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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.

14 resultsfor “sang” · clear

ãchãrya: 1) A person who establishes a religious philosophy. 2) Head of a sampradãy, who protects dharma. A spiritual leader and guru, who initiates a satsangi into the sampradãy. There are two ãchãryas in the Swãminãrãyan Sampradãy; one for northern India (Amdãvãd Gãdi), and one for southern India (Vadtãl Gãdi). They are decedents of Dharma-Dev (the father of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn). Sahajãnand Swami adopted Ayodhyãprasãdji from His elder brother Rãmpratãpji, and adopted Raghuvirji from His younger brother Ichhãrãmji. Both sons then became the first two ãchãryas of the Swãminãrãyan Sampradãy. The ãchãrya a satsangi follows depends on where they live: satsangis living in northern India fall under the Amdãvãd region, and satsangis living in southern India fall under the Vadtãl region.

kanthi: Double-threaded necklace; usually made of tulsi beads, received by satsangis upon initiation into the
karma-yogi: A person is striving for karma-yog (yog through activities). Term used for a grahastha bhakta who has not renounced his/her worldly duties completely – as opposed to a sãnkhya-yogi – but is nevertheless sincerely striving for yog or kalyãn. Refers to the many grahasthas in the time of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn who chose to totally commit and dedicate their lives to satsang.
kudã-panthi: Follower of a cult whose beliefs are against the teachings of the Veds. They falsely state the five 'M’ as a means to kalyãn. They are: madya (alcohol), mãns (meat), matsya (fish), mudrã (occult markings on the body), and maithun (illicit sex). One of the four types of kusangis.
kusang: The association of an evil person.
kusangi: A person who is bad company. A kusangi has a bad influence on someone’s progress in satsang, and leads them astray from satsang. There are four types of kusangis: shakti-panthi, kudã-panthi, shushka-vedãnti, and nãstik.

nãstik: 1) Atheist. Non-believer. Opposite of ãstik. Person who does not believe in the existence of Bhagvãn, or who is not religious. One of the four types of kusangis. 2) Often refers specifically to the Jains, who propose that all activities and events are direct results of karmas, but who do not accept Bhagvãn as the all-doer or the giver of the rewards of karmas. 3) A person who states that the vidhi and nishedh prescribed by the shãstras are false. 4) Can also describe people or shãstras that do not accept the authority and authenticity of the Veds, or a person who does not trust the words of greats such as Nãrad, the Sanakãdik, Vyãs, and Vãlmiki.

sabhã: Assembly. A group of satsangis listening to kathã or singing kirtans.
sang: Company. Association. (pronounced sung)
sãnkhya-yogi: A yogi who has abandoned activities. Term used for a bhakta who has abandoned his/her worldly duties – as opposed to a karma-yogi – and is sincerely striving for kalyãn. Refers to a tyãgi who is totally dedicated and committed to satsang. In the time of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn, many widows and widowers chose to become sãnkhya-yogis after their spouse passed away. They dedicated their lives to Bhagvãn rather than any other family members. Often refers to female tyãgis.
satsang: 1) True company. The practice of associating with Bhagvãn’s sant, other satsangis, the ãtmã, and the sacred shãstras, and also observing vartmãns and niyams. 2) Also refers to the sampradãy, which is the presence of good company.
satsangi: A person who practises satsang.
shakti-panthi: Follower of a Shakti cult. They worship Shakti, as the governing power of the world, and they believe the consumption of meat and alcohol to be holy. Animals are sacrificed in front of a murti Shakti, and offered as prasãd. One of the four types of kusangis.
shushka-vedãnti: A person who follows the shushka-vedãnt philosophy. One of the four types of kusangis.