Definitions: V

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vacuum (or space, ether) center: vishuddha chakra (neck, religious center).

vaishya: Sanskrit word meaning the third caste of merchants and farmers in the ancient Vedic social system.

vajra (Sanskrit word meaning “thunder” or “diamond”): strong determination and willpower.

Valmiki: see Ratnakar.

Varuna: the deity of water.

Vasishtha: a great sage, the spiritual preceptor of Lord Rama. Author of the great classic on yoga, the Yoga Vasishtha.

Vasudeva: Krishna’s father.

Vedanta (Sanskrit word meaning “the end or last portion (anta) of the Vedas”): the essence or culmination of all the knowledge within the Vedas; a system of philosophy and the science of spirituality, based mainly on the teachings of the Upanishads, the Bhagavad Gita, and the Brahma Sutras. Adjective: vedantic.

Vedas: the most ancient recorded scriptures of knowledge of the Self. Traditionally divided in four separate books: Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda.

vedavid: Sanskrit word meaning man of wisdom, a state achieved by deep meditation.

vibhuti (Sanskrit word meaning “manifestation”): divine powers or experiences which one gets through spiritual practice: divine glory, siddhis (yogic powers), material prosperity, superhuman power, strength, and holy ash. In many cases, the vibhuti, which are lower spiritual attainments of superhuman qualities, become a spiritual hindrance—all sincere seekers should beware of their allurements.

vid: Sanskrit word meaning to know.

Vidura: He was born by the grace of sage Vyasa to the servant maid of the queens of king Vichitravirya of Hastinapura. He was thus the younger brother of Dhritharashtra and Pandu. A partial incarnation of Dharma, the god of Truth, Vidura was the wise and respected prime minister and advisor to king Dhritharashtra.

vidya: Sanskrit word meaning knowledge.

vijñana (Sanskrit word meaning “applied knowledge”): the way to reach or realize the truth, which is the application of knowledge, the states of super consciousness and cosmic consciousness.

Vishnu (Sanskrit word meaning “pervader”): the second god of the Hindu trinity, symbolizing the preserving or sustaining aspect of God.

vishnu granthi: Sanskrit word meaning the knot of the heart.

vishuddha chakra (Sanskrit word meaning “pure wheel”): the religion or throat center.

Vishvamitra: a great sage, guru of lord Rama.

vishvarupa: Sanskrit word meaning the universal form, the extraordinary glory and beauty of the Lord.

vishvarupa maha agni: Sanskrit word meaning the fire present in the crown of the head.

Vivasvan: the first king of the solar dynasty.

vrata (Sanskrit word meaning “vow”): a vow to abide by a moral and spiritual discipline in thought, word, and deed.

Vrindavan: place of Krishna's boyhood and his merry pastimes..

vyana: Sanskrit word meaning one of the five main pranas (vital energies), supporting the function of inhalation and exhalation.

Vyasa: the divine teacher of spirituality. Author of the Mahabharata and author/compiler of numerous scriptures.

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