Glossary: U
- Uddhava
- One of Krishna’s closest friends, His most confidential adviser in Mathura and Dvaraka.
- uddipana
- A category of bhava which means “that which lights the lamp of bhakti.”
- Ugrasena
- The Bhoja king of Mathura whose throne was usurped by his son Kamsa but restored by Krishna after Krishna killed Kamsa.
- Ugrashrava
- See Suta Gosvami.
- Ujjvala
- the mood of conjugal love with the Lord.
- Uma
- Parvati, the eternal consort of Lord Siva.
- upadesha
- instruction.
- Upadeshamrita
- The Nectar of Instruction; a practical guide to the development of Krishna consciousness, written by Srila Rupa Goswami.
- upadhi
- material designation.
- Upananda
- Nanda Maharaja’s brother.
- upanayana
- A boy’s investiture with the sacred thread, a ceremony that marks the beginning of his Vedic education.
- Upanishads
- The philosophical chapters of the Vedas, organized into 108 books. They are also called Vedanta, meaning “the culmination of Vedic knowledge,” and were explained systematically by Dvaipayana Vyasa in his Vedanta-sutra.
- Upapuranas
- Minor Puranas.
- Upendra
- another name of Lord Vamana, meaning “the younger brother of Indra.”
- Uragas
- The Naga race of divine serpents who live in the sub-terranean region of Patala.
- Usha
- The daughter of the demon Bana who fell in love with Krishna’s grandson Aniruddha.
- utsaha
- enthusiasm.
- utsaha-mayi
- lit., “false enthusiasm.” Self confidence based on insufficient realization.
- uttama
- topmost or highest.
- uttama-adhikari
- a topmost devotee.
- Uttamashloka
- a name of Krishna; “He who is praised with transcendental song or poetry.”
- Uttara
- King Virata’s daughter, the wife of Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu. Krishna entered her womb to save her son, Parikshit, the last heir to the Kuru throne.