Vaishnava Dictionary

Vidyapati:

Vidyapati: an author of Vaishnava poetry who was particularly admired by Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

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

Narottama dasa Thakura

a Vaishnava spiritual master in the disciplic succession from Lord Chaitanya and writer of many standard Vaishnava hymns.

(See also: Narottama dasa Thakura , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Purana (Sanskrit) Ancient, old, an ancient tale or legend. The 18 Hindu scriptures known today as the Puranas are ancient legends of olden times, written in verse, partly in symbolical and allegorical and partly in quasi-historical language.

They are supposed originally to have been composed by Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata. A Purana is a work which has five distinguishing topics (pancha-lakshanas): 1) the creation of the universe; 2) its destruction and renovation; 3) the genealogy of gods and patriarchs; 4) the reigns of the manus, forming the periods called manvantaras; and 5) the history of the solar and lunar races of kings.

The invariable form of the Puranas is of a dialogue between an exponent or teacher and an inquirer or disciple, interspersed with the dialogues and observations of other individuals. In addition to the Puranas there are 18 subordinate Upa-puranas. The Puranas are popularly classified in India under three categories corresponding to the gunas sattva, rajas, and tamas. Those in which the quality of sattva (purity) prevails are: the Vishnu, Naradiya, Bhagavata, Garuda, Padma, and Varaha Puranas, also called the Vaishnava-Puranas. Those in which rajas (passion) are said to prevail, relating chiefly to the god Brahma, are the Brahma, Brahmanda, Brahma-vaivarta, Markandeya, Bhavishya, and Vamana Puranas. Those in which tamas (inertia) is said to prevail, relating chiefly to the god Siva, are the Matsya, Kurma, Linga, Siva, Skanda, and Agni Puranas.

The Puranas ingeniously interweave allegory with cosmic facts and far later human events. "Puranic astronomy, with all its deliberate concealment and confusion for the purpose of leading the profane off the real track, was shown even by Bentley to be a real science; and those who are versed in the mysteries of Hindu astronomical treatises, will prove that the modern theories of the progressive condensation of nebulae, nebulous stars and sun, with the most minute details about the cyclic progress of asterisms -- far more correct than Europeans have even now -- for chronological and other purposes, were known in India to perfection.

"If we turn to geology and zoology we find the same. What are all the myths and endless genealogies of the seven Prajapati and their sons, the seven Rishis or Manus, and of their wives, sons and progeny, but a vast detailed account of the progressive development and evolution of animal creation, one species after the other? . . ."

". . . the Puranic histories of all those men are those of our Monads, in their various and numberless incarnations on this and other spheres, events perceived by the 'Siva eye' of the ancient Seers, (the 'third eye' of our Stanzas and described allegorically. Later on, they were disfigured for Sectarian purposes; mutilated, but still left with a considerable ground-work of truth in them. Nor is the philosophy less profound in such allegories for being so thickly veiled by the overgrowth of fancy" (SD 2:253, 284).

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

Nalvar: (Tamil) "Four devout beings."

Four renowned saints of the Saiva religion (7th to 9th century): Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manikkavasagar - devotional mystics whose lives and teachings helped catalyze a resurgence of Saivism in Tamil Nadu. All but Manikkavasagar are among the Nayanars, 63 saints canonized by Sekkilar in his Periyapuranam (ca 1140). These four are also known as the Samayacharyas, "teachers of the faith." Their devotional poems are embodied in the Tirumurai, along with the writings of other Nayanars. Numerous South Indian temples celebrate their historic pilgrimages from shrine to shrine where they beseeched the grace of Siva through heartfelt song. Nalvar is a term not to be confused with Alvar, naming certain Vaishnava saints of the same period.

See: Alvar, Nayanar, Tirumurai.

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

Vishnavites.

See VAISHNAVA

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

Bhagavata Purana: n (Sanskrit) Also known as Srimad Bhagavatam, a work of 18,000 stanzas.

A major Purana and primary Vaishnava scripture, from oral tradition, written down ca 800. It provides the stories of all incarnations of Vishnu, filled with the bhakti, inner current of devotion.

See: Purana.

(See also: Bhagavata Purana , 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)

Caitanya-caritamrita:

Caitanya-caritamrita: The book of Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami about the life and teachings of Lord Caitanya. 'The New Testament' of the Caitanya-vaishnava.

 "So here is a very specific statement about S'ri Caitanya Mahaprabhu," said Prabhupada. "He is avatara. Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the same Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He is channa. Channa means covered, not directly. Because He has appeared as a devotee." S'rila Prabhupada explained why the Supreme Lord appeared in Kali-yuga as a devotee. " When Lord Krishna appeared, He ordered everyone to 'Surrender to Me.' But they took it, 'Who is this person asking like that? What right does he have? Why shall I give up?' But God Himself, the Supreme Being, He must order. That is God. But we think otherwise: 'Who is this man? Why is he ordering? Why shall I give up?' " The whole process of Krishna consciousness is submission, surrender to Krishna, S'rila Prabhupada explained. But the way to surrender to Krishna is to submit to His devotee, His representative. "S'ri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared this day for giving mercy to the fallen souls who are so foolish they cannot take to Krishna consciousness. He is personally teaching them. That is this kirtana". (Source: S'rila Prabhupada-Lilamrita, by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami)

(See also: Caitanya-caritamrita , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Nimbarka: (Sanskrit) Mystic, philosopher and founder of the Minandi Vaishnava school of Vedanta (ca 1150). He acclaimed the guru's grace as the only true means to salvation.

See: Vedanta.

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

Visishtadvaita visistadvaita (Sanskrit) [from visishta distinguished, qualified from the verbal root visish to distinguish + advaita nonduality]

Qualified nonduality; the Vedantic school founded by Vaishnava teacher Ramanuja, intermediate between the Advaita (nondualistic) Vedanta of Sankaracharya and the Dvaita (dualistic) Vedanta.

Just as the Advaita teaches that essentially there is an absolute reality, and that all things issue forth from the incomprehensible womb of cosmic life -- which therefore is the only abstract as well as substantial reality of all beings -- so the Dvaita teaches the opposite: that while all beneath the abstract reality issue forth from it, they do so rather as creations than as essences, parts, or portions of the eternal reality. The Visishtavaita school straddles these philosophical views, asserting with the Advaita that all are at one in essence, yet holding that the distinctions during manifestation between the eternal reality and all its offspring are relatively real. This stand is little favored by either of the other schools.

The Visishtadvaita school teaches that the human spirit is separate and different from the one supreme spirit, though dependent on it and ultimately to be united with it, as well as originally in some manner springing forth from it. The Visishtadvaita speaks of the supreme spirit almost as monists do, because apparently ascribing to it a type of individuality, which is as offensive to the rigid logical impersonal eternal All of the Advaita as is the franker dualism of the Dvaitins. This arises from the fact that the Advaitins claim that it is utterly improper to ascribe individuality, personality, or monadism of any kind to the infinite -- a claim which is precisely that of modern theosophy. However, "Dualistic and anthropomorphic as may be the philosophy of the Visishtadwaita, when compared with that of the Adwaita -- the non-dualists, -- it is yet supremely higher in logic and philosophy than the cosmogony accepted by either Christianity, or its great opponent, modern Science" (SD 1:522).

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

acharya

One who teaches by personal example. Acaryas in the pure Vaishnava line instruct people and initiate them into the Supreme Lord’s devotional service.

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

Purana

"Literally "ancient"; any one of eighteen sacred books of Hinduism, attributed to Vyasa, which elaborate and popularize the spiritual truths of the Vedas by means of illustrations from the lives of divine incarnations, saints, kings, and devotees, whether historical or mythological.

Bhagavata Purana

It is the fifth purana in length but is the most popular and influencial among the puranas. It is primarily a vaishnava text and is later to and influenced by the Visnupurana. As the name indicates, it describes some of the incarnations of Visnu and particularly that of Krsna. It is a marvellous bhakti work and includes the story of bhagavathas or devotees of the Lord.

"The metaphysical and spiritual legacy of the Vedas and the upanishads is ably synthesized with the agamic tradition of the pancaratras and embraced even non-aryan tribes in its fold."

-- G V Tagare, Ancient Indian Traditions and Mythology, Vol. 7

Devi Mahatmyam

Otherwise known as the Durgasaptasati or the Candi, this is a sacred text to the Divine Mother used for chanting.

(See also: Purana , Hinduism, Vedic Scriptures, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

sampradaya

A school of philosophy or religion. According to the Padma Purana, there are four authorized Vaishnava sampradayas, founded by Lord Brahma, the goddess Lakshmi, Lord Siva, and the four Kumara sages. In Kali-yuga these schools have been reestablished by the acharyas Madhva, Ramanuja, Vishnu Svami, and Nimbarka. The sampradaya of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is officially connected with the Madhva line, but incorporates teachings of all four sampradayas.

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

Vaishnavite: Of or relating to Vishnu; same as

Vaishnava. A follower of Vishnu or His incarnations.

See:

Vaishnavism, Vishnu.

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

Rudra-sampradaya

One of the four authorized Vaishnava schools. It was founded originally by Lord Siva and reestablished in the Kali-yuga by Sri Vishnu Svami.

(See also: Rudra-sampradaya , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Tridanda:

Tridanda:The tridanda is a staff carried by vaishnava sannyasis symbolizing the threefold austerity of thought, speech and action. In all these three the renunciate is vowed to serve Vishnu. The staff consists of three sticks wrapped in saffron cloth with a small extra piece wrapped in at the top.

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

Pancaratras

Vaishnava tantras that teach one to worship the Supreme Lord by serving His Deity forms and chanting mantras addressed to Him.

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

Ramanujacharya Ranmanujacarya (Sanskrit) A celebrated Vaishnava reformer, founder of a Vedantic school which taught the doctrine of Visishnadvaita (qualified nonduality), that the human spirit is separate and different from the supreme spirit, though dependent from it and ultimately to be united with it. He lived at Kanchipura and Sri-ranga in South India, and is supposed by many Occidental Orientalists to have lived from 1017-1137. His followers believe him to have been an incarnation of Sesha.

This Vedantic sect is one of the three most important Vedanta schools, the other two being the Advaita (nondualistic) school, of which the chief exponent and teacher was the avatara Sankaracharya; and that of the Dvaitas (dualists). Of these three, the Advaita teachings of Sankaracharya is by far the closest to theosophy.

The differences as among these three Vedantic schools are mainly manners of considering the relation of the human and cosmic spirit-souls. The Advaita in common with theosophy considered the cosmic spirit to be the fountainhead of all later differentiations of consciousness; and therefore it teaches that all such later individualizations are nevertheless all rooted in the cosmic spirit.

The Dvaita school believes that there is a distinct difference of identity between individuals and the cosmic spirit (as likewise do the Christians), although individuals nevertheless issue forth from the cosmic spirit. The Visishtadvaita school believes that although all individuals ultimately issue forth from the cosmic source, they yet possess only qualified identity with it.

(See also: Ramanujacharya, Ranmanujacarya , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Yamuna (-acharya)

A prominent teacher in the Sri Vaishnava sampradaya. He was the guru of the initiating guru of Ramanujacharya. Sri Yamunacharya composed important books explaining the philosophy of Vedanta in the light of pure devotion to the Supreme Lord.

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

Tulasidasa: (Sanskrit) Vaishnava sannyasin poet (ca 1532-1623) whose Sri Ramacharitamanasa, a Hindi rendering of Valmiki's Sanskrit epic, Ramayana, is acclaimed one of the world's greatest literary works.

See: Ramayana.

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

Chaithanya:

Chaithanya. Fifteenth century Vaishnava mendicant reformer; taught the path of love and devotion to the Avatar of Sri Krishna.

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

Vishishtadvaita: (Sanskrit) "Qualified nondualism."

Best known as the term used by Ramanuja (ca 1017-1137) to name his Vaishnava Vedanta philosophy, which is nondualistic in that the ultimate truth or reality is one, not two, and souls are in fact part of God. And it is "qualified" in that souls are fully one with God, but not identical. Thus there is a full union which is somewhat shy of total merger. Siva Vishishtadvaita was the term chosen by Bhaskara (ca 950) to name his philosophy.

See: Siva Advaita, Vedanta.

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