DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.75620#0131
GLOSSARY 95
^akti. Every important deity has a divine sakti looked upon as the personification of his energy.
^ramana. Learned religious teacher.
Stotra. Religious hymn to a deity.
Tilaka. Mark on the forehead indicating the religious sect to which the worshipper belongs.
Urnd. Small, round protuberance on the forehead above the bridge of the nose. A Buddhist
mark indicating spiritual insight.
Vahana. Mount of a deity on which he may be seated or standing, or the vahana may be
represented beside him.
Vajra. Literally 'diamond' but usually translated 'thunderbolt', or that which destroys but
is itself indestructible. It is represented by a short bar with prongs at each end which
touch at the tips, and is held by Hindu and Buddhist deities.
Vajrdsana. v. Asana.
Vihdra. Buddhist monastery.
Vija. Literally 'seed'. It is the germ of a mantra and every important deity has his vija which
is used when he is invoked.
Vitarka-mudrd. Gesture of argument. The hand is raised with the palm turned outward and
all the fingers extended except the thumb and index which touch at the tips.
Zuchi. Small Japanese shrine for a deity having doors by which it may be closed.
^akti. Every important deity has a divine sakti looked upon as the personification of his energy.
^ramana. Learned religious teacher.
Stotra. Religious hymn to a deity.
Tilaka. Mark on the forehead indicating the religious sect to which the worshipper belongs.
Urnd. Small, round protuberance on the forehead above the bridge of the nose. A Buddhist
mark indicating spiritual insight.
Vahana. Mount of a deity on which he may be seated or standing, or the vahana may be
represented beside him.
Vajra. Literally 'diamond' but usually translated 'thunderbolt', or that which destroys but
is itself indestructible. It is represented by a short bar with prongs at each end which
touch at the tips, and is held by Hindu and Buddhist deities.
Vajrdsana. v. Asana.
Vihdra. Buddhist monastery.
Vija. Literally 'seed'. It is the germ of a mantra and every important deity has his vija which
is used when he is invoked.
Vitarka-mudrd. Gesture of argument. The hand is raised with the palm turned outward and
all the fingers extended except the thumb and index which touch at the tips.
Zuchi. Small Japanese shrine for a deity having doors by which it may be closed.