Hinduism Dictionary - M

multitude: A very large number of things or people.

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

muni: (Sanskrit) "Sage."

A sage or sadhu, especially one vowed to complete silence or who speaks but rarely and who seeks stillness of mind. A hermit. The term is related to mauna, "silence." In the hymns of the Rig Veda, munis are mystic shamans associated with the God Rudra.

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

murti: (Sanskrit) "Form; manifestation, embodiment, personification." An image or icon of God or one of the many Gods used during worship. Murtis range from aniconic (avyakta, "nonmanifest"), such as the Sivalinga, to vyakta "fully manifest," e.g., anthropomorphic images such as Nataraja. In-between is the partially manifest (vyaktavyakta), e.g., the mukha linga, in which the face of Siva appears on the Sivalinga.

Other Deity representations include symbols, e.g., the banyan tree, and geometric designs such as yantras and mandalas. Another important term for the Deity icon or idol is pratima, "reflected image."

See: aniconic, Ishta Devata, teradi.

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

monastic: A monk or nun (based on the Greek monos, "alone"). A man or woman who has withdrawn from the world and lives an austere, religious life, either alone or with others in a monastery. (Not to be confused with monistic, having to do with the doctrine of monism.)

Terms for Hindu monastics include sadhaka, sadhu, muni, tapasvin, vairagi, udasin and sannyasin. (Feminine: sadhika, sadhvi, muni, tapasvini, vairagini, and sannyasini.) A monastery-dweller is a mathavasi, and sadhu is a rough equivalent for mendicant.

See: monk, sannyasin, sannyasini, vairagi.

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

monism: "Doctrine of oneness."

1)    The philosophical view that there is only one ultimate substance or principle.

2)    The view that reality is a unified whole without independent parts.

See: dvaita-advaita, pluralism, monotheism, polytheism

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

monk: A celibate man wholly dedicated to religious life, either cenobitic (residing with others in a monastery) or anchoritic (living alone, as a hermit or mendicant). Literally, "one who lives alone" (from the Greek monos, "alone").

Through the practice of yoga, the control and transmutation of the masculine and feminine forces within himself, the monk is a complete being, free to follow the contemplative and mystic life toward realization of the Self within. Benevolent and strong, courageous, fearless, not entangled in the thoughts and feelings of others, monks are affectionately detached from society, defenders of the faith, kind, loving and ever-flowing with timely wisdom. A synonym for monastic. Its feminine counterpart is nunk.

See: monastic, sannyasin, nunk.

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

monotheism: "Doctrine of one God."

Contrasted with polytheism, meaning belief in many Gods. The term monotheism covers a wide range of philosophical positions, from exclusive (or pure) monotheism, which recognizes only one God (such as in Semitic faiths), to inclusive monotheism, which also accepts the existence of other Gods.

Generally speaking, the sects of Hinduism are inclusively monotheistic in their belief in a one Supreme God, and in their reverence for other Gods, or Mahadevas. However, such terms which arose out of Western philosophy do not really describe the fullness of Hindu thinking. Realizing this, the author of The Vedic Experience, Raimundo Panikkar, has offered a new word: cosmotheandrism, "world-God-man doctrine," which describes a philosophy that views God, soul and world (Pati, pashu, pasha) as an integrated, inseparable unity.

See: Advaita Ishvaravada, monistic theism, Pati-pashupasha, polytheism.

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

mortal: Subject to death. Opposite of immortal.

See: amrita, death.

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

mudra: (Sanskrit) "Seal."

Esoteric hand gestures which express specific energies or powers. Usually accompanied by precise visualizations, mudras are a vital element of ritual worship (puja), dance and yoga.

Among the bestknown mudras are:

1)    abhaya mudra (gesture of fearlessness), in which the fingers are extended, palm facing forward;

2)    anjali mudra (gesture of reverence);

3)    jnana mudra (also known as chin mudra and yoga mudra), in which the thumb and index finger touch, forming a circle, with the other fingers extended;

4)    dhyana mudra (seal of meditation), in which the two hands are open and relaxed with the palms up, resting on the folded legs, the right hand atop the left with the tips of the thumbs gently touching.

See: abhaya mudra, anjali mudra, hatha yoga, namaskara.

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

muhurta: (Sanskrit) "Moment."

1)    A period of time.

2)    A certain division of a day or night.

-       Muhurtas vary slightly in length as the lengths of days and nights change through the year. There are at least three muhurta systems.

-       The first defines one muhurta as 1/8th of a day or night (= 1.5 hours in a 12-hour night),

-       the second as 1/15th of a day or night (= 48 minutes), and

-       the third as 1/16th of a day or night (= 45 minutes).

3)    Muhurta also refers to the astrological science of determining the most auspicious periods for specific activities.

See: brahma muhurta, auspiciousness, sandhya upasana.

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

meritorious: Having merit, deserving of praise or reward.

See: punya.

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

mesmerizing: Hypnotizing; spell-binding; fascinating.

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

metamorphosis: Complete transformation, as in a caterpillar's becoming a butterfly.

See: kundalini, reincarnation.

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

metaphysics:

1)    The branch of philosophy dealing with first causes and nature of reality.

2)    The science of mysticism.

See: darshana, mysticism.

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

Meykandar: (Tamil) "Truth seer."

The 13th-century Tamil theologian, author (or translator from the Raurava Agama) of the Sivajnanabodham. Founder of the Meykandar Sampradaya of pluralistic Saiva Siddhanta.

See: Saiva Siddhanta, Sivajnanabodham.

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

milestone: An event which serves as a significant marker in the progress of a project, history, etc.

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

milieu: Environment; social or cultural setting.

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

mean: As a verb: "to signify." As an adjective: base, lowminded; selfish.

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

mediatrix: A go-between, intermediary or reconciler between two parties. The feminine form of the term mediator.

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

meditation: Dhyana. Sustained concentration.

Meditation describes a quiet, alert, powerfully concentrated state wherein new knowledge and insights are awakened from within as awareness focuses one-pointedly on an object or specific line of thought.

See: internalized worship, raja yoga, Satchidananda, mantra, mantra yoga.

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

mediumship: Act or practice of serving as a channel through which beings of inner worlds communicate with humans.

See: folk-shamanic, trance.

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

mendicant: A beggar; a wandering monk, or sadhu, who lives on alms.

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