A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

169 self
‘Hindutva’, in which he advocated a
distinction between Hinduism as a religion
(Hindu dharma), divided into many
saƒpradäyas (sects), and Hinduism as a
culture (HINDUTVA), which is supposed
to be one, became seminal for the further
development of political Hinduism.
Savitø (‘generator’)
A vedic name for the SUN, to whom
many hymns are addressed. Also the
title of an epic poem by AUROBINDO
GHOSE.
Säyaæa (14th century)
Celebrated commentator of the entire
Øgveda and author of other works. He
was the brother of Mädhaväcärya, and
lived at the court of VIJÄYANÄGARA.
säyujya (‘togetherness [with Vi•æu]’)
One of the forms of emancipation from
SAßSÄRA.
Schrader, Otto (1876–1961)
Renowned German Indologist, who
pioneered the study of the VAIÆŒAVA
saƒhitäs. After studies in Indology in
several European universities, he accepted
an appointment as director of the
library of the Theosophical Society at
Adyar (Madras) where he learnt Tamil,
Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. He
travelled widely to collect manuscripts for
the library. He is best known for his
pioneering work on PÄÑCARÄTRA. His
Introduction to the Päñcarätra and the
Ahirbudhnya Samhita (1916), written
while he was interned in Ahmednagar
during the First World War, became
seminal for the study of the Vai•æava
saƒhitäs. After his return to Germany
and as professor of Indology at Kiel
University he concentrated on studies on
the Bhagavadgïtä. He was honoured with
the title ‘Vidyäsägara’ by the Bhärata
Mahämandal in Väräæasï in 1924.
second birth
Initiation (UPANAYANA) and investiture
with the sacred thread given to the three
upper VARŒAS (Brahmaæas, K•atriyas,
Vaiÿyas) is called a ‘second birth’ and
the initiated are called dvijatis, ‘twiceborn’.
secularism
The Indian constitution, written under
prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s government,
declared India (Bhärat) ‘a secular
democracy’. Many traditional
Hindus resisted ‘secularism’ and wanted
India to be a Hindu rä•flra (state) and
Hinduism declared the state religion (as
Pakistan had declared Islam its state
religion). ‘Secularism’ was interpreted by
its defenders not as hostility towards
religion or dismissal of religion, but as
tolerance for all religions and impartiality
towards all. One of the consequences of
secularism was the injunction against
teaching Hinduism in public schools.
Secularism has become the main target of
the Hindu political parties who accuse
the Congress governments that ruled the
country for over four decades of having
legislated against Hindu DHARMA. They
strive to overthrow secularism.
self
The nature of the self has been conceived
in a great variety of ways in
Hindu thought and is one of the main
foci of all Hindu darÿanas (philosophical
systems). Many classical Hindu
scholarly works begin with a review and
critique of all major conceptions of the
self before establishing their own positions.
They all reject the materialist
CÄRVÄKA notion that identifies the self
with the physical body, and the
Buddhist ‘no-self’ teaching. As far as
Hindu systems are concerned, SÄßKHYA
and YOGA teach a plurality of individual
selves (puru•a) that are immaterial and
eternal, uncreated and conscious.