adi-guru

The first spiritual master of a disciplic succession.

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

Parama-guru - grand-spiritual master; the guru of one’s guru.

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

guru-shishya system: (Sanskrit) "Master-disciple" system. An important education system of Hinduism whereby the teacher conveys his knowledge and tradition to a student.

Such knowledge, whether it be Vedic- Agamic art, architecture or spirituality, is imparted through the developing relationship between guru and disciple.

The principle of this system is that knowledge, especially subtle or advanced knowledge, is best conveyed through a strong human relationship based on ideals of the student's respect, commitment, devotion and obedience, and on personal instruction by which the student eventually masters the knowledge the guru embodies.

See: guru, guru bhakti, satguru.

(See also: Guru-shishya system , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Visrambha-guru-seva - service to guru which is imbued with deep faith and intimacy (see visrambha). Service devoid of formality. Complete absence of any feeling of separateness from the guru. This type of service is possible only in an advanced stage.

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

Mantra - a mystical sloka composed of the names of Sri Bhagavan which addresses any individual deity.

Mantras are given to a disciple by a guru at the time of diksa. The question may be raised that since bhagavan-nama is independent, how can mantras, which are composed of the names of the Lord (bhagavan-nama) , be dependent upon diksa?

Srila Jiva Gosvami has discussed this question in Bhakti-sandarbha (Anuccheda 284). He says that mantras are bhagavannamatmika. This means that mantras are composed of the names of Bhagavan. The difference is that mantras also contain some special words like nama, svaha, and klim. Sri Bhagavan and the rsis have invested mantras with special power by which those mantras reveal one’s own specific relationship with Krsna. Therefore it may seem that mantras are endowed with some special potencies that are not invested in nama.

A contradiction arises because if bhagavan-nama (which is lacking these special attributes) is able to bestow the supreme object of attainment (parama-purusartha) without any need for diksa, how is it that mantras are dependent on diksa when they are even more powerful than nama?

Srila Jiva Gosvami analyzes that by the constitutional nature of mantras, they are not dependent on diksa. Nonetheless, people in general are influenced by the bodily conception and their hearts are polluted with abominable desires. In order to curb these tendencies, the rsis have established regulations to be followed in the arcana-marga. Otherwise, by constitutional nature, there is no difference between nama and mantra in the matter of their independence of any formalities.

Nama, being non-different from nami, or Bhagavan Himself, is already invested with all potencies. Therefore in actuality, the glory of nama is superior to that of mantras. Yet Jiva Gosvami says that the diksa-mantras are invested with the power to reveal the sadhakas’ specific relationship with the Lord - sri bhagavata samam atmasambandha- visesa-pratipadakas ca (Bhakti-sandarbha, Anuccheda 284). The same thing is stated in Anuccheda 283: divyam-jnanam hy atra srimati mantre bhagavat-svarupa-jnanam tena bhagavata sambandha-visesa-jnanam ca (see diksa). This means that when a guru who is situated on the platform of bhava gives diksa, the mantras are invested with the knowledge of Bhagavan’s svarupa and knowledge of one’s specific relationship with Him. Therefore, those who are desiring to attain the prema-seva of Sri Krsna in Vraja in one of the four relationships of dasya, sakhya, vatsalya, or madhura should accept diksa-mantras from a guru who is established in one of these moods.

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

Bhakti Yoga

Type of yoga or spiritual exercise involving devotion to a god or a guru.

(See also: Bhakti Yoga , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

 kula guru: spiritual teacher of the household or clan.

(See also:  kula guru , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

tapas: (Sanskrit) "Warmth, heat," hence psychic energy, spiritual fervor or ardor.

1)    Purificatory spiritual disciplines, severe austerity, penance and sacrifice. The endurance of pain, suffering, through the performance of extreme penance, religious austerity and mortification. By comparison, sadhana is austerity of a simple, sustained kind, while tapas is austerity of a severe, psychetransforming nature. Tapas is extreme bodily mortification, long term sadhanas, such as meditating under a tree in one place for 12 years, taking a lifetime vow of silence and never speaking or writing, or standing on one leg for a prescribed number of years. Scriptures warn against extreme asceticism that harm the body.

2)    On a deeper level, tapas is the intense inner state of kundalini "fire" which stimulates mental anguish and separates the individual from society. Life does not go on as usual when this condition occurs. The association with a satguru, Sadasiva, brings the devotee into tapas; and it brings him out of it. The fire of tapas burns on the dross of sanchita karmas. This is the source of heat, dismay, depression and striving until final and total surrender, prapatti. The individual can mollify this heated condition by continuing his regular sadhana as outlined by the guru. The fires of self-transformation may be stimulated by the practice of tapas, or come unbidden. One can "do" tapas, but the true tapas is a condition of being and consciousness which is a state of grace, bringing positive change, transformation and purification of one's nature. Guru bhakti is the only force that can cool the fires of tapas.

See: kundalini, penance, sadhana.

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

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

Kundalini Dictionary

Dictionary over terms related to kundalini and kundalini awakening. Please note that words in grey like " Kundalini " are links to archives with related articles.

 Indus Valley Civilization (ca. 4000-1,500 BC): an advanced civilization in ancient India concurrent with the Babylonian and Egyptian civilizations. Numerous sites of ruins lie along the Indus River in present-day Pakistan.

(See also:  Indus Valley Civilization , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964): first Prime Minister of independent India. He and his father, Motilal Nehru, were prominent leaders of the nationalist movement and Indian Congress Party from the 1930's.

(See also: Jawaharlal Nehru , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

A Yoga Dictionary from Abhyasa to Yukti.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Raganuga-sadhana - Sri Rupa Gosvami’s conclusions regarding the method for performing raganuga-bhajana are stated in Bhaktirasamrta-sindhu (1.2.294-296) as follows: "One should constantly remember one’s dearest nava-kisora Sri Nanda-nandana and the beloved associates of Krsna who are possessed of sajatiya-bhava or the identical mood for which one aspires. One should always reside in Sri Vraja-dhama with great attachment for hearing topics regarding Krsna and His devotees.

If one is physically unable to live in Vraja, one should do so mentally. This is the method of raganuga-bhakti-sadhana.” Sri Rupa Gosvami continues: "A sadhaka who has lobha for raganuga-bhakti should serve Sri Krsna both in the sadhaka-rupa and the siddha-rupa in accordance with the bhava of the Vrajaparikaras who possess the same mood for which he aspires. The angas of bhakti such as sravana, kirtana, sri guru-padasraya, and others in regard to vaidhi-bhakti, are also useful and necessary in raganuga-bhakti. But judicious sadhakas will adopt only those angas which nourish their specific bhava, avoiding those which hamper it.”

Examples of the angas of bhakti in regard to raganuga-sadhana are as follows: sravanam in madhura-rasa means that one will hear how a maidservant serves Lalita, Visakha, Radha and Krsna. Kirtana means that one will learn how to do pati-vancanam, that is speaking sweet words to the husband in order to cheat him and go to participate in the lila of Radha and Krsna. Smaranam means to remember how Lalita and Visakha are rendering service to Srimati Radharani. Pada-sevanam means to take Srimati Radharani to meet with Krsna at night. Arcanam is done with the corner of the eyes. When Krsna is returning from the cow-pastures with the cowherd boys and the cows, all the gopis are standing at their doorsteps doing arcana with the corner of their eyes. Everything is there; the flame is there, water is there, sneha, mana, pranaya and everything else is there. Krsna also accepts their worship with the corner of His eyes. This is called arcana. Atma-nivedanam means gopijana-vallabhaya svaha: "I am the maidservant of Radha and Krsna, and I am offering my entire being to Them.”

(See also: Raganuga-sadhana , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Aparadha - offenses committed against the holy name, the Vaisnavas, the guru, the sastras, the holy places, the Deity and so on. The verbal root radha means to give pleasure or satisfy and the prefix apa means taking away. Thus the word aparadha signifies all activities that are displeasing to Bhagavan and His bhaktas.

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

Self: The nearest English equivalent of the Sanskrit word “Atman”, the essential Divinity of an individual.

(See also: Self , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

Panchadasi [fifteen]: Vedantic text of fifteen chapters written by Swami Vidyaranya. It is an advanced introductory text (prakarana grantha) intended to unfold all the subject of Vedanta necessary for enlightenment, or to serve as a foundation for further study of Vedanta.

(See also: Panchadasi , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

Sanskrit: that which is well, or completely, done. The oldest language of mankind; the language of the original Hindu scriptures, developed for the communication of spiritual ideas and concepts, not for dealing with worldly or mundane concerns.

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

amma: mother.

(See also: amma , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)

advaita [not divided]: the one unchangeable, indivisible Truth; the one essence that cannot be described as real or non-real. Adi Shankaracharya wrote extensive commentaries on the major Vedantic scriptures to prove this conclusion.

(See also: advaita , Hinduism, Yoga, Body Mind and Soul)