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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.

31 resultsfor “Brahmã” · clear

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.
ãtyantik-pralay: Final destruction. Destruction of all of the countless millions of brahmãnds, when even Prakruti-Purush draws

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).
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.
brahmãy: Divine.

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.

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.

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.

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].
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.

rushi: A sage. A tyãgi who performs severe tap and dhyãn. The Veds were revealed by Brahmã to rushis.

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.

trimurti: Three devs responsible for the control of a brahmãnd. Brahma (creator), Vishnu (sustainer), Shiv (destroyer).

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.