A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

161 sadhyä
hand Ÿäktism involves the use of the five
‘ms’, the transgression of ordinary
morality in secret forms of worship.
(See also DURGÄ; TANTRA (2).)
Ÿakuntalä
Daughter of the sage VIŸVAMITRA and the
APSARA MENÄ, whom INDRA had sent
down from heaven to seduce Viÿvamitra.
When Menä had to go back to heaven
she left the child in the care of birds
(ÿakuntas), and thus she was called
Ÿakuntalä. She was brought up in a forest
hermitage by a sage called Kanva.
King Du•yanta saw her, was charmed by
her and asked her to marry him. She bore
him a son, named BHARATA (4), who
became a universl monarch. India was
called Bhärata after him. The Ÿakuntalä
story was very popular with Indian
dramatists. One of the most famous
plays by KÄLIDÄSA is Ÿakuntalä (translated
into most Western languages).
ÿäla-gräma
A round ammonite, found in the
Gandak river of Nepal, held sacred by
VAIÆŒAVAS as an emblem of Vi•æu.
Most Vai•æavas either carry a ÿälagräma
or keep one or more in their homes.
samädhi (1)
(‘concentration’, ‘mindfulness’)
The title of one of the sections of the
Yoga Sütras.
samädhi (2)
A stage in the process of YOGA (‘contemplation’).
samädhi (3)
A memorial chapel erected over the
tomb of a saint.
säman (‘tune’)
As in Sämaveda, the Veda containing
the tunes according to which the hymns
of the Øgveda are to be chanted.
Sämaveda
The third of the four vedic saƒhitäs,
dealing with sämans or melodies
appropriate to the øks or verses of the
Øgveda. The text as it is preserved
exists in three recensions: Kauthuma,
Räæäyanïya and Jaiminïya. The text
was commented upon by Säyaæa in the
14th century. Most of the verses are
identical with the verses in the Øgveda.
The most ancient melodies have not
been preserved; the notations which we
possess are of a relatively late time. (See
also VEDA.)
Sambandhar, also
Jñanasambandhar
(seventh century)
A famous poet and preacher of ŸAIVISM
in South India at a time when most had
turned Jainas. While the King of
Madurai had converted to JAINISM, his
chief queen and his chief minister had
remained Ÿaivites. With their help
Sambandhar arranged a debate with a
large number of Jain monks, whom he
defeated. The king then re-converted
to Ÿaivism. According to tradition
Sambandhar persuaded the king to
impale 8,000 Jains. In another part of
the Tamil country he brought back a
large number of Jains and Buddhists to
Ÿaivism. His hymns are still widely sung
in Ÿiva temples.
sadhyä (1), also sandhyä
(‘joining’, ‘twilight’ [both of morning
and of evening])
Personified as daughter of BRAHMÄ and
wife of ŸIVA.
sadhyä (2)
Obligatory rituals to be performed by
brahmins at dawn and dusk.