Page:Chandra Shekhar.djvu/351

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VI

He travelled all over India to popularise the Vedantic philosophy to which he gave a very attractive form. His controversial triumphs during his tours are regarded as supernatural achievements. He died at the early age of 32, leaving behind, as the two principal results of his great mission, a form of religion which appealed to, and benefitted, both the higher and lower classes of his fellow-countrymen, and an well-organized congregation of worthy disciples, who rendered useful works after his demise and elevated him into an incarnation of Shiva himself.

Shankya—The great work, which represents the Hindu philosophy as professed by the Shankya School.

Shari—A cloth worn by Hindu ladies instead of gowns.

Sphota—The first manifestation of the Parambramha—the universal and self-existent spirit—is sound, which is Sphota. According to the Mimansa philosophy Sphota is eternal sound.

Sri Ram Chandra—The celebrated hero of the famous Epic, Ramayana, believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu, the god of preservation. Being enjoined by his father Dasaratha, he willingly went to the forest accompanied by his beloved wife Sita and his devoted brother Laksman. His wife was stolen away from the forest by Ravana, the demon-king of Ceylon. Ram and Laksman led an army there and killing Ravana with all his retinue, rescued Sita. Rama was an ideal king and a model hero.

Swami—An ascetic of a high order.

T

Tanjam—A kind of costly oriental conveyance.

Telinga—A particular class of men in Madras.

Tulsi—The name of the sacred basil—a plant held in religious veneration by the Hindus.

U

Upanishad—It is said by the Indian Scholiasts to denote, in the first place, the knowledge of the impersonal self, the