upaya: (Sanskrit) "Means."

A term used in Kashmir Saivism to describe the means to move from individual into universal consciousness. anavopaya: "Individual, or limited means." Also called kriyopaya, the way of ritual worship, hatha yoga, concentration and yogic breathing. shaktopaya: "Way of power." Active inquiry through mental effort, emphasizing control of awareness, japa and meditation. shambhavopaya: "Way of Shambhu (Siva)." Also called ic�hopaya, "Way of will." Seeing Siva everywhere; surrender in God. anupaya: "Nomeans." Not really a means, but the goal of the first three upayas - the transcendent condition of Siva Consciousness. The spontaneous realization of the Self without effort. Also called pratyabhijna upaya, "way of recognition."

See: Kashmir Saivism.

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

Ujjain: (Sanskrit) A city on the Sipra River, one of the seven sacred Hindu cities; a traditional holy place of Saivism.

See: Rudrashambhu.

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

ultimate: Final, last. - Ultimate Reality: Final, highest Truth. God Siva's Absolute Reality, Parasiva.

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

Uma: (Sanskrit) "O do not."

A name for Shakti said to derive from the exclamation addressed to Parvati by her mother in the Siva Purana, beseeching her to not practice austerities.

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

unconnectedness: The quality of being separate, unrelated to or uninvolved.

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

uncreated: Not created, without origin. An attribute of God.

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

undecaying: Not decaying or deteriorating.

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

undifferentiated: Uniform. Same. Not having distinct or different elements.

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

unerring: Not making an error, sure. Exacting.

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

unpretentiousness: Modesty, humility. Not having false pride about oneself.

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

upasana: (Sanskrit) "Sitting near."

Worship or contemplation of God. One of the pancha nitya karmas. "five constant duties."

See: sandhya upasana.

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

unrepressed: Open and honest, not marked by thoughts or feelings that are hidden or held back. Not repressed, pushed back or controlled to excess. Free of subconscious impulses, compulsions and inhibitions.

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

unshrouded: Uncovered. Made visible or knowable.

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

unwind: To undo something wound, as to unwind the thread from a spool.

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

upa: (Sanskrit) A common prefix conveying the meanings: "towards, near to (as opposed to apa, away), by the side of, with, below."

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

upadesha: (Sanskrit) "Advice; religious instruction."

Often given in question-and-answer form from guru to disciple. The satguru's spiritual discourses.

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

Upagama: (Sanskrit) Secondary Agama.

A large body of texts and similar in character to the principle Agamas. Each of the 28 Siddhanta Saiva Agamas has as many as 16 Upagamas associated with it, giving more specific or elaborate information on the basic text; their total number is given as 207 or 208.

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

upagrantha: (Sanskrit) "Secondary text." Appendices or additional resources of a book.

See: Grantha.

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

upanayana: (Sanskrit) "Bringing near."

A youth's formal initiation into Vedic study under a guru, traditionally as a resident of his ashrama, and the investiture of the sacred thread (yajnopavita or upavita), signifying entrance into one of the three upper castes.

The upanayana is among twelve samskaras prescribed in the Dharma Shastras and explained in the Grihya Sutras. It is prescribed between ages 8-16 for brahmins (who received a white thread), 11- 22 for kshatriyas (red thread), and 12-24 for vaishyas (yellow thread). At present the color white for the sacred thread has been adopted universally.

The upanayana is regarded as a second or spiritual birth, and one so initiated is known as dvija, "twice-born." Until about the beginning of the common era, the upanayana was also afforded to girls. Great value was placed on their learning the Vedas in preparation for the duties of married life.

See: samskaras of childhood.

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