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.

18 resultsfor “vad” · 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.
ãkãsh: Space. One of the five bhuts, from which the physical world (Virãt-Purush) is formed. It provides space for all jeevs, is the cause of the internal and external activities of their bodies, and is also where the prãns, indriyas, and antah-karans reside. Ãkãsh is the greatest of the five bhuts, as it supports and pervades all of the other four bhuts, yet remains unaffected by them.
Akshar: 1) Imperishable. In his personal form, Akshar serves Bhagvãn in Akshardhãm, and takes birth on earth as His ideal bhakta (sat-purush). Both forms are human in appearance. In his impersonal form, Akshar is the dhãm of Bhagvãn called Akshardhãm. In his all- pervading anvay form, Akshar is called Chidãkãsh.
ãtmã: 1) The pure jeev, which is distinct from the three bodies and three mental states, and distinct from the indriyas, the antah-karans, worldly desires, or any other traces of Mãyã. It is imperishable and eternal, does not undergo births or deaths, and it leaves a physical body after that body dies and assumes another physical body. Infinite in number. 2) That which pervades, inspires, and controls.

Bhagvad Geetã: Song of Bhagvãn. One of the most popular Hindu shãstras. It comprises of a dialogue between Arjun and Shree Krishna, at the beginning of the battle between the feuding cousins, the Pãndavs and the Kauravs. The

guldãvadi: Flower of the chrysanthemum genus, found to blossom unusually out of season. Also known as sevati.

jad prakruti: 1) Eight non-chaitanya (lifeless) components of the world: pruthvi, jal, tej, vãyu, ãkãsh, maha-tattva, Pradhãn-Prakruti and Mul-Prakruti. 2) The Bhagvad Geetã mentions these to be pruthvi, jal, tej, vãyu, ãkãsh, man, buddhi and ahankãr. [Loyã – 7].
Janmãshtami: Birthday of Shree Krishna – Shrãvan vadi 8. A fast if kept on this day, and it is celebrated with great festivity.

Krishna: 1) An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a cowherd. This is considered to be a greater avatãr than the others, as Shree Krishna possessed all of the powers of Bhagvãn, whereas other avatãrs possessed less power. Shree Krishna conveyed the message of love and humanity to the world. Also, He recited the epic poem, the Bhagvad Geetã, to Arjun in which He stated: ‘Whenever dharma declines and adharma increases, I shall incarnate myself as a human to save the holy, to destroy the sin of the sinner, and to establish dharma. I come into being from yug to yug’. 2) In the Vachanãmrut, Shreeji Mahãrãj also uses the name “Shree Krishna” to describe Bhagvãn Purushottam Nãrãyan.

sanchit karma: Accumulated deeds. Immeasurable stock of all deeds performed, in infinite past lives and in the present life. The karmas are retained in the kãran body until the karmas ‘ripen’ to eventually give rewards as prãrabdha karmas, either later in the present life or in a future life. [Vadtãl – 6].
sevati: Flower of the chrysanthemum genus, found to blossom unusually out of season. Also known as guldãvadi.
sharir: 1) Embodiment. That which is pervaded, inspired and governed by the ãtmã. 2) Refers to the physical and non-physical world, which is pervaded, inspired, and governed by Bhagvãn, its shariri.
shariri: 1) That which is embodied. That which pervades, inspires and governs the sharir. 2) Refers to Bhagvãn, who pervades, inspires, and governs the physical and non-physical world, His sharir.
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].
svadharma: A person’s own dharma, related to his varna and ãshram.

vad: Dark half of a Hindu lunar month in which the moon is in its waning phase. The days falling between the day after Punam up to and including Amãs. Also called krishna paksh.
vadvãnal: Form of fire that resides within the oceans, yet it never extinguishes.

yogic: That which is of a yog or yogi. [Vadtãl – 4].