A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

195 Vai•æavism
Ÿiva the bull NANDI, Indra an elephant,
Durgä a tiger etc. In temples the
vahanas are represented before the main
entrance, and often in a separate
temple.
vaidhi-bhakti
(‘devotion consisting of following
commands [vidhi]’)
This is considered the first stage in the
development of BHAKTI.
vaidik(a) dharma (‘vedic religion’)
A self-designation of ‘Hinduism’.
Vaikuæflha
The paradise of Vi•æu, the destination
of those who have been saved through
Vi•æu’s grace.
vairägi
(fem. vairäginï) (‘renouncer’)
Specifically VAIÆŒAVA ascetics, who
usually wear white (in contrast to
Ÿaivite samnyäsis, who wear ochre).
vairägya (‘renunciation’)
A generic expression, synonymous with
TYÄGA and SAMNYÄSA.
Vairägya ÿatakam
(‘century of renunciation’)
A celebrated poetic treatise by
BHARTØHARI, which urges mortals to
practise renunciation before it is too late.
Vairocana
A name of BALI.
Vaiÿampäyana
A celebrated sage, the original teacher
of the Black YAJURVEDA. He was a disciple
of the sage VYÄSA, from whom he
heard the Mahäbhärata, which he later
recited before King JANAMEJAYA.
Vaiÿe•ika
One of the six orthodox systems of
Hinduism. The oldest text, the
Vaiÿe•ika Sütras, are ascribed to
Kaæäõa. Its name derives from its
assumption of the existence of viÿe•as,
ultimate qualifiers of primary substances
such as atoms, time, space etc. It
emphasizes DHARMA as the means to
prosperity and salvation. It is often
grouped with the NYÄYA system as
‘Nyäya–Vaiÿe•ika’. It assumes a plurality
of independent selves and the eternity
of atoms, the smallest units of matter.
Vai•æava Saƒhitäs
A large number of voluminous texts
belonging to the PÄÑCARÄTRA tradition,
which acquired high authority among
VAIÆŒAVAS as the source for regulations
of life and ritual. Most are associated
with specific centres of Vai•æavism in
South India. Examples are the
Parameÿvara Saƒhitä (Ÿrïraögam),
Ahirbudhnya Samhitä, and Sanatkumära
Saƒhitä.
Vai•æavas
Devotees of Vi•æu, numerically the
largest segment of mainstream Hinduism
(500 million plus), divided into a
number of saƒpradäyas (sects).
Vai•æavism
A conference in the 14th century established
the division of Vai•æavas into
four major constituencies (catuḥsampradäya)
with which all others have to
affiliate in order to receive recognition.
They are: (1) Ÿrïvai•æava saƒpradäya
(sect), established by the äcäryas (masters)
of Ÿrïraögam, among whom RÄMÄNUJA
is the greatest. Their centres are in
Ÿrïraögam and Tirupati; (2) Brahmä
saƒpradäya, also called the Madhva
saƒpradäya, founded by MADHVA. Its
centre is in Uõipï; (3) Kumära