Wayist Glossary

PLEASE NOTE:
 

• This page is a work in process, and in junior stage. We started the list with entries mostly from Hinduism. We must now add Christian, Daoist and Buddhist terms RELATED to Wayism. 
• Related in the sense that we share commonalities or overlaps, or it may be a point on which we diverge and it is important for Wayists to know about it.

 

A

Āchārya (आचार्य): Teacher or Guru. Used in Wayism. In Hindi used for professor, often in academic sense. Other words for spiritual teacher not much used in Wayism would be Swami and Guru. In Wayism, in written form we optionally use a short form of address for Āchārya; we put a + before the name. Teachers may also sign their name this way. For example, Āchārya Yajn may use +Yajn.

Achyuta (अच्युत): A synonym of Sri Vishnu.

Adi Shankara (आदि शङ्कर): The first Hindu philosopher who consolidated the principles of the Advaita Vedanta philosophy. 

Aditi (अदिति): A goddess of the sky, consciousness, the past, the future and fertility. 

Advaita Vedanta (अद्वैत वेदान्त): A school of Hindu philosophy often called a monistic or non-dualistic system which refers to ther belief in indivisibility of the Self (Atman) from the Whole (Brahman).
Agni (अग्‍नि): The sacred Hindu fire god.
Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र): A sacrifice to God Agni.
Ahi (अहि): Means (“snake”), Vritra was also known in the Vedas as Ahi, cognate with Azhi Dahaka of Zoroastrian mythology and he is said to have had three heads.
Ahamkara (अहंकार): A Sanskrit term that refers to the ego of one’s self, the identification of one’s own ego.
Ahimsā (अहिंसा): The concept which advocates non-violence and a respect for all life.
Alara (अलर) : A famous sage, sought out by Buddha
Amarāvati (अमरावती): The city of Indra
Amarkantak (अमरकंटक): Amarkantak is a unique natural heritage area in eastern Madhya Pradesh, India. This is the meeting point of the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. This is the place from where the Narmada River, the Sone River and Johila River emerge.

Amitabha (Buddha) : Our Father in Heaven. The Ancient of Days. In older times in other cultures named Indra and Thor.

Amrit (अमृत): Ambrosia, the food of the gods, which makes the partaker immortal. Editor, +Yajn asks please add reference to Amrit Dharani.

Ananta (अनन्‍त): Ananta may be the thousand-headed nāga that issued from Balrāma’s mouth
Anjalikā (अंजलिका): The greatest of Arjuna’s arrows with which he slays Karna
Anjanā (अंजना): Mother of Hanumāna
Anshumat (अंशुमत): A mighty chariot-fighter
Anusuya (अनुसूया): Sati Anusuya was wife of the sage Atri and mother of Dattatreya (दत्तात्रेय) who is considered by some Hindus (in western India) to be an incarnation of the Divine Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
Apsarās (अपसरा): Heavenly nymphs, The dancing girls of Indra’s court
Aquila (अक्‍विला): Equivalent, Garuda; the divine eagle
Araṇi (अरणि): An upper and a lower piece of wood used for producing fire by attrition.
Āraṇyaka (आरण्यक): Part of the Hindu Śruti that discuss philosophy, sacrifice and the New Year holiday.
Arjuna (अर्जुन): The third of Pāndavas and Krishna’s cousin. His doubts on the battle field led to Krishna expounding the Gita.

Artha (अर्थ): Wealth, one of the objects of human life, the others being Dharma, (righteous- ness), Kama (satisfaction of desires), Moksha (spiritual salvation).

Arya: ‘Noble or Pious.’ Was also used as another name for ancient vedic bharatas tribe, whose main rival tribe were the Dasas.
Ashtavakra (अष्‍टवक्र): A towering scholar while still in his teens.
Ashvins (अश्‍विन): The divine twins
Asvamedha Yajna (अश्‍वमेध यज्ञ): A horse sacrifice.
Astra (अस्त्र): An energy missile charged with power by a holy incantation.
Asuras: mythological lord beings in Indian texts who compete for power.
Ātma (आत्‍मा): The metaphysical self, spirit (not soul, which is jiva).

Avalokiteshvara : 

B

Badarikasram (बद्रीकाश्रम): Badarikasram is a place sacred to Vishnu, near the Ganges in the Himalayas, particularly in Vishnu’s dual form of Nara-Narayana.
Bahu (बाहु): A king of the Solar race of spiritual beings. He was vanquished and driven out of his country by the tribes of Haihayas and TaIajanghas. He was father of Sagara.

Balarāma (बलराम): Also called Baladeva. Elder brother of Lord Krishna and manifestation of Sheshanaga.

Balarāma (बलराम): An avatar or incarnation of Adisesha the thousand-hooded serpent on which Lord Mahavishnu reclines in Vaikuntha.
Bali: a demon king defeated by the god Vishnu.
Bakāsura (बकासुर): A voracious, cruel and terribly strong being of the demon soul race called Rakshasa. He lived in a cave near the city of Ekachakrapura whom Bhima killed to the great relief of the citizens.
Baṇāsura (बाणासुर): Banasura was a thousand-armed asura and son of Bali. He was a powerful and terrible asura. All people even the king of earth and Devas of heaven were afraid of him. Banasura was a follower of Shiva. He had a beautiful daughter named Usha.
Bhagawān (भगवान): Form of address to Gods and great rishis, example-Bhagawan Sri Krishna, Narada, Vyasa. A Sanskrit word meaning “Holy or Blessed one”. It is a title of veneration, often translated as “Lord” and refers to God. The guru Rasjneesh (Osho) preferred to be called Bhagawān.
Bhagavad Gītā (भगवद् गीता ): Important scripture of the Bhakti Tradition, ushered in the era in the 1st century. Today, it is contained in Mahābhārata. A core sacred text of Hinduism and sacred philosophy.
Bhagavatī (भगवती): Alias Pārvatī, Shiva’s wife
Bhajan (भजन): A Hindu devotional song. Great importance is attributed to the singing of bhajans within the Bhakti movement.
Bhaktī (भक्ति): A Sanskrit term that means intense devotion expressed by action (service). A person who practices bhakti is called bhakta.
Bhaktī Yoga (भक्ति योग): The spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti.[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[2]
Bharadwāja (भरद्वाज): A rishi, father of Yavakrida.
Bhārata (भारत): Meaning (“descended from Bharata”). Bhārata may refer to 1. The Bhāratas, an Aryan tribe of the Rigveda 2. an early epic forming the core of the Mahabharata (allegedly comprising about a quarter of the extended epic) 3. the Republic of India (properly, Bhārata GaNarājya, भारत गणराज्य).
Bhārgava (भार्वग): Karna’s divine weapon
Bhaumāsur (भौमासुर): A demon slain by Krishna
Bhūta: A ghost, imp, goblin. Malignant spirits which haunt cemeteries, lurk in trees, animate dead bodies, and delude and devour human beings.
Bibhatsu (बिभत्‍सु): One of Arjuna’s names meaning a hater of unworthy acts.
Brahmā (ब्रह्‍मा): Creator of the universe, The Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. He must not be confused with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit of Hindu philosophy Brahman.
Brahmachārin (ब्रह्‍मचारिन): A religious student, unmarried, who lives with his spiritual guide, devoted to study and service.
Brahmacharya (ब्रह्‍मचर्य): Devotedness. The stage of life of spiritual study in which devotion and service are essential. The word Brahmacharya symbolises a person who is leading a life in quest of identification with Brahman (the Source).
Brahman (ब्राह्‍मण): The signifying name given to the concept of the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all being, the Source. In Plato called The One, in Daoism called the Dao, in Wayism called The Way.
Brahmin (ब्राह्ममन): One of four fundamental colours in Hindu caste (Varna) consisting of scholars, priests and spiritual teachers.

C

Caste (कास्‍ट): Portuguese word to describe in a western context the Hindu system of classification of peoples (jāti)
Chakra [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[चक्र): A soul-mind or spiritual-mind center in the human anatomy of the soul.
Champā (चम्‍पा): A city on banks of the Ganges river where Karna was found as a babe by Adhiratha and Rādhā
Chāndāla (चांडाल): A person of a degraded caste, whose conduct was much below standard and whose presence causes pollution.
Channa (चन्न) : A royal servant and head charioteer of Prince Siddhartha, who was to become the Buddha.
Caraka Saṃhitā (चरक संहिता): An ancient Indian Ayurvedic text on internal medicine written by Caraka. It is believed to be the oldest of the three ancient treatises of Ayurveda.
Chavadi: Place of public assembly of the village. It is the property of the entire community. In it all public business is transacted, and it serves also as the village club the headquarters of the village police and guest house for travellers.
Chedi (चेदि): A kingdodom of Shishupāla, old name of present Chanderi
Chekitana (चेकितान): Chekitana was son of Dhrishtaketu, Raja of the Kekayas, and an ally of the Pandavas.
Chitra (चित्र): A son of Dhritarashtra killed in the war.
Chitraksha (चित्राक्ष): One of the many sons of King Dhritarashtra who fell in the war
Chitrakūta (चित्रकूट): Chitrakūta was in mountain forests where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spent eleven and half years of their exile; The hermitages of Vālmīki, Atri, Sati Anusuya, Dattatreya, Maharshi Markandeya, Sarbhanga, Sutikshna were here; and here the principal trinity of the Hindu pantheon, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, took their incarnations.
Chitralekha (चित्रलेखा): Chitralekha was a friend of Usha and daughter of minister of Banasura. She was a talented lady who helped Usha to identify the young man, Aniruddha, seen in the dream of Usha. Chitralekha through supernatural powers abducted Aniruddha from the palace of Krishna and brought him to Usha.
Chitrasena (चित्रसेन): King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.
Chitrayudha (चित्रयुद्‍ध): A Kaurava prince who laid down his life in the war.
Chitravarma (चित्रवर्मा): A brother of Duryodhana who was killed in the war
Chitrangada (चित्रांगद): Elder son of Santanu born of Matsyagandhi (Satyavati) who succeeded his father on the throne of Hastinapura.
Chitrāngadā: Chitrāngadā was one of Arjuna’s wives. Arjuna travelled the length and breadth of India during his term of exile. In ancient Manipur in the eastern Himalayas he met Chitrāngadā, the daughter of the king of Manipur and married her. Babhruvahana was soon born to the couple. Babruvahana would succeed his grandfather as king of Manipur.
Chyavana (च्‍यवन): A great rishi, husband of beautiful wife Sukanyā whom Ashvins beheld at her bath.

D

Dāruka (दारुक): Sri Krishna’s charioteer.
Dadhichi: Dadhichi was a Vedic king, son of Atharvan, who turned a great Rishi. Dadhicha gave his bones to destroy Vritra, a Brahmin, who became the head of the Asuras.
Daityas (दैत्‍य): Daityas were the children of Diti and the sage Kashyapa. They were a race of giants who fought against the gods.
Daksha (दक्ष): The skilled one, is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas, and a son of Brahma.
Dākshāyani (दाक्षायणी): Dākshāyani is the Goddess of marital felicity and longevity; she is worshipped particularly by ladies to seek the long life of their husbands. An aspect of Devi, Dākshāyani is the consort of Shiva. Other names for Dākshāyani include Gaurī, Umā, Satī, Aparnā, Lalithā, Sivakāmini.
Dandaka (दंडक): A kingdom and a forest, had the same name, was a colonial state of Lanka under the reign of Ravana. Ravana’s governor Khara ruled this province. It was the stronghold of all the Rakshasa tribes living in the Dandaka Forest.
Dashaarna (दशार्ण): A country whose king attacked Bhagadatta’s elephant in an effort to save Bhima.
Dasharna (दशार्ण): Dasharna was an ancient Indian kingdom in Malwa region near Mandsaur.
Demons: A supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent soul being. A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be conjured and insecurely controlled, they were constantly at war with devas, but lately it seems as if the Lotus Family, a benevolent spiritual tribe, has succesfully banished them from plundering in the spiritual realms of our immediate neighbourhood in the universe. Now, they exist on Earth only as incarnated human beings, impotent in the spiritual realm. Between incarnations they are not welcome in the spiritual realm around Earth. Father in Heaven, by other titles called God of gods, Amitabha Buddha or Indra, as the head of the Lotus Family is responsible for having cleared the area around Earth from demon control. Several demon tribes were ousted. A treaty was made that they can still share space on Earth as incarnated humans and if they happen to change their nature and become benevolent, they too may take the Path of enlightenment and thereby become born again as spiritual beings. The treaty is often told in story form as the myth of the churning of the ocean of milk. Demons are known to oppose enlightenment and to slander the gods, spread misinformation and engage in the business of religion to profit and make the path to enlightenment more difficult for us. Demons are an important reason why Wayists learn mysticism, why we value spiritual Awareness above so-called Consciousness. Rakshasa tribes.
Devadatta (देवदत्‍त): Name of Arjuna’s conch, also Buddha’s cousin.
Deva (देव): The Sanskrit word for spiritual being, god or deity. It can be interpreted as a demi-god, deity or any supernatural spiritual being of high excellence.
Devakī (देवकी): Mother of Lord Krishna.
Devayanī (देवयानी): The daughter of Shukracharaya, preceptor of the demons, who fell in love with Kacha, son of Brihaspati, preceptor of the Devas.
Devendra (देवेन्‍द्र): Indra. King of the Gods. Father in Heaven. Amithaba Buddha.
Devī (देवी): The female version of a Deva, i.e. a female deity, therefore a spiritual being or goddess. Devi is considered to be the Supreme Goddess in Shaktism.
Dhanvantari (धन्‍वंतरी): An avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu. Dhanvantari appears in the Vedas as the physician of the gods, and is the god of Ayurvedic medicine.
Dharma (धर्म): Righteous course of conduct. Can mean law, rule or duty. Beings that live in harmony with Dharma proceed quicker towards moksha.
Dīpāvali (दीपावली, दिवाली): Lit. a row of lamps. A significant 5-day festival in Hinduism occurring between mid October and mid November. It is also popularly known as the Festival of Lights.
Durgā (दुर्गा): A form of Devi, the supreme goddess. She is depicted as a woman riding a lion with multiple hands carrying weapons and assuming mudras.

Dvaita (द्वैत): A branch of Hindu philosophy, founded by Shri Madhvacharya that advocates dualism and stresses a strict distinction between God and souls. Wayism is akin to
Dvaita. We know there is not so much distinction but also a difference in nature between gods (spirits) and souls. Furthermore, we understand that the gods and spiritual beings are creatures, created beings. For us, the Source, the Dao, The Way is never to be thought of as in any way to be a God. Gods are beings, ancient Gods like our Father in Heaven are extremely senior and very, very superior beings but never can a being be equated with the One, the Source, the essence of all creation.

E

F

G

Ganges (गंगा): A holy river in Northern India, believed to be a goddess by Hindus (see Ganges in Hinduism), Equivalent Ganges, The story of the birth of the Ganges was told to Rama and Laxmana by Vishvamitra.

Gandharvas (गंधर्व): A class of celestial beings regarded as specialists in music.

Garuda (गरुड): It is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.

Gāyatrī (गायत्री): A revered mantra in Hinduism, found in the Yajur Veda.

Gītā (गीता): Sometimes referred to as Sri Gita. See Bhagawad Gita

Gopa s (गोप): Equivalent, herd-boys

Gopāla (गोपाल): Name of Krishna indicating his origin as a god of flocks and herds.

Gopīs (गोपी): Gopi is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning ‘cow-herd girls’.

Govinda (गोविन्‍द): One of the epithets of Sri Krishna and Vishnu; it means a cow-keeper and refers to Krishna’s occupation in Gokula, the colony of cowherds.

Grihastha (गृहस्‍थ): In Hinduism. The second of the four phases(Purushartha) of a man, when a person gets married and settles down in life and begets children.

Guru (गुरु): Revered preceptor, A spiritual teacher. In contemporary India, the title and term “Guru” is widely used within the general meaning of “wise man”.

Guru Pūrṇimā (गुरु पूर्णिमा): The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the Hindu calendar is traditionally celebrated by Hindus as Guru Pūrṇimā. On this day, devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru.

H

Hari (हरि): Hari is another name of Vishnu or God in Vaishnavism, Smarta or Advaitan Hinduism, and appears as the 650th name in the Vishnu sahasranama.

Harivamsa (हरिवंश): Harivamsa is an important work of Sanskrit literature. It is a kind of appendix to the Mahābhārata, that runs to 16,375 verses and focuses specifically on the life of Lord Krishna.

Hidimbā (हिडिम्‍बा): A powerful Asura, who had yellow eyes and a horrible aspect. He was a cannibal, and dwelt in the forest to which the Pandavas retired after the burning of their house. He had a sister named Hidimbi.

Sruti and Smriti: Sacred texts of Hinduism mostly written in Sanskrit. Hindu scripture is divided into two categories: Śruti – that which is heard (i.e. revelation) and Smriti – that which is remembered (i.e. tradition, not revelation).

Hinduism: A worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas and is the direct descendent of the Vedic religion. It encompasses many religious traditions that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies.

Hiranyakashipu (हिरण्‍यकश्यप): Hiranyakashipu was of the Asura-type spiritual beings, and also a King of Dravida whose younger brother, Hiranyaksha was killed by Varaha, one of the avatars of Vishnu. Identical with Shishupāla and Rāvana.

Hiranyaksha (हिरण्‍याक्ष): Hiranyaksha was an Asura of the Daitya race who was killed by Lord Vishnu after he took the Earth to the bottom of the ocean. He had an older brother named Hiranyakashipu.

Holikā (होलिका): Holika was a demoness who was killed on the day of Holi. She was the sister of King Hiranyakashipu. The story of Holika’s conflict signifies the triumph of good over evil.

Hrishikesha (हृषीकेश): Krishna.

I

Iesous [[Gk.] Jesus : [Latin] Commonly known as Yesu in the east, or Isha, Issa (Lord). The name of the incarnation of the god entitled Avalokiteshvara [Skt], which means the Lord who perceives the sorrows of all sentient beings. The Lord’s incarnation-body was killed in Judea. The Lord retruned as he had promised to be with us in spiritual form. He returned in c.78CE and was instrumental in the schism of Buddhism in Kashmir, and was the founder of Mahayana Buddhism and the Bhakti Tradition in India. Lord Avalokiteshvara is venerated as the Buddha of Compassion, in Chinese known as Guanyin Si Pusa.

Ilvala (ईवल): Ilvala and Vatapi were asuras, the rulers of Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, was named after asura king Vatapi. See Asura.

Indra (इन्‍द्र): King of the Gods. God of gods. The chief deity of the Rigveda,. The god of weather and war as well as Lord of Svargaloka in Hinduism. Father in Heaven. Amitabha Buddha. The Ancient of Days. Most powerful spiritual being known to humankind. Founder of Earth as a school for souls. Architect of the RNA/DNA that makes hymans unique from evolutionary predecessors—in that sense the creator of the adam/eve original modern human.

Indraprastha (इन्‍द्रप्रस्‍थ): Indraprastha (City of Indra) was a major northern city in ancient India that was the capital of the kingdom led by the Pandavas in the Mahabharata epic, located upon the banks of the river Yamuna, believed to be the site of present Purana Qila, in the modern national capital of Delhi.

Iravan (इरवन): Arjuna’s son by a Naga princess Ulupi who fell in the battle on the eighth day, fought on the side of the Pandavas, killed by the Rakshasa Alumvusha.

Ishvara (ईश्व‍र): A Hindu philosophical concept of God referring to the Supreme Being which is the lord and the ruler of everything. Hinduism uses the term Ishvara exclusively to refer to the Supreme God in a monotheistic sense. In Wayism the term is used for our Father in Heaven, Indra in Hinduism], also known as Amitabha Buddha.

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Jambudvīpa (जम्बुद्वीप): The name of the dvipa (“continent”) of the terrestrial world, as envisioned in the cosmologies of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, which is the realm where ordinary human beings live. Its name is said to derive from a Jambu tree.

Japa (जप): A spiritual discipline in which a devotee repeats a mantra or the name of God. The repetition can be aloud, just the movement of lips or in the mind.

Jātaka (जातक): The Jataka is a voluminous body of folklore and mythic literature, primarily associated with the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as written in the Pali language (from about the 3rd century, C.E.); The story of Rama is told in one of Jātakas.

Jatāyū (जटायू): Jatāyū was king of all the eagles-tribes, the son of Aruna and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of an (eagle), he tries to rescue Sita from Ravana, when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. His brother was Sampatī.

Jesus : See Iesous

Jnana (ज्ञान): Knowledge of the eternal and real. Also Gnani. One of the possible Paths toward Yoga, the path of gathering knowledge.

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Kacha (कच): Grandson of sage Angiras and son of Brihaspati, who went to seek knowledge under Sukracharya as a brahmacharin. Devayani, the preceptor’s lovely daughter, fell in love with him. The Asuras (demons) suspecting him of wanting to steal the secret of reviving the dead, killed him a number of times. But due to Devayani’s love for him, her father brought him back to life every time he was killed. Ultimately the secret was learnt by the devas who then succeeded in defeating the asuras.

Kailāsh (कैलास): It is a peak in the Gangdisê mountains, the source of rivers in Asia—the Indus River, the Sutlej River, and the Brahmaputra River—and is considered as a sacred place in five religions—Wayism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bön. The mountain lies near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet.

Kali (कलि): Kali was a demon, the personified spirit of the Fourth yuga who possesses Nala.

Kalī Yuga (कली युग): Kalī Yuga (lit. Age of Kali, also known as The Age of Darkness), is one of the four stages of development that the world goes through as part of the cycle of Yugas, as described in Hindu scriptures, the others being Dwapara Yuga, Treta Yuga, and Satya Yuga.

Kālī (काली): A dark, black aspect of the mother-goddess Devi whose consort is Shiva.

Kalki (कल्कि): In Hinduism, the tenth Avatar of Vishnu who is yet to come and will appear as a man on a horse at the end of Kali Yug.

Kāma (काम): Best understood as aesthetics, the definition of Kama involves sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, pleasure of the senses, love, and the ordinary enjoyments of life regarded as one of the four ends of man (purusharthas).

Kāmadeva (कामदेव): Kāmadeva is the Hindu god of love. He is represented as a young and handsome winged man who wields a bow and arrows.

Kamboja s (कम्बोज): Enemies of the Kauravas whom Karna had defeated

Kāmadhenu (कामधेनु): Kamadhenu was a divine cow believed to be the mother of all cows. Like her child Nandini, she could grant any wish for the true seeker. Kamadhenu provided Vasishta with his needs for the sacrifices. Kamadhenu (kama-dhenu, ‘wish-cow’), was a miraculous cow of plenty who could give her owner whatever he desired.

Kampilya (कम्पिल्‍य): Capital of the Panchala Kingdom ruled by Drupada.

Kanyā pūjā (कन्या पूजा):A Hindu custom to worship virgin girls as a symbol of the pure basic creative force.

Kapila (कपिल ऋषि): A Vedic sage credited as one of the founders of the Samkhya school of philosophy. He is prominent in the Bhagavata Purana, which features a theistic version of his Samkhya philosophy.

Karma (कर्म): A Sanskrit term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect.

Karma Yoga (कर्म योग): The practise of disciplining action. Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner.

Kārtikeya (कार्तिकेय): Commander of the armies of the devas, A god born out of a magical spark created by Shiva, his father. His brother is Ganesha.

Kashyapa (कश्‍यप): An ancient sage, father of the Devas, Asuras, Nagas and all of humanity. He is married to Aditi, with whom he is the father of Agni and the Savitrs. His second wife, Diti, begot the Daityas. Diti and Aditi were daughters of King Daksha and sisters to Sati, Shiva’s consort. One of Dashratha’s counsellors also.

Kaustubha (कौस्तुभ:): is a divine jewel - the most valuable stone “Mani”, which is in the possession of lord Vishnu.

Kinnars (किन्‍नर): A tribe of souls people “with instruments of music under their wings”.

Kripa (कृपा): The concept of Divine Grace in Hinduism, especially in Bhakti Yoga.

Krishṇa (कृष्‍ण): The eighth avatar of Vishnu, one of the most worshipped by many Hindus. Krishna is famous for his lecture to Arjuna written in the Bhagavad Gita.

Krishna Janmashtami (कृष्ण जन्माष्टमी): A Hindu festival celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, an avatar of Hindu deity Vishnu.

Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय): One of the four fundamental colours (Varnas) in Hindu tradition, consisting of the warriors, soldiers and rulers of society.

Kshatradharma (क्षात्रधर्म): This is a form of spiritual practice that involves “Protection of the seekers and destruction of the evildoers”. In other words, it is the duty of fighting against evil as told by lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita.

Kushan : Editor. Include reference to Jesus’ work in that time and area. Two of Three wise men were associated with areas under Kushan rule. King Gondophares, 

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Lakshmī (लक्ष्मी): Goddess of prosperity, wealth and good fortune. She is the consort of Vishnu and an aspect of Devi.

Lankā (लंका): An island city, generally identified with Ceylon, the home of Ravana.

M

Madhu (मधु): The name of Kingdom of Shtrughna.

Mahābhārata (महाभारत): One of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. The Mahabharata is of religious and philosophical importance in India; in particular, the Bhagavad Gita, which is one of its chapters (Bhishmaparva) and a sacred text of Hinduism.

Mahādeva (महादेव): Another name of Shiva.

Mahāvishnu (महाविष्‍णु): Lord of the Universe who took human birth in order to wrest his kingdom from Emperor Bali for the salvation of the world. Lord Vishnu also took birth as Rama, son of Dasharatha, to kill Ravana, King of Lanka.

Mahendra (महेन्‍द्र): A King who had attained heaven.

Maitreya (मैत्रेय): A sage who visited the court of Dhritarashtra, expressed sorrow at the Pandava’s plight, advised Duryodhana not to injure the Pandavas for his own good. In Buddhism, title of the Buddha of the Future. Many believe that Buddha was the Wayist Lord Yesu, who is now revered as the Buddha of Compassion.

Mahāmārga (महामार्ग): The Great Way. Early Sanskrit name of the Wayist movement.

Mānasarovar (मानसरोवर): A sacred lake in the Himalayas

Mandara (मंदर): The mountain used as a churning stick in Samudra manthan for churning the ocean using Vasuki nāga as rope by gods on one side and asuras on other side.

Manipura chakra
Manipura: ‘City of jewels’ in Sanskrit. Manipura is the third primary chakra according to Hindu tradition. It is positioned at the navel region and it has ten petals which match the vrittis of spiritual ignorance, thirst, jealousy, treachery, shame, fear, disgust, delusion, foolishness and sadness.

Mantra (मंत्र): An incantation with words of power. A religious syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. They are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words and vibrations that instill one-pointed concentration in the devotee. Hindu purposes have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, avoid danger, or eliminate enemies. Mantras are performed through chanting.

Manu Smriti (मनुस्मृति): The Manusmriti translated Laws of Manu is regarded as an important work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society. Manu was the forefather of all humans and author of Manu Smriti. Certain historians believe it to have been written down around 200 C.E. under the reign of Pushymitra Shunga of Sangha clan.

Mātalī (मातली): Charioteer of Indra who took Arjuna to the kingdom of gods.

Matrikas: A group of mother goddesses.

Māyā (मा‍या): Maya is the limited, purely physical and mental reality in which our everyday consciousness has become entangled. Maya is believed to be an illusion, a veiling of the true, unitary Self—the Cosmic Spirit also known as Brahman. Maya originated in the Hindu scriptures known as the Upanishads. Maya is a blessing, a necessary condition, because souls and demons alike are not capable of beholding the true nature of gods and the self—our minds cannot handle it and may be damaged into madness if we see that without due preperation.

Mayasura (मयासुर): Maya (मय), or Mayasura was a great ancient king of the Asura, Daitya and Rakshasa races upon earth. He was also the chief architect of the peoples of the netherworlds. While our Father in Heaven perfected modern human DNA to better suit incarnations for the purpose of attending the School here on Earth, Mayasura worked on Daitya and Rakshasa races.

Medhavi (मेधवी): Son of Sage Baladhi who desired that his son should live as long as a certain mountain lasted. Filled with conceit, Medhavi angered Dhanushaksha who killed him by taking on the form of a bull and butting the mountain until it was broken to pieces.[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[1]

Menakā (मेनका): Menakā is considered one of the most beautiful of the heavenly Apsaras. She was sent by Indra, the king of the Devas, to break the severe penance undertaken by Vishwamitra.

Meru (मेरु): An ancient mountain and mythical centre of the universe on which was situated the city of Brahma. Becoming jealous of Meru, the Vindya began to grow very high obstructing the sun, the moon and the planets. Agastya whom the Vindhya mountain respected asked it to stop growing until he crossed it on his way to the south and returned to the north again. But he did not return at all, having settled in the south.

Moksha (मोक्ष): Refers to liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. In higher Hindu philosophy, it is seen as a transcendence of phenomenal being, of any sense of consciousness of time, space, and causation (karma).

N

Nāga (नाग): Nāga is the Sanskrit and Pāli word for a minor deity taking the form of a very large snake, found in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The use of the term nāga is often ambiguous, as the word may also refer, in similar contexts, to one of several human tribes known as or nicknamed “Nāgas”; to elephants; and to ordinary snakes, particularly the King Cobra and the Indian Cobra, the latter of which is still called nāg (नाग) in Hindi and other languages of India.

Nāgas (नाग): Nāgas were a group who spread throughout India during the period of the epic Mahabharata. The demi-god tribe called Suparnas (in which Garuda belonged) were arch-rivals of the Nagas. The well known Nagas are Ananta, Vasuki, Takshaka, Karkotaka and Airavata.

Nāga panchami (नाग पंचमी): The festival of Nāga panchami is celebrated in Hindus to pay respect to Nāgas. The five Nāgas worshipped on Nāga panchami are Ananta, Vāsuki, Taxak, Karkotaka and Pingala.

Nahusha (नहुष): One of many malicious myths started by adversaries to cause discord among people of The Way. This is a story of a mighty king who was made king of the gods because Indra, Father in Heaven, had disappeared because of his murder of Vritra through sin and deceit.

Naivedhya (नैवेध्य): Food or eatables prepared as offerings to God, prior to the oblation. (See also: Prasad)

Nandi (नंदि): Nandi is the white bull which Shiva rides, and the leader of the Ganas. The white color of the bull symbolizes purity and justice.

Nandinī (नन्‍दिनी): Vasishtha’s divinely beautiful cow, child of Kamadhenu.

Nārada (नारद): Narada is the Hindu divine sage, who is an enduring chanter of the names Hari and Narayana which other names for Vishnu, considered to be the supreme God by Vaishnavites and many other Hindus. He is regarded the Manasputra of Brahma as he was born of his thoughts. He is regarded as the Triloka sanchaari, the ultimate nomad, who roams the three lokas of Swargaloka, Mrityuloka and Patalloka to find out about the life and welfare of people.

Narishyanta (नरिष्यन्त): Narishyanta was son of Vaivasvata Manu and belongs to solar race of Kshatriyas.

Narmadā (नर्मदा): The Nerbudda river, one of the most important sacred rivers, originating from Amarkantak is believed to have descended from the sky by the order of Lord Shiva. The personified river is variously represented as being daughter of a Rishi named Mekala (from whom she is called Mekala and Mekala-kanya), as a daughter of the moon, as a ‘mind-born daughter’ of the Somapas, and as sister of the Nagas. It was she who brought Purukutsa to the aid of the Nagas against the Gandharvas, and the grateful snake-gods made her name a charm against the venom of snakes.

Navaratri (नवरात्रि): A Hindu festival of worship and dance. The word Navaratri literally means nine nights in Sanskrit. During these nine nights and ten days, nine forms of Shakti/Devi are worshipped.

Nirvāṇa (निर्वाण): Literally “extinction” and/or “extinguishing”, is the culmination of the yogi’s pursuit of liberation. Hinduism uses the word nirvana to describe the state of moksha, roughly equivalent to heaven.

Nishāda (निषाध): The Nishāda peoples were indigenous tribes inhabiting ancient India.

O

Om, or rather Aum (ॐ): the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, first coming to light in the Vedic Tradition. Aum is correct, as the first letter is an A. Om is a lazy, shorter and oft-used way of saying it. The syllable is sometimes referred to as the “Udgitha” or “pranava mantra” (primordial mantra) because it is considered to be the primal sound, the Word of God in a manner of speaking. Most mantras begin with it.

Aum, as the Word of God, the energy that flows from the Unnameable, the Source, flows through all and animates the building blocks of all of the Universe. Prana is part of the Aum.

P

Paramhamsa (परमहंस): The supreme swan.

Pārvatī (पार्वती): Goddess of love, the consort of Shiva and mother of Ganesha, Rukmini prayed to her for saving her from the cruel Shishupala king of Chedi, as she had set her heart on marrying Krishna.

Pāśupatāstra (पाशुपतास्त्र): Pāśupatāstra is the irresistible and most destructive personal weapon of Shiva discharged by the mind, eyes, words or a bow.

Patanjali (yoga teacher) :

Patanjali (Sanskrit grammarian) :

Pitāmaha (पितामह): Literally grandfather, which however carried no imputation of senile infirmity but denotes the status of the pater familias.

Prana : 

Prajāpatī (प्रजाप‍ित): Prajāpatīs are a group (or one) of creation gods, children of Brahma, including Daksha.

Prasad (प्रसाद): Food or other offerings, considered to be sanctified, after being presented to God. (See also: Naivedhya)

Prayāg (प्रयाग): The holy place at Allahabad where Ganges and Yamuna meet.

Puṇdarikaksha (पुण्डरिक्ष ): Krishna, the lotus-eyed one.

Purāṇa (पुराण): Purana meaning “ancient” or “old” is the name of a genre (or a group of related genres) of Indian written literature (as distinct from oral literature). Its general themes are history, tradition and religion. It is usually written in the form of stories related by one person to another.

Purushārtha (पुरुषार्थ): The four chief aims of human life. Arranged from lowest to highest, these goals are: sensual pleasures (kama), worldly status and security (artha), personal righteousness and social morality (dharma), and liberation from the cycle of reincarnation (moksha).

 

Q

“Q” or Quelle scriptures: Theologians postulate that the Christian Synoptic Gospels (all but the 4th Gospel) used a common source now not available anymore. 

R

Rādhā (राधा): Rādhā is one of the gopis (cow-herding girls) of the forest of Vrindavan, Krishna plays with her during his upbringing as a young boy; The other Radha is the wife of the charioteer Adhiratha, who found an abandoned new-born boy, whom he named Karna.

Rāhu (राहु): Rahu is a snake that swallows the sun or the moon causing eclipses. Rahu is one of the navagrahas.

Raibhya (रैभ्य): A sage whose hermitage was situated on the banks of the Ganges, near Rishikesh. From here, the area was named Rishikesh.

Rishikesh : Hrishiskesh, a place, which gets its name from Lord Vishnu appearing to Raibhya, from there the name Hrishikesh. The Pandavas during their wanderings visited this ghat. This ghat was considetred very holy throughout history. Bharata, son of Dasharatha bathed here. Indra was cleansed of his sin of killing Vritra unfairly by bathing in this ghat. Sanatkumar attained enlightenment here. Aditi, mother of the gods, prayed here to be blessed with a son.

Rā́kṣasaḥ (रा॑क्षस): A rakshasa alternately, raksasa or rakshas is a demon or unrighteous spirit, in Hinduism.

Rāma (राम): The Seventh Avatara of Vishnu. The life and heroic deeds of Rama are written in the Sanskrit epic, The Ramayana.

Rāmāyaṇa (रामायण): Part of the Hindu smriti, written by Valmiki. This epic of 24,000 verses in seven kandas (chapters or books) tells of a Raghuvamsa prince, Rama of Ayodhya, whose wife Sita is abducted by the rakshasa Ravana.

Rāma-navamī (राम नवमी): A Hindu festival, celebrating of the birth of Lord Rama. The day falls on the Navami, ninth day of the Chaitra month of Hindu lunar year in ‘Shukla paksha’.

Rambhā (रम्‍भा): A well-known apsara in the court of Indra, Sukhavati,

Ratī (रती): Ratī is the goddess of passion and lust, and a daughter of Daksha. She married Kamadeva, the God of love.

Rāvaṇa (रावण): King of Lanka who abducted Sita, the wife of Ramachandra. Ravana is depicted in art with up to ten heads, signifying that he had knowledge spanning all the ten directions.

Ṝgveda (ऋग्वेद): The Rigveda is a collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns counted as the holiest of the four religious texts of Hindus, known as the Vedas.

Ṛta (ऋतं): Vedic principle of natural order believed to regulate and coordinate the operation of the universe on the natural, moral and sacrificial levels.

Ṛṣi (ऋषि): Rishi, also known as Mantradraṣṭa (“seer of the Mantras”) and Vedavaktāra (“chanter of the Vedas”) is a seer who “heard” (cf. śruti) the hymns of the Vedas. A rishi is regarded as a combination of a patriarch, a priest, a preceptor, an author of Vedic hymns, a sage, a saint, an ascetic, a prophet and a hermit into a single person.

Rudra (रुद्र): A Rigvedic god of the storm, the hunt, death, Nature and the Wind. Rudra is an early form of Shiva and a name of Shiva in the Shiva sahasranama.

Rudra nritya (रुद्र नृत्‍य): Shiva’s cosmic dance of destruction.

Raghu- A boy who lives on a street

S

Shachī (शची): Wife of Indra. She was also known as Indrani.

Sadhana (साधना): Spiritual exercise by a Sadhu or a Sadhaka to attain moksha, which is liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara), or a particular goal such as blessing from a deity.

Sairandhri (सैरंध्री): A maid servant or female attendant employed in royal female apartments.

Śakra (सक्र): Śakra is identified with the Vedic deity Indra. Śakra is sometimes named as one of the twelve Ādityas.

Samādhi (समाधि): A term used in yogic meditation. Samadhi is also the Hindi word for a structure commemorating the dead.

Sāmkhya (सांख्य): A school of philosophy emphasising a dualism between Purusha and Prakrti, propounded by sage Kapila. Wayism has some affinities with Samkya but is not in full accord.

Samsara (संसार): Means wandering, The three worlds constitute Samsara. Refers to the concept of reincarnation or rebirth.

Samudra manthan (समुद्र मन्थन): Samudra manthan or The churning of the ocean of milk is one of the most famous episodes in the Puranas and is celebrated in a major way every twelve years in the festival known as Kumbha Mela.

Sanyāsin (सन्यासिन): One who has renounced the world and its concerns.

Saraswati (सरस्वती): Saraswati is the first of the three great goddesses of Hinduism, the other two being Lakshmi and Durga. Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahmā, the Creator.

Satī (सती): One of name of Dākshāyani, Dākshāyani is the consort of Shiva. Other names for Dākshāyani include Gaurī, Umā, Aparnā, Lalithā, Sivakāmini etc. Sati is also the term for the immolation of a widow on her husband’s pyre in Hinduism.

Shakti (शक्‍ती): An aspect of Devi and a personification of God as the Divine Mother who represents the active, dynamic principles of feminine power.

Shaktism (शाक्तं): Lit., “doctrine of power” or “doctrine of the Goddess” is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead. It is, along with Shaivism and Vaisnavism, one of the three primary schools of Hinduism.

Shankara (शंकर): A name of Shiva; A great magician, friend of Chand Sagar.

Shaivism (शैव धर्म): Shaivism names the oldest of the four sects of Hinduism. Followers of Shaivism, called “Shaivas”, and also “Saivas” or “Saivites”, revere Shiva as the Supreme Being.

Shikhandi (शिखण्डी): Daughter-son of Drupada, A girl turned man, warrior on the Pandava side. He had been born in an earlier lifetime as a woman named Amba, who was rejected by Bhishma for marriage.

Shiva (शिव): Shiva is a form of Ishvara or God in the later Vedic scriptures of Hinduism. Shiva is the supreme God in Shaivism, one of the major branches of Hinduism practiced in India.

Shri (श्री): Another name of Lakshmi, a goddess, the delight of Vishnu.

Shri Krishna (श्री कृष्‍ण): See Krishna.

Shudra (शुद्र): One of the four castes in Hindu tradition, consisting of artisans, cleaners and labourers.

Shukracharya (शुक्राचार्य): Shukracharya was a guru in Hindu mythology. Known as the guru of the Asuras, he is also associated with the planet Shukra (Venus) which is named after him. He was born as the son of Rishi Brighu and his wife Ushana.

Sindhu (सिन्धु): The Indus River, Urdu دریائے سندھ; Tibetan: Sengge Chu (‘Lion River’); Persian: Hindu; Greek: Sinthos; Pashto: Abaseen (“The Father of Rivers”); Mehran (an older name) is the longest and most important river in Pakistan. Originating in the Tibetan plateau in the vicinity of Lake Manasarovar.

Sloka (श्‍लोक): A verse of lines in Sanskrit, typically recited as a prayer.

Smarta (स्‍मर्त): A Hindu denomination, which follows Advaita philosophy and considers that all gods are manifestations of Ishvar.

Śruti (श्रुति): A canon of Hindu scriptures. Shruti is believed to have no author; rather a divine recording of the “cosmic sounds of truth”, heard by rishis.

Soma (सोम): A ritual drink of importance among Hindus. It is frequently mentioned in the Rigveda, which contains many hymns praising its energizing or intoxicating qualities.

Somadutta (सोमदत्त): One of the suitors to Devaki’s hand. A kinsman of the Kauravas.

Sudarshana Chakra (सुदर्शन चक्र): Sudarshan Chakra is a spinning disc like weapon with very sharp edge, which is one of the weapons in the Hindu God Vishnu’s hands.

Sukanyā (सुकन्‍या): Meaning - Fair-maid, The wife of Chyavana whom the Ashvins beheld at her bath, bare of any garment.

Surabhi (सुरभि): The wish-bestowing cow that came first from the sea in the process of churning of the Ocean by gods and daityas.

Sūrya (सूर्य): A solar deity who is one of the three main Vedic Gods.

Sushruta Samhita (सुश्रुतसंहिता): Suśruta Saṃhitā is a Sanskrit redaction text on all of the major concepts of ayurvedic medicine with innovative chapters on surgery, attributed to Sushruta, likely a historical sage physician of the 6th century BCE.

Sūtra (सूत्र): Sūtra refers to an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a book or text. ‘Sutras’ form a school of Vedic study, related to and somewhat later than the Upanishads.

Swarga (स्‍वर्ग): An Olympian paradise, a place where all wishes and desires are gratfied. A sub-Sukhavati, a temporary heaven, made by our Father in Heaven where mortal souls after death enjoy the results of their good deeds on earth and are processed for further incarnations.

Swayamvara (स्‍वयं‍वर): Meaning - Own-choice, Swayamvara, in ancient India, was a practice of choosing a life partner, among a list of suitors by a girl of marriageable age.

Tārā (तारा): See Tara (Devi)

Tāragam (तारगम): Tāragam is the name of forest, where dwelt ten thousand heretical rishis, who taught that the universe is eternal, that souls have no lord and that performance of works alone suffices for the attainment of salvation. Shiva taught them lesson and they became his followers. This legend is associated with Shiva’s dance.

Tandava (ताण्‍डव): Shiva’s cosmic dance.

Tantra (तंत्र): The esoteric Hindu traditions of rituals and yoga. Tantra can be summarised as a family of voluntary rituals modeled on those of the Vedas, together with their attendant texts and lineages. Wayist tantra is unique among the tantras.

Tarpana or Tarpan (तर्पण ): Sacrament, a death rite, also performed during the Pitru Paksha.

Tilottamā (तिलोत्तमा): Tilottama was an Apsara. She is reputed to have been created by Vishwakarma from Tila seeds. She was responsible for bringing out the mutual destruction of the Asuras Sunda and Upasunda.

Tulsī Dās (तुलसीदास): Goswami Tulsidas (1532–1623) was a Hindu poet and philosopher, translator of the epics into vernacular. Tulsidas wrote twelve books and is considered by some the greatest and most famous of Hindi poets.

U

Uchchaihshravas: Uchchaihsravas was the white horse of Indra, produced at the churning of the ocean. It is fed on ambrosia, and is held to be the king of horses.

Udayana: Udayana was a prince of the Lunar race, and son of Sahasranika, who is the hero of a popular story. He was king of Vatsa, and is commonly called Vatsaraja. His capital was Kausambi. Also a name of Agastya.

Uddalaka: A great sage and the teacher of Vedanta.

Ujjayini (उज्‍जयिनि) or Ujjain (उज्जैन): is an ancient city of central India, in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh near which the ancient throne of Vikramaditya was discovered, one of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus, where the Kumbh Mela is held every twelve years. It is also home to Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga, one of the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines to the god Shiva.

Umadevī (उमादेवी): Wife of Shiva.

Unchhavritti (उन्‍छवृत्ती): The life of a mendicant, begging his food.

Upanishad (उपनिषद्): Part of the Hindu Śruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy, seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism.

Urvasī (उर्वसी): An apsara in Indra’s court, whose amorous overtures Arjuna declined. Life as spiritual beings are more intersting than sitting signing hymns, it seems.

Ushanas (उशना): Ushanas were appointed as priests of asuras, who knew the science of bringing to life.

V

Vaishya (वैश्य): One of the four fundamental varnas (colours) in Hindu tradition comprising merchants, artisans, and landowners.

Vanaprastha (वानप्रस्‍थ): The third stage of the dvija’s life, when he is required to relinquish worldly responsibilities to his heirs and retires to the woods with his wife for an anchorite’s life. A person who is living in the forest as a hermit after giving up material desires.

Varṇa (वर्ण): Means - colour, Varna refers to the four naturally existing classes of society as given in the Hindu scriptures: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shudra.

Varuṇa (वरुण): A god of the sky, of rain and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the underworld.

Varuṇī (वरुणी): The goddess of wine.

Vashiṣtha (वशिष्‍ठ): Vasishtha was chief of the seven venerated sages (or Saptarishi) and the Rajaguru of the Suryavamsha. He was the manasaputra of Brahma. He had in his possession the divine cow Kamadhenu, and Nandini her child, who could grant anything to their owners. Arundhati was his wife.

Vayu (वायु): In mythology, The god of air and wind who is also father of Bhima and Hanuman. In Pneumatherapy, an attitude in the energies of the soul. These attiudes have bearing on wellness of the soul, body and mind.

Veda (वेद): Collectively refers to a corpus of ancient Indo-Aryan religious literature that are considered by adherents of Hinduism to be revealed knowledge. Many Hindus believe the Vedas existed since the beginning of creation.

Veda Vyasa (वेद व्‍यास): Vyasa, author of the Mahabharata.

Vindhyas (विन्‍ध्य): Vindhyas is a range of hills in central India, which geographically separates the Indian subcontinent into northern India (the Indo-Gangetic plain) and Southern India.

Vīrabhadra (वीरभद्र): Vīrabhadra was a demon that sprang from Shiva’s lock of hair. Shiva burnt with anger when not invited in a sacrifice by Daksha and his wife Sati released the inward consuming fire and fell dead at Daksha’s feet. Shiva burned with anger, and tore from his head a lock of hair, glowing with energy, and cast upon the earth. The terrible demon Vīrabhadra sprang from it. On the direction of Shiva, Virabhadra appeared with Shiva’s ganas in the midst of Daksha’s assembly like a storm wind and broke the sacrificial vessels, polluted the offerings, insulted the priests and finally cut off Daksha’s head.

Virochana (विरोचन): An asura, son of Prahlada, and father of Bali. He is also called Drisana. When the earth was milked, Virochana acted as the calf of the Asuras.

Vishnu (विष्‍णु): A form of God, to whom many Hindus pray. For Vaishnavas, He is the only Ultimate Reality or God. In Trimurti belief, He is the second aspect of God in the Trimurti (also called the Hindu Trinity), along with Brahma and Shiva. Known as the Preserver, He is most famously identified with His Avatars, especially Krishna and Rama. In the 2nd century Avalokiteshvara became identified with Vishnu and Vaishnavite iconography of later centuries adopted features of the 33 Avalokiteshvara forms. Sometimes one can discern the difference between Vishnu and Avalokiteshvara only by whether there is an Amitabha Buddha or a half moon in the crown.

Vishvakarmā (विश्वकर्मा): Vishwakarma is the presiding deity of all craftsmen and architects. he is the divine craftsman of the whole universe, and the official builder of all the gods’ palaces. Vishwakarma is also the designer of all the flying chariots of the gods, and all their weapons.

Viśvamitra (विश्‍वामित्र): Brahmarishi Visvamitra or Vishvamitra was one of the most venerated rishi or sages of since ancient times in India. He was originally a Kshatriya but by austerities earned the title of Brahmarishi. He is also credited as the author of most of Mandala 3 of the Rigveda, including the Gayatri Mantra.

Viswarupa (विस्‍वरुप): All-pervading, all-including form sometimes seen at self-realization. See the description in the Bhagavad Gita chapter eleven.

Vrishnis, (वृषणि): The descendant of Vrishni, son of Madhu, whose ancestor was the eldest son of Yadu. Krsna belonged to this branch of the Lunar race. The people of Dwaraka were known as the Vrishnis. Tribals of this race were devoted to the Pandavas.

Vritra (वृत्र): Means “the enveloper”. Vritra, was an Asura and also a serpent or dragon, the personification of drought and enemy of Indra. Vritra was also known in the Vedas as Ahi (“snake”), cognate with Azhi Dahaka of Zoroastrian mythology and he is said to have had three heads. He was son of Twashta who was defeated by Indra’s weapons Vajrayudha. He was born out of his father’s sacrificial flames and became Indra’s mortal enemy.

Vyasa (व्‍यास): Compiler of the Vedas, son of sage Parasara.

Y

Yadu (यदु): A prince of the lunar dynasty; Yadu is the name of one of the five Aryan clans mentioned in the Rig Veda. His descendants are called Yadavas. The epic Mahabharata and Puranas refer to Yadu as the eldest son of mythological king Yayati.

Yaduvamsis: Those of the clan of Yadu.

Yajnignna (यज्ञ): A Vedic ritual of sacrifice performed to please the Devas, or sometimes to the Supreme Spirit Brahman. Often it involves a fire, which represents the god Agni, in the centre of the stage and items are offered into the fire.

Yakṣa (यक्ष): Yaksha or Yakkha (Pāli) is the name of a broad class of nature-souls or minor soul deities who appear in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. The feminine form of the word is yakṣī or yakṣiṇī (Pāli: yakkhī or yakkhinī). Subjects of Kubera, the god of wealth.

Yama (यम): Yama, also known as Yamarāja (यमराज) is the lord of death, first recorded in the Vedas. God of dharma, whose son was Yudhishthira. It is he whose questions Yudhishthira answered correctly whereupon his dead brothers were brought back to life on the banks of the enchanted pool.

Yamas: A yama (Sanskrit), literally translates as a “restraint”, a rule or code of conduct for living virtuously.

Yamuna (जमुना): A river (also spelled Jamuna), joining with the Ganges. Literally meaning “twins” in Sanskrit, as it runs parallel to the Ganges, its name is mentioned at many places in the Rig Veda, written during the Vedic period ca between 1700–1100 BCE, and also in the later Atharvaveda, and the Brahmanas including Aitareya Brahmana and Shatapatha Brahmana.

Yoga (योग): Spiritual practices performed primarily as a means to enlightenment (or bodhi). Traditionally, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga are considered the four main yogas. In the West, yoga has become associated with the asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga, popular as fitness exercises.

Yoga Sutra (योग सूत्र): One of the six darshanas of Hindu or Vedic schools and, alongside the Bhagavad Gita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika, are a milestone in the history of Yoga. Editor, plse mention Patanjali.

Yogi (योगी): One who practices yoga, These designations are mostly reserved for advanced practitioners. The word “yoga” itself—from the Sanskrit root yuj (“to yoke”) —is generally translated as “union” or “integration” and may be understood as union with the Divine, or integration of body, mind, and spirit.

Yuga (युग): In Hindu philosophy (and in the teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga) the cycle of creation is divided into four yugas (ages or eras).

Yuga Dharma (युगधर्म): One aspect of Dharma, as understood by Hindus. Yuga dharma is an aspect of dharma that is valid for a Yuga,. The other aspect of dharma is Sanatan Dharma, dharma which is valid for eternity.