Mother Dictionary

Bapu and Amma:

Bapu and Amma: Father and mother (RRV-4)

(See also: Bapu and Amma , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ashvatthama

The son of Dronacharya who fought against the Pandavas at Kurukshetra. In a desperate act of revenge at the end of the battle, he killed the five young sons of the Pandavas in their sleep and tried to kill the last remaining heir, Parikshit, in his mother’s womb.

(See also: Ashvatthama , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Urja (Sanskrit) [from the verbal root urj to invigorate, refresh]

A daughter of Daksha who became the consort of Vasishtha and the mother of his seven celebrated sons.

(See also: Urja , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Maya: Name attributed to Gautama Siddharta's mother. More importantly, maya is translated as illusion, and is used to describe reality.

 (See also: Maya , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

TRIPLE GODDESS - Refer to MOTHER, MAIDEN, CRONE

(See also: TRIPLE GODDESS , Wiccan, Wicca, Witchery, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Sarasvati: (Sanskrit) "The flowing one." Shakti, the Universal Mother; Goddess of the arts and learning, mythological consort of the God Brahma.

Sarasvati, the river Goddess, is usually depicted wearing a white sari and holding a vina, sitting upon a swan or lotus flower. Prayers are offered to her for refinements of art, culture and learning.

Sarasvati also names one of seven sacred rivers (Sapta Sindhu) mentioned in the Rig Veda. Parts of the Indus Valley civilization thrived along the river until it dried up in 1900bce. Its course was lost and thought a myth by some until recently discovered in images taken by a French satellite. In addition, one of the ten dashanami swami orders is the Sarasvati.

See: Goddess, Shakti.

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

Gopis - the young cowherd maidens of Vraja headed by Srimati Radhika who serve Krsna in the mood of amorous love. This may also refer to the elderly gopis headed by mother Yasoda who serve Krsna in the mood of parental affection.

(See also: Gopis , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Suki (Sanskrit). A daughter of Rishi Kashyapa, wife of Garuda, the king of the birds, the vehicle of Vishnu; the mother of parrots, owls and crows.

(See also: Suki , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

Kayadhu

The wife of Hiranyakashipu and mother of Prahlada.

(See also: Kayadhu , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Omoroka (Greek) [from Chaldean, cf Hebrew `amaq to be deep, profound; Hebrew `amar to heap together, overwhelm; and Arabic `amar to overwhelm with water]

The deep, the ocean, whether physically or mystically; used in the Babylonian account of creation. One legend tells of Belus cutting Omoroka in two, from one part of which the heavens were formed, and from the other, the earth -- showing that Omoroka signifies space.

In Chaldean mythology, Omoroka was a woman personifying the spatial deeps, and therefore divine water or the productive Logos of all manifestation. It likewise became connected with the moon, being equivalent to Selene, and was often used as the manifested wisdom or spirit.

In The Secret Doctrine Omoroka (the moon) presides over the monstrous creation of nondescript beings slain by the dhyanis; and further, while the gods were generated in svabhavat (mother-space), the reflection of wisdom became on earth Omoroka -- the Chaldean Thalatth, the Greek Thalassa.

(See also: Omoroka , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Suki (Sanskrit) [from subh to shine]

A daughter of the rishi Kasyapa, wife of Garuda, the king of the birds and vehicle of Vishnu; the mythical mother of parrots, owls, and crows (VP 1:21). In some legends, the wife of Kasyapa.

(See also: Suki , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

KALA-SAKTI: Divine Mother manifesting as Time

(See also: KALA-SAKTI , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Isis. In Egyptian Issa, the goddess Virgin-Mother; personified nature. In Egyptian or Koptic Uasari, the female reflection of Uasar or Osiris. She is the "woman clothed with the sun" of the land of Chemi. Isis Latona is the Roman Isis.

(See also: Isis , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

Arelim (Hebrew) Plural, "signifying a collective host generically; literally, the 'strong lion' " (BCW 14:190); angelic name of Binah (or Jehovah) as the feminine third Sephirah or cosmic mother (also BCW 6:317).

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

Five Sins:

á      Killing one's father

á      or mother,

á      or an arhat;

á      shedding the blood of Buddha; and

á      destroying the harmony of the sangha.

 (See also: Five Sins , Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Shaktism (Shakta): (Sanskrit) "Doctrine of power."

The religion followed by those who worship the Supreme as the Divine Mother - Shakti or Devi - in Her many forms, both gentle and fierce. Shaktism is one of the four primary sects of Hinduism. Shaktism's first historical signs are thousands of female statuettes dated ca 5500 bce recovered at the Mehrgarh village in India.

In philosophy and practice, Shaktism greatly resembles Saivism, both faiths promulgating, for example, the same ultimate goals of advaitic union with Siva and moksha. But Shaktas worship Shakti as the Supreme Being exclusively, as the dynamic aspect of Divinity, while Siva is considered solely transcendent and is not worshiped. There are many forms of Shaktism, with endless varieties of practices which seek to capture divine energy or power for spiritual transformation.

Geographically, Shaktism has two main forms, the Srikula "family of the Goddess Sri (or Lakshmi)," which respects the brahminical tradition (a mainstream Hindu tradition which respects caste and purity rules) and is strongest in South India; and the Kalikula, "family of Kali," which rejects brahminical tradition and prevails in Northern and Eastern India.

Four major expressions of Shaktism are evident today: folkshamanism, yoga, devotionalism and universalism. Among the eminent mantras of Shaktism is: Aum Hrim Chandikayai Namah, "I bow to Her who tears apart all dualities." There are many varieties of folk Shaktism gravitating around various forms of the Goddess, such as Kali, Durga and a number of forms of Amman. Such worship often involves animal sacrifice and fire-walking, though the former is tending to disappear.

See: Amman, Goddess, Ishta Devata, Kali, Shakti, tantrism.

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

Great Mother. See CYBELE; MAGNA MATER; RHEA

(See also: Great Mother , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Ava-bodha (Sanskrit). "Mother of Knowledge." A title of Aditi.

(See also: Ava-bodha , Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary,)

THRICE BORN: an Initiate; a true Witch; born once from their mother, once from the Cauldron, and once from the God, dess.

(See also: THRICE BORN , Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Maya

1.    That which does not exist and is illusory. The glamors, illusions, or delusions perceived by limited mind.

2.    In Hindu tradition, the Great Cosmic force responsible for the phenomena of material existence.

3.    An ancient Mesoamerican high civilization of which little is known. The term Maya means "mother."

(See also: Maya , Body Mind and Soul)

Sanskrit dictionary. From Advaita to Yoga.

Please note that all words in grey, like "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

 Anjana:

the name of the mother of Hanuman

(See also:  Anjana , Body Mind and Soul)