Advaita Vedanta: (Sanskrit) "Nondual end (or essence) of the Vedas." Names the monistic schools, most prominently that of Shankara, that arose from the Upanishads and related texts. See: Vedanta.

(See also: Advaita Vedanta, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Advaita Vedanta: (Sanskrit) "Nondual end (or essence) of the Vedas." Names the monistic schools, most prominently that of Shankara, that arose from the Upanishads and related texts. See: Vedanta.

(See also: Advaita Vedanta, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Viveka Chudamani: (Sanskrit) "Crest jewel of discrimination."

A famous text by Shankara (788-820) on discipline and discrimination between the real and the unreal as the way to God.

(See also: Viveka Chudamani, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Viveka Chudamani: (Sanskrit) "Crest jewel of

discrimination." A famous text by Shankara (788-820) on

discipline and discrimination between the real and the

unreal as the way to God.

(See also: Viveka Chudamani, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

The matha's official history states that it was founded by Adi Shankara of Kaladi, and that His Holiness Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamigal is its 69th head in succession. A related claim is that Shankara came to Kanchipuram, and that he established the Kanchi matha in a position of supremacy over the other mathas of the subcontinent, before his death there. [1] [2] This claim is disputed. Alternative accounts state that the matha was established much more recently in Kumbakonam, as a branch of the Sringeri matha, and that it later decla ...

See also:

Kanchi matha, Kanchi matha - History, Kanchi matha - Guru parampara

Read more here: » Kanchi matha: Encyclopedia II - Kanchi matha - History

Smartism: (Sanskrit) Sect based on the secondary scriptures (smriti).

The most liberal of the four major Hindu denominations, an ancient Vedic brahminical tradition (ca 700 bce) which from the 9th century onward was guided and deeply influenced by the Advaita Vedanta teachings of the reformist Adi Shankara. Its adherents rely mainly on the classical smriti literature, especially the Itihasas (Ramayana and Mahabharata, the latter of which includes the Bhagavad Gita), Puranas and Dharma Shastras. These are regarded as complementary to and a means to understanding the Vedas. Smartas adhere to Shankara's view that all Gods are but various depictions of Saguna Brahman. Thus, Smartas are avowedly eclectic, worshiping all the Gods and discouraging sectarianism.

The Smarta system of worship, called panchayatana puja, reinforces this outlook by including the major Deity of each primary Hindu sect of ancient days: Ganesha, Surya, Vishnu, Siva and Shakti. To encompass a sixth important lineage, Shankara recommended the addition of a sixth Deity, Kumara. Thus he was proclaimed shanmata sthapanacharya, founder of the six-fold system. One among the six is generally chosen as the devotee's preferred Deity, Ishta Devata. For spiritual authority, Smartas look to the regional monasteries established across India by Shankara, and to their pontiffs. These are the headquarters of ten orders of renunciate monks who spread the Advaita Vedanta teachings far and wide. Within Smartism three primary religious approaches are distinguished: ritualistic, devotional and philosophical.

See: dashanami, panchayatana puja, Shankara.

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

Dashanami: (Sanskrit) "Ten names."

Ten monastic orders organized by Adi Shankara (ca 800): Aranya, Vana, Giri, Parvata, Sagara, Tirtha, Ashrama, Bharati, Puri and Sarasvati.

Also refers to sannyasins of these orders, each of whom bears his order's name, with ananda often attached to the religious name. For example, Ramananda Tirtha. Traditionally, each order is associated with one of the main Shankaracharya pithas.

See: Shankaracharya pitha, Smarta Sampradaya, Shankara.

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

Bhavanam: Meditation. "Bhavanam is setting the heart on the Lord Who is designated by Om and brought into the mind by It." (Shankara, Commentary on the Yoga Sutras)

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

On the tree of wisdom there is no fairer flower than the Upanishads, and no finer fruit than the Vedanta philosophy. The system of Vedanta, as founded on the Upanishads and Vedanta Sutras and accompanied by Shankara's commentary on them—equal in rank to Plato and Kant—is one of the most valuable products of the genius of mankind in his researches of the eternal truth. ...

See also:

Paul Deussen, Paul Deussen - Quotations, Paul Deussen - Works

Read more here: » Paul Deussen: Encyclopedia II - Paul Deussen - Quotations

Shankaracharya pitha: (Sanskrit) Advaita monasteries established by Shankara (ca 788-820) as centers of Smarta authority in India, each with a distinct guru parampara and a reigning pontiff entitled Shankaracharya, and one of the four Upanishadic mahavakyas as a mantra.

• East coast: Govardhana Matha, in Puri (center of the Aranya and Vana orders). Himalayas: Jyotih Matha, near Badrinath (Giri, Parvata and Sagara orders).
• West coast: Sharada Matha, in Dvaraka (Tirtha and Ashrama orders).
• South: Sringeri Matha (Bharati, Puri and Sarasvati orders).

A fifth prominent pitha, associated with Sringeri Matha, is in Kanchipuram, also in the South.

See: Dashanami, Smarta, Shankara.

(See also: Shankaracharya pitha, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Ramanuja: (Sanskrit) Philosopher (1017-1137), saint, great bhakta, founder of one of five major Vaishnava schools, and considered the greatest critic of advaita. In his famous Sri Bhashya on the Brahma Sutras, he countered Shankara's absolute monism point-by-point with his qualified monism, called Vishishtadvaita Vedanta.

See: shad darshana, Vedanta.

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

Shankaracharya, Adi (730-820 AD): the great master of Advaita Vedanta who synthesized the Vedantic teaching with clear commentaries, wrote many scriptural books, as well as composed beautiful devotional hymns; commonly referred to by the name: Shankara. He renovated and established temples and founded mathas in the four directions in India for the preservation of the Vedas.

(See also: Shankaracharya, Adi, Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

Narada Bhakti sutra by sage Narada distinguishes eleven forms based on the different relationship to God that the devotee can assume. Prahlada, as explained in Srimad Bhagavatam, enunciates Nine Expressions of Bhakti. Adi Shankara, in his verse #61 of Sivanandalahari lists Five analogies of Bhakti. See Five Graded Analogies of Bhakti. Sathya Sai Baba, talks about Three stages of Bhakti, namely, External Worship (“Bahya bhakti”, like worshipping in temples and holy places), Exclusive Worship of one deity (“Ananya bh ...

See also:

Bhakti, Bhakti - Concept of God, Bhakti - Brahman the Ultimate, Bhakti - Two schools the Absolutist and the non-Absolutist, Bhakti - Ishwara the all-powerful Almighty, Bhakti - Names and Forms, Bhakti - Favourite deity worship, Bhakti - Six traditional favourites, Bhakti - All-encompassing eclecticism, Bhakti - Classifications of Bhakti, Bhakti - Example of Towering Giants of Bhakti, Bhakti - Theory of Grace, Bhakti - Take the first step, Bhakti - One Purpose of prayer and worship, Bhakti - Sources

Read more here: » Bhakti: Encyclopedia II - Bhakti - Classifications of Bhakti

Pre-modern Vedantins: Adi Shankara Bhaskara Vallabha Caitanya Nimbarka Baladeva Vidyabhushana Vacaspati Misra Suresvara Vijnanabhiksu Badarayana Modern Vedantins: Ramakrishna Paramahansa Swami Vivekananda Ramana Maharshi Nisargadatta Maharaj Sri Aurobindo Swami Sivananda Swami Chinmayananda Paramahansa Yogananda Swami ...

See also:

Vedanta, Vedanta - Sub-schools of Vedanta, Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta, Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion, Vedanta - Formalization, Vedanta - Vedanta and science, Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Read more here: » Vedanta: Encyclopedia II - Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Pre-modern Vedantins: Adi Shankara Bhaskara Vallabha Caitanya Nimbarka Baladeva Vidyabhushana Vacaspati Misra Suresvara Vijnanabhiksu Badarayana Basavanna Kanakadasa Hubli Siddaroda swamy Modern Vedantins: Ramakrishna Paramahansa Swami Vivekananda Ramana Maharshi Nisargadatta Maharaj Sri Aurobindo Swami Sivananda Swami Chinmayananda Paramahansa Yogananda Swami Parthasarathy Swami Rama Tirtha < ...

See also:

Vedanta, Vedanta - Sub-schools of Vedanta, Vedanta - Roots of Vedanta, Vedanta - Transition from Vedic to Vedantic religion, Vedanta - Formalization, Vedanta - Vedanta and science, Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

Read more here: » Vedanta: Encyclopedia II - Vedanta - Major Vedantic Gurus

rudraksha: a seed from a tree found in the Himalayas that is used for the beads of malas. In addition to its medicinal properties including regulating blood pressure, it is believed to emit a peaceful vibration conducive for meditation. The Gauri-Shankara rudraksha is a rare double seed that is used as the turning bead on a mala. In addition to its rarity, the double rudraksha is valued as a symbol of creation, the wedding of matter and spirit.

(See also: rudraksha, Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

List of holy cities - Jyothirlingams Shaivism. Bhimashankar Deogarh Dwarka Grishneshwar Kedarnath Omkareshwar Rameswaram Somnath Srisailam Trimbakeshwar Ujjaini (Avantika) Varanasi (Benares) List of holy cities - Kumbh Mela sites. Haridwar Nashik Prayag Ujjaini (Avantika) The Mahamaham at Kumbakonam

Upanishads: Books (of varying lengths) of the philosophical teachings of the ancient sages of India on the knowledge of Absolute Reality. The upanishads contain two major themes: (1) the individual self (atman) and the Supreme Self (Paramatman) are one in essence, and (2) the goal of life is the realization/manifestation of this unity, the realization of God (Brahman). There are eleven principal upanishads: Isha, Kena, Katha, Prashna, Mundaka, Mandukya, Taittiriya, Aitaryeya, Chandogya, Brihadaranyaka, and Svetashvatara, all of which were commented on by Shankara, thus setting the seal of authenticity on them.

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

Shiva is referred to as 'the good one' or the 'auspicious one'. Shiva - Rudra is considered to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Shiva - Shankara is the doer of good. Shiva is 'tri netra' or three eyed, and is 'neela kantha' - blue necked (having consumed poison to save the world from destruction). Shiva - Nataraja is the Divine Cosmic Dancer. Shiva - Ardhanareeswara is both man and woman. He is both static and dynamic and is both creator and destroyer. He is the oldest and the youngest, he is the eternal youth as well as the infan ...

See also:

Shiva, Shiva - Introduction, Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva, Shiva - Other Legends, Shiva - The Sons of Shiva, Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva, Shiva - Other Forms and Legends, Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism, Shiva - Origin Theories, Shiva - Names of Śiva

Read more here: » Shiva: Encyclopedia II - Shiva - Introduction

Shiva is referred to as 'the good one' or the 'auspicious one'. Shiva - Rudra is considered to be the destroyer of evil and sorrow. Shiva - Shankara is the doer of good. Shiva is 'tri netra' or three eyed, and is 'neela kantha' - blue necked (having consumed poison to save the world from destruction). Shiva - Nataraja is the Divine Cosmic Dancer. Shiva - Ardhanareeswara is both man and woman. He is both static and dynamic and is both creator and destroyer. He is the oldest and the youngest, he is the eternal youth as well as the infan ...

See also:

Shiva, Shiva - Shivalingas, Shiva - Introduction, Shiva - Consorts and the Burning of Kamadeva, Shiva - Other Legends, Shiva - The Sons of Shiva, Shiva - Attributes of Lord Shiva, Shiva - Other Forms and Legends, Shiva - Schools and Views of Śivaism, Shiva - Origin Theories, Shiva - Names of Śiva

Read more here: » Shiva: Encyclopedia II - Shiva - Introduction

Vedanta: (Sanskrit) "Ultimate wisdom" or "final

conclusions of the Vedas." Vedanta is the system of

thought embodied in the Upanishads (ca 1500-600 bce),

which give forth the ultimate conclusions of the Vedas.

Through history there developed numerous Vedanta

schools, ranging from pure dualism to absolute monism.

The first and original school is Advaita Ishvaravada,

"monistic theism" or panentheism, exemplified in the

Vedanta-Siddhanta of Rishi Tirumular (ca 250 bce) of the Nandinatha Sampradaya in his Tirumantiram, which is a

perfect summation of both the Vedas and the Agamas.

This is a dipolar reconciliation of monism and dualism

which, as philosopher-statesman Dr. S. Radhakrishnan

(18881975)

declared, best depicts the philosophy of the

Upanishads. After about 700 ce, many other schools

developed, each establishing itself through written

commentaries on the major Upanishads, the Bhagavad

Gita and the Brahma Sutras. The latter text, by

Badarayana (ca 400 bce), is the earliest known

systematization of Vedanta, but its extremely terse

aphorisms are philosophically illusive without

commentary. During the "scholastic era" (7001700),

three main variations of the original Vedanta were

developed: 1) Advaita Vedanta, or pure nondualism,

exemplified by Shankara (788820);

2) Vishishtadvaita

Vedanta, or qualified nondualism, most fully expressed by

Ramanuja (10171137);

and 3) Dvaita Vedanta,

expounded by Madhva (11971278).

Panentheism is embodied in those qualified nondual

Vedanta schools that accept the ultimate identity of

the soul and God. Examples are the Vishishtadvaita

of Bhaskara (ca 950), the Shuddha Advaita, "pure

nondualism," of Vallabha (ca 14751530)

and, to a

lesser degree, the Vishishtadvaita of Ramanuja.

In summary: Madhva, the dualist, conceives

Brahman to be the Personal God. In his philosophy,

the universe, souls and God are all separate from one

another and real. Ramanuja, the qualified nondualist,

also conceives Brahman to be the Personal God. In

his philosophy, God must not be considered apart

from the world and souls, for the three together form

a one whole. The world and souls are real as the

body of God, and the individual soul feels himself to

be part of God. Shankara, the strict advaitist,

conceives Brahman to be the Impersonal God, the

Absolute. Shankara does not deny the existence of

the Personal God, known as Ishvara, but declares

Ishvara to be equally as unreal as the universe and

the individuality of the soul. In truth, the only

Reality is the Absolute, and man is that Absolute. To

Rishi Tirumular, the panentheist, there is an eternal

oneness of God and man at the level of their inner Being, but a difference is acknowledged during the

evolution of the soul. Ultimately even this difference

merges in identity. Thus, there is perfectly

beginningless oneness and a temporary difference

which resolves itself in perfect identity.

Vedanta is one of the six classical philosophies (shad

darshanas) along with Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Sankhya,

Yoga and Mimamsa. Vedanta is also called Uttara

Mimamsa, "upper or later examination," as

distinguished from Purva Mimamsa, which

concerned itself solely with the earlier portions of the

Veda. Other important schools of Vedanta include

the Dvaitadvaita, "dual-nondualism,"of Nimbarka (ca

1150), and the Achintya Bhedabheda, "unthinkable

difference-nondifference," of Chaitanya (14851534).

See: acosmic pantheism, Advaita Isvaravada,

dvaita-advaita, monistic theism, Madhva,

panentheism, Ramanuja, Tirumantiram, Vallabha.

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

Advaita Siddhanta: (Sanskrit) "Nondual perfect conclusions." Saivite philosophy codified in the Agamas which has at its core the nondual (advaitic) identity of God, soul and world. This monistic-theistic philosophy, unlike the Shankara, or Smarta view, holds that maya (the principle of manifestation) is not an obstacle to God Realization, but God's own power and presence guiding the soul's evolution to perfection. While Advaita Vedanta stresses Upanishadic philosophy, Advaita Siddhanta adds to this a strong emphasis on internal and external worship, yoga sadhanas and tapas. Advaita Siddhanta is a term used in South India to distinguish Tirumular's school from the pluralistic Siddhanta of Meykandar and Aghorasiva. This unified Vedic-Agamic doctrine is also known as Shuddha Saiva Siddhanta. It is the philosophy of this contemporary Hindu catechism. See: Advaita Ishvaravada, dvaitaadvaita, monistic theism, Saiva Siddhanta.

(See also: Advaita Siddhanta, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)