Glossary of Sanskrit Terms A N abhasa [pronunciation: aabhaas]: reflection of consciousness abhijna [ubhij^na]: direct perception abhimana [ubhimaan]: attachment abhyasa [ubhyaas]: practice abhyasi [ubhyaasi]: one who practices achala [uchul]: unmoving; hill or mountain achit [uchit]: not sentient acharya [uchurya]: scholar, learned man; a term of respect adhama [ ]: lowest grade adhara [aadhaar]: support adhishtana [udhishthaan]: substratum adhridha [udhr^dh]: weak; not firm adhyaropa [udhyaarop]: superimposition adhyasika [udhyaasik]: superimposed advaita [udvait]: non-duality; incorrectly termed monism; a system of thought and a vedantist sect founded by Shankara advaitin [ ]: non-dualist adya [aadyaa]: primordial; original adyatmika sakti [aadyaatmik sh^akti]: power of the Self agami (a. karma) [aagaami karm]: actions of the present life expected to bear fruit in future births agni [ ]: fire aham [uhum]: embodied self; soul; the ego; the sense of "I" aham Brahmasmi [uhum bruhmaasmi]: I am Brahman aham sphurana [uhum sphurun]: the throb of Self-bliss in the heart aham svarupa [uhum svuroop]: one's true nature aham vritti [vr^tti]: the 'I'-thought ahankara [uhunkaar]: 'I' sense; ego-self; 'the doer' ahimsa [uhimsaa]: nonviolence ajna [aaj^naa]: direction; injunction ajnana [uj^naan]: ignorance; knowledge of diversity ajnani [uj^naani]: one who has not realized the Self; unenlightened; ignorant of the Self akara [aakaar]: form or shape na medhaya [nuh medhuya]: not by the intellect nada [naad]: mystic sound; subtle sound accompanied by an effulgence nadasvaram [naadusvurum]: the pipe of the South Indian piper nadi(s) [naadi]: yogic nerves conveying the life force; main ones are Ida, Pingala and Sushumna naham [naahum]: I am not naishtika brahmacharya [naishtik bruhmuchurya]: lifelong celibacy nama [naam]: name; the name of God nama japa [naam jup]: repetition of the name of God nama sankirtan [naam sungkeertun]: singing the names of God nama smarana [naam smurun]: remembering and repeating the name of God namarupa [numurup]: name and form; the nature of the world namaskar(a) [numuskaar]: homage; prostration before God or Guru nana [naanaa]: diversity naraka [nuruk]: hell nasa [naash^]: destruction nava [nuv]: new neti-neti [same]: "not this, not this"; negating all names and forms in order to arrive at the eternal underlying truth nididhyasana [nididhyaasun]: the last of the three stages of vedantic realization; uninterrupted contemplation nijananda [nijaanund]: true bliss nirakara upasana [niraakaar upaasunaa]: meditation on the formless nirasa [niraash^]: desirelessness nirguna [nirgun]: without attributes Nirgunabrahman [ ]: the impersonal, attributeless Absolute nirguna upasana [nirgun upaasunaa]: meditation on the attributeless Brahman Glossary of Sanskrit Terms akasa (akasha) [aakaash^]: ether; space akritopasaka [ukritopaasuk]: one who has not done upasana or meditation alayavijnana [ ]: pure, self-existent consciousness amrita [umrit]: immortal amritanadi [umritunaadi]: the channel for the flow of consciousness from the Heart (Source) to the mind; the path by which it travels is termed archis anadi [unaadi]: without beginning ananda [aanund]: bliss; happiness; joy; Transcendence attained primarily through the affections manifests more as Bliss than as Knowledge anandatman [aanundutmun]: self in the state of bliss ananta [ununt]: endless; infinite anartha [unurtha]: evil; worthless anatman [unaatmun]: non-Self anava [aanuv]: limitation anichcha [unichchh; conjunct 'ch' and 'chh', pronounced without any vowel between; good luck!]: involuntary anitya [unitya]: transitory antah (antar) [untuH (untur)]: internal antah karanam (antahkarana) [untuH kurun(uM)]: means of perception; the mind; the ego; the thinking power antah pranayama [untuH praanaayaam]: internal breath-regulation antardhana [unturdhaan]: disappearance from sight antarmukha drishti [unturmukh dr^shti]: inward vision antarmukti manas [unturmukti munus]: inwardturned mind; mind retained in the Heart anu [unu]: atom anubhava [unubhuv]: experience; realization anushthana [unushthaan]: practice; attainment of knowledge anuttara samyak sambodhi [unuttur sumyuk sumbodhi]: see samyak sambodhi ap [aap]: water apana [upaan]: the life-force that goes down apara [upur]: the lower; inferior nirmanakaya [ ]: the Body of Transformation in which Buddhas and Bodhisattvas take on physical characteristics similar to those of ordinary beings for the purpose of delivering such beings nirodha [nirodh]: control nirvana [nirvaan]: Liberation; the final state into which beings enter when, becoming Enlightened, they are no longer bound by the consciousness of an illusory ego; release from samsara nirvikalpa samadhi [nirvikulp sumaadhi]: the highest state of concentration, in which the soul loses all sense of being different from the universal Self, but a temporary state from which there is a return to ego-consciousness nirvikappa [ ]: without the modifications of the mind nisarga [ ]: nature nischala bhava [nishchulaa bhuv]: steadfastness; Eternity nishkama, niskama [nishkaam]: desirelessness nishkama karma [nishkaam kurm]: acts done without a motive nishta [nishtha]: abidance in firm meditation nitya [same]: eternal nitya siddha [nitya siddh]: ever present nivritti [nivr^tti]: destruction; cessation of activity nivritti marga [nivr^tti maarg]: path of renunciation niyama [niyum]: law, rule, discipline as ordained for the second of eight yogic stages O om [same]: a mystic syllable, used as a mantra owpacharika (aupacharika) [aupuchaarik]: in a worldly sense Glossary of Sanskrit Terms aparoksha [upurok^sh]: direct; immediate; direct experience (as opposed to sensory experience) apavada [upuvaad]: removal aprana [upraan]: beyond manifest life; devoid of life arati [ ]: divine service performed in the early morning or at dusk archis [ ]: see amritanadi artha [urtha]: money arudha [aarudh]: attainment aruna [urun]: red arupa [uroop]: formless; timeless being asamsakti [usumsh^ukti]: non-attachment; one of the seven stages of enlightenment asamskrta [usunskr^t]: not pertaining to the impermanent; Chinese wu wei asana [aasun]: yogic posture asat [usut]: unreal asesha sakshi [ush^esh saak^shi]: witness of all ashram [ ]: hermitage ashtanga Yoga [ushtaang yog]: Yoga consisting of eight stages of discipline asrama [aash^rum]: one of the four life-stages of a spiritual seeker; the dwelling of a sage and his followers asraya [ ]: ground of Reality (as opposed to movement) asthira [usthira]: unsteady asuddha [ush^uddh]: bliss asukavi [usukuvi]: one who can versify impromptu asura [usur]: demon; similar to a Titan or fallen angel ati jagrat [uti jaagrut]: beyond waking ati sunya [uti sh^oonya]: beyond the void atiasrama (atyasrama) [utiaash^rum]: above the four stages of life atita [uteet]: beyond atma (atman) [aatm(un)]: the Self; principle of life and sensation; I AM; subjective moment of consciousness; in the highest sense, the Universal Spirit or the Supreme Soul of the Universe (see Paramatman) P Index padarthabhavini [pudaarthaa bhaavinee]: absolute nonperception of objects; one of the seven stages of enlightenment padmasana [pudmaasun]: the 'lotus' yogic posture panchakshari [punchaak^shaari]: a mantra of five syllables sacred to Siva pandit [pundeet]: learned man; scholar; man of wisdom para [puraa]: higher; supreme; other; in Tantricism, unmanifest sound para bhakti [puraa bhukti]: supreme devotion para nadi [puraa naadi]: a yogic nerve para vibhuti [puraa vibhooti]: superior vibhuti parabraham [purubruhm]: the Absolute Parabrahman [ ]: the Supreme Absolute param [purum]: transcendental paramahamsa [purumuhums]: a sannyasin who has attained Self-realization paramakash [purumukush]: the Absolute paramapada [purumupaad]: Supreme state paramarthika [paarumaarthik]: Absolute; true Self paramarthika satyam (p. satyan) [paarumaarthik sutyum]: absolute reality paramatma(n) [purumaatma(n)]: the Supreme Self; Universal Brahman paramita [purumit]: a means of crossing to the further shore, thereby entering Nirvana paranchi khani [puraanchi khaani]: outgoing parantapa [puruntup]: Arjuna, as 'he who destroys his enemy' pareccha [purechchhaa; conjunct 'ch' and 'chh', pronounced with no vowel between]: by another's will parinama vada [purinaam vaad]: the theory of Brahman changing into the world parinirvana [purinirvaan]: beyond nirvana; used to indicate that the concept of nirvana as the blissful opposite of samsara doesn't point to the final realization Glossary of Sanskrit Terms atma dhyana [aatma dhyaan]: contemplation on the Self atma jnani [aatma j^naani]: one who has realized the Self atma nishta [aatma nisht]: abiding in the Self atma prajna [aatma pruj^naa]: innate Selfconsciousness atma prema [aatma prem]: Self-love atma sakti [aatma sh^ukti]: power of the Self atma siddhi [aatma siddhi]: Self-realization atma vichara [aatma vichaar]: inquiry into the Self atma vidya [aatma vidya]: knowledge of the Self atmasakshatkara [ ]: Self-realization; enlightenment atmanusandhana [aatmunusundhun]: thinking constantly of the Self atyanta vairagyam [utyunt vairugyum]: total dispassion avarana [aavurun]: covering avastha traya [uvusthaa truya]: the three states of consciousness, namely waking, dream and sleep avatar [uvutaar]: incarnation of God avidya [uvidyaa]: nescience; ignorance of our true nature; all consciousness or knowledge, so long as it is restricted to the subject-object manifold avritta chakshus [aavr^tt chuk^shus]: introverted look ayatana [aayutun]: repository B Return to Index bahir pranayamam [buhir praanaayaam]: external breath regulation bahir mukha drishti [buhir mukh dr^shti]: outward turned consciousness bahir mukhi manas [buhir mukh munus]: letting the mind go out of the Heart; externalization bahudaka [buhooduk]: a sannyasin who wanders about bahya [baahya]: external paripurnam [puripoornum]: the perfect state paroksha [purok^sh]: hearsay; indirect phala [phul; NOT ful]: fruit; the result of an act phala chaitanyam [phul chaitunyum]: knowledge phala data [phul daataa]: dispenser of the results of our acts phala sruti [phul sh^ruti]: description of the result of an act pisacha(s) [pish^uchaa]: demon(s) pooja (see puja) poorna (see purna) pradakshina [pruduk^shin]: going around a sacred person or place pradeepta [prudeept]: shining brightly prajna [praaj^na]: consciousness; awareness; highest wisdom, transcendent wisdom; also employed as a synonym for the universal 'substance' prajnana [pruj^naan]: full consciousness prajnana ghana [pruj^naan ghun]: Brahman, the Absolute; immutable Knowledge prakriti [prukriti]: nature; primal substance out of which all things are created; Maya; causal matter; also called shakti pralaya [pruluya]: complete merging; dissolution (of the world) pramada [prumaad]: swerving from abidance in the Absolute pramana [prumaan]: means of valid knowledge pramata(r) [prumaat(ur)]: knower, cognizer pramoda [prumod]: joy higher than moda prana [praan]: life-force, breath, vital air that goes up pranasakti [praanush^ukti]: the power of the vital forces pranava [prunuv]: another term for Om pranava japa [prunuv jup]: incantation of Om pranayama [praanaayum]: breath control prapatti [pruputti]: surrender prapti [praapti]: attainment prarabdha [praarubdh]: the part of one's karma (destiny) to be worked out in this life Glossary of Sanskrit Terms bala [baal]: child bandha [bundh]: bondage bandha hetu [bundh hetu]: cause of bondage beeja [beej]: seed (see bija) Bhagavad-gita [bhuguvud geet]: Hindu religious scripture, "almost wholly in the form of a dialogue between Krishna, who represents the Self, the Atman, or Cosmic Consciousness, and Arjuna, who symbolizes the egoistic man of action. It gives a brief resume of the Roads by which Union or Yoga may be attained. This is one of the most important manuals that point the Way to Cosmic Consciousness." (Franklin Merrell-Wolff) bhagavan [bhuguvun]: God; the Lord; one who has realized his identity with the Self bhagwan (see bhagavan) bhajan (bhajana) [bhujun]: worship (of the Lord); singing God's praises, esp. in chorus bhakta [bhukt]: devotee bhakti [bhukti]: devotion; love (of God) bhakti marga [bhukti maarg]: path of devotion bharata [bhurut]: shining soul bhashyakara [bhaashyukur]: commentator bhavana [bhaavun]: contemplation of a personified deity with great emotion bheda [bhed]: difference; differentiation bhikshu [bhik^shu]: Buddhist monk, literally beggar bhoga [bhog]: enjoyment bhogya vasta [ ]: child bhogyam [bhogyuM]: that which is enjoyed bhokta [bhokt]: enjoyer bhuma [bhoomaa]: all-comprehensive; the Absolute bhumika [bhoomikaa]: stage bhutatathata [ ]: the Absolute viewed as the universal womb [see Tung-shan] bija [beej]: seed; source bija-mantra [beej muntra]: a one-word seedmantra or exclamation of power bodha [bodh]: knowledge; Truth bodhi [bodhi]: enlightenment; full illumination; the opposite of avidya prasad(a) [prusaad(a)]: divine blessing; food which has been offered to God and afterwards distributed among the devotees prasthana traya [prusthaan truya]: the threefold canon of Vedanta (Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita) pratibhasika satya [praatibhaasik sutya]: illusory reality as it appears to an individual pratikam [pruteekum]: symbol pratikriya [prutikriyaa]: remedy pratyabhijna [prutyubhij^na]: recognition pratyahara [prutyaahaar]: withdrawal of senses from objectivity; fifth rung in the Raja Yoga ladder pratyaksha [prutyuk^sh]: direct, immediate Pratyeka-Buddha [prutyek buddh]: one who achieves Enlightenment on his own and who does not then go forth to preach the Dharma pravritti [pruvr^tti]: pursuing what is desirable pravritti marga [pruvr^tti maarg]: path of action prayaschitta [praayush^chitt]: a rite for expiating sin prayatna [pruyutna]: proper and adequate effort prema [prem]: divine love [for God] preta [pret]: a hungry, tantalized ghost, led by evil karma into that sad but temporary state of existence prithvi (prthvi) [pr^thvi]: earth priya [same]: joy; dear puja [pooj]: reverence, honour, adoration, or worship; ceremonial worship with flowers, water, etc. punya [same]: merit puraka [pooruk]: inhalation purana [puraan]: old; eighteen ancient books of stories embodying religious symbolism, attributed to Vyasa puri [puree]: city puriashtaka [puriushtuk]: subtle body consisting of eight phases purna (purnam) [poorn(uM)]: full; infinite; complete Glossary of Sanskrit Terms bodhisattva [bodhisuttva]: destined for enlightenment but wants to take all beings along bodhikaya [bodhikaaya]: the body of the Absolute viewed as the fruit of enlightenment Brahma [bruhm]: Lord of Creation; God as the Creator; "I am present" brahmachari [bruhmuchaari]: a celibate; student stage of life brahmacharya [bruhmuchurya]: celibacy Brahmaivaham [bruhmaivaahuM]: Brahman am I Brahmajnana [bruhmuj^naan]: realization of one's absolute being Brahmajnani [bruhmuj^naani]: one who has realized the Self brahmakaravritti [bruhmaakaaruvr^tti]: concept in the form of Brahman Brahman [bruhmun]: the Universal Self; the Absolute Brahmanishta [bruhmaanishtha]: one who is established in Brahman Brahmarandhra [ ]: Brahma-aperature; opening in the crown of the head; fontanelle; "the tiniest of aperatures, in which is the silent, primordial sound, which gives you the impression that you are, but you really are not" (Nisargadatta) Brahmavid [bruhmuvid]: one who has realized Brahman Buddha [buddh]: one who is aware; a synonym for the Buddhakaya or Absolute state, where the Real Self is known for what it is buddhi [same]: intellect; one of the four aspects of the internal organ; the determinative faculty controlling the sense organs; "It is also Compassion, in the highest sense, the very Soul of the Law of Harmony or Equilibrium" (Franklin Merrell-Wolff) C Index chaitanya [chaitunya]: consciousness purusha (purusa) [purush]: man; spirit, soul; applied sometimes to God as the living principle; the Self which abides in the heart of all things purushakara [purushukaar]: personal effort purushartha [purushaartha]: human ends; objectives worthy of human pursuit (dharma, artha, kama and moksha) purushottama [ ]: Supreme Divine Being purva [poorv]: previous purva paksha [poorv puk^sh]: arguments advanced by the opponent purva samskara [poorv sumskaar]: latent tendencies R Index Raja Yoga [raaj yog]: the principle system of Yoga as taught by Patanjali rajas [rujus]: one of the three primal qualities described as red, the principle of activity; energy; passion; restlessness rajju-sarpa [rujju surp]: rope-snake; a rope looking like a snake in a dim light randhra [ ]: aperature; see Brahmarandhra rasa [rus]: bliss rasasvada [rusaasvaad]: taste of bliss in the absence of thoughts ravi marga [ruvi maarg]: path of the sun rechaka [rechuk]: exhalation rishi (rshi) [r^shi]: a seer; a sage Rudra [rudruH]: Siva in his aspect as Destroyer rupa [roop]: beautiful form S Index sabdanuviddha [sh^ubdunuviddh]: associated with sound sad guru [sud guru]: true guru Sada Siva [sudaa sh^iv]: Siva as eternal goodness Glossary of Sanskrit Terms chakra [chukra]: wheel; subtle center of energy in the body chakshus [chuk^shus]: eye chanchala [chunchula]: changing, fickle chandrayana [ ]: particular method of expiatory fasting chela [ ]: student; disicple chidabhasa [chidaabhaas]: reflected consciousness chidakash [ ]: consciousness chidananda [chidaanund]: bliss of the Self chidvyoman (chitt vyoman) [chidvyomun]: expanse of consciousness chinmaya [chinmuya]: full of consciousness chinta [chintaa]: thought, idea chintamani [chintaamuni]: wish-fulfilling gem chit [same]: Absolute Intelligence, universal consciousness chitakasa [ ]: Mental ether (all-pervading) chit jada granthi [chit jud grunthi]: the knot between pure consciousness and the insentient body; the ego chitta [chitt]: memory aspect of mind; the mental mode turned towards objects chitta nirodha [chitt nirodh]: control of mind chitta suddhi [chitt sh^uddhi]: purity of mind chitta vilasa [chitt vilaas]: play of mind chittaikograta [chittaikogrutaa]: one-pointedness of mind D Index dahara vidya [duhuraa vidyaa]: contemplation of the deity in the heart dana [daan]: gift; alms; relinquishment darsan(a), darshan [dursh^un]: seeing; vision dasi [daasee]: courtesan deha(m) [deha(M)]: body; existence 'deham, naham, koham, soham' I am the body; I am not the body; who am I? I am He. dehatma buddhi [dehaatma buddhi]: I-am-thebody sadhak(a) [saadhuk]: a spiritual aspirant; one who follows a method of spiritual discipline; the stage following mumuksku, where the seeker becomes convinced that he is the beingness or consciousness sadhana [saadhun]: method of spiritual practice; path sadhana-chatushtaya [saadhun chutushtuya]: the four qualifications expected in an aspirant sadhu [saadhu]: ascetic; sage; pious or righteous man; a sanyasin sadhu seva [saadhu sev]: service rendered to sages sadhya [ ]: thing to be accomplished sadsisya [sudsh^ishya]: true disciple sadyomukti [sudyomukti]: immediate Liberation saguna [sugun]: with attributes saguna upasana [sugun upaasun]: meditation on Brahman with attributes Sagunabrahman [sugunubruhm]: the Absolute conceived of as endowed with qualities sahaja [suhuj]: natural; one's natural state sahaja jnani [suhuj j^naani]: sage in the state of sahaja nirvikalpa samadhi sahaja nirvikalpa samadhi [suhuj nirvikulp sumaadhi]: natural state of absorption in the Self with no concepts sahaja samadhi [suhuj sumaadhi]: samadhi which comes naturally and is present always sahasradala [ ]: the thousand petalled lotus; center of illumination in crown of the head sahasrara [suhusraar]: the highest yogic center located in the brain sajatiya [sujaateeya]: of the same kind sakama [sukaam]: with desire sakshat [suk^shaat]: here and now sakshatkaram [suk^shaatkaarum]: direct realization sakshi(n) [suk^shi(n)]: witness; the Self sakti (shakti) [sh^ukti]: power; energy; force sakti pata [sh^ukti paat]: descent of divine power on a person sama [sum]: equal, common Glossary of Sanskrit Terms dehavasana [dehuvaasunaa]: attachment to the body deva [devaaH]: a god or celestial being devakanya [ ]: a class of minor female divinity devata [devutaa]: a goddess Devi [same]: the Divine Mother; a goddess dharana [dhaarunaa]: concentration of mind; one of the eight stages of Raja Yoga dharma [dhurmuH]: teaching of Buddha; universal law; way or path; an entity of any sort thing, idea, concept, etc; virtuous deeds; harmonious life; natural duty; inherent qualities dharmakaya [dhurmukaayaa]: the Dharma-Body or the Absolute, viewed as the Ultimate Reality with which Buddhas or Enlightened Beings are one and indivisible dharma dhatu [dhurm dhaatu]: the Absolute, i.e. the Dharma-Realm Dharma Raja [dhurm raaj]: the Buddha dharma sastri [dhurm sh^aastri]: one well-versed in the scriptures relating to dharma dhatu(s) [dhaatu]: humors; constituent elements of the body dhriti [dhr^tiM]: steadfastness dhyana [dhyaan]: meditation; contemplation; the seventh rung in the eightfold ladder of yoga dhyana siddhi [dhyaan siddhi]: successful meditation dikpalas [dikpulus]: gods who protect the various quarters diksha [dik^sh]: spiritual initiation divya chakshus [divya chuk^shus]: divine eye drashta [drushtaa]: seer dridha [dr^dh]: firm drik [dr^k]: he who sees; the subject drishti [dr^shti]: look; seeing drishti srishti [dr^shti sr^shti]: simultaneous creation drisya [dr^sh^ya]: that which is seen; the object drisya vilaya [dr^sh^ya viluya]: disappearance of the objective world drisyanuviddha [dr^sh^yaanuviddh]: associated with something seen dukha [dukh]: misery; frustration samadhi [sumaadhi]: advanced state of meditation; absorption in the Self; Oneness; the mind becoming identified with the object of meditation samana [ ]: one of the ten vital airs samanya [saamaanya]: common, general, ordinary samasta [sumust]: whole samatva [sumutva]: equality sambodhi [sumbodhi]: Supreme Enlightenment sambogakaya [ ]: the body in which Enlightened Beings enjoy the rewards of liberation from worldly things and in which they can appear to other beings in insubstantial form samjna [sumj^na]: discernment samjnana [sumj^naan]: awareness; perception samkalpa(s) [sumkulp]: fancies samrajya [saamraajya]: empire samsara [sumsaar]: the realm of relativity, transience and illusion; the process of worldly life; the bondage of life, death and rebirth samskara(s) [sumskaar]: innate tendencies; impressions created by previous actions and thoughts samskrta [sumskr^t]: the impermanent; Chinese yu wei samvid [ ]: true awareness samvit [sumvit]: consciousness; knowledge samyak-sambodhi [sumyuk sumbodhi]: Supreme Enlightenment samyamana [ ]: one-pointedness of mind sanchita (s. karma) [sunchit kurm]: accumulated karma of former births that still remains to be experienced sandeha [sundeha]: doubt sanga [sung]: association; brotherhood sangsara [sumsaar]: see samsara sankalpa [ ]: intention; thought; desire; imagination; volition, mental activity, tendencies and attachments Sankhya [saankhya]: one of the six systems of Indian philosophy sannidhi [sunnidhi]: presence Glossary of Sanskrit Terms dvaita [dvait]: duality dvandva [dvundv]: pair of opposites dvividha (dwividha) [dvividh]: two-fold E Index eka [ek]: one ekagrata [ekaagrutaa]: concentration ekanta vasa [ekaant vaas]: free from mental concepts; "dwelling in mental solitude" G Index Ganapati [gunuputi]: the elder son of Siva, the remover of obstacles; same as Ganesha, the chief of Siva's hosts ganapati [gunuputi]: consciousness ganesan [ ]: darkness ganja [gunj]: a narcotic; hashish gate [guta]: gone gatha [ ]: a verse, usually of a sacred kind Gayatri [gaayutri]: a sacred Vedic mantra gita [geet]: song gnana [j^naan]: see jnana gnani [j^naani]: see jnani gopuram [same]: temple tower granthi [grunthi]: knot granthi nasam [grunthi naash^um]: destruction of the knot (of ignorance) grihastha [gr^husthaaH]: householder grihini [gr^hini]: housewife guna(s) [gun]: the three fundamental qualities, tendencies or stresses that underlie all manifestations: sattva, rajas and tamas gunatita [gunaateet]: one who has transcended the gunas guru [same]: a spiritual master guru kripa [guru kr^puH]: guru's grace H Index hamsa [hums]: advanced sannyasi sannyasa (sanyasa) [sunnyaas]: asceticism, renunciation sannyasasrama [sunnyusaash^rum]: the last of the four stations of life sannyasi(n) [sunnyaasi(n)]: an ascetic; one who belongs to the fourth stage of life santi [sh^aanti]: peace santodanta [ ]: one who is calm and selfcontrolled sanyasin [sunnyaasin]: see sannyasin sarira [sh^ureer]: body sariri [sh^ureeri]: dweller in the body sarira traya [sh^ureer truya]: the three bodies, namely the physical, subtle and causal sarupa [ ]: with form; having form sarva [surv]: all sarvajna [survuj^na]: omniscient sarvajnatvam [survuj^nutvum]: omniscience sarvatma bhava [survaatma bhaav]: abidance in Oneness Sarvesvara [survesh^vur]: the supreme Lord sastra (shastra) [sh^aastra]: scripture; science; a sacred treatise or a commentary on a sutra sat [sut]: good; existence; being; reality sat-chit-ananda [sut chit aanund]: beingconsciousness-bliss satsang(a) [sutsung]: association with the wise sattva (satva, sattwa) [suttva]: purity; one of the three primal qualities of prakriti - described as white sattvapatti [sutvaaputti]: realization; one of the seven stages of enlightenment sattvic [saattvik]: pure satya [sutya]: Truth; the real savikalpa samadhi [suvikulp sumaadhi]: a state of concentration in which the distinction between the knower, knowledge and known is not yet lost sayujya [saayujya]: union; identity shadadhara [shudaadhaar]: the six yogic centers Shakti [sh^ukti]: see sakti, prakriti; represented mythologically as the wife of a god; Reality; Self; Power of Creation shastra [sh^aastra]: see sastra Glossary of Sanskrit Terms Hanuman [ ]: a powerful deity, son of the Wind god; great devotee of Sri Rama; famous monkey who helped Rama in his fight with Ravana hasta [hust]: hand hatha yoga [hutha yog]: a form of yoga involving body postures, and for gaining control over Prana hetu [same]: cause, reason hinayana [heenuyaan]: one of the two major divisions of Buddhism; prevalent in Southeast Asia hiranyagarbha [hirunyugurbh]: universal consciousness; cosmic mind; cosmic egg; the Unmanifested mind (see mahat tattva), the "golden womb" homa [hom]: sacrifice in fire hridaya(m) [hr^duya(M)]: heart; spiritual center of the body hridaya granthi [hr^duya grunthi]: knot of the heart; the idea that one is one's body hrit [hr^t]: heart hrit pundarika [hr^t pundureek]: the heart lotus I Index ichcha [ichchh; conjunct 'ch' and 'chh', pronounced without any vowel between]: desire; will idam [idum]: this Indra [indraa]: Lord of the devas; first student of Brahma vidya indriya(s) [indriyuH]: senses Isa [eesh^]: Supreme Lord ishta devata [isht devutaa]: the god one likes to worship Isvara (Iswara) [eesh^vur]: God; the Supreme Being in His aspect of Lord of the worlds Isvara anugraha [eesh^vur unugruha]: God's grace Isvara drishti [eesh^vur dr^shti]: seeing everything as God Isvara prasada [eesh^vur prusaad]: God's grace Isvara svarupa [eesh^vur svuroop]: the true form of God siddha [same]: one who has acquired supernatural powers and is capable of working miracles; a perfected Yogi siddhi [same]: supernatural power; realization; attainment sila [sh^eel]: the moral precepts observed by Buddhism sishya [sh^ishya]: disciple; fit student Siva [sh^iv]: God as destroyer and restorer of worlds Sivoham [sh^ivohum]: I am Siva sloka [sh^lok]: a stanza in Sanskrit; a verse of praise Skanda [skunduH]: younger son of Siva; leader of the divine hosts skandha [ ]: one of the five components (skandhas) of personality; inherited tendencies, physical and mental smriti [smr^ti]: memory; scriptures other than the Vedas soham [sohum]: I am He (Brahman) sparsa [spursh^]: touch sphurana (sphurna) [sphurun]: manifestation; throbbing or breaking; bursting forth; vibration sraddha [sh^ruddhaa]: faith; earnestness sravaka [sh^ruvuk?]: one who approaches the Dharma as a result of hearing it preached sravana [sh^ruvun]: hearing of the Truth, from the Guru srishti drishti [sr^shti dr^shti]: gradual creation srota [sh^rot]: hearer srotra [sh^rotra]: ear sruti [sh^ruti]: sacred text; Vedas, heard by sages in their transcendental state and transmitted to disciples by word of mouth sthitaprajna [sthitupraaj^na?]: one established in wisdom sthiti [same]: being; existing sthula [sthool]: gross sthula sarira [sthool sh^ureer]: physical body stotram [stotrum]: hymn of praise stuti [same]: devotional singing Glossary of Sanskrit Terms J Index jada [jud]: insentient jaganmaya [jugunmaaya]: the mystery of the world jagat [jugut]: world; changing jagrat [jaagrut]: waking state jagrat sushupti [jaagrut sushuptiH]: aware or awake while asleep; being aware but not concerned jai [same]: victory jala [jula]: water janma [junma]: birth japa [jup]: repetition of a sacred word or syllable or name of God japa karta [jup kurtaa]: one who does japa jirna [jeern]: decayed jiva [jeev]: individual soul or ego jivanmukta [jeevunmukt]: realized soul jivanmukti [jeevunmukti]: liberation while alive jivatman [jeevaatmun]: the individual self jnana(m) [j^naan(aM)]: knowledge of the Absolute; enlightenment; Supreme Knowledge; Self-realization jnana bhumika(s) [j^naan bhoomikaa]: stages of knowledge (seven) jnana chakshus [j^naan chuk^shus]: eye of wisdom jnana drishti [j^naan dr^shti]: wisdom-insight jnana grantha [j^naan gruntha]: Vedantic works jnana lakshana [j^naan luk^shun]: sign of wisdom jnana marga [j^naan maarg]: path of knowledge jnana vichara [j^naan vichaar]: inquiry regarding knowledge jnana yoga [j^naan yog]: the method of realizing the Absolute through knowledge jnanagni [j^naanaagni]: fire of wisdom jnanameva chakshus [ ]: All-seeing eyes jnanendriya [j^nunendriya]: sense organ jnani [j^naani]: sage; one who has realized the Self jothi (jyoti) [jyotiH]: light; effulgence subhechcha [sh^ubechchh; conjunct 'ch' and 'chh']: desire for enlightenment; one of the seven stages of enlightenment suddha [sh^uddh]: pure suddha sattva [sh^uddh suttva]: essentially pure suddha sattva svarupa [sh^uddh suttva svuroop]: the form of purity sukha [same]: happiness sukha asana [sukh aasun]: easy and comfortable sitting posture sukshma [sook^shm]: subtle sukshma sarira [sook^shm sh^ureer]: subtle body sunya [sh^oonya]: blank; the Void sunyata [ ]: the emptiness of all separate things; the impermanence and unreality of all forms sunyavadin [sh^oonuvaadin]: nihilist sushumna (susumna) [sushumn]: one of the yogic nerves, through which the kundalini rises sushupti (susupti) [sushupti]: dreamless sleep sutra [sootra]: string; aphorism; actual teaching attributed to Gautama Buddha or very occasionally someone else suvasana [suvaasunaa]: good tendency svagata [svugut]: within itself svami [svaami]: see swami svapna [svupna]: dream; dreaming state svarga [svurg]: heaven svaroopa (swarupa) [svuroop]: essential nature; true nature of Being; real form, unconditioned by rajas (activity) and tamas (inertia) svarupa nishta [svuroop nishtha]: abidance in the Self swami [svaami]: mystic or yogi; one who is in control of himself; one's own master swaraj [svuraaj]: independence swatantra [svutuntra]: independence swechcha [svechchh; conjunct 'ch' and 'chh']: of one's own will Glossary of Sanskrit Terms K Index Kailas [kailaas]: a mountain in the Himalayas reputed to be the home of Siva kaivalya [kaivulya]: Absolute Oneness; final emancipation kali yuga [kuli yug]: the last of the four ages of the world kalpana [kulpunaa]: idea; imagination of the mind; creation kama [kaam]: desire; physical love; lust kantha [kuntha]: throat kanthabharana [kunthaabhurun]: neck ornament kanya [kunyaa]: virgin kara [ ]: a combining form meaning achieved or achievement karana [kaarun]: cause karana sarira [kaarun sh^ureer]: causal body karma [kurm]: action; work; deeds; also the result of action karma marga [kurm maarg]: path of ritual, religious duties, and action karma samya [kurm saamya]: good and bad actions in equal proportions karma traya [kurm truya]: the three kinds of karma, namely sanchita, agami and prarabdha karma yoga [kurm yog]: the spiritual path of action karmendriya [kurmendriya]: organ of action karpura arati [kurpoor aaruti]: the waving of lighted camphor during puja karta [kurtaa]: he who does an act; doer kartrtva [kurtr^tva]: doership kartrtva buddhi [kurtr^tva buddhi]: sense of being the doer kashaya [kushaaya]: latent impurity kashaya [kaashaaya]: ochre-colored garment kayakalpa [kaayukulp]: medicinal preparation for prolonging life kayasiddhi [kaayusiddhi]: making the body proof against injury kendra [ ]: center; heart T Index tadakaranilai [tudaakaarunilai]: abiding in the form of That (the Self) taijasa [taijus]: the individual being in dream; brilliance tamas [tumus]: inertia; darkness; ignorance; ego; one of the three primal qualities - described as black tanha [tunhaa]: thirst (for living) tanmatra(s) [tunmaatra]: elements in their subtle forms tanmaya [tunmuya]: full of the Self tanmaya nishta [tunmuya nishtha]: abidance in the Self tanumanasa [tunumaanus]: tenuous mind; one of the seven stages of enlightenment tapas (tapasya) [tupus (tupusyaa)]: austerity tapobhrashta [tupobhrusht]: one who has fallen away from his auterities tapta-aya-pindavat [tupt uya pinduvut]: like a red-hot iron ball Tat [tut]: That; Brahman Tat tvam asi [tut tvum usi]: 'That thou art' Tathagata [tuthaagut]: a Buddha, literally the Thus-Gone; the Suchness of all Dharmas tathata [ ]: Suchness; essence of mind; Buddhanature; Tao; true Self tattva [tuttva]: truth; essence of a thing tattva bhoda [tuttva bodh]: knowledge of the Truth tattva jnana [tuttva j^naan]: knowledge of Brahman or Atman tattvam [tuttvuM]: Reality; Truth tejas [tejus]: effulgence tejo rupa [tejo rup]: of the form of light tejomaya [tejomuya]: full of light tirtha [teertha]: a sacred river or tank Tripitaka [ ]: the entire collection of Buddhist scriptures triputi [same]: triad like seer, seen and seeing turavu (Tamil) [turuvu]: renunciation Glossary of Sanskrit Terms kevala kumbhaka [kevul kumbhuk]: retention of breath leading to stilling of the mind kevala nirvikalpa [kevul nirvikulp]: the state of remaining without concepts; bliss of vijnana kevala samadhi [kevul sumaadhi]: samadhi in which activities of body and mind are only merged khanda [khund]: division khyati [khyaati]: theory klesa [klesh^]: a defilement, passion etc. kousalam [koush^ulum]: skill kosa [ ]: sheath krama mukti [krum mukti]: liberation by degrees krama srishti [krum sr^shti]: gradual creation krida [kr^d]: play; pastime kritopasaka [kritopaasuk]: one who has done upasana or meditation kriya [ ]: physical action krodha [krodh]: anger kshanti [k^shunti]: forebearance kshetra [k^shetra]: temple; in Yoga, field of the body Kshetrajna [k^shetruj^na]: the conscious principle (Knower) in the field of the body; the absolute witness of the three states of the self - waking, dream and sleep kshipta [k^shipt]: active kumbha [kumbh]: pot used for keeping water kumbhaka [kumbhuk]: retention of breath kumkuma [same]: vermilion powder applied to the forehead kundalini [kundulini]: primordial cosmic energy located in the individual; mystic circle of three and a half coils situated in the umbilical region; yogic principle of serpent power kutichaka [kuteechuk]: a sannyasin who lives permanently in a hut kuvasana [kuvaasun]: bad tendency L Index laghu [lughu]: light; easy lakshana [luk^shun]: sign; definition lakshya [luk^shya]: aim; target; goal; attention turiyatita (turiwateeta) [tureeyaatit]: beyond the fourth state; the Self turya (turiya) [same]: the fourth state beyond waking, dreaming and deep sleep; ever present and unchanging witness-Consciousness turyaga [turyugaa]: beyond words; one of the seven stages of enlightenment tyaga [tyaag]: giving up U Index udana [udaan]: one of the vital airs, having its seat in the neck, controlling the intake of food and air udasinam [udaaseenum]: indifference upadesa [upudesh^]: instruction or guidance of a Guru upadhi [upaadhi]: limiting adjunct; subtitle; body-related Upanisad(s) [upunishud]: philosophical writings forming part of the Vedas; knowledge portion of the Vedas upasaka [upaasuk]: meditator; layman who lives according to certain strict rules upasana [upaasun]: meditation; contemplation upasana sthana [upaasun sthaan]: seat of meditation uttama [ ]: highest grade V Index vac (vak) [vaac]: speech vachyartha [vaachyaartha]: literal meaning vada [vaad]: theory; disputation vaikhari [vaikhuri]: audible sound Vaikuntha [vaikuntha]: the abode of Vishnu vairagya [vairaagya]: dispassion; nonattachment Vaishnavite (Vaishnav) [vaishnuv]: worshipper of Vishnu vajra [vujra]: imperishable, real, ultimate; literally diamond or adamantine Glossary of Sanskrit Terms lakshyartha [luk^shyaartha]: implied meaning laya [luya]: dissolution; merging; in Yoga, absorption of breath and mind in the heart lila (leela) [leela]: play or sport linga [ling]: symbol linga sarira [ling sh^ureer]: subtle body loka [lok]: world; that which is seen loukika [loukik]: worldly M Index madhya [mudhya]: center; mixed; middling madhyama [mudhyum]: a stage in uttering sounds; middle grade mahadakash [ ]: the entire universe; world of action maha [ ]: great maharshi (Maha Rishi) [muhur^shi]: great rishi or sage mahaparinirvana [muhaapurinirvaan?]: ultimate Nirvana (Nirvana can be achieved in this lifetime; ultimate Nirvana then follows at death) mahasunya [muhaash^oonya]: great void mahat [muhut]: intellectual principle as source of ahankara mahat tattva (mahattava) [muhaat tuttva]: essential principle of being; the great principle (from the Absolute emantes the Unmanifest, from it Mahat, and from Mahat the ahankara) mahatma [muhaatmaa]: lofty soul; highly spiritual person mahavakya(s) [muhaavaakyaa]: the four main sentences proclaiming the truth of Brahman, one from each Veda mahayana [muhaayaan]: one of the two major divisions of Buddhism, prevalent in the more northerly countries of Asia - China, Tibet, Japan etc. Mahesvara [muhesh^vuraH]: one of the five aspects of Siva, as veiling the Truth from souls till their karma is completely worked out; also, Siva as Para-Brahman, the Absolute malaparipaka [mulupuripaak]: complete removal of impurity Vajrayana [ ]: the school of Mahayana Buddhism prevalent in Tibet and Mongolia, commonly called Lamaism in the West varistha [vurishtha]: the most excellent varnasrama dharma [vurnaash^rum dhurm]: dharma of the various castes and stages of life vasana [vaasun]: habit of the mind; latent tendency, impression or predisposition due to experiences of former lives; subtle desire vasana kshaya [vaasun k^shuya]: cessation of vasanas vastu [vustu]: substance; reality vastutah [vustutuH]: in reality Vasudeva [vaasudev]: Krishna as the son of Vasudeva, the Lord who created the world vayu [vaayuH]: air; vital breath; the Wind god Veda [ved]: sacred lore; scriptures revealed through the Rishis (Rig, Yajur, Sama and Atharva Vedas) vedana [vedunaa]: reception of sensation Vedanta [vedaant]: absolute Truth as established by the Upanishads, Brahma Sutras, and Bhagavad Gita as interpreted by Vyasa; the end or consummation of the Vedas veena [veen]: a stringed instrument vibhakti [vibhukti]: separation vibhuti [vibhooti]: sacred ashes; God's glory; supernatural power vichara [vichaar]: inquiry into the true nature of the Self vichara marga [vichaar maarg]: spiritual path of inquiry vicharana [vichaarun]: investigation; one of the seven stages of enlightenment videha mukta [videha mukt]: a liberated being after he has left the body videha mukti [videha mukti]: Self-realization after leaving the body vidya [vidyaa]: knowledge (of Brahman) vijatiya [vijaatiya]: of a different kind vijnana [vij^naan]: spiritual knowledge; discriminating the real from the unreal; principle of pure intelligence Glossary of Sanskrit Terms malina [mulin]: impure manana [munan]: constant thinking over what has been heard; reflection; meditation; the second of the three stages of Vedantic realization manas [munus]: mind, reason, mentality; also used for the aggregate of chitta, buddhi, manas and ahankara mani [muni]: jewel manolaya [munoluya]: (temporary) subsidence of the mind; dissolution of the mind into its cause manomaya kosa [munomaaya kosh^]: sheath of mind manonasa [munonaash^]: extinction of the mind manonigraha [munonigruha]: rendering the mind quiescent manta [muntaa]: thinker mantra (mantram) [muntra(M)]: sacred syllable(s) used in meditation mantra japa [muntra jap]: repetition of a mantra marana [muruN]: causing death through supernatural powers marga [maarg]: path maru marichika [muru mureechikaa]: mirage seen in a desert math (mutt) [ ]: meeting place; abode of Sadhus mati [muti]: thinking power mauna [same]: see mouna maya [maayaa]: illusion; the power of Brahman by which it manifests the world; the veiling and projecting power of the universe maya vada [maayaa vaad]: the doctrine of maya mayavadi [ ]: one who says the world is an illusion mayasakti [maayaash^ukti]: the power of maya medha [medhaa]: intellect mitha [ ]: non-existent mithya [mithyaa]: the false; unreal moda [mod]: joy which is higher than priya moksha [mok^sh]: Liberation; freedom from transmigration moodha [moodh]: dull moola [mool]: root; source mooladhara [moolaadhaar]: one of the yogic centers of the body vijnanamaya kosa [vij^naanumuya kosh^]: sheath of the intellect vijnanatma [vij^nunutma]: the ignorant self vijnata [vij^naataa]: knower vikalpa(s) [vikulp]: doubt(s) vikshepa [vik^shep]: diversity vikshipta [vik^shipt]: distracted vinaya [vinuya]: the discipline practiced by Buddhist monks; humility viparita [vipureet]: contrary virat [viraat]: macrocosm; totality of gross beings; the physical world virya [veerya]: zeal; vitality visesha [vish^esh]: particular; special vishaya [vishuya]: object Vishnu [vishnu]: God as preserver vishya vasana(s) [-?- vaasun]: predisposition toward sense enjoyments visishta [vish^isht]: qualified visishtadvaitin [vish^ishtaadvaitin]: one who believes in a modified form of non-duality visranti [vish^raanti]: repose visva [visva]: the individual being in the waking state; the all visvarupa (v. darsana) [visvuroop dursh^un]: God seen as the universe vivarta vada [vivurt vaad]: theory that Brahman appears as the world, soul and God, like a rope appears as a snake, without itself undergoing any change vivechana [vivechun]: discrimination viveka [vivek]: wisdom; discrimination between the Real and the unreal; disciminative inquiry viyoga [viyog]: separation vritti [vr^tti]: modification of the mind; mental concept; thought-wave vyakta [ ]: the karma-bound individuality vyakti [ ]: the transient personality vyana [vyaan]: one of the ten vital airs, causing the circulation of the blood vyaptam [vyaaptum]: pervaded Vyasa [ ]: the great sage who wrote the Brahma Sutras vyashti [vyushti]: part Glossary of Sanskrit Terms mouna (mauna) [same]: Silence; the Truth of Brahman, expressed by the Brahman-knower by his mere abidence in stillness mouna diksha [ ]: initiation by silence mriga trishna [mr^g tr^shn]: water of a mirage mudra [mudraa]: hand pose in worship and dance mukta [same]: one who is liberated mukti [same]: Liberation mula [ ]: origin; root; base mulavidya [moolaavidyaa]: primal ignorance mumukshu [mumuk^shu]: one who aspires to Liberation; the first stage, when the seeker feels that there is something beyond this material universe but is still identified with his body-mind; the next stage is that of the sadhaka mumukshutva [mumuk^shutva]: desire for Liberation muni [same]: sage; austere person murti [same]: idol vyavahara (vyavaharika) [vyuvuhaar (vyaavuhaarik)]: empirical vyavahara satya [vyuvuhaar sutya]: phenomenal existence Y Index yaga [yaag]: ritualistic sacrifice yajna [yuj^na]: sacrifice yama [ ]: self-control; the first rung in the ladder of eightfold yoga (abstention from lying, killing, theft, lust, covetousness etc.); also, the god of death (Yama) yoga [yog]: union (with the Supreme); literally, a yoke or discipline; the technique of meditation whereby the individual brings himself into unity with the Ultimate Reality; the four paths to this union are jnana, the path of knowledge, karma, the path of action, bhakti, the path of devotion, and raja, the royal path, which is a synthesis of the other three; the philosophy of the sage Patanjali yoga marga(s) [yog maarg]: yogic path(s) yoga maya [yog maayaa]: magical power yogabhrashta [yogubhrusht]: one who has slipped from yoga yogarudha [yogaaroodh]: one who has attained yoga yogi [same]: follower of a path of yoga Yogiraja [yogiraaj]: king of yogis; Sri Vasudeva yugapat srishti [yuguput sr^shti]: simultaneous creation