Advaita
One who teaches by example. Usually refers to a prominent or exemplary spiritual
teacher.
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Bhakti
Devotion; love. Devotional form of Hinduism.
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Hanuman
The monkey warrior who faithfully served Rama and Sita. |
Ahimsa
Non-dual. Refers to the impersonalistic philosophy that unqualifyingly equates
God, the soul and matter.
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Bhakti-yoga
The path of loving devotion, aimed at developing pure love of God.
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Havan
Act of worship in which offerings of ghee and grains are made into a fire.
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Arti
Welcoming ceremony in which auspicious articles such as incense and lamps
are offered to the deity or to saintly people.
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Brahma
A Hindu deity considered one of the Trimurti, and in charge of creative
power; not to be confused with Brahman or Brahmin.
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Holi
The festival of colours, celebrated in spring.
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Ashram
A place set up for spiritual development.
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Brahman
The ultimate reality, or the all-pervading reality; that from which everything
emanates, in which it rests and into which it is ultimately dissolved.
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Jati
Caste is the usual translation, meaning occupational kinship group.
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Ashrama
A stage of life (of which there are four) adopted towards material considerations
but ultimately as a means to spiritual realisations.
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Brahmin
The first of the four varnas, the principal social groups from which priests
are drawn. Some writers, rather confusingly, use the spelling ‘brahman’,
and the meaning only becomes clear in the context of a few sentences (see
also Brahman and Brahma).
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Jnana
Knowledge.
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Atman
Self. Can refer to body, mind or soul depending on context. Ultimately,
it refers to the real self, the soul.
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Dharma
Religion or religious duty is the usual translation into English, but literally
it means The intrinsic quality of the self or that which sustains one’s
existence.
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Kali
Name given for the power of God that delivers justice – often represented
by the goddess Kali.
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Aum
The sacred symbol and sound representing the ultimate; the most sacred of
Hindu words.
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Diva
Light, normally ghee lamp, lit as offering to deity/ies.
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Karma
Action. Use of work to refer to the law of cause and effect.
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Avatar
One who descends. Refers to the descent of a deity, most commonly Vishnu.
Sometimes it is translated as incarnation which, although inaccurate, may
be the best English word available.
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Divali
Festival of lights at the end of one year and beginning of the new year,
according to one Hindu calendar.
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Krishna
Usually considered an avatar of Vishnu. One of the most popular of all Hindu
deities in contemporary Britain. His teachings are found in the Bhagavad
Gita.
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Bhagavad
Gita The Song of the Lord. Spoken by Krishna, this is the most important
scripture for most Hindus. Tradition dates it back to 3,000 years BCE, though
most scholars attribute it to the first millennium BCE. Considered an Upanishad.
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Durga
Female Hindu deity, form of the goddess Parvati, wife of Shiva.
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Lakshmi
The goddess of fortune
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Bhajan
Devotional hymn or song. |
Ganesha
A Hindu deity portrayed with an elephant’s head – a sign of strength. The
deity who removes obstacles.
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Lotus
Flower Symbol of spirituality
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Ganga
The Ganges. Most famous of all sacred rivers of India. |
Madurai
Place of pilgrimage in South India.
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Mandala
A circle, area or community/group, may be a complex design to aid meditation.
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Mandir
Temple.
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Mantra
That which delivers the mind. Refers to a short sacred text or prayer, often
recited repetitiously. |
