Sivananda: Biography of a Modern SageHis life, by Swami Venkatesananda
GLOSSARY
Abhishekam: Pouring milk or water over an image of the Lord
Abhyasa yoga: The yoga of constant practise
Acharya: Teacher
Advaita: Non dual — monism
Aham Brahmasmi: ‘I am Brahman’
Ahimsa: Non injury in thought, word and deed
Akhanda kirtan: Unbroken singing of the names and glories of the Lord
Akrodha: Absence of anger
Allopathic: Western medicine
Almirah: Cupboard
Ananda: Bliss
Annakshetra: Common dining hall
Arati: Waving of lights before an image of God
Archana: Offering flowers and leaves to an image of the Lord during worship
Arya Samajist: Follower of Arya Samaj, founded by Swami Dayananda
Asana: Seat; posture
Ashram: Monastery
Ashramite: One who lives in an ashram
Asura: Demon
Asuric: From asura. A person of evil tendencies
Atma bhava: Feeling that everything is the Self
Atma jnana: Direct knowledge of the Self
Atman: The Self
Avadhuta: A naked ascetic
Avatar(a): A coming down of the Divine into the human plane; incarnation of the Lord
Ayurveda: System of Indian medicine
Ayurvedacharya: An expert in ayurvedic medicine
Bael leaves: Sacred leaves of the bael tree. Used in worship of Lord Siva
Babu: One who loves luxury
Bandhas: Class of hatha yoga exercises. (See Health and Hatha Yoga.)
Bhagavad Gita: Hindu Scripture
Bhagavan: The Lord; form of address to a holy man
Bhagavatam: Hindu Scripture
Bhagiratha: River which joins the Ganges near Rishikesh
Bhajan: Worship and praise of the Lord
Bhakta: Devotee
Bhakti: Devotion; love of God
Bhakti marga: Path of devotion
Bhangi: Rogue
Bhasma: Sacred ash
Bhastrika: Hatha yoga breathing exercise
Bhav(a): Inner attitude; purity of thought
Bhavan: Meeting place
Bhoga: Enjoyment
Bhiksha: Alms
Brahma: God as Creator
Brahmachari(n): Celibate
Brahmacharya: The first stage of the Hindu’s life — celibate student’s life
Brahmajnana: Direct knowledge of Brahman
Brahmamuhurta: Period of an hour and a half before sunrise
Brahman: The Supreme Reality that is one and indivisible, infinite and eternal
Brahma Sutras: Hindu scriptures
Brahma tejas: Light of wisdom
Brahma vicar(a): Enquiry into Brahman
Brahma vidya: Knowledge of Brahman; learning pertaining to Brahman or the Absolute Reality
Brahmic: Of Brahman
Brahmic consciousness: God consciousness
Brahmin: Member of the priestly caste
Chana-ki-dhal: Lentil soup
Chapati: Unleavened bread
Chela: Disciple
Conch: Large shell which is blown like a trumpet
Curd: Yoghurt
Dandam: Stick of a sannyasi or mendicant
Darshan: Holy company
Daya: Mercy
Devas: Deities
Devatas: The deities who receive the worship of men and grant their desires
Devi: Goddess
Dhal: Lentil soup
Dharamsala: Public rest house
Dharana: Concentration of mind
Dharma: Righteous way of living
Dharmic: Action according to dharma
Dhoti: Piece of cloth worn as a skirt, wrapped around the body
Dhyana: Meditation
Diksha: Initiation
Durbar: Official reception
Durga: The Divine Mother; Shakti; another name for Kali
Durga Puja: Worship of Durga; Navaratri
Dvesha: Dislike; hatred
Ekadasi: Eleventh day of the Hindu lunar fortnight
Fakir: Ascetic monk
Ganesha: Son of Lord Siva; the elephant-headed God (symbolises wisdom)
Ganesh Puja: Worship of Ganesha
Ganga: Hindi name for Ganges river
Gerua: Orange colouring used in dyeing
Ghat: Steps leading down into a river
Ghee: Clarified butter
Gita: Bhagavad Gita; Hindu scripture
Gita jayanthi: ‘birthday’ of the Bhagavad Gita
Goshala: Cowshed
Guha: Cave
Guru: Spiritual preceptor
Guru bhakti: Devotion to the guru
Guru Granth Sahib: Sacred scripture of the Sikhs
Guru mantra: Sacred word or formula given by the guru
Guru purnima: Festival to worship the guru
Guru stotra: Hymn to the guru
Guru seva: Service of the guru
Hanuman: Monkey god from the epic Ramayana
Hari: Name of God (Krishna)
Hatha yoga: Physical Yoga. (See Health & Hatha Yoga)
Hatha yogi: One who is an adept in hatha yoga
Havan: Fire ceremony
Homa: See havan
Idli: A steamed South Indian breakfast dish
Ishta devata: A person’s chosen deity
Ishta mantra: A personal mantra
Jagadguru: World teacher
Jai: Victory
Japa: Repetition of ishta mantra
Japa mala: A string of 108 beads for doing japa
Jaya: Victory
Jayanthi: Birthday
Jivanmukta: Liberated while living
Jnana: Wisdom
Jnana yajna: Dissemination of knowledge; offering of the individual to the Supreme
Jnani: Sage
Jyoti: Light
Kaivalya: Liberation
Kali Yuga: The present Age
Kamandalu: Water pot used by yogis— usually made from a gourd
Karma: Law of Action (As you sow, so shall you reap)
Karma Yoga: Yoga of selfless service. (See Karma Yoga)
Karnatic music: South Indian music
Kartal: Musical instrument like a cymbal
Karuna: Compassion
Katha Upanishad: Hindu scripture
Katha: Tale or story; history or narrative
Khaddar: Home spun cloth
Kirtan: Singing the names and glories of God
Kowpeen: Piece of cloth worn as underwear
Krishna: Name of God; avatar of Lord Vishnu
Kriya: Physical action; particular exercise in hatha yoga
Kshama: Forgiveness
Kshetra: Alms house
Kumbhak: Retention of breath
Kumbha mela: Spiritual festival
Kumkum: Coloured powder worn as a dot on the forehead
Kundalini: The primordial cosmic energy located in the individual
Kundalini shakti: The power of kundalini
Kundalini yoga: A yoga in which kundalini is aroused. (See Health and Hatha Yoga)
Kutir: Cottage
Lac: 10,000
Laddu: Indian sweetmeat
Lakshya: Point of concentration
Langoti: Underwear, same as kowpeen
Likhit japa: Mantra writing
Lila: Play, sport; the cosmos looked on as a divine play
Lingam: Symbol of Lord Siva
Lord Vishwanath: Lord Siva
Maha: Great
Mahabharata: A Hindu epic
Mahant: Head of a group of sannyasins
Maharajah: Indian prince
Maharani: Wife of an Indian prince
Maha Sivaratri: The day on which Lord Siva is worshipped
Maha vakyas: Great sentences, e.g. ‘Thou art That’
Mahatma: Great soul; saint; sage
Maitri: Friendliness
Mala: Rosary of 108 beads
Manasic puja: Worship done mentally
Mandaleshwar: Head of ashram
Mandir: Temple
Manipravala: A mixture of languages
Mantra: Special formula
Mantra diksha: When the guru initiates a disciple into a mantra
Marga: Path
Math: Ashram
Mauna: Vow of silence
Maya: The Lord’s illusive power
Mendicant: A monk who lives solely by begging
Moksha: Liberation
Mudra: A class of exercise in Hatha yoga; symbols shown in movements of the hands in worship
Murali Manohara: Lord Krishna
Murthi: Idol or image of God
Murthi puja: Worship of an image of God
Nada: Sound
Nadis: Psychic channels in the body
Nagar: Town
Nagaswaram: A South Indian musical instrument
Nam(a): Name
Namah: Salutations
Nama sankirtan: Singing the names of God
Namaskar(a): A form of greeting
Nandi: Lord Siva’s bull
Narayan(aya): Name of God
Navaratri: Nine day worship of the Divine Mother; Durga Puja
Nirvana: Liberation
Nishkama karma: Selfless service
Nivritti: Renunciation
Nyaya: Logic; one of the six schools of Indian philosophy
Om: Verbal indicator of Brahman; primal sound of the universe
Om Tat Sat: A designation of Brahman; used as a benediction
Pada puja: Worship of the feet of a holy man
Padma: Lotus
Pahimam: Protect me
Pandal: Marquee
Pandit: Priest
Papa: Demerit; sin
Para puja: Worship of the Omnipresent Lord
Pariah: Outcaste
Parvati: Hindu goddess; consort of Lord Siva
Patram: Leaf
Prakriti: Causal matter
Prana: Life force; vital energy
Pranashakti: Subtle vital power
Pranava: OM
Pranayama: Control of life force through breathing. (See Health and Hatha Yoga)
Prarabdha: The karma which determines one’s present life.
Prasad(a): Food which has been offered to God at worship and eaten by the faithful devotees
Pratyahara: Sense control: See Raja Yoga—The Yoga System of Patanjali
Prem(a): Divine love
Puja: Worship
Punya: Merit; virtue
Purak: Inhalation
Purak-rechak-kumbhak: Inhalation-exhalation-retention
Puranas: Ancient Hindu scriptures
Pushpam: Flower
Pushpanjali: Offering of flowers
Raga dvesha: Likes and dislikes
Rajah: Indian prince
Raja Yoga: Yoga of mysticism. (See Raja Yoga. The Yoga System of Patanjali)
Rajasic: Passionate; active; restless
Rama: Hindu God
Ramayana: Hindu scripture
Rani: Wife of a rajah
Rechak: Exhalation
Riddhis: Lesser psychic powers
Rishi: Sage
Roti: Unleavened bread—like a pancake; also known as chapati
Rudra: Name of Lord Siva
Rudra aspect: Fierce aspect
Rudraksha: Seed used in malas
Rudram: Hymn to Lord Siva
Rupees: Indian coins
Sadhak: Spiritual aspirant
Sadhana: Spiritual practices
Sadhu: Holy man; a sannyasi
Saivites: Worshippers of Lord Siva
Samadhi: State of super consciousness
Sambhavana: An offering made with devotion and reverence
Samsara: The process of worldly life
Samskaras: Innate tendencies
Sanatana dharma: Eternal religion
Sangha(m): A gathering of people
Sankara: Founder of advaita vedanta. Born in 686 A.D.
Sankhya: An Indian system of philosophy
Sankirtan: Communal chanting the names of God
Sannyas: Renunciation
Sannyas diksha: Ceremony whereby one becomes a sannyasi
Sannyasi(n): A monk; one who has embraced a life of complete renunciation
Saraswathi: Indian goddess; consort of Brahma
Sat: Truth
Satchidananda: Existence, knowledge, bliss absolute
Satguru: World teacher
Satsang(a): Association with the wise
Sattvic: Pure
Satya(m): Truth
Satya yuga: A former Age
Savikalpa samadhi: Samadhi with the triad of knower, knowledge and known
Self-realisation: Liberation
Seva: Work
Sevak: Servant
Shakti: Power; energy; force
Shamiana: Large tent
Shanti: Peace
Shanti mantras: Peace chants
Shanti path: Peace prayer
Shastra: Scripture
Shastra jnana: Wisdom of the scriptures
Siddha asana: Sitting posture. (See Health & Hatha Yoga)
Siddhis: Psychic powers
Sirshasana: Headstand
Sita: Wife of Lord Rama
Sitali: Breathing exercise. (See Health & Hatha Yoga)
Siva: One of the gods of the Hindu trinity — Brahma, Vishnu & Siva
Sivaratri: Festival in which Lord Siva is worshipped
Siva stotra: Hymn to Lord Siva
Sivoham: ‘I am Siva’
Sloka: Verse
Smriti: Scripture dealing with ethics and morality
Soham: ‘I am He’
Sri Suktam: Hymn to Devi
Stotra: Hymn
Subramanya: Hindu God
Sukadeva: Indian sage
Surya: The sun
Surya namaskara: Salutations to the sun; sun exercises. (See Health & Hatha Yoga)
Sutras: Aphorisms
Swadhyaya: Study of scriptures; self-study
Swami: Master, holy man
Swamiji: Familiar form of ‘Swami’
Swarup Essential nature; Reality
Tamasic: Dull; lethargic; stupid
Tampura: Indian stringed musical instrument used as background drone
Tantra: Science of using mantras and yantras
Tantrik: One who possesses magical powers and uses mantras and yantras
Tapas(ya): Austerity
Tat Twam Asi: ‘Thou art That’
Tiffin: Snack
Tilak: Spot between the eyebrows made with coloured powder or paste
Titiksha: Endurance
Tratak: Hatha Yoga exercise. (See Health & Hatha Yoga)
Tonga: Horse-drawn cart
Tulasi: Holy basil plant
Upadesha: Spiritual instruction
Upanishads: Hindu scriptures
Upasana: Devout meditation; worship
Vacha: Speech
Vaikuntha: Heaven
Vairagya: Dispassion
Vairagyi: One who is dispassionate
Vaiseshika: One of the schools of Indian philosophy
Vaishnavas: Worshippers of Vishnu
Vanaprashta: One who leads the third stage of life
Vedanta: School of Hindu thought based primarily on the Upanishads, upholding the doctrine of pure non-dualism or conditional non-dualism
Vedantin: Follower of vedanta
Vedas: Indian sacred scriptures said to be revealed by God
Vedic: Of the Vedas
Vibhuti: The special forms in which the Lord manifests himself.
Vichar(a): Enquiry
Vidya: Knowledge (of Brahman)
Vijayadasami: Last day of Navarati
Vijayam: Victory
Viraja homa: Hindu fire ceremony
Virakta: One who is dispassionate
Virat Swarup: The Lord in His form as the manifested universe
Virya: Seminal energy; strength; power
Vishnu: Hindu god; member of the Holy trinity — Brahma, Vishnu, Siva; the aspect of preservation
Vishwanath: Name of Lord Siva
Vishwa Prem: The unreal
Vishwanath Mandir: Temple of Lord Siva
Viveka: Discrimination between the real and the unreal
Yantra: Special geometric design
Yajna: Sacrifice
Yatra: Pilgrimage; journey
Yoga: Union of the individual with the Supreme Being; any course that makes for such union
Yogabhyas: Practice of yoga
Yogi: One who practises yoga; a siddha
Yuga: One of the four divisions of time
Zamindar: Wealthy landowner