Ajita Agama: (Sanskrit) Among the 28 Saiva Siddhanta Agamas, this scripture especially elucidates temple construction, worship and rules for installation of various Siva icons (murti). See: murti, Saiva Agamas.

(See also: Ajita Agama , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Aghorasiva: (Sanskrit) A Saivite philosopher of South India who in the 12th century founded a Siddhanta school emphasizing dualistic passages of the Agamas and other early texts. The later Meykandar pluralistic philosophy is based partly on Aghorasiva's teachings. See: dvaitaadvaita, dvaita Siddhanta, Saiva Siddhanta.

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

Aghora: (Sanskrit) "Nonterrifying." An aspect of Siva which, like Rudra, is the personification of His power of dissolution or reabsorption. Ghora means "terrific, frightful, terrible, etc." See: Sadasiva.

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

Adi Granth: (Sanskrit) "First book." The central Sikh scripture, compiled 16031604 from the writings of Sikh, Moslem and Hindu holy men, most importantly the beautiful hymns of adoration, called Japji, by Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru. In 1699, Gobind Singh, the tenth preceptor, decreed that the living succession would end with him, and this scripture would henceforth serve as Sikhism's guru. Its eloquent teachings are in harmony with Hinduism, but for the rejection of the Vedas and disavowal of image worship and caste. The Adi Granth is enshrined in all Sikh temples (gurudwaras). See: Sikhism.

(See also: Adi Granth , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Adinatha: (Sanskrit) "First Lord." A sage considered the first great preceptor (date unknown) of the Adinatha Sampradaya, a teaching tradition embodied in the Siddha Siddhanta sect of Saivism. See: Saivism, Natha.

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

aftermath: A result or consequence of a happening. The events or repercussions following an experience.

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

Agama: (Sanskrit) "That which has come down." An enormous collection of Sanskrit scriptures which, along with the Vedas, are revered as shruti (revealed scripture). Dating is uncertain. They were part of an oral tradition of unknown antiquity which some experts consider as ancient as the earliest Vedas, 5000 to 6000 bce. The Agamas are the primary source and authority for ritual, yoga and temple construction. Each of the major denominations - Saivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism - has its unique Agama texts. Smartas recognize the Agamas, but don't necessarily adhere to them and rely mainly on the smriti texts. See: Saiva Agamas, shruti.

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

affirmation of faith: A brief statement of one's faith and essential beliefs. See: anbe Sivamayam Satyame Parasivam.

(See also: Affirmation of faith , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

advocate: To write or speak in support of an idea, action or practice.

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

adversity: A condition of misfortune, poverty or difficulty.

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

Agastya: (Sanskrit) One of 18 celebrated Saiva siddhas (adepts), and accepted as the first grammarian of Tamil language. He is said to have migrated from North India to the South. His name appears in the Mahabharata, Ramayana and the Puranas and was known to ancient Indonesians. See: siddha.

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

agnikaraka: (Sanskrit) "Fire ritual." The Agamic term for yajna. See: yajna.

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

aikya: (Sanskrit) "Union, oneness." See: Vira Saivism.

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

ahimsa: (Sanskrit) "Noninjury," nonviolence or nonhurtfulness. Refraining from causing harm to others, physically, mentally or emotionally. Ahimsa is the first and most important of the yamas (restraints). It is the cardinal virtue upon which all others depend. See: yamaniyama.

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

ahamkara: (Sanskrit) "I-maker." Personal ego. The mental faculty of individuation; sense of duality and separateness from others. Sense of I-ness, "me" and "mine." Ahamkara is characterized by the sense of I-ness (abhimana), sense of mine-ness, identifying with the body (madiyam), planning for one's own happiness (mamasukha), brooding over sorrow (mamaduhkha), and possessiveness (mama idam). See: anava, ego, mind (individual mind).

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

anxiety: State of uneasiness, worry or apprehension. See: manas.

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

Advaita Vedanta: (Sanskrit) "Nondual end (or essence) of the Vedas." Names the monistic schools, most prominently that of Shankara, that arose from the Upanishads and related texts. See: Vedanta.

(See also: Advaita Vedanta , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Advaita Siddhanta: (Sanskrit) "Nondual perfect conclusions." Saivite philosophy codified in the Agamas which has at its core the nondual (advaitic) identity of God, soul and world. This monistic-theistic philosophy, unlike the Shankara, or Smarta view, holds that maya (the principle of manifestation) is not an obstacle to God Realization, but God's own power and presence guiding the soul's evolution to perfection. While Advaita Vedanta stresses Upanishadic philosophy, Advaita Siddhanta adds to this a strong emphasis on internal and external worship, yoga sadhanas and tapas. Advaita Siddhanta is a term used in South India to distinguish Tirumular's school from the pluralistic Siddhanta of Meykandar and Aghorasiva. This unified Vedic-Agamic doctrine is also known as Shuddha Saiva Siddhanta. It is the philosophy of this contemporary Hindu catechism. See: Advaita Ishvaravada, dvaitaadvaita, monistic theism, Saiva Siddhanta.

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

adore: To love greatly; to worship as divine. See: puja.

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

adorn: To put on ornaments or decorations to make more beautiful, attractive or distinguished. See: kala-64.

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

adopt: To recognize as one's own, especially an idea, principle, or even a religion and henceforth live with it and by it. See: conversion to Hinduism.

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

Adisaiva: (Sanskrit) A hereditary priest and teacher of the South Indian Saiva Siddhanta tradition; Saivite brahmins descended from the gotras of five rishis and who alone are entitled to conduct rites in Agamic Siva temples. Adisaiva and Sivacharya are synonyms for this hereditary priest lineage. See: Sivacharya.

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