Glossary

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There are currently 10 terms in this directory beginning with the letter A.
A
abbess
The female head of a Christian abbey or monastery [q.v.].
abbot
The male head of a Christian abbey or monastery [q.v.].
abhidharma
In a Buddhist [q.v.] context, annotations and discussions of the sutras [q.v.].It forms one of the three parts of the Buddhist Canon, the Tripiṭaka [q.v.].
Alsvin
In Norse mythology, one of the two horses that pulls the sun chariot across the sky. The other is Arvakr.
Ansgar
Ansgar (801–65) was Archbishop of Bremen and Hamburg in Germany who was known as ‘The Apostle of the North’ because of his missionary activities to convert northwestern Europe to Christianity.
Anthropomorphic
Giving human qualities to non-human entities such as gods and animals.
Apsaras
A Sanskrit term for female spirits of the sky, found in both Hinduism and Buddhism.
Arvakr
In Norse mythology, one of the two horses that pulls the sun chariot across the sky. The other is Alsvin.
Aśoka
Aśoka (r.c.268–c.232 BC) was king of the Mauryan empire (322–184 BC)  in south Asia. He promoted the spread of Buddhism in the empire and beyond.
Avalokiteśvara
The bodhisattva [q.v.] of compassion. Kannon in Japanese and Guaneum in Korean.