A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

Ø•abha 154
best known accomplishment is his successful
struggle for the abolition of SATÏ,
the burning alive of a widow on her
husband’s funeral pyre, which was
defended by many as part of the Hindu
tradition. To respond to appeals from
the pro-satï party he went to England,
where he died. He is buried in Bristol.
Ø•abha
The son of Näbhi, the great-grandson of
MANU (2) Sväyambhuva, and Meru,
father of BHARATA (2). After leaving his
kingdom to his son he became an ascetic
of great austerity. He is also held to be
the founder of Jainism.
ø•i
A sage or poet, especially one who composed
Vedic hymns. The ‘seven ø•is’
(saptar•i), the ‘mind-born sons of
Brahmä’, are proverbial. Among them
are Bhøgu, Gautama, Bharadväja,
Viÿvamitra, Vasi•flha, Atri and Aögiras
(the lists given in various sources are not
all the same). They are identified with
the seven stars of the Big Dipper. There
are many ancient and modern personalities
to whom the title ‘ø•i’ was given in
recognition of their wisdom.
Ø•ya-ÿøöga also Eka-ÿøöga
(‘deer-horned’, ‘unicorn’)
He was a descendant of KAŸYAPA and an
ascetic from childhood. He grew up in a
forest without any other human being
except his father. When the country of
Aöga was threatened by a severe
drought King Lomapäda, advised by his
brahmins, sent for Ø•yaÿøöga to marry
him to his daughter Ÿäntä, as rain was
promised as a result of their union.
Lured out from his hermitage by some
beautiful young women, he married
Ÿäntä and the desired rain fell. Ÿäntä
was in reality the daughter of King
DAŸARATHA, and Ø•ya•øöga performed
the SACRIFICE that resulted in the birth of
Räma. His story became very popular;
it was used by SAMNYÄSIS to warn young
ascetics against becoming familiar with
women. It can be found in the
Bhägavata Puräæa.
øta (‘cosmic order’)
The eternal moral law that governs the
universe. It parallels øtu, the sequence of
seasons, which in their regularity
embody constancy and lawfulness.
VARUŒA and MITRA are held to be the
guardians of øta.
øtu
The seasons, of which the Indians count
six: cool season (ÿi•ira); spring (vasanta);
hot season (grï•ma); rainy season
(var•a); autumn (ÿärada); snowy season
(hïma). Thus the word øtu sometimes
stands for the number six, or any fixed
period of time.
øtvik
A priest who officiates at a Vedic SACRI-
FICE. The four chief classes of priests are
Hotø, Udgatø, Adhvaryu and Brähmaæa.
Rudra
(‘terrible’, ‘howler’)
Mentioned in the Veda as a god of
death and destruction, feared and kept
away from sacrifices. Later identified
with Ÿiva, he represents this god’s fierce
side. He is also known as Bhava, Ÿarva,
Ïÿäna, Paÿupati, Bhïma, Ugra and
Mahädeva.
rudräk•a-mälä
A rosary made of the fruit of the
rudräk•a shrub, worn by ŸAIVITES
around the neck, used to count the repetitions
of MANTRAS (3). There are some
late Upani•ads that glorify it and its
effects.