Page 152 - SBV (English)

526 Glossary

castes) whose members are shunned because of their low birth and the
unclean habits and professions allotted them.

U.P.—see United Provinces
Upanayana—the ceremony whereby one is initiated into the chanting of
Brahma-gäyatré and invested with an upavéta, thus being endowed by
the guru with “second” birth. Traditionally this induction certified the
disciple for training in systematic memorization of one or more Vedas. See
also Dékñä.
Upaniñads—philosophical treatises within the Vedas, one hundred and eight of
which are considered principal, and the following ten the most important:
Éça (Içopaëiñad), Kena, Kaöha, Praçna, Muëòaka, Mäëòükya, Taittiréya,
Aitareya, Chändogya, Båhad-äraëyaka. Some add Çvetäçvatara and thus
designate eleven principal Upaniñads.
Upavéta—“sacred thread”; a loop of cotton strands bestowed upon a male youth
in a religious ceremony for (at least ostensibly) inducting him into Vedic
study; it was henceforth to be worn at all times, generally over the left
shoulder and under the right, and extending diagonally across the torso.
Although traditionally also given to kñatriyas and vaiçyas, in recent
generations it has been the prerogative of brähmaëas, and thus a status
symbol.

Ürja-vrata—See Kärtika-vrata.
Uttama—“above ignorance and darkness”; topmost.
Uttama-adhikäré—topmost, fully perfect devotee. See also Paramahaàsa.
Väda—a philosophical theory. In Vedic philosophy it denotes various theories,
such as Mäyäväda, viçiñöädvaita-väda, etc.
Vädé—(in conjunction with a qualifying term) an adherent of a specific väda; e.g.,
Mäyävädé means an adherent of Mäyäväda.
Vaibhava—might, power, greatness, grandeur, glory, magnificence.
Vaidhé bhakti—the stage of sädhana consisting of prescribed regulations meant
to gradually elevate neophyte devotees. See also Sädhana-bhakti.

Vaikuëöha—the spiritual world.
Vairägé—(1) a mendicant; (2) an epithet for members of the bäbäjé class, many
of whom at the time of Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté were superficially
renounced hypocrites who indulged in illicit sex. See also Bäbäjé.
Vairägya—renunciation, detachment. See also Yukta-vairägya.