Assam: (Sanskrit) Indian state in the northeast corner of the country, south of Bhutan, almost separated from the rest of India by Bangladesh. Area 30,000 square miles, population 21 million.

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

asteya: (Sanskrit) "Nonstealing." See: yama-niyama.

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

astral plane: The subtle world, or Antarloka, spanning the spectrum of consciousness from the vishuddha chakra in the throat to the patala chakra in the soles of the feet. The astral plane includes:

1)    the higher astral plane, Maharloka, "plane of balance;"

2)    mid-astral plane, Svarloka, "celestial plane;"

3)    lower astral plane, Bhuvarloka, "plane of atmosphere," a counterpart or subtle duplicate of the physical plane (consisting of the Pitriloka and Pretaloka); and

4)    the sub-astral plane, Naraka, consisting of seven hellish realms corresponding to the seven chakras below the base of the spine.

In the astral plane, the soul is enshrouded in the astral body, called sukshma sharira. See also: astral body, loka, Naraka, three worlds.

(See also: Astral plane , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

astral body: The subtle, nonphysical body (sukshma sharira) in which the soul functions in the astral plane, the inner world also called Antarloka. The astral body includes the pranic sheath (pranamaya kosha), the instinctive-intellectual sheath (manomaya kosha) and the cognitive sheath (vijnanamaya kosha) - with the pranic sheath dropping off at the death of the physical body. See: kosha, soul.

(See also: Astral body , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

astikya: (Sanskrit) "Faith." See: faith, shraddha, yamaniyama.

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

atman: (Sanskrit) "The soul; the breath; the principle of life and sensation." The soul in its entirety - as the soul body (anandamaya kosha) and its essence (Parashakti and Parasiva). One of Hinduism's most fundamental tenets is that we are the atman, not the physical body, emotions, external mind or personality. In Hindu scriptures, atman sometimes refers to the ego-personality, and its meaning must be determined according to context. The Atma Upanishad (13) describes atman, or purusha, as threefold: bahyatman, the outer or physical person; antaratman, the inner person, excluding the physical form, who perceives, thinks and cognizes; and Paramatman, the transcendent Self God within. See: Paramatman, kosha, soul.

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

atmartha puja: (Sanskrit) "Personal worship rite." Home puja. See: puja.

(See also: Atmartha puja , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Avantivarman: (Sanskrit) King of Kashmir (855883) during whose reign lived Kallata, one of the great exponents of Kashmir Saivism.

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

Auvaiyar: (Tamil) A woman saint of Tamil Nadu (ca 800 ce), devotee of Lord Ganesha and Karttikeya and one of the greatest literary figures in ancient India. As a young girl, she prayed to have her beauty removed so she would not be forced into marriage and could devote her full life to God. She was a great bhakta who wrote exquisite ethical works, some in aphoristic style and some in fourline verse. Among the most famous are Atti Chudi, Konrai Ventan, Ulaka Niti, Muturai, and Nalvali. Her Tamil primer is studied by children to this day. A second Saint Auvaiyar may have lived in the ninth century

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

authority: Influence, power or right to give commands, enforce obedience, take action or make final decisions.

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

avatara: (Sanskrit) "Descent." A God born in a human (or animal) body. A central concept of Shaktism, Smartism and Vaishnavism. See: incarnation, Ishta Devata, Vaishnavism.

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

avidya: (Sanskrit) Spiritual "ignorance." Wrongful understanding of the nature of reality. Mistaking the impermanent for the everlasting.

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

axiom: A rule or maxim that is universally accepted as true.

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

Ayyappan: (Tamil) The popular God of a recently formed sect that focuses on pilgrimage to the top of Sabarimalai, a sacred hill in Kerala, where He is said to appear at night as a divine light. Ayyappan is revered as a son of Vishnu and Siva (Hari-Hara putra). His vahana is the tiger.

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

ayurveda vaidya: (Sanskrit) A practitioner, or physician, of ayurveda.

(See also: Ayurveda vaidya , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

authenticity: Quality of being authentic, or genuine, trustworthy. Reliable.

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

austerity: Self-denial and discipline, physical or mental, performed for various reasons including acquiring powers, attaining grace, conquering the instinctive nature and burning the seeds of past karmas. Ranging from simple deprivations, such as foregoing a meal, to severe disciplines, called tapas, such as always standing, never sitting or lying down, even for sleep. See: penance, tapas.

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

attainment: Acquisition, achievement or realization through effort. Spiritual accomplishment. Saiva Siddhanta notes four primary levels of attainment: salokya (sharing God's world, the goal of charya), samipya (nearness to God, the goal of kriya), sarupya (likeness to God, the goal of yoga) and sayujya (union with God, the state of jnana). See: God Realization, pada, Self Realization, siddha yoga, siddhi.

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

atmosphere: The pervading or surrounding spirit or influence. General mood or environment. See: sannidhya. atone: To make amends or reconcile. See: absolution, papa, penance, sin.

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

atmasvarupa: (Sanskrit) "Nature of the soul." See: atman, soul.

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

attitude: Disposition. State of mind. Manner of carrying oneself. Manner of acting, thinking or feeling which reveals one's disposition, opinions and beliefs. See: conscience.

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

augural: Having to do with divination, prediction or interpreting omens.

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