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| Glossary Advaita: non-dualism Ahuti: any solemn rite accompanied with oblation Ananda: bliss, the unadulterated joy of pure being Asanas: postures that strengthen the body and sharpen the mind; practised for the purpose of achieving one-pointedness Ashram: hermitage. A secluded abode for study and spiritual practice Atman: the true or higher self as distinct from the ego conscious self. The permanent essence and individualised super-consciousness. The non- individualised supreme consciousness is Paramatma Aum: primal sound or vibration from which the universe emanates. The sacred sound and symbol which represents Brahman Aum Namoh Narayana: Aum, thy name is Narayana, a mantra saluting Vishnu Aum Namoh Shivaya: Aum thy name is Shiva, a mantra saluting Shiva as the higher self Avatar: incarnation of the divine in human form Baba: an affectionate term meaning “father”, used for a guru or a holy man. Many venerated saints are referred to as Baba or Babaji. The Ji is a suffix denoting respect Bhagwati: one of the names of the universal mother Brahman: Absolute or ultimate reality. The One Absolute Being from whom everything emanates Brahmanda: universe, cosmos Buddhi: root - budh, to know. Knowledge and the faculty of discernment Chandra: moon Chetna: awake awareness Chit: awareness. Pure undifferentiated consciousness Darshan: literally to see; direct experience. To have darshan of a guru refers to the insight gained from a manifestation of divinity Damaru: small drum varying in length from 6 to 12 inches. Associated with Lord Shiva who plays this instrument when he dances the tandava nritya. The drum is shaped like an hour-glass with two skin heads laced to the body by a thread Dhuni: a sacred smouldering fire, tended by ascetics Gorakh: literally meaning a person who has mastered his senses (indriyas) and has complete control over the five vikritis (negative qualities) in human nature, namely kaam (sexual impulses), krodh (anger), lobh (greed), moh (attachment) and madh (ego) Gunas: the 3 aspects or qualities of the manifest Godhead and of Prakriti. Sattva being the force of truth, harmony, purity. Rajas is the tendency towards power, desire and energy. Tamas, the inclination towards inertia and stagnation. When the Gunas were in disequilibria, the godhead manifested the known universe Guru: literally that which dispels darkness. Spiritual teacher. Often this relationship is cemented when a guru initiates a disciple into meditation. The sadguru or satguru (enlightened master) commits to guide his disciple all the way to enlightenment, through lifetimes of living if need be Guru Purnima: day reserved for homage to the Guru. A festival, related to the element of Spirit. Occurs in late July or early August. Jal Samadhi: see Samadhi Jiva/Jeeva: individualised soul Karma: Root - kri,
to act, do or make. A completed action. Actions, though complete,
exist in subtle form in the unconscious mind and the result of the
karma will manifest sooner or later. Koan (Japanese): word or phrase creating a problem that cannot be solved by the intellect or pure reason or thought, but one which requires intuitive understanding, a leap of faith Kriya: root - kri,
to act. an action being performed. Distinct from karma, which is
a completed action Kundalini: literal meaning, the coiled one. The cosmic shakti or dormant potential that lies coiled in the body. When kundalini awakens in the body it moves up the central subtle channel piercing the chakras and initiating various yogic processes that bring about total purification and rejuvenation of the entire being Lila: divine play of consciousness Maha: great, eternal Maharaj: literally king, a term used to refer to a respected sage Mahatma: great soul Mahant: spiritual leader, head of an ashram or sect Mahabharata: India’s greatest epic poem, fifteen times longer than the Bible. The first written versions of it date back to the fifth or sixth century BC Mahamandaleshwar: title conferred on a respected sanyasi who heads a sect, region or religious order Mahavtar: great incarnation of the divine Mandir: temple Mantra: root - manas, mind; tra to protect. Mantras are words or syllables that are recited during meditation practice to release the mind from unfocussed activity and prepare it for the state of illumination Mataji: an affectionate term meaning “mother”, used for a guru or a holy woman Mauna: Observance of spiritual silence Maya: the primal substance from which nature is formed. One of its qualities is form producing. However, while it produces form it also tends to veil the truth. When a mind starts to identify with the form instead of the underlying reality, it experiences a diminishing of intuitive and intellectual capacities. The truth hides behind this veil. Maya, therefore, is illusory but not an illusion Mukti: liberation Muni: sage or saint Nachiketa (or Nachiketas): literally Na Chiketas, the unperceived, the spirit or the flame that burns within. Nachiketa is the young seeker in the Kathopanishad who journeys to Yama, the lord of Death and seeks knowledge of the ultimate state of being, immortality and the Unmanifest Nirvana: state of liberation, beyond duality, where the atman merges in the paramatman. Ignorance and conflicting emotions cease and the atman attains freedom from compulsive rebirth in samsara Pandavas: descendants of Pandu, patronymic for five sons of Pandu, heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata Paramatman: param, beyond or transcendental; plus atman. Thus, the Supreme Soul Parvati: literally, daughter of the Himalayas, eternal consort of Shiva Parikrama: circumambulation Prakriti: source, original or material cause of anything, nature, the manifest universe Prana: the life force that pervades nature Pranam: to salute or bow in reverence Pranayama: breathing exercises, breath control practised in Yoga that regulates the strength and circulation of prana in the body Prasad: an offering made to the divine, which is then distributed to devotees with his blessings Pravachan: a religious discourse Purush: pure, unmanifested consciousness Quila: fort Ramayana: one of the great Hindu epics Renunciate: one who has relinquished attachment to objects, emotional states and actions Rishi: sage or saint Rudraksha: seeds from a tree known to be sacred to Shiva. Often strung as beads on a string and worn as a mala (necklace) Sadhu: a monk, an ascetic Sadhak: one who is on the spiritual path Samadhi: root –
sam, to put together. Complete consciousness. A state of consciousness
where the yogi separates the astral and causal bodies and wanders
in the Bramhand (the cosmic sphere). When a yogi is in a state of
samadhi, his body appears lifeless and his thoughts assume a perfect
balance. This is not a trance state but one of clear and undifferentiated
awareness. Samsara: objective world, sea of change, cycle of birth and death, characterised by suffering Samskaras: subtle impressions. All actions, whether mental, physical or verbal, leave subtle impressions on the mind. These lead us to action, which strengthens our samskaras and so on, leading to a never-ending cycle Sankalpa: will and determination towards a predetermined end, to make an event or circumstance or thing to manifest. Sant: saint Sanyasi: ascetic. One who has forsaken the household life to seek knowledge (female equivalent - sanyasini) Sat, Satya, Satvva: Truth. Also harmony and purity Satvik: from Satva,or Satya, truth, harmony and purity Shakti: cosmic creative
force. Also the aspect of kundalini which, when aroused, leads to
positive spiritual awakening Shraddha: faith Shloka: a short verse Siddha: perfect, realised or enlightened being. One who has acquired siddhis Siddhi: spiritual powers that control self, others and the forces of nature Swayamvara: ceremonial occasion at which suitors are invited so a girl can choose her own groom Tandava: a dance form representing the forces of life and death. It is associated with Lord Shiva and is referred to as Ananda Tandava when it is performed in joy and Rudra Tandav when performed for the purpose of destruction Tantra: root – tan, to expand. A system of practices for achieving particular goals, awaken innate abilities and achieve union with the infinite. The meaning of the word extends in the context of weaving and expanding the fabric of life Tantrik: a practitioner of tantra Tapasya: penance, asceticism Tika: a mark placed on the forehead signifying commitment to a spiritual ideal Triloka: literally the three worlds, earth, heaven and the nether regions Triloka Tika: symbol of universal protection Trishul: a trident, symbol of Lord Shiva Upanishads: the end part of the Vedas, a collection of sacred texts. Root, Upa, under; ni, near and sad, sit. Sitting at the feet of an illumined master. The Upanishads reveal the accumulated wisdom of the sages, which show the path to ultimate knowledge of the Brahman Upma: South Indian preparation with semolina Vaikunth: the celestial abode associated with Vishnu Vairagya: renunciation, freedom from desire, detachment Vedas: root - vid, to know, therefore the revealed knowledge of the sages. The Hymns of the Vedas date back to perhaps 1500 BC and are the oldest religious scriptures known. The Vedas consist of four collections, Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. The first part of the Vedas, the Karma Kanda, preserves ancient hymns, rituals and codes of conduct. The second part, the Jnana Kanda, contains the Upanishads, the sacred teachings Videhi: one who is in his subtle or light body, one who can materialise and dematerialise his body at will Yagna, yagya: ritual sacrifice of the Vedas Yama: the first mortal. Lord of the region of Death Yoga: Union. The
Path, which leads to the ultimate union, the Self, merging with
the Universal Consciousness
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