Amsamsavatara (Sanskrit) (from amsamsa (amsa + amsa) portion of a portion, fragment + avatara descent from ava-tri to cross over down, descend)

The descent of a part of a part; applied to the numerous manifestations of Vishnu and Brahma; in the Vishnu-Purana more particularly to Krishna and to the "actions he performed as a part of a part (amsamsavatara)

of the Supreme, upon the earth" (5:1). An avatara or so-called divine descent is never a "descent" or incarnation of the wholeness or entirety of a divinity, but only of a part of it; so that every avatara involves a descent only of a part of a part, and hence, strictly speaking, may be called an amsamsavatara. Obviously, the greater the avatara, the greater in influence though not necessarily of form is the amsa or portion which descends (cf MB Adiparvan 7).

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

Kurma-avatara (Sanskrit) The Tortoise avatara; a descent of Vishnu, the sustainer of life, in the form of a tortoise. In the Puranas, a portion of cosmic Vishnu descended as the kurma to restore to mankind the mystic nectar (amrita), the essence of life and truth, as well as other holy and precious things needful to humanity, which had been lost.

Vishnu ordered the gods to churn the sea of milk that they might procure once more these precious things, and he promised to become the tortoise on which the mountain Mandara as a churning stick should rest. Out of the sea of churned milk arose the 14 precious things, and with these the gods won their authority over the demons once more.

Cosmically this churning of the sea of milk relates to a period before the earth's formation, the sea of milk being the expanse of space populated by the nebulae and diffuse star-stuff, the seeds and substance of future worlds and their hierarchies.

(See also: Kurma-avatara , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Hiranyakasipu:

Hiranyakasipu: A demonic person who forbade mention of Vishnu's name, wicked father of Prahladha; killed by man-lion Nrsimhadeva, Avathar of Vishnu. (RRV2-8a)

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

Niyama (Sanskrit) [from ni the verbal root yam to hold back, curb]

Restraining, checking, controlling, especially the wandering, erratic mind. The second of eight steps of meditation in Hindu yoga: restraint of the mind or religious observances of various kinds, such as watchings, fastings, prayings, penances, etc.

As a proper noun, necessity or law personified as a son of Dharma and Dhriti; also a name of Vishnu.

(See also: Niyama , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary)

Daksha Daksa (Sanskrit) (from daksh to be able, strong)

Adroit, able, intelligent, clever; used as a proper noun, intelligent power or ability. One of the chief prajapatis, cosmic creative intelligences, spiritual entities; the synthesis or aggregate of the terrestrial progenitors, including the pitris.

Daksha signifies the intelligent or competent, but usually carries with it the idea of creative or evolving power. "He is a son of Brahma, and of Aditi, and agreeably to other versions, a self-born power, which, like Minerva, sprang from his father's body. . . . the Rig-Veda says that 'Daksha sprang from Aditi and Aditi from Daksha,' a reference to the eternal cyclic re-birth of the same divine Essence" (SD 2:247).

As the progenitor of real physical man, Daksha was son of the Prachetasas and Marisha, the first of the "egg-born." He "establishes the era of men engendered by sexual intercourse. But this mode of procreation did not occur suddenly, as one may think, and required long ages before it became the one 'natural' way. Therefore, his sacrifice to the gods is shown as interfered with by Siva, the destroying deity, evolution and progress personified, . . . Virabhadra, 'abiding in the region of the ghosts (etherial men) . . . . created from the pores of the skin (Romakupas), powerful Raumas, (or Raumyas).' Now, however mythical the allegory, the Mahabharata, which is history as much as is the Iliad, shows the Raumyas (hairy ones)

and other races, as springing in the same manner from the Romakupas, hair or skin pores. . . .

"In the Vayu Purana's account of Daksha's sacrifice, moreover, it is said to have taken place in the presence of creatures born from the egg, from the vapour, vegetation, pores of the skin, and, finally only, from the womb.

"Daksha typifies the early Third Race, holy and pure, still devoid of an individual Ego, and having merely the passive capacities. Brahma, therefore, commands him to create (in the exoteric texts; when, obeying the command, he made 'inferior and superior' (avara and vara) progeny (putra), Bipeds and quadrupeds; and by his will gave birth to females. . . . to the gods, the Daityas (giants of the Fourth Race), the snake-gods, animals, cattle and the Danavas (Titans and demon Magicians) and other beings.

". . . 'From that period forward, living creatures were engendered by sexual intercourse. Before the time of Daksha, they were variously propagated -- by the will, by sight, by touch, and by Yoga-power'" (quotes from the Vishnu-Purana)

(SD 2:182-3).

(See also: Daksha, Daksa , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

 Ananta:

infinite, a name of Vishnu

(See also:  Ananta , Body Mind and Soul)

Vamana:

Vamana - Vishnu's fifth incarnation

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

Adikrit or Adikartri (Sanskrit) (from adi first + krit doing (kartri doer, author, producer) from the verbal root kri to do, make, accomplish)

The first produced or evolved, synonymous with adikara. In Hindu mythology, the creator; in the Puranas, the personified aspect of the formative or cosmically generative force, which in its root is eternal but periodic in its manifestations. During periods of manifestation adikrit is personified as Vishnu or Brahma (VP 6:4); during periods of rest it is represented as sleeping upon the ocean of space in the form of Vishnu. The term applies to any universe or hierarchy, great or small, whether a cluster of galaxies, a solar system, a planet, or a human being.

(See also: Adikrit, Adikartri , Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Vishnu: "The all-pervading;" God as the Preserver.

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

The Mantra on Lord Vishnu - a Hindu Prayer.

From Hindu Fasts & Festivals by Sri Swami Sivananda.

Read more here: » Hindu Prayers: The Mantra on Lord Vishnu - a Hindu Prayer

The Eighteen Puranas: There are eighteen main Puranas and an equal number of subsidiary Puranas or Upa-Puranas. The main Puranas are: Vishnu Purana, Naradiya Purana, Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Garuda (Suparna) Purana, Padma Purana, Varaha Purana, Brahma Purana, Brahmanda Purana, Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Markandeya Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Vamana Purana, Matsya Purana, Kurma Purana, Linga Purana, Siva Purana, Skanda Purana and Agni Purana.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Eighteen Puranas: The Eighteen Puranas: in the Hindu Scriptures

A Hinduism dictionary with the most common spiritual words from P-Z. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual Dictionary and Hinduism Dictionary.

A spiritual dictionary of the 280 most common words in Hinduism. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual Dictionary and Hinduism Dictionary.

A spiritual dictionary from J-R of the most common spiritual words in Hinduism. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual Dictionary and Hinduism Dictionary.