Benefit Of Yoga Dictionary

Mukti - liberation from material existence.

There are five types of liberation:

·      sarupya (obtaining the same form as Bhagavan) ,

·      samipya (living in close proximity to Bhagavan) ,

·      salokya (living on the same planet as Bhagavan) ,

·      sarsti (having the same opulence as Bhagavan) , and

·      sayujya (becoming one with Sri Bhagavan either by merging into His body or by merging into His brahma effulgence).

The last type is vehemently rejected by the bhaktas.

Although the other four types of mukti are sometimes accepted by bhaktas as they are not entirely incompatible with bhakti, they are never accepted by those who are fixed on attaining unalloyed love for Sri Krsna in Vraja.

(See also: Mukti , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Anartha - unwanted desires in the heart which impede one’s advancement in bhakti. These anarthas are of four types:

(1) duskrtottha, those arising from past sins;

(2) sukrtottha, those arising from previous pious activities;

(3) aparadhottha, those arising from offenses; and

(4) bhakty-uttha, those arising in relationship to bhakti.

(See also: Anartha , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Diksa-mantra - the mantras given by the guru at the time of initiation. These mantras include the maha-mantra, brahma-gayatri, gurumantra, guru-gayatri, gaura-mantra, gaura-gayatri, gopala-mantra, and kama-gayatri. The guru’s internal mood of service to Radha and Krsna is transmitted through the medium of these mantras.

This is indicated in the following sloka from Bhakti-sandarbha (Anuccheda 237): yo mantram sa gurum saksat yo guru sa hari svayam gurur yasya bhavet tustas tasya tusto harim svayam - "The mantra (which is given by the guru) is itself the guru, and the guru is directly the Supreme Lord Hari. He with whom the spiritual master is pleased also obtains the pleasure of Sri Hari Himself.” These mantras are invested with divya-jnana, or transcendental knowledge of Krsna’s form and one’s specific relationship with Him (see also diksa and mantra).

(See also: Diksa-mantra , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Diksa-guru - initiating spiritual master. One who gives a mantra in accordance with the regulations of sastra to a qualified candidate for the purpose of worshiping Sri Bhagavan and realizing Him through that mantra is known as a diksa or mantra-guru.

(See also: Diksa-guru , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ananya-bhakti - exclusive or pure devotion; devotion which is not mixed with any other desires and has no objective other than Sri Krsna.

(See also: Ananya-bhakti , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Jnana -

(1) knowledge,

(2) knowledge which leads to impersonal liberation: this concerns the atma’s distinction from matter and its identity with brahma.

(See also: Jnana , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sadhana - the method one adopts in order to obtain a specific goal is called  sadhana. Without sadhana one cannot obtain sadhya, the goal of one’s practice. There are many different types of sadhana corresponding to various goals. Those who desire material enjoyment adopt the path of karma as their sadhana. Those who desire liberation adopt the path of jnana as their sadhana. Those who aspire for the eternal loving service of Sri Krsna adopt the path of bhakti as their  sadhana. The sadhana of bhakti refers to spiritual practices such as hearing, chanting, and so on.

(See also: Sadhana , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Nirvana - extinction, disappearance, dissolution; final emancipation from matter and re-union with the Supreme Spirit; Mayavada conception - absolute extinction or annihilation of individual existence.

(See also: Nirvana , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Samsara -

(1) material existence; the cycle of repeated birth and death.

(2) householder life; domestic life.

(See also: Samsara , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Madhyahna - the third period of the day; mid-day, noon (see astakaliya-lila).

(See also: Madhyahna , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Puranas - the eighteen historical supplements to the Vedas.

(See also: Puranas , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ananda - spiritual bliss, ecstasy, joy, happiness; that which Sri Bhagavan relishes through His hladini-sakti (see hladini).

(See also: Ananda , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Japa - loud chanting or soft utterance of the holy names of Krsna to oneself; usually referring to the practice of chanting hari-nama on tulasi beads.

The word japa comes from the verbal root jap which means to utter or whisper repeatedly (especially prayers or incantations). In the Sabda-kalpa-druma, japa has been defined as the utterance of mantras either within the heart or verbally. In Haribhakti- vilasa (17.155-159) Srila Sanatana Gosvami describes japa in the following words: "In the Nrsimha-Purana it is said that japa-yajna is of three kinds:

(1) vacika (verbal) ,

(2) upamsu (in a whisper) , and

(3) manasika (within the mind).

When a mantra is pronounced very distinctly either in a high, low, or resonant voice it is known as vacika-japa. When a mantra is uttered slowly with slight movement of the lips and can be heard only by one’s own ears it is known as upamsu-japa. When one meditates on the meaning of the mantra by application of the intelligence going repeatedly from one syllable to the next and from one word to the next it is known as manasika-japa.”

(See also: Japa , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Para-sakti - Sri Bhagavan’s superior potency which has three divisions: cit, tatastha, and maya.

(See also: Para-sakti , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Babaji - a term of respect which is given loosly (frequently improperly) , to sadhus and Vaisnavas, particularly those who have given up all connection with household life. In the setting of this book, this term specifically refers to the Vaisnava followers of Sriman Mahaprabhu, who have given up all the duties and designations of varnasrama society and who engage almost exclusively in chanting hari-nama. Actual babajis live as strict renunciates, they do not accept the external garb of sannyasis because sannyasa is part of varnasrama. They do not wear the sacred thread of the brahmanas because they have entered into bhavavastha and are engaged in raga-marga. Such characteristics are to be accepted only by those on the highest platform of eligibility, who retire from the world to immerse themselves in private bhajana.

(See also: Babaji , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Hari-nama - the chanting of the holy names of the Lord. Unless accompanied by the word sankirtana, it usually refers to the practice of chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra to oneself on a strand of tulasi beads.

(See also: Hari-nama , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Siva - a qualitative expansion of Sri Bhagavan (see Glossary of Names).

(See also: Siva , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Linga-sarira - the subtle material body consisting of mind, intelligence, and ego.

(See also: Linga-sarira , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sravana-guru - the person from whom one hears instructions regarding the fundamental truths of Sri Bhagavan, His energies, the living entities, and  bhaktiis known as the sravana-guru.

(See also: Sravana-guru , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Bhakta - a devotee.

(See also: Bhakta , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Amnaya - the teachings of the Vedas received through guruparampara are known as amnaya.

(See also: Amnaya , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)