Glossary
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Teachings of Lord Caitanya  —a summary study by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda of the book CAITANYA-CARITĀMRTA.
Thākura Bhaktivinoda —See BHAKTIVINODA THĀKURA.
U
Upaniṣads  —the philosophical division of the VEDAS, meant for bringing the student closer to understanding the personal nature of the Absolute Truth.
V
Vaikuṇṭha —the eternal, spiritual world beyond the material cosmos.
Vaiṣṇava —a devotee of KRṢŅA, or of any other form of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
vaiśya —See VARŅAS.
Vālmīki Muni —the author of the original  Rāmāyaṇa , the epic of Lord RĀMACANDRA's pastimes.
vānaprastha —See ASHRAMS.
varṇas —the four social-occupational divisions of Vedic society:  brāhmaṇas  (priests, teachers, and intellectuals),  kṣatriyas  (military men and public administrators),  vaiśyas  (farmers and businessmen), and  śūdras  (laborers and craftsmen). See also VARŅĀŚRAMADHARMA.
varṇa-saṅkara —children who are the result of sex not in accordance with Vedic religious principles.
varṇāśrama-dharma —the ancient Vedic system of arranging society into four social-occupational divisions (VARŅAS) and four spiritual divisions (ASHRAMS) to promote social, economic, and political well-being and the spiritual advancement of all members of society.
Varuṇa —the demigod in charge of water.
Vasudeva —the father of Lord KRṢŅA.
Vāsudeva —a name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the Supreme Lord of all spiritual and material worlds.
Vedānta-sūtra (Vedānta) —VYĀSADEVA's summary of the theistic philosophy of the VEDIC LITERATURE, written in the form of concise codes.
Vedas —the four scriptures, RG,  Yajur , SĀMA, and  Atharva , and in a broader sense also including the UPANIṢADS and VEDĀNTA-SŪTRA.
Vedic literature —the four VEDAS, the UPANIṢADS, VEDĀNTA-SŪTRA,