Alhassanain(p) Network for Heritage and Islamic Thought

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Dakshinamurti: (Sanskrit) "South-facing form." Lord Siva depicted sitting under a banyan tree, silently teaching four rishis at His feet.

dampati: (Sanskrit) "House lord(s)." A term for husband and wife as the dual masters and sovereign guides of the Hindu home (dama). See: grihastha dharma.

dana: (Sanskrit) "Generosity, giving; a gift." See: yama-niyama.

dance: See: tandava, Nataraja.

danda : (Sanskrit) "Staff of support." The staff carried by a sadhu or sannyasin, representing the tapas which he has taken as his only support, and the vivifying of sushumna and consequent Realization he seeks. Danda also connotes "penalty or sanction." See: sadhu, sannyasin.

darshana: (Sanskrit) "Vision, sight." Seeing the Divine. Beholding, with inner or outer vision, a temple image, Deity, holy person or place, with the desire to inwardly contact and receive the grace and blessings of the venerated being or beings. Even beholding a photograph in the proper spirit is a form of darshana. Not only does the devotee seek to see the Divine, but to be seen as well, to stand humbly in the awakened gaze of the holy one, even if for an instant, such as in a crowded temple when thousands of worshipers file quickly past the enshrined Lord. Gods and gurus are thus said to "give" darshana, and devotees "take" darshana, with the eyes being the mystic locus through which energy is exchanged. This direct and personal two-sided apprehension is a central and highly sought-after experience of Hindu faith. Also: "point of view," doctrine or philosophy. See: shad darshana, sound.

Darwin's theory: Theory of evolution developed by Charles Darwin (1809-1882) stating that plant and animal species develop or evolve from earlier forms due to hereditary transmission of variations that enhance the organism's adaptability and chances of survival. See: evolution of the soul, nonhuman birth.

dashama bhaga vrata: (Sanskrit) "One-tenth-part vow." A promise that tithers make before God, Gods and their family or peers to tithe regularly each month--for a specified time, or for life, as they wish. See: dashamamsha.

dashamamsha: (Sanskrit) "One-tenth sharing." The traditional Hindu practice of tithing, giving one-tenth of one's income to a religious institution. It was formerly widespread in India. In ancient times the term makimai was used in Tamil Nadu. See: dashama bhaga vrata, purushartha.

dasa marga: (Sanskrit) "Servant's path." See: pada.

Dashanami: (Sanskrit) "Ten names." Ten monastic orders organized by Adi Shankara (ca 800): Aranya, Vana, Giri, Parvata, Sagara, Tirtha, Ashrama, Bharati, Puri and Sarasvati. Also refers to sannyasins of these orders, each of whom bears his order's name, with ananda often attached to the religious name. For example, Ramananda Tirtha. Traditionally, each order is associated with one of the main Shankaracharya pithas. See: Shankaracharya pitha, Smarta Sampradaya, Shankara.

daurmanasya: (Sanskrit) "Mental pain, dejection, sorrow, melancholy and despair." See: chakra.

daya: (Sanskrit) "Compassion." See: yama-niyama.

death: Death is a rich concept for which there are many words in Sanskrit, such as: mahaprasthana, "great departure;" samadhimarana, dying consciously while in the state of meditation; mahasamadhi, "great merger, or absorption," naming the departure of an enlightened soul. Hindus know death to be the soul's detaching itself from the physical body and continuing on in the subtle body (sukshma sharira) with the same desires, aspirations and occupations as when it lived in a physical body. Now the person exists in the in-between world, the subtle plane, or Antarloka, with loved ones who have previously died, and is visited by earthly associates during their sleep. Hindus do not fear death, for they know it to be one of the most glorious and exalted experiences, rich in spiritual potential. Other terms for death include panchatvam (death as dissolution of the five elements), mrityu (natural death), prayopavesha (self-willed death by fasting), marana (unnatural death, e.g., by murder). See: reincarnation, suicide, videhamukti.

deceit (deception): The act of representing as true what is known to be false. A dishonest action.

decentralized: Whose administrative agencies, power, authority, etc., are distributed widely, rather than concentrated in a single place or person. In Hinduism, authority is decentralized.

decked: Covered with fine clothing or ornaments.

defiled: Polluted, made dirty, impure.

deformity: Condition of being disfigured or made ugly in body, mind or emotions.

deha: (Sanskrit) "Body." From the verb dih, "to plaster, mold; anoint, fashion." A term used in the Upanishads, yoga texts, Saiva Agamas, Tirumantiram and elsewhere to name the three bodies of the soul: gross or physical (sthula), astral or subtle (sukshma) and causal (karana). A synonym for sharira. See: sharira.

Deism: A doctrine which believes in the existence of God based on purely rational grounds; a particular faith prominent in the 17th and 18th centuries adhered to by several founding fathers of the United States, including Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. It holds that God created the world and its natural laws but is not involved in its functioning.

Deity: "God." Can refer to the image or murti installed in a temple or to the Mahadeva the murti represents. See: murti, puja.

delineate: To mark or trace out the boundaries of a thing, concept, etc.

delude: To fool as by false promises or improper concepts or thinking.

delusion : Moha. False belief, misconception.

denial: Saying "no." Opposing or not believing in the existence of something.

denomination: A name for a class of things, especially for various religious groupings, sects and subsects. See: parampara, sampradaya.

denote: To indicate, signify or refer to.

deplore: To be regretful or sorry about; to lament, disapprove.

deploy: To spread out; rearrange into an effective pattern.

deportment: The manner of bearing or conducting oneself; behavior.

depraved: Immoral; corrupt; bad; perverted.

desirous: Having a longing or desire; motivated by desire.

despair: The state of having lost or given up hope.

despise: To strongly dislike; look down upon with contempt or scorn.

destiny: Final outcome. The seemingly inevitable or predetermined course of events. See: adrishta, fate, karma.

Destroyer: Term for God Siva in His aspect of Rudra. See: Nataraja.

deva: (Sanskrit) "Shining one." A being living in the higher astral plane, in a subtle, nonphysical body. Deva is also used in scripture to mean "God or Deity." See: Mahadeva.

Devaloka: (Sanskrit) "Plane of radiant beings." A synonym of Maharloka, the higher astral plane, realm of anahata chakra. See: loka.

devamandira: (Sanskrit) "Abode of celestial beings." From mand, "to stand or tarry." A Hindu temple; also simply mandira. See: temple.

Devanagari: (Sanskrit) "Divine city [script]." The alphabetic script in which Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi and Marathi are written. A descendant of the Northern type of the Brahmi script. It is characterized by the connecting, horizontal line at the top of the letters. See: Sanskrit.

Devi: (Sanskrit) "Goddess." A name of Shakti, used especially in Shaktism. See: Shakti, Shaktism.

Devi Bhagavata Purana: (Sanskrit) A subsidiary text of the Siva Puranas.

Devi Gita: (Sanskrit) Twelve chapters (29 to 40) from the 7th book of Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, a Shakta scripture. It teaches external worship of the Deity with form and meditation on the Deity beyond form.

Devikalottara Agama: (Sanskrit) One recension (version) of the Sardha Trishati Kalottara Agama, (Sanskrit) a subsidiary text of Vatula Agama. (Sanskrit) Also known as Skanda Kalottara. (Sanskrit) Its 350 verses are in the form of a dialog between Karttikeya and Siva and deal with esoterics of mantras, initiations, right knowledge, faith and worship of Siva. See: Saiva Agamas.

Devi Upanishad: (Sanskrit) A Shakta Upanishad dealing with the nature and worship of the Goddess. See: Shaktism.

devoid: Completely without; empty.

devonic: Of or relating to the devas or their world. See: deva.

devotee: A person strongly dedicated to something or someone, such as to a God or a guru. The term disciple implies an even deeper commitment. See: guru bhakti.

Dhammapada: (Sanskrit) The holy book of Buddhism. See: Buddhism.

Dhanurveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of archery." A class of ancient texts on the military arts, comprising the Upaveda of the Yajur Veda. Dhanurveda teaches concentration, meditation, hatha yoga, etc., as integral to the science of warfare. See: Upaveda.

dharana: (Sanskrit) "Concentration." From dri, "to hold." See: meditation, raja yoga, shraddadharana, yoga.

dharma: (Sanskrit) "Righteousness." From dhri, "to sustain; carry, hold." Hence dharma is "that which contains or upholds the cosmos." Dharma, religion, is a complex and all-inclusive term with many meanings, including: divine law, law of being, way of righteousness, religion, ethics, duty, responsibility, virtue, justice, goodness and truth. Essentially, dharma is the orderly fulfillment of an inherent nature or destiny. Relating to the soul, it is the mode of conduct most conducive to spiritual advancement, the right and righteous path. There are four principal kinds of dharma, as follows. They are known collectively as--chaturdharma: "four religious laws." 1)--rita: "Universal law." The inherent order of the cosmos. The laws of being and nature that contain and govern all forms, functions and processes, from galaxy clusters to the power of mental thought and perception. 2) --varna dharma : (Sanskrit) "Law of one's kind." Social duty. Varna can mean "race, tribe, appearance, character, color, social standing, etc." Varna dharma defines the individual's obligations and responsibilities within the nation, society, community, class, occupational subgroup and family. An important part of this dharma is religious and moral law. See: jati, varna dharma. 3) ashrama dharma: "Duties of life's stages." Human or developmental dharma. The natural process of maturing from childhood to old age through fulfillment of the duties of each of the four stages of life--brahmachari (student), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (elder advisor) and sannyasa (religious solitaire)--in pursuit of the four human goals: dharma (righteousness), artha (wealth), kama (pleasure) and moksha (liberation). See: ashrama dharma. 4) svadharma : "Personal path, pattern or obligation." One's perfect individual pattern through life, according to one's own particular physical, mental and emotional nature. Svadharma is determined by the sum of past karmas and the cumulative effect of the other three dharmas. It is the individualized application of dharma, dependent on personal karma, reflected on one's race, community, physical characteristics, health, intelligence, skills and aptitudes, desires and tendencies, religion, sampradaya, family and guru.

Within ashrama dharma, the unique duties of man and woman are respectively called stri dharma and purusha dharma. --purusha dharma: "Man's duty." Man's proper pattern of conduct; traditional observances, vocation, behavior and attitudes dictated by spiritual wisdom. Characterized by leadership, integrity, accomplishment, sustenance of the family. Notably, the married man works in the world and sustains his family as abundantly as he can.--stri dharma: (Sanskrit) "Woman's duty." Traditional conduct, observances, vocational and spiritual patterns which bring spiritual fulfillment and societal stability. Characterized by modesty, quiet strength, religiousness, dignity and nurturing of family. Notably, she is most needed and irreplaceable as the maker of the home and the educator of their children as noble citizens of tomorrow. See: grihastha dharma.

A part of the varna dharma of each person is sadharana dharma--the principles of good conduct applicable to all people regardless of age, gender or class.--sadharana dharma: "Duties applicable to all." Listed in the Manu Shastras as: dhairya (steadfastness), kshama (forgiveness), dama (self-restraint), chauryabhava (nonstealing), shaucha (cleanliness), indriyanigraha (sense control), dhi (high-mindedness), vidya (learning), satya (veracity), akrodha (absence of anger). Another term for such virtues is --samanya dharma: "general duty," under which scriptures offer similar lists of ethical guidelines. These are echoed and expanded in the yamas and niyamas, "restraints and observances." See: yama-niyama.

One other important division of dharma indicates the two paths within Hinduism, that of the family person, the grihastha dharma, and that of the monastic, the sannyasa dharma.--grihastha dharma: "Householder duty." The duties, ideals and responsibilities of all nonmonastics, whether married or unmarried. This dharma, which includes the vast majority of Hindus, begins when the period of studentship is complete and extends until the end of life. See: grihastha dharma. --sannyasa dharma: "Monastic duty." Above and beyond all the other dharmas ("ati-varnashrama dharma") is sannyasa dharma--the ideals, principles and rules of renunciate monks. It is the highest dharma. See: sannyasa dharma.

--apad dharma: "Emergency conduct." This dharma embodies the principle that the only rigid rule is wisdom, and thus exceptional situations may require deviating from normal rules of conduct, with the condition that such exceptions are to be made only for the sake of others, not for personal advantage. These are notable exceptions, made in cases of extreme distress or calamity.

--adharma: "Unrighteousness." Thoughts, words or deeds that transgress divine law in any of the human expressions of dharma. It brings the accumulation of demerit, called papa, while dharma brings merit, called punya. Varna adharma is violating the ideals of social duty, from disobeying the laws of one's nation to squandering family wealth. Ashrama adharma is failure to fulfill the duties of the stages of life. Sva-adharma is understood as not fulfilling the patterns of dharma according to one's own nature. The Bhagavad Gita states (18.47), "Better one's svadharma even imperfectly performed than the dharma of another well performed. By performing the duty prescribed by one's own nature (svabhava) one incurs no sin (kilbisha)." See: punya, papa, purity-impurity, varna dharma.

dharmasabha: (Sanskrit) "Religious assembly, congregation." A church.

Dharma Shastra: (Sanskrit) "Religious law book." A term referring to all or any of numerous codes of Hindu civil and social law composed by various authors. The best known and most respected are those by Manu and Yajnavalkya, thought to have been composed as early as 600 bce. The Dharma Shastras, along with the Artha Shastras, are the codes of Hindu law, parallel to the Muslim Sharia, the Jewish Talmud, each of which provides guidelines for kings, ministers, judicial systems and law enforcement agencies. These spiritual-parliamentary codes differ from British and American law, which separate religion from politics. (Contemporary British law is influenced by Anglican Christian thought, just as American democracy was, and is, profoundly affected by the philosophy of its non-Christian, Deistic founders.) The Dharma Shastras also speak of much more, including creation, initiation, the stages of life, daily rites, duties of husband and wife, caste, Vedic study, penances and transmigration. The Dharma Shastras are part of the Smriti literature, included in the Kalpa Vedanga, and are widely available today in many languages. See: Deism, Manu Dharma Shastras.

dhoti: (Sanskrit) (Hindi) A long, unstitched cloth wound about the lower part of the body, and sometimes passed between the legs and tucked into the waist. A traditional Hindu apparel for men. See: veshti.

dhriti: (Sanskrit) "Steadfastness." See: yama-niyama.

dhvaja: (Sanskrit) "Flag." Part of the pageantry of Hinduism, orange or red flags and banners, flown at festivals and other special, occasions symbolize the victory of Sanatana Dharma. See: festival.

dhvajastambha: (Sanskrit) "Flag tree, flagpole." (Kodimaram in Tamil.) A tall cylindrical post usually behind the vahana in Agamic temples. Metaphysically, it acts as the complementary pole to the enshrined murti. These two together create an energy field to contain the temple's power. See: temple.

dhyana: (Sanskrit) "Meditation." See: internalized worship, meditation, raja yoga.

dichotomy: A division into two parts, usually sharply distinguished or contradictory. See: paradox.

Dieu Siva est amour omnipresent et Realite transcendante: French for "God Siva is Immanent Love and Transcendent Reality." It is an affirmation of faith which capsulizes the entire creed of monistic Saiva Siddhanta.

differentiation: State or condition of making or perceiving a difference.

diksha: (Sanskrit) "Initiation." Solemn induction by which one is entered into a new realm of awareness and practice by a teacher or preceptor through the bestowing of blessings and the transmission of pranas. Denotes initial or deepened connection with the teacher and his lineage and is usually accompanied by ceremony. Initiation, revered as a moment of awakening, may be conferred by a touch, a word, a look or a thought. Most Hindu schools, and especially Saivism, teach that only with initiation from a satguru is enlightenment attainable. Sought after by all Hindus is the diksha called shaktipata, "descent of grace," which, often coming unbidden, stirs and arouses the mystic kundalini force. Central Saivite dikshas include samaya, vishesha, nirvana and abhisheka. See: grace, shaktipata, sound.

Dipavali: (Sanskrit) "Row of Lights." A very popular home and community festival during which Hindus of all denominations light oil or electric lights and set off fireworks in a joyful celebration of the victory of good over evil, light over darkness. It is a Hindu solidarity day and is considered the greatest national festival of India. In several countries, including Nepal, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Trinidad and Tobago, it is an inter-religious event and a national holiday. It occurs in October-November.

dipolar: Relating to two poles instead of only one. A philosophy is said to be dipolar when it embraces both of two contradictory (or apparently contradictory) propositions, concepts, tendencies, etc. For example, panentheism is dipolar in that it accepts the truth of God's being (and being in) the world, and also the truth that He transcends the world. Instead of saying "it is either this or that," a dipolar position says "it is both this and that." See: dvaita-advaita.

discordant: Not in accord. Disagreeing; clashing; out of harmony.

discrimination: Viveka. Act or ability to distinguish or perceive differences. In spirituality, the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, real and apparent, eternal and transient, as in the Upanishadic maxim, Neti, neti, "It is not this, it is not that." See: conscience.

disheveled: Untidy hair, clothing or general appearance. Rumpled.

dismay: Loss of courage or confidence before danger. Fearful worry.

dispassionate: Free from emotion or passion. Calm; impartial; detached.

dispatch: To send off promptly, especially on an errand. To finish quickly.

dispel: To cause to go in various directions. To scatter and drive away; disperse.

dissolution: Dissolving or breaking up into parts. An alternative term for destruction. See: absorption, mahapralaya, Nataraja.

distort: To twist out of shape. To misrepresent.

divergent: Going off in different directions; deviating or varying.

Divine Mother: Shakti, especially as Personal Goddess, as conceived of and worshiped by Shaktas. See: Shakti, Shaktism.

dominion: Rulership; domain.--hold dominion over: To be king, ruler, lord, or master of (a world, realm, etc).

don: To put on (a piece of clothing).

door of Brahman: Brahmarandhra; also called nirvana chakra. A subtle or esoteric aperture in the crown of the head, the opening of sushumna nadi through which kundalini enters in ultimate Self Realization, and the spirit escapes at death. Only the spirits of the truly pure leave the body in this way. Samsaris take a downward course. See: jnana, kundalini, videhamukti.

dormant: Sleeping; inactive; not functioning.

dosha: (Sanskrit) "Bodily humor; individual constitution." Three bodily humors, which according to ayurveda regulate the body, govern its proper functioning and determine its unique constitution. These are vata, the air humor; pitta, the fire humor; and kapha, the water humor. Vata has its seat in the intestinal area, pitta in the stomach, and kapha in the lung area. They govern the creation, preservation and dissolution of bodily tissue. Vata humor is metabolic, nerve energy. Pitta is the catabolic, fire energy. Kapha is the anabolic, nutritive energy. The three doshas (tridosha) also give rise to the various emotions and correspond to the three gunas, "qualities:" sattva (quiescence--vata), rajas (activity--pitta) and tamas (inertia--kapha). See: ayurveda, kapha, pitta, vata.

dross: Waste matter; useless byproduct.

dual: Having or composed of two parts or kinds. --duality: A state or condition of being dual.--realm of duality: The phenomenal world, where each thing exists along with its opposite: joy and sorrow, etc.

dualism: See: dvaita-advaita.

duly: At the proper time, in the proper manner; as required.

Durga: (Sanskrit) "She who is incomprehensible or difficult to reach." A form of Shakti worshiped in Her gracious as well as terrifying aspect. Destroyer of demons, She is worshiped during an annual festival called Durga puja, especially popular among Bengalis. See: Shakti, Shaktism.

Durvasas: (Sanskrit) A great sage (date unknown) who, according to Kashmir Saivism, was commissioned by Lord Siva to revive the knowledge of the Saiva Agamas, whereupon he created three "mind-born" sons--Tryambaka to disseminate advaita, Srinatha to teach monistic theism, and Amardaka to postulate dualism.

dvaita-advaita: (Sanskrit) "Dual-nondual; twoness-not twoness." Among the most important terms in the classification of Hindu philosophies. Dvaita and advaita define two ends of a vast spectrum.--dvaita: The doctrine of dualism, according to which reality is ultimately composed of two irreducible principles, entities, truths, etc. God and soul, for example, are seen as eternally separate. --dualistic: Of or relating to dualism, concepts, writings, theories which treat dualities (good-and-evil, high-and-low, them-and-us) as fixed, rather than transcendable. --pluralism: A form of non-monism which emphasizes three or more eternally separate realities, e.g., God, soul and world.--advaita: The doctrine of nondualism or monism, that reality is ultimately composed of one whole principle, substance or God, with no independent parts. In essence, all is God.--monistic theism: A dipolar view which encompasses both monism and dualism. See: anekavada, dipolar, monistic theism, pluralistic realism.

dvaitic (dvaita) Siddhanta: (Sanskrit) "Dualistic final conclusions." Refers to schools of Saiva Siddhanta that postulate God, soul and world as three eternally distinct and separate realities. See: Pati-pashu-pasha, Saiva Siddhanta.

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earrings: Decorative jewelry worn in the ears by Hindu women and many men. Yogis, especially those of the Natha tradition, wear large earrings to stimulate the psychic nadis connected to the ears. Traditionally, the ascetic Kanphatis ("split-eared ones") split the cartilage of their ears to accommodate massive earrings. Ear-piercing for earrings is said to bring health (right ear) and wealth (left ear). See: Kanphati, samskaras of childhood.

ecclesiastical: "Of the church or clergy." By extension, relating to the authoritative body of any religion, sect or lineage. Having to do with an assembly of spiritual leaders and their jurisdiction.

ecology: The science of relations between organisms and their environment.

ecstasy (ecstatic): State of being overtaken by emotion such as joy or wonder. Literally, "standing outside oneself." See: enstasy, samadhi.

ecumenical: General or universal. --ecumenism: the principles or practices of promoting worldwide cooperation and better understanding among differing denominations, especially among Christians. From the Greek oecumene, "the inhabited world." A Christian term. The broader term interfaith is used by all religions striving for peace and harmony.

efficacious: Producing or capable of producing the desired effect.

efficient cause: Nimitta karana. That which directly produces the effect; that which conceives, makes, shapes, etc. See: cause.

effulgent: Bright, radiant; emitting its own light.

egalitarian: Equalitarian. Characterized by the belief in the equal sharing of powers, rights or responsibility among all people.

ego: The external personality or sense of "I" and "mine." Broadly, individual identity. In Saiva Siddhanta and other schools, the ego is equated with the tattva of ahamkara, "I-maker," which bestows the sense of I-ness, individuality and separateness from God. See: ahamkara, anava.

eligible: Qualified; suitable; desirable.

eliminate: To remove; get rid of; reject.

elixir: Hypothetical substance that would change any metal into gold or prolong life indefinitely. An English term for soma, a magical beverage celebrated in ancient Vedic hymns and which played an important role in worship rites. See: amrita.

elliptical: Having the shape of an ellipse (more or less egg-shaped).

elusive: Tending to escape one's grasp or understanding. Hard to capture.

emanation: To "flow out from." Abhasa. To come forth from a source, to be emitted or issued from. A monistic doctrine of creation whereby God issues forth manifestation like rays from the sun or sparks from a fire. See: abhasa.

emancipator: That which, or one who, liberates.

eminent: High; above others in stature, rank or achievement. Renowned or distinguished; prominent, conspicuous. Not to be confused with: 1) imminent, about to happen; 2) emanate, to issue from; 3) immanent, inherent or indwelling.

empower: To give power or authority to a person or society. Strengthen.

emulate: To imitate. To attempt to equal or surpass someone, generally by copying his ways, talents or successes.

encompass: To surround or encircle; to include.

endow: To give. To provide with a quality or characteristic.

enhance: To improve, make better.

enlightened: Having attained enlightenment, Self Realization. A jnani or jivanmukta. See: jivanmukta, jnana, Self Realization.

enlightenment: For Saiva monists, Self Realization, samadhi without seed (nirvikalpa samadhi); the ultimate attainment, sometimes referred to as Paramatma darshana, or as atma darshana, "Self vision" (a term which appears in Patanjali's Yoga Sutras). Enlightenment is the experience-nonexperience resulting in the realization of one's transcendent Self--Parasiva--which exists beyond time, form and space. Each tradition has its own understanding of enlightenment, often indicated by unique terms. See: God Realization, kundalini, nirvikalpa samadhi, Self Realization.

enshrine: To enclose in a shrine. To hold as sacred and worthy of worship.

enstasy: A term coined in 1969 by Mircea Eliade to contrast the Eastern view of bliss as "standing inside oneself" (enstasy) with the Western view as ecstasy, "standing outside oneself." A word chosen as the English equivalent of samadhi. See: ecstasy, samadhi, raja yoga.

enthrall: To hold in a spell; captivate; fascinate.

entourage: A group of accompanying attendants, associates or assistants.

entreat: To ask earnestly; to beseech, implore, plead or beg.

epic history: Long narrative poem in a high style about grand exploits of Gods and heroes. The Ramayana and Mahabharata are India's two great epic histories, called Itihasa. See: Itihasa, Mahabharata, Ramayana.

equanimity: The quality of remaining calm and undisturbed. Evenness of mind; composure.

equilibrium: Evenly balanced. A quality of good spiritual leadership. "Having attained an equilibrium of ida and pingala, he becomes a knower of the known." See: jnana.

equivalent: Equal, or nearly so, in quantity, volume, force, meaning, etc.

erotic: "Of love (from the Greek eros)." Of or arousing sexual passion.

erroneous: Containing or based on error; wrong.

eschew: To shun, avoid, stay away from.

esoteric: Hard to understand or secret. Teaching intended for a chosen few, as an inner group of initiates. Abtruse or private.

essence (essential): The ultimate, real and unchanging nature of a thing or being.--essence of the soul: See: atman, soul.

esteem: To respect highly; to value.

estranged: "Made a stranger." Set apart or divorced from.

eternity: Time without beginning or end.

ether: A kasha. Space, the most subtle of the five elements. See: akasha, tattva.

ethics: The code or system of morals of a nation, people, religion, etc. See: dharma, pancha nitya karmas, punya, purity-impurity.

etymology: The science of the origin of words and their development. The history of a word. See: Nirukta Vedanga, Sanskrit.

evil: That which is bad, morally wrong, causing harm, pain, misery. In Western religions, evil is often thought of as a moral antagonism to God. This force is the source of sin and is attached to the soul from its inception. Whereas, for Hindus, evil is not a conscious, dark force, such as Satan. It is situational rather than ontological, meaning it has its basis in relative conditions, not in ultimate reality. Evil (badness, corruption) springs from ignorance (avidya) and immaturity. Nor is one fighting with God when he is evil, and God is not standing in judgment. Within each soul, and not external to it, resides the principle of judgment of instinctive-intellectual actions. God, who is ever compassionate, blesses even the worst sinner, the most depraved asura, knowing that individual will one day emerge from lower consciousness into the light of love and understanding. Hindus hold that evil, known in Sanskrit as papa, papman or dushta, is the result of unvirtuous acts (papa or adharma) caused by the instinctive-intellectual mind dominating and obscuring deeper, spiritual intelligence. (Note: both papa and papman are used as nouns and adjectives.) The evil-doer is viewed as a young soul, ignorant of the value of right thought, speech and action, unable to live in the world without becoming entangled in maya.--intrinsic evil: Inherent, inborn badness. Some philosophies hold that man and the world are by nature imperfect, corrupt or evil. Hinduism holds, on the contrary, that there is no intrinsic evil, and the real nature of man is his divine, soul nature, which is goodness. See: hell, karma, papa, Satan, sin.

evoke: To call forth; to conjure up; to summon, as to summon a Mahadeva, a God. See: puja, yajna.

evolution of the soul: Adhyatma prasara. In Saiva Siddhanta, the soul's evolution is a progressive unfoldment, growth and maturing toward its inherent, divine destiny, which is complete merger with Siva. In its essence, each soul is ever perfect. But as an individual soul body emanated by God Siva, it is like a small seed yet to develop. As an acorn needs to be planted in the dark underground to grow into a mighty oak tree, so must the soul unfold out of the darkness of the malas to full maturity and realization of its innate oneness with God. The soul is not created at the moment of conception of a physical body. Rather, it is created in the Sivaloka. It evolves by taking on denser and denser sheaths--cognitive, instinctive-intellectual and pranic--until finally it takes birth in physical form in the Bhuloka. Then it experiences many lives, maturing through the reincarnation process. Thus, from birth to birth, souls learn and mature.

Evolution is the result of experience and the lessons derived from it. There are young souls just beginning to evolve, and old souls nearing the end of their earthly sojourn. In Saiva Siddhanta, evolution is understood as the removal of fetters which comes as a natural unfoldment, realization and expression of one's true, self-effulgent nature. This ripening or dropping away of the soul's bonds (mala) is called malaparipaka. The realization of the soul nature is termed svanubhuti (experience of the Self).

Self Realization leads to moksha, liberation from the three malas and the reincarnation cycles. Then evolution continues in the celestial worlds until the soul finally merges fully and indistinguishably into Supreme God Siva, the Primal Soul, Parameshvara. In his Tirumantiram, Rishi Tirumular calls this merger vishvagrasa, "total absorption. The evolution of the soul is not a linear progression, but an intricate, circular, many-faceted mystery. Nor is it at all encompassed in the Darwinian theory of evolution, which explains the origins of the human form as descended from earlier primates. See: Darwin's theory, mala, moksha, reincarnation, samsara, vishvagrasa.

exalt: To make high. To raise in status, glorify or praise.

excel: To stand out as better, greater, finer than others. To do well at something.

exclusive: Excluding all others. Saivites believe that there is no exclusive path to God, that no spiritual path can rightly claim that it alone leads to the goal.

exemplar: One regarded as worthy of imitation; a model. An ideal pattern to be followed by others.

exhaustive: "Drawn out." Very thorough; covering all details; leaving nothing out.

existence: "Coming or standing forth." Being; reality; that which is.

experience: From the Latin experior, "to prove; put to the test." Living through an event; personal involvement. In Sanskrit, anubhava.

expound: To explain or clarify, point by point.

extended family: Brihatkutumba or mahakutumba. One or more joint families plus their broader associations and affiliations. Unlike the joint family, whose members live in close proximity, the extended family is geographically widespread. The extended family is headed by the patriarch, called brihatkutumba pramukha (or mukhya), recognized as the leader by each joint family. He, in turn is under the guidance of the kulaguru, or family preceptor. It includes the following, in order of their precedence: priests of one's faith; elder men and women of the community; in-laws of married daughters; married daughters, granddaughters, great-granddaughters, and the spouses and children of these married girls; members of the staff and their families and those closely associated with the joint family business or home; maternal great-grandparents and grandparents, parents, uncles and their spouses, aunts and their spouses, children and grandchildren of these families; very close friends and their children; members of the community at large. See: grihastha, grihastha dharma, joint family.

extol: To praise highly.

exultant: Rejoicing greatly. Immensely happy or triumphant.