A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie
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•ukla-pak•a 178<br />
ÿukla-pak•a<br />
(‘bright part’)<br />
The fortnight <strong>of</strong> a lunar month beginning<br />
with the new moon (ämavasya). Its<br />
opposite is KØÆŒA-PAKÆA.<br />
Ÿukra (1)<br />
The son <strong>of</strong> Bhøgu and a priest <strong>of</strong> BALI<br />
and the DAITYAS, author <strong>of</strong> the Ÿukranïti,<br />
a law code. (See also BHÄRGAVAS.)<br />
Ÿukra (2)<br />
The planet Venus. Ÿukravar, Friday, is<br />
named after it.<br />
sük•ma ÿarïra (‘subtle body’)<br />
The body formed <strong>of</strong> subtle matter that<br />
does not disintegrate at the time <strong>of</strong><br />
death and that as the carrier <strong>of</strong> KARMA<br />
is responsible for rebirth. (See also<br />
BODY.)<br />
sükta<br />
A Vedic HYMN.<br />
Sumiträ<br />
The wife <strong>of</strong> Daÿaratha and mother <strong>of</strong><br />
Ÿatrughna and LAKÆMAŒA.<br />
sun<br />
The sun plays a major part in Hindu<br />
mythology. It was worshipped in the<br />
form <strong>of</strong> Sürya and glorified as one <strong>of</strong><br />
three chief Vedic deities in the Saura<br />
Puräæas (sun worship was supposed to<br />
bring relief from leprosy). Vi•æu has<br />
also been connected with the sun, and<br />
his three strides have been associated<br />
with the journey <strong>of</strong> the sun from morning<br />
through midday to evening. One <strong>of</strong><br />
the most celebrated temples <strong>of</strong> India is<br />
the sun temple at Konärak in Orissa,<br />
built in 1287.<br />
Sundaramurti, Sundarar<br />
(ninth century)<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the 63 NÄYAŒMÄRS, author <strong>of</strong><br />
Tiruttondattogai (part <strong>of</strong> the Tirumulai),<br />
famous for his many miracles<br />
and his practice <strong>of</strong> worshipping the<br />
deity as a friend (sakhi).<br />
superimposition<br />
See ADHYÄSA.<br />
supreme reality<br />
See BRAHMAN.<br />
sura (‘god’)<br />
The opposite <strong>of</strong> ASURA (demon).<br />
Sürdäs (1479–1584)<br />
Born blind, he achieved great fame as a<br />
singer and composer <strong>of</strong> songs glorifying<br />
Kø•æa, collected in the Sürsägar, ‘The<br />
Ocean <strong>of</strong> Sürdäs’. He was a follower <strong>of</strong><br />
VALLABHÄCÄRYA and celebrated the<br />
Rädhä Kø•æa LÏLÄ. Emperor Akbar is<br />
said to have visited him incognito to listen<br />
to his songs.<br />
Sureÿvara<br />
(ninth century)<br />
A direct disciple <strong>of</strong> ŸA¢KARA (2) and<br />
author <strong>of</strong> such influential works <strong>of</strong><br />
ADVAITA VEDÄNTA as Nai•karmyasiddhi,<br />
Bøhadäraæyakabhä•yavärttika and<br />
Taittirïyabhä•yavärttika. One <strong>of</strong> the<br />
points where he disagrees with other<br />
Advaitins is his positing <strong>of</strong> the locus <strong>of</strong><br />
avidyä (ignorance) in brahman (the universal),<br />
not in the jïvätmas (individual<br />
consciousness).<br />
Ÿurpa-nakhä<br />
(‘one with nails like winnowing fans’)<br />
A sister <strong>of</strong> RÄVAŒA. She fell in love<br />
with Räma and <strong>of</strong>fered to marry him.<br />
He referred her to Lak•maæa, who cut<br />
<strong>of</strong>f her nose and ears, thus provoking<br />
the enmity <strong>of</strong> Rävaæa, who subsequently<br />
abducted Sïtä. (See also<br />
RÄMÄYAŒA.)