liberation: Moksha, release from the bonds of pasha, after which the soul is liberated from samsara (the round of births and deaths). In Saiva Siddhanta, pasha is the threefold bondage of anava, karma and maya, which limit and confine the soul to the reincarnational cycle so that it may evolve. Moksha is freedom from the fettering power of these bonds, which do not cease to exist, but no longer have the power to fetter or bind the soul.

See: mala, jivanmukti, moksha, pasha, reincarnation, satguru, Self Realization, soul.

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

For more dictionary entries, see » Maya Dictionary

Aja (Sanskrit) (from a not + the verbal root jan to be born, produced)

Unborn; title given to many of the primordial gods. In the Rig-Veda, the equivalent of the First Logos, which is a radiation or first manifestation on the plane of illusion of the cosmic One -- the Absolute or cosmic paramatman. The Purusha-Sukta or Hymn of Man (RV 10:90) states that the thousand-headed Purusha is dismembered at the foundation of the world so that from his remains the universe might arise. This is the foundation of the later Christian symbol of the sacrificial lamb, for there is here a play on words: Aja the "unborn" -- Purusha or manvantaric spirit -- may also be derived from the verbal root aj (to drive, propel), whose meanings include a he-goat, a ram, and the sign Aries. Spirit disappears -- dies, metaphorically -- the more it becomes involved in cosmic matter, and hence the sacrifice of the unborn, the lamb, or the ram (cf TBL 56).

Aja when derived from the verbal root aj, is also a title given to various Vedic divinities such as Rudra, Indra, Angi, the sun, the maruts, and in post-Vedic works to Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, as well as to cosmic Kama, counterpart of the Greek cosmic Eros -- all these gods being considered leaders of their respective hierarchies in the sense of urging, driving, or propelling life and intelligence therein.

In its feminine form, aja signifies maya (illusion) and hence prakriti (evolving nature).

(See also: Aja , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Maya Dictionary

jiva: (Sanskrit) "Living, existing." From jiv, "to live."

The individual soul, atman, during its embodied state, bound by the three malas (anava, karma and maya). The jivanmukta is one who is "liberated while living."

See: atman, evolution of the soul, jivanmukta, purusha, soul.

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

For more dictionary entries, see » Maya Dictionary

Annunciation Announcing; in Christianity, the foretelling to Mary of Jesus' birth by the angel Gabriel, celebrated on Lady Day, March 25. The fire and lamps used in this ceremony apparently point back to the marriage of Vulcan with Venus, to the Magi watching over the sacred fire in the East, to the Vestal Virgins in the West, and to the marriage of Father Sun with Mother Nature.

Some parallels from other religions are the luminous San-tusita (Bodhisat) appearing to Maya and announcing the coming birth of Gautama Buddha; the Hindu legend that there would be born the son of the Virgin (Krishna), the date of whose death marked the beginning of kali yuga; and in Egypt where scenes of an annunciation appear in the temple of Luxor.

(See also: Annunciation , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Maya Dictionary

Benjamin Lee Whorf (April 24, 1897 – July 26, 1941) was an American linguist. Born in Winthrop, Massachusetts, the son of Harry and Sarah (Lee) Whorf, Benjamin Lee Whorf graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1918 with a degree in chemical engineering and shortly afterwards began work as a fire prevention engineer (inspector) for the Hartford Fire Insurance Company, pursuing li ...

Including:

• Benjamin Whorf - External link

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Bonampak is an ancient Maya site in the state of Chiapas, Mexico, about 30km (20 miles) south of the larger site of Yaxchilan and the border with Guatemala. It is small Maya site, which was a dependency of Yaxchilan. All of the structures seem to have been built in the period from about 580 to 800. Bonampak was rediscovered in 1946 by photographer Giles Healy, who was led to it by the nomadic Lacandon Maya who still visited the site to pray in the ancient temples. Bonampak contains several medium-sized temples around a plaza, along with a few well carved stelae, but is ...

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Ekam-The Ultimate Oneness Vethan-The Creator Thirumal-The Maintainer Sivan-The Destroyer Vaikundar-The Incarnation The Trinity Akilattirattu Ammanai Vinchai to Vaikundar Thirukkalyana Ekanai Arul Nool Thalaimaippathi Pathis Nizhal Thangals Ayyavazhi Publications Ayyavazhi movements Mai ...

Including:

• Tatvas - Pancha Bhutam - 5
• Tatvas - Gnanendrya - 5
• Tatvas - Kanmendriya - 5
• Tatvas - Thanmaathrai - 5
• Tatvas - Anthakarana - 4
• Tatvas - Naadi - 10
• Tatvas - Aatara - 6
• Tatvas - Thathu - 7
• Tatvas - Vayu - 10
• Tatvas - Kosa - 5
• Tatvas - Navaduwaram - 9
• Tatvas - Vikara - 8
• Tatvas - Mandala - 3
• Tatvas - Pini - 3
• Tatvas - Guna - 3
• Tatvas - Mala - 3
• Tatvas - Avastha - 5

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In Hinduism, Vasudeva is the father of Krishna, Balarama and Subhadra. His wives are Rohini and Devaki. Alternatively, Vasudeva is another name for Vishnu and appears as the 332nd, 695th, and 709th names of Vishnu in the Vishnu sahasranama. Vasudeva - Etymology. According to Adi Sankara' s commentary on the Vishnu sahasranama, Vasudeva means One who is both Vasu and Deva. Vasu means "one who dwells in everything," or, "one who covers everything." Div can mean to play, to ...

Including:

• Vasudeva - Etymology

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Ayyavazhi mythology is the mythology of the growing South Indian religious faith and officially an offshoot of Hinduism known as Ayyavazhi. The main source of Ayyavazhi mythology is the Ayyavazhi scripture, Akilattirattu Ammanai, and its supplement, Arul Nool. The Akilattirattu Ammanai is a recitation by Mayon (the Tamil name for Vishnu, or Lord Narayana) to his consort Lakshmi. It is divided into three sections: pre-incarnational e ...

Including:

• Ayyavazhi mythology -
  Pre-incarnational events
• Ayyavazhi mythology - The first six Yugas
• Ayyavazhi mythology - The Santror
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Kalineesan Kali Yuga and Kalimayai
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Thirumal in Thiruvananthapuram
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Incarnational events
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Preparing for incarnation
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Mayon — on the identity of his people
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Final admonition through Thiruvasakam
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Deciding to incarnate as Vaikundar
• Ayyavazhi mythology - The incarnation
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Post-incarnational events
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Vaikundar's emergence out of the sea
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Vaikundar's journey to Detchanam
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Tavam
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Burning of the demons
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Seizing the power of magic witchcraft sorcery trickery etc.
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Exhortations
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Vaikundar's trial
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Thuvayal Thavasu
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Marriage with the Seven Virgins
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Festivals and celebrations
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Vaikundar as the Reigning King
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Marriage with the Deities
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Ascending to Vaikundam the abode of Thirumal
• Ayyavazhi mythology - Dharma Yukam [The final victory]

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Tzolkin (or tzolk'in, in the revised orthography which is now preferred) is the name bestowed by Mayanist scholars upon the version of the 260-day Mesoamerican calendar which was used by the Maya civilization. The tzolk'in is the most fundamental and widely-attested of all the Maya calendars, and was a pre-eminent component in the society and rituals of the ancient Maya. The tzolk'in calendar remains in use amongst several ...

Including:

• Tzolkin - Tzolk'in table of named days

Read more here: » Tzolkin: Encyclopedia - Tzolkin

The ancient Aztecs employed a variety of entheogenic plants and animals within their society. The various species have been identified through their depiction on murals, vases, and other objects. The plants used include ololiuqui (Rivea corymbosa), teonanácatl (Psilocybe spp.), sinicuichi (Heimia salicifolia), toloatzin (Datura spp.), peyotl (Lophophora williamsii) and many others. Aztec Entheogenic Complex - History. There are many pieces of archaeological evidence in reference ...

Including:

• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - History
• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - Ololiuqui and Tlitliltzin
• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - Teoanácatl
• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - Sinicuichi
• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - Tlapatl and Mixitl
• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - Peyotl
• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - Pipiltzintzintli
• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - Picietl
• Aztec Entheogenic Complex - Sources

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The Aztecs were a Mesoamerican people of central Mexico in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries. They were a civilization with a rich mythology and cultural heritage. Their capital was Tenochtitlan, built on raised islets in Lake Texcoco – the site of modern-day Mexico City. Aztec - Terminology. In Nahuatl, the native language of the 'Aztec', "Azteca" means "someone who comes from Aztlán", a mythical place in northern Mexico. However, the Aztec referred to themselves as Mexica (IPA Including:

• Aztec - Terminology
• Aztec - Legends and traditions
• Aztec - Rise of the Aztecs
• Aztec - The Empire
• Aztec - Aztec society
• Aztec - Class structure
• Aztec - Slavery
• Aztec - Recreation
• Aztec - Tenochtitlan
• Aztec - Education
• Aztec - Diet
• Aztec - Human sacrifice
• Aztec - Poetry
• Aztec - Downfall
• Aztec - Sources

Read more here: » Aztec: Encyclopedia - Aztec

Becán is the name of an ancient Maya site. Becán is located near the center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the state of Campeche, Mexico, about 150 km north of Tikal. Archeological evidence shows that Becán was occupied in the middle Pre-Classic period (see: Mesoamerican chronology), about 550 BC, and grew to a major population and ceremonial center a few hundred years later in the late Preclassic. The population and scale of construction declined in the early classic (c 250), although it was still a significant site, ...

Read more here: » Becán: Encyclopedia - Becán

Belmopan, estimated population 7,000, is the capital of Belize. Belmopan is located at 17°15′N 88°46′W, at an altitude of 76 meters above sea level. Belmopan was constructed just to the east of Belize River, 80 km (50 miles) inland from the former capital, the port of Belize City, after that city's near destruction by a hurricane in 1961. The government was moved to Belmopan in 1970. The National Assembly Building is designed to resemble a Pre-Columbian Maya temple. Belmopan is located off of the Hummingbird Highway, one ...

Including:

• Belmopan - History
• Belmopan - Social and community activities
• Belmopan - Educational institutions
• Belmopan - Cultural
• Belmopan - Economics
• Belmopan - Government

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Rubber is an elastic hydrocarbon polymer which occurs as a milky emulsion (known as latex) in the sap of a number of plants but can also be produced synthetically. Synthetic Rubber comprises the polymerisation of a variety of monomers to produce polymers. These form part of a broad study covered by Polymer Science and Rubber Technology. The major commercial source of natural latex used to create rubber is the Para rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis (Euphorbiaceae). This is largely because it responds to woundi ...

Including:

• Rubber - History
• Rubber - Current sources of rubber

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Mu is the name of a Lost Land, or hypothetical vanished continent, located in the Pacific Ocean but now, like Atlantis and Lemuria, believed to have sunk beneath the waters. Current knowledge of the mechanisms of plate tectonics rules out the possibility of a major continent having existed in the Pacific. Continental masses are composed of the lighter SiAl (silicon/aluminium) type rocks which literally float on the heavier SiMg (silicon/magnesium) rocks which constitute ocean bottoms. The Pacific basin is noticeab ...

Including:

• Mu lost continent - Le Plongeon and Churchward
• Mu lost continent - Other authors
• Mu lost continent - Mu in politics
• Mu lost continent - Mu in the arts

Read more here: » Mu lost continent: Encyclopedia - Mu lost continent

Athanasius Kircher (sometimes spelt Kirchner) (May 2, 1601?–27 November 1680) was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who published around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology and medicine. He made an early study of Egyptian hieroglyphs. One of the first people to observe microbes through a microsocope, he was thus ahead of his time in proposing that the plague was caused by an infectious microorganism and in suggesting effective measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Other contributions include his invention of the magic lantern which ...

Including:

• Athanasius Kircher - Life
• Athanasius Kircher - Works
• Athanasius Kircher - Egyptology
• Athanasius Kircher - Sinology
• Athanasius Kircher - Geology
• Athanasius Kircher - Medicine
• Athanasius Kircher - Other
• Athanasius Kircher - Influence
• Athanasius Kircher - Bibliography

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The Usumacinta River in southeastern Mexico and northwestern Guatemala, formed by the junction of the Pasión River, which arises in the Sierra de Santa Cruz (in Guatemala) and the Salinas River, also known as the Chixoy, or the Negro, which descends from the Sierra Madre de Guatemala, defines part of the border between the Mexican state of Chiapas and Guatemala. It then continues its northwesterly course, meandering through the Mexican state of Tabasco to the Gulf of Mexico. This river is the northwestern boundary line between Guatemala and Mexico. It is also the only visible natural ...

Read more here: » Usumacinta River: Encyclopedia - Usumacinta River

Quetzalcoatl ("feathered snake", in Nahuatl: Ketsalkoatl, in Spanish: Quetzalcóatl) is the Nahuatl name for the Feathered-Serpent deity of ancient Mesoamerica, one of the main gods of many Mexican and northern Central American civilizations. Quetzalcoatl - Antecedents. The name "Quetzalcoatl" literally means quetzal-bird snake or serpent with feathers (Amphitere) of the Quetzal (which implies something divine or precious) in the Nahuatl language. The meaning of his local name in ...

Including:

• Quetzalcoatl - Antecedents
• Quetzalcoatl - Origins
• Quetzalcoatl - The cult
• Quetzalcoatl - Moctezuma Controversy
• Quetzalcoatl - Atributes
• Quetzalcoatl - In archeology
• Quetzalcoatl - Modern media

Read more here: » Quetzalcoatl: Encyclopedia - Quetzalcoatl

Techniques - Utensils Weights and measures Spices and Herbs Sauces - Soups - Desserts Cheese - Pasta - Bread Other ingredients Africa - Asia - Caribbean South Asian - Latin America Middle East - The West Other cuisines... Famous chefs Kitchens - Meals Wikibooks: Cookbook Mexican food is a style of food that originated in Mexico. Mexican cuisine is known for its intense and varied flavors, colorful decoration, and the variety of ...

Including:

• Mexican cuisine - Traditional dishes
• Mexican cuisine - Mexican adaptations

Read more here: » Mexican cuisine: Encyclopedia - Mexican cuisine

A sauna, the wet version also called steam bath, is a small room or house designed as a place to experience dry or wet heat sessions, or an establishment with one or more of these and auxiliary facilities, or the act of using a sauna. Taking a sauna is usually a social affair in which the participants disrobe and sit or recline in temperatures of over 80 °C (176 °F). This induces relaxation and promotes sweating. It is believed by some that heavy sweating helps to remove 'toxins' from the body.[citation needed]Including:

• Sauna - Finnish sauna customs
• Sauna - Saunas and sex
• Sauna - Modern sauna culture around the world

Read more here: » Sauna: Encyclopedia - Sauna

Beginning with Vedantic Hindu philosophy, the Ātman — Sanskrit (masculine nominative singular: Ātmā) is regarded as an underlying metaphysical self. It is first seen in its current Hindu usage in the Upanishads, some of which date back to 1000 BC. The word “Atman” (pronounced in Sanskrit like “Atma”) is interpreted by some schools as the “Main Essence” of man, as his Highest Self. “A” in this word is a negative particle. One popular, albeit apocryphal, etymology has it that the 'tma' of "atma" “Tma” mea ...

Including:

• Atman Hinduism - Non-technical uses of ātman
• Atman Hinduism - Buddhism

Read more here: » Atman Hinduism: Encyclopedia - Atman Hinduism