Glossary
Śabda Kośaḥ
शब्दकोशः
aadheenakarthar: The aadheenam head, or pontiff, also called the guru mahāsannidhānam. See: aadheenam, monastery.§
aadheenam: ஆதீனம் Endowment, foundation, institution, establishment, estate, property. A Śaivite Hindu monastery and temple complex in the South Indian Śaiva Siddhānta tradition. Also known as maṭha or pīṭha, as in Kailāsa Pīṭha. The aadheenam head, or pontiff, is called the guru mahāsannidhānam or aadheenakarthar. See: monastery.§
abhor: To regard with horror; reject or shun.§
Absolute: Lower case (absolute): real, not dependent on anything else, not relative. Upper case (Absolute): Ultimate Reality, the unmanifest, unchanging and transcendent Paraśiva–utterly nonrelational to even the most subtle level of consciousness. It is the Self God, the essence of man’s soul. See: Paraśiva.§
abstinence: Voluntary restraint from something believed to be undesirable or harmful.§
abyss: A bottomless pit. The dark states of consciousness into which one may fall as a result of serious misbehavior; the seven chakras (psychic centers), or talas (realms of consciousness), below the mūlādhāra chakra, which is located at the base of the spine. See: chakra, naraka, loka.§
accrue: Increase, accumulate.§
actinic force: Spiritual, creating light. Adjective derived from the Greek aktis, “ray.” Of or pertaining to consciousness in its pure, unadulterated state. Describes the extremely rarefied superconscious realm of pure bindu, of quantum strings, the substratum of consciousness, śuddha māyā, from which light first originates. Actinic force is the superconscious mind and not a force which comes from the superconcious mind. Commonly known as life, spirit, it can be seen as the light in man’s eyes; it is the force that leaves man when he leaves his odic physical body behind. It is not opposite to odic force, it is different than odic force as light is different than water but shines through it. Actinic force flows freely through odic force. The substantive form actinism is defined in the Oxford English Dictionary as: “1) the radiation of heat or light, or that branch of philosophy that treats of it; 2) that property or force in the sun’s rays by which chemical changes are produced, as in photography.” See: actinodic, kośa, odic, tattva.§
actinic prāṇa: Actinic force, spiritual energy, of which one manifestation is the dynamic force of the spiritual will, or ātma śakti, soul force. See: actinic force, odic force, odic prāṇa, willpower.§
actinodic: Spiritual-magnetic. Describes consciousness within śuddhāśuddha māyā, which is a mixture of odic and actinic force, the spectrum of the anāhata chakra, and to a certain degree the viśuddha chakra. See: actinic force, odic force, tattva.§
acumen: Keenness of intellect, judgment or insight. §
adept: A highly skilled person; expert. Adeptship is such a condition.§
adharma: अधर्म Negative, opposite of dharma. Thoughts, words or deeds that transgress divine law. Unrighteousness, irreligiousness; demerit. See: dharma, sin.§
Ādinātha Sampradāya: आदिनाथसंप्रदाय See: Nātha Sampradāya.§
admonition: Advice or warning.§
adrenaline: A hormone released into the bloodstream in response to physical or mental stress, as from fear or injury. It initiates many bodily responses, including the stimulation of heart action and an increase in blood pressure, metabolic rate and blood glucose concentration. §
adulate: To praise, revere, admire or flatter highly.§
adultery: Sexual intercourse between a married man or woman and a person who is not one’s spouse. Adultery is spoken of in Hindu śāstras as a serious breach of dharma. See: sexuality.§
advaita: अद्वैत “Non dual; not twofold.” Nonduality or monism. The philosophical doctrine that Ultimate Reality consists of a one principal substance, or God. Opposite of dvaita, dualism. See: dvaita-advaita, Vedānta.§
Advaita Īśvaravāda: अद्वैत ईश्वरवाद “Nondual and Personal-God-as-Ruler doctrine.” The Sanskrit equivalent of monistic theism. A general term that describes the philosophy of the Vedas and Śaiva Āgamas, which posits simultaneously the ultimate oneness of all things and the reality of the personal Deity. See: Advaita, Advaita Siddhānta, monistic theism.§
Advaita Siddhānta: अद्वैत सिद्धान्त “Nondual ultimate conclusions.” Śaivite philosophy codified in the Āgamas which has at its core the nondual (advaitic) identity of God, soul and world. This monistic-theistic philosophy, unlike the Śaṅkara, or Smārta view, holds that māyā (the principle of manifestation) is not an obstacle to God Realization, but God’s own power and presence guiding the soul’s evolution to perfection. While Advaita Vedānta stresses Upanishadic philosophy, Advaita Siddhānta adds to this a strong emphasis on internal and external worship, yoga sādhanas and tapas. Advaita Siddhānta is a term used in South India to distinguish Tirumular’s school from the pluralistic Siddhānta of Meykandar and Aghorasiva. This unified Vedic-Āgamic doctrine is also known as Śuddha Śaiva Siddhānta. It is the philosophy on which this text is based. See: Advaita Īśvaravāda, dvaita-advaita, monistic theism, Śaiva Siddhānta.§
Advaita Vedānta: अद्वैत वेदान्त “Nondual end (or essence) of the Vedas.” Names the monistic schools, most prominently that of Śaṅkara, that arose from the Upanishads and related texts. See: advaita, Vedānta.§
aegis: Protection; sponsorship; patronage.§
affectionate detachment: The power and wisdom of love born of understanding. Not becoming engrossed in the problems or negative attachments of others. As opposed to “running away” from the world or being insensitively aloof, affectionate detachment allows for more genuine, wholesome relationships with people and things. §
affirmation: Dṛidhavāchana. “firm statement.” A positive declaration or assertion. A statement repeated regularly while concentrating on the meaning and mental images invoked, often used to attain a desired result.§
afterlife: The continued existence and evolution of the soul following the death of the physical body. §
aftermath: Results, consequences or repercussions following an experience.§
Āgama: आगम The tradition that has “come down.” An enormous collection of Sanskrit scriptures which, along with the Vedas, are revered as śruti (revealed scripture). Dating uncertain. The Āgamas are the primary source and authority for ritual, yoga and temple construction. See: Śaiva Āgamas, śruti.§
Agastya: अगस्त्य One of 18 celebrated Śaiva siddhas (adepts), and reputed as the first grammarian of the Tamil language. See: siddha.§
Aghorasiva: अघोरसिव A Śaivite philosopher of South India who in the 12th century founded a Siddhānta school emphasizing dualistic passages of the Āgamas and other early texts. The later Meykandar pluralistic philosophy is based partly on Aghorasiva’s teachings. See: dvaita-advaita, dvaita Siddhānta, Śaiva Siddhānta.§
agni: अग्नि “fire.” 1) One of the five elements, pañchabhūta. 2) God of the element fire, invoked through Vedic ritual known as yajña, agnikāraka, homa and havana. See: havana, homa, yajña.§
ahaṁkāra: अहंकार “I-maker.” Personal ego. The mental faculty of individuation; sense of duality and separateness from others. Sense of I-ness, “me” and “mine.” Ahaṁkāra is characterized by the sense of I-ness, sense of mine-ness, identifying with the body, planning for one’s own happiness, brooding over sorrow, and possessiveness. See: āṇava, ego, mind. §
ahiṁsā: अहिंसा “Noninjury,” nonviolence or nonhurtfulness. Refraining from causing harm to others, physically, mentally or emotionally. Ahiṁsā is the first and most important of the yamas (restraints). It is the cardinal virtue upon which all others depend. See: yama-niyama.§
AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. An immune-system disease in which the body’s resistance to certain infections and cancers is lowered.§
ājñā chakra: आज्ञाचक्र “Command wheel.” The third-eye center. See: chakra.§
ākāśa: आकाश “Space.” The sky. Free, open space. Ether, the fifth and most subtle of the five elements–earth, air, fire, water and ether. Empirically, the rarefied space or ethereal fluid plasma that pervades the universes, inner and outer. Esoterically, mind, the superconscious strata holding all that potentially or actually exists, wherein all transactions are recorded and can be read by clairvoyants. It is through psychic entry into this transcendental ākāśa that cosmic knowledge is gathered, and the entire circle of time–past, present and future–can be known. See: mind (universal).§
allegiance: Loyalty, as to a leader, lineage, cause or country.§
aloha: “Love,” traditional greeting and farewell in Hawaiian. In sound it curiously coincides with the Sanskrit a-loha, “not iron” or “soft,” though most probably is unrelated.§
altruism: Unselfish concern for the well-being of others; selflessness.§
altruistic: Unselfish. Showing more concern for others than oneself.§
amalgamate: To combine and make into a whole.§
amass: To gather together; accumulate; pile up.§
ambrosia: The food of the Gods which confers immortality, same as Sanskrit amṛita. See: amṛita.§
amends: Recompensation, making up for injury or loss caused to another. This is done through sincere apology, expressing regrets, contrition, public penance, such as kavadi, and ample gifts. See: penance.§
amorphous: Of no definite shape or configuration. See: formless.§
amṛita: अमृत “Immortality.” Literally, “deathless,” “without death” (mṛita). The nectar of divine bliss which flows down from the sahasrāra chakra when one enters very deep states of meditation.§
anāhata chakra: अनाहतचक्र “Wheel of unstruck [sound].” The heart center. See: chakra.§
analogy: An explanation or illustration made by comparing one thing with another, similar in some but not all respects. §
ānanda: आनन्द “Bliss.” The pure joy–ecstasy or enstasy–of God-consciousness or spiritual experience. See: God Realization, Satchidānanda.§
ānandamaya kośa: आनन्दमयकोश “Bliss body.” The body of the soul, which ultimately merges with Śiva. See: soul, kośa.§
Anandamayi Ma (Ānandamayī Mā): आनन्दमयी मा (1857-1920) God-intoxicated yoginī and mystic Bengali saint. Her spirit lives on in devotees.§
anantā: अनन्ता “Endless, infinite.” The third of the seven chakras, or nāḍi conglomerates, above and within the sahasrāra chakra. See: chakras above sahasrāra.§
anāśṛitā: अनाशृता “Independent.” The fifth of the seven chakras, or nāḍi conglomerates, above and within the sahasrāra chakra. See: chakras above sahasrāra.§
anāthā: अनाथा Having “no master.” The fourth of the seven chakras, or nāḍi conglomerates, above and within the sahasrāra chakra. See: chakras above sahasrāra.§
āṇava: आणव “Fragment; atom; minuteness, individuality.” God’s veiling power that provides individualness, or individual ego, to each soul, making the soul seem apart and distinct from God and the universe. See: āṇava mala, evolution of the soul, grace, mala, soul.§
āṇava mala: आणवमल “Impurity of smallness; finitizing principle.” The fetter or individualizing veil of duality that enshrouds the soul. It is the source of finitude and ignorance, the most basic of the three bonds (āṇava, karma, māyā) which temporarily limit the soul. The presence of āṇava mala is what causes the misapprehension about the nature of God, soul and world, the notion of being separate and distinct from God and the universe. See: āṇava, evolution of the soul, grace, mala, soul.§
āṇava mārga: आणवमार्ग “Path of ignorance.” The path of egoity, separateness, self-indulgence, self-interest and selfishness. See: āṇava mala.§
Anbe Sivamayam Satyame Parasivaṁ: அன்பே சிவமயம் சத்தியமே பரசிவம் Tamil for “God Śiva is Immanent Love and Transcendent Reality.” The affirmation of faith which capsulizes the entire creed of monistic Śaiva Siddhānta. In Sanskrit it is Premaiva Śivamāyā, Satyam eva Paraśivaḥ.§
anchorite: “Hermit.” A monk or aspirant who lives alone and apart from society, as contrasted with cenobite, a member of a religious order living in a monastery or convent. See: monk.§
animate-inanimate: From Latin animatus, “made alive, filled with breath.” These terms indicate the two poles of manifest existence, that which has movement and life (most expressly animals and other “living” beings) and that which is devoid of movement (such as minerals and, to a lesser degree, plants). From a deeper view, however, all existence is alive with movement and possessed of the potent, divine energy of the cosmos.§
annamaya kośa: अन्नमयकोश “Food sheath.” The physical body. See: kośa.§
antagonism: Opposition, hostility.§
Antarloka: अन्तर्लोक “Inner plane,” or “in-between world.” The astral plane, or Second World. See: astral plane.§
anugraha śakti: अनुग्रहशक्ति “Graceful or favoring power.” Revealing grace. God Śiva’s power of illumination, through which the soul is freed from the bonds of āṇava, karma and māyā and ultimately attains liberation, moksha. Specifically, anugraha descends on the soul as śaktipāta, the dīkshā (initiation) from a satguru. Anugraha is a key concept in Śaiva Siddhānta. It comes when āṇava mala, the shell of finitude which surrounds the soul, reaches a state of ripeness, malaparipakam. See: āṇava, grace, Naṭarāja, śaktipāta.§
anukāraṇa chitta: अनुकारणचित्त Subsuperconscious mind; the superconscious mind working through the conscious and subconscious states, which brings forth intuition, clarity and insight. See: mind (five states).§
anxiety: Uneasiness, misgivings, worrying about what may happen. Sometimes excessive. §
apāṇa: अपाण “Incoming breath.” One of the body’s five somatic currents of vital energy, or prāṇa. See: prāṇa.§
apex: Highest point, peak, summit.§
apex of creation: The highest or initial movement in the mind that will eventually manifest a creation. The quantum level of manifestation. See: microcosm-macrocosm, quantum, tattva.§
aphorism: A terse and well-qualified, easy-to-remember statement of a truth placed in the subconscious mind.§
Appar: அப்பர் “Father.” Endearing name for Tirunavukarasu (ca 700), one of four Tamil saints, Samayāchāryas, who reconverted errant Śaivites who had embraced Jainism. See: Nayanar, Śaiva Siddhānta.§
apparition: A ghost or being in its astral body visible to human eyes.§
apsarā: अप्सरा Female Second World beings, nymphs, the counterpart to astral male lovers called Gandharvas in the Vedas. See: gandharvas.§
arahat: (Pali) “Worthy one.” (Sanskrit: arhat) See: nirvāṇī and upadeśī.§
archangel: A high-ranking angel or deva. See: Mahādeva, deva.§
ardha-Hindu: अर्धहिन्दु “Half-Hindu.” A devotee who has adopted Hindu belief and culture to a great extent but has not formally entered the religion through ceremony and taking a Hindu first and last name. See: Hindu.§
arduous: Strenuous, laborious. Difficult to climb, do or accomplish.§
Arjuna: अर्जुन A hero of the Mahābhārata and central figure of the Bhagavad Gītā. See: Bhagavad Gītā.§
artha: अर्थ “Goal” or “purpose;” wealth, substance, property, money. §
arul: அருள் “Grace.” The third of the three stages of the sakala avasthā when the soul yearns for the grace of God, śaktinipāta. At this stage the soul seeks pati-jñāna, knowledge of God. See: Pati-jñāna, sakala avasthā, śaktinipāta.§
āsana: आसान “Seat; posture.” In haṭha yoga any of numerous poses prescribed to balance and tune up the subtle energies of mind and body for meditation and to promote health and longevity. See: haṭha yoga, rāja yoga, yoga.§
ascendency: Superiority or decisive advantage; domination.§
ascertain: To discover with certainty by experimentation or examination.§
ascetic: A person who leads a life of contemplation and rigorous self-denial, shunning comforts and pleasures for religious purposes. See: monk.§
ascribe: To assign something to; attribute.§
ashram (āśrama): आश्रम “Place of striving.” From śram, “to exert energy.” Hermitage; order or stage of life. Holy sanctuary; the residence and teaching center of a sādhu, saint, swāmī, ascetic or guru; often includes lodging for students. Also names life’s four stages. See: āśrama dharma, sādhana.§
ashṭāṅga praṇāma: अष्टाङ्गप्रणाम “Eight-limbed salutation.” See: prostration.§
ashṭāṅga yoga: अष्टाङ्गयोग “Eight-limbed union.” The classical rāja yoga system of eight progressive stages or steps as described in numerous Hindu scriptures including various Upanishads, the Tirumantiram by Saint Tirumular and the Yoga Sūtras of Sage Patanjali. The eight limbs are: restraints (yama), observances (niyama), postures (āsana), breath control (prāṇāyāma), sense withdrawal (pratyāhāra), concentration (dhāraṇā), meditation (dhyāna) and contemplation-Self Realization (samādhi). See: rāja yoga, yoga, yama-niyama, āsana, prāṇāyāma, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna, samādhi.§
Asoka (Aśoka): अशोक The greatest Mauryan Emperor (ca 273-232 BCE), grandson of Chandragupta. In his 40-year reign, Buddhism became a world power. The Rock and Pillar Edicts preserve his work and teachings.§
aspirant: A person who strives for high achievement.§
aspiration: A desire for some high achievement.§
āśrama dharma: आश्रमधर्म “Laws of life development.” Meritorious way of life appropriate to each of its four successive stages (āśramas), observing which one lives in harmony with nature and life, allowing the body, emotions and mind to develop and undergo their natural cycles in a most positive way. The four stages are: –1) brahmacharya: Studentship, from age 12 to 24. –2) gṛihastha: Householder, from 24 to 48. –3) vānaprastha: Elder advisor, from 48 to 72. –4) sannyāsa: Religious solitary, from 72 onward. See: dharma, gṛihastha dharma, sannyāsa dharma.§
assertion: Something declared or stated positively.§
assimilation: Making one’s own or similar to something else. Incorporation and absorption, as into the mind.§
astral body: The subtle, nonphysical body (sūkshma śarīra) in which the soul functions in the astral plane, the inner world also called Antarloka. The astral body includes the prāṇic sheath (prāṇamaya kośa), the instinctive-intellectual sheath (manomaya kośa) and the cognitive sheath (vijñānamaya kośa)–with the prāṇic sheath discarded at the death of the physical body. §
astral entity: Any being abiding in the astral plane. See: astral plane.§
astral plane: The subtle world, or Antarloka, spanning the spectrum of consciousness from the viśuddha chakra in the throat to the pātāla chakra in the soles of the feet. The astral plane includes: 1) the higher astral plane, Maharloka, “plane of balance;” 2) mid-astral plane, Svarloka, “celestial plane;” 3) lower astral plane, Bhuvarloka, “plane of atmosphere,” a counterpart or subtle duplicate of the physical plane (consisting of the Pitṛiloka and Pretaloka); and 4) the sub-astral plane, Naraka, consisting of seven hellish realms corresponding to the seven chakras below the base of the spine. In the astral plane, the soul is enshrouded in the astral body, called sūkshma śarīra. See: Antarloka, astral body, loka, Naraka, three worlds.§
astral school: A meeting place in the Antarloka where inner-plane masters teach devotees in their astral bodies during sleep. See: astral plane.§
astral shell: The odic astral form which a soul leaves behind in the astral plane when it enters into a new physical birth. The astral shell soon disintegrates as creative forces generate a new physical and astral body. §
astrology: Science of celestial influences. See: jyotisha.§
aśuddha māyā: अशुद्धमाया “World of impurity.” The realm of the physical world and lower astral planes. See: māyā.§
asura: असुर “Evil spirit; demon.” (Opposite of sura: “deva; God.”) A being of the lower astral plane, Naraka. Asuras can and do interact with the physical plane, causing major and minor problems in people’s lives. Asuras do evolve and do not remain permanently in this state. See: Naraka.§
asura loka: असुरलोक Another name for Naraka. A general term for the inner worlds of asuric/demonic energies. See: asura, Naraka.§
asuric: Of the nature of an asura, “not spiritual.”§
asylum: A place of any refuge, often an institution for people with serious mental or emotional problems.§
atala: अतल “Bottomless region.” The first chakra below the mūlādhāra, at the hip level. Region of fear and lust. See: chakra, loka, Naraka.§
Atharva Veda: अथर्ववेद From Atharva, the name of the ṛishi said to have compiled this fourth Veda. See: Veda.§
atheism: The rejection of all religion or religious belief, or simply the belief that God or Gods do not exist. See: materialism.§
ātman: आत्मन् “The soul; the breath; the principle of life and sensation.” The soul in its entirety–as the soul body (ānandamaya kośa) and its essence (Parāśakti and Paraśiva). One of Hinduism’s most fundamental tenets is that we are the ātman, not the physical body, emotions, external mind or personality. In Hindu scriptures, ātman sometimes refers to the ego-personality, and its meaning must be determined according to context. The Ātma Upanishad (1–3) describes ātman, or purusha, as threefold: bāhyātman, the outer or physical person; antarātman, the inner person, excluding the physical form, who perceives, thinks and cognizes; and Paramātman, the transcendent Self God within. See: Paramātman, kośa, soul.§
ātmārtha pūjā: आत्मार्थपूजा “Personal worship rite.” Home pūjā–Sanskrit liturgy performed in the home shrine. See: pūjā.§
attachments: That which one holds onto or clings to with the energy of possessiveness, which is a natural function of the inner and outer ego of an individual. As one unfolds through the chakras, the force of attachment naturally diminishes through sādhana, tapas and the grace of the guru.§
attainment: Acquisition, achievement or realization through effort; spiritual accomplishment. Śaiva Siddhānta notes four primary levels of attainment: sālokya (sharing God’s world, the goal of charyā), sāmīpya (nearness to God, the goal of kriyā), sārūpya (likeness to God, the goal of yoga) and sāyujya (union with God, the state of jñāna). As described in Tirumantiram verse 1507: “In charya, the soul forges a kindred tie in “God’s world” (sālokya). In kriyā it attains “nearness” (sāmīpya) to Him. In yoga it attains “likeness” (sārūpya) with Him. In jñāna the soul enjoys the ultimate bliss of identity (sāyujya) with Śiva.” See: God Realization, pāda, Self Realization, siddha yoga, siddhi.§
attention: Focusing of the mental powers upon an object or a particular subject.§
Aum: ॐ or औम् Often spelled Om. The mystic syllable of Hinduism, placed at the beginning of most sacred writings. As a mantra, it is pronounced aw (as in law), oo (as in zoo), mm. Aum represents the Divine, and is associated with Lord Gaṇeśa, for its initial sound “aa,” vibrates within the mūlādhāra, the chakra at the base of the spine upon which this God sits. The second sound of this mantra, “oo,” vibrates within the throat and chest chakras, the realm of Lord Murugan, or Kumāra. The third sound, “mm,” vibrates within the cranial chakras, ājñā and sahasrāra, where the Supreme God reigns.§
aura: The luminous colorful field of subtle energy radiating within and around the human body, extending out from three to seven feet. The colors of the aura change constantly according to the ebb and flow of one’s state of consciousness, thoughts, moods and emotions. Higher, benevolent feelings create bright pastels; base, negative feelings are darker in color. The aura consists of three aspects, the prāṇa-aura, the outer aura and the inner aura. The prāṇa-aura is the reflection of the physical body, the life force. The outer aura extends beyond the physical body and changes continuously, reflecting the individual’s moment-to-moment panorama of thought and emotion. See: prāṇa-aura.§
auric circle: An energy shell around the aura itself that acts as a shelter or shield against psychic influences.§
auspicious: Maṅgala. Favorable, of good omen, foreboding well. One of the central concepts in Hindu life. Astrology defines a method for determining times that are favorable for various human endeavors. See: jyotisha.§
austerity: Self-denial and discipline, physical or mental, performed for various reasons including acquiring powers (siddhis), attaining grace, conquering the instinctive nature and burning the seeds of past karmas. Ranging from simple deprivations, such as foregoing a meal, to severe disciplines, called tapas, such as always standing, never sitting or lying down, even for sleep. See: penance, tapas.§
autonomous: Not controlled by or reliant upon other forces; independent.§
autopsy: “Own viewing.” The examination and dissection of a dead body to determine the cause of death, extent of disease, etc.§
avail: To be of use or advantage toward completing an end.§
avarice: Uncontrolled desire for wealth.§
avasthā: अवस्था (Tamil: avasthai.) “Condition or state” of consciousness or experience. 1) Any of three stages of the soul’s evolution from the point of its creation to final merger in the Primal Soul. 2) The states of consciousness as discussed in the Māṇḍūkya Upanishad: jāgrat (or vaiśvānara), “wakefulness;” svapna (or taijasa), “dreaming;” sushupti, “deep sleep;” and turīya, “the fourth” state, of superconsciousness. A fifth state, “beyond turīya,” is turīyātīta. See: kevala avasthā, sakala avasthā, śuddha avasthā.§
avatāra: अवतार “Descent.” A God born in a human (or animal) body. A central concept of Śāktism, Smārtism and Vaishṇavism. See: incarnation, Ishṭa Devatā.§
avidyā: अविद्या Spiritual “ignorance.” Wrongful understanding of the nature of reality. Mistaking the impermanent for the everlasting. §
awareness: Individual consciousness, perception, knowing; the witness of perception, the “inner eye of the soul.” Sākshin or chit in Sanskrit. The soul’s ability to sense, see or know and to be conscious of this knowing. When awareness is indrawn (pratyak chetana), various states of samādhi may occur. Awareness is known in the Āgamas as chitśakti, the “power of awareness,” the inner self and eternal witness. See: consciousness, sākshin.§
axiom: A rule or maxim that is universally accepted as true; a fundamental principle or truth.§
āyurveda: आयुर्वेद “Science of life,” “science of longevity.” A holistic system of medicine and health native to ancient India. The aims of āyurveda are āyus, “long life,” and ārogya, “diseaselessness,” which facilitate progress toward ultimate spiritual goals. Health is achieved by balancing energies (especially the doshas, bodily humors) at all levels of being.§
Ayyappan: ஐயப்பன் The popular God of a recently formed sect that focuses on pilgrimage to the top of Sabarimalai, a sacred hill in Kerala, where He is said to appear as a divine light. Ayyappan is revered as a son of Vishṇu and Śiva (Hari-Hara putra). His vāhana, or mount, is the tiger.
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balk: To stop abruptly and refuse to go on.§
ballast: A stabilizing weight, usually on a boat.§
bane: Deadly harm, misfortune. A cause of death, destruction, or ruin.§
Banyan tree: ficus indicus (vaṭa in Sanskrit), symbolizes Hinduism, which branches out in all directions, draws from many roots, spreads shade far and wide, yet stems from one great trunk. Śiva as Silent Sage sits beneath it.§
bardo: A Tibetan term for an intermediate state between death and further destiny of the soul.§
Basavanna (Basavaṇṇa): बसवण्ण A 12th-century philosopher, poet and prime minister who reformed and revived Vīra Śaivism in Karnataka. See: Vīra Śaivism.§
bask: To enjoy pleasant warmth, sunshine, praise or blessing.§
beatitude: Supreme blessedness or happiness.§
beclouding: Darkening as if with clouds; obscuring.§
bedrock: Solid rock beneath the soil. firm foundation.§
behoove: To be necessary, proper or befitting.§
Being: Upper case: God’s essential divine nature–Pure Consciousness, Absolute Reality and Primal Soul (God’s nature as a divine Person). Lower case: the essential nature of a person, that within which never changes; existence. See: Śiva.§
benign: Good, kindly, doing no harm. See: ahiṁsā.§
bereft: Deprived of something.§
beseech (besought): To ask of someone earnestly; solicit with fervor; beg.§
bestow: To offer graciously as a gift.§
betoken: To indicate, show; offer as a sign of the future; symbolize.§
Bhagavad Gītā: भगवद् गीता “The Lord’s Song.” One of the most popular of Hindu writings, a conversation between Lord Kṛishṇa and Arjuna on the brink of the great battle at Kurukshetra. In this central episode of the epic Mahābhārata (part of the Sixth Book), Kṛishṇa illumines the warrior-prince Arjuna on yoga, asceticism, dharma and the manifold spiritual path. See: Mahābhārata.§
bhakta: भक्त (Tamil: bhaktar.) “Devotee.” A worshiper. One who is surrendered to the Divine. See: bhakti, bhakti yoga, devotee, guru bhakti.§
bhakti: भक्ति “Devotion.” Surrender to God, Gods or guru. Bhakti extends from the simplest expression of devotion to the ego-decimating principle of prapatti, which is total surrender. Bhakti is the foundation of all sects of Hinduism, as well as yoga schools throughout the world. See: bhakti yoga, darśana, prapatti, prasāda, yajña.§
bhakti yoga: भक्तियोग “Union through devotion.” Bhakti yoga is the practice of devotional disciplines, worship, prayer, chanting and singing with the aim of awakening love in the heart and opening oneself to God’s grace. Bhakti may be directed toward God, Gods or one’s spiritual preceptor. Bhakti yoga is embodied in Patanjali’s Yoga Darśana in the second limb, niyamas (observances), as devotion (Īśvarapraṇidhāna). See: prapatti, yajña.§
Bhārata Nātyam: பரதநாட்டியம் One of the ancient dance forms of India dating back to the second century BCE. This dance type originated in the Hindu temples of Southern India and is one of the most graceful and sophisticated dance styles.§
Bhogabhūmi: भोगभूमि “Land of pleasure,” referring to the world.§
Bhogar Rishi: போக ரிஷிOne of the 18 siddhas of Śaiva tradition, an alchemist and tantrika yogī, associated with the Murugan temple at Palani Hills, South India. Chinese historical records suggest that he came from China. See: siddha, siddhi, tantric.§
Bhojadeva Paramara (Paramāra): भोजदेव परमार Śaivite king, poet, artist and theologian of Gujarat (1018-1060). Author of Tattvaprakāśa. Renowned for establishing a systematic, monistic Śaiva Siddhānta. See: Tātparyadīpikā.§
bhukti: “Worldly enjoyment.”§
Big Bang: A theory that the universe–time, space and matter–originated approximately 20 billion years ago from the explosive expansion of a “singularity.”§
bīja mantra: बीजमन्त्र “Seed syllable.” A Sanskrit sound associated with a specific Deity used for invocation during mystic rites.§
bindu: बिन्दु “A drop, small particle, dot.” 1) The seed or source of creation. In the 36 tattvas, the nucleus or first particle of transcendent light, technically called Parabindu, corresponding to the Śakti tattva. See: tattva.§
biophysics: The science of relating physics to biological processes and phenomena.§
Bodhinatha Veylanswami: போதிநாத வேலன்சுவாமி “Lord of wisdom” or “chief among the awakened ones.” The current abbot of Kauai’s Hindu Monastery, 163rd Jagadāchārya of the Nandinātha Sampradāya’s Kailāsa Paramparā. Bodhinatha was ordained by his satguru, Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, on October 21, 2001, the tenth evening of the extraordinary renaissance master’s 32-day prāyopaveśa fast, which he undertook upon learning he had terminal cancer. Gurudeva had designated Bodhinatha, the senior monk of his order, as his successor in 1995, and from that time on gradually turned over to him the responsibilities of that esteemed religious post. ¶Born in Berkeley, California, on October 15, 1942, Bodhinatha began spiritual studies in 1960 with the Self Realization Fellowship and the Vedanta Society with a deep interest in monastic life. He met Gurudeva at the Mountain Desert Monastery in September, 1964, in Virginia City, Nevada, stating at this first meeting his desire to realize God. Gurudeva had him serve at the San Francisco monastery on weekends, and, after completing college, Bodhinatha entered the monastery in June, 1965. §
boddhisattva: बोद्धिसत्त्व See: nirvāṇī and upadeśī.§
boon: Varadāna. A welcome blessing, a gracious benefit received. An unexpected gift or bonus. See: grace.§
bounteous: Generously and copiously giving.§
Brahmā: ब्रह्मा The name of God in His aspect of Creator. Śaivites consider Brahmā, Vishṇu and Rudra to be three of five aspects of Śiva. Smārtas group Brahmā, Vishṇu and Śiva as a Holy Trinity in which Śiva is the Destroyer. See: Brahman, Parameśvara.§
brahmachārī: ब्रह्मचारी An unmarried male spiritual aspirant who practices continence, observes religious disciplines, including sādhana, devotion and service and who may be under simple vows. Names also a young man in the student stage, age 12-24, or until marriage. See: āśrama dharma, monk.§
brahmachāriṇī: ब्रह्मचारिणी Feminine counterpart of brahmachārī.§
brahmacharya: ब्रह्मचर्य See: yama-niyama.§
Brahmadhvara: ब्रह्मध्वर The door to the seven chakras and the Narakaloka just below the mūlādhāra. In order for the higher chakras to come into power, this door must be shut, making it impossible for fears, hatreds, angers and jealousies to arise. Sādhana and right thought, word and deed are among the aids in this accomplishment. See: Naraka, yoni.§
Brahmaloka: ब्रह्मलोक The realm of sahasrāra chakra, it is the highest of the seven upper worlds. See: sahasrāra chakra.§
Brahman: ब्रह्मन् “Supreme Being; Expansive Spirit.” From the root bṛih, “to grow, increase, expand.” Name of God or Supreme Deity in the Vedas, where He is described as 1) the Transcendent Absolute, 2) the all-pervading energy and 3) the Supreme Lord or Primal Soul. These three correspond to Śiva in His three perfections. Thus, Śaivites know Brahman and Śiva to be one and the same God: –Nirguṇa Brahman, God “without qualities” (guṇa), i.e., formless, Absolute Reality, Parabrahman, or Paraśiva–totally transcending guṇa (quality), manifest existence and even Parāśakti, all of which exhibit perceivable qualities; –Saguṇa Brahman, God “with qualities;” Śiva in His perfections of Parāśakti and Parameśvara–God as superconscious, omnipresent, all-knowing, all-loving and all-powerful. The term Brahman is not to be confused with 1) Brahmā, the Creator God; 2) Brāhmaṇa, Vedic texts, nor with 3) brāhmaṇa, Hindu priest caste (English spelling: brāhmin). See: Parāśakti, Paraśiva.§
Brahmarandhra: ब्रह्मरन्ध्र See: door of Brahman.§
Brahmavidyā: ब्रह्मविद्य “Knowledge or realization of God.”§
brāhmin (brāhmaṇa): ब्राह्मण “Mature or evolved soul.” The class of pious souls of exceptional learning. From brāhman, “growth, expansion, evolution, development, swelling of the spirit or soul.”§
brāhminical tradition: The hereditary religious practices of the Vedic brāhmins, such as reciting mantras, and personal rules for daily living.§
brethren: Older plural of brother; often used for brothers in religion.§
Bṛihadāraṇyaka Upanishad: ब्रूहदारण्यक उपनिषद् One of the major Upanishads, part of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa of the Yajur Veda. Ascribed to Sage Yajnavalkya, it teaches modes of worship, meditation and the identity of the individual self with the Supreme Self. See: Upanishad.§
Bṛihaspati: बृहस्पति “Lord of Prayer.” Vedic preceptor of the Gods and Lord of the Word, sometimes identified with Lord Gaṇeśa. See: Gaṇeśa.§
Brihaspati (Bṛihaspati): बृहस्पति The name of a great exponent of Śaiva Siddhānta (ca 900).§
Buddha: बुद्ध “The Enlightened.” Usually the title of Siddhartha Gautama (ca 624–544 BCE), a prince born of the Śākya clan–a Śaivite Hindu tribe in eastern India on the Nepalese border. He renounced the world and became a monk. After enlightenment he preached the doctrines upon which his followers later founded Buddhism. See: Buddhism.§
buddhi chitta: बुद्धिचित्त “Intellectual mind.” See: intellectual mind.§
Buddhism: The religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha (ca 624–544 BCE). He refuted the idea of man’s having an immortal soul and did not preach of any Supreme Deity. Instead he taught that man should seek to overcome greed, hatred and delusion and attain enlightenment through realizing the Four Noble Truths and following the Eightfold Path. Prominent among its holy books is the Dhammapada. Buddhism arose out of Hinduism as an inspired reform movement which rejected the caste system and the sanctity of the Vedas. It is thus classed as nāstika, “unbelieving,” and outside of Hinduism. Buddhism eventually migrated out of India, the country of its origin, and now enjoys a following of over 350 million, mostly in Asia. See: Buddha.§
Buddhist: Relating to Buddhism, the religion based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, known as the Buddha. See: Buddhism.§
buoyant, buoyed: Light, weightless; elated, happy, optimistic.
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caliber: Quality, station or ability of a person.§
canalize: To provide an outlet or channel for.§
cancer: Disease characterized by the aberrant growth of cells.§
cardiac: Near, or relating to the heart.§
cardinal: Of primary importance; paramount.§
Catholicism: The faith, doctrine, system and practice of the Catholic Church, a major Christian denomination.§
causal body: Kāraṇa śarīra, the inmost body; the soul form, also called ānandamaya kośa, “bliss sheath,” and actinic causal body. See: kośa, soul.§
causal mind: Kāraṇa chitta. Superconscious mind. See: mind (five states).§
causal plane: The highest realm of existence, Śivaloka. See: loka.§
cause: Kāraṇa. Anything which produces an effect, a result. –efficient cause: (nimitta kāraṇa) That which directly produces the effect; that which conceives, makes, shapes, etc., such as the potter who fashions a clay pot, or God who creates the world. –material cause: (upādāna kāraṇa) The matter from which the effect is formed, as the clay which is shaped into a pot, or God as primal substance becoming the world.
–instrumental cause: (sahakāri kāraṇa) That which serves as a means, mechanism or tool in producing the effect, such as the potter’s wheel, necessary for making a pot, or God’s generative Śakti. See: māyā, tattva.§
cauterize: To burn or sear so as to remove unwanted tissue, or to seal a wound.§
cavernous plexus: The region where the brain stem enters the skull from the spine, associated with the pineal gland and the ājnā chakra.§
celestial: “Of the sky or heavens.” Of or relating to the heavenly regions or beings. Highly refined, divine.§
celibacy: Complete sexual abstinence. Also the state of a person who has vowed to remain unmarried and abstinent. Celibacy is abstinence from the eight degrees of sexual activity: fantasy (smaraṇa), glorification (kīrtana), flirtation (keli), glances (prekshaṇa), secret talk (guhya bhāshana), longing (kāma saṁkalpa), rendezvous (adhyavāsāya) and intercourse (kriyā nivṛitti). See: brahmachārī, ojas, tejas, transmutation, yama-niyama.§
cenobite: A member of a monastery community.§
cerebral: Relating to the brain.§
ceremony: From the Latin caerimonia, “awe; reverent rite.” A formal rite established by custom or authority as proper to special occasions.§
chaitanya: चैतन्य “Spirit, consciousness,” especially “higher consciousness;” “Supreme Being.”A widely used term, often preceded by modifiers, e.g., sākshī chaitanya, “witness consciousness,” or bhakti chaitanya, “devotional consciousness,” or Śivachaitanya, “God consciousness.” See: chitta, consciousness, mind (five states), Śiva consciousness.§
chakra: चक्र “Wheel.” Any of the nerve plexes or centers of force and consciousness located within the inner bodies of man. In the physical body there are corresponding nerve plexuses, ganglia and glands. The seven principal chakras can be seen psychically as colorful, multi-petaled wheels or lotuses. They are situated along the spinal cord from the base to the cranial chamber. The seven principal chakras, from lowest to highest, are: 1) mūlādhāra (base of spine): memory, time and space; 2) svādhishṭhāna (below navel): reason; 3) maṇipūra (solar plexus): willpower; 4) anāhata (heart center): direct cognition; 5) viśuddha (throat): divine love; 6) ājñā (third eye): divine sight; 7) sahasrāra (crown of head): illumination, Godliness. ¶Additionally, seven chakras, barely visible, exist below the spine. They are seats of instinctive consciousness, the origin of jealousy, hatred, envy, guilt, sorrow, etc. They constitute the lower or hellish world, called Naraka or pātāla. From highest to lowest they are 1) atala (hips): fear and lust; 2) vitala (thighs): raging anger; 3) sutala (knees): retaliatory jealousy; 4) talātala (calves): prolonged mental confusion; 5) rasātala (ankles): selfishness; 6) mahātala (feet): absence of conscience; 7) pātāla (located in the soles of the feet): murder and malice. ¶Seven chakras, or conglomerates of nāḍīs, exist within and above the sahasrāra, as the seven levels of the rarified dimensions of paranāda, the first tattva and the highest stratum of sound. From lowest to highest they are: 1) vyāpinī: “all-pervasive;” 2) vyomāṅga: “space-bodied;” 3) anantā: “infinity;” 4) anāthā: having “no master;” 5) anāśṛitā: “independent;” 6) samanā: “uniform, synchronous;” 7) unmanā: “ecstatic, trans-mental.” See: chakras above sahasrāra, Naraka (also: individual chakra entries).§
chalice: An ornate cup or goblet.§
Chālukya: चालुक्य Indian dynasty (450–1189) in the Punjab area.§
Çhāndogya Upanishad: छान्दोग्य उपनिषद् One of the major Upanishads, it consists of eight chapters of the Çhāndogya Brāhmaṇa of the Sāma Veda. It teaches the origin and significance of Aum, the importance of the Sāma Veda, the Self, meditation and life after death. See: Upanishad.§
chandra: चन्द्र “The moon.” Of central importance in Hindu astrology and in the calculation of the festival calendar. Considered the ruler of emotion.§
chaos: Great disorder and confusion.§
charyā mārga: चर्यामार्ग See: charyā pāda.§
charyā pāda: चर्यापाद “Conduct stage.” Stage of service and character building. See: pāda, Śaiva Siddhānta, Śaivism.§
chelā: चेला “Disciple.” (Hindi.) A disciple of a guru; synonym for the Sanskrit śishya. The feminine equivalent is chelinā or chelī.§
Chellappan: Another name for Chellappaswami. See: Chellappaswami.§
Chellappaswami: செல்லப்பாசுவாமி “Wealthy father.” Reclusive siddha and 160th satguru (1840—1915) of the Nandinātha Sampradāya’s Kailāsa Paramparā. Lived on Sri Lanka’s Jaffna peninsula near Nallur Kandaswāmī Temple in a small hut where today there is a small samādhi shrine. Among his disciples was Sage Yogaswami, whom he trained intensely for five years and initiated as his successor. See: Kailāsa Paramparā, Nātha Sampradāya.§
Chettiar: செட்டியார் The name of the merchant caste of South India and Sri Lanka.§
Chidambaram: சிதம்பரம் “Hall of Consciousness.” A very famous South Indian Śiva Naṭarāja temple. See: Naṭarāja.§
chit: चित् “Consciousness,” or “awareness.” Philosophically, pure awareness; transcendent consciousness, as in Sat-chit-ānanda. In mundane usage, chit means “perception; consciousness.” See: awareness, chitta, consciousness, mind (universal), sākshin.§
chitta: चित्त “Mind; consciousness.” Mind-stuff. On the personal level, it is that in which mental impressions and experiences are recorded. Seat of the conscious, subconscious and superconscious states. See: awareness, consciousness, mind (individual), mind (universal), sākshin.§
Christ: See: Jesus Christ.§
Christian: A follower of the religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The second of the three Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam.§
Christian-Judaic: See: Judaic-Christian.§
chronicle: A detailed, narrative report.§
chyle: A milky fluid comprised of lymph and emulsified fat extracted from chyme during digestion and passed to the bloodstream through the thoracic duct. §
chyme: The thick semifluid mass of partly digested food that is passed from the stomach to the duodenum. §
citrine: A yellow-orange crystal; a light to moderate olive color.§
clairaudience: “Clear-hearing.” Psychic or divine hearing, divyaśravana. The ability to hear the inner currents of the nervous system, the Aum and other mystic tones. Hearing in one’s mind the words of inner-plane beings or earthly beings not physically present. Also, hearing the nādanāḍī śakti through the day or while in meditation. See: clairvoyance, extrasensory, ESP, nāda, nāda nāḍī śakti.§
clairvoyance: “Clear-seeing.” Psychic or divine sight, divyadṛishṭi. The ability to look into the inner worlds and see auras, chakras, nāḍīs, thought forms, non-physical people and subtle forces. See: ākāśa, extrasensory, ESP, clairaudience.§
clear white light: See: light. §
cliché: A much overused expression.§
cloistered: Secluded, as in a monastery.§
coexistent: Existing together in the same place or time.§
cognition: Knowing; perception. Knowledge reached through intuitive, superconscious faculties rather than through intellect alone.§
cognitive body: Vijñānamaya kośa. The most refined sheath of the astral, or subtle, body (sūkshma śarīra). It is the sheath of higher thought and cognition. See: astral body, kośa.§
cognizant: Informed or aware of something.§
cognizantability: The ability to perceive or become aware of knowledge through observation. A term coined by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1950.§
cognize: Taking notice of something.§
cohesive: Clinging together; not disintegrating.§
component: An element; one of the parts constituting a whole.§
comprehend: Understand; grasp.§
comprehensive: Including much or all.§
conceit: A regarding of oneself with often excessive favor. A high opinion of one’s own abilities or worth. Also egoism or vanity.§
conceive: To form or develop an idea, thought, belief or attitude.§
concentration: Uninterrupted and sustained attention. See: rāja yoga.§
concept: An idea or thought, especially a generalized or abstract idea.§
conception: Power to imagine, conceive or create. Moment when a pregnancy is begun, a new earthly body generated. –the point of conception; the apex of creation: The simple instant that precedes any creative impulse and is therefore the source and summit of the powers of creation or manifestation. To become conscious of the point of conception is a great siddhi.§
conclave: A secret or confidential meeting.§
condemnation: Strong disapproval; severe reproof; strong censure.§
confession: An admission, acknowledgement; as of guilt or wrongdoing.§
confine(s): Boundary, limits, border. To restrict or keep within limits.§
congeal: To solidify by, or as if by, freezing. To coagulate, jell.§
congested: Overcrowded, overfilled, clogged.§
conglomerate: A group of things put together.§
conjure: Bring to mind, call up or evoke.§
connotation: An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing.§
conscience: The inner sense of right and wrong, sometimes called “the knowing voice of the soul.” However, the conscience is affected by the individual’s training and belief patterns, and is therefore not necessarily a perfect reflection of dharma. It is the subconscious of the person–the sum total of past impressions and training–that defines the credal structure and colors the conscience and either clearly reflects or distorts superconscious wisdom. See: creed, dharma, mind (individual).§
conscious mind: The external, everyday state of consciousness. See: mind.§
consciousness: Chitta or chaitanya. 1) A synonym for mind-stuff, chitta; or 2) the condition or power of perception, awareness, apprehension. There are myriad gradations of consciousness, from the simple sentience of inanimate matter to the consciousness of basic life forms, to the higher consciousness of human embodiment, to omniscient states of superconsciousness, leading to immersion in the One universal consciousness, Parāśakti. In writing “Cognizantability,” 50 years ago, Gurudeva used the word consciousness to name man’s individual awareness in most cases, whereas in later teachings he tended to use the word awareness to mean the same thing, and used consciousness to name the mind or intelligence within all living things. All-pervasive consciousness always means Satchidānanda. One needs to know the context and time of the upadeśa to make these subtle distinctions. Individual awareness names the soul’s awareness that flows unattached through all states of mind. See: awareness, chitta, chaitanya, jāgrat, sushupti, svapna, turīya, mind (all entries).§
constituent: An element, piece, part or component.§
construe: Explain the meaning of; interpret in a certain way.§
contemplation: Religious or mystical absorption beyond meditation. See: rāja yoga, samādhi.§
contention: Striving in controversy or debate.§
contentious: Likely to cause or involving intense debate; quarrelsome.§
continuum: A continuous whole, quantity, or series; something whose parts cannot be separated or separately discerned.§
conundrum: A paradoxical problem, riddle or mystery.§
conveyance: A transfer of something; a vehicle.§
cope: To contend with on equal terms. To face or deal with difficulties.§
corollary: A natural consequence of effect.§
cosmic: Universal; vast. Of or relating to the cosmos or entire universe.§
Cosmic Soul: Purusha or Parameśvara. Primal Soul. The Universal Being; Personal God. See: Parameśvara, Primal Soul, purusha, Śiva.§
cranial chakras: The ājñā, or third-eye center, and the sahasrāra, at the top of the head near the pineal and pituitary glands. See: chakra.§
cranium: The skull.§
cranny: A small space, interstice, nook and cranny.§
creation: The act of creating, especially bringing the world into ordered existence. Also, all of created existence, the cosmos. Creation, according to the monistic-theistic view, is an emanation or extension of God, the Creator. It is Himself in another form, and not inherently something other than Him. See: cause, damaru, tattva.§
Creator: He who brings about creation. Śiva as one of His five powers. See: creation, Naṭarāja, Parameśvara.§
creed: Śraddhādhāraṇā. An authoritative formulation of the beliefs of a religion. See: conscience.§
cremation: Dahana. Burning of the dead. Cremation is the traditional manner of disposing of bodily remains, having the positive effect of releasing the soul most quickly from any lingering attachment to the earth plane. Note that the remains of enlightened masters are sometimes buried or sealed in a special tomb called a samādhi. This is done in acknowledgement of the extraordinary attainment of such a soul, whose very body, having become holy, is revered as a sacred presence, sānnidhya, and which not infrequently becomes the spiritual seed of a temple or place of pilgrimage. See: death, reincarnation.§
crescendo: A gradual increase of force or intensity.§
crevice: A narrow opening or crack.§
crimson: A deep to vivid purplish red.§
crown chakra: Sahasrāra chakra. The thousand-petaled cranial center of divine consciousness. See: chakra, sahasrāra chakra.§
crux: The essential, deciding or difficult point. Latin “cross.” Originally a mark indicating a difficult textual problem in books.§
crypt: An underground vault or chamber, often used as a burial place.§
crystal-gazing: An occult practice for divining the future by gazing into a crystal ball.§
crystallize: To take on a definite, precise, and usually permanent form.§
culminate: To bring to the highest point, to the greatest intensity, or to completion.§
cumbersome: Difficult to handle due to weight or bulk.§
cybernetics: The theoretical study of communication and control processes in biological, mechanical, and electronic systems, especially the comparison of these processes in biological and artificial systems.§
cynical: Scornful of motives or integrity; skeptical of others’ sincerity.
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dakshiṇā: दक्षिणा A fee or honorarium to a priest given at the completion of any rite; also given to gurus as a token of appreciation for their spiritual blessings.§
damaru: दमरु The thin-waisted rattle drum of Śiva Naṭarāja. It is the symbol of Divine Creation, which begins with the soundless sound, paranāda, whence arises the mantra Aum. See: Naṭarāja, Śiva, Aum.§
darshan (darśana): दर्शन “Vision, sight.” Seeing the Divine. Beholding, with inner or outer vision, a temple image, Deity, holy person or place, with the desire to inwardly contact and receive the grace and blessings of the venerated being or beings. Even beholding a photograph in the proper spirit is a form of darśana. Not only does the devotee seek to see the Divine, but to be seen as well, to stand humbly in the awakened gaze of the holy one, even if for an instant, such as in a crowded temple when thousands of worshipers file quickly past the enshrined Lord. Gods and gurus are thus said to “give” darśana, and devotees “take” darśana, with the eyes being the mystic locus through which energy is exchanged. This direct, personal two-sided apprehension is a central and highly sought-after experience of Hindu faith. Also: “point of view,” doctrine or philosophy.§
Dasakariyam: Ten spiritual experiences of the soul in its path toward liberation, as found in the University of Madras Tamil Lexicon. 1) Tattuvarupam: the cognition of the operation of the 36 tattvas; 2) Tattuvatarisanam: the realization that the 36 tattvas are the outcome of māyā; 3) Tattuvasutti: the soul’s experience of no longer being influenced by the 36 tattvas and knowing itself to be an entity different from them; 4) Anmarupam: the soul’s discovery, when free of impurity, that its form is intelligence; 5) Anmatarisanam: the soul’s perception that it cannot act independently of Śiva; 6) Anmasutti: the soul’s self-effacement and establishment in divine grace; 7) Sivarupam: the clear understanding that Śiva, by His five gracious functions, cleanses the soul of the three malas and bestows liberation; 8) Sivatarisanam: the soul’s cognition of its limitations and perception of the divine wisdom that, of its own accord, bestows grace; 9) Sivayogam: the soul’s realization of the omnitude of Śiva and setting itself in tune with Him without losing its individuality; 10) Sivapokam: the merger of the soul’s individuality in Śiva, the Supreme Being.§
dauntless: Not intimidated or discouraged; fearless.§
death: The soul’s detaching itself from the physical body and continuing on in the subtle body (sūkshma śarīra) with the same desires, aspirations and activities as when it lived in a physical body. See: reincarnation, videhamukti.§
deceit (deception): The act of representing as true what is known to be false. A dishonest action. §
decipher: To read or interpret ambiguous, obscure, or illegible matter.§
deduction: Drawing a conclusion through reasoning; the act of deducing.§
defabricate: To take apart; disassemble.§
dīfī: (Shūm) The space aspect of the mind. The perspective of space travel, devas and Gods; inner communication. Pronounced dee-fee. See: Shūm, Shūm perspectives. §
Deity: “God.” Can refer either to the image or mūrti installed in a temple or to the Mahādeva the mūrti represents. See: pūjā.§
delineate: To mark out, sketch; to describe. §
delinquent: Failing to do what law or duty requires.§
delude: To deceive, as by false promises or misleadings.§
delusion: Moha. False belief, misconception.§
demon: See: asura.§
denote: To indicate, signify or refer to.§
depolarize: To eliminate or counteract polarization. Bringing together that which is apart. –Polarize: to separate into diametrically opposed often antagonistic groups, viewpoints, etc.§
derogate: To take away.§
Destroyer: Epithet of God Śiva in His aspect of Rudra. See: Naṭarāja.§
deterrent: Something that prevents or discourages action; frightens away.§
detractor: One who takes away from the positive qualities of a group.§
deva: देव “Shining one.” A being inhabiting the higher astral plane, in a subtle, nonphysical body. Deva is also used in scripture to mean “God” or “Deity.” See: Mahādeva.§
Devaloka: देवलोक “Plane of radiant beings.” A synonym of Maharloka, the higher astral plane, realm of anāhata chakra. See: loka.§
Devī: देवी “Goddess.” A name of Śakti, used especially in Śāktism. See: Śakti, Śāktism.§
Devīkālottara Āgama: देवीकालोत्तर आगम One recension (version) of the Sārdha Triśati Kālottara Āgama, a subsidiary text of Vātula Āgama. Also known as the Skanda Kālottara. Its 350 verses are in the form of a dialog between Kārttikeya and Śiva and deal with esoterics of mantras, initiations, right knowledge, faith and worship of Śiva. See: Śaiva Āgamas.§
devonic: Angelic, heavenly, spiritual. Of the nature of the higher worlds, in tune with the refined energies of the higher chakras or centers of consciousness. Of or relating to the devas. Implies that something is divinely guided. See: deva.§
devotee: A person strongly dedicated to something or someone, such as to a God or a guru. The term disciple implies an even deeper commitment. See: bhakta, bhakti, guru bhakti.§
devout: Strongly attached to religion or religious obligations. See: bhakti.§
dhāraṇā: धारणा “Concentration.” From dhṛi, “to hold.” See: meditation, rāja yoga.§
dharma: धर्म From dhṛi, “to sustain; carry, hold.” Hence dharma is “that which contains or upholds the cosmos.” Dharma, religion, is a complex and comprehensive term with many meanings, including divine law, law of being, way of righteousness, ethics, duty, responsibility, virtue, justice, goodness and truth. Essentially, dharma is the orderly fulfillment of an inherent nature or destiny. Relating to the soul, it is the mode of conduct most conducive to spiritual advancement, the right and righteous path. §
Dharmapura Aadheenam: தருமபுர ஆதீனம் A monastery and spiritual center in South India, established in the 16th century by Sri Guru Jnanasambandhar. This aadheenam preaches pluralistic Siddhānta, as opposed to monistic Siddhānta or monistic theism. See: aadheenam.§
dhyāna: ध्यान “Meditation.” See: internalized worship, meditation, rāja yoga.§
diabolical: Very wicked or cruel; devilish.§
diametrically: Exactly opposite; contrary.§
diaphragm: A muscular partition between the abdomen and chest cavity, instrumental in breathing.§
diaphragmatic breathing: Deep regulated breathing from the diaphragm, at the solar plexus region, as opposed to the upper chest.§
dīkshā: दीक्षा “Initiation.” Solemn induction by which one is entered into a new realm of spiritual awareness and practice by a teacher or preceptor through the transmission of blessings. Denotes initial or deepened connection with the teacher and his lineage and is usually accompanied by ceremony. Initiation, revered as a moment of awakening, may be conferred by a touch, a word, a look or a thought. See: grace, śaktipāta.§
diligent: Painstaking, careful and constant in effort. §
diplomacy: Tact and skill in dealing with people.§
dipolar: Relating to two poles instead of only one. A philosophy is said to be dipolar when it embraces both of two contradictory (or apparently contradictory) propositions, concepts, tendencies, etc. Instead of saying “it is either this or that,” a dipolar position says “it is both this and that.” See: dvaita-advaita.§
discern: To distinguish, discriminate and make balanced judgments.§
discrimination: Viveka. Act or ability to distinguish or perceive differences. In spirituality, the ability to distinguish between right and wrong, real and apparent, eternal and transient, as in the Upanishadic maxim, Neti, neti, “It is not this, it is not that.” See: conscience.§
disdain: Regard or treat as beneath one’s dignity, as being unworthy.§
disincarnate: Having no physical body; of the astral plane; astral beings. See: astral body, astral plane.§
dispatch: To send off promptly, especially on an errand. To finish quickly.§
dispel: To scatter. To rid one’s mind of. To drive away or off.§
dissertation: A lengthy, thorough, formal treatment of a subject in writing or speech; a thesis.§
dissidence: Disagreement; dissent.§
dissipate: Here, to let loose more than often the vital sexual energies, which must be transmuted in order to make progress in spiritual life. Dissipation occurs through excessive talk, and through loss of the vital fluids, such as through masturbation or excessive intercourse only for pleasure, with no intention of conceiving a child. In one explanation of ancient India’s caste system, strength–mental, emotional and physical as well as spiritual–is directly related to the frequency of orgasms. A śudra (laborer), releases his sexual energies daily and thus drains his brain. The vaiśya (businessman) has sex weekly, as his energies are caught up in the mental activities of his business. The kshatriya (politician, defender of the country), engaged in statesmanship, martial arts, horsemanship, developing mind and body, expends his energies but monthly. The brāhmin (priestly caste) has sexual union yearly, and only for the creation of a child. His energies are transmuted in his Sanskrit chanting, daily rituals and high-minded activities of all kind to uplift humanity. Thus, dissipation is on many levels and creates many kinds of people, according to the four levels of consciousness. See: ojas, tejas, yoni, actinic, actinodic, odic, transmutation.§
dissolution: Dissolving or breaking up into parts. An alternative term for destruction. See: mahāpralaya, Naṭarāja.§
distort: To twist out of shape. To misrepresent.§
divest: To strip of, deprive or rid of something.§
Divine: Godlike; supremely good or beautiful.§
Divinity: A God, or Deity. Also the spirituality or holiness that pervades the universe and is most easily felt in the presence of a holy man or in a temple.§
DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid. A nucleic acid that carries the genetic information in the cell. DNA consists of two long chains of nucleotides twisted into a double helix. The sequence of nucleotides determines individual hereditary characteristics.§
dogma: An authoritative principle, belief, or statement of ideas or opinion, especially one considered to be absolutely true.§
dominion: Rulership; domain; sway.§
doordarshan (dūrdarśana): दूर्दर्शन “Vision from afar.” Hindi for television.§
door of Brahman: Brahmarandhra, also called nirvāna chakra. A subtle or esoteric aperture in the crown of the head, the opening of sushumṇā nāḍī through which kuṇḍalinī enters in ultimate Self Realization, and the spirit escapes at death. Only the spirits of the truly pure leave the body in this way. Saṁsārīs take a downward course. See: jñāna, kuṇḍalinī, videhamukti.§
dosha: दोष “Bodily humor; individual constitution.” The three bodily humors, which according to āyurveda regulate the body, govern its proper functioning and determine its unique constitution. These are vāta, the air humor; pitta, the fire humor; and kapha, the water humor. Vāta humor is metabolic, nerve energy. Pitta is the catabolic, fire energy. Kapha is the anabolic, nutritive energy. The three doshas (tridosha) also give rise to the various emotions and correspond to the three guṇas, “qualities:” sattva (quiescence–vāta), rajas (activity–pitta) and tamas (inertia–kapha). See: āyurveda, kapha, pitta, vāta.§
Dravidian: The term used here to name the monastic communities of the Dvāpara and Kali Yugas. In modern times it refers to the various Caucasoid peoples of southern India and northern Sri Lanka. From the Sanskrit Drāviḍa, of which it is believed the original form was Dramid (or Dramil), which meant “sweet” or “good natured,” and is the source of the word Tamil, naming the Dravidian people of South India and Sri Lanka and their language.§
dreamologist: One who studies and interprets dreams (a coined word).§
dross: Rubbish, waste matter; a useless byproduct.§
Druidism: Beliefs of members of an order of priests in ancient Gaul and Britain who appear in Welsh and Irish legend as prophets and sorcerers.§
dual: Having or composed of two parts or kinds. §
dualism: See: dvaita-advaita.§
duality: A state or condition of being dual.§
ductless glands: The endocrine glands which release hormones to regulate many functions of the body.§
dvaita-advaita: द्वैत अद्वैत “Dual-nondual; twoness-not twoness.” Among the most important categories in the classification of Hindu philosophies. Dvaita and advaita define two ends of a vast spectrum. –dvaita: The doctrine of dualism, according to which reality is ultimately composed of two irreducible principles, entities, truths, etc. God and soul, for example, are seen as eternally separate. –dualistic: Of or relating to dualism, concepts, writings, theories which treat dualities (good-and-evil, high-and-low, them-and-us) as fixed, rather than transcendable. –pluralism: A form of non-monism which emphasizes three or more eternally separate realities, e.g., God, soul and world. –advaita: The doctrine of nondualism or monism, that reality is ultimately composed of one whole principle, substance or God, with no independent parts. In essence, all is God. –monistic theism: A dipolar view which encompasses both monism and dualism. See: monistic theism, pluralistic realism.§
Dvaita Siddhānta: द्वैतसिद्धान्त “Dualistic final conclusions.” Schools of Śaiva Siddhānta that postulate God, soul and world are three eternally distinct and separate realities. See: Pati-paśu-pāśa, Śaiva Siddhānta.
§
ebb: A period of flow back, decline, or recession.§
eccentric: Different from the recognized norm; unusual; queer.§
ecstasy (ecstatic): State of being overtaken by emotion such as joy or wonder. Literally, “standing outside (oneself).” See: enstasy, rāja yoga, samādhi.§
edict: A formal command by an authority.§
efficacious: Producing or capable of producing the desired effect.§
efficient cause: Nimitta kāraṇa. That which directly produces the effect; that which conceives, makes, shapes, etc. See: cause.§
effulgent: Bright, radiant; emitting its own light.§
ego: The external personality or sense of “I” and “mine.” Broadly, individual identity. In Śaiva Siddhānta and other schools, the ego is equated with the tattva of ahaṁkāra, “I-maker,” which bestows the sense of I-ness, individuality and separateness from God. See: ahaṁkāra, āṇava mala.§
egocentric: Placing one’s own ego in the center of all values and experiences.§
egoism: A preponderance of self-interest, self-preservation and self-indulgence. §
egoity: Ahaṁkāra. Self-interest, selfishness. See: āṇava mala, mind (individual), ahaṁkāra.§
egotist: One who is selfish, conceited or boastful.§
egregious: Bad or offensive. Standing out of the norm.§
elation: Exultant joy, high spirits, gladness.§
eloquent: Fluent, forceful, graceful and persuasive speech or writing.§
elucidate: Explain, clarify or make clear.§
elucidation: A clear or plain explanation; clarification.§
elusive: Tending to escape one’s grasp or understanding. Hard to capture.§
emanation: “Flowing out from.” Ābhāsa. Shining forth from a source, emission or issuing from. A monistic doctrine of creation whereby God issues forth manifestation like rays from the sun or sparks from a fire.§
emancipator: That which, or one who, liberates.§
embalming: The process of treating a dead body with various chemicals to prevent it from decaying rapidly. See: cremation.§
embellishment: A decoration; beautification.§
eminent: High; above others in stature, rank or achievement. Renowned or distinguished; prominent, conspicuous. Not to be confused with: 1) imminent, about to happen; 2) emanate, to issue from; 3) immanent, inherent or indwelling.§
emit: To send out matter, energy or light.§
emote: To express emotion.§
emotional body: See: manomaya kośa.§
emulate: To imitate. To attempt to equal or surpass someone, generally by copying his ways, talents or successes.§
encase: To cover completely; to enclose; to envelop.§
encasement: A covering or enclosure; an envelopment.§
encompass: To surround or encircle; to include.§
encumber: To put burden as with a heavy load.§
encumbrance: A burden or impediment.§
endearment: An expression of affection.§
endocrine: Of or relating to endocrine glands (the “ductless glands”) or the hormones secreted by them.§
enlightened: Having attained enlightenment, Self Realization. A jñānī or jīvanmukta. See: jīvanmukta, jñāna, Self Realization.§
enlightenment: For Śaiva monists, Self Realization, samādhi without seed (nirvikalpa samādhi); the ultimate attainment, sometimes referred to as Paramātma darśana, or as ātma darśana, “Self vision” (a term which appears in Patanjali’s Yoga Sūtras). Enlightenment is the experience/nonexperience resulting in the realization of one’s transcendent Self, Paraśiva, which exists beyond time, form and space. Each tradition has its own understanding of enlightenment, often indicated by unique terms. See: enstasy, God Realization, kuṇḍalinī, nirvikalpa samādhi, Self Realization.§
en masse: In a mass; as a whole; all together; in great numbers.§
enmesh: To entangle or catch as if in a net.§
enstasy: A term coined in 1969 by Mircea Eliade to contrast the Eastern view of bliss as “standing inside oneself” (enstasy) with the Western view as ecstasy, “standing outside oneself.” A word chosen as the English equivalent of samādhi. See: ecstasy, samādhi, rāja yoga. §
ensuing: Following as a result of something.§
enthrall: To hold in a spell; captivate; fascinate.§
eon: Also aeon. An indefinitely long period; an age.§
epigastric: The upper middle region of the abdomen.§
epistle: A formal letter.§
equivocal: Uncertain; undecided; doubtful.§
eradicate: To “root out,” destroy, get rid of.§
err: To make a mistake or an error.§
errant: Straying from the proper course; distracted.§
erroneous: Containing or based on error; wrong.§
erroneously: Adverb form of erroneous: containing or deriving from error; mistaken.§
erudite: Possessing wide knowledge; learned, scholarly.§
escalate: To increase, enlarge, or intensify.§
eschew: To shun, avoid, stay away from.§
esoteric: Hard to understand or secret. Teaching intended for a chosen few, as an inner group of initiates. Abstruse or private.§
esp: “Extra Sensory Perception.” Communication or perception by means other than physical. See: clairvoyance, clairaudience, extrasensory.§
essence (essential): The most important, ultimate, real and unchanging nature of a thing or being. –essence of the soul: See: ātman, soul.§
eternity: Time without beginning or end.§
ether: Ākāśa. Space, the most subtle of the five elements. See: ākāśa, tattva.§
ethereal: Highly refined, light, invisible.§
etheric: Having to do with ether or space.§
ethics: The code or system of morals of a nation, people, philosophy, religion. See: dharma, yama-niyama.§
ethnic: Pertaining to, or designating a large group or groups of people with the same culture, race, religion, or national heritage.§
etymology: The science of the origin of words and their signification. The history of a word. See: Sanskrit.§
evanescent: Vanishing, or likely to vanish like vapor.§
eve: Evening; the day or night before something.§
evil: That which is bad, morally wrong, causing misery. See: hell, karma.§
evolution of the soul: Adhyātma prasāra. In Śaiva Siddhānta, the soul’s evolution is a progressive unfoldment, growth and maturing toward its inherent, divine destiny, which is complete merger with Śiva. This occurs in three stages, or avasthās. In its essence, each soul is ever perfect. But as an individual soul body emanated by God Śiva, it is like a small seed yet to develop. As an acorn needs to be planted in the dark underground to grow into a mighty oak tree, so must the soul unfold out of the darkness of the malas to full maturity and realization of its innate oneness with God. The soul is not created at the moment of conception of a physical body. Rather, it is created in the Śivaloka. It evolves by taking on denser and denser sheaths–cognitive, instinctive-intellectual and prāṇic–until finally it takes birth in physical form in the Bhūloka. Then it experiences many lives, maturing through the reincarnation process. Thus, from birth to birth, souls learn and mature. Evolution is the result of experience and the lessons derived from it. There are young souls just beginning to evolve and old souls nearing the end of their earthly sojourn. In Śaiva Siddhānta, evolution is understood as the removal of fetters which comes as a natural unfoldment, realization and expression of one’s true, self-effulgent nature. This ripening or dropping away of the soul’s bonds (mala) is called malaparipakam. The realization of the soul nature is termed svānubhuti (experience of the Self). Self Realization leads to moksha, liberation from the three malas and the reincarnation cycles. Then evolution continues in the celestial worlds until the soul finally merges fully and indistinguishably into Supreme God Śiva, the Primal Soul, Parameśvara. In his Tirumantiram, Rishi Tirumular calls this merger viśvagrāsa, “total absorption.” See: mala, moksha, reincarnation, saṁsāra, viśvagrāsa.§
ewe: A female sheep.§
exalt: To praise highly or honor.§
exhalation: Letting air out, especially from the lungs.§
exhilaration: The state of being stimulated, refreshed or extremely happy.§
exiled: Forceably sent out of one’s native country.§
existence: “Coming or standing forth.” Being; reality; that which is.§
existentialism: A philosophy that emphasizes the uniqueness and isolation of the individual experience in a hostile or indifferent universe, regards human existence as unexplainable, and stresses freedom of choice and responsibility for the consequences of one’s acts.§
existentialist: Pertaining to, or one who believes in existentialism. See: existentialism.§
experience: From the Latin experior, “to prove; put to the test.” Living through an event; personal involvement. In Sanskrit, anubhava.§
explicitly: Openly stated, leaving nothing hidden or implied; distinctly expressed.§
expound: To explain or clarify, point by point.§
exquisite: Elaborate, delicate or beautiful.§
extol: “Raise up;” “lift up.” To praise highly.§
extraneous: Not pertinent; placed outside; superfluous.§
extrasensory: Beyond the five senses, especially psychic perception such as seeing or hearing at a distance. See: clairvoyance, clairaudience, ESP.§
extroverted: Interested in things outside of one’s self.§
exuberant: Full of unrestrained enthusiasm or joy.
§
façade: A front (of a building). Often a deceptive, artificial appearance.§
facet: One of numerous aspects of a subject, concept or idea.§
facial: Having to do with the face.§
fad: A fashion followed with great enthusiasm for a short period of time.§
fallacious: Containing or based on a false concept.§
fallacy: An incorrect understanding; misconception.§
falter: To be unsteady in purpose or action; waver.§
fanatical: Excessively or irrationally devoted to a cause; overly zealous.§
fathom: To ascertain the depth of; to get to the bottom; to understand.§
ferret: To uncover or understand by searching.§
fervent: Showing great warmth of feeling; ardent; passionate, enthusiastic.§
fervor: Intense warmth of emotion; ardor, passion.§
fetter: A chain or shackle for the ankles or feet. Something that serves to restrict; a restraint. In Śaiva Siddhānta philosophy, specifically a translation of pāśa, the triple bonds of āṇava, karma and māyā. See: āṇava, karma, māyā.§
feud: A bitter, often prolonged quarrel or state of enmity and opposition.§
finicky: Too careful about particulars. Fussy; fastidious; difficult to please.§
finite: Having an ending.§
first World: The physical universe, called Bhūloka, of gross or material substance in which phenomena are perceived by the five senses. See: loka.§
fizzle: To fail or end weakly (colloquial).§
flamboyant: Elaborately colored; showy; outrageous§
fluctuate: To flow, move, change back and forth.§
fluent: Flowing easily and smoothly, especially of speaking and writing.§
flux: Continuous flowing movement or change.§
foible: A minor weakness or character flaw.§
forbearance: Self-control; responding with patience and compassion, especially under provocation. Endurance; tolerance. See: yama-niyama.§
force field: A region of space through which a force, for example, an electric current, is operative. Here the term is used in reference to psychic energies, both positive and negative, that are generated by the emotions, the mind, the higher or lower chakras or emanate from the inner higher or lower worlds. Positive psychic force fields, such as those surrounding and protecting a temple, an āśrama or harmonious home, are built up by worship, invoking of the Deities, sādhana, tapas and disciplined living, attracting divine spirits, or devas. Negative force fields, such as found in the worst areas of a city or within an inharmonious home, are built up by anger, violence, lust and outbursts of such lower emotions, attracting evil spirits, or asuras. See: odic, actinic, prāṇa.§
foreboding: A sense of impending danger or evil. §
forged: Given form or shape (originally of metal by heating and hammering).§
formless: Philosophically, atattva, beyond the realm of form or substance. Used in attempting to describe the wondersome, indescribable Absolute, which is “timeless, formless and spaceless.” God Śiva has form and is formless. He is the immanent Pure Consciousness or pure form. He is the Personal Lord manifesting as innumerable forms; and He is the impersonal, transcendent Absolute beyond all form. Thus we know Śiva in three perfections, two of form and one formless. See: Paraśiva, Satchidānanda.§
forsake: To abandon, give up or renounce.§
forsooth: In truth; indeed.§
frank: Open, undisguised; blunt, straightforward.§
fretful: Irritated, disturbed, worried or troubled.§
fringe: A decorative border or edging, or something that resembles a border.§
fruition: The bearing of fruit. The coming to fulfillment of something that has been awaited or worked for.
§
gait: Manner of moving on foot, walking or running; the stride or way(s) of movement of a horse or other four-legged animal.§
gamut: A complete musical scale. Hence a complete range, spread or extent of anything.§
gaṇa(s): गण “Throng, troop; retinue; a body of followers or attendants.” A retinue of demigods–God Śiva’s attendants, devonic helpers under the supervision of Lord Gaṇeśa. See: Gaṇapati, Gaṇeśa.§
Gaṇapati: गणपति “Leader of the gaṇas.” A surname of Gaṇeśa.§
gandharvas: गन्धर्व Astral male lovers, counterparts to the female apsarā, mentioned in the Vedas. See: apsarā.§
Gaṇeśa: गणेश “Lord of Categories.” (From gaṇ, “to count or reckon,” and Īśa, “lord.”) Or: “Lord of attendants (gaṇa),” synonymous with Gaṇapati. Gaṇeśa is a Mahādeva, the beloved elephant-faced Deity honored by Hindus of every sect. He is the Lord of Obstacles (Vighneśvara), revered for His great wisdom and invoked first before any undertaking, for He knows all intricacies of each soul’s karma and the perfect path of dharma that makes action successful. He sits on the mūlādhāra chakra and is easy of access. See: gaṇa, Gaṇapati, Mahādeva.§
Gaṅgā Śādhana: गंगा शाधन A practice for unburdening the mind, performed by releasing the energy of unwanted thoughts. An internal cleansing sādhana of sitting quietly by a river or stream and listening to the Aum sound as the water flows over the rocks. When a thought arises, it is mentally placed into a leaf held in the right hand, then gently tossed into the water. Then a flower is offered to thank the water for carrying away the thought. This is a subconscious cleansing process of letting go of hurts, anger, problems or whatever it is that rises in the mind to disturb the meditation.§
Ganges (Gaṅgā): गंगा India’s most sacred river, 1,557 miles long, arising in the Himalayas above Haridwar under the name Bhagīratha, and being named Gaṅgā after joining the Alakanada (where the Sarasvatī is said to join them underground). It flows southeast across the densely populated Gangetic plain, joining its sister Yamunā (or Jumnā) at Prayaga (Allahabad) and ending at the Bay of Bengal.§
ganglia: Groups of nerve cells that form a nerve center outside of the brain or spinal cord. A center of power, activity, or energy. (Singular: ganglion). See chakra.§
ganglionic: Referring to the ganglion.§
Garuḍa: गरुड The king of birds. The celestial vehicle (vāhana) of Lord Vishṇu.§
gauntlet: A medieval knight’s glove thrown down in a challenge, as to a fight. Hence “throwing down the gauntlet” means to challenge or provoke.§
Gāyatrī Mantra: गायत्रीमन्त्र Famous Vedic mantra used in pūjā and personal chanting. Om [bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ] tat savitur vareṇyam, bhargo devasya dhīmahi, dhiyo yo naḥ prachodayāt. “[O Divine Beings of all three worlds,] we meditate upon the glorious splendor of the Vivifier divine. May He illumine our minds.”§
genial: Having a pleasant, easy-going or friendly disposition or manner.§
gestation: The period of time between conception and birth; pregnancy.§
girt: To gird, surround.§
gist: The central idea; the essence.§
glorify: To give glory, honor, or high praise to; exalt.§
God Realization: Direct and personal experience of the Divine within oneself. It can refer to: 1) savikalpa samādhi (“enstasy with form”) in its various levels, from the experience of inner light to the realization of Satchidānanda, the pure consciousness or primal substance flowing through all form, or 2) nirvikalpa samādhi (“enstasy without form”), union with the transcendent Absolute, Paraśiva, the Self God, beyond time, form and space. In Merging with Śiva, the expression God Realization may name either of the above samādhis, whereas Self Realization refers only to nirvikalpa samādhi. See: rāja yoga, samādhi, Self Realization.§
Gods: Mahādevas, “great beings of light.” In Merging with Śiva, the plural of God refers to extremely advanced beings existing in their self-effulgent soul bodies in the causal plane. The meaning of Gods is best seen in the phrase, “God and the Gods,” referring to the Supreme God–Śiva–and the Mahādevas who are His creation. See: Mahādeva.§
Gorakhnāth Śaivism (Gorakshanātha Śaivism): गोरक्षनाथशैव One of the six schools of Śaivism, also called Siddha Siddhānta. §
gorgeous: Dazzlingly beautiful or magnificent.§
grace: “Benevolence, love, giving,” from the Latin gratia, “favor,” “goodwill.” God’s power of revealment, anugraha śakti (“kindness, showing favor”), by which souls are awakened to their true, Divine nature. Grace in the unripe stages of the spiritual journey is experienced by the devotee as receiving gifts or boons, often unbidden, from God. The mature soul finds himself surrounded by grace. He sees all of God’s actions as grace, whether they be seemingly pleasant and helpful or not. See: prapatti, śaktipāta.§
grandeur: Greatness, magnificence; of lofty character; sublime nobility.§
gratification: Indulging in what is desired.§
grating: Irritating or annoying.§
graven image: Sculpted or carved statue of God or a God, a derogatory term from the English Bible translation.§
gṛihastha: गृहस्थ “Householder.” Family man or woman. Family of a married couple and other relatives. Pertaining to family life. The purely masculine form of the word is gṛihasthin, and the feminine gṛihasthī. Gṛihasthī also names the home itself. See: āśrama dharma, gṛihastha dharma.§
gṛihastha āśrama: गृहस्थ आश्रम “Householder stage.” See: āśrama dharma.§
gṛihastha dharma: गृहस्थधर्म “Householder law.” The virtues and ideals of family life. See: āśrama dharma.§
Grim Reaper: Personification of death in Western tradition, a hooded, black-robed skeleton figure carrying a scythe to cut down lives.§
gross: Dense, coarse, unrefined, crude; carnal, sensual; lacking sensitivity.§
Guha: गुह An epithet of Kārttikeya. “The interior one.” –guhā: “Cave.” See: Kārttikeya.§
guile: Treacherous cunning; crafty deceit.§
gulika kāla: गुलिक काल An auspicious period of time (about 90 minutes) which occurs at a different time each day according to the astrological configuration indicated on the pañchaṅga calendar.§
guru: गुरु “Weighty one,” indicating an authority of great knowledge or skill. A title for a teacher or guide in any subject, such as music, dance, sculpture, but especially religion. See: guru-śishya system, satguru.§
guru bhakti: गुरु भक्ति Devotion to the teacher. The attitude of humility, love and ideation held by a student in any field of study. In the spiritual realm, the devotee strives to see the guru as his higher Self. By attuning himself to the satguru’s inner nature and wisdom, the disciple slowly transforms his own nature to ultimately attain the same peace and enlightenment his guru has achieved. Guru bhakti is expressed through serving the guru, meditating on his form, working closely with his mind and obeying his instructions. See: guru, satguru, guru-śishya system, Kulārṇava Tantra.§
Gurudeva: गुरुदेव “Divine” or “radiant preceptor.” An affectionate, respectful title for the guru. See: guru.§
guru mahāsannidhānam: गुरु महासन्निधानम् Spiritual head of a traditional aadheenam. See: aadheenakartar.§
guru paramparā: गुरु परंपरा “Preceptorial succession” (literally, “from one teacher to another”). A line of spiritual gurus in authentic succession of initiation; the chain of mystical power and authorized continuity, passed from guru to guru. See: sampradāya.§
Guru Pūrṇimā: गुरु पूर्णिमा Occurring on the full moon of July, Guru Pūrṇimā is for devotees a day of rededication to all that the guru represents. It is occasioned by pādapūjā–ceremonial worship of the guru’s sandals, which represent his holy feet. See: guru-śishya system.§
guru-śishya system: गुरुशिष्य “Master-disciple” system. An important educational system of Hinduism whereby the teacher conveys his knowledge and tradition to a student. Such knowledge, whether it be Vedic-Āgamic art, architecture or spirituality, is imparted through the developing relationship between guru and disciple. See: guru, guru bhakti, satguru.§
gust: A short but strong blast of wind; an outburst.
§
hallowed: Sanctified; consecrated. Highly venerated; sacrosanct.§
halo: A luminous ring or disk of light surrounding the heads of great spiritual teachers. An aura. See: aura.§
hamper: To prevent progress, or free movement.§
Hanumān: हनुमान् (Hindi) “Large jawed.” The powerful monkey God-King of the epic, Rāmāyaṇa, and the central figure in the famous drama, Hanumān-Nāṭaka. The perfect devoted servant to his master, Rāma, this popular Deity is the epitome of dasya bhakti.§
haphazard: Dependent on mere chance; casual.§
Happy Hunting Grounds: In the Native American beliefs, the place where the deceased go after death. §
harken: To listen attentively; give heed.§
harmonize: To bring about agreement or harmony.§
hasten: To move or act swiftly. To hurry, speed up.§
hasty: Done or made too quickly to be accurate or wise; rash.§
haṭha yoga: हठ योग “Forceful yoga.” A system of physical and mental exercise developed in ancient times as a means of rejuvenation by ṛishis and tapasvins who meditated for long hours, and used today in preparing the body and mind for meditation. In the West, haṭha yoga has been superficially adopted as a health-promoting, limbering, stress-reducing form of exercise, often included in aerobic routines. Esoterically, ha and ṭha, respectively, indicate the microcosmic sun (ha) and moon (ṭha), which symbolize the masculine current, piṅgalā nāḍī, and feminine current, iḍā nāḍī, in the human body. See: āsana, kuṇḍalinī, nāḍī, yoga, rāja yoga.§
havana: हवन “fire pit for sacred offering; making oblations through fire.” Same as homa. Havis and havya name the offerings. See: homa, yājñā.§
haven: A harbor. Metaphorically a place of rest or refuge; a sanctuary.§
havoc: Widespread destruction, disorder, or chaos.§
hazy: Cloudy. Not clearly defined; unclear or vague.§
heart chakra: Anāhata chakra. Center of direct cognition. See: chakra.§
heaven: The celestial spheres, including the causal plane and the higher realms of the subtle plane, where souls rest and learn between births, and mature souls continue to evolve after moksha. Heaven is often used by translators as an equivalent to the Sanskrit svarga. See: loka.§
heed: To pay close attention to; take careful notice of.§
heinous: Grossly wicked or reprehensible; abominable.§
hell: Naraka. An unhappy, mentally and emotionally congested, distressful area of consciousness. Hell is a state of mind that can be experienced on the physical plane or in the sub-astral plane (Naraka) after death of the physical body. It is accompanied by the tormented emotions of hatred, remorse, resentment, fear, jealousy and self-condemnation. However, in the Hindu view, the hellish experience is not permanent, but a temporary condition of one’s own making. See: asura, loka, Naraka.§
hence: “From here.” For this reason; therefore.§
herald: One that gives an announcement or indication of something to come; a harbinger.§
heritage: A tradition passed down from preceding generations as an inheritance.§
hermit: One withdrawn from society, living a solitary life; an anchorite. §
hierarchy: A group of beings arranged in order of rank or class; as a hierarchy of God, Gods and devas.§
higher nature, lower nature: Expressions indicating man’s refined, soulful qualities on the one hand, and his base, instinctive qualities on the other. See: kośa, mind (five states), soul.§
Himalayan Academy: An educational and publishing institution of Saiva Siddhanta Church founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1957. The Academy’s objective is to share the teachings of Sanātana Dharma–through the Master Course Trilogy, travel-study programs, HINDUISM TODAY magazine and other publications–as a public service to Hindus worldwide. See: Hinduism Today, Subramuniyaswami.§
Himalayas (Himālayas): हिमालय “Abode of snow.” The mountain system extending along the India-Tibet border and through Pakistan, Nepal and Bhutan.§
hiṁsā: हिंसा “Injury;” “harm;” “hurt.” Injuriousness, hostility–mental, verbal or physical. See: ahiṁsā.§
Hindu: हिन्दु A follower of, or relating to, Hinduism. Generally, one is understood to be a Hindu by being born into a Hindu family and practicing the faith, or by professing oneself a Hindu. Acceptance into the fold is recognized through the name-giving sacrament, a temple ceremony called nāmakaraṇa saṁskāra, given to born Hindus shortly after birth, and to self-declared Hindus who have proven their sincerity and been accepted by a Hindu community. Full conversion is completed through disavowal of previous religious affiliations and legal change of name. While traditions vary greatly, all Hindus rely on the Vedas as scriptural authority and generally attest to the following nine principles: 1) There exists a one, all-pervasive Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent, both creator and unmanifest Reality. 2) The universe undergoes endless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution. 3) All souls are evolving toward God and will ultimately find moksha: spiritual knowledge and liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Not a single soul will be eternally deprived of this destiny. 4) Karma is the law of cause and effect by which each individual creates his own destiny by his thoughts, words and deeds. 5) The soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karmas have been resolved. 6) Divine beings exist in unseen worlds, and temple worship, rituals, sacraments, as well as personal devotionals, create a communion with these devas and Gods. 7) A spiritually awakened master or satguru is essential to know the transcendent Absolute, as are personal discipline, good conduct, purification, self-inquiry and meditation. 8) All life is sacred, to be loved and revered, and therefore one should practice ahiṁsā, nonviolence. 9) No particular religion teaches the only way to salvation above all others. Rather, all genuine religious paths are facets of God’s pure love and light, deserving tolerance and understanding. See: Hinduism. §
Hinduism (Hindu Dharma): हिन्दुधर्म India’s indigenous religious and cultural system, followed today by nearly one billion adherents, mostly in India, but with large diaspora in many other countries. Also called Sanātana Dharma (Eternal religion) and Vaidika Dharma (Religion of the Vedas.) Hinduism is the world’s most ancient religion and encompasses a broad spectrum of philosophies ranging from pluralistic theism to absolute monism. It is a family of myriad faiths with four primary denominations: Śaivism, Vaishṇavism, Śāktism and Smārtism. These four hold such divergent beliefs that each is a complete and independent religion. Yet, they share a vast heritage of culture and belief–karma, dharma, reincarnation, all-pervasive Divinity, temple worship, sacraments, manifold Deities, the guru-śishya tradition and a reliance on the Vedas as scriptural authority. From the rich soil of Hinduism long ago sprang various other traditions. Among these were Jainism, Buddhism and Sikhism, which rejected the Vedas and thus emerged as completely distinct religions, dissociated from Hinduism, while still sharing many philosophical insights and cultural values with their parent faith. See: Hindu.§
Hinduism Today: The Hindu family magazine founded by Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1979 and published by Himalayan Academy to affirm Sanātana Dharma and record the modern history of a billion-strong global religion in renaissance. This award-winning, lavishly illustrated, all color, computer-produced news and information resource reaches thousands of readers in over 150 countries throughout the world. See: Himalayan Academy.§
Hindu solidarity: Hindu unity in diversity. A major contemporary theme according to which Hindu denominations are mutually supportive and work together in harmony, while taking care not to obscure or lessen their distinctions or unique virtues. The underlying principle is that Hinduism will be strong if each of its sects and lineages is vibrant. See: Hinduism.§
hitherto: Until this time.§
hoary: So old as to inspire veneration; ancient.§
holy ash: See: vibhūti.§
holy feet: The feet of God, a God, satguru or any holy person, often represented by venerable sandals, called śrī pādukā in Sanskrit and tiruvadi in Tamil. The feet of a divinity are considered especially precious as they represent the point of contact of the Divine and the physical, and are thus revered as the source of grace. The sandals or feet of the guru are the object of worship on his jayantī (birthday), on Guru Pūrṇimā and other special occasions. See: satguru.§
Holy Kural: See: Tirukural.§
holy orders: A divine ordination or covenant, conferring religious authority. Vows that members of a religious body make, especially a monastic body or order, such as the vows (holy orders of renunciation) made by a sannyāsin at the time of his initiation (sannyāsa dīkshā), which establish a covenant with the ancient holy order of sannyāsa. See: sannyāsa dīkshā.§
homa: होम “fire-offering.” A sacred ceremony in which the Gods are offered oblations through the medium of fire in a sanctified fire pit, homakuṇḍa, usually made of earthen bricks. Homa rites are enjoined in the Vedas, Āgamas and Dharma and Gṛihya Śāstras. See: agni, havana, yajña.§
hopper: One who moves quickly from one thing to the next.§
horrendous: Dreadful.§
horrific: Terrifying, causing horror.§
hospice: An institution that provides shelter and care to the terminally ill.§
hover: To float or be suspended in the air.§
hub: Center of a wheel. Center of interest, importance or activity.§
hued: Having specific color.§
humanitarian: One devoted to the promotion of human welfare.§
humiliate: To hurt the pride or dignity of by causing to appear foolish or unworthy.§
humility: Modesty in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful.§
hummingbird: A small brightly colored bird with a long, slender beak for extracting nectar, and narrow wings that vibrate very rapidly, often with a humming sound, enabling it to hover in one place.§
humorously: Said or done in a laughable, amusing or funny way.§
hunch: An intuitive feeling.§
hybrid: Anything of mixed origin, such as a plant produced by crossing parent stock of unlike genetic constitution. §
hymns: Songs of praise to God, Gods or guru.§
hypnosis: A sleeplike state, usually induced by another person, in which the subject may experience heightened suggestibility, forgotten or suppressed memories, and hallucinations.§
hypocrisy: Professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; false pretensions.§
hypogastric: Pertaining to the hypogastrium, the lowest of the abdomen’s three median regions.§
hypothalamus: The part of the brain that regulates bodily temperature, certain metabolic processes and other autonomic activities.§
hypothesis: Something taken to be true for the purpose of argument or investigation; an assumption.§
hysteria: Excessive or uncontrollable emotion, such as fear or panic.
§
icçhā śakti: इच्छाशक्ति “Desire; will.” §
iḍā nāḍī: इडानाडी “Soothing channel.” The feminine psychic current flowing along the spine. See: kuṇḍalinī, nāḍī, odic, piṅgalā.§
identifications: People, places, things (such as the body and the individual mind) or positions with which one may identify oneself. See: ahaṁkāra.§
ideology: A set of doctrines or beliefs that form the basis of a system of thought, often implying narrow-minded or uncritical adherence to such a system.§
illimitable: Impossible to limit or circumscribe; endless.§
illustrious: Very luminous or bright; distinguished, famous; outstanding.§
īmkaīf: (Shūm) No awareness, state beyond that of singular awareness. Not a word for Self Realization, but the entry into that nonexperience. Pronounced eem-kaw-eef. See: Shūm.§
immaculate: Free from stain or blemish; pure.§
immanent: Indwelling; inherent and operating within. Relating to God, the term immanent means present in all things and throughout the universe, not aloof or distant. Not to be confused with imminent, threatening (about) to happen; emanate, to issue from; eminent, high in rank. §
immemorial (from time immemorial): From a time so distant that it extends beyond history or human memory.§
imminent: Threatening to happen without delay; impending.§
impasse: A dead end; a point of no progress; stalemate. A difficulty with no solution.§
impede: To obstruct or delay progress; make difficult to accomplish. (Noun: impediment).§
impediment: That which “holds the feet.” Hindrance; obstacle. Anything that inhibits or slows progress.§
impervious: Incapable of being affected or penetrated.§
impetus: A push that stimulates activity. Driving force; motive, incentive.§
implant: To establish securely, as in the mind or consciousness; instill.§
imposing: Forcing (oneself, for example) on another or others. Impressive, admirable, by virtue of size or power.§
impregnate: To saturate or fill; permeate. Make pregnant.§
impulse: A sudden wish or urge that prompts an unplanned act or feeling.§
impurity: A state of immorality, pollution or sin. Uncleanliness.§
inadequate: Unequal to what is required, unable to meet a need.§
inanimate: See: animate-inanimate.§
inaugurated: Begun, especially officially or formally.§
inauspicious: Not favorable. Not a good time to perform certain actions or undertake projects. Ill-omened.§
inbred: fixed in the character or disposition as if inherited by birth; deep-seated.§
incantate: To chant, repeat or recite mantras. See: japa§
incantation: Japa or mantraprayoga. The chanting of prayers, verses or formulas for magical or mystical purposes. Also such chants (mantra). Vaśakriyā is the subduing or bewitching by charms, incantation or drugs. Incantation for malevolent purposes (black magic) is called abhichāra. See: mantra.§
incarcerate: To put into jail. To shut in; confine.§
incarnation: From incarnate, “made flesh.” The soul’s taking on a human body. –divine incarnation: The concept of avatāra. The Supreme Being’s (or other Mahādeva’s) taking of human birth, generally to reestablish dharma. This doctrine is important to several Hindu sects, notably Vaishṇavism, but not held by most Śaivites. See: avatāra, Vaishṇavism.§
incessant: Continuing without interruption.§
incomprehensible: Difficult or impossible to understand.§
inconspicuous: Not readily noticeable; transparent; insignificant.§
indelible: Impossible to remove, erase, or wash away; permanent.§
indigenous: Intrinsic; innate; native.§
indigo: A dark blue to grayish purple blue color.§
indistinct: Not clearly or sharply defined, vague; difficult to understand. §
individuality: Quality that makes one person or soul other than, or different from, another. See: ahaṁkāra, āṇava mala, ego, soul.§
individual soul: A term used to describe the soul’s nature as a unique entity, emanated by God Śiva (the Primal Soul), as a being which is evolving through experience to its fully mature state, which is complete, indistinguishable oneness with God. See: ātman, essence, kośa, Parameśvara, soul.§
indoctrinate: To imbue with a partisan or ideological point of view.§
indomitable: Not easily discouraged, defeated or subdued. Unconquerable.§
Indra: इन्द्र “Ruler.” Vedic God of rain and thunder, warrior king of the devas.§
indriya: इन्द्रिय “Agent, sense organ.” The five agents of perception (jñānendriyas), hearing (śrotra), touch (tvak), sight (chakshus), taste (rasana) and smell (ghṛāṇa); and the five agents of action (karmendriyas), speech (vāk), grasping with hands (pāṇi), movement (pāda), excretion (pāyu) and generation (upastha). See: kośa, soul, tattva.§
induction: Deriving general principles from particular facts or instances.§
indulgence: Yielding to the desires and whims of, especially to an excessive degree. To allow (oneself) unrestrained gratification.§
Indus Valley: Region on the Indus River, now in Pakistan, where in 1924 archeologists discovered the remains of a high civilization which flourished between 5000 and 1000 BCE. There, a “seal” was found with the effigy of Śiva as Paśupati, “Lord of animals,” seated in a yogic posture. See: Śaivism.§
ineffable: Not amenable or possible to be spoken of, described or expressed.§
I-ness: The conceiving of oneself as an “I,” or ego, which Hinduism considers a state to be transcended. See: āṇava mala, mind (individual).§
inevitable: Impossible to avoid or prevent. Predictable.§
inexplicable: Impossible to explain or account for; inexcusable.§
infatuation: The magnetic condition of being captured by a foolish or shallow love or affection.§
inference: Deriving logical conclusions from premises assumed to be true.§
inferiority complex: A persistent sense of inadequacy or a tendency to self-depreciation.§
infidel: One who has no religious beliefs, or who rejects a particular religion.§
infiltrate: To gradually penetrate so as to counteract or seize control from within.§
infinitesimal: Infinitely small; too small to be measured.§
influx: A flowing in. Mass arrival or incoming.§
infuse: To transmit a quality, idea, knowledge, etc., as if by pouring. To impart, fill or inspire.§
inherent (to inhere in): Inborn. Existing in someone or something as an essential or inseparable quality. –inherent sin: See: sin.§
inherit: To receive from an ancestor, as property, title, etc.–or to reap from our own actions: “...seed karmas we inherit from this and past lives.”§
inhibit: To hold back, restrain, prohibit or forbid. To suppress.§
initiation (to initiate): Entering into; admission as a member. In Hinduism, initiation from a qualified preceptor is considered invaluable for spiritual progress. See: dīkshā, śaktipāta, sannyāsa dīkshā.§
inkling: A slight hint or indication.§
innate: Naturally inborn; not acquired. That which belongs to the inherent nature or constitution of a being or thing.§
inner advancement (or unfoldment): Progress of an individual at the soul level rather than in external life. §
inner bodies: The subtle bodies of man within the physical body. §
inner light: A moonlight-like glow that can be seen inside the head or throughout the body when the vṛittis, mental fluctuations, have been sufficiently quieted. To be able to see and bask in the inner light is a milestone on the path. See: vṛitti. §
inner mind: The mind in its deeper, intuitive functions and capacities–the subsuperconscious and superconscious. §
inner planes: Inner worlds or regions of existence. §
inner sky: The area of the mind which is clear inner space, free of mental images, feelings, identifications, etc. Tranquility itself. The superconscious mind, Satchidānanda. See: ākāśa. §
inner universes (or worlds): The astral and causal worlds. See: kośa.§
innerversity: Learning from within. A word coined by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami which indicates turning inward, through yoga concentration and meditation, to the vast superconscious state of mind; whence knowledge can be unfolded.§
inordinate: Exceeding reasonable limits; immoderate.§
inroad: An advance, an encroachment, an incursion.§
inrush: A sudden rushing in; an influx.§
inscrutable: Difficult to understand or fathom.§
insignia: Plural of the Latin insigne. Signs or symbols of identity, rank or office, such as a badge, staff or emblem.§
instinctive: “Natural” or “innate.” From the Latin instinctus, “impelling, instigating.” The drives and impulses that order the animal world and the physical and lower astral aspects of humans–for example, self-preservation, procreation, hunger and thirst, as well as the emotions of greed, hatred, anger, fear, lust and jealousy. See: manas, mind (individual), mind (three phases), yama-niyama.§
instinctive-intellectual mind: The mind in ordinary consciousness, when actions are based either upon instinctive emotional desires and fears or intellectual concepts and reason. See: manomaya kośa, astral body, instinctive mind, kośa, odic force, soul, subtle body, vāsanā.§
instinctive mind: Manas chitta. The lower mind, which controls the basic faculties of perception, movement, as well as ordinary thought and emotion. Manas chitta is of the manomaya kośa. See: manas, manomaya kośa, yama-niyama, mind (individual), mind (three phases).§
insure: To make certain, sure, or secure.§
intact: Remaining sound, entire, or uninjured; not impaired in any way.§
intangible: Incapable of being perceived (“touched”) by the senses.§
intellect: The power to reason or understand; power of thought; mental acumen. See: buddhi chitta, intellectual mind, mind (individual), mind (three phases).§
intellectual mind: Buddhi chitta. The faculty of reason and logical thinking. It is the source of discriminating thought, rather than the ordinary, impulsive thought processes of the lower or instinctive mind, called manas chitta. Buddhi chitta is of the manomaya kośa. See: buddhi chitta, mind.§
interface: A point at which independent systems (as in the physical and astral worlds) or diverse groups interact.§
interim: A time in between one event and another.§
interlaced: Interwoven; connected intricately.§
interlude: A period of time between two events.§
intermingle: To mix or become mixed together.§
internalize: To take something inside of oneself.§
internalized worship: Yoga. Worship or contact with God and Gods via meditation and contemplation rather than through external ritual. This is the yogī’s path, preceded by the charyā and kriyā pādas. See: meditation, yoga.§
interrogation: Examine by formally or officially questioning.§
intimacy: Close familiarity; having sexual relations.§
intone: To utter with a singing tone or with a particular intonation.§
intransigently: Refusing to moderate a position, especially an extreme position; uncompromising.§
intrigue: A secret plot or scheme. To excite interest or curiosity.§
intrinsic: Inward; essential; inherent. Belonging to the real nature of a being or thing. §
introspection: “Looking inside.” Examining one’s own thoughts, feelings and sensations.§
introversion: Turning within. Directing one’s interest, mind or attention upon oneself.§
intrusion: The act of entering without permission.§
intuit: To know or sense without resorting to rational processes.§
intuition (to intuit): Direct understanding or cognition, which bypasses the process of reason. Intuition is a far superior source of knowing than reason, but it does not contradict reason. See: cognition, mind (five states).§
invariably: Consistently, constantly, unchangingly.§
invigorate: To give strength, life or energy.§
irresistible: Impossible to resist. Having an overpowering appeal.§
irreverent: Disrespectful. Critical of what is generally accepted or respected.§
irrevocably: In a manner not to be retracted, revoked or taken back.§
irul: இருள் “Darkness.” The first of three stages of the sakala avasthā where the soul’s impetus is toward pāśa-jñāna, knowledge and experience of the world. See: pāśa-jñāna, sakala avasthā.§
iruvinaioppu: இருவினையொப்பு “Balance.” The balance which emerges in the life of a soul in the stage of marul, or paśu-jñāna, the second stage of the sakala avasthā, when the soul turns toward the good and holy, becomes centered within himself, unaffected by the ups and downs in life. See: marul, paśu-jñāna, sakala avasthā.§
Ishṭa Devatā: इष्टदेवता “Cherished” or “chosen Deity.” The Deity that is the object of one’s special pious attention. Ishṭa Devatā is a concept common to all Hindu sects. See: Śakti, Śiva.§
Ishṭa Mārga Saṁskāra: इष्टमार्ग संस्कार “Path-choosing rite.” A temple ceremony held around age 18 in which a young man voices his decision to either enter the gṛihāstha āśrama and accept the dharma of the householder, or in rare cases follow the dharma of the renunciate, beginning training as a monastic in preparation for taking holy orders of sannyāsa. See: holy orders, sannyāsa, sannyāsa dharma, sannyāsin.§
Islam: The religion founded by Prophet Mohammed in Arabia about 625 CE. Islam connotes submission to Allah, the name for God in this religion. Adherents, known as Muslims, follow the “five Pillars” enjoined in their scripture, the Koran: faith in Allah, praying five times daily facing Mecca, giving of alms, fasting during the month of Ramadan, and pilgrimage. One of the fastest growing religions, Islam has over one billion followers, mostly in the Middle East, Pakistan, Africa, Indonesia, China, Russia and neighboring countries.§
Īśvara: ईस्वर “Highest Lord.” Supreme or Personal God. See: Parameśvara.§
Itihāsa: इतिहास “So it was.” Epic history, particularly the Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata (of which the famed Bhagavad Gītā is a part). This term sometimes refers to the Purāṇas, especially the Skānda Purāṇa and the Bhāgavata Purāṇa (or Śrīmad Bhāgavatam). See: Mahābhārata, Rāmāyaṇa, Smṛiti. §
itinerant: Traveling from place to place, with no permanent home. Wandering. See: monk, sādhu.
§
Jagadāchārya: जगदाचार्य “World teacher.” §
jāgrat: जाग्रत् “Wakefulness.” The state of mind in which the senses are turned outward. Conscious mind. One of four states of consciousness, avasthās, described in the Māṇḍūkya Upanishad. See: avasthā, consciousness.§
jagrat chitta: “Wakeful consciousness.” The conscious mind.§
Jainism: (Jaina) जैन An ancient non-Vedic religion of India made prominent by the teachings of Mahavira (“Great Hero”), ca 500 BCE. The Jain Āgamas teach reverence for all life, vegetarianism and strict renunciation for ascetics. Jains focus great emphasis on the fact that all souls may attain liberation, each by own effort. Their great historic saints, called Tīrthaṅkaras (“Ford-Crossers”), are objects of worship, of whom Mahavira was the 24th and last. Jains number about six million today, living mostly in India.§
japa: जप “Recitation.” Practice of concentrated repeating of a mantra, often while counting the repetitions on a mālā or strand of beads. It may be done silently or aloud. Sometimes known as mantra yoga, japa is a major sādhana in Hindu spiritual practice, from the simple utterance of a few names of God to extraordinary feats of repeating sacred syllables millions of times for years on end. See: amṛita, mantra, yama-niyama, yoga.§
jarred: Irritated, clashing, quarreling, discordant.§
Jehovah: Modern (incorrect) vocalization of Yahweh, Hebrew name for God, introduced by Christian Renaissance scholars.§
Jesus Christ: A Jewish teacher and prophet in the first century ce whose teachings became the basis of Christianity.§
Jew: An adherent of Judaism, or descendant of such adherents. See: Judaism.§
jīva: जीव “Living, existing.” From jīv, “to live.” The individual soul, ātman, bound by the three malas (āṇava, karma and māyā). The individuated self (jīva-ātman) as opposed to the transcendental Self (parama ātman). The jīvanmukta is one who is “liberated while living.” See: ātman, evolution of the soul, jīvanmukta, purusha, soul.§
jīvanmukta: जीवन्मुक्त “Liberated soul.” One who has attained nirvikalpa samādhi–the realization of the Self, Paraśiva–and is liberated from rebirth while living in a human body. (Contrasted with videhamukta, one liberated at the point of death.) This attainment is the culmination of lifetimes of intense striving, sādhana and tapas, requiring total renunciation, sannyāsa (death to the external world, denoted in the conducting of one’s own funeral rites), in the current incarnation. While completing life in the physical body, the jīvanmukta enjoys the ability to re-enter nirvikalpa samādhi again and again. See: jīvanmukti, jñāna, kaivalya, moksha, Self Realization, Śivasāyujya, videhamukti.§
jīvanmukti: जिवन्मुक्ति “Liberation while living.” The state of the jīvanmukta. Contrasted with videhamukti, liberation at the point of death. See: death, jīvanmukta, moksha, reincarnation, videhamukti.§
jñāna: ज्ञान “Knowledge; wisdom.” (Tamil: jñānam) The matured state of the soul. It is the wisdom that comes as an aftermath of the kuṇḍalinī breaking through the door of Brahman into the realization of Paraśiva, Absolute Reality. The repeated samādhis of Paraśiva ever deepen this flow of divine knowing which establishes the knower in an extraordinary point of reference, totally different from those who have not attained this enlightenment. Jñāna is sometimes misunderstood as book knowledge, as a maturity or awakening that comes from simply understanding a complex philosophical system or systems. Those who define jñāna in this way deny that the path is a progression of charyā-kriyā-yoga-jñāna or of karma-bhakti-rāja-jñāna. Rather, they say that one can choose one’s own path, and that each leads to the ultimate goal. See: God Realization, door of Brahman, Self Realization, samādhi.§
jñāna mārga: ज्ञानमार्ग See: jñāna pāda.§
jñāna pāda: ज्ञानपाद “Stage of wisdom.” According to the Śaiva Siddhānta ṛishis, jñāna is the last of the four successive pādas (stages) of spiritual unfoldment. It is the culmination of the third stage, the yoga pāda. Also names the knowledge section of each Āgama. See: jñāna, pāda.§
jñāna śakti: ज्ञानशक्ति “Power of wisdom.” One of Śiva’s three primary śaktis. Also a name for Lord Kārttikeya’s vel. See: Kārttikeya, Śakti, triśūla vel.§
jñāna yoga: ज्ञानयोग “Union of knowledge.” Describes the esoteric spiritual practices of the fully enlightened being, or jñānī. An alternative meaning, popularized by Swami Vivekananda, is the quest for cognition through intellectual religious study, as one of four alternate paths to truth, the other three being bhakti yoga, karma yoga and rāja yoga. See: jñāna, yoga.§
jñānī: ज्ञानयोग “Sage.” One who possesses jñāna. See: jīvanmukta, jñāna.§
jot: To make a brief note.§
Judaic-Christian: Concerned with two of the three religions descended from Abraham, Judaism and Christianity, especially in the sense of their shared beliefs.§
Judaism: The religion of over 12 million adherents worldwide (over half in the United States), first of the Abrahamic faiths, founded about 3,700 years ago in Canaan (now Israel) by Abraham, who started the lineage, and in Egypt by Moses, who emancipated the enslaved Jewish tribes. Its major scripture is the Torah.§
judicious: Having or showing good judgment; prudent. §
jyotisha: ज्योतिष From jyoti, “light.” “The science of the lights (or stars).” Hindu astrology, the knowledge and practice of analyzing events and circumstances, delineating character and determining auspicious moments, according to the positions and movements of heavenly bodies. In calculating horoscopes, jyotisha uses the sidereal (fixed-star) system, whereas Western astrology uses the tropical (fixed-date) method.
§
kaīf: (Shūm) The state of awareness aware of itself. Pronounced kaw-eef. See: Shūm.§
Kailasa (Kailāsa): कैलास “Crystalline” or “Abode of bliss.” The four-faced Himalayan peak in Western Tibet; the earthly abode of Lord Śiva. Associated with Mount Meru, the legendary center of the universe, it is an important pilgrimage destination for Hindus, as well as Tibetan Buddhists. Kailasa is represented in Śāktism by a certain three-dimensional form of the Śrī Chakra yantra (also called kailāsa chakra).§
Kailāsa Paramparā: कैलासपरंपरा A spiritual lineage of 163 siddhas, a major stream of the Nandinātha Sampradāya, proponents of the ancient philosophy of monistic Śaiva Siddhānta. The first of these masters that history recalls was Maharishi Nandinatha (or Nandikesvara) 2,250 years ago, satguru to the great Tirumular, ca 200 BCE, and seven other disciples (as stated in the Tirumantiram). The lineage continued down the centuries and is alive today–the first recent siddha is known as the “Rishi from the Himalayas,” so named because he descended from those holy mountains. In South India, he initiated Kadaitswami (ca 1810–1875), who in turn initiated Chellappaswami (1840–1915). Chellappan passed the mantle of authority to Sage Yogaswami (1872–1964), who in 1949 initiated Sivaya Subramuniyaswami (1927–2001), who initiated the present satguru, Bodhinatha Veylanswami. See: Nātha Sampradāya, Patanjali, Tirumular, Vyaghrapada, Yogaswami. §
kaivalya: कैवल्य “Absolute oneness, aloneness; perfect detachment, freedom.” Liberation. Kaivalya is the term used by Patanjali and others in the yoga tradition to name the goal and fulfillment of yoga, the state of complete detachment from transmigration. It is virtually synonymous with moksha. Kaivalya is the perfectly transcendent state, the highest condition resulting from the ultimate realization. It is defined uniquely according to each philosophical school, depending on its beliefs regarding the nature of the soul. See: moksha, Śivasāyujya, jñāna. §
kaleidoscope: A tube-like instrument that shows a constantly changing pattern of colors and lights. Anything so changeable. §
Kālī: काली “Black” Goddess. A form of Śakti in Her fierce aspect, as worshiped by various sects within Śāktism. She is dark, nude, primordial and fiercely powerful, as of a naked energy untamed. But from the perspective of devotees, She is the incomparable protectress, champion of sādhana and mother of liberation. The Goddess Durgā, seated on a tiger, has similar characteristics and is often identified with Kālī. See: Śakti, Śāktism. §
Kali Yuga: कलियुग “Dark Age.” The Kali Yuga is the last age in the repetitive cycle of four phases of time the universe passes through. It is comparable to the darkest part of the night, as the forces of ignorance are in full power and many subtle faculties of the soul are obscured. See: mahāpralaya, yuga. §
kāma: काम “Pleasure, love; desire.” Cultural, intellectual and sexual fulfillment. One of four human goals, purushārtha. See: purushārtha. §
kapha: कफ “Biological water.” One of the three bodily humors, called dosha, kapha is known as the water humor. Principle of cohesion. Kapha gives bodily structure and stability, lubricates, heals and bestows immunity. See: āyurveda, dosha. §
Karaikkalammaiyar: காரைக்காலம்மையார் The 23rd of the 63 canonized saints of Tamil Śaivism. A great mystic, poet and yoginī, she composed mystical-devotional hymns which are part of Tirumurai. §
karma: कर्म “Action,” “deed.” One of the most important principles in Hindu thought, karma refers to 1) any act or deed; 2) the principle of cause and effect; 3) a consequence or “fruit of action” (karmaphala) or “after effect” (uttaraphala), which sooner or later returns upon the doer. What we sow, we shall reap in this or future lives. Selfish, hateful acts (pāpakarma or kukarma) will bring suffering. Benevolent actions (puṇyakarma or sukarma) will bring loving reactions. Karma is threefold: sañchita, prārabdha and kriyamāna. –Sañchita karma: “Accumulated actions.” The sum of all karmas of this life and past lives. –Prārabdha karma: “Actions begun; set in motion.” That portion of sañchita karma that is bearing fruit and shaping the events and conditions of the current life, including the nature of one’s bodies, personal tendencies and associations. –Kriyamāna karma: “Being made.” The karma being created and added to sañchita in this life by one’s thoughts, words and actions, or in the inner worlds between lives. Kriyamāna karma is also called āgāmi, “coming, arriving,” and vartamāna, “current, revolving, set in motion.” While some kriyamāna karmas bear fruit in the current life, others are stored for future births. See: āṇava, fate, mala, māyā, moksha, pāśa, sin, soul. §
karma mārga: कर्ममार्ग “Path of action-reaction.” A coined term describing the worldly condition of souls totally enmeshed in the actions and reactions of the past, making new karmas so swiftly that little true personal identity is experienced. See: āṇava mārga, pāda. §
karma yoga: कर्मयोग “Union through action.” Selfless service. See: yoga. §
Kārttikeya: कार्त्तिकेय Child of the Pleiades, from Kṛittikā, “Pleiades.” Second son of Śiva, brother of Gaṇeśa. A great Mahādeva worshiped in all parts of India and the world. Also known as Murugan, Kumāra, Skanda, Shaṇmukhanātha, Subramaṇya and more, He is the God who guides that part of evolution which is religion, the transformation of the instinctive into a divine wisdom through the practice of yoga. See: Murugan, Pleiades, Veda. §
Kashmīr Śaivism: कष्मीरशैव In this mildly theistic and intensely monistic school founded by Vasugupta around 850, Śiva is immanent and transcendent. Purification and yoga are strongly emphasized. Kashmīr Śaivism offers an extremely rich and detailed understanding of the human psyche, and a clear and distinct path of kuṇḍalinī-siddha yoga to the goal of Self Realization. The Kashmīr Śaivite is not so much concerned with worshiping a personal God as he is with attaining the transcendental state of Śiva consciousness. While the number of formal followers is uncertain, the school continues to exert an important influence in India. See: Śaivism. §
Kauai: Northernmost and oldest of the Hawaiian islands, 553 square miles, population 50,000. §
Kauai Aadheenam: Monastery-temple complex founded by Sivaya Subramuniyaswami in 1970; international headquarters of Saiva Siddhanta Church. §
kaula: कौल “Of or related to kula,” a tantric teaching. Kaula also names the liberated soul in Śākta traditions, one to whom wood and gold, life and death are the same. §
kavi: “Ocher-saffron color.” A Tamil word for the color taken on by robes of sādhus who sit, meditate or live on the banks of the Ganges. Hence the color of the sannyāsin’s robes. The Sanskrit equivalent is kāshāya. §
kevala avasthā: केवल अवस्था “Stage of oneness, aloneness.” (Tamil: avasthai.) In Śaiva Siddhānta, the first of three stages of the soul’s evolution, a state beginning with its emanation or spawning by Lord Śiva as an etheric form unaware of itself, a spark of the Divine shrouded in a cloud of darkness known as āṇava. Here the soul is likened to a seed hidden in the ground, yet to germinate and unfold its potential. See: āṇava, avasthā, evolution of the soul, sakala avasthā, soul, śuddha avasthā. §
knack: Ability to do something easily; a particular skill, dexterity. §
konrai: கொன்றை The Golden Shower tree, Cassia fistula; symbol of Śiva’s cascading, abundant, golden grace. Konrai flowers are sacred to Śiva. §
kośa: कोश “Sheath; vessel, container; layer.” Philosophically, five sheaths through which the soul functions simultaneously in the various planes or levels of existence. They are sometimes compared to the layers of an onion. The kośas, in order of increasing subtlety, are as follows. –annamaya kośa: “Sheath composed of food.” The physical or odic body, coarsest of sheaths in comparison to the faculties of the soul, yet indispensable for evolution and Self Realization, because only within it can all fourteen chakras fully function. See: chakra. –prāṇamaya kośa: “Sheath composed of prāṇa (vital force).” Also known as the prāṇic or health body, or the etheric body or etheric double, it coexists within the physical body as its source of life, breath and vitality, and is its connection with the astral body. Prāṇa moves in the prāṇamaya kośa as five primary currents or vayus, “vital airs or winds.” Prāṇamaya kośa disintegrates at death along with the physical body. See: prāṇa. –manomaya kośa: “Mind-formed sheath.” The lower astral body, from manas, “thought, will, wish.” The instinctive-intellectual sheath of ordinary thought, desire and emotion. It is the seat of the indriyas–sensory and motor organs, respectively called jñānendriyas and karmendriyas. The manomaya kośa takes form as the physical body develops and is discarded in the inner worlds before rebirth. It is understood in two layers: 1) the odic-causal sheath (buddhi) and 2) the odic-astral sheath (manas). See: manas. –vijñānamaya kośa: “Sheath of cognition.” The mental or cognitive-intuitive sheath, also called the actinodic sheath. It is the vehicle of higher thought, vijñāna–understanding, knowing, direct cognition, wisdom, intuition and creativity. –ānandamaya kośa: “Body of bliss.” The intuitive-superconscious sheath or actinic-causal body. This inmost soul form (svarūpa) is the ultimate foundation of all life, intelligence and higher faculties. Its essence is Parāśakti (Pure Consciousness) and Paraśiva (the Absolute). See: actinic, actinodic, manomaya kośa, odic, soul, subtle body. §
Kṛishṇa: कृष्ण “Black.” Also compared to kṛishṭiḥ, “drawing, attracting.” One of the most popular Gods of the Hindu pantheon. Kṛishṇa is worshiped by Vaishṇavas as the eighth avatāra, incarnation, of Vishṇu. He is best known as the Supreme Personage celebrated in the Mahābhārata, especially in the Bhagavad Gītā. For Gauḍīya Vaishṇavism, Kṛishṇa is the Godhead. §
kriyā: क्रिया “Action.” 1) In a general sense, kriyā can refer to doing of any kind. Specifically, it names religious action, especially rites or ceremonies. 2) In yoga terminology, kriyā names involuntary physical movements occurring during meditation that are pretended or caused by lack of emotional self-control or by the premature or unharnessed arousal of the kuṇḍalinī. 3) Various traditional haṭha yoga techniques for cleansing the mucous membranes. 4) The second stage of the Śaiva path, religious action, or kriyā pāda. See: pāda. §
kriyā mārga: क्रियामार्ग See kriyā pāda. §
kriyā pāda: क्रियापाद “Stage of religious action; worship.” The stage of worship and devotion, second of four progressive stages of maturation on the Śaiva Siddhānta path of attainment. See: pāda. §
kriyamāna karma: क्रियमानकर्म “Actions being made.” See: karma. §
kriyā śakti: क्रियाशक्ति “Action power.” The universal force of doing. See: Śakti, triśūla. §
kukarma: कुकर्म “Unwholesome acts,” or the fruit thereof. See: karma. §
kulachāra: कुलचार “The divine way of life;” the state of jīvanmukti, “liberation while living” in Śāktism. It is attained through sādhana and grace. §
kulaguru: कुलगुरु “Family preceptor” or “family teacher.” The kulaguru guides the joint and extended family, particularly through the heads of families, and provides spiritual education. He may or may not be a satguru. §
kuṇḍalinī: कुण्डलिनी “She who is coiled; serpent power.” The primordial cosmic energy in every individual which, at first, lies coiled like a serpent at the base of the spine and eventually, through the practice of yoga, rises up the sushumṇā nāḍī. As it rises, the kuṇḍalinī awakens each successive chakra. Nirvikalpa samādhi, enlightenment, comes as it pierces through the door of Brahman at the core of the sahasrāra and enters. Kuṇḍalinī śakti then returns to rest in any one of the seven chakras. Śivasāyujya, union, is complete when the kuṇḍalinī arrives back in the sahasrāra and remains coiled in this crown chakra. See: chakra, door of Brahman, nāḍī, samādhi, sāyujya, tantra. §
kuṇḍalinī śākti: कुण्डलिनीशक्ति The pure (neither masculine nor feminine) force that flows through the sushumṇā nāḍī. See: kuṇḍalinī, śākti, sushumṇā nāḍī. §
kuṇḍalinī yoga: कुण्डलिनीयोग “Uniting the serpent power.” Advanced meditative practices and sādhana techniques, a part of rāja yoga, performed to deliberately arouse the kuṇḍalinī power and guide it up the spine into the crown chakra, sahasrāra. In its highest form, this yoga is the natural result of sādhanas and tapas well performed, rather than a distinct system of striving and teaching in its own right. §
kuṅkuma: कुंकुम “Saffron; red.” (Tamil: kumkum.) The red powder, made of turmeric and lime, worn by Hindus as the pottu or bindu, dot, at the point of the third eye on the forehead. Names the saffron plant, Crocus sativus, and its pollen. See: ājñā chakra. §
Kural: குறள் See: Tirukural.
§
labyrinth: Something highly intricate or convoluted in character, composition or construction. A maze.
§
Lakshmī: लक्ष्मी “Mark or sign,” often of success or prosperity. Śakti, the Universal Mother, as Goddess of wealth. The mythological consort of Vishṇu. Usually depicted on a lotus flower. Prayers are offered to Lakshmī for wealth, beauty and peace. See: Śakti. §
lament: To express grief for or mourn. §
lapse: To fall (or slip) down, away or back. To cease or become forfeit or void by default. §
larceny: Stealing personal property; theft.§
latent: Present but hidden or potential; not evident or active.§
laud: To praise. To sing, chant or speak the qualities or glories of.§
layman: A man who is not a cleric or monastic.§
ledger: A book in which monetary transactions are posted in the form of debits and credits.§
lest: For fear that a thing might happen.§
lethargy: A state of sluggishness, inactivity and apathy.§
levitation: The power or ability to float in the air or to cause objects to do so at will.§
liberal: Free; broad-minded; tolerant; unconfined; generous.§
liberation: Moksha, release from the bonds of pāśa, after which the soul is liberated from saṁsāra (the round of births and deaths). In Śaiva Siddhānta, pāśa is the threefold bondage of āṇava, karma and māyā, which limit and confine the soul to the reincarnational cycle so that it may evolve. Moksha is freedom from the fettering power of these bonds, which do not cease to exist, but no longer have the power to fetter or bind the soul. See: mala, jīvanmukti, moksha, pāśa, reincarnation, satguru, Self Realization, soul.§
light: In an ordinary sense, a form of energy which makes physical objects visible to the eye. In a religious, mystical sense, light also illumines inner objects (i.e., mental images). –inner light: light perceived inside the head and body, of which there are varying intensities. When the karmas have been sufficiently quieted, the meditator can see and enjoy inner light independently of mental images. –moon-like inner light: Inner light perceived at a first level of intensity, glowing softly, much like the moon. The meditator’s first experience of it is an important milestone in unfoldment. –clear white light: Inner light at a high level of intensity, very clear and pure. When experienced fully, it is seen to be permeating all of existence, the universal substance of all form, inner and outer, pure consciousness, Satchidānanda. This experience, repeated at regular intervals, can yield “a knowing greater than you could acquire at any university or institute of higher learning.” See: Śiva consciousness, tattva.§
limber: Bending or flexing readily; pliable.§
lineage: A direct line of ancestors and descendants or predecessors and successors.§
linger: To be slow in leaving, especially out of reluctance; tarry. To persist.§
liturgy: The proper, prescribed forms of ritual.§
loka: लोक “World, habitat, realm, or plane of existence.” From loc, “to shine, be bright, visible.” See: three worlds. §
lore: Accumulated facts, traditions, or beliefs about a particular subject.§
lotus flower: An aquatic plant (Nelumbo nucifera) native to southern Asia and Australia, with large leaves, fragrant, pinkish flowers, a broad, rounded, perforated seedpod, and fleshy rhizomes.§
lotus pose: Padmāsana. The most famous of haṭha yoga poses and the optimum position for meditation. The legs are crossed, turning the soles of the feet up, which then resemble lotus petals. See: āsana, haṭha yoga, padmāsana.§
lucid: Clear to the mind; easily understood; intelligible.§
luminary: An object, such as a celestial body, that emits light.§
luminous: Giving off light, shining. §
lurk: To wait unobserved or unsuspected in order to harm or attack.§
lust: Intense desire or craving, especially sexual.§
lymph: A clear, yellowish fluid of the body containing white blood cells and circulating throughout the lymphatic system. Among its functions, it removes bacteria and certain proteins from tissues, and transports fat from the small intestine. In āyurveda, lymph is part of rasa, the first of the human body’s seven dhātus (constituents; tissues), each of which is transformed into the next: 1) rasa (which includes plasma, lymph, serum, cytoplasm and chyle); 2) rakta (red blood cells, blood tissue–the oxygen carrying unit); 3) mamsa (muscle tissue); 4) meda (adipose tissue–subcutaneous fat and sweat); 5) asthi (bone tissue); 6) maija (nerve tissue and bone marrow) and; 7) shura (reproductive tissue, semen). See: āyurveda, ojas, tejas, transmutation.
§
macrocosm: “Great world” or “universe.” See: microcosm-macrocosm, three worlds.§
Madhumateya: मधुमतेय A Śaiva Siddhānta monastic order founded by Pavanaśiva, preceptor of the Kalachuri kings of Central India.§
Madhva (Mādhva): माध्व South Indian Vaishṇava saint (1197–1278) who expounded a purely dualistic (pluralistic) Vedānta in which there is an essential and eternal distinction between God, soul and world, and between all beings and things. He is also one of the few Hindus to have taught the existence of an eternal hell where lost souls would be condemned to suffer forever. See: dvaita-advaita, Vedānta.§
maestro: A master, especially in art or music.§
magnanimous: Courageously noble in mind and heart. Generous in forgiving. Eschewing resentment or revenge; unselfish. §
magnetized: Having been made magnetic. Metaphysically, physical elements are magnetized with actinodic power in a shrine through the chanting of mantras and by various other means. §
mahā: महा An adjective or prefix meaning “great.”§
Mahābhārata: महाभारत “Great Epic of India.” The world’s longest epic poem. It revolves around the conflict between two royal families, those of the Pandavas and Kauravas, and their great battle of Kurukshetra near modern Delhi in approximately 1424 BCE. The Mahābhārata is revered as scripture by Vaishṇavites and Smārtas. See: Bhagavad Gītā, Itihāsa.§
Mahādeva: महादेव “Great shining one;” “God.” Referring either to God Śiva or any of the highly evolved beings who live in the Śivaloka in their natural, effulgent soul bodies. God Śiva in His perfection as Primal Soul is one of the Mahādevas, yet He is unique and incomparable in that He alone is uncreated, the Father-Mother and Destiny of all other Mahādevas. He is called Parameśvara, “Supreme God.” He is the Primal Soul, whereas the other Gods are individual souls. It is said in scripture that there are 330 million Gods. See: Gods, Parameśvara, Śiva, deva.§
mahāpralaya: महाप्रलय “Great dissolution.” Total annihilation of the universe at the end of a mahākalpa. It is the absorption of all existence, including time, space and individual consciousness, all the lokas and their inhabitants into God Śiva, as the water of a river returns to its source, the sea. Then Śiva alone exists in His three perfections, until He again emanates creation. During this incredibly vast period there are many partial dissolutions, pralayas, when either the Bhūloka or the Bhūloka and the Antarloka are destroyed. See: yuga.§
Maharshi (Maharishi): महर्षि “Great seer.” Title for the greatest and most influential of siddhas.§
mahāsamādhi: महासमाधि “Great enstasy.” The death, or quitting off of the physical body, of a great soul, an event occasioned by tremendous blessings. Also names the shrine in which the remains of a great soul are entombed. See: cremation, death.§
mahātala: महातल Sixth netherworld. Region of consciencelessness. See: chakra.§
mahāvākya: महावाक्य “Great saying.” A profound aphorism from scripture or a holy person. Most famous are four Upanishad proclamations: Prajanam Brahma (“Pure consciousness is God”–Aitareya U.), Aham Brahmāsmi (“I am God”–Bṛihadāraṇyaka U.), Tattvam asi (“Thou art That”–Çhandogya U.) and Ayam ātma Brahma (“The soul is God”–Māṇḍūkya U.).§
Maheśvara: महेश्वर “Great Lord.” In Śaiva Siddhānta, one of five aspects, or forms, of Parameśvara (the Primal Soul), each related to one of the Lord’s five powers. Maheśvara corresponds to Śiva’s energy of veiling grace. Maheśvara is also a popular epithet for Lord Śiva as Primal Soul and personal Lord. See: Naṭarāja, Parameśvara.§
mahout: The keeper or driver of an elephant.§
mala: मल “Impurity.” An important term in Śaivism referring to three bonds, called pāśa–āṇava, karma, and māyā–which limit the soul, preventing it from knowing its true, divine nature. See: āṇava, karma, liberation, māyā, pāśa.§
mālā: माला “Garland.” A strand of beads for holy recitation, japa, usually made of rudrāksha, tulasī, sandalwood or crystal. Also a flower garland.§
malaparipakam: மலபரிபாகம் “Ripening of bonds.” The state attained after the three malas, āṇava, karma and māyā, are brought under control during marul, the second stage of the sakala avasthā. At this time, the Lord’s concealing grace, tirodhāna śakti, has accomplished its work, giving way to anugraha, His revealing grace, leading to the descent of grace, śaktinipāta. See: āṇava, anugraha, karma, malas, marul, māyā, sakala avasthā, śaktinipāta, tirodhāna śakti.§
malevolent: Motivated by ill will, wishing harm to others; malicious. Exercising an evil or harmful influence.§
malice: Ill will; desire or intent to do harm to another, generally without conscience. See: mahātala.§
malign: To defame, speak evil of, with harmful, often untrue statements; vicious slander.§
malleable: Pliable; flexible to changing circumstances.§
mana: The Polynesian word for pranic śākti. Supernatural or divine power, miraculous power, believed to reside in a person or thing.§
manana: मनन “Thinking; deep reflection.” §
manas: मनस् “Mind; understanding.” The lower or instinctive mind, seat of desire and governor of sensory and motor organs, called indriyas. Manas is termed the undisciplined, empirical mind. Manas is characterized by desire, determination, doubt, faith, lack of faith, steadfastness, lack of steadfastness, shame, intellection and fear. It is a faculty of manomaya kośa, the lower astral or instinctive-intellectual sheath. See: awareness, instinctive mind, manomaya kośa, mind (individual).§
manas chakra: मनस्चक्र The mature sahasrāra chakra at the top of the head. It attains this level after many experiences of Self Realizations when the kuṇḍalinī force coils itself at the top of the head. This then becomes the muladhara chakra of this golden soul body. See: chakras, svarṇaśarīra, viśvagrāsa, ānandamaya kośa.§
manas chitta: मनस् चित्त “Instinctive mind.” See: manas, manomaya kośa, instinctive mind.§
manifest: To show or reveal. Perceivable or knowable, therefore having form. The opposite of unmanifest or transcendent. See: formless, tattva.§
Manikkavasagar: மாணிக்கவாசகர் “He of ruby-like utterances.” Tamil saint who contributed to the medieval Śaivite renaissance (ca 850). He gave up his position as Prime Minister to follow a renunciate life. His poetic Tiruvasagam, “Holy utterances”–a major Śaiva Siddhānta scripture (part of the eighth Tirumurai) and a jewel of Tamil literature–express his aspirations, trials and yogic realizations. See: Tirumurai, Tiruvasagam.§
manipulate: To influence or manage shrewdly or deviously. To handle, maneuver or move.§
maṇipūra chakra: मणिपूरचक्र “Wheel of the jewelled city.” Solar-plexus center of willpower. See: chakra.§
mannequin: A life-size full or partial model (figure) of the human body.§
manomaya kośa: मनोमयकोश See: kośa.§
mantra: मन्त्र “Mystic formula.” A sound, syllable, word or phrase endowed with special power, usually drawn from scripture. Mantras are chanted loudly during pūjā to invoke the Gods and establish a spiritual force field. Certain mantras are repeated softly or mentally for japa, the subtle tones quieting the mind, harmonizing the inner bodies and stimulating latent spiritual qualities. Hinduism’s universal mantra is Aum. To be truly efficacious, such mantras must be bestowed by the preceptor during initiation. See: Aum, incantation, japa, pūjā, yajña.§
mārga: मार्ग “Path; way.” From mārg, “to seek.” See: pāda.§
mārgī: मार्गी A “follower” on a specific path or mārga. See: pāda.§
Mariyamman: மாரியம்மன் “Smallpox Goddess,” known commonly as Amman, protectress from plagues. See: Śakti, Śāktism.§
Markanduswami: மார்கண்டுசுவாமி A disciple of Satguru Yogaswami who passed his later years as a white robed sādhu. He lived an austere life and hardly spoke but to pronounce the words and sayings of his guru.§
martyrdom: Extreme suffering, especially inflicted for a cause.§
marul: மருள் “Confusion.” The second of the three stages of the sakala avasthā, when the soul is “caught” between the world and God and begins to seek knowledge of its own true nature (paśu-jñāna). See: paśu-jñāna, sakala avasthā.§
masturbation: Manipulating one’s genitals, or the genitals of another, for sexual gratification. See: celibacy, dissipation, ojas, tejas, transmutation.§
materialism (materialistic): The doctrine that matter is the only reality, that all life, thought and feelings are but the effects of movements of matter, and that there exist no worlds but the physical. Materialists usually hold that there is no God–a cosmic, material, prime mover perhaps, but no personal God. An Indian school of thought which propounded this view were the Chārvāka. See: atheism, Chārvāka, worldly.§
maṭha: मठ “Monastery.” See: monastery.§
maṭhavāsi: मठवासि “Monastic; monastery dweller.” See: monk.§
mauna: मौन The discipline of remaining silent.§
maya: मय “Consisting of; made of,” as in manomaya, “made of mind.” See: manomaya kośa.§
māyā: माया “Artfulness,” “illusion,” “phantom” or “mirific energy.” The substance emanated from Śiva through which the world of form is manifested. Hence all creation is also termed māyā. It is the cosmic creative force, the principle of manifestation, ever in the process of creation, preservation and dissolution. Māyā is a key concept in Hinduism, originally meaning “supernatural power; God’s mirific energy.” See: loka, mala, mind (universal), tattva, world.§
māyā mārga: मायामार्ग “Path of worldliness.” The soul engrossed in the ignorance of the world and the fulfillment of instinctive and intellectual impulses. See: pāda.§
meander: To wander aimlessly and idly without fixed direction.§
meditation: Dhyāna. Sustained concentration. Meditation describes a quiet, alert, powerfully concentrated state wherein new knowledge and insights are awakened from within as awareness focuses one-pointedly on an object or specific line of thought. See: internalized worship, rāja yoga, Satchidānanda.§
medley: A jumbled or mixed assortment; a mixture.§
mendicant: A beggar; a wandering monk, or sādhu, who lives on alms. See: sādhu.§
mental body (sheath): The higher-mind layer of the subtle or astral body in which the soul functions in Maharloka of the Antarloka or subtle plane. In Sanskrit, the mental body is vijñānamaya kośa, “sheath of cognition.” See: intellectual mind, kośa, subtle body.§
mental plane: Names the refined strata of the subtle world. Here the soul is shrouded in the mental or cognitive sheath, called vijñānamaya kośa. See: vijñānamaya kośa.§
merge: To lose distinctness or identity by being sunk in, immersed or absorbed. To unite or become one with something larger.§
mesh: A net or network. Something that snares or entraps.§
metabolism: The physical and chemical processes within a living cell or organism necessary for the maintenance of life.§
metamorphosis: Complete transformation, as in a caterpillar’s becoming a butterfly. See: kuṇḍalinī, reincarnation.§
metaphysics: The philosophy that examines the nature of reality, especially those aspects of reality beyond the realm of physical perception, or impossible to investigate by intellectual scientific study.§
methodical: Proceeding in regular, systematic order.§
methodology: Means, technique, or procedure; working method.§
Meykandar: மெய்கண்டார் “Truth seer.” The 13th-century Tamil theologian, author (or translator from the Raurava Āgama) of the Śivajñānabodham. Founder of the Meykandar Sampradāya of pluralistic Śaiva Siddhānta. See: Śaiva Siddhānta, Śivajñānabodham.§
microcosm-macrocosm: “Little world” or “miniature universe” as compared with “great world.” Microcosm refers to the internal source of something larger or more external (macrocosm). In Hindu cosmology, the outer world is a macrocosm of the inner world, which is its microcosm and is mystically larger and more complex than the physical universe and functions at a higher rate of vibration and even a different rate of time. The microcosm precedes the macrocosm. Thus, the guiding principle of the Bhūloka comes from the Antarloka and Śivaloka. Consciousness precedes physical form. In the tantric tradition, the body of man is viewed as a microcosm of the entire divine creation. “Microcosm-macrocosm” is embodied in the terms piṇḍa and aṇda. See: apex of creation, quantum, tattva, tantra.§
militate: To fight or work (against).§
mind (five states): A view of the mind in five parts. –conscious mind: Jāgrat chitta (“wakeful consciousness”). The ordinary, waking, thinking state of mind in which the majority of people function most of the day. –subconscious mind: Saṁskāra chitta (“impression mind”). The part of mind “beneath” the conscious mind, the storehouse or recorder of all experience (whether remembered consciously or not)–the holder of past impressions, reactions and desires. Also, the seat of involuntary physiological processes. –subsubconscious mind: Vāsanā chitta (“mind of subliminal traits”). The area of the subconscious mind formed when two thoughts or experiences of the same rate of intensity are sent into the subconscious at different times and, intermingling, give rise to a new and totally different rate of vibration. This subconscious formation later causes the external mind to react to situations according to these accumulated vibrations, be they positive, negative or mixed. –superconscious mind: Kāraṇa chitta. The mind of light, the all-knowing intelligence of the soul. The Sanskrit term is turīya, “the fourth,” meaning the condition beyond the states of wakefulness (jāgrat), “dream” (svapna), and “deep sleep” (sushupti). At its deepest level, the superconscious is Parāśakti, or Satchidānanda, the Divine Mind of God Śiva. In Sanskrit, there are numerous terms for the various levels and states of superconsciousness. Specific superconscious states such as: viśvachaitanya (“universal consciousness”), advaita chaitanya (“nondual consciousness”), adhyātma chetanā (“spiritual consciousness”). –subsuperconscious mind: Anukāraṇa chitta. The superconscious mind working through the conscious and subconscious states, which brings forth intuition, clarity and insight. See: chitta, consciousness, saṁskāra, Satchidānanda, vāsanā.§
mind (individual): At the microcosmic level of individual souls, mind is consciousness and its faculties of memory, desire, thought and cognition. Individual mind is chitta (mind, consciousness), and its threefold expression is called antaḥkaraṇa, “inner faculty” composed of: 1) buddhi (“intellect, reason, logic,” higher mind); 2) ahaṁkāra (“I-maker,” egoity); 3) manas (“lower mind,” instinctive-intellectual mind, the seat of desire). From the perspective of the 36 tattvas (categories of existence), each of these is a tattva which evolves out of the one before it. Thus, from buddhi comes ahaṁkāra and then manas. These three are faculties of the manomaya kośa (astral or instinctive-intellectual sheath). Anukāraṇa chitta, subsuperconsciousness, the knowing mind, is the mind-state of the vijñānamaya kośa (mental or intuitive-cognitive sheath). The aspect of mind corresponding directly to the ānandamaya kośa (causal body) is kāraṇa chitta, superconsciousness. See: ahaṁkāra, buddhi, chitta, manas, mind (universal).§
mind (three phases): A perspective of mind as instinctive, intellectual and superconscious. –instinctive mind. Manas chitta, the seat of desire and governor of sensory and motor organs. –intellectual mind. Buddhi chitta, the faculty of thought and intelligence. –superconscious mind: Kāraṇa chitta, the stratum of intuition, benevolence and spiritual sustenance. Its most refined essence is Parāsakti, or Satchidānanda, all-knowing, omnipresent consciousness, the One transcendental, self-luminous, divine mind common to all souls. See: awareness, consciousness, mind (five states).§
mind (universal): In the most profound sense, mind is the sum of all things, all energies and manifestations, all forms, subtle and gross, sacred and mundane. It is the inner and outer cosmos. Mind is māyā. It is the material matrix. It is everything but That, the Self within, Paraśiva, which is timeless, formless, causeless, spaceless, known by the knower only after Self Realization. The Self is the indescribable, unnameable, Ultimate Reality. Mind in its subtlest form is undifferentiated Pure Consciousness, primal substance (Parāśakti or Satchidānanda), out of which emerge the myriad forms of existence, both psychic and material. See: chitta, consciousness, māyā, tattva, world.§
mirth: Gaiety, fun, amusement, especially expressed with laughter.§
misapprehension: Incorrect apprehension; misunderstanding.§
miserliness: The quality of being stingy, selfish, especially with money.§
misfit: A person unable to adjust to social environment or disturbingly different from others in his place and group.§
mishmash: A collection of confused or unrelated things.§
moksha: मोक्ष “Liberation.” Release from transmigration, saṁsāra, the round of births and deaths, which occurs after karma has been resolved and nirvikalpa samādhi–realization of the Self, Paraśiva–has been attained. Synonymous with mukti. See: jīvanmukta, kaivalya, kuṇḍalinī, nirvikalpa samādhi, Paraśiva, rāja yoga, videhamukti.§
molten: Made liquid by heat; melted.§
monastery: “Place of solitariness.” Maṭha. The age-old tradition, carried forward from Lemurian times into the Hindu culture of India, a sacred residence where those of the same gender live under strict vows and work out their birth karmas in community toward realization of the Self. In monasteries, dedicated to transmutation of the sexual energies, celibacy is strictly upheld and there is no fraternizing with the opposite sex. The purpose of the monastery is to create an environment in which the monastic can balance the male and female energies (piṅgala and idā) within himself so that he lives in the spiritual, or sushumṇā, energy, which cannot be maintained in close association with the opposite sex. The monastic, whether a monk or a nun, is, in a sense, neither male nor female, but a pure soul being. See: āśrama, monk, nāḍī.§
monastic: A monk or nun (based on the Greek monos, “single,” “alone”). A man or woman who has withdrawn from the world and lives an austere, religious life, either alone or with others in a monastery. (Not to be confused with monistic, having to do with the doctrine of monism.) A monastery-dweller is a maṭhavāsi; the word sādhu is a rough equivalent for mendicant. See: monk, sannyāsin.§
monism: “Doctrine of oneness.” 1) The philosophical view that there is only one ultimate substance or principle. 2) The view that reality is a unified whole without independent parts. See: dvaita-advaita, pluralism.§
monistic theism: Advaita Īśvaravāda. Monism is the doctrine that reality is a one whole or existence without independent parts. Theism is the belief that God exists as a real, conscious, personal Supreme Being. Monistic theism is the dipolar doctrine, also called panentheism, that embraces both monism and theism, two perspectives ordinarily considered contradictory or mutually exclusive, since theism implies dualism. Monistic theism simultaneously accepts that God has a personal form, that He creates, pervades and is all that exists–and that He ultimately transcends all existence and that the soul is, in essence, one with God. Advaita Siddhānta (monistic Śaiva Siddhānta, or Advaita Īśvaravāda Śaiva Siddhānta) is a specific form of monistic theism. See: advaita, Advaita Īśvaravāda, Advaita Siddhānta, dvaita-advaita.§
monk: A celibate man wholly dedicated to religious life, either cenobitic (residing with others in a monastery) or anchoritic (living alone, as a hermit or mendicant). Literally, “one who lives alone” (from the Greek monachos, “solitary”). A synonym for monastic. Its feminine counterpart is nun. See: monastic, sannyāsin.§
montage: A single pictorial composition made by juxtaposing or superimposing many pictures or designs.§
mūlīf: (Shūm) The perspective of the mind in its intellectual, philosophical state. Pronounced moo-leef. See: Shūm, Shūm perspectives.§
morass: Bog, marsh. figuratively, a troublesome, difficult state of affairs.§
mortal: Subject to death. Opposite of immortal. See: amṛita, death.§
mortician: Funeral director, someone who arranges for the burial or cremation of the dead and assists at funeral rites.§
mortification: Discipline of the body and the appetites by self-denial or voluntary privation.§
mṛidaṅga: मृदङ्ग (Tamil: mṛidaṅgam) A South Indian concert drum, barrel-shaped and two-headed.§
mukti: मुक्ति “Release.” A synonym for moksha. See: moksha.§
mūla: मूल “Root.” The root, base or basis of anything, as in mūlādhāra chakra. Foundational, original or causal, as in mūlagrantha, “original text.”§
mūlādhāra chakra: मूलाधारचक्र “Root-support wheel.” The four-petaled psychic center at the base of the spine; it governs memory. See: chakra.§
mūla mantra: मूलमन्त्र “Root mystic formula.” See: Aum.§
mull over: To ponder, cogitate. §
multiplicity: The state of being various; a large number.§
multitude: A very large number of things or people.§
mummify: To prepare a dead body for a long preservation by excisions, chemical and embalming agents and drying.§
Muṇḍaka Upanishad: मुण्डक उपनिषद् Belongs to the Atharva Veda and teaches of the difference between the intellectual study of the Vedas and their supplementary texts and the intuitive knowledge by which God is known.§
mundane: Worldly, especially as distinguished from heavenly or spiritual. Ordinary. From Latin mundus “world;” mundanus “worldly.”§
murky: Dark, gloomy, obscure or clouded.§
Murugan: முருகன் “Beautiful one,” a favorite name of Kārttikeya among the Tamils of South India, Sri Lanka and the diaspora. See: Kārttikeya.§
muse: To think (or say) meditatively.§
myriad: Constituting a very large, indefinite number; innumerable.§
mystic: One who perceives and lives according to esoteric mysteries. Inspiring a sense of mystery and wonder.§
mysticism: Spirituality; the pursuit of direct spiritual or religious experience. Spiritual discipline aimed at union or communion with Ultimate Reality or God through deep meditation or trance-like contemplation. From the Greek mystikos, “of mysteries.” Characterized by the belief that Truth transcends intellectual processes and must be attained through transcendent means. See: clairaudience, clairvoyance, psychic, trance.
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