Sivajnanabodham: (Sanskrit) "Treatise on Siva Wisdom."

A work authored (or, some believe, a portion of the Raurava Agama translated into Tamil) by Meykandar, ca 1300, consisting of 12 sutras describing the relationship between God, soul and world. The Meykandar Sampradaya revere it as their primary philosophical text, and consider it a pluralistic exposition. For others, it is monistic in character, the pluralistic interpretation being introduced by later commentators. Included in this important text is an acute commentary on each of the 12 sutras.

See: Meykandar Shastras.

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

Sivacharya: (Sanskrit) The hereditary priests of the Saiva Siddhanta tradition. The title of Adisaiva Brahmins.

An Adisaiva priest who has received the necessary training and dikshas to perform public Siva temple rites known as Agamic nitya parartha puja.

A fully qualified Sivacharya is also known as archaka. Sivacharya, too, names the family clan of this priest tradition.

See: Adisaiva. brahmin.

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

Siva Rakshamani Dipika: (Sanskrit) A purely nondual commentary and interpretation by Appaya Dikshita (15541626) on the writings of Srikantha.

See: Saivism.

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

Siddha Siddhanta: (Sanskrit) Siddha Siddhanta, also called Gorakhnatha Saivism, is generally considered to have come in the lineage of the earlier ascetic orders of India. Its most well-known preceptor was Gorakshanatha (ca 1000) a disciple of Matsyendranatha, patron saint of Nepal, revered by certain esoteric Buddhist schools as well as by Hindus.

The school systematized and developed the practice of hatha yoga to a remarkable degree. Indeed, nearly all of what is today taught about hatha yoga comes from this school. Among its central texts are Hatha Yoga Pradipika by Svatmarama, Gheranda Samhita, Siva Samhita and Jnanamrita. Siddha Siddhanta theology embraces both transcendent Siva (being) and immanent Siva (becoming). Siva is both the efficient and material cause of the universe. Devotion is expressed through temple worship and pilgrimage, with the central focus on internal worship and kundalini yoga, with the goal of realizing Parasamvid, the supreme transcendent state of Siva.

Today there are perhaps 750,000 adherents of Siddha Siddhanta Saivism, who are often understood as Shaktas or advaita tantrics. The school fans out through India, but is most prominent in North India and Nepal. Devotees are called yogis, and stress is placed on world renunciation - even for householders. This sect is also most commonly known as Natha, the Gorakshapantha and Siddha Yogi Sampradaya. Other names include Adinatha Sampradaya, Nathamatha and Siddhamarga.

See: Gorakshanatha.

(See also: Siddha Siddhanta , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Shankara: (Sanskrit) "Conferring happiness;" "propitious." An epithet of Siva.

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

Shankara: (Sanskrit) One of Hinduism's most extraordinary monks (788-820) and preeminent guru of the Smarta Sampradaya. Noted for his monistic philosophy of Advaita Vedanta, his many scriptural commentaries, and formalizing ten orders of sannyasins with pontifical headquarters at strategic points across India. He lived only 32 years, but traveled throughout India and transformed the Hindu world in that time.

See: Dashanami, Shankaracharya pitha, shanmata sthapanacharya, Smarta Sampradaya, Vedanta.

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

Shankaracharya pitha: (Sanskrit) Advaita monasteries established by Shankara (ca 788-820) as centers of Smarta authority in India, each with a distinct guru parampara and a reigning pontiff entitled Shankaracharya, and one of the four Upanishadic mahavakyas as a mantra.

• East coast: Govardhana Matha, in Puri (center of the Aranya and Vana orders). Himalayas: Jyotih Matha, near Badrinath (Giri, Parvata and Sagara orders).
• West coast: Sharada Matha, in Dvaraka (Tirtha and Ashrama orders).
• South: Sringeri Matha (Bharati, Puri and Sarasvati orders).

A fifth prominent pitha, associated with Sringeri Matha, is in Kanchipuram, also in the South.

See: Dashanami, Smarta, Shankara.

(See also: Shankaracharya pitha , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

shishya: (Sanskrit) "A pupil or disciple," especially one who has proven himself and has formally been accepted by a guru.

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

shloka: (Sanskrit) "Verse," from the verbal root, shlok,"to compose."

A verse, phrase, proverb or hymn of praise, usually in a specified meter. Especially a verse of two lines, each of sixteen syllables. Shloka is the primary verse form of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

See: bhashya, sutra.

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

shraddha: (Sanskrit) "Faith; belief."

See: pancha shraddha.

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

Shambhavopaya: (Sanskrit) "Way of Shambhu (Siva)."

See: upaya.

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

shrauta: (Sanskrit) "Related to hearing; audible." That which is prescribed by or conforms with the Vedas.

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

shraddhadharana: (Sanskrit) "Collection or concentration of faith or belief."

A term used in Dancing with Siva for creed, a concise synopsis of religious doctrine.

See: creed, faith.

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

Shandilya Upanishad: (Sanskrit) Belongs to the Atharva Veda. Discusses eight forms of yoga, restraints, observances, breath control, meditation and the nature of Truth.

(See also: Shandilya Upanishad , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

shanmata sthapanacharya: (Sanskrit) "Founder-teacher of the six-fold system."

A title conferred upon Adi Shankara while he was living. It refers to his attempt to consolidate the six main sects of Hinduism in nonsectarian unity, as represented by its altar of five (or six) Deities.

See: Smartism, panchayatana puja, Shankara.

(See also: Shanmata sthapanacharya , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

sheath: A covering or recepticle, such as the husk surrounding a grain of rice. In Sanskrit, it is kosha, philosophically the bodily envelopes of the soul.

See: kosha, soul, subtle body.

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

Shanmukha: (Sanskrit) "Six-faced."

A name for Lord Murugan or Karttikeya, denoting the multiplicity of His divine functions.

See: Karttikeya.

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

sharana: (Sanskrit) "Refuge."

See: Sivasharana, Vira Saivism.

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

sharira: (Sanskrit) "Body; husk."

Three bodies of the soul:

1)    sthula sharira, "gross or physical body" (also called annamaya kosha), the odic body;

2)    sukshma sharira, "subtle body" (also called linga sharira, it includes the pranamaya, manomaya and vijnanamaya koshas);

3)    karana sharira, "causal body" (also called anandamaya kosha), the actinic causal body.

Another term for sharira is deha.

See: deha, kosha, subtle body.

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

shashtyabda purti: (Sanskrit) "Sixtieth birthday celebration."

Done for the couple on the husband's birthday, usually with many family and friends attending. It consists in a homa, retaking of marriage vows and retying the wedding pendant.

(See also: Shashtyabda purti , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

shastri: (Sanskrit) One who is knowledgeable in shastra, or scriptures.

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

Shanmukha Gayatri: (Sanskrit) A Vedic Gayatri chant, the Savitri Gayatri modified to address Lord Karttikeya as Shanmukha "He of six faces."

(See also: Shanmukha Gayatri , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)