A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

Mänasa 112
Mänasa, also Mänasasarovara
A lake in the Himälayas on Mount
Kailäsa, believed to be native place of
swans who return there every year to
breed.
Mänasära
An ancient treatise on architecture, providing
much detail with regard to the
building of houses and temples, the
making of sculptures and the laying out
of towns.
Mänava Dharmä-ÿästra
See MANU-SMØTI.
Mandäkinï
The GA¢GÄ, especially the part that
flows through KEDARNÄTH (2).
maæõala (1) (‘circle’, ‘orb’)
One of the ten sections of the Øgveda.
maæõala (2)
Complex geometric design, used in
(tantric) rituals, to involve the entire
cosmos. It is used in the ground plan of
the Hindu temple, which is seen as a
miniature cosmos.
maæõala (3)
Consecrated enclosed space, or any circular
arrangements of religiously meaningful
objects, e.g. Braja-maöõala, the
area covered by places reminiscent of
Kø•æa around Mathurä–Vøndävana;
rasa-maæõala, the circular platform on
which the rasa dance is performed.
maöõala-nøtya (‘round dance’)
The dance of the GOPÏS around Kø•æa
and Rädhä, as desribed in the
Bhägavatam.
Maæõana Miÿra (eighth century CE)
Celebrated exponent of Purva
MÏMÄßSÄ, whom ŸA¢KARA (2) defeated
in a long debate.
Mandara
The mountain that the gods and ASURAS
used as stick during their CHURNING OF
THE OCEAN. It has been identified with a
mountain of that name in Bhägalpur.
Mändhätø
An ancient king after whom the
Mändhätø period (traditionally set at
2750–2550 BCE) has been named. Some
peculiar myths surround him. His
father, Yuvanäÿva, having been childless
for a long time, conceived him after
drinking some consecrated water and
gave birth to him from his right side.
When Mändhätø grew up he had three
sons as well as fifty daughters, all of
whom were married to an old sage
called Saubhari, who had assumed a
youthful form.
maæõira
See TEMPLE.
Mäæõukya Upani•ad
One of the principal Upani•ads, which
teaches the four stages of CONSCIOUS-
NESS and being. Gauõapada’s Kärikäs
(glosses) on it were the seminal text for
the development of Ÿaökara’s ADVAITA
VEDÄNTA.
Maögala
The planet Mars, identified with
KÄRTTIKEYA, the god of war. Son of Ÿiva
and the earth, he is also called
Bhümiputra (son of the earth) and
Lohita (red). Maögalavära (Tuesday) is
named after him.