Swami SivanandaHis autobiography and his teaching on the Guru
GLOSSARY
Acharya—Preceptor
Advaita—Non-duality, monism
Akarta—Non-doer
Akhanda—Unbroken, continuous, partless
Alasya—Inertia, Idleness
Ananda-bhashpam—Tears of bliss
Arhats—The perfect souls
Asana—Yoga exercises
Ashram—An ideal centre for Sadhana, a monastery
Bandha—A group of exercises in Hatha Yoga; a bondage
Bhagavatas—Those illumined souls who recite the stories of the Lord
Bhaitak—An Indian physical exercise
Bhajan—Praise of the Lord singing in chorus songs in praise of the Lord
Bhakti Yoga—The Path of devotion
Bhakti—Devotion
Bhav—Feeling of devotion and love
Bhikkus—Monks
Brahma-muhurta—The period from 4 to 6 in the morning which is highly favourable for spiritual practices
Brahmachari—A Celibate
Brahmacharya—Celibacy
Chitta—Mind-stuff, subconscious mind
Dand—An Indian physical exercise
Darshan—Insight, seeing the Lord or holy persons
Daya—Mercy, compassion
Devas—Celestial beings, Gods
Dharma—Righteousness
Dharmasala—Charity house
Dvaita—Duality
Ekadasi—The 11th day of full-moon or new-moon, a holy day for observance of fast
Gambhira—Dignified, grand, magnanimous
Grihastha—Householder’s life, a householder
Grihasthi—A householder
Guru—Preceptor, Teacher
Indriyas—Senses, sense-organs
Ishta-Devata—A particular incarnation of the Lord which appeals most to a person
Jaalam—Jugglery
Japa—Repetition of the Name of the Lord
Jnana-Yajna—Dissemination of knowledge
Jnana-Yoga—The path of knowledge
Jnana—Wisdom
Jnani—A Vedanti, one in the path of knowledge, the illumined
Kaashtha Mauna—Silence wherein one does not make even gestures and signals
Kamandalu—A vessel used by Sadhus for carrying water, mostly the shell of a hard fruit
Karma-Yoga—The path of selfless action
Karma—Action, fate
Kirtan—Loud singing of the Name of the Lord in different tunes
Koran—The holy scripture of the Mohammedans
Kshama—forgiveness
Kumbhaka—Retention of breath
Kutir—Hermitage, hut or cottage, where a renunciate or Yogi lives
Likhita-Japa—Writing of Mantras or the Name of the Lord
Mahant—The Founder or the president of a religious institution
Mahatmas—Great men, holy persons, high souled ones
Mantra—A sacred formula expressing obeisance to the Lord
Mauna—Observance of silence
Maya—Illusive power of the Lord, which is responsible for ignorance and bondage
Moha—Attachment to things and beings
Mudras—A group of exercises in Hatha Yoga
Mukti—Liberation, release from the bondage of birth and death
Mumukshutva—Intense longing for liberation
Murti—Image, an idol
Mutt—The institution of monks, a monastery
Namaskar—Prostration
Nirguna—Without attributes, the Absolute Reality
Nirvana—Final emancipation, liberation
Nirvikalpa Samadhi—Complete absorption in Reality; A state wherein one’s identity with the Universal Reality is realised
Nishkama—Selfless service, work without selfish motive
Nishtha—Deep meditation; full dedication to a holy undertaking
Nivritti Marga—The path of renunciation
Parivrajaka—A Wandering monk; a mendicant
Pooja—Worship
Prabhat Pheri—A religious procession early in the morning
Prana—Vital force or breath in the body
Pranayama—Breathing exercises; Regulation of the vital breath
Raga-Dvesha—Feelings of attachment and aversion
Rajas—One of the 3 qualities producing passion and restlessness, the principle of dynamism in nature
Sadhaka—An aspirant; a spiritual practitioner
Sadhana—Spiritual practices
Sadhu—An anchorite
Saguna—The Absolute conceived with form; A personal God
Sahaja-Avastha—Superconscious state that has become natural and continuous
Saiva—The worshipper of Lord Siva
Sakshi—Witness; the self who acts as a witness
Samadhi—Superconscious state
Sammelan—A Religious Conference
Samsara—The process of worldly life through transmigration
Samskara—Impressions in the mind
Sannyasa—Renunciation
Sannyasi—A Monk
Sastra—Scriptures of the Hindus
Satchidananda—Existence, knowledge and bliss; an expression suggesting the indescribable Absolute Reality
Satsanga—Association with the wise and sages
Sattva—Purity
Sattvic—Pure
Seva—Service
Shat-Sampat—Sixfold virtues: Sama (balance in pain and pleasure), Dama (control of senses), Uparati (tranquillity), Titiksha (forbearance, bearing heat and cold), Sraddha (faith and sincerity) and Samadhana (balanced state of mind)
Siddha—A perfected sage
Siddhi—-Psychic powers
Svabhava—one’s own nature
Svapna—Dream
Svarupa—Form
Swami—One who is devoted to the path of renunciation
Tamas—Ignorance, inertia
Tapasya—Austerity, penance
Titiksha—Forbearance
Trataka—Steady gazing
Vaikuntha—The abode of Lord Vishnu
Vairagi—A man of dispassion
Vairagya—Aversion to sense-objects
Vaishnava—Worshipper of Lord Vishnu
Vanaprastha—Householders leading a life of a hermit
Vedas—Scriptures of the Hindus
Vikshepa—Tossing of mind
Viraja Homa—Religious rite for entering the Order of Sannyasa, the path of renunciation
Viveka—Discrimination
Vyapaka—All-pervading
Yajna—A sacrifice
Yoga Bhrashta—One who has fallen from the high state of Yoga
Yogi—An aspirant going through a course of spiritual discipline, A student in the path of Yoga
Zenana—womanfolk