Rudra: (Sanskrit) "Controller of awesome powers;" or "red, shining one."

The name of Siva as the God of dissolution, the universal force of reabsorption. Rudra- Siva is revered both as the "terrifying one" and the "lord of tears," for He wields and controls the terrific powers which may cause lamentation among humans.

See: Nataraja.

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

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pitha: (Sanskrit) "Seat; pedestal."

1)    The base or pedestal of the Sivalinga, or of any Deity idol.

2)    A religious seat, such as the throne of the abbot of a monastery.

3)    An aadheenam, ashrama or matha established around such a seat of spiritual authority.

See: Sivalinga.

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

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pitta: (Sanskrit) "Bile; fire."

One of the three bodily humors, called doshas, pitta is known as the fire humor. It is the ayurvedic principle of bodily heat-energy. Pitta dosha governs nutritional absorption, body temperature and intelligence.

See: ayurveda, dosha.

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

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plague: To distress, afflict, trouble or torment.

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

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Pleiades: A cluster of stars in the Taurus constellation, six of which are now visible from Earth. This group of stars is known in Sanskrit as Krittika, an important nakshatra for Lord Karttikeya and believed to be this Deity's place of origin before He came to the star system of Earth.

See: Karttikeya.

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

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potent: Having power, authority. Effective, able.

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

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plane: A stage or level of existence; e.g., the causal plane (Sivaloka).

See: loka.

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

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rita: (Sanskrit) "Sacred order, cosmic law; truth."

See: dharma.

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

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pir: "Holy father." Muslim title for a religious leader; applied to leaders of a few Gorakshanatha monasteries.

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

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restraints:

See: yama-niyama.

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

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pranama: (Sanskrit) "Obeisance; bowing down." Reverent salutation in which the head or body is bowed.

-       ashtanga pranama: "Eight-limbed obeisance." The full prostration for men, in which the hands, chest, forehead, knees and feet touch the ground. (Same as shashtanga pranama.) -

-       panchanga pranama: "Five-limbed obeisance." The woman's form of prostration, in which the hands, head and legs touch the ground (with the ankles crossed, right over the left).

A more exacting term for prostration is pranipata, "falling down in obeisance."

See: bhakti, namaskara, prapatti.

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

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resent (resentment): A feeling of ill-will, indignation or hostility from a sense of having been wronged.

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

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pranamaya kosha: (Sanskrit) "Life-energy sheath."

See: kosha, prana.

(See also: Pranamaya kosha , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

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residue: Remainder. That which is left over after a process.

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

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Pranalinga: (Sanskrit) "Living mark." Personally experiencing God in the Sivalinga. A term used especially in Vira Saivism.

See: Sivalinga, Vira Saivism, linga.

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

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pranatyaga: (Sanskrit) "Abandoning life force."

A term for suicide but without the connotation of violence expressed in the more common terms svadehaghata, "murdering one's body," and atmaghata, "self-murder."

See: death, suicide.

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

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Pranava: (Sanskrit) "Humming."

The mantra Aum, denoting God as the Primal Sound. It can be heard as the sound of one's own nerve system, like the sound of an electrical transformer or a swarm of bees. The meditator is taught to inwardly transform this sound into the inner light which lights the thoughts, and bask in this blissful consciousness. Pranava is also known as the sound of the nadanadi shakti.

See: Aum, Siva Consciousness.

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

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prapatti: (Sanskrit) "Throwing oneself down."

Bhakti - total, unconditional submission to God, often coupled with the attitude of personal helplessness, self-effacement and resignation. A term especially used in Vaishnavism to name a concept extremely central to virtually all Hindu schools. In Saiva Siddhanta, bhakti is all important in the development of the soul and its release into spiritual maturity.

The doctrine is perhaps best expressed in the teachings of the four Samayacharya saints, who all shared a profound and mystical love of Siva marked by

1)    deep humility and self-effacement, admission of sin and weakness;

2)    total surrender in God as the only true refuge and

3)    a relationship of lover and beloved known as bridal mysticism, in which the devotee is the bride and Siva the bridegroom.

The practice of yoga, too, is an expression of love of God in Saiva Siddhanta, and it is only with God's grace that success is achieved. Rishi Tirumular states: "Unless your heart melts in the sweet ecstasy of love - my Lord, my treasure-trove, you can never possess" (Tirumantiram 272). It is in this concept of the need for self-effacement and total surrender, prapatti, that the members of all sects merge in oneness, at the fulfillment of their individual paths. Similarly, they all meet in unity at the beginning of the path with the worship of Lord Ganesha.

See: bhakti, grace, pada, surrender.

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

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pranic body: The subtle, life-giving sheath called pranamaya kosha.

See: kosha, prana.

(See also: Pranic body , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

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pranayama: (Sanskrit) "Breath control."

See: raja yoga.

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

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resemble: To look like, or have similar traits and qualities.

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

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Pranagnihotra Upanishad: (Sanskrit) A minor Upanishad which explains how to transform the external ritual of the fire sacrifice into pranagnihotra, "the sacrifice offered in the prana fire" of one's own being.

(See also: Pranagnihotra Upanishad , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

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