Glossary - N-Z
Nandan
Van
Nandan Van is the garden in Indra Puree or Swarg and belongs to Indra. Supposed to be
very beautiful.
Pativrataa
A woman who is faithful to her husband by her heart, speech and actions,
is called Pativrataa. She is called Satee also. A Pativrataa woman has
lots of powers. Even Devtaa cannot harm her or her husband. Read Jalandhar
as how his wife's (Vrindaa) Paativrat protected him to be killed by even
Bhagvaan.
Praayashchit
Repentence. Praayashchit are done when somebody commits any kind of
sin or crime or unwanted work. For example: Draupadee abused not only
Duryodhan but also her great father-in-law Dhritraashtra, which she should have never
done at any cost. They had to do its Praayashchit naturally by going Van
for 13 years. Paandu did Brahm Hatyaa for which he did Praayashchit
willingly by going to Van. Normally
Praayshchit is the process to cleanse one's sinful mind.
Pushpak
Vimaan
Pushpak Vimaan is an air plane which flies with wish. It has all kinds
of luxuries in it. It can be made smaller and larger as needed. Brahmaa Jee
gave this Vimaan to Kuber. Later when Raavan
won Kuber, he brought it from there. Since then he was using it. When Vibheeshan
was crowned king, he offered this Vimaan to Raam. When Raam
had come to Ayodhyaa, He sent it back to Kuber until needed.
Putrikaa
Dharm
In this kind of marriage, parents of the girl take the first son of
their daughter and consider him as their own son. This is normally done
when the girl is the only daughter of her parents, but it can happen in
other cases also. Thus it is said - "This girl is married to this
boy according to Putrikaa Dharm."
Saadhanaa
Saadhanaa is the state of mind and body in which a man gets busy in
austerity, controlling his or her Indriyaan (11 Indriyaan) in a great
disciplined way.
Saam,
Daam, Dand, Bhed
These are four policies which helps to a person to be successful in his
job. Saam means influencing. One can take work by influencing somebody.
Or Daam; Daam means money. One can take work by giving money. Or Dand,
Dand means punishment. One can take work byu punishing somebody. Or Bhed,
Bhed means dividing. One can be successful in his work by dividing
people - "Divide and rule".
Samaadhi
Samaadhi is a state of mind and body in which a person sits without
having a feeling of outside world. It is kind of meditation.
Sandhyaa
Sandhyaa word is originated from the word "Sandhi". Sandhi
means joint. There are two Sandhyaa everyday - dusk and dawn when day
and night meet. In Hindu Dharm these periods are very sacred. Several
actions are prohibited at this time and some actions are prescribed
Sandhyaa is a collection of some Mantra and actions, a Hindu should
perform daily two times - at dawn and dusk times. Because in Hindi language
these times are called "Sandhyaa" that is why that special
worship is also called "Sandhyaa".
Sankalp
Sankalp simply means "firm intent to do something". When one does Sankalp of
doing something, it becomes obligatory to do it. It is a kind of taking a vow.
Often when some donation is given, it is said formally that "I
give this to you" with some Mantra and rituals. That is also called Sankalp.
Water, Kush grass, rice, and some other ingredients, depending upon the
type of Sankalp, are an essential part of most rituals in Hindu Dharm.
Satee
See also Pativrataa
There was a tradition in olden India that after the death of the
husband, his wife used to immolate herself by sitting with him on the
pyre. That was called "to be Satee". Although it continued for
quite enough time, but in British times it was stopped. Originally it
was with the ill and wish of the woman, but after that the society used
to force the woman to immolate herself. So it was considered necessary
to stop it.
Soot-Putra
According to Hindu Dharm there are four Varn in Hindu society -
Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shoodra in the hierarchy as given
here.
According to Dharm, a Braahman boy can marry a Braahman, or Kshatriya or
Vaishya girl. In the same way, a Kshatriya boy can marry only Kshatriya
or a Vaishya girl. If a Kshatriya boy marries a Braahman girl, this
marriage is called "Vilom Vivaah" and the son born from
this wedlock is called "Vilomaj" or "Soot-Putra". The whole Soot
caste is born in this way. All Soot were supposed to work for Raajaa as
their manial workers. Karn's father Adhirath was a Soot-Putra that is
why he was only a charioteer of Raajaa Shantanu and then of
Dhritraashtra.
To become a Soot is not considered good in
the society. Karn was a Soot-Putra, that is why Drone
didn't accept him as his student and Draupadee
didn't marry him. There is a Muni who is called Soot
Jee (he became famous with this name only). Almost nobody knows his real
name but he is famous for telling religious stories and discourses. By
the way his name is Ugrashravaa and he is the son of Maharshi
Romeharshan.
Swayamvar
Time
Uddhaar
Uddhaar means uplifting somebody spiritually. In Hindi Language the
Uddhaar word is used to free somebody from a Shaap, or to give Mukti
(salvation) because of some other reason, or to uplift a human being
from his present social or financial or psychological condition etc.
Uttaraayan
A human is divided between two Ayan - Uttar+ayan and Dakshin+Ayan
(North and South). In Hindu Religion Uttaraayan is considered an
auspicious time to die. As Bheeshm had the Var of Ichchhaa Mrityu, he
kept himself alive till Uttaraayan period came. To see the division of
time on Earth read Time.
Vaaman
Vaaman Avataar is of Vishnu taken for the good of Devtaa. In this
Avataar He was born as Aditi's youngest son. As He was very short, only
52 fingers tall, his name is Vaaman. Vaaman is the word for Hindi
language number 52, that is why His Avataar is clled Vaaman Avataar.
Varmaalaa
In olden times when there was custom of Swayamvar, the girl was
given a garland and was given a round of the royal court where all
suitors were seated. She used to go to those boys one by one and was
introduced to everybody. Then whoever she liked to be her husband, she
put her that garland, called Varmaalaa or Jayamaalaa, in his neck. Then
they got married.
Varnsankar
Varn means "Hindu Varn", and Sankar means "by
joining". In Hindu religion there are four Varn - Braahman,
Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shoodra. According to Manu Smriti there are some
rules for marriage among these Varn. When these rules are broken, their
descendents are called Varnsankar. For example when a Braahman girl
marries a Vaishya boy then their descendents will be called Varnsankar.
See also Soot-Putra above
Yojan
see Distance
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