Female Ascetics in Hinduism

Glossary of Hinduand Sanskrit Terms

Glossary of Hindu and Sanskrit Terms 189 adhikåra—right/obligation, entitlement åßrama—stage of life åßram—ascetics’ residence bhavuk—emotional brahmacårin (/brahmacåri£¥)—student, celibate ascetic, nai„†hika brahmacårin (/brahmacåri£¥)—lifelong celibate brahmin—priestly class dharma—religious duty d¥k„å—initiation dvija—twice-born ghå†s—stone steps in Benares, used for bathing and cremation g®hasthin—householder g®hi£/¥—male/female householder guru—spiritual preceptor guru-bahan—sisters-in-the-same-guru j¥vanmukta—liberated soul karma—actions k„atriya—warrior class Kumbha Melå—great festival of ascetics laukik—worldly, popular mahantin¥—abbess or prioress of a monastery ma‰gal/ma‰glik—auspicious(ness) mantra—verbal formula mok„a—spiritual release, liberation from sansår, “salvation” mukti—see mok„a niv®tti—resignation, quiescence prasåd—sanctified food 190 Glossary of Hindu (and Sanskrit) Terms prav®tti—activity puru„årtha—the four legitimate ends or goals of human beings ßakti—feminine principle samådhi—meditative trance samuccaya—“cumulation” (view of the four åßramas) sanskår (saµskåra)—life-transition ritual, initiation rite sansår (saµsåra)—endless cycle of birth-life-death-and-rebirth sannyås (saµnyåsa)—renunciation sannyåsin/¥ (saµnyåsin/¥)—male/female renouncer ßåstra—sacred text ßåstrik—textual (opposed to laukik) ߶dra—fourth, servile class tilak—sectarian marks t¥rtha—pilgrimage site upanayana—initiation into studentship (for men), marriage (for women) vaidik—of the Vedas vairågya—dispassion vaißya—merchant class vanaprastha—one who sets out for the forest var£a—status, class var£åßramadharma—the ideal world order (a social and ritual construct) våsanå—passion vikalpa—“option” (view of the four åßramas) ...