Ashtavarana
Encyclopedia
In Lingayat theology, the Ashtavaranas refer to the eight virtues that act as shields or coverings protecting the devotee from extraneous distractions and influences of Maya
. Ashta means 'eight' and Avarana means 'covering'. They also protect against attachment to worldly desires.
The Ashtavaranas are described as,
Maya (illusion)
Maya , in Indian religions, has multiple meanings, usually quoted as "illusion", centered on the fact that we do not experience the environment itself but rather a projection of it, created by us. Maya is the principal deity that manifests, perpetuates and governs the illusion and dream of duality...
. Ashta means 'eight' and Avarana means 'covering'. They also protect against attachment to worldly desires.
The Ashtavaranas are described as,
- GuruGuruA guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
- Linga Ishta-Linga
- Jangama
- VibhutiVibhutiVibhuti is a word that has several meanings in Hinduism.-Sacred ash:Vibhuti is the sacred ash used in religious worship in Hinduism. The main ingredient of Vibuthi is a special kind of wood, but several other substances, such as milk and ghee, prescribed in scriptures are also added...
or BhasmaBhasmaBhasma in Ayurveda has been defined as a substance obtained by calcination.Use of both bhasma as well as in pishti form along with appropriate herbs for treatment of critical ailments is a medicinal preparation in Ayurveda and to some extent Unani Bhasma in Ayurveda has been defined as a... - RudrakshaRudrakshaRudraksha Rudraksha Rudraksha (also Rudraksh; Sanskrit: ("Rudra's tears") is a large evergreen broad-leaved tree whose seed is traditionally used for prayer beads in Hinduism. The seed is borne by several species of Elaeocarpus, with E. ganitrus being the principal species used in the making of a...
- PadodakaPadodakaPādodaka is holy water. Its prepared from bathing the Linga or guru's feet. It is one of the Ashtavarana or the 'eight protections' of Lingayatism....
- Prasada
- MantraMantraA mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...