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Hindu Terms ?
Click For Hindu Glossary
Aum ?
It is a mystic word for Hindus and Buddhists. Aum is
regarded as the syllable of the supreme Reality and is sometimes
called "the mother of mantras." It is often found at the beginning of
prayers, mantras, and scriptures as a word of invocation and adoration.
Aachman ?
It is the process of pouring
holy water on palm with a special pooja spoon called 'Pali' and swallowing it by
chanting the Mantras during the pooja.
Abhishek ?
It is giving a sacred bath to
the Deity with milk and water.Mantras are chanted while performing the Abhishek
Acharya ?
This word usually refers to a prominent or exemplary
spiritual leader.
Akshata ?
Seeds of rice used during the
pooja to apply with the 'Tilak'
Arti ?
A traditional Hindu ritual of praising the God by
singing.
Ashram ?
A place similar to a monastery set up for spiritual
development of people, where they can also live.
Avatar ?
A divine incarnation,that is, the
state when the Divinity enters into the body of a human being. |
Bhagvad Gita
?
A Hindu sacred and holy book which is a part of Mahabharat.
Bhajan
?
A song in praise of a God or Saint.Bindu or Pottu ?
It is a "dot," on the middle of forehead,indicates one as a Hindu.It is made of red powder
(kunkuma), sandalpaste, clay, cosmetics or other substances.Mystically it represents the "third eye,"
Brahmacharya
?
The literal meaning is practicing conduct that leads one to God.It is self-restraint, especially over
sexual desire. Brahmin
?
An upper caste in Hinduism from where priests originate. |
Dakshina ?
A gift offered to a Guru as a
token of gratitude for giving us divine knowledge and guidence in life.
Darshan ?
The blessings
communicated from the Deity, which may also occur while being in
the presence of a holy person or a place.
Devdasi ?
Devadasis are girls or women dedicated
or "married" to a deity.Their purpose is to give service to the temple and
perform rituals
Dwaparyug?
The third era when the great epic Mahabharata' took place. |
Hinduism
?
Traditional religion of India,
characterized by a philosophy and a way of life rather than by a dogmatic
structure.It has been developing gradually since c.3000 bc, absorbing
external influences.All Hindus recognize the Vedas as sacred texts.
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Gurukul ?
Traditional Hindu residential schools of learning. It is the
teacher's(Guru) house or a monastery
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Jaap ?
Uttering the God's name or
any Mantra continuously-The number of times the name is uttered is counted by
the 108 Beeds Mala called Rosery.
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Kaliyug ?
The era which began after Lord Krishna and lasts for 432000 years.
Kuladaivat ?
Kuladevi or Kuldevi is the goddess traditionally
worshipped by a Hindu family.
Kulaguru ?
A family teacher who guides in a right way.
Kumkum ?
A red powder which is applied on the forehead of Deity in pooja.
Kundalini ?
It is the
energy or power" associated with our spine. This energy can be awakened by
various techniques.
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Meditation ?
It is a
religious discipline in which the mind is focused on a single object of
reference. It may be a means of invoking divine grace , or it may be a
means of attaining conscious union with the divine
Mantra ?
A mantra is sound form of reality, having the power to bring
into being the reality,used in ritual and meditation.Sanskrit
verses used in the Vedic sacrifice are known as mantras.
Moksha ?
Liberation from the cuurent life and getting
absorbed in to the God. |
Naivedya ?
After the pooja is performed
and before eating the food ,all the items of the food are placed in a plate and
offered to the God.
Nirmalyam
?
The flowers offered to the
God while performing the pooja which are flown in a river or sea water the next
day,after performing the uttarpooja. |
Panchamrut ?
It is a holy combination of
milk,curds,sugar,honey and ghee(saturated fat) used for giving a bath to Deity while performing pooja.
Pradakshina ?
Taking rounds around the
Deity or a Temple in a Clockwise direction.
Pranayam ?
Regulation of
breath as a means of controlling the mind.
Prasad ?
After the Pooja (worship) sweets
are offered to the devotees, signifying
the blessings of the God. Puranas ?
A group of writings about the adventures and activities of
Hindu gods and goddesses. |
Sadhu ?
This is a person who renounces life and everything that goes with it (religion,
caste, family, etc.) and essentially becomes a wandering hermit seeking
Moksha(liberation).The fourth Life Stage of Hinduism.
Sadguru ?
A spiritual guide.
Samadhi ?
exalted state which a yogi or devotee may
encounter in the context of meditation and self-realization.
Samadhi ?
The fourth stage of the Hindu understanding of the human life cycle.It usually follows the stage
of retirement.This can be entered at any stage of life.
Swami ?
One who is a master of himself |
*tirtha
Tantra ?
In both Hinduism and Buddhism, esoteric tradition of ritual
and yoga it is known for elaborate use of mantra , or symbolic
speech, and mandala , or symbolic diagrams, the importance of
female deities, or Shakti cremation-ground practices such
as meditation on corpses; and, more so in Hindu.
Tetrayug?
The era or the time period when the great epic 'Ramayana'
took place.
Tirtha ?
It is a Sweet mixture of
milk,curd and sugar given after the Darshana.Tirtha is swallowed and also
applied on head to purify the body.
Tulsi ?
It is the Sweet basil plant sacred to Hindus. |
Upanishads ?
Sacred texts of Hinduism created by ancient sages after deep studies of life and
metaphysics
Uttarpooja ?
It is a pooja performed on
the next morning of the pooja day to conclude the pooja and resume the routine
life.
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Vaishya ?
The caste of merchants and traders in Hindus.
Vedas ?
The oldest collection of Hindu sacred texts. They include
the best-known Rig-Vedas. They were written between 1500 and 1000 bce.
Vibhuti ?
It is a sectarian mark of three lines across the forehead, signifying
the burning away of pasha -- the bonds of anava (veil of duality),
karma (effects of past deeds) and maya (the world).It is made by burning cowdung into a
whitish ash.
Vrat ?
It is a Vow connected with a deity and abstention from certain
food items. |
Yam ?
The Hindu God of death.
Yoga ?
It refers to an organized form of discipline that leads to a goal. This involves practice of meditation, mental concentration
and exercises of the body. |
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