agnihotra: (Sanskrit) "Fire sacrifice." Household rite traditionally performed daily, in which an oblation of milk is sprinkled on the fire. See: yajna.

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

Sagnika-brahmana - is a brahmana who keeps a perpetual fire burning in his house for the sake of performing yajna.

(See also: Sagnika-brahmana, Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Aranyaka: (Sanskrit) "Forest treatise." Third section of each of the four Vedas. Texts containing esoteric, mystical knowledge, largely on the inner meanings and functions of the Vedic yajna, or fire ceremonies. See: Vedas.

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

Aranyaka: (Sanskrit) "Forest treatise." Third section of each of the four Vedas. Texts containing esoteric, mystical knowledge, largely on the inner meanings and functions of the Vedic yajna, or fire ceremonies. See: Vedas.

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

bhakti: n (Sanskrit) "Devotion." Surrender to God, Gods or guru. Bhakti extends from the simplest expression of devotion to the ego-decimating principle of prapatti, which is total surrender. Bhakti is the foundation of all sects of Hinduism, as well as yoga schools throughout the world. See: bhakti yoga, darshana, prapatti, prasada, sacrifice, surrender, yajna.

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

congregational worship: Worship done as a group, such as synchronized singing, community prayers or other participatory worship by individuals sharing a strict membership to a particular organization, with no other religious affiliations. Hindu worship is strongly congregational within ashramas and tightly organized societies, but usually noncongregational in the general sphere.

See: bhajana, kirtana, puja, yajna.

(See also: Congregational worship, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Shrauta Shastra: (Sanskrit) "Texts on the revelation."

1)    Refers to scriptures or teachings that are in agreement with the Vedas.

2)    A specific group of texts of the Kalpa Vedanga, and part of the essential study for Vedic priests. The Shrauta Shastras offer explanation of the yajna rituals.

See: Vedanga.

(See also: Shrauta Shastra, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Shiksha Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on Sanskrit phonetics, among four linguistic skills taught for mastery of the Vedas and rites of yajna. Shiksha means "wish to accomplish; learning, study method."

See: Vedanga.

(See also: Shiksha Vedanga, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sama Veda

One of the four Vedas, the original revealed scriptures. It contains sacred musical compositions based mostly on the hymns of the Rig Veda and employed in the more elaborate Vedic sacrifices, the soma-yajnas.

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

agnihotra

The first and simplest Vedic fire sacrifice, to be performed daily at sunrise and sunset by initiated brahmanas. It is also a subsidiary ritual within each of the more complex sacrifices (yajnas). Often the term agnihotra is used to indicate fire sacrifices in general.

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

According to the tradition, the name of this town, after which the district itself is named, was Girzapur, which in terms derives its name from the goddess Parvati, (Girija) who sacrified herself here in a yajna. Mirza, Vindhyavasini and Lakshmi are the other names of the goddess whose temple exists at Vindhyachal. It is also locally believed that the town was founded by Raja Nanner and was known as Girijapur, but later on it came to know as Mirzapur. The earliest mention of the town is found in the writings of Tieffenthaler, w ...

See also:

Mirzapur, Mirzapur - History, Mirzapur - Vindhyachal, Mirzapur - Chunar

Read more here: » Mirzapur: Encyclopedia II - Mirzapur - History

Brahmana: (Sanskrit) "Knower of God." 1) One of four primary sections of each Veda; concerned mainly with details of yajna, or sacrificial fire worship, and specific duties and rules of conduct for priests, but also rich in philosophical lore. 2) The first of the four varnas, or social classes, comprising pious souls of exceptional learning, including priests, educators and humanity's visionary guides. Also spelled brahmin. See: brahmin, varna dharma, Vedas.

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

Çhandas Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on the metrical rules of poetic writing. Çhanda, meter, is among four linguistic skills taught for mastery of the Vedas and the rites of yajna. Çhandas means "desire; will; metrical science." The most important text on Çhandas is the Çhanda Shastra, ascribed to Pingala (ca 200 bce). See: Vedanga.

(See also: Çhandas Vedanga, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

homa: (Sanskrit) "Fire-offering."

A sacred ceremony in which the Gods are offered oblations through the medium of fire in a sanctified fire pit, homakunda, usually made of earthen bricks.

Homa rites are enjoined in the Vedas, Agamas and Dharma and Grihya Shastras. Many domestic rites are occasions for homa, including upanayana and vivaha. Major pujas in temples are often preceded by a homa.

See: agni, havana, yajna, homa.

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

bhakti: n (Sanskrit) "Devotion." Surrender to God, Gods or guru.

Bhakti extends from the simplest expression of devotion to the ego-decimating principle of prapatti, which is total surrender.

Bhakti is the foundation of all sects of Hinduism, as well as yoga schools throughout the world.

See: bhakti yoga, darshana, prapatti, prasada, sacrifice, surrender, yajna.

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

Brahmana: (Sanskrit) "Knower of God."

1)    One of four primary sections of each Veda; concerned mainly with details of yajna, or sacrificial fire worship, and specific duties and rules of conduct for priests, but also rich in philosophical lore.

2)    The first of the four varnas, or social classes, comprising pious souls of exceptional learning, including priests, educators and humanity's visionary guides. Also spelled brahmin.

See: brahmin, varna dharma, Vedas.

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

Shulba Shastra (Shulba Shastras): (Sanskrit) Practical manuals giving the measurements and procedures for constructing the sites of Vedic yajna rites.

A division of the Kalpa Vedanga (Veda limb on rituals), these sutras employ sophisticated geometry and are India's earliest extant mathematical texts. Shulba means "string or cord," denoting the use of string for measuring.

See: Vedanga.

(See also: Shulba Shastra, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Śiva's consort is Devi, God's energy or God as the Divine Mother who comes in many different forms, one of whom is Kali, the goddess of death. Parvati, a more pacific form of Devi is also popular. Śiva also married Sati, another form of Devi and daughter of Daksha, who forbade the marriage. Sati disobeyed her father. Daksha once held a Yajna (ritual sacrifice) to Vishnu, but did not invite Śiva. In disgust, Sati burned herself through yogic meditation (or, in another version, in the same fire Daksha used in his sacrifice). When Śiva's at ...

See also:

Shiva, 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 II - Shiva - Consorts, and the Burning of Kamadeva

Vyakarana Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on Sanskrit grammar.

Vyakarana is among four linguistic skills taught for mastery of the Vedas and the rites of yajna. The term literally means "separation, or explanation."

The most celebrated Vyakarana work is Panini's 4,000-sutra Ashtadhyayi, which set the linguistic standards for classical Sanskrit (ca 400 bce).

See: Vedanga.

(See also: Vyakarana Vedanga, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Vyakarana Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on

Sanskrit grammar. Vyakarana is among four linguistic

skills taught for mastery of the Vedas and the rites of

yajna. The term literally means "separation, or

explanation." The most celebrated Vyakarana work is

Panini's 4,000-sutra Ashtadhyayi, which set the linguistic

standards for classical Sanskrit (ca 400 bce).

See:

Vedanga.

(See also: Vyakarana Vedanga, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Puranas list twenty-five avataras of Vishnu. A description of these is found in the Bhagavata Purana, Canto 1. 1) Catursana 2) Narada 3) Varaha 4) Matsya 5) Yajna 6) Nara-Narayana 7) Kapila 8) Dattatreya 9) Hayasirsa 10) Hamsa 11) Prsnigarbha 12) Rsabha 13) Prithu 14) Narasimha 15) Kurma 16) Dhanvantari 17) Mohini 18) Vamana 19) Parasurama 20) Raghavendra (Rama) 21) Vyasa 22) Balarama 23) Krishna 24) Kalki ...

See also:

Avatar, Avatar - Teachings and significance, Avatar - The ten Avatars or Dasavatara, Avatar - The 24 Avatars of the Puranas, Avatar - Types of avatars, Avatar - The Ninth Avatar: Balarama or Buddha?, Avatar - Symbolism, Avatar - List of other people considered to be avatars, Avatar - Other Uses

Read more here: » Avatar: Encyclopedia II - Avatar - The 24 Avatars of the Puranas

Sama Veda: (Sanskrit) "Song of wisdom."

Third of the four Vedas. Ninety percent of its 1,875 stanzas are derived from the Rig Veda. It is a collection of hymns specially arranged and notated for chanting with a distinctive melody and cadence by the Udgata priests during yajna, fire ceremony, together with stanzas from the Yajur Veda. This Veda forms the oldest known form of Indian music.

See: Shruti, Vedas.

(See also: Sama Veda, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)