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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.

24 resultsfor “Prakruti” · clear

anãdi: Beginningless. Without origin or starting point; self-existent (BGM's own entry notes some consider Ishvar, jeev, and Prakruti to be anãdi -- directly relevant to the Vachanamrut's five eternal entities).
ãtyantik-pralay: Final destruction. Destruction of all of the countless millions of brahmãnds, when even Prakruti-Purush draws

chaitanya prakruti: All things that are chetan or animate, and possess chaitanya or consciousness. Living elements. The element of life (chaitanya), by which this world is upheld.

gnãn-pralay: Destruction by gnãn. A state of individual understanding in which Prakruti-Purush and the entities evolved from them do not come into view, and a person sees only pure chaitanya, within which only the murti of Bhagvãn resides, but no other forms remain. All mãyik influences are destroyed – as if ãtyantik-pralay has taken place for that particular individual.
gun: 1) Good quality or trait. (pronounced goon) 2) Principle quality of Prakruti or Mãyã. There are three in total: sattva-gun (goodness and awareness), rajo- gun (passion and desires), and tamo-gun (darkness, ignorance, and laziness). All beings are affected by the influence of one or a combination of these three gun of Mãyã until they become gunãtit. The gun bring out different types of moods in a person: a person in sattva-gun is calm, and peaceful; a person in rajo-gun

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.

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].

Mahã-Mãyã: See Prakruti.
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).
Mul-Prakruti: See Prakruti.
Mul-Prakruti-: See Prakruti-Purush. Purush

Pradhãn: Pradhãn-Prakruti.
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.
prakruti: Refers to chaitanya prakruti and/or jad prakruti.
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.
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.

rajo-gun: Quality of passion. One of the three gun of Mãyã (Prakruti) characterised by incoherence and desires for the vishays. When rajo-gun prevails, the antah-karan becomes polluted and many disturbing thoughts regarding desires for the vishays arise, making it difficult to worship Bhagvãn’s murti. Also, when rajo-gun is predominant, the rewards of any karmas performed by a jeev are experienced in the svapna state. The products of rajo-gun include lust, and desires for enjoying sense pleasures. [Kãriyãni – 1] [Gadhadã II – 43].

sattva-gun: Quality of goodness. One of the three gun of Mãyã (Prakruti) characterised by awareness and vairãgya
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].

tamo-gun: Quality of darkness. One of the three gun of Mãyã (Prakruti) characterised by unconsciousness and ignorance. When tamo-gun prevails, no thoughts arise in the antah-karan, and a person experiences a feeling of emptiness. Also, when tamo-gun is predominant, the rewards of any karmas performed by a jeev are experienced during the state of sushupti. The products of tamo-gun include laziness, sleep, anger, and greed. [Kãriyãni – 1] [Gadhadã II – 43].

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.
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].