Uma is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below: A Hindu goddess, see Uma (goddess). Uma is a district in Ehime, Japan. Uma Thurman is an American actress. Uma Bharati is an Indian politician and sannyasin. Uma Khouny, an Israeli contestant of Pinoy Big Brother. Cyclone Uma, a tropical cyclone which caused considerable damage to Port Vila, Vanuatu in 1987. An Unidentified Mysterious Animal, such as the Japanese Tsuchinoko. Unlicen

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See also:

Uma Thurman, Uma Thurman - Early life and education, Uma Thurman - Career, Uma Thurman - Early works, Uma Thurman - Major roles, Uma Thurman - Personal life, Uma Thurman - Selected filmography, Uma Thurman - Notes

Read more here: » Uma Thurman: Encyclopedia II - Uma Thurman - Early life and education

Uma-Kanya (Sanskrit). Lit., "Virgin of Light"; a title ill-befitting its possessor, as it was that of Durga Kali, the goddess or female aspect of Siva. Human flesh was offered to her every autumn; and, as Durga, she was the patroness of the once murderous Thugs of India, and the special goddess of Tantrika sorcery.

But in days of old it was not as it is now. The earliest mention of the title "Uma-Kanya is found in the Kena-Upanishad; in it the now blood-thirsty Kali, was a benevolent goddess, a being of light and goodness, who brings about reconciliation between Brahma and the gods. She is Saraswati and she is Vach. In esoteric symbology, Kali is the dual type of the dual soul - the divine and the human, the light and the dark soul of man,

(See also: Uma-Kanya, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

Parvati (Sanskrit/Hindi पार्वती Pārvatī), sometimes spelled as Parvathi and Parvathy, is a goddess in Hinduism She is also the benevolent aspect, or representation of Shakti or Durga. Her other names include Uma, Dakshayani, Gauri and many hundreds of others; the Lalita sahasranama contains an authoritative listing. She is known as 'the daughter of the mountain'. Parvata is Sanskrit for "mountain". Parvati is the second consort of Shiva, the Hindu God of destructi ...

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MOTHER DURGA

The Durga Puja is celebrated in various parts of India in different styles. But the one basic aim of this celebration is to propitiate Shakti, the Goddess in Her aspect as Power, to bestow upon man all wealth, auspiciousness, prosperity, knowledge (both sacred and secular), and all other potent powers. Whatever be the particular or special request that everyone may put before the Goddess is being effected consciously or unconsciously. Everyone is blessed with Her loving mercy and is protected by Her.

From " Hindu Fasts & Festivals " by Sri Swami Sivananda.

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Durga Puja or Navaratri:

This festival is observed twice a year, once in the month of Chaitra and then in Aswayuja. It lasts for nine days in honour of the nine manifestations of Durga. During Navaratri (the word literally means "nine nights") devotees of Durga observe a fast. Brahmins are fed and prayers are offered for the protection of health and property.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Durga Puja or Navaratri: Hindu Festivals - Durga Puja or Navaratri

A goddess is a female deity, in contrast with a male deity known as a "god". A great many cultures have goddesses, sometimes alone, but more often as part of a larger pantheon that includes both of the conventional genders and in some cases even hermaphroditic (or gender neutral) deities. As the concept of monotheism and polytheism can be relativistic, so too can related concepts be culturally misunderstood. The concept of gender as applied to a god and goddess, may connote deeper tendencies of patriarchy and matriarchy, which ...

Including:

• Goddess - Ancient Near East
• Goddess - Egypt
• Goddess - Mesopotamia
• Goddess - Arabia
• Goddess - Indo-European religion
• Goddess - Hinduism
• Goddess - Graeco-Roman religion
• Goddess - Celtic religion
• Goddess - Germanic religion
• Goddess - Abrahamic religions
• Goddess - Judaism
• Goddess - Christianity
• Goddess - Islam
• Goddess - New religious movements
• Goddess - Wicca and Neopaganism
• Goddess - Religious feminism
• Goddess - Secular use

Read more here: » Goddess: Encyclopedia - Goddess

Commonly known as Devi (goddess), Vaishnodevi (देवी, Devī in Hindi and Sanskrit) is the Divine Mother of Hinduism. Some of her other names include Jai Mata Di and Mata Rani. She is known as the goddess of strength, the female aspect of divinity, usually considered to have an equal role with the male aspect as energy or the driving force (Shakti), without which the male aspect, which represents consciousness or discrimination, is impotent. Vaishnodevi's main temple is situated in Jammu regio ...

Including:

• Devi - Shakta
• Devi - Aspects

Read more here: » Devi: Encyclopedia - Devi

The Kena Upanishad (kenopaniṣad), is one of the older, "primary" Upanishads commented upon by Shankara. It is associated with the Samaveda. It figures as number 2 in the Muktika canon of 108 Upanishads. Kenopanishad - About the Upanishad. Kenopanishad derives its name from the first word Kena , meaning ‘by whom’. It belongs to the Talavakara Brahmana ...

Including:

• Kenopanishad - About the Upanishad
• Kenopanishad - Brief Content
• Kenopanishad - Story part
• Kenopanishad - Final Lesson
• Kenopanishad - Sources

Read more here: » Kenopanishad: Encyclopedia - Kenopanishad

Uma Karuna Thurman (born April 29, 1970) is an American model and Academy Award nominated film actor. Thurman began modeling professionally in the late 1980s before moving to acting in 1988, and is best known for her films released in the 1990s and 2000s, specifically those with director Quentin Tarantino. Uma Thurman - Early life and education. Thurman was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her half-Swedish, half-German mother Nena von Schlebrugg (b. 8 January 1941) was briefly married to Timothy Leary after t ...

Including:

• Uma Thurman - Early life and education
• Uma Thurman - Career
• Uma Thurman - Early works
• Uma Thurman - Major roles
• Uma Thurman - Personal life
• Uma Thurman - Selected filmography
• Uma Thurman - Notes

Read more here: » Uma Thurman: Encyclopedia - Uma Thurman

Although her presentation in the West is usually as simply dark and violent, Kali is a goddess with a long and complex history in Hinduism. Her earliest history as a creature of indiscriminate violence and wrath still has some influence, while more complex Tantric beliefs sometimes extend her role so far as to be the Ultimate Reality and Source of Being. Finally, the comparatively recent devotional movement largely conceives of Kali as a straightforwardly benevolent mother-goddess. Kali is associated with many devis ( ...

Including:

• Kali - Origin
• Kali - Development
• Kali - Iconography
• Kali - Recent iconographical development

Read more here: » Kali: Encyclopedia - Kali

In Hinduism, the Trimurti (also called the Hindu trinity) are three aspects of God in His forms as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. This Trimurti concept is a tenet strongly held in Smartism as well as Ayyavazhi mythology. Brahma - the Creator Vishnu - the Preserver Shiva - the Destroyer The trimurti itself is conceived of as a deity and artistically represented as a three-faced human figure. Brahma is no longer as relevant as he once was, some would say the all-in-one Devi or Shakti, the Divine Moth ...

Including:

• Trimurti - Symbolizations
• Trimurti - Change of the Hindu Trinity
• Trimurti - Other uses

Read more here: » Trimurti: Encyclopedia - Trimurti

Shiva (Sanskrit: शिव or श्रीशिव (when used to distinguish lordly status), and written Śiva in the official IAST transliteration, pronounced as "shιvə") is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Adi Sankara interprets the name Śiva to mean "One who purifies everyone by the utterance of His name" or the Pure One. That is, Śiva is unaffected by the three gunas (characteristics) of Prakrti (matter): Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Śiva is "the destroyer", ...

Including:

• 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 - Shiva

The Babri Mosque (also Babri Masjid بابری مسجد) was a mosque constructed by order of the first Mugal emperor of India, Babur, in Ayodhya in the 16th century. Before the 1940s, the Mosque was called Masjid-i Janmasthan ("mosque of the birthplace"). The mosque stood on the Ramkot ("Rama's fort") hill (also called Janamsthan ("birthplace"). It was destroyed in a r ...

Including:

• Babri Mosque - Architecture of the Mosque
• Babri Mosque - Babri Masjid acoustic & cooling system
• Babri Mosque - Legend of the Babri Mosque’s miraculous well
• Babri Mosque - History
• Babri Mosque - 1528
• Babri Mosque - 1767
• Babri Mosque - 19th century
• Babri Mosque - 1854
• Babri Mosque - 1855
• Babri Mosque - 1858
• Babri Mosque - 1886
• Babri Mosque - 20th century
• Babri Mosque - November 2 1989
• Babri Mosque - 1990
• Babri Mosque - November 2 1990
• Babri Mosque - January 24 1991
• Babri Mosque - 1992
• Babri Mosque - December 6 1992: the destruction of the Babri Masjid
• Babri Mosque - 2002
• Babri Mosque - 2005
• Babri Mosque - Babur
• Babri Mosque - The Ayodhya Debate

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Uma-kanya (Sanskrit) [from u-ma O [child]

, do not [practice austerities]-- the exclamation addressed to Parvati by her mother + kanya maid, virgin]

The daughter of Himavat, who became the consort of Siva; also called Parvati and Durga. Uma-Kanya "being her esoteric name, and meaning the 'Virgin of light,' Astral Light in one of its multitudinous aspects" (SD 1:92). Now the goddess is worshiped as Durga-Kali (the black and inaccessible one); in this character "human flesh was offered to her every autumn; and, as Durga, she was the patroness of the once murderous Thugs of India, and the special goddess of Tantrika sorcery. But in days of old it was not as it is now. The earliest mention of the title 'Uma-Kanya' is found in the Kena-Upanishad; in it the now blood-thirsty Kali, was a benevolent goddess, a being of light and goodness, who brings about reconciliation between Brahma and the gods. She is Saraswati and she is Vach. In esoteric symbology, Kali is the dual type of the dual soul -- the divine and the human, the light and the dark soul of man" (TG 352).

(See also: Uma-kanya, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Anaitis, Anait (Chaldean) Also Anaitia, Aneitis, Tanais, Nanaea. A goddess whose worship was widespread over large portions of the Near East; "identical with the Hindu Annapurna, one of the names of Kali -- the female aspect of Siva -- at her best" (TG 21). Identified with the Greek Artemis and Aphrodite. "Anna (the name of the Mother of the Virgin Mary) . . . is derived from the Chaldean Ana, heaven, or Astral Light, Anima Mundi; whence Anaitia, Devi-durga, the wife of Siva, is also called Annapurna, and Kanya, the Virgin; 'Uma-Kanya' being her esoteric name, and meaning the 'Virgin of light,' Astral Light in one of its multitudinous aspects" (SD 1:91-2).

(See also: Anaitis, Anait, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Ishta Devata: (Sanskrit) "Cherished or chosen Deity." The Deity that is the object of one's special pious attention. Ishta Devata is a concept common to all Hindu sects.

Vaishnavas may choose among many Divine forms, most commonly Vishnu, Balaji, Krishna, Radha, Rama, Lakshmi, Hanuman and Narasinha, as well as the aniconic shalagrama, a sacred river rock.

Traditionally, Smartas choose from among six Deities: Siva, Shakti, Vishnu, Surya, Ganesha and Kumara (or any of their traditional forms).

For Shaktas, the Divine is worshiped as the Goddess, Shakti, in Her many fierce forms and benign forms, invoking the furious power of Kali or Durga, or the comforting grace of Parvati,

Ambika and others. Saivites direct their worship primarily to Siva as represented by the aniconic Siva Linga, and the human-like murtis, Nataraja and Ardhanarishvara. In temples and scriptural lore, Siva is venerated in a multitude of forms, including the following 23 additional anthropomorphic images: Somaskanda, Rishabarudra, Kalyanasundara, Chandrashekhara, Bhikshatana, Kamadahanamurti, Kalari, Jalandara, Tripurari, Gajari, Virabhadra, Dakshinamurti, Kiratamurti, Nilakantha, Kankala, Chakradana, Gajamukhanugraha, Chandesanugraha, Ekapada, Lingodbhava, Sukhasana, Uma Maheshvara and Haryardha.

See: murti, Shakti, Siva.

(See also: Ishta Devata, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

The concept of Ardhangini, of women being an equal part of men and vice versa, and without either, both are incomplete, is extensively proliferated in Hindu society, especially the rituals of Hindu weddings. While the bride must recognize her husband as her Lord, the husband is to appreciate the wife as the source of his position and strength as provider, protector of his household, which is essentialy and practically generated and maintained by his wife. This relationship is theologically symbolized by the marriage of S ...

See also:

Hindu views on God and gender, Hindu views on God and gender - Smarta and Advaita, Hindu views on God and gender - Vishnu and Shiva, Hindu views on God and gender - Shakti, Hindu views on God and gender - Ardhangini: the cornerstone of relationships, Hindu views on God and gender - In other Indian religions

Read more here: » Hindu views on God and gender: Encyclopedia II - Hindu views on God and gender - Ardhangini: the cornerstone of relationships

List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Brahma. Prajapati List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Shiva. Mahadeva Prajapati List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Devi. Bhavani Durga Jagaddhatri Parvati Shakti Uma Mahavidya Kali Tara Tripura Sundari Bhuvaneshvari Bhairavi Chhinnamasta Dhumavati Bagalam ...

See also:

List of Hindu deities, List of Hindu deities - A, List of Hindu deities - B, List of Hindu deities - C, List of Hindu deities - D, List of Hindu deities - E, List of Hindu deities - G, List of Hindu deities - H, List of Hindu deities - I, List of Hindu deities - K, List of Hindu deities - L, List of Hindu deities - M, List of Hindu deities - N, List of Hindu deities - P, List of Hindu deities - R, List of Hindu deities - S, List of Hindu deities - T, List of Hindu deities - U, List of Hindu deities - V, List of Hindu deities - Y, List of Hindu deities - Aspects, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Brahma, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Shiva, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Devi, List of Hindu deities - Aspects of Vishnu, List of Hindu deities - Incarnations, List of Hindu deities - Mental son of Brahma, List of Hindu deities - Incarnations of Vayu, List of Hindu deities - Avatara of Lakshmi, List of Hindu deities - Manifestation of Durga, List of Hindu deities - Avatars of Vishnu

Read more here: » List of Hindu deities: Encyclopedia II - List of Hindu deities - Aspects

Goddess - Hinduism. Hinduism is a complex of various belief systems that sees many gods and goddesses as being representative of and/or emanative from a single source, Brahman, understood either as a formless, infinite, impersonal monad in the Advaita tradition or as a dual God in the form of Lakshmi-Vishnu, Radha-Krishna, Devi-Shiva in Dvaita traditions. Shaktas, worshippers of the Goddess, equate this God with Devi, the mother goddess. Such aspects of One God as male God (Shaktiman) and female energy (Shakti), ...

See also:

Goddess, Goddess - Ancient Near East, Goddess - Egypt, Goddess - Mesopotamia, Goddess - Arabia, Goddess - Indo-European religion, Goddess - Hinduism, Goddess - Graeco-Roman religion, Goddess - Celtic religion, Goddess - Germanic religion, Goddess - Abrahamic religions, Goddess - Judaism, Goddess - Christianity, Goddess - Islam, Goddess - New religious movements, Goddess - Wicca and Neopaganism, Goddess - Religious feminism, Goddess - Secular use

Read more here: » Goddess: Encyclopedia II - Goddess - Indo-European religion