A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie
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Viÿva-näflha 206<br />
Viÿva-näflha<br />
(‘universal Lord’)<br />
A title <strong>of</strong> Ÿiva and name <strong>of</strong> the most<br />
famous <strong>of</strong> the temples in VÄRÄŒASÏ, <strong>of</strong><br />
which Ÿiva is patron deity.<br />
Viÿva-nätha Cakra-varttin<br />
(1664–1754)<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the most prolific scholarly exponents<br />
<strong>of</strong> GAU¥ÏYA VAIÆŒAVISM and<br />
author <strong>of</strong> numerous commentaries on<br />
major works by Rüpa and Jïva<br />
Gosvämi, as well as <strong>of</strong> dramas and plays<br />
with Caitanyite plots. Among his bestknown<br />
works are Sarärtha Darÿinï, a<br />
commentary on the Bhägavatam, a<br />
Gïtäbhä•ya, Bhaktirasamøtasindhubindu<br />
and Ujjvalanïlämanikiraæa, short<br />
summaries <strong>of</strong> the two main works <strong>of</strong><br />
RÜPA GOSVÄMI.<br />
viÿva-rüpa (‘all forms’)<br />
A title <strong>of</strong> Vi•æu, the form in which<br />
ARJUNA beheld KØÆŒA in the eleventh<br />
chapter <strong>of</strong> the Bhagavadgïtä.<br />
Viflflhobä, also Viflflal<br />
A Mahärä•flrian form <strong>of</strong> the name <strong>of</strong><br />
Vi•æu. His sanctuary is in PAŒ¥HARPUR.<br />
vivaha<br />
See MARRIAGE.<br />
viveka (‘discrimination’)<br />
Discrimination between what is self,<br />
eternal, and what is non-self, transient.<br />
It is one <strong>of</strong> the preconditions as well as<br />
the means for liberation from SAßSÄRA.<br />
Viveka-cüõä-maæi<br />
(‘crest jewel <strong>of</strong> discrimination’)<br />
A famous short work, ascribed to<br />
ŸANKARA (2), teaching how to gain<br />
LIBERATION through VIVEKA.<br />
Vivekänanda, Swami<br />
(1863–1902)<br />
The monastic name <strong>of</strong> Narendra Nath<br />
Dutt, a disciple <strong>of</strong> RAMAKRISHNA<br />
‘PARAMAHAMSA’ and founder <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Ramakrishna Mission. He was sent by<br />
the räja <strong>of</strong> Rämnäd as Hindu delegate<br />
to the World Parliament <strong>of</strong> Religions in<br />
Chicago in 1893 and impressed the<br />
West by his forceful reinterpretation <strong>of</strong><br />
Vedänta and his practical plans for the<br />
upliftment <strong>of</strong> India. He founded<br />
ashrams in India, which became centres<br />
for spiritual and material support, and<br />
established Vedänta societies in<br />
America and England, to propagate<br />
Indian spirituality in the West. He also<br />
became one <strong>of</strong> the proponents <strong>of</strong> Hindu<br />
nationalism and is one <strong>of</strong> the most celebrated<br />
figures <strong>of</strong> the Hindu renaissance.<br />
vrata (‘vow’)<br />
A voluntary religious practice, taken up<br />
by individuals in fulfilment <strong>of</strong> certain<br />
promises made. They usually consist <strong>of</strong><br />
particular fasts, pilgrimages or repetitions<br />
<strong>of</strong> prayer formulas to gain healing<br />
for a sick family member or friend,<br />
obtain help in difficult situations, or to<br />
give thanks for divine support received.<br />
They are an important aspect <strong>of</strong> popular<br />
<strong>Hinduism</strong>.<br />
Vrätyas<br />
A heretical group. There is much controversy<br />
about the identity <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Vrätyas. Some claim they were non-<br />
Äryan immigrants from the Middle<br />
East, others think they were lapsed<br />
high-caste Äryans, while some (associating<br />
the name with the term vrata, ‘vow’)<br />
consider them to be a ‘people who took<br />
a vow’, religious mendicants who<br />
adopted a particular lifestyle.<br />
Vøndävana, also Vøndäban,<br />
Vrindaban, Brindaban<br />
(‘Vønda forest’)<br />
One <strong>of</strong> the most popular Hindu pilgrimage<br />
centres, in western Uttar<br />
Pradesh, near Mathurä, associated with