Aaron
Overview page. Subjects: Opera — Religion.
In Hebrew tradition Moses's brother. He was assigned to Moses as his assistant (Exod. 4: 14), and later he and his descendants were appointed priests (Exod. 28 f.). In Christian theology he...
Abhinavagupta
Overview page. Subjects: Theatre — Aesthetics and Philosophy of Art — Religious Studies — Indian Music — Hinduism.
(c.975–1025)
Greatest of the Kashmiri Śaiva theologians. His works deal with the theoretical, yogic, and ritual
Akbar
Overview page. Subjects: Hinduism — Indian Music — Islam — Society and Culture — World History.
(b. 1542, r. 1556–1605)
Mughal emperor, known as ‘The Great’. He showed a constructive interest in
akṣara
Overview page. Subjects: Hinduism — Indian Music — Buddhism — Religious Studies.
Sanskrit term meaning imperishable, fixed, etc. (a + kṣhara). Akṣhara is also a letter of the alaphabet, a syllable or
Alleluia
Overview page. Subjects: Music — Christianity.
This Lat. form of Hebrew exclamation, meaning ‘Praise Jehovah’, was added to certain of the responds of the RC Church, suitably joyful mus. to be grafted on to traditional plainsong and, in...
Amen
Overview page. Subjects: Religion — Music.
(Heb., ‘So be it’).
An individual or congregational endorsement of a prayer or blessing. In Islam, the form is āmīn, spoken as a form of inclusion and assent to the words of prayer.
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anāhata Nād
Overview page. Subjects: Hinduism — Indian Music.
An ‘unstruck sound’ heard by sants and yogins as the immediate prelude to enlightenment or samādhi, sometimes equated with
Annamācārya
Overview page. Subjects: Indian Music — Hinduism.
(1408–1503)
A South Indian poet-saint of the Śrī Vaiṣṇava tradition. He is said to have composed more than
Ārati
Overview page. Subjects: Hinduism — Indian Music — Religious Studies.
Honouring the deity with light (dīpa). Āratī is one of the sixteen offerings (upacāras) made during worship (
Ave maris stella
Overview page. Subjects: Christianity — Music.
A popular Marian hymn, dating at least from the 9th cent. One English translation begins ‘Hail Thou Star of Ocean’.
