Glossary 317

Teachings of Lord Caitanya—a summary study by His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupadda of the book CAITANYA-
CARITAMRTA.

Thakura Bhaktivinoda—See BHAKTIVINODA THAKURA.

U

Upanisads—the philosophical division of the VEDAS, meant for bringing
the student closer to understanding the personal nature of the Ab-
solute Truth.

Vv

Vaikuntha—the eternal, spiritual world beyond the material cosmos.

Vaisnava—a devotee of KRSNA,or of any other form of the Supreme Per-
sonality of Godhead.

vaiSya—See VARNAS.

Valmiki Muni—the author of the original Raémdyana, the epic of Lord
RAMACANDRA’s pastimes. '

vanaprastha—See ASHRAMS.

varnas—the four social-occupational divisions of Vedic society:
brahmanas (priests, teachers, and intellectuals), Ksatriyas (military
men and public administrators), vaisyas (farmers and business-
men), and siidras (laborers and craftsmen). See also VARNASRAMA-
DHARMA.

varna-sankara—children who are the result of sex not in accordance
with Vedic religious principles.

varnaSrama-dharma—the ancient Vedic system of arranging society
into four social-occupational divisions (VARNAS) and four spiritual
divisions (ASHRAMS) to promote social, economic, and political
well-being and the spiritual advancement of all members of society.

Varuna—the demigod in charge of water.

Vasudeva—the father of Lord KRSNA.

Vasudeva—a name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the
Supreme Lord of all spiritual and material worlds.

Vedanta-siittra (Vedanta) —VYASADEVA’s summary of the theistic phi-
losophy of the VEDIC LITERATURE, written in the form of concise
codes.

Vedas—the four scriptures, RG, Yajur, SAMA, and Atharva, and in a
broader sense also including the UPANISADS and VEDANTA-SUTRA.

Vedic literature—the four VEDAS, the UPANISADS, VEDANTA-SUTRA,

