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326 Glimpses of Traditional Indian Life

Upanayanam — initiation ceremony that entitles a young
boy to study the Vedas (nowadays generally performed
simply as a formality).

Vaḍai — spicy fried patty made from a paste of dāl.
Vāhana — float for carrying a deity in procession.

Vaikuṇṭha — “devoid of anxiety;” the spiritual world.
Vaiṣṇava — devotee of Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa).
Vaiśya — member of the third of the four Vedic social
divisions; merchants or agriculturists.

Varṇa — any of the four occupational divisions in the
Vedic social system: brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya, and
śūdra.

Varṇāśrama-dharma — the Vedic social system of four
occupational divisions and four spiritual orders. See
also Āśrama.

Viṣṇu — another form of Kṛṣṇa.
Viṣṇu-sahasra-nāma — recital of a thousand names of
Viṣṇu, as recorded in the epic Mahābhārata and other
scriptures.
Vṛndāvana — (1) the topmost transcendental abode of the
Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa; (2) the same abode descended
to the town of Vrindaban, India, situated about
ninety miles southeast of Delhi, in which He enacted
childhood pastimes five thousand years ago.

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