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Satsang Glossary

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bãdhitãnuvrutti
'Recollection of the falsified'. Mental state in which one feels a sense of apprehension at the possibility of becoming bound again to objects that have already been mentally falsified, i.e., to which the ties of affection have been severed due to an understanding of the objects' inherent falseness {Gadhada III-4}.
Badrikãshram
'Hermitage with orchards of badri-trees'. Celestial abode of Narnãrãyan. Considered to be full of orchards of 'badri'-trees - trees bearing small, slightly sour apple-like fruits, called 'badri'-fruits in Sanskrit. The muktas that reside in this abode are elevated souls who perform continuous austerities to please God and attain salvation through human birth.
Bhãdarvã
Third month of the Ãshãdhi Samvat year, normally beginning between August and September.
bhãgwat dharma
'Dharma related to God'. The dharma which avatãrs of God come to establish and which was adopted by Nãrad, the Sanakãdik, Shukji, Dhruv, Prahlãd, Ambrish and other devotees; this form of dharma is not different from bhakti itself {Gadhada III-21.5}. Also called ekãntik dharma. See: ekãntik dharma.
Bhagwad Gitã
'Song of God'. One of the most popular Hindu scriptures. Comprises of a dialogue between Arjun, the warrior, and Shri Krishna, his charioteer, at the outset of the battle between the feuding cousins, the Pãndavs and the Kauravas. Forms a portion of the epic Mahãbhãrat (Bhishma-parva, chapters 25-45) in which Shri Krishna enlightens Arjun on karma, bhakti and gnãn, and inspires him to selflessly fulfill his duty of fighting for dharma and against adharma by the strength and will of God. One of the eight scriptures accepted as authoritative by Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan.
Bhakta
Ideal devotee of God, referring to the Satpurush. See: Satpurush.
bhakti
Devotion to God. Noted to be of nine types:
(1) Shravanam - Listening to spiritual discourses or devotional songs related to God.
(2) Keertanam - Singing or talking about God.
(3) Smaranam - Remembering God.
(4) Pãda-sevanam - Serving God's holy feet.
(5) Archanam - Anointing God with sandalwood paste, etc.
(6) Vandanam - Bowing before God.
(7) Dãsyam - Behaving as the servant of God.
(8) Sakhyam - Behaving as the friend of God.
(9) Ãtmanivedanam - Unconditionally offering oneself and all of one's belongings to God with absolute submission.
Where the ten types of bhakti are mentioned {Gadhada III-33.6}, the tenth type is prem-lakshanã bhakti - profound, loving bhakti.
Bhãt
Specific sub-caste of people traditionally employed by kings to flatter them with self-composed poems and verses. Similar to a bard. Also popularly known as Bãrot.
Bharat-khand
Ancient India, considered to have stretched westward to present-day Turkey, eastward to present-day Burma, and beyond the Himalayan mountain range in the north. Considered the best of the nine khands of Jambu-dwip because those who attain birth in this region can potentially attain liberation due to the invariable presence of God's avatãr or God's Sant {Bhugol-Khagol.8,9; Vartal-9.2}.
Bhurlok
Mrutyulok. See: Mrutyulok.
bhut
A gross element from which the sthul body of Virãt-Purush, i.e., the physical world, is formed. There are five in total -pruthvi, jal, tej, vãyu and ãkãsh. They are collectively called the five bhuts or five mahãbhuts.
Bhuvarlok
First realm above Mrutyulok, where impure demigods reside. Ninth realm from the bottom in the 14-realm system of a brahmãnd.
bokãni
Cloth tied around the head with ends also made to cross from under the chin to cover the ears and cheeks as well. Worn during cold spells.
bordi
Type of tree bearing delicate flowers amid small thorns and small, slightly sour apple-like fruits called bors. Found to grow naturally in unattended fields or jungles due to its particularly resilient roots.
borsali
Specific type of tree that blossoms with delicate, white, and extremely fragrant flowers.
Brahma
1) Second-highest of the five eternal entities, i.e., transcends everything except Parabrahma. Also called Akshar, Aksharbrahma or Brahman. See: Akshar. See also other four eternal entities: jiva, ishwar, mãyã, and Parabrahma.
2) Alone, often taken to refer to the Brahma of the shushka-Vedãntis, i.e. the nirgun, formless and non-dual ultimate reality, apart from which, they claim, all else is merely an illusion.
Brahmã
The ishwar responsible for the creation of the brahmãnd and the life forms within it. Part of the trinity of ishwars, along with Vishnu (the sustainer) and Shiv (the destroyer), responsible for the governance of one brahmãnd. Not to be confused with Brahma, the second-highest of the five eternal entities.
brahmachãri
1) Brãhmin who has been initiated as a renunciant into the holy order of the Swãminãrãyan Fellowship. Such brahmachãris were invested with special priestly authority, i.e., appointed as personal attendants to the murtis within mandirs, and as the performers of other religious rites.
2) One who observes brahmacharya, i.e., leads a life of celibacy.
3) One who is in the first stage of life in the traditional Hindu four stages of life, i.e., brahmacharya stage.
brahmacharya
1) 'Divine conduct'. Celibacy. For renunciants brahmacharya has been prescribed as eight-fold abstinence from associating with the opposite gender in the following ways:
(1) shravanam - listening to or of
(2) keertanam - talking to or of
(3) keli - frolicking with
(4) prekshanam - intentionally looking at
(5) guhyabhãshanam - privately conversing with
(6) sankalpa - fantasising about
(7) adhyavasãya - thinking of
(8) kriyã - intercourse with
For householder males, brahmacharya constitutes renouncing all women except their wives, abstaining from sexual relations with one's wife on days of observance, and engaging in sexual relations with her only during the appropriate times {Gadhada I-34.8}.
brahmacharya ãshram
First of the four stages of life, when one fulfills one's duty as a student and celibate.
Brahmadhãm
1) Abode of God. Akshardhãm. See: Akshardhãm.
2) At times also refers to the various abodes of other avatãrs.
Brãhma-kalp
Period of time during the process of creation when Brahmã and other jivas are given their respective bodies by God {Gadhada I-13.3}. Length of time is one of Brahmã's days, i.e., 4.32 x 109 human years.
Brahmalok
1) 'Realm of God'. Akshardhãm. See: Akshardhãm.
2) Realm of Brahmã. Highest realm in the 14-realm system of a brahmãnd. Also called Satyalok.
Brahmamahol
1) 'Palace of God'. Abode of God. Akshardhãm. See: Akshardhãm.
2) Formless and pure chaitanya form of Akshar. Also called Chidãkãsh {Gadhada I-21}.
brahmãnd
Individual 'cosmos' comprising of a system of 14 realms, of which there are countless millions on various planes. Each brahmãnd, created and sustained by a Pradhãn-Purush pair, contains a trinity of Brahmã, Vishnu, and Shiv as the governing demigods {Panchala-4.8}. The 14 realms of each brahmãnd are, in descending order: Satyalok, Taplok, Janlok, Maharlok, Swarglok, Bhuvarlok, Mrutyulok, Atal, Vital, Sutal, Talãtal, Mahãtal, Rasãtal, Pãtãl.
Brahmapur
1) Abode of God. Akshardhãm. See: Akshardhãm.
2) Also refers to Brahmalok as realm of Brahmã. See: Brahmalok (2nd definition).
brahmarandhra
Mystical opening in the crown of the head - at the end of the sushumnã nãdi - through which the jiva leaves the body on death or during samãdhi and reaches higher realms.
brahmarshi
Literally, a renunciant or one engaged in stern austerities with characteristics like that of a rishi. Considered to be higher than a rãjarshi.
Brahmarup
'Form of Brahma'. Possessing qualities similar to those of Brahma. Same as aksharrup. See: aksharrup.
brahmasattã
1) Formless form of Brahma, i.e., Chidãkãsh {Gadhada I-66.4; Kãriyani-1.27}.
2) Also refers to the ãtmã, which is characterised by eternal existence {Gadhada III-3.3,5}.
brahma-sushupti
'The sushupti-like divine light of Brahma'. Chidãkãsh, the all-pervading form of Brahma.
brahmaswarup
'Form of Brahma'. See: brahmarup and aksharrup.
brahmavidyã
'Knowledge of Brahma, i.e., God'. Knowledge that guides one on the path to God-realisation.
Brãhmin
pious and learned person traditionally assigned duties of worship, performing rites and rituals, teaching, etc. One of the four castes of the ancient Indian social system.
Bruhadãranya Upanishad
One of the most important of the principal Upanishads, belonging to the Yajur Veda, and ascribed to Yãgnavalkya Rishi. Teachings centre around modes of worship, contemplation and identity with Brahma.
Burãnpuri
Specific type of cloth from north India.
buddhi
'Intellect', derived from verb-root 'budh' - to know. One of the four aspects of the antahkaran, characterised by its functions of consolidating thoughts, making decisions, forming convictions and discriminating. By nature, it possesses the knowledge of all objects and is also the reason for the specific knowledge which all of the indriyas possess. Its inherent features are doubts, conviction, sleep and memory {Gadhada I-12.12}.
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© 2003, Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, Swaminarayan Aksharpith