A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Râga : attachment, attraction. The word râga has several meanings. One is emotion created by something particular (a beautiful sunset, the wind at night, stars in the dark sky, an inner feeling, so many things, in fact). But râga is always a musical mode which, precisely, creates in the listener mind, a particular feeling, a unique atmosphere when it is performed at a certain moment of the day

Râjalilasana : ease sitting posture, called "royal ease"

Râjas : one of the three Guna. According to Shri Aurobindo, râjas is the germ of strength and action, which creates the energy play. It is the power of the movement which corresponds to struggle, effort, passion and action

Râjput : designates all the clans who thronged the Rajasthan many centuries ago. Some claim that they come from a solar origin, others from a lunar one. Famous families founded lasting dynasties : Gurjara-Pratîhâra, Chandella, Râshtrakûta, Châlukya, Pâramâra, etc. Being excellent warriors, the Rajput princes took the title of Râja (King) then Mahârâja (Great King); they opposed strong resistance to the muslim invaders, the Moghols. But they were also able to find mutual agreements with the Delhi Moghol power, which permitted them to largely defend their independance

Râkshasa : ogre-demons who use to eat humans. Their female, called Râkshasî, are dreadful. The Râkshasa chief is Kubera, who keeps the underground worlds. The Rakshasa are a part of Asura, or semi-gods

Râmâyana : indian epic ("Rama Story"), that every indian knows. It narrates how prince Râma, incarnation (avatar) of God Vishnu, had to exile in a remote and wild forest as a consequence of royal court intrigues. Accompanied by His wife Sîtâ and Laksmana, His loyal brother, He had to live poorly till the day when Râvana, the powerful but demoniac king of Lankâ, raped Sîtâ and took Her away to his kingdom city. Helped by the monkeys' King, his Commander in chief Hanuman and the monkey army, Râma, riding Garuda, the Vishnu white eagle, fighted Râvana and released Sîtâ. But consumed with jealousy and distrust, Râma repudiated Sîtâ. The latter, frantic with grief, tried to immolate herself in fire. The fire saved Her to prove Her innocence and both, husband and wife, could enter triumphantly in their capital city where Râma finally received His legitimate crowning

Râshtrakûta : a dynasty who ruled Maharashtra and Gujarat during the 5 th and 6 th centuries. They built famous and beautiful cave temples at Ellora, Ajanta, Elephanta, and many more less renowned. The were subdued by the Vâkâtaka after the 6 th century, then disappeared when the Châlukya attacked at the end of 10 th century

Ratha : first model of temples from the Pallava period (for exemple Mahaballipuram, Tamil Nadu), which were excavated from the rock and carved. The word ratha also names a large procession wood chariot. During big religious festivals, the ratha, pulled by hundreds people (its weight is more than several tons), is removed throughout the city. The temple deity statues are fixed on a platform of the ratha

Ratî : goddess of love, consort of Kâma. She is sometimes accompanied by a pigeon, Her Vâhana

Ratnakumbha : (word composed of "ratna" jewel, precious stone, gem, and kumbha, pot, earth jar) : jewel pot, an unusual Ganesh emblem

Râvana : A Demon-King who, in the Râmâyana epic, ruled over the Lanka Island, after He dismissed his half-brother KuberaKubera. He had ten heads and twenty arms. He kidnapped Sîtâ, the Râma's wife, but was finally destroyed by the latter after a long fierce battle
RgVeda : the Veda are composed of very ancient sacred scriptures. There are four Vedas : the Rig (or Rg) Veda, the most antique which comprises 1017 hymns, the Atharva Veda, the Yajur Veda and the Sâma Veda

Rishi : Sages of antique times in India. The Rishi were poets capable of deep and higher visions about the Ultimate Reality. Being inspired by divine forces, they have elaborated and orally transmitted, all along centuries, the Veda. According to various sources, the number of Rishi is not the same. Their names also are probably often mythical

Rudra : ancient vedic deity of "Storm", a Shiva prototype. Personifying the burning fire of Sun, prodigious archer, He is considered as "King of animals" and His name is Pashupati. The rudra is also a variety of grain used to worship Shiva, which serves to make special kinds of mâlâ

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