entourage: A group of accompanying attendants, associates or assistants.

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

entreat: To ask earnestly; to beseech, implore, plead or beg.

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

enthrall: To hold in a spell; captivate; fascinate.

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

enstasy: A term coined in 1969 by Mircea Eliade to contrast the Eastern view of bliss as "standing inside oneself" (enstasy) with the Western view as ecstasy, "standing outside oneself." A word chosen as the English equivalent of samadhi.

See: ecstasy, samadhi, raja yoga.

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

enshrine: To enclose in a shrine. To hold as sacred and worthy of worship.

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

emanation: To "flow out from." Abhasa. To come forth from a source, to be emitted or issued from. A monistic doctrine of creation whereby God issues forth manifestation like rays from the sun or sparks from a fire.

See: abhasa.

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

elusive: Tending to escape one's grasp or understanding. Hard to capture.

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

efficacious: Producing or capable of producing the desired effect.

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

efficient cause: Nimitta karana. That which directly produces the effect; that which conceives, makes, shapes, etc.

See: cause.

(See also: Efficient cause , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

ecumenical: General or universal. -

• ecumenism: the principles or practices of promoting worldwide cooperation and better understanding among differing denominations, especially among Christians. From the Greek oecumene, "the inhabited world."

A Christian term. The broader term interfaith is used by all religions striving for peace and harmony.

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

ecstasy (ecstatic): State of being overtaken by emotion such as joy or wonder. Literally, "standing outside oneself."

See: enstasy, samadhi.

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

equanimity: The quality of remaining calm and undisturbed. Evenness of mind; composure.

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

ecology: The science of relations between organisms and their environment.

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

effulgent: Bright, radiant; emitting its own light.

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

egalitarian: Equalitarian. Characterized by the belief in the equal sharing of powers, rights or responsibility among all people.

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

elixir: Hypothetical substance that would change any metal into gold or prolong life indefinitely.

An English term for soma, a magical beverage celebrated in ancient Vedic hymns and which played an important role in worship rites.

See: amrita.

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

elliptical: Having the shape of an ellipse (more or less egg-shaped).

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

eliminate: To remove; get rid of; reject.

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

eligible: Qualified; suitable; desirable.

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

ego: The external personality or sense of "I" and "mine." Broadly, individual identity. In Saiva Siddhanta and other schools, the ego is equated with the tattva of ahamkara, "Imaker," which bestows the sense of I-ness, individuality and separateness from God.

See: ahamkara, anava.

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

earrings: Decorative jewelry worn in the ears by Hindu women and many men. Yogis, especially those of the Natha tradition, wear large earrings to stimulate the psychic nadis connected to the ears. Traditionally, the ascetic Kanphatis ("split-eared ones") split the cartilage of their ears to accommodate massive earrings. Ear-piercing for earrings is said to bring health (right ear) and wealth (left ear).

See: Kanphati, samskaras of childhood.

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

equilibrium: Evenly balanced. A quality of good spiritual leadership. "Having attained an equilibrium of ida and pingala, he becomes a knower of the known."

See: jnana.

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