grantha: (Sanskrit) Literally, "knot," a common name for book.

A term thought to refer to the knot on the cord that bound ancient palm-leaf or birch-bark manuscripts. Books are afforded deep respect in Hinduism, always carefully treated, never placed directly on the floor.

Special books are not uncommonly objects of worship. Grantha also names an ancient literary script developed in South India.

See: olai.

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

granthavidya: (Sanskrit) "Book knowledge." Bibliography; booklist, recommended reading.

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

grihastha: (Sanskrit) "Householder."

Family man or woman. Family of a married couple and other relatives. Pertaining to family life. The purely masculine form of the word is grihasthi. The feminine form is grihasthin.

Grihasthi also names the home itself.

See: ashrama dharma, extended family, grihastha dharma, joint family.

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

grihastha ashrama: (Sanskrit) "Householder stage."

See: ashrama dharma.

(See also: Grihastha ashrama, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

grihastha dharma: (Sanskrit) "Householder law."

The virtues and ideals of family life. This dharma includes all nonmonastics, whether married, single or gay. In general, grihastha dharma begins with the completion of the period of studentship and extends throughout the period of raising a family (called the grihastha ashrama).

Specific scriptures, called Dharma Shastras and Grihya Shastras, outline the duties and obligations of family life.

In Hinduism, family life is one of serving, learning and striving within a close-knit community of many relatives forming a joint family and its broader connections as an extended family under the aegis of a spiritual guru. Each is expected to work harmoniously to further the wealth and happiness of the family and the society, to practice religious disciplines and raise children of strong moral fiber to carry on the tradition.

Life is called a jivayajna, "self-sacrifice," for each incarnation is understood as an opportunity for spiritual advancement through fulfilling one's dharma of birth, which is the pattern one chose before entering this world, a pattern considered by many as bestowed by God.

In the majority of cases, sons follow in the footsteps of their father, and daughters in those of their mother. All interrelate with love and kindness. Respect for all older than oneself is a keynote. Marriages are arranged and the culture is maintained.

The householder strives to fulfill the four purusharthas, "human goals" of righteousness, wealth, pleasure and liberation. While taking care of one's own family is most central, it is only part of this dharma's expectations.

Grihasthas must support the religion by building and maintaining temples, monasteries and other religious institutions, supporting the monastics and disseminating the teachings.

They must care for the elderly and feed the poor and homeless. Of course, the duties of husband and wife are different. The Tirukural describes the householder's central duties as serving these five: ancestors, God, guests, kindred and himself. The Dharma Shastras, similarly, enjoin daily sacrifice to rishis, ancestors, Gods, creatures and men.

See: ashrama dharma, extended family, joint family, yajna.

(See also: Grihastha dharma, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

griheshvara and grihini: (Sanskrit) From griha, "home," hence "lord and lady of the home."

The family man, griheshvara (or grihapati), and family woman, grihini, considered as master and mistress of their respective realms, so they may fulfill their purusha and stri dharmas. Implies that both of their realms are equally important and inviolable.

See: dharma.

(See also: Griheshvara and grihini, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

gaja: (Sanskrit) The elephant, king of beasts, representative of Lord Ganesha and sign of royalty and power.

Many major Hindu temples keep one or more elephants.

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

galactic: Of or pertaining to our galaxy, the Milky Way (from the Greek gala, "milk") and/or other galaxies.

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

Gana, ganas: (Sanskrit) "Number," hence "throng, troop; retinue; a body of followers or attendants."

A troop of demigods- God Siva's attendants, devonic helpers under the supervision of Lord Ganesha.

See: Ganapati, Ganesha.

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

ganachara: (Sanskrit) Loyalty to the community. One of five Vira Saiva codes of conduct. Also, name of a Vira Saiva saint.

See: panchachara, Vira Saivism.

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

Ganapati: (Sanskrit) "Leader of the ganas." A surname of Ganesha.

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

Ganapati Upanishad: (Sanskrit) A later Upanishad on Lord Ganesha, not connected with any Veda; date of composition is unknown. It is a major scripture for the Ganapatians, a minor Hindu sect which reveres Ganesha as Supreme God and is most prevalent in India's Maharashtra state.

See: Ganesha.

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

Gandharvaveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of music." A class of ancient texts on music, song and dance. It is the Upaveda of the Sama Veda.

See: Upaveda.

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

Ganesha: (Sanskrit) "Lord of Categories." (From gan, "to count or reckon," and Isha, "lord.") Or: "Lord of attendants (gana)," synonymous with Ganapati.

Ganesha is a Mahadeva, the beloved elephant-faced Deity honored by Hindus of every sect. He is the Lord of Obstacles (Vighneshvara), revered for His great wisdom and invoked first before any undertaking, for He knows all intricacies of each soul's karma and the perfect path of dharma that makes action successful.

He sits on the muladhara chakra and is easy of access. Lord Ganesha is sometimes identified with the Rig Vedic God Brihaspati ("Lord of Prayer," the "Holy Word"), Rig Veda 2.23.1.

See: gana, Ganapati, Mahadeva.

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

Ganesha Visarjana: (Sanskrit) "Ganesha departure."

A parade usually occurring on the 11th day after Ganesha Chaturthi, in which the Ganesha murtis made for the occasion are taken in procession to a body of water and ceremoniously immersed and left to dissolve. This represents Ganesha's merging with the ocean of consciousness.

See: Ganesha.

(See also: Ganesha Visarjana, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Ganges (Ganga): (Sanskrit)

India's most sacred river, 1,557 miles long, arising in the Himalayas above Hardwar under the name Bhagiratha, and named Ganga after joining the Alakanada (where the Sarasvati is said to join them underground). It flows southeast across the densely populated Gangetic plain, joining its sister Yamuna (or Jumna) at Prayaga (Allahabad) and ending at the Bay of Bengal.

See: Gangetic Plain.

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

Gangetic Plain: The densely populated plain surrounding India's most sacred river, the Ganges (Ganga), an immense, fertile area of 300,000 square miles, 90 to 300 miles wide.

See: Ganges.

(See also: Gangetic Plain, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

garbha: (Sanskrit) "Womb; interior chamber." The inside or middle of anything.

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

garbhadhana: (Sanskrit) "Womb-placing." The rite of conception.

See: reincarnation, samskaras of birth.

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

garbhagriha: (Sanskrit) The "innermost chamber," sanctum sanctorum, of a Hindu temple, where the primary murti is installed. It is a small, cave-like room, usually made of granite stone, to which only priests are permitted access. Esoterically it represents the cranial chamber.

See: temple.

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

Gargya: (Sanskrit) One of the known disciples of Lakulisha.

See: Lakulisha.

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

guru-shishya system: (Sanskrit) "Master-disciple" system. An important education system of Hinduism whereby the teacher conveys his knowledge and tradition to a student.

Such knowledge, whether it be Vedic- Agamic art, architecture or spirituality, is imparted through the developing relationship between guru and disciple.

The principle of this system is that knowledge, especially subtle or advanced knowledge, is best conveyed through a strong human relationship based on ideals of the student's respect, commitment, devotion and obedience, and on personal instruction by which the student eventually masters the knowledge the guru embodies.

See: guru, guru bhakti, satguru.

(See also: Guru-shishya system, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)