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Abhaya
Fearlessness. Security.
Abhichara
Black magic.
Abhra Mica
The Ovum of Shakti.
Abhyasa
A regular practice. Discipline.
Adhara
A base or center of spiritual power.
Adhikara
Being spiritually competent for spiritual study. Adhyatmika.
Adi
Supreme. Primordial.
Adi-Nath
Sub-sect of the Nath line.
Aditi
Space.
Aditya
The Sun.
Advaita
Not two. State of oneness with all.
Agama
The tradition of the Tantriks and Kaula, as opposed to that of the orthodox or Aryans known as Veda. In Agamas, Shakti asks Shiva questions, and he replies. In Nigamas, this is reversed.
Agamas
Tantrik scriptures dealing with rites, dharma, cosomology.
Agarthi
Cave complex under the Himalayas from a ruined Gobi Desert civilization. Their traditions include: following the right hand path, being easy to understand, having a religious orthodoxy, being filled with superstitions, having a priestcraft and using prayers of dubious value. See: Shambhala.
Agni-Hotra
Square fire pit of Vedic Brahmins.
Ajapa Mantra
"Hang-Sah." The mantra of the in and out sounds of the breath.
Akula
Not Kula. Shiva. The Alpha Ovule.
Amavasya
New Moon.
Amrita
That which is immortal. Nectar of the Gods.
Anama
"Without name". A synonym for Hamsa 21600.
Ananda
Bliss. Joy.
Angaraka
Mars.
Anima
The siddhi of becoming as small as an atom. There are 7 others, so the whole group is referred to as the 8 Siddhis.
Apadravya
Artificial phallus.
Apara
Lower, worldly knowledge.
Arambhashura
"A hero in the beginning." One who fails to finish heroically.
Ardhanareswara
Shiva and Shakti in one image.
Arghya
An ark or receptical of creative power. Arrows, flowering. The five senses.
Artha
Substance; what requires gathering for human sustenance, i.e. food, wealth, etc.
Ashirwad
Blessings.
Ashram(a)
Home of a person or group who lead a spiritual life. Usually for a Guru and Chelas.
Asuras
Antigods.
Atma Atman
The highest or true self as distinct from the consciousness or ego. Shiva embodied. There is no difference between Atman and Paramatman except that caused by Maya. The Atman is not necessarily embodied.
Atmadarshan
Vision of the Real.
Aushadhi
Name of the Goddess as Mother of Herbs and medicine.
Avatar(a)
Incarnation of a God or Goddess into a human or animal form. One who incarnates a particular truth or path on Earth. Thus, Matsyendranath is the Avatar of the Kaula Jnana Nirnaya Tantra.
Avidya
Ignorance. Spiritual blindness. Illusion.
Ayurvaidyas
Those who practice traditional Indian medical techniques.
Ayurveda
"Knowledge of longevity". Traditional Indian medicine and medical practices.
Azoth
Alchemical term: The Elixir. Nectar. Amrit.
Bala
Daring. Also the name of the girl Bala, an aspect of Tripurasundari.
Bali
Animal sacrifice.
Bhaga,
See yoni. Also means "Good Luck"(!)
Bhairava
The terrific aspect of Shiva. His vehicle is a black dog.
Bhairavas
"The Fearless Ones" who are members of a Tantrik sect which worship Kali.
Bhairavi
Shakti or partner of Bhairava.
Bhakta
A devotee.
Bhakti Yoga
Path of devotion to God.
Bhasma
Ash.
Bhasmagiris
Hills of Bhasma. Pure ash of burnt wood. Some Bhasmagiris are huge.
Bhaya
Fear.
Bhoga
Sexual enjoyment. Enjoyment of the senses.
Bhojana
Food. "That which is enjoyed". There are three types: Lunar, composed of sense impressions; Solar, composed of the breath; Fiery, composed of edibles and water.
Bhu Prastara
A ritual posture of the Suvasini: she is recumbent.
Bhuchari
A group of Shaktis connected with objects.
Bhukti Muktikaranika
The path of enjoyment and liberation
Bhuts
Elementals. The term comes from bhuta. These are the five elements, Space, Air, Fire, Water, Earth.
Bija
A "root" or "seed" sound or syllable of a mantra. Sperm.
Bindu
The point without a center from which proceeds Cosmic Sound (Nada). Drop. Dot. Semen.
Body Yantra
Simplified version of the Shri Yantra. A map of the Microcosmos.
Brahma
The creator of the Cosmos.
Brahma Trees
Trees whose wood or flowers or leaves have some particular spiritual merit.
Brahmarandhra
The hole of Brahma The spiritual center at the top of the head
Brahmin
One who knows Brahma or the Absolute.
Chaaya
Shadow. The Astral Body.
Chakra
Circle or wheel, often applied to the diagrams or yantras used in ritual worship, or to centers of spirituality within or without the body, as Macrocosm and Microcosm are one. Lotus. A center of energy. A place of worship.
Chandra
The Moon.
Chandra Bindu
"Juice of the Moon" Precedes Maithuna in the Suvasini
Chandrakalas
The 108 Navamshas. See Navamshas.
Chela
Pupil of a Guru.
Chhala
A sham.
Chhoma
Finger signs used for secret identification.
Chhota
Little.
Chit
Consciousness.
Chitrini
A tiny nadi within another nadi.
Dakini
See Shakti. The elemental embodiment of supernatural knowledge and ability.
Dakshina
Gift given to one's Guru.
Dakshina Marg
Right hand path. South path. Opposite of Vama Marg.
Danda
Magick wand. A rod.
Darshan
Vision. Direct experience of spiritual energies and forces.
Datta
Form of Dattatreya.
Dattatreya
The ultimate guru figure of India. Some sects have deified him.
Demon
An individual guardian spirit (Latin: Daemon. Greek: Daimon). In Xtian thought: an evil spirit. Follows the custom of converting non-Xtian dieties and concepts into devils and evil desires. A demon can only be bad when the mind conceives it as being so.
Deva(s)
God(s). Shining ones.
Devadas(is)
"Servants of the Gods". Temple prostitutes.
Devi
Goddess or Shakti. There are said to be 33,000,000 Devis, but all are aspects of one primordial Goddess. Devi Chakra. The circle of all the Shaktis or Energy Clusters of the Goddess.
Dharana
Concentration of mental energy on one point.
Dharma
Duty. What requires to be done. Law. Justice. Also a technical name for Shakti.
Dhatu-Vada
"Essence Way". Alchemy.
Dhuni
Sacred "fire". It only smolders. Made of wood or cow dung. Of non-Vedic origin. Usually circular (yoni image) about 10-12 inches in diameter. It is tended by Sadhus at their homes.
Dhuti
Messenger.
Dhyana
Meditation. Consciousness without thought. Image to be used in meditation.
Digambara
Clothed with the directions of space; Naked. Refers to Dattatreya. Compare to Wiccan "skyclad" and Nuit of Liber Al.
Digits
Periods relating to the Moon cycle. Kali's digits: waning Moon. Lalita's digits: waxing Moon. Jvalamukhi's unified digits: full Moon.
Diksha
"Enhallowment". Initiation.
Dikshaka
One who initiates.
Dikshita
One who is initiated
DragonSeat
The center of a Zonule (qv).
DvaparaYuga
Second great period of time.
Dvesha
Hatred. Aversion.
Dvija
"Twice born". Initiated.
Ekagrata
One pointedness. Concentrating on one thing at a time.
Emkara
The sylable "Aim"--seed mantra of Tara and Sarasvati.
Expansion
The Nath sits on the Dragon Seat inside a magical circle. From the circle s/he creates or rearranges energy to form a cone. Mind projections sent outside this cone are classified as expansion. See: Absorption.
Gandharva
Celestial musicians in the Heaven of Indra (Indraloka).
Garbha
The womb.
Gauri
The Golden One. A name of the Goddess.
Goad
Represents repulsion. Represents the Sun.
Gochari
A group of Shaktis connected with the 5 senses of the knower.
Gola
A type of menstrual blood.
Granthi
Knot or complex. Knot of delusion.
Guna
Quality or trait. There are 3: Rajas--active; Tamas--passive; and Sattvas--the balance of Rajas and Tamas.
Guru
"The Dispeller of Ignorance". A guide. A realized preceptor who can guide the sincere. The living representative of a philosophical or religious system. There is no difference between realized Guide, Goddess and God.
Guruparampara
A serial line of teachers.
Hamsa
"Swan". A mantra which is the natural sound of the breath. It is uttered 21600 times a day.
Hatakeshvara
An aspect of Shiva.
Hatha Yoga
"Sun-Moon Yoga". Exercises for better physical health. Also means "Forced Yoga". Can detract from spiritual pursuits by addicting one to the body. Evolved by Gorakhnath.
Hrim
A mantra of Maya Shakti. Pronounced "Hreem".
Iccha
The Will.
Iccha Shakti
The Shakti or Energy of Will.
Ida
The (feminine, lunar) nadi going about the central Sushumna nadi.
Jada
Inert. Physical body without consciousness.
Jagat
"That which is always going". The phenomenal world.
Jagrat
Waking state of consciousness.
Japa(m)
Repetition; as of a mantra.
Jiva
The incarnated Atma.
Jivamukta
Liberated while still in the body.
Jivatma
Individual consciousness.
Jnana
Knowledge.
Jnana Shakti
The Shakti or Energy of Knowledge.
Kailasa Prastara
Denotes the female superior sexual position.
Kaivalya
Supreme liberation of consciousness from a sense of individuation granted by Kali.
Kala
Time. Star. Perfume. Ray. Essence. Unguent. Part or division of one whole process or thing.
Kalagnirudra
The Fire at the End of Time which burns up the whole Cosmic play.
Kali
Goddess of Time or Period. Presiding Goddess of the Naths.
Kalpa
An age. See Yuga.
Kama
God of erotic love. Lust. Sexuality. What is required for procreation.
Kamakala
Essence of desire. Triangle of bindus (red, white and mixed) representing the Yoni of the Goddess. In Shri Vidya (Knowledge of the Shri Yantra) it means that for creation sperm and egg must come together. The inner heart of the Bindu. See the booklet, "Lalita Magick".
Kamakhya Pitha
Seat of the Goddess at Kamarupa. A place especially sacred as it is the place of the Devi's Yoni on Earth.
Kamarupi
The Goddess at Kamakhya.
Kamrup
An image or form of desire. A power zone.
Kanchuka
Clothes.
Kanchuki Devi
The Goddess as wearing different clothes (Kanchuka) which represents layers of other Shaktis.
Kanya
Girl. Virgin. Virgo.
Kapala
Human skull.
Karana
Primal cause.
Karma
"Action". "Results of doing". Inevitable law of cause and effect. May last over lifetimes.
Kartikkeya
A son of Shiva. Also known as Skanda or Subrahmana. His vehicle is a cockerel.
Kaula
A knower of Kali-kala. The perfect assimilation within oneself of both Sun and Moon. Symbol: an eclipse.
Kaulesha
Lord of Kaula.
Kaulika
One following the path of Kaula. Relating to the Kulas or clusters.
Kavacha
A protective amulet. Armor.
Khageshvari
Goddess of Space or Aether.
Khechara
One who can move in the Expanse of Consciousness = Shiva.
Khechari
A group of Shaktis connected with the Knower.
Kinnaras
Spirits who are half human and half beast in the service of Kubera.
Kirtana
Song and dance of worshippers of Vishnu or his incarnations.
Kleshas
"Pain". There are five dealt with in Nath literature: Ignorance, Ego (an imaginary opinion of ourselves), Repulsion (to overcome it. This means learning that nothing is horrible in itself), Attachment (the false idea that we possess anything), and Clinging to Life.
Krishna
"The Black One", "The Stealer of Souls" The eighth incarnation of Vishnu. Represents the spontaneous power of unconventional sex.
Krita Yuga
First great period of time.
Kriya
"Action". Sometimes electric-like shocks that can cause the physical body to twitch.
Kriya Shakti
The Energy or Shakti of Action.
Kshetraja
The Shaktis born from sacred sites.
Kshetrapala
A son of Shiva. He rules over the land around the homestead and has a terrifying form.
Kula
Clan A Shakti or Energy Family or cluster of Kali's Shaktis: some build, some maintain, and some whithdraw
Kulachara
The Path of the Kulas.
Kulayana
Another name for Kula or Kaulashastra.
Kumani Puja
Worship of virgins.
Kumari
Virgin.
Kunda
Type of menstrual blood.
Kundalina
The Devi who is concealed in the internal dhooni or smouldering firepit.
Kundalini
The "fire snake" supposedly at the base of the spine.
Kundalini Yoga
A modern term based on a misunderstanding of Laya Yoga. If valid, it is dangerous to do as described. There are simpler and safer methods.
Kusha
Sacred grass. Used in certain ceremonies.
Lakh
100,000.
Lakini
One of the 7 Shaktis associated with the metabolism of food in the human body.
Laksha
Points in the body which are to be meditated upon.
Lalita
Sexual aspect of Shakti. Collective form of the three Shaktis of Shiva (See Shiva): Will, Knowledge, Action.
Laya Yoga
An attempt to raise the levels of consciousness until "liberation" is reached. No known person has succeeded by this method. Nathas say it is only symbolic.
Lila
Play. Sport. Game.
Lingam
Male genital organ. The special symbol of Shiva.
Lokapalas
World protectors. There are four, represented by the equinoxes and solstices. They are also represented by the sphynx or the riddle of Egypt.
Lokas
Worlds or planes of existence. Inhabited by intelligent beings.
Madya
Wine.
Magick
The six types of Tantrik Magick are for the purposes of protection, peacemaking, victory, wealth, punishing and destroying.
Maha
Great.
Mahadeva
"Great God", that is, Shiva.
Mahadevi
The Great Goddess.
Mahasamadhi
Refers to a tomb.
Mahatma
Great soul.
Maha-yuga
"Great Age". It is composed of 4 Yugas for a total of 4,320,000 years.
Maithuna
Ritual sexual intercourse.
Makara
"Truths". "Substances". Pancha Makaras or Pancha Tatvas means the 5 truths or principles. It refers to a sexual Tantrik ritual.
Mala
Rosary.
Mamsa
Meat.
Mandala
A magick circle.
Mantra(m)
Words with inherent power. God or Goddess in sound form.
Mantraja
The Shaktis created from the spiritual process of uttering mantras.
Mantrin
A male magician who practices mantra magic. Mantrini is the female form.
Mantrini)
A female magician who practices mantra magic. Mantrin is the male form.
Marg
Path or way.
Marma
Power zone on the human body. There are said to be 108 of them. On the Shri Yantra, as related to the human body, a marma is said to exist where 3 lines intersect.
Matrika
The letters of the alphabet. The Goddess in her form as all sound and speech.
Maya
"Illusion". Goddess who causes us to see energy patterns as the physical world. "...the mystic, magick power of Shakti which manifests, makes and creates the relative and forms the basic delusion of all mankind...between Truth and mankind hangs the eternal veil of maya delusion."
Meena
Fish.
Mercury
Semen.
Moksha
Ultimate spiritual liberation from material bondage. One of the 4 duties of a human. The others are Dharma, Artha and Kama.
Mounam
Silence. To take mounam means to take a vow of silence.
Mridanga
A type of drum.
Mrityunjaya
Shiva as conqueror of death.
Mudra
Symbolic and/or magickal gestures. Poached grain. A talisman. Large wooden earrings of Gorakhnath followers.
Mukti
Liberation from individualized consciousness.
Muni
Sage.
Nada(m)
Vibrational energy which pervades all things. It manifests as sound. "The absolute as sound.
Nadi
"River". Current or channel of psychic energy. Conduits of Prana. Nerve passages in the body. There are said to be 72,000 nadis. The pulse. 150th part of the Ascendant in a Sidereal Birth Chart.
Nagas
Serpent spirits.
Nakshatra
One of the 27 sidereal lunar constellations.
Nath(a)
Lord, Master. Mistress. Protector. Refuge. One who gives equal importance to the three energies within: Lunar (intellect), Solar (emotions), and Fire (bodily sensations). An ancient Indian Magickal Cult.
Navamshas
200' of arc in Sidereal Astrology. Each constellation has 1800' of arc. Therefore, there are 9 (nava) navamshas in a sidereal constellation. Since there are 12 constellations in the Sidereal zodiac there are 9 times 12 or 108 navamshas.
Nayika Siddhi
Magick power to evoke a beautiful woman.
Nectar
See Amrita.
Nitya
Day or "digit" of the Moon. Eternal. Unchanging.
Nivritti
Cessation of mental tendencies. A life of having no physical things as followed by Sannyasins. Involution. Opposite of Pravritti.
Niyama
Restraint of mind.
Noose
Represents attachment, the Moon.
Nyasa
"Applying" drawn energy for a purpose such as transfering power to a candidate during initiation.
Ojas
Magickal energy. Semen.
Omkara
The famous mantric sylable OM or AUM.
Paan
A sweetmeat made of betel nut and other fragrant substances wrapped in a betel leaf.
Pada
Feet.
Padma
"Lotus". Symbol of yoni.
Padukas
Wooden sandals. Worn by Dattatreya.
Pagal
"Mad". Pagalnath: Nath sect so-called due to outrageous behavior.
Pancha
Five.
Para
Transcendental spiritual wisdom. Beyond. Distant. Far.
Para Shakti
Supreme Shakti in whom all the other Shaktis or Clusters reside.
Parada
"Mercury". Semen of Shiva.
Parampara
Line of succession.
Paro
Mysterious or secret pattern to an action done by one's own will.
Pashu
Animal herd. Animal nature. Literally "a beast" but in the special sense meaning a human being who is ignorant and uninitiated.
Patra
Magick chalice.
Phat
"Crack". The Thunderbolt Mantra. Used to drive off disturbing spirits. Fingers should be snapped around head while saying it.
Pinda
The Microcosm. Pindas are small balls of food offered during the Shraddha or ancestor ceremony.
Pingala
Male, Solar nadi opposite Ida nadi going about the central Sushumna nadi.
Pitha
Pedestal, but applied to mean a site where a particular aspect of the Goddess presides. Pitha also refers to centres within the body.
Pithaja
The Shaktis born form the spiritual centers or pedestals (Pitha) of Goddesses.
Pradakshina
Walking clockwise in a temple as a form of worship.
Prajna
True wisdom. A higher mode of knowing.
Prakriti
Materialized nature. It is the basis of the three Gunas.
Prana
The body's energy. Spirit. Breath. Similar to the Kabalistic "Ruach".
Prana-pratishtha
Life-implacing. Techniques to manifest "life" within an object.
Prasada
Peace. Tranquility. An offering of food. Pravritti. Worldly life. Evolution. A flowing forth, unfolding what is within. Opposite of Nivritti.
Prayoga
Application (uses).
Preya
That which is pleasing to the senses.
Puja
Magick. Worship.
Pujari
Priest.
Purana
"Ancient". A class of Sanskrit scriptures concerning Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva written for the masses. There are 18 Puranas.
Purnima
Full Moon. Guru Purnima: The day reserved for homage to Guru. A festival, related to the element of Spirit. Occurs in late July or early August.
Purusha
Pure, unmanifested consciousness.
Rajas
Guna of activity. Menstrual blood.
Rasa
The elixir in Alchemy. "Liquid". "Mercury". Sense of taste. Dance of Krishna and the Gopis.
Rasi-Chakra
Zodiac. Rasi means 1/12 division of the zodiac.
Raurava
A terrible underworld.
Ridgepole
Fluid yet equipose line existing between the two states of active and passive.
Rishi
A Seer. Sage. Maharishi means great sage.
Ritu
Rite or ceremony. Time between a woman's menstrual flow. The menses.
Roga
Disease.
Rupa
Outward appearance. Beauty. Image.
Sadhaka
A follower of a Sadhana. A magician.
Sadhana
"Direct way". A ritual. A spiritual discipline.
Sadhu
Holy man. Ascetic. Yogi.
Sahaja
Spontaneity. Shaktis spontaneously created. Joy. Naturalness. Amorality. Giving all worldly things divine status.
Sahaja Chakra
Circle or Sphere of Spontaneity. Sahaja is one of the three gems of the Nathas. Samarasa and Sama are the other two.
Sahajiya
Doctrine of nature. Doctrine of spontaneity. Sa Ham/So Ham. "I am she" or "I am he". Sound of the breath. See: Hamsa.
Sahodara
Brother or sister.
Sama
Equipoise consciousness. A state in which all is viewed equally. Balance. The same. Equal.
Sama Veda
Veda of chants. One of the four Vedas.
Samadhi
Complete contemplation where the mind and soul attain close relationship and understanding. Can lead to Samarasa.
Samadrishti
"Equal vision". Seeing all things as equal. Samarasa. Where the yogi(ni) sees himself (herself) as the world and the world as being in himself (herself). Perfect assimilation within oneself. Equipoise in feelings. Mind at rest.
Samhita
Mystic union.
Sampradaya
Lineage. Tradition. Sect.
Samsara
The wheel or ocean of life and death. Wheel of time. Combinations of Shiva's 3 Shaktis which create diversity in the cosmos. 'All together flowing
Samskara
A mental impression produced by past experiences, mental or behavioral patterns.
Samvit
Consciousness.
Sandhi
Joints in the human frame. Body power zones found where two lines meet on the Shri Chakra (compare with marmas). They are 24 in number. Dawn and Dusk (the twilights).
Sandhya
See Sandhi.
Sandhya Bhasha
Twilight language. Similar to the style of some Kabalistic works, it refers to writings which seem to mean one thing, while actually signifying something else. This can use very figurative writing (such as in the Zohar) or very brief basics which need to be expanded upon (such as in the Sepher Yetzirah).
Sandoha
Assemby Point for Naths and Kaulas.
Sangsara
See: Samsara
Sannyasin
One who rejects society to devote himself or herself to intellectual and spiritual culture.
Sattvas
Guna of reconciliation between action and passivity. Peace. Law.
Satya
Truth. Reality.
Shabda
Vibrational energy manifesting as sound. Includes physical or "struck" sound and internal, silent unstruck" sound.
Shajasamadhi
Highest form of Samadhi.
Shakinis
Witch-spirits.
Shakti
An Energy or Power of supreme Shiva. Feminine counterpart to each of the Gods of the Hindu pantheon, especially of Shiva. The power, drive and force within a person.
Shambhala
Cave complex under the Himalayas from a ruined Gobi Desert area society. Their traditions include: Working the left-hand path; Doing Tantrik Magick; The study of science and yoga. It is said that the next avatara will come from Shambhala. Compare with Agarthi.
Shambu
"Horn of Plenty". A title of Shiva.
Shanti
Peace. Tranquility. Often repeated 3 times after a prayer.
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