Shabda-kosha
Glossary
Key Hindu and Sanskrit terms, explained simply.
- Aartiआरती
- The waving of lamps before a deity accompanied by song, expressing love and reverence.
- Ahimsaअहिंसा
- Non-violence; the principle of not harming any living being in thought, word, or deed.
- Atmanआत्मन्
- The innermost self or soul, eternal and unchanging, distinct from body and mind.
- Avatarअवतार
- A descent of the divine into earthly form to restore dharma.
- Bhaktiभक्ति
- Loving devotion to a personal form of the divine as a path to liberation.
- Brahmanब्रह्मन्
- The absolute, infinite reality underlying and pervading all that exists.
- Darshanदर्शन
- The auspicious sight of a deity or holy person, and the blessing of being seen in return.
- Dharmaधर्म
- Righteous duty, the moral order that upholds the cosmos and the path each being is meant to walk.
- Gunasगुण
- The three qualities of nature: sattva (harmony), rajas (activity), and tamas (inertia).
- Guruगुरु
- A spiritual teacher who dispels the darkness of ignorance and guides the seeker.
- Ishvaraईश्वर
- The personal form of the supreme being, the Lord who governs the cosmos.
- Jnanaज्ञान
- Knowledge or wisdom; the path of discerning the real from the unreal.
- Karmaकर्म
- Action, and the law by which every action bears fruit, shaping present and future experience.
- Kirtanकीर्तन
- Call-and-response devotional singing of the names and glories of the divine.
- Lingaलिङ्ग
- The aniconic symbol of Shiva representing formless, infinite consciousness.
- Mantraमन्त्र
- A sacred sound, word, or verse repeated to focus the mind and invoke the divine.
- Mayaमाया
- The veiling power that makes the impermanent appear real and hides the true self.
- Mokshaमोक्ष
- Liberation; release from the cycle of birth and death and the realization of one's true nature.
- Murtiमूर्ति
- A consecrated image or form of a deity used as a focus for worship.
- Omॐ
- The primordial sound and most sacred syllable, said to be the vibration of the cosmos.
- Pranaप्राण
- The vital life force that flows through all living beings.
- Prasadaप्रसाद
- Food or offering blessed by a deity and shared among devotees as grace.
- Pujaपूजा
- Ritual worship offered to a deity through light, flowers, water, food, and prayer.
- Sadhanaसाधना
- Sustained spiritual practice undertaken to reach a goal of realization.
- Samsaraसंसार
- The continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth driven by karma.
- Sannyasaसंन्यास
- The renunciate stage of life, devoted entirely to the pursuit of liberation.
- Satsangसत्सङ्ग
- The company of the truthful; gathering with seekers and teachers for spiritual upliftment.
- Sevaसेवा
- Selfless service offered without expectation of reward.
- Shaktiशक्ति
- The dynamic divine feminine power that animates all of creation.
- Tapasतपस्
- Spiritual discipline or austerity that generates inner heat and transformative power.
- Tirthaतीर्थ
- A sacred crossing place or pilgrimage site where the divine is felt to be near.
- Upanishadsउपनिषद्
- Philosophical texts at the end of the Vedas exploring the nature of self and ultimate reality.
- Vairagyaवैराग्य
- Dispassion; freedom from attachment to worldly objects and outcomes.
- Vedasवेद
- The most ancient and authoritative scriptures of Hinduism, revealed knowledge in four collections.
- Yajnaयज्ञ
- A sacred fire offering and, more broadly, any act of selfless sacrifice.
- Yogaयोग
- Union; a discipline of body, mind, and spirit that joins the individual self with the divine.