Search Contact Site Map Download News Vicharan Home Satsang Glossary Satsang Glossary
Satsang Glossary

Y V U T S R P N M A B C D E F H I J K L g

gandharva
Celestial being engaged in music, song and dance in the celestial realms.
Garud
Fiery eagle-like bird with white head and red wings, and a golden male body. Serves as Lord Vishnu's vehicle.
ghadi
Duration of time equaling approximately 24 minutes.
Gitã
Bhagwad Gitã. See: Bhagwad Gitã.
gnãn
1) 'Knowledge', derived from verb-root 'gnã' - to know. Spiritual knowledge leading to enlightenment. In particular, the knowledge of one's ãtmã and the form and greatness of Paramãtmã.
2) Also often used to mean ãtmã-realisation or ãtmagnãn.
gnãn-indriya
'Cognitive sense', through which one can 'know'. There are five cognitive senses in total (the organs of which are the physical aspect of the senses) namely: hearing (ears), touch (skin), sight (eyes), taste (tongue) and smell (nose). By nature, they engage themselves in their respective vishays {Gadhada I-12.13} and have the complete knowledge of that vishay {Vartal-17.2}. In certain cases, it may seem that no distinction is made between the physical and subtle aspects, i.e., the senses and the sense organs are referred to by the same nouns - 'eyes', 'ears', 'nose', etc. However, the sense organs are not to be confused with the indriyas (the senses), which are part of the subtle body, and which are quite distinct from the physical organs.
gnãn-pralay
'Dissolution by gnãn'. State of individual understanding whereby Prakruti-Purush and the entities evolved thereof do not come into view, and one sees only pure chaitanya, within which only the form of God resides, but no other forms remain. In other words, all mãyik influences are dissolved - as if ãtyantik-pralay has taken place for that particular individual {Gadhada I-24.2; Amdavad-2.8}. See also: ãtyantik-pralay.
Golok
'Realm of cows' - derived from 'go' meaning cows, and 'lok' meaning realm. Celestial abode of Shri Krishna described in the Purãns as being extremely picturesque.
gopas
'Protectors of cows'. Cowherds, in particular the members of the cattle-rearing community of Vrundãvan present during the time of Shri Krishna. Male devotees of God who epitomized the ideal of profound love and bhakti towards God.
gopis
'Protectors of cows'. Wives of the cowherds of Vrundãvan present during the time of Shri Krishna. Female devotees of God who epitomized the ideal of profound love and bhakti towards God.
gor
Sweet material made directly from sugarcane, and yellow to brown in colour.
gorakh-ãsan
'Ãsan to protect the indriyas'. Specific yogic ãsan or sitting posture wherein one sits with both heels tucked into the groin, the toes folded under the buttocks, and the large toes held by the hands from behind the back. Considered to help in preventing the ejaculation of semen and thus helping in the observance of brahmacharya. Also popularly known as 'gorakshãsan' or 'bhadrãsan'.
guldãvadi
Flower of the chrysanthemum genus, found to blossom unusually out of season. There are two varieties, red and yellow, both with small pointed petals. Also known as sevanti.
guna
'Quality'. Principle quality of Prakruti, or mãyã {Gadhada I-12.6}. There are three in total: sattvagun ('goodness', i.e., awareness), rajogun ('passion', i.e., desires) and tamogun ('darkness', i.e., unawareness, lethargy). All beings are affected by the influence of one or a combination of these three gunas of mãyã until they become gunãtit. With respect to the influence of the gunas on jivas and ishwars, the gunas elicit in people's minds three different types of moods as follows: a person in sattvagun is calm, placid, peaceful; a person in rajogun is desirous, active, sensual; a person in tamogun is volatile, lethargic, drowsy. See also: gunãtit, sattvagun, rajogun and tamogun.
gunãtit
'Transcending the gunas'. That which transcends the three gunas of mãyã - sattvagun, rajogun and tamogun, i.e., that which has no trace or influence of mãyã whatsoever {Gadhada II-43.2}.
Guna-vibhãg
Portion of Shri Krishna's final teachings (Shrimad Bhãgwat, canto XI, chapter 25) to his friend and statesman Uddhav regarding the classification and characteristics of the three gunas.
Y V U T S R P N M A B C D E F H I J K L

© 2003, Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, Swaminarayan Aksharpith