{"id":1284,"date":"2018-10-25T12:11:51","date_gmt":"2018-10-25T12:11:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/?page_id=1284"},"modified":"2018-10-31T12:28:12","modified_gmt":"2018-10-31T12:28:12","slug":"glossary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/extras-further-reading\/glossary\/","title":{"rendered":"Glossary"},"content":{"rendered":"

Glossary<\/h3>\n

Many proper names are listed under this glossary with the link reference. These include names of places, people, festivals, organisations, and sacred texts.<\/p>\n

A<\/h3>\n

Adi Shankara<\/a> – well-known theologian and founder of the advaita school. Also called Adi Shankaracharya.
\nAdvaita<\/a> – non-dualism, the name of the theology equating the soul with God.
\nAdvaitin<\/a> – a follower of the advaita school of thought founded by Adi-Shankara.
\nAgamas<\/a> – a generic name for sectarian literature, particularly the 28 Shaiva Agamas.
\nAghori<\/a> – a group of ascetics whose deliberate practice is to contravene social and moral norms.
\nAgni<\/a> – the god of fire, particularly prominent in the Vedic period.
\nAhalya<\/a> – wife of the sage Gautama, and one of the “five virtuous women.”
\nAhimsa<\/a> – non-violence, a key Hindu principle.
\nAkhand Bharat<\/a> – “undivided India”: a term used in championing the re-unification of India.
\nAkka Mahadevi<\/a> – famous medieval woman saint from South India.
\nAllahabad<\/a> – the Muslim name for the city of Prayaga, the site of the main Kumbha Mela.
\nAlvars<\/a> – the South Indian Vaishnava poet-saints of the early medieval period. Twelve are considered principal.
\nAmbedkar ,Ranji <\/a> – a reformer from the untouchable class who converted to Buddhism with many followers.
\nAnandamayi<\/a> – well-known female guru from Bengal (1896\u20131982).
\nAndal<\/a> – the only woman amongst the twelve Alvars.
\nAngira<\/a> – one of the seven great rishis (sages of old).
\nAnjali<\/a> – hands folded, to make an offering.
\nAnuman<\/a> – deduction or inference; one of the means of acquiring knowledge.
\nAntyesthi<\/a> – the last rite of passage, the funeral.
\nApsaras<\/a> – the celestial dancing girls, well-known for their ability to divert renunciates from the path of spiritual life.
\nAranyakas<\/a> – “the forest treatises,” one of the four sections of the Vedas.
\nArjuna<\/a> – the third son of King Pandu. He heard the Bhagavad-gita from Krishna.
\nArtha<\/a> – economic development, one of the four aims of life.
\nArtha Shastra<\/a> – texts that discuss how to acquire wealth and power; considered related to the Dharma Shastras.
\nArti<\/a> – the most popular Hindu ceremony, in which a lamp and other articles are offered.
\nArya Samaj<\/a> – one of the main 19th century reform movements, still extant today.
\nAryan<\/a> – “noble”: traditionally refers to any people, irrespective of race, who have a culture based on spiritual values.
\nAshok, King<\/a> – monarch who patronised Buddhism; under his influence it spread throughout much of India.
\nAshrama<\/a> – a place where spirituality is cultivated; also, stage of life (of which there are four).
\nAshvattama<\/a> – son of Drona, martial teacher of the five Pandavas; he notoriously slaughtered their sleeping sons.
\nAstangaYoga<\/a> – the eightfold path that culminated in meditation and samadhi (trance). One of the four paths.
\nAstika<\/a> – “orthodox”: refers to the six darshans. Non-orthodox schools are called nastika.
\nAsuras<\/a> – the demons. Materially elevated but impious beings, constantly at loggerheads with the gods.
\nAtharva<\/a> – the fourth of the four Vedas.
\nAtithi<\/a> – literally “without any time”; the unexpected guest.
\nAtman<\/a> – literally “self”: it can mean body or mind, but ultimately refers to the soul.
\nAtri<\/a> – one of seven great rishis (sages), each of whom have a gotra (dynasty) from which Hindus claim descent.
\nAvadhi<\/a> – popular language for vernacular texts, especially in the area of North India around Ayodhya.
\nAyodhya<\/a> – the capital city of Koshala, the kingdom of Rama.
\nAyurveda<\/a> – the indigenous science of Indian medicine; the texts which explain this science.<\/p>\n

B<\/h3>\n

Badanarayana<\/a> – a name for Vyasa, attributed with writing key texts such as the Mahabharata and Vedanta Sutras.
\nBadrinatha<\/a> – a holy spot in the Himalayas. One of the four dhamas (especially holy places).
\nBaladeva<\/a> – key theologian for Bengali Vaishnavism; his commentary on the Vedanta Sutra is the Govinda Bhasya.
\nBasava<\/a> – influential reformer within the Lingayat tradition of South Indian Shaivism.
\nBenares<\/a> – another name for Varanasi, perhaps the most famous of all Indian holy towns.
\nBhagavad-gita<\/a> – the Song of God, spoken by Krishna to Arjuna.
\nBhagavad katha<\/a> – the public recitation of the Bhagavat Purana, often over seven days.
\nBhagavat Purana<\/a> – one of the most popular Puranas, containing the famous stories of Krishna.
\nBhajan<\/a> – a hymn, from the root “bhaj,” to worship with adoration.
\nBhakti<\/a> – the path of loving devotional service (also Bhakti-Yoga).
\nBhakti-Yoga<\/a> – the path of loving devotional service; also called bhakti marg.
\nBhaktivedanta<\/a> – name of the founder of ISKCON. It means “bhakti is the conclusion of all knowledge.”
\nBhangra<\/a> – an energetic dance style from the Punjab.
\nBharadvaja<\/a> – one of the seven great rishis (sages) of ancient times.
\nBharata<\/a> – the ancient name for India, called after the king of the same name.
\nBharata Muni<\/a> – author of musical texts delineating nine rasas (tastes) upon which much music is based.
\nBharata Natyam<\/a> – the name of the most popular Southern Indian style of classical dance.
\nBhava<\/a> – emotion. A word used in the classical performing arts and also in much bhakti theology.
\nBhrigu<\/a> – one of the seven great sages. According to some texts, he tested the trimurti to see who was the Supreme.
\nBindi<\/a> – dot, usually of a red colour, traditionally worn by married women on the forehead.
\nBirbal<\/a> – the witty minister of Emperor Akbar; many legends have developed around his exploits.
\nBlavatski, Helena<\/a> – Russian lady who co-founded the Theosophical Society.
\nBrahma<\/a> – the creator (or, some say, secondary creator); one of the trimurti, three main deities in this world.
\nBrahma Sutra<\/a> – another name for the Vedanta Sutra.
\nBrahmachari<\/a> – a celibate student. A member of the first stage of life (called the brahmachari ashrama).
\nBrahman<\/a> – the Supreme or spirit; that which pervades and supports everything.
\nBrahmanas<\/a> – one of the four main divisions in the Vedas themselves.
\nBrahmana<\/a> – a member of the highest varna; a priest, teacher or intellectual.
\nBrahmo Samaj<\/a> – the reform movement started by Rama Mohan Roy.
\nBrighu Muni<\/a> – one of the seven ancient sages (rishis).<\/p>\n

C<\/h3>\n

Chaddar<\/a> – a cotton or woollen shawl worn by men and women.
\nChaitanya<\/a> – the founder of Bengali Vaishnavism; one of the medieval saints.
\nChakra<\/a> – the disk weapon usually associated with Vishnu, and one of his four symbols.
\nChanakya<\/a> – a brahmana, advisor to King Chandragupta, who wrote on statecraft and popular wisdom.
\nChandra<\/a> – the Moon; the presiding deity of the Moon. Also known as Soma.
\nChappati<\/a> – a round unleavened bread toasted on a skillet and then puffed over an open flame.
\nCharaka Samhitas<\/a> – one of the texts explaining the science of Ayurveda.
\nCharanamrita<\/a> – the water collected from the feet of the murti after bathing, and later sipped by worshippers.
\nCharvaka<\/a> – scholar who proposed that the purpose of life is to obtain ghee (i.e. good food by any means) and enjoy.
\nChidambaram<\/a> – a Shaivite pilgrimage town, the state of Tamil Nadu.<\/p>\n

D<\/h3>\n

Daksha<\/a> – one of the chief progenitors; father of Sati, Shiva’s wife, who killed herself by self-invoked mystic fire.
\nDalit<\/a> – “the oppressed”; a title assumed by the class previously called “untouchables.”
\nDamayanti<\/a> – wife of Nala and one of the famous women of Hinduism.
\nDanda<\/a> – staff, particularly as carried by the sannyasi.
\nDandiya rasa<\/a> – a Gujarati stick dance popular in the UK at Navaratri.
\nDarshan<\/a> – literally “seeing”; the act of taking audience of the deity or a holy person.
\nDasa Kuta<\/a> – a Vaishnava tradition centred around Pandapur in Maharastra.
\nDasanam<\/a> – “ten names”; the ten orders of sannyasa founded by Adi Shankara.
\nDasharatha<\/a> – the father of Rama.
\nDayananda Sarasvati<\/a> – founder of the Arya Samaj.
\nDeva<\/a> – god; sometimes translated demigod. God is often called Deva-deva, “gods of gods.” Devi means “goddess.”
\nDevanagari<\/a> – “used in the cities of the demigods”; it refers to the Sanskrit script.
\nDevi<\/a> – “goddess”; used to refer to any female deity, but most specifically Shakti, wife of Shiva.
\nDevi Bhagavat Purana<\/a> – perhaps the second most popular Purana; it includes the stories of Shakti.
\nDevi Purana<\/a> – another Purana dealing largely with the Goddess.
\nDhanvantari<\/a> – incarnation of Vishnu who appeared out of the Milk Ocean and gave humankind the science of medicine.
\nDharma<\/a> – the religious duties that sustain humans and all living beings.
\nDharma Shastra<\/a> – the law-books of Hinduism dealing with morality and the judiciary.
\nDhoti<\/a> – a piece of cloth about four-metres long and worn by Hindu men to cover the loins and legs.
\nDhritarashtra<\/a> – blind brother of King Pandu; his bias towards his own sons fostered the Kurukshetra conflict.
\nDiwali<\/a> – the festival of lights (October\/November). For most Hindus it heralds the New Year.
\nDoshas<\/a> – the three bodily humours which constitute the conceptual basis of Ayurvedic medicine.
\nDraupadi<\/a> – the common wife of all five Pandava princes, and heroine of the Mahabharata.
\nDurga<\/a> – a warlike form of Devi, usually with many arms carrying weapons and riding on a lion.
\nDuryodhana<\/a> – the first son of Dhritarashtra. His avarice caused the Kurukshetra War.
\nDussehra<\/a> – the festival that celebrates the victory of Rama over the evil Ravana.
\nDvaita (dualism)<\/a> – the theology that the soul and God are different, specifically as taught by Madhva.
\nDvaraka<\/a> – a holy spot in Maharastra, on the West coast of India. Krishna lived there as a king.
\nDvapara-yuga<\/a> – the third age in every cycle of four ages (yugas). It ended some 5,000 years ago.
\nDvija bandu<\/a> – “friends of the twice-born”; those born in the three higher varnas but who fall from the standards.<\/p>\n

G<\/h3>\n

Ganapati<\/a> – a name of Ganesh, the elephant-headed son of Shiva.
\nGandharvas<\/a> – residents of the heavenly planets who are particularly expert in singing and music.
\nGanesh<\/a> – one of the two sons of Shiva. He has a rotund body and an elephant’s head.
\nGanesh Caturthi<\/a> – the festival that celebrates Ganesh’s birthday (on the fourth day of the waxing moon).
\nGanga<\/a> – the River Ganges, held by many to be the most sacred; name of the river goddess.
\nGarba<\/a> – a form of circular dance from Gujarat and popular at Navaratri.
\nGarba griha<\/a> – the inner sanctum of the temple.
\nGaudiya Vaishnavas<\/a> – the Bengali worshippers of Vishnu (specifically Radha and Krishna together).
\nGautama<\/a> – an ancient rishi (sage), often considered one of the principal sapta (seven) rishis.
\nGaya<\/a> – a pilgrimage place in Bihar, especially important for offering rites to the departed.
\nGayatri<\/a> – the mantra chanted thrice daily by brahmanas; a wife of Brahma.
\nGiddha<\/a> – a Punjabi dance performed by women.
\nGodavari<\/a> – one of the seven most holy rivers, in Central India.
\nGolakwar, M. S.<\/a> – former leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanga (RSS).
\nGopuram<\/a> – gateway to temples, especially in the South; they are often decorated with ornate figurines.
\nGorakhnatha<\/a> – important historical figure amongst the Nathapatnis sect of Shaivas.
\nGotra<\/a> – dynasty originating with one of the seven great rishis (sages of old).
\nGovardhana<\/a> – the famous hill lifted by child Krishna.
\nGovinda<\/a> – a name for Krishna meaning, “one who gives pleasure to the cows and the senses.””
\nGrihasta<\/a> – a person in the second stage of life; the householder.
\nGuna<\/a> – literally “rope.” It refers to the three material qualities that pervade and control matter.
\nGuru<\/a> – a spiritual teacher; a regular teacher may also be called guru.
\nGurukula<\/a> – the school of the guru. A traditional Hindu school.<\/p>\n

H<\/h3>\n

Hanuman<\/a> – the monkey-like deity; he is a devotee of Rama, but also worshiped in his own right.
\nHanuman Jayanti<\/a> – the birthday festival of Hanuman.
\nHarappa<\/a> – one of two walled cities unearthed in the 1920s; evidence apparently supported the Aryan invasion theory.
\nHare Krishna<\/a> – a popular mantra chanted by members of ISKCON, therefore called the Hare Krishna Movement.
\nHaridvara<\/a> – an important pilgrimage site on the banks of the River Ganges.
\nHarijanas<\/a> – “the people of God”; a term used by Gandhi to denote what some call the “fifth varna,” the untouchables.
\nHavan<\/a> – the sacred fire ceremony dating back to Vedic times, but still used in many ceremonies\/rites of passage.
\nHedgewar, K. V.<\/a> – founder of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sanga (RSS).
\nHindu Mahasabha<\/a> – the political party established in 1909 and forerunner of many nationalistic movements.
\nHitopadesha<\/a> – a text containing moral stories; considered part of the Dharma Shastra.
\nHoli<\/a> – the spring festival in which participants throw coloured water and powders over each other.
\nHoma<\/a> – another name for havan
\nHrishikesh<\/a> – a pilgrimage spot on the River Ganges in the Himalayan foothills.<\/p>\n

I<\/h3>\n

Indra<\/a> – the deity in charge of rain; he was most prominent during the Vedic Period.
\nIndira Bettiji<\/a> – a contemporary women guru of the Pushti-marg sampradaya.
\nIndus<\/a> – river now in Pakistan, from whose name the words Hindu and Hinduism are apparently derived.
\nIshvara<\/a> – literally “controller.” It refers to a deity, or the Supreme Deity.
\nItihasa<\/a> – “history.” The Mahabharata and Ramayana constitute the two Itihasas.<\/p>\n

J<\/h3>\n

Jaimini<\/a> – the founder of the Mimamsa school (one of the six darshans).
\nJanaka<\/a> – legendary King of Mithila and father of Sita, Rama’s consort.
\nJanmashtami<\/a> – the birthday festival of Krishna, falling on the eigth day (asta) of the dark moon.
\nJapa<\/a> – the practice of reciting mantras quietly or silently on prayer beads.
\nJatakarma<\/a> – a name for the rite of passage performed just after a child’s birth.
\nJati<\/a> – sub-castes, or occupational sub-groups, which form part of the caste system.
\nJayadratha<\/a> – notorious warrior who tried to kidnap Draupadi. He was slain by Arjuna during the Kurukshetra war.
\nJiva<\/a> – “that which lives”; a term for the individual soul, also called the “atman” or “jivatman.””
\nJnana<\/a> – knowledge. Jnana-yoga is the path of wisdom, one of the four main spiritual processes.
\nJnana-kanda<\/a> – one of three broad sections of the Vedic literature. It deals with knowledge.<\/p>\n

K<\/h3>\n

Kabir<\/a> – the medieval bhakti saint who is revered by Hindu, Muslims, and Sikhs.
\nKaivalya<\/a> – realisation of “oneness” with God and a spiritual identity beyond the subtle and gross bodies.
\nKalasha<\/a> – a waterpot, an auspicious symbol used in many rituals.
\nKali<\/a> – a fierce form of Devi.
\nKalika Purana<\/a> – an important Shakti text dedicated to the Goddess Kali.
\nKali-yuga<\/a> – the fourth age, the iron age or age of quarrel and hypocrisy.
\nKalki<\/a> – the last of the ten Vishnu incarnations. He appears on horseback, wielding a sword, at the end of Kali-Yuga.
\nKama<\/a> – lust and gratification of the senses.
\nKanada<\/a> – founder of one of the six orthodox systems, namely Vaisheshika (atomic theory).
\nKanchipuram<\/a> – important centre of Shri Vaishnavism in South India.
\nKanyakumari<\/a> – a holy site on the southern tip of India and connected with Goddess Parvati .
\nKapila<\/a> – the founder of Sanhkya, one of the six main philosophies and dealing with physics and metaphysics.
\nKapila Muni<\/a> – founder of the school (darshan) of Sankhya.
\nKarma<\/a> – literally “action,” but often used to imply “reaction,” as in “the law of karma.”
\nKarma kanda<\/a> – one of the three broad divisions of Hindu scriptures. It deals with rituals for material elevation.
\nKarma-yoga<\/a> – the yoga of selfless action. One of the four main yogas, also called the four margs (paths).
\nKarna<\/a> – tragic anti-hero of the Mahabharata. At Kurukshetra he fought against his step-brothers, the Pandavas.
\nKartikeya<\/a> – a name of Murugan, one of the two sons of Shiva and Parvati.
\nKashi<\/a> – another name for the city of Varanasi.
\nKathak<\/a> – a classical dance school of Northern India.
\nKathakali<\/a> – a form of dance-drama from South India that features elaborate costumes and face masks.
\nKauravas<\/a> – the descendants of King Kuru. It specifically refers to the cousins of the Pandavas and their allies.
\nKaveri<\/a> – one of the seven main holy rivers flowing through the sacred town of Shri Rangam in South India.
\nKedarnatha<\/a> – an important Shaiva shrine in the Himalayas.
\nKeshab Chandra Sena<\/a> – reformer who spent some time with the Brahmo Samaj.
\nKirtan<\/a> – “glorification.” It usually refers to the chanting of mantra to musical accompaniment.
\nKohl (or kajal)<\/a> – mascara. Also called “anjana.”
\nKonarak<\/a> – site on the east coast of India famous for its ancient temple dedicated to the Sun.
\nKoshala<\/a> – the kingdom of Rama, of which Ayodhya is the capital.
\nKrishna<\/a> – a principal deity, usually considered an avatar of Vishnu. Many worship him as the Supreme.
\nKshatriya<\/a> – literally “one who protects”; member of the second varna; a warrior-administrator.
\nKumbha Mela<\/a> – mela means “fair”; kumbha means “pot.”A huge gathering that takes place every three years.
\nKunti<\/a> – the wife of King Pandu and mother of the five Pandavas. One of the heroines of the Mahabharata.
\nKurta<\/a> – a loose fitting collarless shirt worn by men. Usually made of cotton or silk.
\nKuru<\/a> – dynasty in which the Pandavas appeared. The term is specifically used to refer to their wicked cousins.
\nKurukshetra<\/a> – the site of the great eighteen-day war described in the Mahabharata.
\nKuvera<\/a> – the deity who is considered “the treasurer of the demigods.”<\/p>\n

L<\/h3>\n

Lakshman<\/a> – the brother of Rama who went with him to the forest. He is worshipped with Sita, Rama, and Hanuman.
\nLakshmi<\/a> – the goddess of fortune. She is the eternal consort of Vishnu.
\nLinga<\/a> – a vertical stone column worshipped as a form of Shiva. It represents him as the supreme male principle.
\nLingayats<\/a> – a popular South Indian Shaiva tradition. Members wear a small linga around their necks.<\/p>\n

M<\/h3>\n

Madhva<\/a> – Vaishnava theologian who founded his own disciplic succession and taught a highly dualistic theology.
\nMadurai<\/a> – an important temple in South India dedicated to Parvati.
\nMaha Shiva Ratri<\/a> – the night festival celebrating Shiva’s marriage to Parvati.
\nMahabharata<\/a> – literally “the History of Greater India.” One of the two Epics and the longest known poem.
\nMahadeva<\/a> – a name of lord Shiva, meaning “great god.””
\nMaharishi Mahesh Yogi<\/a> – leader of the Transcendental Meditation organisation established in the late 1960s.
\nMahasabha<\/a> – “great assembly”; the Hindu Mahasabha was established in 1909.
\nMaha-yuga<\/a> – “great age”; a complete cycle of four ages lasting a total of 4,320,000 years.
\nMahenjo Daro<\/a> – one of two walled cities unearthed during archaeological excavations in the 1920s.
\nMahesh<\/a> – another name of Shiva.
\nMandir<\/a> – temple.
\nMandodari<\/a> – celebrated wife of Ravana. She was loyal to her husband but urged him to return Sita to Rama.
\nManjira<\/a> – small hand cymbals used in singing hymns and mantras.
\nManu<\/a> – a demigod considered the ruling deity of mankind. The Manu Smriti is attributed to him.
\nManu Smriti<\/a> – an important and ancient text, the “codebook for mankind”; the principal Dharma Shastra.
\nMataji<\/a> – “respected mother”; a form of address for any lady, but also an affectionate name for Devi.
\nMathura<\/a> – an ancient town and the birthplace of Krishna. It is one of the seven ancient cities of India.
\nMatsya<\/a> – the first of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. He appeared during the great flood to save the Vedas.
\nMaya<\/a> – “that which is not,” or illusion. An important concept that describes the illusory nature of this world.
\nMimamsa<\/a> – literally “enquiry”. One of the six darshans, though Vedanta is also called the “later school of enquiry.””
\nMirabai<\/a> – a famous woman saint whose poems and songs are still popular today.
\nMoghul<\/a> – the Muslim dynasty that ruled much of India from 1526 until about 1857.
\nMohan Malaviha<\/a> – member of the Arya Samaj and co-founder of the Hindu Mahasabha.
\nMoksha<\/a> – liberation, specifically from the bondage of repeated birth and death.
\nMridanga<\/a> – literally “body of clay”; a two-headed drum, used in religious music more than in classical.
\nMrigari<\/a> – a vicious hunter who turned saint and demonstrated the principal of ahimsa, non-violence.
\nMundan<\/a> – the head-shaving ceremony, one of the main rites of passage for children.
\nMurari Babu<\/a> – popular saint famous for his public recitations on the Ramayana.
\nMurugan<\/a> – a name for Kartikeya, particularly popular in South India.<\/p>\n

N<\/h3>\n

Naga<\/a> – the serpentine residents of the subterranean heavenly planets who are sometimes worshipped.
\nNasik<\/a> – pilgrimage town on the River Godavari; site of one of the smaller Kumbha Melas.
\nNamakarana<\/a> – the name-giving ceremony performed shortly after birth.
\nNamaskara<\/a> – “I pay my obeisance unto you” – a term of greeting usually accompanied with folded palms.
\nNamaste<\/a> – an alternative for “namaskara.”,
\nNamdev<\/a> – poet-saint appearing in the Das Kuta Vaishnava tradition.
\nNarada<\/a> – famous rishi (sage) who acts as the messenger of the devas (gods). He wrote several important texts.
\nNarayana<\/a> – a name of Vishnu, particularly his form in the spiritual realm.
\nNarmada<\/a> – one of the seven sacred rivers, flowing in central India.
\nNastika<\/a> – “unorthodox”; generally refers to schools which reject the Vedic canon, such as Buddhism and Jainism.
\nNataraja<\/a> – “the king of dancers”; a name for Lord Shiva, especially as he dances to destroy the material cosmos.
\nNathapatnis<\/a> – prominent sect of Shaiva ascetics.
\nNathdwar<\/a> – town in Gujarat focused on the worship of Krishna; an important centre for the Pushti Marg tradition.
\nNathji<\/a> – a form of Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill. The main deity now resides in the town of Nathdwar, Gujarat.
\nNatya Shastra<\/a> – text on dance and the performing arts written by the sage Bharata Muni.
\nNava-rasa<\/a> – the nine “moods” of music as codified and explained by Bharata Muni. Rasa means “taste” or “flavour.”
\nNavaratri<\/a> – literally “nine-nights.” The festival in honour of Devi usually celebrated in the evenings with dance.
\nNayanars<\/a> – Shaivite poet-saints of Southern India who flourished in South India between about 700 and 1000 CE.
\nNimbarka<\/a> – a theologian and founder of one of the four Vaishnava sampradayas (disciplic successions).
\nNiti Shastra<\/a> – books of popular wisdom; they include the Hitopadesh, the Panchatantra and the Chanakya Shloka.
\nNitya<\/a> – eternal; the five “nitya karmas” refer to the five duties that cannot be given up.
\nNrisimhadeva<\/a> – the half-man\/half-lion incarnation of Vishnu who saved his devotee, Prahlada.
\nNyaya<\/a> – logic, and one of the six orthodox schools of thought (darshans).<\/p>\n

O<\/h3>\n

Om (Aum)<\/a> – the most important mantra for Hindus, often considered to represent the Supreme.<\/p>\n

P<\/h3>\n

Padma<\/a> – lotus, an important symbol. it is often used metaphorically to describe beauty e.g. lotus eyes, or lotus feet.
\nPanchama<\/a> – “the fifth varna,” the untouchable class. Panch means five.
\nPanchatantra<\/a> – a anthology of fables featuring mainly animals as heroes and villains.
\nPandapur<\/a> – most important centre for the Das Kuta Vaishnava sampradaya in Maharastra.
\nPandu<\/a> – emperor of Greater India, husband of Kunti and father of Arjuna and his four brothers.
\nPapa<\/a> – sin, or activities that degrade.
\nParamatman<\/a> – the Superself, or Supersoul. God situated within the heart.
\nParashara<\/a> – great sage, the father of Vyasa (Badarayana). He wrote many of the core texts on astrology.
\nParashurama<\/a> – the sixth incarnation of Vishnu.With his axe he destroyed the irreligious members of the royalty.
\nParvati<\/a> – the wife of Shiva, and daughter of the Himalayas. A benign form of Devi.
\nPatanjali<\/a> – author of the yoga sutras and founder of the corresponding darshan (school of thought).
\nPradakshina<\/a> – circumambulation, an important feature of worship.
\nPradhana<\/a> – the unmanifest stage of matter (prakriti).
\nPrajapati<\/a> – “progenitor”; the higher beings who were responsible for populating the world.
\nPrakriti<\/a> – material energy in its manifest state.
\nPramukhi Swami<\/a> – current spiritual head of the Swami Narayana Mission.
\nPranam<\/a> – obeisance, usually offered by placing together the palms and bowing the head.
\nPrasad<\/a> – literally “mercy.” It refers to any item sanctified by offering to God, most often sanctified food.
\nPratyaksa<\/a> – direct perception; one means of obtaining knowledge.
\nPravachan<\/a> – a talk or lecture on spiritual subjects; for some, an important act of worship.
\nPrayag<\/a> – site of the Maha (great) Kumbha Mela every twelve years.
\nPrema<\/a> – love, specifically of God; an important term within the bhakti traditions.
\nPuja<\/a> – ritualistic worship, most often of the installed murti.
\nPunya<\/a> – pious activities; actions that elevate the soul.
\nPurana<\/a> – literally “very old.” The texts containing the many popular religious stories, sometimes called myths.
\nPuri<\/a> – (1) a flat bread fried in oil or ghee,”
\nPuri<\/a> – (2) a holy town in Orissa on the East Coast of India.
\nPurohit<\/a> – a priest who performs ritualistic ceremonies; often a brahminical surname also.
\nPurusha<\/a> – person, specifically male. Sometimes used to refer to the soul and sometimes God.
\nPurusha Shukta<\/a> – prayer about creation found in the Rig Veda.
\nPurva Mimamsa<\/a> – “the earlier school of enquiry,” often called simply Mimamsa (one of the six darshans).
\nPushti marg<\/a> – “the path of nourishment”; the process followed by the mainly Gujarati followers of Vallabha.<\/p>\n

R<\/h3>\n

Radha<\/a> – the chief of the gopi girlfriends of Krishna. Vaishnavas often consider her part of the Godhead.
\nRaga<\/a> – a particular musical scale used in classical music, which is usually played impromptu.
\nRaja (astanga) yoga<\/a> – one of the four main yogas, the path of meditation and mystic power.
\nRaja<\/a> – “king.” Often kings and holy men are addressed as “Maharaja” – “great king.”
\nRaja-guna<\/a> – the second of the three material qualities; the quality of passion or ambition, exemplified by royalty.
\nRajas<\/a> – an abbreviated form of raja-guna (see above).
\nRajneesh<\/a> – late guru who attracted many Western disciples; also known as Osho.
\nRajputs<\/a> – a name for the warriors (kshatriyas) from Rajastan.
\nRaksha Bandana<\/a> – one of the main festivals when sisters tie a rakhi, bracelet, on the wrist of their brothers.
\nRakshasa<\/a> – a race of man-eaters known for their ability to change form.
\nRama<\/a> – usually considered the seventh avatar of Vishnu (or sometimes of Krishna). Also called Ramachandra.
\nRama Carita Manas<\/a> – a popular version of the Ramayana written in Hindi by Tulsidas.
\nRama Mohan Roy<\/a> – the founder of the Arya Samaj, one of the most important reform movements.
\nRama Nama Satya Hai<\/a> – a mantra often chanted at funerals and meaning “the name of Rama is truth.”,
\nRama rajya<\/a> – “the reign of Rama,” adopted by many Hindu reformers as a symbol of the social ideal.
\nRamakrishna<\/a> – a famous spiritual teacher from Bengal.
\nRamanuja<\/a> – one of the most important Vaishnava theologians, and founder of Shri Vaishnavism.
\nRamayana<\/a> – “the journey of Rama”; the shorter of the two Hindu Epics.
\nRameshbai Oza<\/a> – popular speaker who offers public recitations, mainly from the Bhagavat Purana.
\nRameshvaram<\/a> – an important pilgrimage site in South India.
\nRangoli<\/a> – a pattern made by Hindu ladies and girls, mainly in South India.
\nRantideva<\/a> – a legendary king famous for his hospitality.
\nRasa<\/a> – literally “juice”; refers to the relationships defined in the performing arts and later in ontological theology.
\nRasa-lila<\/a> – the dance that Krishna performs with his girlfriends, the gopis (cowherd girls).
\nRashtriya Svayamsevak Sanga<\/a> – an influential cultural organisation with nationalistic tendencies.
\nRatha-yatra<\/a> – a chariot (ratha) festival originally from Puri but now popular in many cities world-wide.
\nRavana<\/a> – a king of the Rakshasas. He lived on Shri Lanka, kidnapped Sita and was killed by Rama.
\nRig Veda<\/a> – the foremost and possibly earliest of the four Vedas.
\nRishi<\/a> – sage; specifically the seven great sages of ancient times.
\nRudra<\/a> – an angry form of Shiva, particularly prevalent during the Vedic period.<\/p>\n

S<\/h3>\n

Sabji<\/a> – a preparation made from vegetables, usually spiced.
\nSadhana<\/a> – spiritual discipline, such as chanting mantras, observing vows, etc.
\nSadharana-Dharma<\/a> – general moral duties for all members of Hindu society.
\nSadhu<\/a> – a pious or saintly person. Often used to refer to sannyasis.
\nSahajanand Swami<\/a> – founder of the Swami Narayana Mission, considered by many followers an incarnation of God.
\nSama Veda<\/a> – one of the four Vedas; it explains the melodies to be used in ritual sacrifice.
\nSamadhi<\/a> – the final stage of yoga, when the mind is perfectly focused on one point.
\nSamhita<\/a> – one of the four sections of the Vedas.
\nSampradaya<\/a> – a disciplic succession, a line of gurus and disciples for disseminating spiritual knowledge.
\nSamsara<\/a> – the perpetual cycle of birth and death. The process of suffering in this way.
\nSamskara<\/a> – “mental impression”; it refers to the various rites of passage.
\nSanatana-dharma<\/a> – the eternal religion, the eternal function of the soul; often preferred to the term “Hinduism.””
\nSanatanist<\/a> – those who believe in sanatana-dharma; used often today to denote eclectic worship instead of sectarian.
\nSankhya<\/a> – one of the six darshans; it analyses matter in detail and also identifies the atman beyond matter.
\nSarasvati<\/a> – goddess of learning and the arts; also a sacred river, now dried up; some say it still runs underground.
\nSaree<\/a> – the most popular traditional dress for Hindu women.
\nSati<\/a> – one incarnation of Shiva’s wife, Parvati. After her, the act of a wife’s entering the funeral pyre of her husband.
\nSattva-guna<\/a> – the highest of the three material qualities, characterised by goodness.
\nSatyagraha<\/a> – “grasping the truth”; a term coined by Gandhi whilst in South Africa.
\nSatya-yuga<\/a> – the first of the four universal ages; also called Krita-Yuga.
\nSavitri<\/a> – a young lady immortalised for her devotion towards her husband.
\nSeva<\/a> – service, a key Hindu principle\/value; the soul’s sanatana-dharma, fully expressed through bhakti.
\nShabda<\/a> – “sound”; shabda brahman means “spiritual sound,” often considered the best means of obtaining knowledge.
\nShaiva Siddhanta<\/a> – personalistic school of Shaivism, prevalent in South India.
\nShaivite<\/a> – a worshipper of Shiva.
\nShakta<\/a> – a follower of Shakti, the goddess.
\nShakti<\/a> – a generic term to refer to the female deity, especially the consort of Shiva.
\nShariraka Bhasya<\/a> – commentary on the Vedanta Sutras by Shankara.
\nShastra<\/a> – scripture; used particularly of some texts e.g. the dharma-shastras.
\nShibi<\/a> – legendary king renowned for his self-sacrifice and ideal leadership.
\nShilpa Shastra<\/a> – one of the four Upavedas, dealing with architecture.
\nShiva<\/a> – one of the trimurti, three principal deities. He is in charge of tama-guna. Some consider him the Supreme.
\nShravana Kumar<\/a> – a legendary boy celebrated for his devotion to his elderly parents.
\nShree Vallabha Nidhi<\/a> – UK organisation following the path of Pushti Marg.
\nSri Bhasya<\/a> – commentary on the Vedanta Sutras by Ramanuja.
\nSri Lanka<\/a> – the island reputed in the Ramayana to have been the kingdom of the tyrant Ravana.
\nSri Rangam<\/a> – centre for one of the two main branches of the Shri (Vaishnava) Sampradaya.
\nSri Sampradaya<\/a> – the preceptoral succession in which Ramanuja appeared and headed by Lakshmi.
\nShri Vaishnavas<\/a> – one of the four main Vaishnava sampradayas, headed by Shri (another name for Lakshmi).
\nSrikantha<\/a> – 13th century Shaivite theologian.
\nSripati<\/a> – 14th century Shaivite theologian.
\nSruti<\/a> – “that which has been heard”; one of the two main sections of Vedic texts and considered of divine origin.
\nShuddhadvaita<\/a> – “qualified non-dualism,” the philosophy expounded by Ramanuja and his sampradaya.
\nShudra<\/a> – the fourth varna; a member of that varna, an artisan or labourer.
\nSiddhi<\/a> – “perfection”; refers specifically to the eight mystic powers, such as the ability to become very light.
\nSiksha<\/a> – formal initiation taken from a guru (spiritual teacher).
\nSindhu<\/a> – an important river now in Pakistan and called the Indus. Some believe that Hinduism had its roots here.
\nSita<\/a> – the wife of Rama and heroine of the Ramayana.
\nSkanda<\/a> – one of the two sons of Shiva and Parvati; also called Murugan, Kartikeya, and Subrahmaniam.
\nSmartas<\/a> – one of the four main denominations; they worship five deities.
\nSmriti<\/a> – “that which is remembered”; the second category within the Hindu texts.
\nSoma<\/a> – a name for the Moon. Also, a celestial beverage used in Vedic sacrifice.
\nSomnath<\/a> – important place of pilgrimage for Shaivas, in Gujarat.
\nSurdas<\/a> – a blind musician famous for his songs, mainly in praise of Krishna.
\nSurya<\/a> – the Sun, worshipped by the Smarta traditions and also by the chanting of the Gayatri-mantra.
\nSushruta Samhita<\/a> – text yielding much information on Ayurvedic medicine.
\nSutra<\/a> – literally “thread”; an aphorism that can be unpacked almost unlimitedly to yield profound truths.
\nSvastika<\/a> – a popular Hindu symbol which was unfortunately adopted by the Nazis.
\nSvetashvatara Upanishad<\/a> – one of the Upanishads, considered canonical for many Shaivites.
\nSwami<\/a> – “controller” – a title used for sannyasis, who must control their senses. Goswami is an alternative.
\nSwami Narayana Mission<\/a> – a Vaishnava sampradaya, very popular amongst Gujarati Hindus in the UK.<\/p>\n

T<\/h3>\n

Tagore, Devendranatha<\/a> – prominent Bengali reformer and father of the poet and writer, Rabindranatha.
\nTamah-guna<\/a> – the lowest of the three material qualities, typified by ignorance, darkness, and inertia.
\nTamas<\/a> – a shortened version of tamah-guna (see above).
\nTansen<\/a> – famous musician; one of the “nine jewels” of the court of Emperor Akbar.
\nTantra<\/a> – a form of ritualistic Hinduism in which Shakti is worshipped, often together with Shiva OR a category of texts, usually connected to goddess worship.
\nTara<\/a> – wife of Vali; one of the five “virtuous women” of Hinduism.
\nTilak<\/a> – a clay mark applied to the forehead and denoting the particular affiliation of the worshipper.
\nTirtha<\/a> – literally “ford.” A holy place, where one can cross over to the other side i.e. attain liberation.
\nTirthayatra<\/a> – pilgrimage
\nTirupati<\/a> – a holy place in Andhra Pradesh. The temple of Venkata is perhaps the wealthiest in the world.
\nTithi<\/a> – the lunar day, a thirtieth part of the lunar month, by which festival dates are calculated.
\nTreta-yuga<\/a> – the second cosmic age in the cycle of four.
\nTrimurti<\/a> – the three main deities, Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the sustainer), and Mahesh, or Shiva (the destroyer).
\nTrishul<\/a> – a trident, the emblem associated with Siva and carried by many sannyasis devoted to him.
\nTukarama<\/a> – a bhakti saint of Maharastra in Western India.
\nTulsi<\/a> – a plant sacred to Vaishnavas, and from which their beads are usually made.
\nTulsidas<\/a> – a bhakti saint famous for his rendering of the Ramayana.<\/p>\n

U<\/h3>\n

Udupi<\/a> – sacred town in South India and headquarters of the Madhva sampradaya.
\nUjjain<\/a> – one of the four sites of the Kumbha Mela; it is on the River Shipra.
\nUpamana<\/a> – analogy; in nyaya it is considered one of the four means of attaining knowledge.
\nUpanayana<\/a> – “coming near,” referring to the sacred thread initiation ceremony”
\nUpanishad<\/a> – one of the four sections of the Vedas.They are highly philosophical and identified with Vedanta.
\nUpasana<\/a> – a generic word for worship
\nUpasana kanda<\/a> – “the worship section”; one of the three broad categories of scriptural content.
\nUpavedas<\/a> – four texts, supplementary to the Vedas and explaining traditional arts and sciences.
\nUtsava<\/a> – festival or celebration; one of the five nitya-karmas (essential duties).
\nUttara Mimamsa<\/a> – “the later school of enquiry”; another name for Vedanta.<\/p>\n

V<\/h3>\n

Vaidika Dharma<\/a> – alternative to the term “Hinduism”; it denotes the followers of the Vedas and their supplements.
\nVaikunthaloka<\/a> – “the place of no anxiety”; a name for the abode of Vishnu; the Kingdom of God.
\nVaisheshika<\/a> – one of the six darshans, atomic theory as propounded by Kanada.
\nVaishnavas<\/a> – the worshippers of Vishnu; generally accepted as the biggest of the four main denominations.
\nVaishno Devi<\/a> – sacred cave dedicated to the three goddesses, Lakshmi, Kali, and Sarasvati.
\nVaishya<\/a> – a member of the third varna, the farming and mercantile community.
\nVallabha<\/a> – founder of the Pushti Marg sampradaya, popular amongst many Gujaratis.
\nVallabha<\/a> – theologian who founded the Pushti Marg sampradaya and taught the doctrine of purified monism.
\nVali<\/a> – Varana (monkey) king and brother of Sugriva; killed by Rama for stealing Sugriva’s wife.
\nValmiki<\/a> – the criminal-turned-sage who wrote the original Ramayana.
\nVamana<\/a> – the fifth of the ten incarnations of Vishnu. He appeared as a brahmana dwarf to trick King Bali.
\nVanaprashta<\/a> – the third order of life, or a member of that ashrama, the forest dweller.
\nVaranasi<\/a> – perhaps the most famous holy town, on the Ganges. It is also called Kashi and Benares.
\nVarna<\/a> – the largest social unit, originally as part of a meritocracy but now usually based on birth.
\nVarnashrama-Dharma<\/a> – social system with different duties allocated to four classes and four stages in life.
\nVaruna<\/a> – god of the waters, akin to Neptune. More prominent during the Vedic period.
\nVasista<\/a> – one of the seven great rishis; he had an ongoing dispute with Vishvamitra.
\nVastu<\/a> – the science of sacred space, equivalent to the Chinese Feng-Shui.
\nVayu<\/a> – the deity in charge of air and the wind. His offspring, such as Hanuman, tend to be physically very strong.
\nVeda<\/a> – literally “knowledge”; specifically one of the four shruti texts that form the basis of sacred Hindu literature.
\nVedangas<\/a> – texts supplementary to the four Vedas.
\nVedanta<\/a> – the conclusion of the Vedas; one of the six darshans, often considered the most respectable.
\nVedanta Sutra<\/a> – important aphorisms containing the essence of Hindu theology.
\nVedic<\/a> – connected to, or derived from, the Vedas. Specifically, the period when the four Vedas were compiled.
\nVidura<\/a> – saintly brother of Pandu and Dhritarastra, and well-wisher of the five Pandavas.
\nVikrama<\/a> – a famous king after whom some Hindus date the years (i.e. according to the “Vikrama era”).
\nVishishtadvaita<\/a> – the doctrine of “qualified non-dualism” propounded by Ramanuja.
\nVishnu<\/a> – one of the trimurti; the sustainer. Often identified with the Supreme Deity.
\nVishnuswami<\/a> – forerunner of Vallabha and founder of one of the four Vaishnava sampradayas.
\nVishva Hindu Parishad (VHP)<\/a> – a movement aimed at bringing about worldwide co-operation between Hindus.
\nVishvamitra<\/a> – although born in a kshatriya family, he became a powerful brahmana.
\nVishvanatha<\/a> – a name of Shiva; the most important temple in Varanasi.
\nVithobha<\/a> – another name for Vitthala (see below).
\nVitthala<\/a> – a famous form of Vishnu in the Maharastriyan town of Pandharpur.
\nVivaha<\/a> – the wedding ceremony, one of the important rites of passage.
\nVivekananda<\/a> – disciple of Ramakrishna who widely popularised Advaita Vedanta and propounded a neo-Hinduism.
\nVraj<\/a> – the region around Mathura and Vrindavana, especially sacred to the worshippers of Krishna.
\nVrata<\/a> – vow; women especially take vows, often related to fasting. Vows are also taken at initiation.
\nVrindavana<\/a> – an important holy town close to Mathura and the place of Krishna’s childhood and youth.
\nVyasa<\/a> – also called Badarayana; an important sage credited with writing many important texts.<\/p>\n

Y<\/h3>\n

Yajna<\/a> – ritual sacrifice, prevalent during the Vedic age but still performed today especially through the havan.
\nYajnavalkya<\/a> – sage and author of some important texts which form part of the Dharma Shastra.
\nYajur Veda<\/a> – one of the four Vedas.
\nYama<\/a> – the deity in charge of death and the awarding of punishment to the sinful. Also called Dharma-raja.
\nYamuna<\/a> – a tributary of the Ganga, it flows through Vrindavana and is especially sacred to Krishna worshippers.
\nYoga<\/a> – union, most specifically with the Supreme; any practice aimed at such realisation.
\nYogi<\/a> – one who performs yoga.The feminine is sometimes “yogini.”
\nYudhisthira<\/a> – eldest of the five Pandava brothers and later emperor of greater India .<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Glossary Many proper names are listed under this glossary with the link reference. These include names of places, people, festivals, organisations, and sacred texts. A Adi Shankara – well-known theologian and founder of the advaita school. Also called Adi Shankaracharya. Advaita – non-dualism, the name of the theology equating the soul with God. Advaitin – […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":1976,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1284","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1284"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1284\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2050,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1284\/revisions\/2050"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1976"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iskconeducationalservices.org\/HoH\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}