit) "Sheath of sounds, or words." Vocabulary; a dictionary or glossary of terms.

(See also: Shabda kosha , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

seval: (Tamil) The large, red, fighting rooster (kukkuta in Sanskrit) that adorns Lord Murugan's flag, heralding the dawn of wisdom and the conquest of the forces of ignorance.

See: Karttikeya.

(See also: Seval , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sivakarnamrita: (Sanskrit) A text by Appaya Dikshita (15541626) written to reestablish the superiority of God Siva in the face of widespread conversion to Vaishnavism.

See: Appaya Dikshita.

(See also: Sivakarnamrita , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)