In Hinduism

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): A Critical Edition and Annotated Translation by Jason Birch

Ūrdhvavedha (ऊर्ध्ववेध) refers to “piercing (someone) above”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] [Just as Arjuna's] fist [aimed his bow] upwards [at the Yantra], [yet] his gaze was [on Rādhā’s reflection in a bowl of oil] below; his piercing [of the target] was above (ūrdhvavedha), [yet] his head was [tilted] down, [just so the yogin practises Śāmbhavī Mudrā.] He will become liberated while alive by [this] method of [gazing down at] Rādhā and [aiming upwards at the] Yantra. [...]”.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Source: ORA: Amanaska (king of all yogas): (Jainism)

Ūrdhvavedha (ऊर्ध्ववेध) refers to “piercing something upward”, according to the Līlāvatīsāra which was written by the thirteenth-century Jain poet, Jinaratna.—Accordingly, his retelling contains the phrase, [ūrdhvamuṣṭir adhodṛṣṭiḥ (3.257c)], which describes Vatsarāja at the moment before he shoots the arrow. Vatsarāja’s fist is raised up above his head because he must point the bow up to a target above himself, and his gaze is directed down because he must sight the target by gazing at its reflection in a bowl of oil on the ground. A doll (pañcālī) called Rādhā is the target (lakṣya) and she is placed in the middle of a rotating wheel which is suspended atop a high pillar (stambha). One can infer that the “piercing is upward” (ūrdhvavedha) because Vatsarāja's arrow strikes her from below.

context information

Jainism is an Indian religion of Dharma whose doctrine revolves around harmlessness (ahimsa) towards every living being. The two major branches (Digambara and Svetambara) of Jainism stimulate self-control (or, shramana, ‘self-reliance’) and spiritual development through a path of peace for the soul to progess to the ultimate goal.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Urdhva, Vedha, Veta.

Full-text: Vedha, Pancali, Stambha, Lakshya.

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