Glossary 315

Ramananda Raya—a confidential associate of Lord CAITANYA MAHA-
PRABHU.

Ramanujacarya—an eleventh-century Vaisnava spiritual master who
began the theistic attack against SANKARACARYA’S philosophy of
monism.

rasa—the specific ‘‘taste’’ of a specific personal relationship with the
Supreme Lord.

Ratha-yatra—the annual festival of Lord JAGANNATHA, in which the
Deity is carried on huge carts in a parade.

Rg Veda—one of the four original VEDAS, containing hymns to different
demigods.

Rudra—See SIVA.

Ripa Goswami—the chief of the six Vaisnava spiritual masters who
directly followed Lord CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU and systematically
presented His teachings.

S

Sabda-brahma—the VEDAS, which are considered purely spiritual sound
vibration.

sac-cid-ananda—perfect spiritual existence, which is eternal (sad), fully
knowledgeable (cit), and completely happy (d@nanda).

Salya—an uncle of the PANDAVA brothers who fought against them in
the battle of KURUKSETRA.

samadhi—fixed meditation on the personal form of the Lord.

Sama Veda—one of the four original VEDAS, containing sacrificial
prayers and their melodic and metrical settings.

Sanatana Goswami—one of the six Vaisnava spiritual masters who
directly followed Sri CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU and systemically pre-
sented His teachings.

Sankaracarya—the famous and influential ninth-century teacher of
monism, a philosophy which maintains that there is no distinction
between God and the living entity.

Sankhya—the branch of philosophy which deals with analysis of the ele-
ments of the material world.

sankirtana—congregational chanting of the holy names of God.

sannyasa—See ASHRAMS. ;

Sariraka-bhasya—the famous commentary on VEDANTA-SUTRA by
SANKARACARYA, in which he presents his philosophy of monism.

Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya—a great scholar who was philosophically
