GLOSSARY Abhaya mudra gesture of upright hand with palm outward: sign of protection and reassurance Ahimsa primary commandment of Jainism: “do no harm” Akshmala beads for counting recitations of mantras Anjali mudra gesture of hands with palms together: sign of respect, adoration and greeting Asana sitting posture Avatara incarnation of a god, primarily of Vishnu Bhumisparsha mudra gesture of hands with the left palm upward in the lap and the right hanging over the knee and pointing downward to the earth: Buddhist sign of “Calling the Earth to Witness” Bodhi enlightenment; bodhi tree—the tree under which the Buddha sat when he attained enlightenment Bodhisattva enlightened being ready to enter nirvana but who has held back so as to help other mortals on the path to that goal Brahman Hindu concept of the absolute principle that always has been and always will be; the entity from which everything has come into being and to which everything will return Chakra 1) wheel or circle; 2) discus weapon of Vishnu; 3) term for the centers of refined energy in the human body Dharma 1) Buddhist doctrine. 2) In Hindu usage: the term referring to that which determines our true essence; righteousness; the basis of human morality and ethics; the lawful order of the universe and the foundation of all religion Dharmachakra “Wheel of the Law”; spoked wheel as a symbol of Buddhist doctrine Dharmachakra mudra two-handed gesture with the hands in front of the chest: sign of preaching Dhyana mudra gesture of hands held in the lap with the back of the right on the palm of the left in such a way that the tips of the thumbs lightly touch one another; sign of meditation; symbol of the enlightened state of mind Karma concept of actions in this life and their consequences in a future life Kayotsarga straight standing body posture with the arms at the sides but not touching the body; Jain stance for “dismissing the body” Kiritimukha decorative device in the form of a lion-mask signifying auspiciousness Kiritamukuta tall crown worn by Vishnu Lalitasana sitting posture with one leg folded under the body and the other leg pendant; the posture of “royal ease” used by some gods Linga stylized male sexual organ as a cylindrical shaft; aniconic symbol of Shiva Mahayana “Great Path or Vehicle”: form of Buddhism that believes in salvation by faith with the support of bodhisattvas Mantra spoken chant that evokes a divinity––often only a syllable though sometimes as much as a verse Matrika mother goddess Moksha the goal of Hindu spirituality: liberation, release from rebirths (similar to nirvana) Mudra hand gesture Naga snake, usually a cobra Namaskara mudra SEE anjali mudra Nirvana extinction; release from the endless cycle of rebirths; Buddhist version of the Hindu moksha Padma lotus; symbol of purity Padmasana sitting posture of meditation with the legs interlocked and the soles of the feet upward (similar to vajrasana); the “lotus position”; also the seat or throne decorated with lotus petals upon which a figure sits Parinirvana the death of the historic Buddha at which he attained nirvana Puja Hindu worship ritual Rudraksha mala string of beads that make reference to Shiva (Rudra) Samabhanga straight upright body stance Samsara continuous cycles of birth, death and rebirth Sankha conch shell used as a signaling trumpet, usually associated with Vishnu Shrivatsa diamond-shaped emblem, Jain symbol of samsara Stupa Buddhist funerary monument; symbol for the Buddha Theravada “Path of the Elders”; older traditional form of Buddhism with more limited routes to salvation (also known as Hinayana) Tirthankara “Ford maker”; Jain being who shows humans the way across the river of existence to enlightenment Tribhanga body stance with three bends indicative of violent movement Trimurti Hindu trinity consisting of Brhama the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer Triratna “Three Jewels” of Buddhism: the Buddha, Buddhist doctrine, and the Community of Monks Urna dot between the eyes; Buddhist mark signifying inner wisdom Ushnisha cranial bump; Buddhist mark signifying superior intellect Vahana animal sacred to a god, often referred to as the god’s “vehicle” Vajra 1) In Hindu usage: thunderbolt wielded by Indra as a weapon. 2) In Buddhist usage: diamond or adamantine---sign of the indestructible truth of Buddhist teaching Vajrasana Buddhist sitting posture of meditation with the legs interlocked and the soles of the feet upward; (similar to padmasana); also the “diamond” seat or throne decorated with lotus petals upon which a figure sits Vajrayana “The Diamond Path or Vehicle”: form of tantric or esoteric Buddhism prevalent in Himalayan and northern regions Varada mudra gesture of hand pointing downward with the palm outward; sign of gift bestowing Vitarka mudra gesture of the hand with the thumb and index finger forming a circle; sign of intellectual argument or discussion Vedas ancient sacred Hindu writings Vyakhyana mudra SEE vitarka mudra Yantra mystical object or diagram (often non-representational) serving as a focus for meditation and worship, usually of Devi (the Goddess) Yoni stylized female reproductive organ as a grooved flange, often with a linga projecting from it; the joined yoni and linga are an aniconic symbol of Shiva .