Purusha
The masculine aspect of life. Also refers to man.
The hero of the epic Ramayana, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
A mid-nineteenth century spiritual Master who lived mostly in Kolkatta. A devotee of Goddess Kali, he frequently went into ecstatic states of samadhi. One of his best-known disciples is Swami Vivekananda, who established and propagated the Ramakrishna Order, which has a world wide following today.
Early 20th Century spiritual Master who lived in the hills of Tiruvanamalai near Chennai, in South India. His teachings revolve around self-inquiry. He is believed to have enlightened not only humans, but also a cow and a crow.
An ashram located in Tiruvanamalai, established by Ramana Maharshi.
A sacred coastal town in South India, the closest point in India to the neighbouring country, Sri Lanka. Figures in the epic Ramayana, where Rama built a bridge from India to Sri Lanka to enable his army to cross the ocean.
A spiritual seeker who has undertaken spiritual disciplines, usually under the guidance of a master.