RAMA: The sixth incarnation of Lord Narayana as the son of Dasaratha.

RAMANA MAHARSHI: The great sage at Tiruvannamalai, who passed away in 1950,

RAMANUJA: The great Vaishnavite saint.

RANGA VIMANAM: The sacred chariot created by Lord Vishnu and installed at Srirangam.

RATI: Consort of Manmatha.

RAVANA: The ten-headed king of Lanka, a demon killed by Sri Rama.

RISHABHAM: Holy bull; generally refers to Nandi.

RISHI: A seer.

RUDRA: Siva in His angry and fearful aspect.

RUDRAKSHAM: Spherical seeds made into garlands and worn by Saivites; berries of Usocarpus Ganitrus sacred to Siva.

SABHA: An assembly or meeting.

SADHANA: Spiritual discipline, penance.

SAKTI: Energy; the female part of creation.

SANKARA: A great philosopher and exponent of Advaita, the school of Monism.

SANTANAGOPALA: Idol of Krishna as a baby, at Mannargudi.

SANTANAM: Progeny.

SANYASIN: Ascetic.

SARANGAPANI: Name of the deity at Kumbakonam temple.

SARASWATI: Goddess of learning, consort of Lord Brahma.

SASANA: Agreement.

SASTRA: Science; a scripture which lays down rules.

SAYUJYA MUKTI: Attainment of salvation in physical form.

SHIYALI: A taluq head-quarters in Tanjore District, birth place of Tirujnanasambandar.

SIFDDHI: Full attainment of spiritual realisation.

SISHYA: Disciple.

SLOKA: Verse in Sanskrit and the languages derived from it.

SRIRANGAM: 'Me town near Trichinopoly where there is the temple of Sri Ranganatha.

STHALAVRIKSHA: The sacred tree connected with the origin of a temple.

SUKLA PAKSHA: The period of four teen days between the new moon and full moon days.

SURYA: Sun.

SWAMI MALAI: A Saivite shrine in Tanjore District.

SWAYAMBHU: Self-created.