A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

171 sin
Ÿibi
An ancient tribe in north-western India,
described as going about clad in the
skins of wild animals and using clubs as
weapons, believed to be the original
Ÿiva worshippers.
siddha (1) (‘accomplished’)
Semi-divine beings, said to number
88,000, believed to be pure and holy.
siddha (2)
A person who has reached perfection
within a specific SÄDHANA.
siddha-rüpa (‘perfect form’)
One’s true and original being; in
GAU¥ÏYA VAIÆŒAVISM, one of the original
characters of the Kø•æa LÏLÄ in
Braja, with which the devotees identify
and through which they engage in
rägänuga (passionate) BHAKTI.
siddhi (‘accomplishment’)
Usually designates the exercise of occult
faculties, such as making oneself invisible,
understanding the languages of animals
etc. They are mentioned in the
Yogasütras as potential obstacles on the
way to KAIVALYA, but eagerly sought
after by many lesser YOGIS. The
Transcendental Meditation Society
offered courses in siddhis.
ÿikhä
The tuft of hair kept at the back of the
head after tonsure. It is also called chofli.
It had to be worn by Hindu householders
(supposed to cover the Brahmärandhra,
the place at which the soul
leaves the body at the time of death). It
is shorn off during the initiation (dïk•ä)
of a SAMNYÄSI.
ÿikhara
The ‘spire’ of a Hindu temple (of the
Northern or nägara type).
ÿik•ä
Phonetics, one of the six VEDÄŒGAS,
which teaches proper pronunciation
and recitation of the Veda.
Ÿik•ä•flaka
(‘eight couplets of instruction’)
A short text said to be the only written
work of CAITANYA, embodying the gist
of his teachings.
ÿïla
See ETHICS.
silence
Keeping silent for extended periods of
time (maunasädhana) is a common
practice for Hindu ascetics.
ÿilpa
(‘skill’, ‘craft’)
Artistic creation, production of something
beautiful. It can be through architecture,
painting, dance or music.
Ÿilpa-ÿästra, also Västu-ÿästra
The traditional teaching of temple
building and IMAGE making, originally
believed to have been imparted by semidivine
beings to human craftsmen. The
two most important manuals are the
Mänasära and the Mayamata, supposed
to be by the architects of the gods and
the demons respectively. In addition to
technical detail the Ÿilpaÿästras also
contain mythological and religious
materials.
ÿilpin
Traditional craftsman, architect, sculptor,
artist.
sin (päpa, pätaka, do•a)
Offences against the moral and ritual
law, which require penances (prayaÿcittas).
Vedic religion used the distinction