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Glossary

Sanskrit and Vraj philosophical terms used across the Vachanamrut, Shikshapatri, and Bhaktachintamani, sourced verbatim from Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Bhuj-Kutch's own published Vachanamrut glossary appendix — not written by us.

79 resultsfor “Brahm” · clear

Akshar-Brahm: See Akshar.
akshar-rup: 1) Like the form of Akshar. 2) Possessing qualities similar to those of Akshar. Same as brahm-rup.
akshi-vidyã: Knowledge of the eyes. A type of brahm-vidyã by which a person sees his ãtmã and the murti of Bhagvãn through his eyes. [Loyã 15].
Aniruddha: One of the four forms of Bhagvãn’s Vishvarup svarup. His role is to teach dharma, and to cause the creation of the brahmãnd (Virãt-Purush). During the state of creation, Virãt-Purush worships Aniruddha.
ashram: 1) Stage of life. There are four ãshrams in total, each with their duties and responsibilities – brahm-chãrya, grahastha, vãnprasth, and sannyãs. 2) Hermitage. Place where tyãgis live.
ãtyantik-pralay: Final destruction. Destruction of all of the countless millions of brahmãnds, when even Prakruti-Purush draws

Bhagvãn: God. Supreme being. Lord of all. Bhagvãn is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, is divine, and is always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Parbrahm, Paramãtmã, Purushottam, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan.
Bhakti-Devi: The earthly mother of Swaminarayan Bhagwan, also known as Bhakti-Mata. Born in Samvat 1798 in Chhapaiya to a Travadi brahmin family; married to Dharma-Dev.
brahm: 1) A jeev is said to become brahm when it has attained a nirgun state, and all the qualities of Brahm. 2) Believed by shushka-vedãntis to be the nirgun and formless reality, where all else is merely an illusion.
Brahm: 1) The dhãm of Bhagvãn. It is eternal, complete with all gun, luminous, and flawless. Also called Akshar, or Akshar-Brahm, or Akshardhãm. 2) Fourth of the five eternal entities, which transcends everything except Purushottam (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Brahm, and Parbrahm).
brahm-agni: Bhagvãn. When a person performs a sãttvik yagna by withdrawing the ten indriyas and the mind (the eleventh indriya) from whichever vishays they have become attached to, he offers them into brahm-agni. The ãtmã and Bhagvãn then become one.
brahm-chãri: 1) A brãhman who has been initiated as a tyãgi into the Swãminãrãyan sampradãy. Such brahm-chãris were given special priestly authority, such as personal sevaks to the murtis within mandirs, and as the performers of other religious ceremonies. 2) A person who observes brahm-chãrya; leads a life of celibacy. 3) A person who is in the first stage of life, brahm-chãrya ãshram.
brahm-chãrya: First of the four stages of life, when a person fulfils his ãshram duty as a student and celibate. At the end of brahm- chãrya ashram, a person either gets married and enters grahastha ãshram, or becomes a tyãgi and enters sannyãs ãshram.
brãhm-kalp: Period of time during the process of creation when Bhagvãn gave all beings, from Brahmã to the smallest blade of grass their bodies, through his own body in the form of Virãt-Purush. Length of brahm-kalp time of one of Brahmã's days (4.32 x 109 human years).
Brahm-Mahol: See Akshardhãm.
brahm-randhra: Spiritual opening in the crown of the head (at the end of the sushumnã nãdi) through which the jeev leaves the body upon death or during samãdhi, and reaches higher loks. A shikhã is kept at the brahm-randhra.
brahm-rup: 1) Like the form of Brahm. 2) Possessing qualities similar to those of Brahm. Same as akshar-rup.
brahm-sattã: 1) Formless svarup of Brahm. 2) Also refers to the ãtmã, which is eternal.
brahm-svarup: Form of brahm. Possessing qualities similar to those of Brahm. Also called akshar-rup.
brahm-vidyã: Knowledge of brahm. Knowledge that guides a person on the path to Bhagvãn.
Brahmã: The dev responsible for the creation of the brahmãnd and the life-forms within it. Part of the trinity of devs, along with Vishnu (the sustainer) and Shiv (the destroyer), responsible for the control of one brahmãnd.
Brahmãnand Swãmi: One of the five principal paramhansas who recorded Swaminarayan Bhagwan's discourses word for word, compiling them into the Vachanamrut.
brahmãnd: Individual 'universe' comprising of a system of fourteen loks. There are countless millions of brahmãnds on various planes. Each brahmãnd, created and sustained by a Pradhãn-Purush pair, contains a trinity of Brahmã, Vishnu, and Shiv as the controlling devs. The fourteen loks of each brahmãnd are: Satya-Lok, Tap-Lok, Jan-Lok, Mahar-Lok, Svarg-Lok, Bhuvar-Lok, Mrutyu-Lok, Atal, Vital, Sutal, Talãtal, Mahãtal, Rasãtal, Pãtãl.
brahmarshi: A tyãgi or a person engaged in strict tap, with characteristics like that of a rushi. At a higher level than a rãjarshi.
brahmãy: Divine.
Brahmpur: See Akshardhãm.
brahmvetta: A knower of Brahm. One who has realized their own ãtmã as brahm-swarup.

dahar-vidyã: Knowledge of the inner ãkãsh. Knowledge of Chidãkãsh. One of the thirty-two types of brahm-vidyã. [Loyã 15].
Dattatrey: An avatãr of Bhagvãn, born to Ansuyã and Atri Rushi. Bhagvãn incarnated in the combined svarup Brahmã, Vishnu, and Shiv. He has three heads (Brahmã, Vishnu, and Shiv) with one body. Dattãtrey had twenty-four gurus: earth, air, sky, water, fire, sun, moon, python, pigeon, sea, moth, bee, elephant, bear, deer, fish, osprey, child, maiden, prostitute, blacksmith, serpent, spider, and wasp. He perceived gun in His twenty-four gurus. He believed that in the world, a man can learn from each and every thing.
Dharma-Dev: The earthly father of Swaminarayan Bhagwan. Born Dev-Sharma in Samvat 1796 to a Sarvariya Sam-Vedi brahmin family in Itar village, Kaushal-Desh; became known as Dharma-Dev for his strictness in dharma. Took bhagvati diksha from Ramanand Swami at Prayag-Kshetra.

ekãntik bhakta: 1) Highest level of bhakta. A person who offers ekãntik bhakti, perfectly possesses all four of the qualities of ekãntik dharma (dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, and bhakti). 2) A person who has no desires other than Bhagvãn, and who worships Bhagvãn while realising himself to be brahm-rup. [Gadhadã I – 11].

Gopãl Yogi: A yogi Nilkanth Brahmachari met performing tap under a banyan tree during His forest wanderings (van vicharan). He stayed with Gopal Yogi for twelve months and learned the practice of ashtang-yog from him.
gorakh-ãsan: An ãsan to protect the indriyas. Specific yogic ãsan or sitting posture where a person sits with both heels tucked into the groin, the toes folded under the buttocks, and the large toes held by the hands from behind the back. Considered to help in preventing the ejaculation of semen, and therefore helping in the observance of brahm-chãrya. Also known as goraksh-ãsan or bhadrãsan.

Hayagriv: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a horse. Brahmã had become tired of his creative duties, and he wanted to rest. As night was approaching, Brahmã yawned, which caused all the four Veds to come out from his opened mouth. A demon who lived near him in disguise, abducted the Veds. Bhagvãn took birth as Hayagriv to kill the demon and protect the Veds.

ishvar: 1) Infinite in number. Similar to the jeev with respect to being bound by Mãyã, but are involved in the creation, sustenance, and destructions of the brahmãnds, and are therefore given greater powers by Bhagvãn. Brahmã, Vishnu, Shiv and all entities greater than them upwards to Prakruti-Purush, are considered ishvars.

jal-basti: Flushing with water. A strict yogic practice to help cleanse the inner parts of the body, which in turn helps in the observance of brahm-chãrya. The practice involves standing in waist-high water and drawing in water through the anus, swirling the water around the stomach, and then discharging it again through the anus. Another version of the practice involves drawing in water through
jeev: 1) That which is living. Infinite in number. Individual, embodied ãtmã still bound by Mãyã and consequently undergoing the cycle of births and deaths. The jeev is not separate the three bodies (sthul, sukshma, and kãran) and the three mental states (jãgrat, svapna, and sushupti), whereas the ãtmã is distinct from everything. 2) First of the five eternal entities (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Akshar, and Parbrahm). 3) Sometimes used to mean the same as ãtmã.

kshetragna: Knower of kshetra. Often used with kshetra to describe a relationship similar to that between a landowner and his land – kshetragna is the owner, and the kshetra is the land. Used to describe the ãtmã as the master (kshetragna) of the three bodies (kshetra). Also used to describe Bhagvãn as the master (kshetragna) of all jeevs, ishvars, and Brahm (kshetra). [Panchãlã – 3].
kunjar-kriyã: Elephant act. A strict yogic practice to help cleanse the inner parts of the body - which in turn helps in the observance of brahm-chãrya. The practice involves drinking a considerable amount of water, swirling it around the stomach, and then discharging it out again through the mouth.

Manu: Manu is responsible for overseeing the first stages of all life forms in the new cycle of creation and he lives for the entire cycle. Manu and his wife become the first parents for each cycle (Adam and Eve). In one day of Brahmã, fourteen Manus reign and die. The duration of the reign of one Manu is 306,720,000 human years, and is called a manvantar. Fourteen Manus are created and destroyed during one day of Brahmã.
manvantar: The duration of the reign of one of the fourteen Manus that reign sequentially during one day of Brahmã. Duration of time equalling 306,720,000 human years.
Mãyã: 1) Power of Bhagvãn used as the fundamental 'substance' of creation. It is composed of the three gun, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in its dormant state (before the time of creation) – it houses all jeevs and ishvars, and all the tattvas. It is inspired by, controlled by, and dependent on Bhagvãn. The jeevs and ishvars must go beyond Mãyã (eradicate it within themselves) in order to attain Akshardhãm. Everything in the world is produced from the products of Mãyã. Also called Prakruti. 2) Third of the five eternal entities (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Brahm, and Parbrahm).
Muktãnand Swãmi: One of the five principal paramhansas -- along with Gopalanand Swami, Nityanand Swami, Brahmanand Swami, and Shukanand Swami -- who recorded Swaminarayan Bhagwan's discourses word for word, compiling them into the Vachanamrut. Originally a shishya of Ramanand Swami; Nilkanth Brahmachari first met him at Lojpur.

naishtik: A person who follows the eight types of brahm-chãrya, brahm-chãri which prevent them from associating with the opposite gender in the following ways:  shravanam - listening to or of  keertanam - talking to or of  keli - frolicking with  prekshanam - intentionally looking at  guhyabhãshanam - privately conversing with  sankalp - fantasising about  adhyavasãya - thinking of  kriyã - intercourse with
Nãrad: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a travelling rushi. Nãrad showed that bhakti is the best way of attaining moksh. He was also a great bhakta of Bhagvãn and has guided many souls on the path of kalyãn by travelling all over the brahmãnd.
nimit-pralay: 1) Stimulated dissolution. Destruction of the lower ten loks of the fourteen loks of a brahmãnd, including Svarg-Lok, Mrutyu-Lok and Pãtãl. This is stimulated by the end of the fourteen-manvantar day of Virãt- Purush, when his equally long night falls. 2) Brahmã’s state of sushupti (deep sleep) – when all of ishvar’s responsibilities are absorbed – which lasts as long as his day. Equivalent to 4.32 x 109 human years.

pãdma-kalp: Period of time during the process of creation when Marichi and others jeevs are given their bodies by Bhagvãn. Length of pãdma-kalp time is one of Brahmã's days (4.32 x 109 human years). [Gadhadã – 13].
Parbrahm: Beyond Brahm. God. Supreme being. Bhagvãn. He is unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the ocean of all forms of bliss, does not have any attributes of Mãyã, divine, always taking birth on earth for His bhaktas. Resides within the ãtmã. Also called Paramãtmã, Parbrahm, Krishna Nãrãyan, and Swãminãrãyan. Highest of the five eternal entities (jeev, ishvar, Mãyã, and Brahm, and Parbrahm).
pãrshad: 1) Male tyãgi in the time of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn, similar to a sãdhu, but whose niyams were not as strict; they observed brahm-chãrya in general but were allowed to talk with women, and were allowed to touch money but not keep it for themselves. Most pãrshads shaved their heads like other sãdhus but wore a white dhoti and upper garment. 2) Attendant of Bhagvãn.
Pradhãn-Prakruti: Prakruti half of the Pradhãn-Purush pair, ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Also called simply Pradhãn.
Pradhãn-Purush: One of the countless pairs of Pradhãn-Prakruti and Purush ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Subsequently, from each pair of Pradhãn-Purush, the twenty-four tattvas are created, and in turn, the jeevs and ishvars receive their respective bodies.
Pradyumna: One of the four forms of Bhagvãn’s Vishvarup svarup. His role is to explain the tattvas, and to cause the sustenance of the brahmãnd (Virãt-Purush). During the state of sustenance, Virãt-Purush worships Pradyumna.
prajãpati: The maker of clay and mud pots. The devs that preside over procreation, and protect life. Brahmã, Marichi, Daksh, and Kashyap are known as prajãpatis, as they are involved in creating life-forms and the world.
Prakruti: 1) Divine energy or instrument of Bhagvãn that initiates the creation process by being ‘impregnated’ by Purush – also called Mul-Purush, Mahã-Purush, or Akshar- Purush – and from which countless pairs of Pradhãn and Purush are ‘conceived’ for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Taken to be feminine in nature, she is composed of the three gun, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in her dormant state houses all jeevs and all elements. Also called Mul- Prakruti, Mul-Mãyã, and Mahã-Mãyã. 2) Also refers to Pradhãn-Prakruti.
Prakruti-Purush: The pair of Mul-Prakruti and Mul-Purush, from which countless pairs of Pradhãn and Purush are formed for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Also called Mul-Prakruti-Purush.
Purãn: Ancient. A set of eighteen shãstras recording ancient Hindu events that incorporate ethical and spiritual teachings, most popular of which is the Shreemad Bhãgvat Purãn. The other seventeen Purãns are, namely: the Brahma Purãn, Padma Purãn, Vishnu Purãn, Vãyu Purãn, Nãrad Purãn, Mãrkandey Purãn, Agney Purãn, Bhavishya Purãn, Brahma-Vaivart Purãn, Ling Purãn, Varãh Purãn, Skand Purãn, Vãman Purãn, Kurma Purãn, Matsya Purãn, Garud Purãn, and Brahmãnd Purãn. Forms a portion of the Smruti.
Purush: 1) An akshar-mukta selected by Akshar-Brahm to ‘impregnate’ Prakruti for the creation process, from which countless pairs of Pradhãn and Purush are formed for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. 2) Purush half of the Pradhãn-Purush pair, ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. 3) Taken to be masculine in nature, Purush is the controller of Prakruti, and is also distinct from her. He is indivisible, without a beginning, and without an end. He is self-luminous, omniscient, imperishable, satya, kshetragna, and the cause of all the activities that possess a form. He also has a divya body. 4) Also called Mahã-Purush, Mul-Purush or Akshar- Purush.

rãjarshi: A householder or royal person with characteristics like that of a rushi. At a lower level than a brahmarshi.
Rãmãnand Swãmi: The guru who gave the young Nilkanth Brahmachari bhagvati diksha at Piplana in Samvat 1857, naming Him Sahajanand Swami and Narayan Muni. Recognizing Him as gifted with every quality of a true sant, Ramanand Swami handed over leadership of the Sampraday to Him before passing away in Samvat 1858.
rushi: A sage. A tyãgi who performs severe tap and dhyãn. The Veds were revealed by Brahmã to rushis.

sãdhan-dashã: A person in the process of attaining siddh-dashã. Has attained the state of brahm. He identifies things separately; pleasant and unpleasant vishays do not appear to be equal.
sãdhu: Male person who has abandoned worldly duties and has chosen a strict life of religious activities under strict vows of poverty, brahm-chãrya, and obedience. A tyãgi.
Sanakãdik: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of the four sons of Brahmã: Sanak, Sanãtan, Sanandan, and Sanat-Kumãr. Born from Brahmã's mind, the four sons are described as great rushis who undertook lifelong vows of brahm-chãrya against the wishes of their father. From the Sanakãdik, the brãhmans got the inspiration regarding the values and importance of tap and brahm-chãrya. Although they are eternally liberated souls from birth, they still became attracted to the devotional service of Bhagvãn. Despite being very senior in age, the Sanakãdik are said to wander the universe in the forms of small children. Also called Chãtur Kumãr or Kumãr San.
sarvagna: The power to see the creation of brahmãnds.
shikhã: A long tuft or lock of hair left at the back of the shaven head of males. The shikhã is usually kept at the brahm- randhra.
shushka-vedãnt: Dry vedãnt. The Advait philosophy. The Vedãnt principle proposing that the ultimate reality is only brahm. Referred to as ‘dry’ because it denies the existence of a personal Bhagvãn, His eternally divine svarup, and His dhãm. Therefore, it does not propose any form of bhakti or worship of Bhagvãn and His avatãrs. [Gadhadã II – 19] [Gadhadã III – 28].
sushumnã: 1) Uninterrupted path of light from the brahm-randhra to Prakruti-Purush. [Gadhadã I – 65]. 2) Path by which the sound produced by Parbrahm via Akshar-Brahm pervades the navel of Virãt-Purush. [Sãrangpur – 6].
sushumnã nãdi: Nerve or channel transmitting cosmic energy within the inner body of a person, where the current passes through the spinal column from the base of the spine and ends in the brahm-randhra located in the crown of the head. One of the three major nãdis.

trikon: A triangle. A chihn on Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn’s left foot. Performing dhyãn on this chihn frees a bhakta from the bondage and the three bodies – sthul, sukshma, kãran; and the three mental states – jãgrat, svapna; sushupti. He becomes brahm-rup.
trimurti: Three devs responsible for the control of a brahmãnd. Brahma (creator), Vishnu (sustainer), Shiv (destroyer).
turyapad: Fourth mental state, which refers to Bhagvãn – who is beyond the three mental states of jãgrat, svapna, and sushupti. That which gives knowledge of the distinctions between the mental states to the jeevãtmã, and who gives the jeev the rewards of its karmas accordingly within those states, is known as turyapad, as the antaryãmi, as the drashtã, as Brahm, and also as Parbrahm.

urdhvaretã: Strict brahm-chãri who does not allow the ejaculation of semen.

vairãgya: Detachment. A hatred or strong dislike for the world and its mãyik pleasures (the panch-vishays). Remaining detached from the body and the brahmãnd, and from all things that are the products of Prakruti. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma.
Vãsudev: One of the four forms of Bhagvãn’s Vishvarup svarup. His Vãsudev-Nãrãyan role is to be worshipped by the jeevs in the brahmãnd (Virãt-Purush). The four-armed svarup of Bhagvãn. He holds four different weapons: gadã, padma, shankh, and chakra.
Virãt-Purush: 1) An ishvar ‘conceived’ by one of the countless pairs of Pradhãn-Purush. A svarup assumed by Bhagvãn through Purush and Prakruti, and through whom He then grants Brahmã and other jeevs their bodies. By nature, he is like a jeev, with his actions also being similar to that of a jeev – but with a lifespan of two parãrdhs (2 x 1017 human years). The creation, sustenance, and destruction of this brahmãnd are his three states. [Gadhadã II – 31]. 2) He is also the physical world (Virãt-Purush) or a brahmãnd, which is a human form. However, it is beyond visualisation due to its immense size. Also known as Purush-Avatãr. [Gadhadã I – 63].
Vishvarup: Literally means ‘svarup of the world’. This svarup was shown to Arjun by Shree Krishna Bhagvãn. The svarup consists of four different forms: Vãsudev, Pradyumna, Aniruddha, and Sankarshan. They each have different roles and responsibilities in a brahmãnd (Virãt-Purush). Sankarshan, Aniruddha, and Pradyumna are the sagun svarups of Vãsudev Bhagvãn, and it is the strength of the upãsanã of Virãt-Purush that he becomes capable of performing the activities of creation, sustenance, and destruction. Also, as long as Virãt-Purush worships these three, his association with Mãyã – in the form of creation, sustenance, and destruction – is not broken. It is when he worships Vãsudev Bhagvãn, who is nirgun, that Virãt- Purush abandons Mãyã and becomes brahm-rup.
Vyãs Sutra: Extremely concise, cryptic sayings, explaining the essence of the Upanishads, written by Vyãs. Also known as the Brahm Sutra or Vedãnt Sutra. One of the eight shãstras accepted as trustworthy by Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn.

yati: A person who firmly follows brahm-chãrya and has conquered all of his indriyas should be known as a yati. [Jetalpur – 2].
yog-yagna: When a person performs a sãttvik yagna by withdrawing the ten indriyas and the mind (the eleventh indriya) from whichever vishays they have become attached to, and then offers them into the brahm-agni. By continuously making these offerings, Bhagvãn incarnates Himself with the brahm-svarup self of the person who performs a yoga- yagna, just as Bhagvãn grants darshan to the performer of a yagna. This is the reward of the yog-yagna.