See Also: upanayana(encyclopedia)
upanayana(dictionary)
Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital- Medicine Lodge(health)
Orthomolecular medicine (orthomolecular nutritional medicine, orthomolecular therapy)(health)
medicine man(encyclopedia)
medicine(encyclopedia)
medicine(2)(dictionary)
Medicine(medicine)
medicine(dictionary)

sigmoiditis (medicine) and upanayana (sh)


sigmoiditis (medicine)


sigmoiditis
Inflammation of the sigmoid colon.

Origin: sigmoid-+ G. -itis, inflammation


upanayana (sh)




Hindu initiation ritual, restricted to the three upper varnas.

It marks a male's entrance into the life of a student and his acceptance as a full member of the religious community. After a ritual bath, the boy, aged 5-24, is dressed as an ascetic and brought before his guru, who invests him with various symbolic articles. The initiate receives a sacred thread, worn throughout his life, that identifies him as twice-born, the second birth being effected by receipt of a mantra. Observance of upanayana is decreasing and is now largely confined to the Brahman class.