Sathya Sai Baba (born Sathya Narayana Raju with the family name Ratnakaram [1], November 23, 1926 or October 4, 1929 is a popular, controversial Indian guru who has millions of followers and hundreds of Sathya Sai Baba groups in many countries. In the 1940s he claimed to be the reincarnation of Shirdi Sai Baba and subsequently took the fakir's name. He says that he is an avatar (incarnation) of Shiva and Shakti and an embodiment of love w ...

Including:

• Sathya Sai Baba - History and origins
• Sathya Sai Baba - Miracles claims and ashrams
• Sathya Sai Baba - Teachings
• Sathya Sai Baba - Organizations
• Sathya Sai Baba - Opposition controversy and allegations
• Sathya Sai Baba - Stances by devotees and proponents
• Sathya Sai Baba - Parliamentary governmental and political issues and responses
• Sathya Sai Baba - Sathya Sai Baba's Presence in Popular Culture
• Sathya Sai Baba - Bibliography
• Sathya Sai Baba - Books by Sai Baba
• Sathya Sai Baba - Selected books by his followers
• Sathya Sai Baba - Books by sceptics and critics
• Sathya Sai Baba - Other books

Read more here: » Sathya Sai Baba: Encyclopedia - Sathya Sai Baba

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

A mantra is a religious syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. Their use varies according to the school and philosophy associated with the mantra. They are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words and vibrations that instill one-pointed concentration in the devotee. Other purposes have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, avoid danger, or eliminate enemies. Mantras originated in India with Vedic Hinduism and were later adopted by Buddhists and Jains, now popular in various modern forms of spiritual practice which are loosely b ...

Including:

• Mantra - Introduction
• Mantra - Mantra in Hinduism
• Mantra - Mantra Japa
• Mantra - Some Hindu mantras
• Mantra - Lead me from Ignorance to Truth
• Mantra - Hare Krishna Maha Mantra
• Mantra - The shanti mantras
• Mantra - Universal prayer
• Mantra - Other examples
• Mantra - The Hindu Bija Mantra
• Mantra - Remarks
• Mantra - What is Dharma?
• Mantra - The Significance of the Symbol Om
• Mantra - Mantras and Prayers
• Mantra - Kirtan and Bhajan
• Mantra - Vedic Conception of Sound
• Mantra - Mantra in Buddhism
• Mantra - Mantra in Shingon Buddhism
• Mantra - Mantra in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism
• Mantra - Om mani padme hum
• Mantra - Some other mantras used by Tibetan Buddhists
• Mantra - Mantra in other traditions or contexts

Read more here: » Mantra: Encyclopedia - Mantra

Vibhuti.

See VIBHUTAYAH

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

 Vibhuti:

divine power

(See also:  Vibhuti, Body Mind and Soul)

The eight "limbs" or steps are: Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. A number of commentators break these eight steps into two categories. Yama, Niyama, Asana, Pranayama, and Pratyahara comprise the first category. The second category, called Samyama is comprised of Dharana, Dhyana and Samadhi. The division between the two categories exists because in latter three mentioned steps there is no cognizance whereas in the first five steps cognizance exists. "Since there is no cognizance to these th ...

See also:

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Introduction, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Authorship, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Philosophical Roots and Influences, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Bibliography, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Appendix: English Translation of the Yoga Sutras, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book I : Consciousness and Superconsciousness Samadhi Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book II : Ways To Attain Yoga Sadhana Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book III : Powers Vibhuti Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book IV : Liberation Kaivalya Pada

Read more here: » Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Encyclopedia II - Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga

ash: See: vibhuti.

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

ash: See: vibhuti.

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

tripundra: (Sanskrit) "Three marks."

The Saivite sectarian mark, consisting of three horizontal lines of vibhuti (holy ash) on the brow, often with a dot (bindu) at the third eye. The three lines represent the soul's three bonds: anava, karma and maya. Holy ash, made of burnt cow dung, is a reminder of the temporary nature of the physical body and the urgency to strive for spiritual attainment and closeness to God.

See: bindu, tilaka, vibhuti.

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

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali are one of the six darshanas of Hindu or Vedic schools and, alongside the Bhagavad Gita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika, are a milestone in the history of Yoga. The book is a set of aphorisms (sutras), which are short, terse phrases designed to be easy to memorize. Though brief, the Yoga Sutras are an enormously influential work that is just as relevant for yoga philosophy and practice today as it was when it was written. To understand the work's title, it is necessary to consider the meanings of its two c ...

See also:

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Introduction, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Authorship, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Philosophical Roots and Influences, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Bibliography, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Appendix: English Translation of the Yoga Sutras, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book I : Consciousness and Superconsciousness Samadhi Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book II : Ways To Attain Yoga Sadhana Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book III : Powers Vibhuti Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book IV : Liberation Kaivalya Pada

Read more here: » Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Encyclopedia II - Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Introduction

The Yoga Sutras are built on a foundation of Samkhya philosophy and the Bhagavad Gita. In the Yoga Sutras, Patanjali prescribes adherence to eight "limbs" or steps (the sum of which constitute "Ashtanga Yoga", the title of the second chapter) to quiet one's mind and merge with the infinite. These eight limbs not only systematized conventional moral principles espoused by the Bhagavad Gita, but elucidated the practice of Raja Yoga in a more detailed manner. For their part, the Yoga Sutras form the theoretical and philosophical base of ...

See also:

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Introduction, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Authorship, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Philosophical Roots and Influences, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Bibliography, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Appendix: English Translation of the Yoga Sutras, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book I : Consciousness and Superconsciousness Samadhi Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book II : Ways To Attain Yoga Sadhana Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book III : Powers Vibhuti Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book IV : Liberation Kaivalya Pada

Read more here: » Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Encyclopedia II - Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Philosophical Roots and Influences

There is some confusion as to which Patanjali was the author of this book. Some have identified him with a grammarian by the same name, but the grammarian's dates do not match the age of the work as determined by the internal evidence. It is safe to assume that the Sutras were written somewhere between 1,700 and 2,200 years ago, although they may have existed long before that in unwritten form. Tradition has it that Patanjali is the compiler, but not author, of the Yoga Sutras. Before Patanjali wrote them down, they were learnt by memory and p ...

See also:

Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Introduction, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Authorship, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Philosophical Roots and Influences, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - The Eight Limbs of Raja Yoga, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Bibliography, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Appendix: English Translation of the Yoga Sutras, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book I : Consciousness and Superconsciousness Samadhi Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book II : Ways To Attain Yoga Sadhana Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book III : Powers Vibhuti Pada, Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Book IV : Liberation Kaivalya Pada

Read more here: » Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Encyclopedia II - Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Authorship

ashtavaranam: (Sanskrit) "Eight shields." Vira Saivism's eight aids to faith: guru, Linga, jangama (monk), vibhuti, rudraksha, paduka, prasada (bathing water from Sivalinga or guru's feet), and Panchakshara Mantra (Namah Sivaya). See: Vira Saivism.

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

ashtavaranam: (Sanskrit) "Eight shields." Vira Saivism's eight aids to faith: guru, Linga, jangama (monk), vibhuti, rudraksha, paduka, prasada (bathing water from Sivalinga or guru's feet), and Panchakshara Mantra (Namah Sivaya). See: Vira Saivism.

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

Tyaja Durjana Samsargam:

Tyaja Durjana Samsargam: Leave association with people of evil habits.

Udi (Vibhuti): Sacred ash (SSS).

(See also: Tyaja Durjana Samsargam, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Vibhut:

Vibhut(h)i (Udi): Baba has often spoken of the significance of this Vibhuti. Since it is materialized out of nothing and since the Ash is specifically associated with Siva, it is reverentially known by devotees as Kailasa Vibuthi the sacred Ash of Siva who resides on Mount Kailasa. It is named Vibhuti since it endows one with prosperity; Bhasma - "ashes" because it burns away all sins; Bhasitam - "brightened" because it increases one's spiritual splendor; Ksharam - "destruction" since it removes danger; and Raksha - "protector" for it is an armor against the machinations of evil spirits (SSS). Shirdi Sai Baba gave this ash and Sathya Sai Baba materializes the ash out of His hand to His devotees as a token of blessing or for other purposes. (SSS-II)

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

Vibhutayah (Sanskrit) [plural of vibhuti mighty, powerful; superhuman power]

Siddhis, magical or superhuman powers, potencies. The eight vibhutayah especially attributed to Siva are also said to be perpetually attainable by humans, for example: animan (the power of becoming as minute as an atom); laghiman (extreme lightness); prapti (attaining or reaching anything); prakamya (irresistible will); mahiman (illimitable bulk); isita (supreme dominion); vasita (subjugating by magic); and kamavasayita (suppressing all desires).

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

Much of the maṭha activity is centered around religious institutions. A number of Vedic Schools and Temples are maintained by the maṭha. Besides this the maṭha also runs a hospital, and a few colleges. It has established branches in many parts of India. The Sharadambal Temple at Sringeri is managed by the Sringeri maṭha. There is also a spectacular library in Sringeri, with rare Sanskrit Volumes ,which is managed by the maṭha. The environment in Sringeri is highly unpolluted and beautiful. The maṭha has also played an impor ...

See also:

Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Location, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - History, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Head of the maṭha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Philosophy and Traditions of the maṭha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Followers of the maṭha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Activities of the maṭha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Relationship with other maṭhas and Institutions, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Guru Parampara

Read more here: » Sringeri Sharada Peetham: Encyclopedia II - Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Activities of the maṭha

The maṭha Gurus follow the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. As per the tradition initiated by Adi Shankara, the matha is incharge of the Yajur Veda (the Black Yajurveda is more popular in south India). The Gurus of the maṭha believe in all the demigods (devas), described in the Vedas and the Puranas, to be mundane manifestations of the same One Cosmic Spirit, called Brahman. They suscribe to the Vedic phrase "Aham Brahma Asmi",which means that "I am the Universal spirit". The Gurus wear ochre robes, smear their forehead with Sacred ashes o ...

See also:

Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Location, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - History, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Head of the maṭha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Philosophy and Traditions of the maṭha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Followers of the maṭha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Activities of the maṭha, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Relationship with other maṭhas and Institutions, Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Guru Parampara

Read more here: » Sringeri Sharada Peetham: Encyclopedia II - Sringeri Sharada Peetham - Philosophy and Traditions of the maṭha

SSB's popularity and the donations by followers have enabled Sathya Sai Baba and his organizations to build an increasingly large ashram near the once poor and isolated village of Puttaparthi. Sathya Sai Baba resides much of the time in his main ashram called Prashanthi Nilayam (abode of peace) at Puttaparthi. In the hot summer Baba leaves for his other ashram called Brindavan in Whitefield (sometimes called Kadugodi), a town on the outskirts of Bangalore. He regularly visited the holiday resort Kodaikanal. [7 ...

See also:

Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Baba - History and origins, Sathya Sai Baba - Miracles, claims, and ashrams, Sathya Sai Baba - Teachings, Sathya Sai Baba - Organizations, Sathya Sai Baba - Opposition, controversy, and allegations, Sathya Sai Baba - Stances by devotees and proponents, Sathya Sai Baba - Parliamentary, governmental and political issues and responses, Sathya Sai Baba - Sathya Sai Baba's Presence in Popular Culture, Sathya Sai Baba - Bibliography, Sathya Sai Baba - Books by Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Baba - Selected books by his followers, Sathya Sai Baba - Books by sceptics and critics, Sathya Sai Baba - Other books

Read more here: » Sathya Sai Baba: Encyclopedia II - Sathya Sai Baba - Miracles, claims, and ashrams

SSB's popularity and the donations by followers have enabled Sathya Sai Baba and his organizations to build an increasingly large ashram near the once poor and isolated village of Puttaparthi. Sathya Sai Baba resides much of the time in his main ashram called Prashanthi Nilayam (abode of peace) at Puttaparthi. In the hot summer Baba leaves for his other ashram called Brindavan in Whitefield (sometimes called Kadugodi), a town on the outskirts of Bangalore. He regularly visited the holiday resort Kodaikanal. [7] ...

See also:

Sathya Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Baba - History and origins, Sathya Sai Baba - Miracles claims and ashrams, Sathya Sai Baba - Teachings, Sathya Sai Baba - Organizations, Sathya Sai Baba - Opposition controversy and allegations, Sathya Sai Baba - Stances by devotees and proponents, Sathya Sai Baba - Parliamentary governmental and political issues and responses, Sathya Sai Baba - Sathya Sai Baba's Presence in Popular Culture, Sathya Sai Baba - Bibliography, Sathya Sai Baba - Books by Sai Baba, Sathya Sai Baba - Selected books by his followers, Sathya Sai Baba - Books by sceptics and critics, Sathya Sai Baba - Other books

Read more here: » Sathya Sai Baba: Encyclopedia II - Sathya Sai Baba - Miracles claims and ashrams