A translation of Sanskrit and Tamil words that Swamiji often uses in his satsangs (discourses).
A
abhishekam ritual bathing of a deity while chanting mantras
adharma lack of righteousness
Ādi Parāshakti original supreme energy
Āgamas collection of traditional teachings
Agni god of fire
agni the sacred fire
ahamkāra, ahankāram the sense of self, literally the “I-maker,” ego
ahimsā ‘non-injury’, ‘non-killing’. It implies the total avoidance of harming of any kind of living creatures not only by deeds, but also by words and in thoughts.
ākāsha space, ether
Ambā a name of the Divine Mother
Amman the Divine Mother
amrita, amritam nectar of immortality
ānanda, ānandam highest bliss
ānmajyoti light of the soul, of the higher Self
ānmika dharma dharma of spirituality
annadāna food offering
āratī waving of lights in worship
arul divine grace
āshram a hermitage, a place of spiritual retreat, a place where we can learn and follow the teachings of a spiritual master
asura demon
ātma, ātman soul, the higher Self
ātma svarūpahale embodiments of the Self
ātma vidya knowledge and realization of the Self
Aum / Om original cosmic vibration that symbolizes the Divine
Aumkār, Aumkāram / Omkār, Omkāram the sound of the sacred syllable (Aum/Om)
avatār complete incarnation of a God
Āyurveda ancient, natural system of medicine in India
B
Bhagavad Gītā “song of God”, a chapter in the Mahābharāta, a Sanskrit epic poem
bhajan devotional song
bhakta devotee
bhakti devotion
Bhārat Māta Mother India
Bhārata India
Bhārati she who supports
bhikku Buddhist monk
bhūmi the earth
Bhuvaneshvarī Mother Earth
Brahmā first aspect of the Hindu trinity, the creator
Brahma muhūrtam the time before sunrise considered ideal for spiritual practices
brahmachāri a person who practises self-control, celibacy
brahmachārya self-control, celibacy, first stage of life: childhood and learning
Buddha the founder of Buddhism
buddha an awakened one
Buddha Pūrnimā / Wesak full moon day in May celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha
C
chapatti wheat flour pancake
charanāmrit water that has been poured on the deity’s or master’s feet
Chola ancient ruling dynasty of Southern India
D
dāna charity
darshan sight of the Divine
Devī the Goddess, the Divine Mother
devī goddess
dharma fundamental laws that govern all the relations of human beings with all other beings, nature and with God; a righteous way of living
Dharma Shāstras ancient texts containing sacred rules
dharmashāla place where free food and hospitality is given
dhobi washerman
dhyāna, dhyānam meditation
dīkshā initiation
divya divine
divya shakti divine force
Diwali Hindu festival of lights
Durgā Hindu goddess in a fierce form
G
Ganapati another name for Ganesha, the elephant-headed deity who removes obstacles and grants wisdom
Ganesha elephant-headed deity who removes obstacles and grants wisdom
Ganga sacred river Ganges in North India that is also respected as a goddess
Ganges sacred river in North India
gītam divine song or sound
grihastha the second stage of life: when you marry, have children
guru one who removes darkness, the spiritual teacher
guru dakshinā offering or gift to the spiritual master
Guru Pūrnimā July full moon day festival honouring the guru
guru sevā service for the guru
gurudev, gurudeva divine spiritual teacher
guruji respected spiritual teacher (adding ji to a name or title is a term of respect)
H
Hari Om mantra to remove suffering and experience Om, the state of pure consciousness
hatha yoga system of spiritual exercises and methods
I
idiyāppam fine string-like noodles
idlis small steamed rice cakes
ikam this world
ishta-devatā beloved form of God for worship
ishtam beloved form of God for worship
Itihāsas traditional accounts of heroic history
J
jagadjyoti universal light
jagat the universe, the whole world
Jai Prema Shānti mantra meaning ‘Let divine love and peace prevail’
japa, japam repetition of a mantra or prayer
japamālā string of beads for counting mantras
jīva living being, personal soul
jīvātma individual soul
jnāna, jnānam wisdom, supreme knowledge
jnāni one who has attained supreme knowledge
jyoti sacred light
jyotimāyam brilliant light giving clearness of understanding
K
kadavul the One who is both within and beyond
Kālī goddess who represents the destructive aspect of the Divine
Kali Yuga the present age of disharmony and selfishness
karma result of past actions
karma yoga the yoga of selfless action
kāvadi semi-circular pieces of wood balanced on the shoulders of the devotee and decorated with flowers and peacock feathers
Kāveri sacred river in India
Konkanar one of the 18 powerful siddhas of South India
Krishna 8th incarnation of Lord Vishnu
kriyā yoga of spiritual action
kumbham auspicious pot representing wholeness
kumkum red powder applied on the forehead
kundalinī divine force at the base of the spine when dormant
L
Lakshmī goddess of spiritual wealth
līlā play of the universal energy
lingam sacred symbol representing Lord Shiva
lingodbhava birth of the lingams
M
madhuram sweet, charming, lovely
Mahābharāta Sanskrit epic poem
mahān, mahātma great soul
Maharishi a great sage
Mahāshivarātri Hindu festival, the great night of Shiva
maitrī loving kindness
mālā, malar garland, necklace, prayer beads
mānasa pūjā worship done in the mind and heart
mānasika internal, adoration from the mind and heart
mantra sacred sound or words repeated in prayer or meditation
Māsi a Tamil month mid-February to mid-March
mātāji respected mother, a female renunciate
māyā illusion
mettā loving kindness
moksha liberation
Mūgāmbikā Lakshmī, Sarasvatī and Kālī in one form
mukti release, liberation
mūla basis, foundation, causal
mūla mantra the original mantra, Aum or Om
mūlādhāra chakra first chakra, at the base of the spine
Muruga, Murugan son of Lord Shiva
Muthumāriamman a name of the Divine Mother
N
namaha surrender, bow
nāmavali string of names expressing divine qualities
Nārāyana a name of Lord Vishnu meaning abode of all beings
Natarāja a name of Lord Shiva meaning king of dance
Navarātri festival for the Divine Mother lasting nine nights
Nāyanar one of 63 saints devoted to Lord Shiva
nirmala without stain
nirvāna final liberation
O
Om / Aum original cosmic vibration that symbolizes the Divine
Om Ganapataye Namaha mantra meaning ‘I surrender to Ganapati’
Om Namah Shivāya mantra meaning, ‘I surrender to Shiva, the auspicious One’
Omkār, Omkāram / Aumkār, Aumkāram the sound of the sacred syllable (Om/Aum)
P
pāda pūjā ritual washing of feet
panchabhūta, panchabhūtam the five elements
panchāmritam offering made of five sweet items
parābhakti the ultimate level of devotion
paramānandam supreme bliss
paramātma Supreme Self, universal soul
paramporul original substance
parisuttam absolute purity
Pārvati a name of the Divine Mother, consort of Lord Shiva
pottu religious mark
pradakshina circumambulation from left to right as a kind of worship
prakāsham universal light
prānāyāma control of life-force resulting from the practice of breathing techniques
prasādam items offered to the Divine, blessed food
prema divine love
Premānanda Swamiji’s name
premānanda, premānandam the bliss of divine love
pūjā ritual worship
Punjabi dress, traditional shirt and trousers worn by both men and women
punya merit
Purānas stories and legends to facilitate the understanding of the more complex ideas contained in the Vedas for the masses
R
rāga melody that delights the mind
Rāja Rājeshvarī the Divine Mother as the ruler of all kings and queens
Rāma incarnation of Lord Vishnu
Rāmāyana Sanskrit epic poem about the life of Rāma
rishi a sage, author of Vedic hymns
rudrāksha ‘the eye of Shiva’, seed of a tree used to make traditional prayer beads
S
sadguru authentic spiritual master who is enlightened
sādhak, sādhaka spiritual practitioner
sādhana regular spiritual practice
sādhu a holy person, sage or ascetic
samādhi merging with the Supreme, also the place where the body of a saint is interred
Samayapuram Mariamman the Divine Mother worshipped in a famous temple frequently visited by Swamiji
samskāra impressions on the mind due to our life experiences
Sanātana Dharma eternal laws and codes on how to live
sankalpa intention
sannyās, sannyāsa renunciation, the fourth stage of life
sannyāsin one who renounces
Sanskrit ancient language of India
Sarasvatī goddess of knowledge
sārī unstitched cloth draped over the body
satsang in the company of the truth, a spiritual discourse or discussion
sattva spiritual essence
sattvic pure
sembu water pot
sevā free service, selfless help
sevi jnānam wisdom of listening
shakti divine energy or force
Shakti the Divine Mother
shānti peace
sharanāgati surrender
shāstra sacred scripture
shishya pupil, disciple
Shiva third aspect of the Hindu trinity, the destroyer
Shivalingam sacred symbol representing Lord Shiva
Shivamayam the presence of Shiva everywhere
shloka verse or song of praise
shraddhā faith, confidence
siddha ascetic who has attained yogic powers
Siddha medicine ancient system of medicine prevalent in South India
siddha purusha spiritual master who has reached perfection
siddhi mystical, yogic power
Skanda Shashti the day on which Muruga defeated the demon Taraka
summa iru just be, implying the highest state of conscious being
swami one who is master of himself, a male renunciate
T
Tamil a South Indian language
tapas intense spiritual practices
tattvam true or real state, the essence
tīrtham holy water
Tirukkural ancient Tamil book of wisdom
Tryambakī Divine Mother with three eyes
U
utsavamūrti statue paraded outside the temple for festival celebrations
V
Vāk Devī goddess of speech and sound
vānaprastha stage of retirement from worldly life (literally – retiring to the forest)
vastradāna gift of clothes or cloth
Vedas four books that are the basis of the Hindu religion
Vedic pertaining to the Vedas
vel Muruga’s golden spear of divine energy
Venkateshwara a form of Lord Vishnu, the destroyer of the effects of misdeeds
vibhūti holy ash
vidarshanā to see things as they truly are
Vighneshvara a name of Ganesha as the remover of obstacles
Vijayadasamī tenth day of the Navāratri festival
vīn pechu useless talk, gossip
Vināyaka a name of Ganesha as the remover of obstacles
Vināyaka Chaturthī annual festival celebrating Ganesha
vipassanā to see things as they truly are
Vishnu second aspect of the Hindu trinity, the maintainer
W
Wesak / Buddha Pūrnimā full moon day in May celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of Lord Buddha
Y
yāgam sacrificial fire ceremony
Yamunā sacred river in India
yantra spiritual geometric symbol
Yashoda foster mother of Lord Krishna
yoga union
yogi a person who practices yoga
yogic relating to the activity or philosophy of yoga
yuga long period of years
