Rama: (Sanskrit) Venerated hero of the Ramayana epic, and...

Rama: (Sanskrit) Venerated hero of the Ramayana epic, and one of the two most popular incarnations of Vishnu, along with Krishna. His worship is almost universal among Vaishnavas, and extensive among Smartas and other liberal Hindus. He was a great worshiper of Siva, and a Siva temple, called Rameshvaram, was built in his name at the southern tip of India. Ramakantha I: (Sanskrit) A great exponent of Saiva Siddhanta, ca 950. In the lineage of Aghorasiva.

Ramakantha II: (Sanskrit) Great exponent of Saiva Siddhanta, ca 1150. Aghorasiva's teacher. Ramakrishna: (Sanskrit) (18361886) One of the great saints and mystics of modern Hinduism, a champion and exemplar of monistic theism--fervent devotee of Mother Kali and staunch monist who taught oneness and the pursuit of nirvikalpa samadhi, realization of the Absolute. He was guru to the great Swami Vivekananda (18631902), who internationalized Hindu thought and philosophy.

Ramanuja: (Sanskrit) Philosopher (10171137), saint, great bhakta, founder of one of five major Vaishnava schools, and considered the greatest critic of advaita. In his famous Sri Bhashya on the Brahma Sutras, he countered Shankara's absolute monism point-by-point with his qualified monism, called Vishishtadvaita Vedanta. See: shad darshana, Vedanta. Ramaraja: (Sanskrit) (14781565). The last king of South India's Vijayanagara empire.

Ramayana: (Sanskrit) "Vehicle of Rama." One of India's two grand epics (Itihasa) along with the Mahabharata. It is Valmiki's tragic love story of Rama and Sita, whose exemplary lives have helped set high standards of dignity and nobility as an integral part of Hindu dharma. Astronomical data in the story puts Rama's reign at about 2015 bce. See: Rama. Ramprasad: (Sanskrit) Great Bengali devotional saint-poet (17181775) who wrote hymns to Shakti.

rasatala: (Sanskrit) "Subterranean region." The fifth chakra below the muladhara, centered in the ankles. Corresponds to the fifth astral netherworld beneath the earth's surface, called Rijisha ("expelled") or Rasatala. Region of selfishness, self-centeredness and possessiveness. Rasa means "earth, soil; moisture." See: chakra, loka, Naraka. rationalize: To excuse through reason. To make plausible explanations for.

Raurava Agama: (Sanskrit) Among the 28 Saiva Siddhanta Agamas, this scripture was conveyed by Lord Siva to sage Ruru (hence the name). Its extensive kriya pada section details the structure of the Siva temple and its annexes.