A dictionary with common spiritual words from Hinduism and Sanskrit. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual Dictionary and Hinduism Dictionary.

intercessory prayer:

1. Type of petitionary prayer wherein the petitioner is not the object or intended beneficiary of the request.
2. In Roman Catholicism, prayer in which one asks a saint or similar deceased person to intercede with God.

(See also: Intercessory prayer, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Sumati (Sanskrit) Benevolent, kindness; devotion, prayer. As a proper noun, the name of many celebrated people, such as a son of Bharata who gave his name to Bharata-varsha (India).

(See also: Sumati, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

receptive prayer: Exercise of spiritual faculties that draws from Infinite source currents.

(See also: Receptive prayer, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Amen 'amen (Hebrew) (from 'aman to be firm, faithful, trustworthy, sure)

Firmness, permanency, durability, truth, fidelity; as an adverb truly, certainly, verily, so be it. The significance of amen is in many cases almost identic with that of the Sanskrit Aum (Om). For this reason in Christian prayers or church services it has been adopted as the final word closing a prayer -- another usage closely similar to the way in which Om is used in Sanskrit writings. In later Gnostic times Amen was one of the angelic host.

In ancient Egypt one of the great gods was called Amen or Ammon (

See also AMMON).

(See also: Amen, amen, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

shruti: (Sanskrit) "That which is heard."

Hinduism's revealed scriptures, of supreme theological authority and spiritual value. They are timeless teachings transmitted to rishis, or seers, directly by God thousands of years ago. Shruti is thus said to be apaurusheya, "impersonal," or rather "suprahuman."

Shruti consists essentially of the Vedas and the Agamas, preserved initially through oral tradition and eventually written down in Sanskrit. Among the many sacred books of the Hindus, these two bodies of knowledge are held in the highest esteem. For countless centuries shruti has been the basis of philosophical discussion, study and commentary, and this attention has given rise to countless schools of thought. It is also the subject of deep study and meditation, to realize the wisdom of the ancients within oneself.

Most mantras are drawn from shruti, used for rites of worship, both public and domestic, as well as personal prayer and japa. It is a remarkable tribute to Hindu culture that so much of shruti was preserved for thousands of years without alteration by means of oral instruction from guru to shishya, generation after generation. In the Veda tradition this was accomplished by requiring the student to learn each verse in eleven different ways, including backwards. Traditionally shruti is not read, but chanted according to extremely precise rules of grammar, pitch, intonation and rhythm. This brings forth its greatest power. In the sacred language of shruti, word and meaning are so closely aligned that hearing these holy scriptures properly chanted is magical in its effect upon the soul of the listener.

See: Agamas, smriti, Vedas.

(See also: Shruti, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Sword: Less useful, but still necessary for high magic or theurgy which involves chaotic spirits, is the sword. This is similar in its functioning to the wand, but whereas the wand has a neutral nature, the sword is overtly offensive, projecting power to dominate and hurt. It is supposed to be made by the Magus, but I hazard to say that not one in a thousand occultists who possesses the magic sword has actually fashioned the blade by hand. It is considered acceptable to procure a short sword, or long knife, and after thoroughly purifying it, consecrate it by anointing and prayer to its magical purpose. I use an old British army bayonet myself, which is shaped as a sword, hilt and all, and find it effective—perhaps especially so due to its military associations.

(See also: Sword, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

Medicine Wheel

1.    Plains Indians' way of life symbolizing a dynamic, spirallic understanding of the universe.

2.    An ancient stone circle that has been used for thousands of years by Native people as a place for prayer, ceremony, and self-understanding

(See also: Medicine Wheel, Body Mind and Soul)

shanti:

peace. Tranquility. Often repeated 3 times after a prayer.

(See also: shanti, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

We call people from all walks of Life to gather together to pray together in the Spirit of Oneness at the Venus Transit June 8th 10.00-10.15 am (GMT)

Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
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Read more here: » Venus Transit: Oneness Prayer at June 8th 10.00-10.15 am (GMT)

Shanti:

Shanti. Peace. Tranquility. Often repeated 3 times after a prayer.

(See also: Shanti, Tantra, Tantra Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Voodoo or Voodooism [from Fongbe dialect vodunu from vodu moral and religious life of the Fons of Dahomey]

A definite system of African black magic or sorcery, including various types of necromantic practice. It reached the Americas with the African slaves brought from the West Coast, and in and around the Caribbean various degrees of the cult persist and constitute a recognized if little understood social feature in the history and life of the people.

Especially significant in the original Fon religion are the principal temples in the sacred forests, with symbolic hieroglyphics on the walls, depicting the exploits of their kings, voodoo legends, etc., and explaining their belief in the unknowable god Meru (Great Master); this unmanifest god, too far removed from men for them to give to him any form, dealt with them through lesser gods and nature spirit, i.e., voodoo; the priestesses serving the temple in a secret cult with four degrees of initiation, and having passwords unknown to laymen; the cult of the snake or adder as the most primitive form of the religion.

Such findings in voodoo history, however degraded in course of time and overlaid by beliefs and customs of cruder native tribes, have the basic elements of a hierarchic religion so enveloped in mystery as to indicate an origin far beyond the creative imagination of any people. Rather, here in strange temples of dark mystery, were the lingering echoes of some ancient wisdom teaching of those who were truly "as wise as serpents." The least altered of the original system is probably the voodoo music with its solemn, insistent rhythm in the mood of prayer or an invocation. This rhythm persists, even when the ritual songs in Haiti are composed entirely of Creole words, or of a series of unintelligible sounds.

Counterparts of the debasing and malign system of voodoo are found elsewhere under many different names, like the left-hand Tantrika of India, and the Dugpas of Tibet. In general, all of these unholy practices date back to the abuse of spiritual knowledge and power by the late Atlanteans.

(See also: Voodoo, Voodooism, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Gayatri mantra:

Gayatri mantra (Gaayathree mantra). Ancient Vedic prayer to awaken the intelligence and lead to enlightenment.

(See also: Gayatri mantra, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

UDGITHA: sonorous prayer prescribed in the Chhandogya Upanishad to be sung aloud

(See also: UDGITHA, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Attunement - N

A New Age counterpart to prayer. Also re-ferred to as at-one-ment, the term relates primarily to the New Age idea that complete oneness with God can be experienced by human beings.

(See also: Attunement, New Age, Body mind and Soul)

Synagog, Synagogue [from synagoge an assembly; translation of Hebrew khenesheth, Aramaic khenash a congregation]

Originally a gathering of Jews for worship or religious instruction, but later applied to the building in which the gatherings were held. As a characteristic Jewish institution, the synagog rose to prominence after the reforms instituted by Ezra, for the gatherings were the means whereby the populace received instruction, especially in the reading of the law on every Sabbath. The rites on Sabbath morning as outlined in the Mishnah consisted of readings from the Old Testament (particularly from Deuteronomy and Numbers), followed by prayer, then the lessons from the law and the prophets, a sermon thereon, and finally the blessing.

The building was generally, in accordance with ancient mystery-habits, situated near a body of water and orientated from north to south, the synagog having three doors to the south; the interior was divided by columns into a nave and two aisles.

(See also: Synagog, Synagogue, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Agapae (Greek) (plural of agape brotherly love, loving kindness, charity)

Love feasts; not only the love for God, but the love of Christians for each other as being members of a divinely inspired communion. The agapae were meetings for prayer, song, reading, exhortation, exchange of news, and ended with the brotherly kiss. With the lapse into worldliness, abuses crept into these love-feasts, which in time became so notorious that they were finally abolished.

(See also: Agapae, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Gurvashtakam

a prayer, composed by Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura written in praise of the spiritual master.

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

Anjali (Sanskrit) (from the verbal root anj to smear with, anoint, honor)

Salutation; a gesture of respect when the hands placed side by side and slightly hollowed are raised to the forehead. This salutation of reverence and benediction has been universally used by Hindus since ancient times, not only as a sign of reverence to gurus or those to whom it is desired to show special respect, but also frequently as a gesture of prayer directed to divinities.

The form anjala is used at the end of a compound. Blavatsky speaks of anjala as one of "the personified powers which spring from Brahma's body -- the Prajapatis" (TG 23).

(See also: Anjali, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Adonai 'adonai (Hebrew) (from 'adon lord)

My Lords; through usage, Lord, a plural of excellence. Originally a sort of appeal or prayer to the hierarchical spiritual powers of the earth planetary chain, and more particularly of the planetary spirit of the earth itself; later it became a mere substitute for the unutterable name of God, usually for Tetragrammaton (YHVH).

"As the inner nature of YHVH is hidden; therefore He (YHVH) is only named with the Name of the Shekhinah, Adonai, i.e., Lord; therefore the Rabbins say (of the name YHVH); Not as I am written (i.e., YHVH) am I read. In this world My Name is written YHVH and read Adonai, but in the world to come, the same will be read as it is written, so that Mercy (represented by YHVH) shall be from all sides" (Zohar iii 320a). Adonai is rendered Lord in the Bible, although it means "my Lords"; whereas 'elohim is translated God in the English Authorized Version.

In the Sephirothal scheme, the Divine Name of the Sephirah of Malchuth was 'Adonai. The Gnostics taught that Iurbo and Adonai were names of Iao-Jehovah, who is an emanation of Ilda Baoth. According to Origen the Gnostics considered Adonai the genius of the sun. Blavatsky writes: "Both Aidoneus and Dionysius (Dionysus)

are the bases of Adonai, or 'Jurbo Adonai,' as Jehovah is called in Codex Nazaraeus. . . . Baal-Adonis of the sods or Mysteries of the pre-Babylonian Jews became the Adonai by the Massorah, the later-vowelled Jehovah" (SD 1:463).

See also 'ADON; IAO; JEHOVAH

(See also: Adonai, adonai, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Diakka. Called by Occultists and Theosophists "spooks" and "shells", i.e., phantoms from Kama Loka. A word invented by the great American Seer, Andrew Jackson Davis, to denote what he considers untrustworthy "Spirits".

In his own words: "A Diakka (from the Summerland) is one who takes insane delight in playing parts, in juggling tricks, in personating opposite characters; to whom prayer and profane utterances are of equi-value; surcharged with a passion for lyrical narrations; . . . morally deficient, he is without the active feelings of justice, philanthropy, or tender affection.

He knows nothing of what men call the sentiment of gratitude; the ends of hate and love are the same to him; his motto is often fearful and terrible to others - SELF is the whole of private living, and exalted annihilation the end of all private life. Only yesterday, one said to a lady medium, signing himself Swedenborg, this: ‘Whatsoever is, has been, will be, or may be, that I AM.; and private life is but the aggregative phantasms of thinking throb- lets, rushing in their rising onward to the central heart of eternal death’

(The Diakka and their Victims; "an explanation of the False and Repulsive in Spiritualism.") These "Diakka" are then simply the communicating and materializing so-called "Spirits" of Mediums and Spiritualists.

(See also: Diakka, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )