GLOSSARY

A
Adi Saiva	One who bears the marks of Siva.
Adhyatma vidya	Knowledge of the Atman (Self).
Advaita	Non-duality. The doctrine that nothing exists apart from
	the Self, but everything is a form assumed by the Self.
Agamic	Relating to the Agamas, one of the Hindu scriptures.
Aham	I, embodied Self.
Ajnana	Ignorance.
Ajnani	One who has not realised the Self.
Akasvani	Voice coming from the sky.
Amba	An intimate name for the Divine Mother or a Goddess.
Amrita	Immortal.
Artha	Pertaining to material plane.
Ashram	Hermitage, establishment that grows up around a sage
	or guru.
Atma	The Spirit of Self.
Avadhuta	An ascetic who has given up everything.
Avatar	Incarnation, descent of God in a worldly form,
	divine manifestation.
B
Bhagavan	The term ‘Bhagavan’ is used for those few supreme sages
	who are recognised as being completely one with God.
Brahma	In the Hindu Trinity, the god of creation.
Brahmachari	A celibate.
Brahma Jnana	Knowledge (Realization of Brahman).
Brahman	The Supreme Being, the Absolute.
Brahmapuri	Heart, abode of Brahma.
Brahma Vidya	The knowledge of Brahman.
Brahmin	The Hindus were divided traditionally into four
	castes, of whom the brahmins were the highest being
	devoted to a life of spirituality and study.
Bhajan	Singing of God’s praises, especially in chorus.
Bhakta	Devotee, one who approaches God through love and
	devotion.
Bhakti	Devotion to a personal God.
C
Chakra	A Yogic centre in the body.
Chinmudra	A hand-pose indicating illumination.
Chitakash	The space in the heart, Brahman.
D
Darsan	Lit: ‘sight’, seeing a holy man.
Dasi	Courtesan.
Devas	Celestial beings.
Devi	The Divine Mother or a Goddess.
Dharma	Harmony, harmonious life or action. Also a man’s role
	in life, since what is harmonious conduct for one may
	not be so for another.
Dhyana	Meditation, contemplation.
Dikshitar	A priest.
G
Ganapathi	The eldest son of Siva, whose head is that of an elephant.
Gandharvas	Semi divine beings expert in dance and singing.
	Ganesh
(Ganesa)	A name for Ganapathi.
Gayathri	A well-known Vedic mantra.
Gowri (Gouri)	A name for Parvati, the wife of Siva.
Guru	Spiritual guide or master.
H
Hara	A name for Siva
Harikatha	A religious discourse interspersed with devotional
	songs.
I
Iswara (Isvara)	Personal God, the Supreme Being in His aspect of
	the Lord of the World. An intimate reference to God.
J
Jagrat	Waking state.
Japa	Repetition of a sacred word, syllable or name of God.
Jivanmukti	Liberated while one is alive.
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Jnani	One who is the repository of jnana, (knowledge), A
	Self-realised sage.
K
Kailas	A mountain in the Himalayas reputed to be the abode
	of Lord Siva.
Kalpa	The end of a period in time.
Karma	Action, deeds. The destiny that a person makes for
	himself by the law of cause and effect.
Karnam	One who keeps accounts on landed property.
	Kolaru Padikam: A hymn in praise of Lord Siva explaining that the
	planets are powerless and can do no harm to the
	devotee if only the Lord condescends to bless him.
	Kowpeenam
(Kaupeenam)	Loin cloth.
L
Linga	A symbol representing Siva or the Absolute. Lit: ‘that
	in which all beings are absorbed.’
M
Mahadeva	A name for Siva.
Maharshi	Great Seer, Great Rishi.
Mahatma	Enlightened person.
Mahendra	A name for Siva.
Maheswara	A name for Siva.
Mantra	Sacred syllables, through repetition of which one
	attains perfection.
Marga	Mode of approach in the spiritual quest.
Mauna (Mouna)	Silence.
Maya	Illusion; the power inherent in Brahman by which it
	manifests the world.
Moksha	Liberation, spiritual freedom.
Mount Meru	The mountain which, in Hindu mythology is the
	spiritual centre of the universe.
Mutt (Math)	A monastery where mendicants live
N
Nayana diksha	Initiation by sight.
P
Parameswara	A name for Siva.
Parvati	In Hindu mythology the consort of Siva.
Prakriti	Nature, Maya.
Pranayama	Regulation or control of breath.
Prarabdha	The part of one’s karma which is to be worked out in
	this life.
Periapuranam	An ancient Tamil work depicting the lives of 63 Saivite
	Saints.
R
Rama	An incarnation of Vishnu.
Ramayana	An Indian epic depicting the life of Rama.
Rati	In Hindu Mythology the wife of Cupid.
Rishi (Rshi)	Sage, Seer.
Rudraksha	Lit. Siva’s eyes. Beads used for Japa.
S
Sadhaka	A spiritual aspirant, a seeker.
Sadhana	Method of spiritual practice.
Sadhu	Ascetic. One who has renounced home.
Saivite	Worshipper of Lord Siva.
Samadhi	Absorption in the Spirit or Self, with or without trance
	and suspension of the human faculties.
Sama Veda	One of the Vedas.
Sambhu	A name of Siva, Siva as the bounteous.
Sannyasa	Asceticism, the fourth stage of life.
Sannyasi	An ascetic, one who has renounced home, property,
	caste and all attachments in the spiritual quest.
Sastra	Any branch of knowledge or science.
Sati	Self-immolation by a wife on the funeral-pyre of her
	husband.
Siddha Purusha	A sage possessing supernatural powers.
Siddhi	Supernatural power, attainment.
Sita	In Hindu Mythology the wife of Rama.
Siva	Lord of the Universe, in the Hindu Trinity, the god of
	destruction.
	Siva Bhakti
Vilasam	Collection of stories on Siva.
Siva Lingam	The symbol of Siva which is an object of worship.
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Srutis	Scriptural texts passed on by the verbal medium.
Subrahmanya	In Hindu Mythology the second son of Siva.
Sushupti	Dreamless sleep.
Swapna	Dream.
Swarupa	Nature, real form, self.
T
Tapas	Penance or austerities.
Tapasvini	A female who performs tapas.
Tapasaya	Intense Spiritual discipline.
Tapo Brashta	One who has fallen from his tapas.
Tirtha	Sacred water.
Turiya	The Fourth state beyond waking, dreaming and
	sleeping.
U
Upadesa	Spiritual instruction.
V
Van Thondan	The name for Sundaramurthy Nayanar, one of the
	four principal Saivite saints.
Vasanas	Latencies or tendencies inherent in man.
Vedas	The earliest Hindu scriptures, revealed to the ancient
	Rishis.
Venba	A type of verse in Tamil.
Vichara	Enquiry.
Vichara Marga	The spiritual path of enquiry.
Vishnu	Supreme Lord. In the Hindu Trinity, the god of
	preservation.
Y
Yoga	Lit. Union (with the Supreme Being).
Yagna	Ritualistic sacrifice.
Yogi	One who follows or has mastered the path of Yoga
	(path of union).