Authors: Wendy Doniger
The Hindus (120 page)
Krita Yuga:
the first, or Winning Age
the first, or Winning Age
Kshatriyas :
the class of warriors and kings
the class of warriors and kings
Kshetrayya:
a poet, 1622-1673 CE, who wrote poems to Krishna in Telugu
a poet, 1622-1673 CE, who wrote poems to Krishna in Telugu
Kula:
“the family,” name for a Tantric sect
“the family,” name for a Tantric sect
Kumbhakarna:
“Pot Ear,” a brother of Ravana, in the
Ramayana
“Pot Ear,” a brother of Ravana, in the
Ramayana
Kundalini:
“the encircling,” name of a coiled spinal power energized through Tantric yoga
“the encircling,” name of a coiled spinal power energized through Tantric yoga
Kunti:
a wife of Pandu, mother of the Pandavas and of Karna (all fathered by gods), in the
Mahabharata
a wife of Pandu, mother of the Pandavas and of Karna (all fathered by gods), in the
Mahabharata
Kutsa:
a son of Indra, in the Brahmanas
a son of Indra, in the Brahmanas
Lakshmana:
brother of Rama, in the
Ramayana
brother of Rama, in the
Ramayana
Lakshmi:
goddess of fortune, wife of Vishnu and of earthly kings
goddess of fortune, wife of Vishnu and of earthly kings
Lakulisha:
“Lord Holding a Club,” founder of the Pashupata sect of Shaivas
“Lord Holding a Club,” founder of the Pashupata sect of Shaivas
Lanka:
a mythical island ruled by the ogre Ravana
a mythical island ruled by the ogre Ravana
Laukification:
the process by which the Sanskritic tradition absorbs popular (
laukika
[“of the people,”
loka
]) traditions
the process by which the Sanskritic tradition absorbs popular (
laukika
[“of the people,”
loka
]) traditions
left-hand:
sinister or unclean, said by Hindus who think they are the right hand, about other Hindus, particularly certain Tantrics
sinister or unclean, said by Hindus who think they are the right hand, about other Hindus, particularly certain Tantrics
Lemuria:
mythical supercontinent said to have once connected India and Australia
mythical supercontinent said to have once connected India and Australia
linga:
“sign,” a sign of sex, particularly the male sexual organ, more particularly the sexual organ of the god Shiva; also regarded as an abstract symbol of Shiva
“sign,” a sign of sex, particularly the male sexual organ, more particularly the sexual organ of the god Shiva; also regarded as an abstract symbol of Shiva
Lingayat:
a South Indian sect of Shaivas, also known as Virashaivas and Charanas
a South Indian sect of Shaivas, also known as Virashaivas and Charanas
Lokayatas :
Materialists, also called Charvakas
Materialists, also called Charvakas
Ms, the five:
the five elements of Tantric ritual (
mansa, matsya, madya, mudra, maithuna). See also
Fs, the five
the five elements of Tantric ritual (
mansa, matsya, madya, mudra, maithuna). See also
Fs, the five
Madhva:
a philosopher, c. 1238-1317 CE, in Karnataka, exponent of the Dvaita (dualist) school
a philosopher, c. 1238-1317 CE, in Karnataka, exponent of the Dvaita (dualist) school
Madri:
a wife of Pandu in the
Mahabharata;
mother of the twins Nakula and Sahadeva
a wife of Pandu in the
Mahabharata;
mother of the twins Nakula and Sahadeva
Mahabharata:
the longer of the two great Sanskrit epics, attributed to the sage Vyasa
the longer of the two great Sanskrit epics, attributed to the sage Vyasa
Mahadevi:
“the great goddess”
“the great goddess”
Mahadevyyakka:
twelfth-century CE woman, Virashaiva saint and poet
twelfth-century CE woman, Virashaiva saint and poet
Mahisha:
“the buffalo,” a buffalo antigod killed by Durga
“the buffalo,” a buffalo antigod killed by Durga
Mahisha-mardini:
“buffalo crushing,” an epithet of Durga
“buffalo crushing,” an epithet of Durga
maithuna:
“pairing,” sexual coupling
“pairing,” sexual coupling
Mallanna:
a Maharashtrian god who often takes the form of a dog
a Maharashtrian god who often takes the form of a dog
Mandavya:
a sage, unjustly impaled on a stake, in the
Mahabharata
a sage, unjustly impaled on a stake, in the
Mahabharata
Manikkavacakar:
nineth-century CE Shaiva poet, author of the
Tiruvacakam
nineth-century CE Shaiva poet, author of the
Tiruvacakam
Mankanaka:
a sage who danced too much
a sage who danced too much
mamsa:
flesh
flesh
Manu:
a mythical sage, author of a dharma text
a mythical sage, author of a dharma text
Marathas :
a people of Maharashtra
a people of Maharashtra
Marathi:
language of Maharashtra
language of Maharashtra
mare Fire
(
Vadava-agni
): submarine fire in the mouth of a mare
(
Vadava-agni
): submarine fire in the mouth of a mare
Mariamma:
South Indian goddess with the head of a Brahmin woman and the body of a Dalit woman
South Indian goddess with the head of a Brahmin woman and the body of a Dalit woman
Maricha:
ogre ally of Ravana, who takes the form of a deer to delude Sita
ogre ally of Ravana, who takes the form of a deer to delude Sita
Maruts :
wind gods
wind gods
matt:
a Hindu theological school
a Hindu theological school
Mauryas :
a great dynasty, from 324 to 185 BCE
a great dynasty, from 324 to 185 BCE
Meru:
the great mountain at the center of the world
the great mountain at the center of the world
Mimamsa:
the philosophy of logic
the philosophy of logic
Mirabai:
Hindi poet and woman saint, devotee of Krishna, 1498-1597 CE
Hindi poet and woman saint, devotee of Krishna, 1498-1597 CE
Mitra:
“Friend,” a Vedic god closely linked with Varuna
“Friend,” a Vedic god closely linked with Varuna
mlecchas
: barbarians
: barbarians
Mohenjo-Daro:
a great city in the Indus Valley, c. 2500 BCE
a great city in the Indus Valley, c. 2500 BCE
moksha:
Release, from the circle of transmigration
Release, from the circle of transmigration
monism:
doctrine that the universe is made of one divine substance
doctrine that the universe is made of one divine substance
mrigas :
wild beasts, in contrast with
pashus
, domesticated or sacrificial beasts; also a word for deer
wild beasts, in contrast with
pashus
, domesticated or sacrificial beasts; also a word for deer
Mrityu:
death
death
Murukan:
South Indian god identified with Skanda
South Indian god identified with Skanda
Muttal Ravuttan:
a Muslim horseman, a South Indian Hindu folk hero
a Muslim horseman, a South Indian Hindu folk hero
nabob:
name given to British rulers of India
name given to British rulers of India
Nachiketas :
a boy who goes to the underworld and learns about death, in the Upanishads
a boy who goes to the underworld and learns about death, in the Upanishads
Nakula:
one of the twin sons of Madri, fathered by the Ashvins, in the
Mahabharata
one of the twin sons of Madri, fathered by the Ashvins, in the
Mahabharata
Nammalvar
(“Our Alvar”): the last of the great Alvars, in the ninth century
(“Our Alvar”): the last of the great Alvars, in the ninth century
Nanda:
name of the cowherd who adopts Krishna, in the Puranas
name of the cowherd who adopts Krishna, in the Puranas
Nandas :
dynasty that preceded the Mauryas
dynasty that preceded the Mauryas
Nandin:
the bull of the god Shiva, sometimes his doorkeeper or son
the bull of the god Shiva, sometimes his doorkeeper or son
Nantanar:
in Tamil myth, a Pariah who went through fire to purify himself because he was not allowed to enter a temple
in Tamil myth, a Pariah who went through fire to purify himself because he was not allowed to enter a temple
Nara-simha:
“Man-Lion,” an avatar of Vishnu, savior of Prahlada
“Man-Lion,” an avatar of Vishnu, savior of Prahlada
Nasatyas :
a name of the Ashvins
a name of the Ashvins
Nastikas :
“people who say, ‘It does not exist,’ ” atheists
“people who say, ‘It does not exist,’ ” atheists
nawab :
name given to Muslim rulers under the British Raj
name given to Muslim rulers under the British Raj
Nayakas :
dynasty that ruled much of South India, from Mysore, through the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
dynasty that ruled much of South India, from Mysore, through the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries
Nayanmars :
Tamil Shaiva saints (singular is “Nayanar”)
Tamil Shaiva saints (singular is “Nayanar”)
nir-guna:
“without qualities,” the undifferentiated, abstract of the godhead
“without qualities,” the undifferentiated, abstract of the godhead
nirvana:
“the blowing out of a flame,” release from the circle of transmigration
“the blowing out of a flame,” release from the circle of transmigration
Nishadas :
tribal peoples of ancient India
tribal peoples of ancient India
nondualism:
the philosophical view, expounded by Shankara, that god and the universe are made of one substance
the philosophical view, expounded by Shankara, that god and the universe are made of one substance
Nyaya:
logic, a philosophical school
logic, a philosophical school
Orientalism:
term coined by Edward Said to describe the attitude of Europeans toward “Orientals”
term coined by Edward Said to describe the attitude of Europeans toward “Orientals”
orthopraxy:
an emphasis on “straight behavior” rather than “straight thinking” (orthodoxy)
an emphasis on “straight behavior” rather than “straight thinking” (orthodoxy)
Pahlavas :
Sanskrit term for Parthians, the people whose empire occupied all of what is now Iran, Iraq, and Armenia
Sanskrit term for Parthians, the people whose empire occupied all of what is now Iran, Iraq, and Armenia
Pallavas :
South Indian dynasty that ruled from Kanchipuram, north of the Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras, from the fourth through the ninth century CE
South Indian dynasty that ruled from Kanchipuram, north of the Cholas, Pandyas, and Cheras, from the fourth through the ninth century CE
Pandavas :
the five sons of Pandu, in the
Mahabharata
, in order of birth: Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva
the five sons of Pandu, in the
Mahabharata
, in order of birth: Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva
pandit:
a learned man
a learned man
Pandu:
father of the Pandavas, born pale, cursed to die if he begot legal sons
father of the Pandavas, born pale, cursed to die if he begot legal sons
Pandyas :
a South Indian dynasty that ruled the eastern part of the southernmost tip of India from the time of Ashoka to well into the sixteenth century
a South Indian dynasty that ruled the eastern part of the southernmost tip of India from the time of Ashoka to well into the sixteenth century
Panis :
enemies of the Vedic people, accused of cattle theft
enemies of the Vedic people, accused of cattle theft
papa:
evil
evil
Parashurama:
“Rama with an Ax,” an avatar of Vishnu
“Rama with an Ax,” an avatar of Vishnu
Pariah:
Tamil word for a particular low caste of drummers, then extended to all the Dalit castes
Tamil word for a particular low caste of drummers, then extended to all the Dalit castes
Parsis :
“Persians,” Zoroastrians
“Persians,” Zoroastrians
Parvati:
“Daughter of the Mountain,” wife of Shiva
“Daughter of the Mountain,” wife of Shiva
pasha:
the “bond” that ties the individual soul (the
pashu
[“beast”]) to the god (
pati
[“protector”]) in the Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy
the “bond” that ties the individual soul (the
pashu
[“beast”]) to the god (
pati
[“protector”]) in the Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy
pashu:
domesticated or sacrificial beast
domesticated or sacrificial beast
Pashupatas:
followers of Shiva Pashupati, “Lord of Beasts,” antinomian and cynical
followers of Shiva Pashupati, “Lord of Beasts,” antinomian and cynical
Pataliputra:
city on the Ganges, the modern Patna
city on the Ganges, the modern Patna
Periya Purana:
a collection of stories about the Tamil Shaiva saints, by Cekkiyar, dated to the reign of the Chola king Kulottunka II, 1133-1150 CE
a collection of stories about the Tamil Shaiva saints, by Cekkiyar, dated to the reign of the Chola king Kulottunka II, 1133-1150 CE
pitha:
plinth or base of statue, particularly of a deity
plinth or base of statue, particularly of a deity
Prahlada:
a virtuous demon, saved from his wicked father by Vishnu in the form of the Man-Lion (Nara-simha)
a virtuous demon, saved from his wicked father by Vishnu in the form of the Man-Lion (Nara-simha)
Prajapati:
“Lord of Creatures,” the creator in the Vedas
“Lord of Creatures,” the creator in the Vedas
Prakrit:
“natural,” the actual spoken languages of ancient India, in contrast with Sanskrit
“natural,” the actual spoken languages of ancient India, in contrast with Sanskrit
prakriti:
“nature,” more particularly matter in contrast with spirit (in Sankhya philosophy)
“nature,” more particularly matter in contrast with spirit (in Sankhya philosophy)
pralaya:
dissolution or doomsday
dissolution or doomsday
pratiloma:
“against the grain”; more literally, “against the hair,” said in particular of marriages in which the woman is of a higher caste than the man
“against the grain”; more literally, “against the hair,” said in particular of marriages in which the woman is of a higher caste than the man
Prithivi:
“broad,” the earth
“broad,” the earth
Prithu:
the first king, who tamed the earth
the first king, who tamed the earth
puja:
worship, particularly with flowers and fruits, also sometimes with incense and other offerings
pukka:
“ripe” or “cooked,” perfected
worship, particularly with flowers and fruits, also sometimes with incense and other offerings
pukka:
“ripe” or “cooked,” perfected
Pulkasa:
name of one of the ancient Dalit castes
name of one of the ancient Dalit castes
puram:
in Sanskrit, a city or citadel; in Tamil, the public emotion, in contrast with
akam
in Sanskrit, a city or citadel; in Tamil, the public emotion, in contrast with
akam
Puranas:
compendiums of myth, ritual, and history, originally only in Sanskrit, later also in vernacular languages
compendiums of myth, ritual, and history, originally only in Sanskrit, later also in vernacular languages
purdah:
the seclusion of women, particularly behind screens in a house or palace
the seclusion of women, particularly behind screens in a house or palace
Purohita:
a family priest or royal chaplain
a family priest or royal chaplain
purusha:
“male,” the Primeval Man in the Vedas; later, any male animal; in Sankhya philosophy, spirit, self, or person
“male,” the Primeval Man in the Vedas; later, any male animal; in Sankhya philosophy, spirit, self, or person
purusha-arthas:
the three (later four) goals of life for a man
the three (later four) goals of life for a man
purva paksha:
“first wing,” statement of the opponent’s position at the start of an argument
“first wing,” statement of the opponent’s position at the start of an argument
Pushyamitra:
founder of the Shunga dynasty in 185 BCE
founder of the Shunga dynasty in 185 BCE
Putana:
a demoness who tried to kill Krishna
a demoness who tried to kill Krishna
Qualified Nondualism:
philosophy taught by Ramanuja, moderating the view that god and the worshiper are of the same substance
philosophy taught by Ramanuja, moderating the view that god and the worshiper are of the same substance
Radhakrishnan, Sarvepalli:
philosopher, the first president of India, 1888-1975
philosopher, the first president of India, 1888-1975
Raikva:
the first homeless person, in the Upanishads
the first homeless person, in the Upanishads
Raj:
short for
rajyam
[“kingdom”]; in particular, the British Raj, the British colonization of India
short for
rajyam
[“kingdom”]; in particular, the British Raj, the British colonization of India
raja:
king
king
rajas:
emotion or passion, one of the three
gunas
, or qualities of matter
emotion or passion, one of the three
gunas
, or qualities of matter
rajyam:
kingdom
kingdom
Rakshasas:
ogres, demonic creatures on earth
ogres, demonic creatures on earth
Rama:
a prince, an avatar of Vishnu, hero of the
Ramayana
a prince, an avatar of Vishnu, hero of the
Ramayana
Ramanuja:
a philosopher, exponent of Qualified Nondualism, from Tamil Nadu, c. 1056-1137 CE
a philosopher, exponent of Qualified Nondualism, from Tamil Nadu, c. 1056-1137 CE
Ramanujan, Attipat Krishnaswami:
poet, linguist, scholar of Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, 1929-1993
poet, linguist, scholar of Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada, 1929-1993
Ramayana:
one of the two great ancient Sanskrit epics, the story of Rama, attributed to the poet Valmiki
one of the two great ancient Sanskrit epics, the story of Rama, attributed to the poet Valmiki
Ram-raj (Hindi), Rama-rajya (Sanskrit):
perfect reign of Rama
perfect reign of Rama
Ranke, Leopold von:
a positivist German historian, 1795-1886
a positivist German historian, 1795-1886
Ravana:
an ogre (Rakshasa), ruler of the island of Lanka, enemy of Rama in the
Ramayana
an ogre (Rakshasa), ruler of the island of Lanka, enemy of Rama in the
Ramayana
Rig Veda:
the most ancient sacred text in India, composed c. 1500 BCE
the most ancient sacred text in India, composed c. 1500 BCE
rishi:
a sage
a sage
Rishyashringa:
a sage with a horn on his head, son of a sage and a female antelope
a sage with a horn on his head, son of a sage and a female antelope
Rudra:
“Howler,” a wild Vedic god, later a name of the Hindu god Shiva
“Howler,” a wild Vedic god, later a name of the Hindu god Shiva
sadharana dharma:
religious law that applies to everyone in common.
See also
dharma
religious law that applies to everyone in common.
See also
dharma
Sagara:
a king whose sons dug out the ocean, which is also called
sagara
a king whose sons dug out the ocean, which is also called
sagara
sa-guna:
“with qualities,” the differentiated, visualized aspect of the godhead
“with qualities,” the differentiated, visualized aspect of the godhead
Sahadeva:
one of the twin sons of Madri, fathered by the Ashvins, in the
Mahabharata
one of the twin sons of Madri, fathered by the Ashvins, in the
Mahabharata
sahib:
“master,” honorific title given to British rulers in India during the Raj
“master,” honorific title given to British rulers in India during the Raj
Sama Veda:
the Veda of hymns arranged for chanting
the Veda of hymns arranged for chanting
samkara:
mixture, in particular the mixing together of classes and/or castes
mixture, in particular the mixing together of classes and/or castes
samnyasa:
renunciation
renunciation
samsara:
the circle of transmigration
the circle of transmigration
sanatana dharma:
the eternal religious law.
See also
dharma
the eternal religious law.
See also
dharma
Sankhya:
a dualistic philosophy, dating from the time of the Upanishads, that divides the universe into a male purusha (spirit, self, or person) and a female prakriti (matter, nature)
a dualistic philosophy, dating from the time of the Upanishads, that divides the universe into a male purusha (spirit, self, or person) and a female prakriti (matter, nature)
Sanskrit:
the perfected or artificial language called the language of the gods; the language of the texts of ancient India
the perfected or artificial language called the language of the gods; the language of the texts of ancient India
Sanskritization:
process by which lower castes, imitating Brahmin ways of eating and dressing, raise their status
process by which lower castes, imitating Brahmin ways of eating and dressing, raise their status
Santoshi Ma:
goddess first worshiped in the 1960s, now extremely popular, largely as the result of a mythological film,
Jai Santoshi Ma
goddess first worshiped in the 1960s, now extremely popular, largely as the result of a mythological film,
Jai Santoshi Ma
Sarama:
bitch of the god Indra in the
Rig Veda,
who found stolen cows and brought them back
bitch of the god Indra in the
Rig Veda,
who found stolen cows and brought them back
Sarasvati River:
once a river in the Punjab, dried up long ago
once a river in the Punjab, dried up long ago
sati:
a good woman, particularly a devoted wife.
See also
suttee
a good woman, particularly a devoted wife.
See also
suttee
Sati:
wife of the god Shiva, daughter of Daksha, who committed suicide
wife of the god Shiva, daughter of Daksha, who committed suicide
Satnamis:
“Path of the True Name,” a sect, founded in the eastern Punjab in 1657, that worships gurus rather than gods
“Path of the True Name,” a sect, founded in the eastern Punjab in 1657, that worships gurus rather than gods
sattva:
“truth, goodness,” one of the three
gunas
or qualities of matter in Sankhya philosophy
“truth, goodness,” one of the three
gunas
or qualities of matter in Sankhya philosophy
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