A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism Klaus K Klostermaie

A
abhäva
(‘non-being’)
Absence of reality, a category in NYÄYA.
Abhinav Bhärat Society
‘Young India Society’, founded by
Vinayak Damodar SAVARKAR and his
brother Ganesh Savarkar in the 1930s ‘to
take up the sword and destroy the
Government because it is foreign and
oppressive’.
Abhinavagupta (12th century CE)
Representative of KASHMIR ŸAIVISM and
one of the most prolific thinkers and
writers of Hinduism. Author of the
multi-volume Tanträlokä.
abhiniveÿa
(‘attachment’ [to bodily life])
A form of AVIDYÄ (ignorance) and a
cause for suffering and rebirth according
to PATAÑJALA YOGA.
Äbhïras
Ancient and populous clan of seminomadic
cattlebreeders in northern
India often mentioned in ancient Indian
literature in connection with KØÆŒA.
abhi•ekha (‘aspersion’)
Anointment, consecration of either a
king or an image.
äcamanïya
The offering of water to a deity during
worship for rinsing the mouth.
äcära (‘behaviour’)
Rules of life for specific castes, orders or
religions, laid down in texts such as
Äcära-dïpa.
äcärya (‘master’)
Honorific title of recognized teachers.
äcäryä
A female teacher.
acyuta (‘the unfallen’)
Name of VIÆŒU (and KØÆŒA), either indicating
that he did not fall down from
heaven (as other minor deities did) or
that he is imperishable.
adbhuta (‘wonderment’)
One of the eight RASAS (sentiments,
emotional experiences) of Indian aesthetics.
adharma (‘unrighteousness’)
The opposite of DHARMA and the cause
of the breakdown of law and order.
Kø•æa says in the Bhagavadgïtä that
whenever adharma threatens to eclipse