| A |
| Adharma: |
Unrighteousness. |
| Agna: |
Spiritual commands/instructions. |
| Akshar: |
Eternal abode of Lord Swaminarayan.
In its personal form, Akshar serves Purushottam in His abode and manifests
as His choicest devotee on this earth. |
| Aksharbrahman: |
Akshar; Brahman. |
| Amrut: |
Nectar; immortal. |
| Anuvrutti: |
Innerfelt wish. |
| Atma: |
The pure soul. |
| Atmabuddhi: |
Oneness; deep attachment. |
| Atmajnan: |
Knowledge of one’s
self as atma. |
| Atmanivedanam: |
Total sacrifice. |
| Atmarup: |
Oneness with Akshar; Brahmanised
state. |
| Archa: |
Ritual of anointing or smearing. |
| Ashtang yoga: |
Eight steps of yoga culminating
in the realisation of God through samadhi. |
| B |
| Bapa: |
Affectionate term used to
refer to Yogiji Maharaj or Pramukh Swami Maharaj. |
| Bal mandal: |
Children’s group. |
| Balak: |
Child. |
| Bhajan: |
Devotional song; worship. |
| Bhakti: |
Devotion; path of devotion. |
| Brahman: |
Akshar; eternal abode of
Lord Swaminarayan. |
| Brahmabhav: |
Consciousness of being one
with Brahman. |
| Brahmajnan: |
The knowledge of Brahman. |
| Brahmarup: |
Oneness with Brahman. |
| Brahmavidya: |
The knowledge of Brahman. |
| D |
| Dasbhav: |
Feeling of servitude. |
| Dandavat: |
Prostration. |
| Darshan: |
Seeing; the sight or beholding
of the deity or holy person with reverence or devotion. |
| Deh: |
Body. |
| Dehbhav: |
Consciousness that one is
the body. |
| Deva: |
Demigod; deity. |
| Dharma: |
Righteousness; moral or
social duty and law; code of ethical conduct; religion. |
| Dharmic: |
Pertaining to dharma. |
| Dhyan: |
Meditation; concentration. |
| Divyabhav: |
Divine attributes; seeing
as divine. |
| E |
| Ekantik dharma: |
Composite religion of Dharma,
Jnan, Vairagya and Bhakti. |
| G |
| Ghar sabha: |
Home assembly. |
| Gunas: |
Qualities referring to Sattva
(goodness), Rajas (passion) and Tamas (darkness). |
| Gunatit: |
State beyond the three gunas
or qualities. |
| J |
| Jnan: |
Knowledge of the self or
God. |
| Jnan pralay: |
State of ultimate realisation. |
| Jnan samadhi: |
The supreme knowledge of
God, culminating in the constant realisation of God. |
| Japa: |
Mantra recitation. |
| Jiva: |
One of the five eternal
entities; soul. |
| K |
| Kal: |
Time. |
| Kam: |
Lust; carnal desires. |
| Kaliyug: |
The fourth and present age
of the world. |
| Katha: |
Scriptural discourses. |
| Khichadi: |
Hotchpotch |
| Kirtan: |
Religious hymn; devotional
song. |
| Kishore: |
Teenager. |
| Krupa: |
Grace. |
| M |
| Mahima: |
Glory; greatness. |
| Mala: |
Rosary used when reciting
the Lord’s name. |
| Malvu: |
Embracing |
| Mandal: |
Satsang centre. |
| Mandir: |
Temple. |
| Mantra: |
Revered word(s) or syllable
or hymn recited during worship and meditation. |
| Maya: |
One of the five eternal
entities; the power of God responsible for creating attachment towards
the body and its relations. |
| Moksha: |
Ultimate salvation or liberation
from the fetters of maya. |
| Murti: |
Image of the deity installed
in a temple for worship; a picture or statue. |
| N |
| Naimisharanya Kshetra: |
A famed sacred place of
penance in Uttar Pradesh where one can gain much spiritual progress. |
| Nirgun: |
Devoid of attributes; divine. |
| Nirakar: |
Formless; devoid of all
forms evolved from maya. |
| Nirvikalpa Samadhi: |
The highest state of realisation
where only the undisturbed bliss of God is experienced. |
| Nischay: |
Conviction of the form of
God. |
| Niyam: |
Moral habit or rule. |
| P |
| Parabrahman: |
The supreme God; Lord Swaminarayan. |
| Paramhansa: |
Highest stage of ascetic
renunciation. |
| Paramatma: |
God. |
| Parshad: |
First stage of initiation
into the ascetic life; a renunciate wearing white clothing. |
| Pradakshina: |
Circumambulation. |
| Pragat: |
Manifest; present. |
| Pramukh: |
President. |
| Prasadi: |
Sanctified food from that
offered to the deity. |
| Prem: |
Love. |
| Puja: |
Act of worship or adoration;
ritual and prayer offered at home or in the temple. |
| Punya: |
A measure of righteous deed;
merit. |
| Purushottam: |
The supreme God; Lord Swaminarayan. |
| R |
| Rotlo: |
Unleavened flat bread. |
| S |
| Sakshatkar: |
God-realisation. |
| Sabha: |
Assembly. |
| Sadhana: |
Religious practice or discipline;
spiritual endeavour. |
| Sadhak: |
An aspirant walking on the
spiritual path. |
| Sadhu: |
Holy man who has renounced
the world; ascetic; Satpurush. |
| Sadhvi: |
Female ascetic/renunciate. |
| Samagam: |
Spiritual association or
company. |
| Samadhi: |
State of trance. |
| Sankhya yogi: |
Dedicated female devotees
practising full time devotion. |
| Sanstha: |
Religious community; usually
refers to Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Sanstha. |
| Satpurush: |
Saint who has constant and
total rapport with God; God-realised Saint. |
| Satsang: |
Holy Fellowship; religious
group or gathering; association with sadhus and devotees. |
| Satsangi: |
Member of the Satsang. |
| Seva: |
Voluntary service. |
| Sevak: |
Servant. |
| Shangar: |
Decoration. |
| Shanti: |
Peace. |
| Swarup: |
Form. |
| T |
| Taltumbadiya Shastri: |
A story often told by Yogiji
Maharaj to help lagging students. A dull Sanskrit student found it
hard to memorise certain phrases. He hit upon an idea. He would say
the phrase and throw a sesame seed (tal) into a gourd (tumbadi). He
would repeat the phrase and throw another seed in, and so on. In this
way he became a Sanskrit scholar (Shastri). |
| Tapa: |
Austerities. |
| Tej: |
Divine light. |
| Tilak chandlo: |
Imprint applied on forehead
by Satsangis. |
| U |
| Upasana: |
Mode or doctrine of worship. |
| V |
| Vairagya: |
Detachment; indifference
or aversion to worldly pleasures. |
| Vato: |
Discourses, katha |
