H - Letter H , - The eighth letter and aspirate of the English alphabet, and also the eighth in the Hebrew. As a Latin numeral it signifies 200, and with the addition of a dash 200,000; in the Hebrew alphabet Chath is equivalent to h, corresponds to eight, and is symbolised by a Fence and Venus according to Seyffarth, being in affinity and connected with He, and therefore with the opening or womb. It is pre-eminently a Yonic letter.

(See also: H - Letter H, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

H. B. of L. See HERMETIC BROTHERHOOD OF LUXOR

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

I H S Well-known Christian monogram, taken as being the initials of Iesus Hominum Salvator (Jesus Savior of Men); and the first three letters of the Greek Iesous ((Greek char), Jesus). It is also a monogram representative of Dionysos used in the Mysteries. As a Latin abbreviation, having mystic significance, it means acrostically, In hoc signo victor eris (in this sign thou shalt be victorious).

See also JESUS

(See also: I H S, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Blavatsky, H. P.

(See also: Blavatsky, H, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Hdu-Byed (hDu-bYed) 'du byed (du-je) (Tibetan) Equivalent of Sanskrit samskara; many meanings, including the fourth in the Buddhist list of five skandhas.

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

Ank'h

(Egyptian= Life) The ancient Egyptian "looped cross". It signifies eternal life.

(See also: Ank'h, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Ank'h-Ka

(Egyptian)

The ankh framed by a pair of upraised arms joined together at the shoulders. Among some Wiccans, the symbol of the Great Rite.

(See also: Ank'h-Ka, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

hamsa: (Sanskrit) "Swan;" more accurately, the highflying wild goose Anser indicus.

The vahana, vehicle, of the God Brahma. It has various meanings, including Supreme Soul and individual soul. It is a noble symbol for an adept class of renunciates (paramahamsa) - winging high above the mundane, driving straight toward the goal, or of the discriminating yogi who - like the graceful swan said to be able to extract milk from water - can see the Divine and leave the rest.

The hamsa mantra indicates the sound made by the exhalation (ha) and inhalation (sa) of the breath.

See: paramahamsa.

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

Harihara: (Sanskrit) "Vishnu-Siva."

Also known as Shankaranarayana, an icon of the Supreme One, in which the right half is Siva and left half is Vishnu. It symbolizes the principle that Siva and Vishnu are not two separate Deities.

See: Brahma, murti, Parameshvara, Vishnu.

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

heaven: The celestial spheres, including the causal plane and the higher realms of the subtle plane, where souls rest and learn between births, and mature souls continue to evolve after moksha.

Heaven is often used by translators as an equivalent to the Sanskrit Svarga.

See: loka, Svarga.

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

havana: (Sanskrit) "Fire pit for sacred offering; making oblations through fire." Same as homa. Havis and havya name the offerings.

See: Agni, homa, yajna.

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

hell: Naraka.

An unhappy, mentally and emotionally congested, distressful area of consciousness.

Hell is a state of mind that can be experienced on the physical plane or in the sub-astral plane (Naraka) after death of the physical body. It is accompanied by the tormented emotions of hatred, remorse, resentment, fear, jealousy and selfcondemnation.

However, in the Hindu view, the hellish experience is not permanent, but a temporary condition of one's own making.

See: asura, loka, Naraka, purgatory, Satan.

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

heterodox: "Different opinion." Opposed to or departing from established doctrines or beliefs. Opposite of orthodox, "straight opinion."

See: nastika.

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

heterosexual: Of or characterized by sexual attraction for only members of the opposite sex.

See: bisexual, homosexual, sexuality.

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

hierarchy: A group of beings arranged in order of rank or class; as a hierarchy of God, Gods and devas.

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

homosexual: Of or characterized by sexual attraction for members of one's own gender. A modern synonym is gay, especially for males, while female homosexuals are termed lesbian.

See: Hinduism and Homosexuality, bisexual, gay, heterosexual, sexuality.

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

hri: (Sanskrit) "Remorse; modesty."

See: yama-niyama.

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

hued: Having specific color.

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

humors (or bodily humors):

See: ayurveda, bodily humor, dosha.

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