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Satsang Glossary

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Mãdhvi
Sampradãy School of philosophy adhering to the doctrine of Madhvãchãrya, a 13th century South Indian Vaishnav ãchãrya. He propounded a doctrine of pure dualism, wherein there is an essential and eternal distinction between God and all other beings and things.
Mãgdhi
Dialect specific to Magadh, the southern region of present-day Bihãr. Language of the ancient Jain and Buddhist scriptures.
Mãgshar
Sixth month of the Ãshãdhi Samvat year, normally beginning between November and December.
Mahã
Eighth month of the Ãshãdhi Samvat year, normally beginning between January and February.
Mahãbhãrat
'Great epic of India'. Popular Hindu scripture revolving around the family feud between the Pãndavs and the Kauravas, culminating in the great battle, the Mahãbhãrat war. One of the two Itihãs scriptures. With over 100,000 verses, it is the world's longest poem.
mahãbhuts
'Major elements'. Collective term for the five gross elements that evolve from tãmas-ahamkãr and from which ishwars, and in particular Virãt-Purush, i.e., the physical world, are formed. Namely: pruthvi ('earth' or solid matter), jal ('water' or liquid matter), tej ('light' or energy), vãyu ('air' or gaseous matter) and ãkãsh ('space/ether' or vacuum). Each one has a root cause, called its tanmãtrã, namely: smells, tastes, sights, touch and sounds, respectively.
mahãmãyã
Also called Mul-mãyã, Mul-Prakruti, or simply, Prakruti. See: Prakruti.
mahãprãn
Technical term referring to one of the 11 'efforts' required to pronounce certain syllables requiring an extended breath.
Mahã-Purush
Also called Mul-Purush, Akshar-Purush, or simply, Purush. See: Purush.
Maharlok
Third realm above Mrutyulok, where Aryam and other ancestral demigods reside. The 11th realm from the bottom in the 14-realm system of a brahmãnd.
Mahãtal
Fifth realm below Mrutyulok, where nocturnals reside. Third realm from the bottom in the 14-realm system of a brahmãnd.
mahattattva
'Major element'. Taken to be on par with the chitt of the jiva, but on a cosmic level. First of the entities produced by Pradhãn-Purush. By nature, the entire jagat inherently resides within it in a subtle form. It is itself unchanging, luminous, pure, full of pure sattvagun and passive {Gadhada I-12.9}.
Malãr
Specific musical raga of Indian music. Considered to induce rainfalls if sung correctly.
man
'Mind' (pronounced 'mun'). One of the four aspects of the antahkaran, characterised by its functions of generating thoughts and desires, and governing all of the indriyas {Gadhada I-12.11}.
manan
'Thinking', derived from verb-root 'man' - to think. Contemplation. Deep reflection.
mandal
1) Group or assemblage. In the time of Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, the sãdhus were often formed into groups - within which they traveled and preached in different regions.
2) Also refers to all of the sãdhus in the holy order.
mandir
Sacred Hindu place of worship. Temple.
manjirãs
Pair of small, traditional cymbals used in the accompaniment of other percussion instruments.
manomay chakra
'The mind in the form of a wheel'. The mind, seen as an incessantly turning wheel, whose ten spokes are taken to be the ten indriyas {Sarangpur-7}. See also: chakra.
manovahã nãdi
Nerve or channel wherein the mind resides, transmitting energy within the inner body of a person and allowing the flow of desires and thoughts.
mãnsi pujã
'Mental worship'. Form of worship in which one devoutly performs pujã, offers ãrti, thãl, etc., to God mentally - exactly as one would physically {Sãrangpur-3.3; Gadhada III-23}.
Manu Smruti
Oldest and considered to be the most authoritative of the ancient Smruti scriptures, serving even today as a sourcebook of Hindu culture and customs, incorporating in its 2,685 verses day-to-day laws and duties for people of every strata of society. Ascribed to the primordial King Manu, the father of mankind. See also: Smrutis.
manvantar
Of the 14 Manus that reign sequentially during one day of Brahmã, the duration of the reign of one Manu. Duration of time equaling 306,720,000 human years.
Mãrgi
Follower of the Vãm-mãrg (Cult of Lust), an anti-Vedic cult that propagates illicit sex and other Veda-prohibited practices as a means to liberation.
matsar
Similar to envy. But when mentioned together with jealousy, taken to mean the inability to tolerate the rise and gain of anyone else - whether it be of a person of equal standing or otherwise {Kãriyani-6}.
mãyã
Instrument or power of God used as the fundamental 'substance' of creation. By nature, it is composed of the three gunas, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in its dormant state - before the time of creation - houses all jivas and ishwars, and all elements {Gadhada I-12.6}. It is inspired by, controlled by, and dependent on God Himself {Gadhada II-21.13}. The jivas and ishwars must transcend mãyã, i.e., eradicate it within themselves, in order to attain Akshardhãm. Third of the five eternal entities. See also other four eternal entities: jiva, ishwar, Akshar and Purushottam. See also: Prakruti.
mãyik
Of, or pertaining to mãyã. Opposite of divine.
mogrã
Delicate flower of the jasmine genus, white in colour and extremely sweet in fragrance. Traditionally used in offerings to murtis of God.
Moksh-dharma
Portion of the Mahãbhãrat (Shãnti-parva, chapters 174-365) comprising of Bhishma's teachings from his bed of arrows to King Yudhishthir after the conclusion of the Mahãbhãrat war.
moliyu
Rich fabric with silky finish woven with golden or silver threads and detailed, decorative edges.
mothya
(Pronounced 'moth'). Very cheap and inferior type of moss-like spinach found to grow on riverbanks, eaten only by the extremely poor.
mrudang
Type of double-sided drum. Traditional Indian percussion instrument played to supply rhythm in the singing of devotional songs.
Mrutyulok
'Realm of death'. Eighth realm in the 14-realm system of a brahmãnd, where everyone and everything is subject to death, but also only of the realms where human birth and ultimate liberation is possible.
mukta
'Free' or 'released', derived from verb-root 'much' - to free or release. A liberated soul. A resident of any abode of God who has been freed from a lower plane of existence to a more spiritually elevated state. There are varying levels of spiritual elevation, i.e., muktas of Badrikãshram, Shwetdwip, Golok, etc. The highest level of mukta, akshar-mukta, has attained ultimate liberation and is free from the bondage of mãyã and the consequent cycle of births and deaths {Sãrangpur-17}.
Mul-Prakruti
Also called mahãmãyã, Mul-mãyã, or simply, Prakruti. See: Prakruti.
Mul-Prakruti-Purush
Prakruti-Purush. See: Prakruti-Purush.
Mul-Purush
Also called Mahã-Purush, Akshar-Purush, or simply, Purush. See: Purush.
muni
Sãdhu. See: sãdhu.
murti
Sacred idol of God used to offer worship {Gadhada I-68}.
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