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 “bhakti” · clear

ardha-chandra: Half moon. A chihn on Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn’s left foot. The moon symbolises peace. A bhakta performing dhyãn on this chihn overcomes all miseries and experiences inner peace and profound happiness. Also, just as the night-lotus blossoms due to the light of the moon, the bhakta blossoms with bhakti and shraddhã through the light of Bhagvãn.
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.

bhãgvat bhakta: A bhakta who follows bhãgvat dharma, which consists of dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, and bhakti coupled with the knowledge of Bhagvãn's greatness.
bhãgvat dharma: 1) Dharma related to Bhagvãn. The dharma which avatãrs of Bhagvãn come to establish, and the dharma which was adopted by Nãrad, the Sanakãdik, Shukji, Dhruv, Prahlãd, Ambrish and other bhaktas. This form of dharma is not different from bhakti itself. 2) Collective term for dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, and bhakti coupled with the knowledge of Bhagvãn's greatness. This will lead a person to become an ekãntik bhakta who crosses Bhagvãn's Mãyã and attains His dhãm. 3) Also called ekãntik dharma.
bhakti: Devotion to Bhagvãn. One of the four attributes of ekãntik dharma. There are nine types of bhakti:
Bhakti: The devi of bhakti.

ekãntik: The highest spiritual state, in which a person offers perfect bhakti to Bhagvãn along with dharma, gnãn and vairãgya.
ekãntik bhakta: 1) Highest level of bhakta. A person who offers ekãntik bhakti, perfectly possesses all four of the qualities of ekãntik dharma (dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, and bhakti). 2) A person who has no desires other than Bhagvãn, and who worships Bhagvãn while realising himself to be brahm-rup. [Gadhadã I – 11].
ekãntik dharma: Collective term for dharma, gnãn, vairãgya, and bhakti coupled with the knowledge of Bhagvãn's greatness. This will lead a person to become an ekãntik bhakta who crosses Bhagvãn's Mãyã and attains His dhãm. Also called bhãgvat dharma.

gopi: Protectors of cows. Wives of the cowherds of Vrundãvan present during the time of Shree Krishna. Female bhaktas of Bhagvãn who represent the perfect love and bhakti towards Bhagvãn.

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.
niyam: 1) Moral and spiritual disciplines and religious codes of conduct prescribed by Bhagvãn or the shãstras, to protect a bhakta on the path to Bhagvãn. Niyams may relate to either dharma or bhakti. Niyams keep the bhakta fit to travel closer to Bhagvãn and ultimately earn the grace of Bhagvãn. Disobeying niyams causes the bhakta to fall from the path of Bhagvãn. Basic niyams for bhaktas are outlined in the Shikshãpatri. 2) The second step of ashtãng-yog, which involves the observance of religious practices and code of dharma for the control and refinement of the mind.

pradakshinã: Look from all directions. To walk in the clockwise direction around the murti of Bhagvãn with a focused mind, and receive His darshan from all directions. A form of bhakti, signifying that Bhagvãn is the centre of our lives; just as the sun provide energy for the planets that orbit it, Bhagvãn provides energy for us. The pradakshinã is performed in a clockwise direction so Bhagvãn remains on our right, which is the position of the master.
pravrutti: 1) Activity in the form of social duties and affairs. In this sense, often used to refer to the path of a grahastha. 2) Can also include all forms of activities and responsibilities, including religious activities, such as sevã in the mandir, and attending to bhaktas of Bhagvãn. A person increases bhakti and sevã rather than dhyãn and smaran.
prem-lakshanã: Profound, loving devotion. bhakti

shushka-gnãn: Dry knowledge. Refers to the Advait philosophy. It is called ‘dry’ as it disclaims the existence of a personal Bhagvãn, and so does not propose any form of bhakti towards Him.
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].

thãl: Food devotionally offered to Bhagvãn as a form of bhakti, which in turn blesses the food – turning it into prasãd.