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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.

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angarkhu: A long-sleeved, upper garment that is made of a thin cloth. It reaches down to the knees, and is tied with strings on the left side of the chest.
ãrti: A form of worship, in which lighted wicks, soaked in ghee, are gently waved before the murti of Bhagvãn, and is accompanied by a song that praises Him. The flame acquires the power of Bhagvãn. Bhaktas then pass their down-turned hands over the flame and then raise their palms to their forehead – the blessings of Bhagvãn pass
ãstik: 1) A person who believes in the existence of Bhagvãn, and is religious. Opposite of nãstik. 2) Describes people or shãstras that accept the authority and authenticity of the Veds.
ãtmã-nivedi: A person who offers ãtmã-nivedanam, the ninth type of bhakti. A bhakta who has totally surrendered jeev to Bhagvãn. A person whose every action is an offering to Bhagvãn and who has Bhagvãn at the centre of his every action.
avidyã: Knowledge and understanding of all that has evolved from Mãyã, and is mãyik. False understanding of the nature of reality. Ignorance.

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.

chaul sanskãr: The ceremony performed when the hair of a child is removed. This is the first time the child’s hair is cut.

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.
Dhanvantari: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of the physician of the devs. He introduced the world to Ãyurved medicine and surgery. For this reason, He is known as the father of Ãyurved.
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.
Dharma-Shãstra: A set of shãstras coding the basic laws and principles of civil and social conduct. They integrate spirituality and political law by including the discussion of creation, stages of life, duties of daily living, tap, and study of the Veds. A part of the Smruti literature.
Dvãpar-Yug: Third of the four yugs that mark the time-scale of the world. Lasting 864,000 human years, it was an age when purity and righteousness diminished considerably, people lived to be 1,000, and the system of the four varnas came into full operation.

gandh: A smell. One of the panch-vishays. Gandh is the physical element of pruthvi, and is perceived by the nose. The characteristics of gandh are fragrance and stench.
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.

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.

Jain: A follower of Jainism – the non-Vedic religion of India propagating strict ahinsã, tyãg, and karmas as being the only factor responsible for creation and the continuing unfolding events and activities of the world. According to Jain philosophy, karmas themselves can grant their own rewards. Therefore, Bhagvãn is not a necessary element of their philosophy.
jãmo: A long-sleeved, upper garment that is made of a thick cloth, with rich embroidery. It reaches down below the knees, and is tied at the waist with long strings.

kanthi: Double-threaded necklace; usually made of tulsi beads, received by satsangis upon initiation into the
karma: Action. Deed. Any thought, word, or deed that will sooner or later reap its consequences. Karmas of a person are linked to their rewards (cause and effect). Bhagvãn is the giver of the rewards of the karmas; good deeds reap pleasant rewards, and bad deeds reap painful fruits. Karmas remain with a jeev until it has received its rewards.
kediyu: A long-sleeved, upper garment that is pleated at the chest, and reaches down to the waist. Approximately twelve feet of cloth is used up in the pleats.
khir: Rich item of food made of sweetened milk and rice, garnished with aromatic spices and nuts, and usually served hot.
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.
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.

Mãrgi: A Follower of the Vãm-Mãrg (cult of lust), an anti-Vedic cult that promotes illicit sex and other prohibited practices as a means to kalyãn.
murti: 1) Sacred idol of Bhagvãn used to offer worship. There are eight types of murtis that can be worshipped: stone, wood, metal, earth, engraved or drawn, sand, gems, and mental. 2) The form of Bhagvãn.

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.
Nrusinh: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a lion-man. Hiranyakashipu was a demon who had immunity from being killed by man, beast, and Bhagvãn. For, this reason, Bhagvãn took birth as half-lion and half- man. He killed Hiranyakashipu, and saved His devout bhakta, Prahlãd.

panch-vishay: The five types of objects that are perceived by the indriyas: shabda (sounds), sparsh (touches), rup (sights), ras (tastes), and gandh (smells).
parã: The divine sound produced in the navel of Virãt-Purush is known as the ‘parã’ speech. For the purpose of creating the Veds, Bhagvãn Himself has inspired that ‘parã’ speech. [Sãrangpur – 6]
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.
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.
pranav: A transformed form of the divine, transcendental vibration emanated at the moment of first creation, and from which all other sounds, and ultimately the sacred Veds, come forth. The speech of Virãt-Purush became the form of pranav by becoming the three sounds of ‘A’, ‘U’, and ‘M’, and then became the fifty-two syllables, and took the form of the four Veds. The three-syllable – ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’ – sound known as AUM.
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.

Rãm/Rãmchandra: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a king. Shree Rãm was the perfect human, the perfect son, the perfect husband, and the perfect king. He was exiled to the forest for fourteen years, with His wife Sitãji and His brother Lakshmanji. When Sitãji was kidnapped by the demon Rãvan, Rãm saved her with the help of Hanumãnji and Lakshmanji, and killed Rãvan.
ras: A taste. One of the panch-vishays. It is the physical element of jal, and is perceived by the tongue. The characteristics of ras are sweetness, spiciness, distastefulness, bitterness, sourness, and saltiness.
rup: A sight. One of the panch-vishays. Rup is the physical element of tej, and is perceived by the eyes. Rup reveals the appearance of all objects, and resides in all objects in a small form, and changes as objects change.
rushi: A sage. A tyãgi who performs severe tap and dhyãn. The Veds were revealed by Brahmã to rushis.

Satya-Yug: First of the four yugs that mark the time-scale of the world. Lasting 1,728,000 human years, it is the purest and most righteous of the yugs, where people lived to be 100,000, all were brãhmans, everyone’s wishes were fulfilled, and everyone worshipped Bhagvãn.
shabda: A sound. One of the panch-vishays. Shabda is the physical element of ãkãsh, and is perceived by the ears. Shabda is indicator of all objects, the cause of all social interactions, and reveals the nature and class of the speaker.
shikhar-bandh: A mandir with domes on the top. Below each dome is a mandir three-dimensional murti, carved in stone, wood, or metal.
Shruti: That which is revealed and heard. Philosophical and spiritual wisdom – as revealed to the rushis after strict tap and deep dhyãn. The four Veds are Shruti shãstras.
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].
shushka-vedãnti: A person who follows the shushka-vedãnt philosophy. One of the four types of kusangis.
sparsh: A touch. One of the panch-vishays. Sparsh is the physical element of vãyu, and is perceived by the skin. The characteristics of sparsh are softness, hardness, cold, and heat.
svabhãv: 1) Nature. 2) Flaw. Negative characteristic. A person’s vicious natures, such as kãm, krodh, lobh, and moh. Also used to refer to a person’s natures in the form of habits formed after repeated actions, in this birth or in the past lives. A svabhãv must be eradicated in order to attain kalyãn, which is achieved by listening to the advice of Bhagvãn and His sant.
svedaj: Born from sweat. Life-forms born from sweat (lower life forms, such as bacteria).

tattva: An element. That which is produced from Mãyã. There are twenty-four tattvas that have evolved from Mãyã: the five gnãn-indriyas, the five karma-indriyas, the five prãns, and the four antah-karans.
Tretã-Yug: Second of the four yugs that mark the time-scale of the world. Lasting 1,296,000 human years, it was when purity and righteousness had slightly diminished, the instincts of the kshatriyas prevailed, people lived to be 10,000, and people’s wishes were not so readily fulfilled. Called the Tretã-Yug, or age of three, because the general ratio of good deeds performed to bad deeds was three to one.

Varãh: An avatãr of Bhagvãn. He incarnated in the svarup of a wild boar. Hiranyaksha was a demon who stole the Veds and drowned the earth. Varãh killed Hiranyaksha, retrieved the Veds, and saved the earth by lifting it from the ocean on his tusks.
Ved: Knowledge. Most sacred and respected set of shãstras, the oldest portions of which are also recognised as the most ancient writings in history. It is a collection of divine revelations imparting philosophical wisdom as revealed to the rushis after strict tap and deep dhyãn. Therefore, the Veds are called Shruti shãstras, as the knowledge was revealed and heard. Consists of four parts: Rig Ved, Sãm Ved, Yajur Ved, and Atharva Ved.
Ved-Stuti: A portion of the Shreemad Bhãgvat (skandh ten) in which the Veds praise the glory and greatness of Bhagvãn.
Vedãnt: A conclusion of the Veds. The principle of thought explained in the Upanishads, which reveals the conclusive teachings of the Veds. The principle centres on the nature of the ãtmã, the world, reality, and personal experience. Although different ãchãryas have written extensive commentaries upon the Upanishads and proposed their personal principles that can also be called Vedãnt, the term is often used specifically to refer to the Advait philosophy.
vedãnti: A person who promotes or follows the Vedãnt philosophy, but generally used for someone who accepts the Advait philosophy.
vedic: From the Veds.
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].
Vyãs: An avatãr of Bhagvãn born to Satyavati and Parãshar Rushi. Bhagvãn incarnated in the svarup of a great scholar. Vyãs made divisions in the Veds, and wrote eighteen Purãns, including Shreemad Bhãgvat.
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.

yagna: Sacrificial worship. Ceremonial ritual performed as a form of worship to seek the good favour and receive the blessings of the devs. Different items, such as ghee, grains, wood, and spices, are offered into a sacred pit of fire in accordance with strict scriptural niyams with the chanting of mantras that are prescribed in the Veds.
yagnopavit: A sacred white thread, worn from the left shoulder to the waist. It is worn by brãhmans. A ceremony (upanayan) is performed when the yagnopavit is received, usually after the age of seven. Traditionally, the ceremony was performed to mark the point at which boys began their formal education. The yagnopavit is also given to a sant when he receives his dikshã.