A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

moon 120
moon
The hundreds of synonyms and epithets
for the moon in Hindu literature (e.g.
candra(mä), soma, ÿaÿï, ÿaÿäöka, rajanïkara,
niÿäketu, niÿäpati, tärädhipati
etc.) indicate its great importance. In
Vedic times the moon was believed to
be the abode of the blessed forefathers.
It was also believed to be the source of
nectar, which was distilled from its rays.
New moon (ämavasya) and full moon
(pürnimä) were the occasions of the
archetype of all Vedic ritual sacrifices
(darÿapürnamäsa), and the moon-days
(tithis) are the basic time units for religious
observances such as fasting. The
moon is worshipped in the form of the
god Soma in the Vedas, Candra in later
times, and has many other names. (See
also CALENDAR; SACRIFICE.)
mothers
See MÄTØKÄS.
møtyu-saskära
See ŸRADDHA.
Mudalvan
A Tamil god, later identified with ŸIVA.
mudrä (‘seal’)
This can also be a seal-ring, a mark, an
impression, a gesture, a medal or
stamped coin; mystery (in Tantricism);
certain positions of fingers, e.g. abhayamudrä,
gesture of reassurance.
muhürta
In general, a short period of time, an
instant; specifically, one-thirtieth of a day
(48 minutes). (See also TIME, DIVISIONS OF.)
Muktananda, Swami
(1908–83)
Founder of Siddha Dham, a KUŒ¥ALIŒÏ
Yoga meditation centre in Ganeshpuri,
near Bombay. On a world tour in 1974
he also found many Western disciples.
After his death Malti and Subhash
Chetty (Swami Cidvilasananda and
Swami Nityananda) continued the
ashram activities.
mukti
See LIBERATION.
Müller, Friedrich Max
(1823–1900)
Son of the German poet Wilhelm
Müller, ‘Max Müller’, as he is usually
called, spent most of his working life in
Oxford. While active in many fields –
he is called the founder of the discipline
of comparative religion, did groundbreaking
work in linguistics and in the
study of fables, edited and translated
Buddhist works – his contributions to
the study of Hinduism were so impressive
that Hindu pandits gave him the
title Mok•a Mülä (‘Root of
Liberation’). He published the first critical
text edition of the Øgveda with
Säyaæa’s commentary in six volumes
(1849–73), initiated the 50- volume
series Sacred Books of the East, to
which he contributed several volumes
of translations (Vedas, Upani•ads,
Gøhya Sütras), published a book on
Ramakrishna (1898) after meeting
Swami Vivekananda, and a course of
lectures on The Six Systems of Indian
Philosophy (1899). While some of his
work has been superseded by more
recent scholarship and some of his theories,
such as the Äryan invasion of
India and the chronology based on it,
have become controversial, his name is
held in high esteem in India as one of
the pioneers of Indology in the West.
Muæõaka Upani•ad
One of the principal Upani•ads, famous
for its distinction between para (higher)
and apara (lower) knowledge.