Hindu Texts Dictionary - Article Index

Dictionary - Chandogya Upanisad: Vedic Hindu Scriptures Dictionary On Chandogya Upanisad
Chandogya Upanisad The Chandogya Upanisad contains the story of Svetaketu, a boy who was sent away by his father to be educated. When...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upaveda: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Upaveda
Upaveda: (Sanskrit) "Secondary Vedas."   A class of texts on sacred sciences, composed by rishis over the course of ti...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhagavata Purana: Vedic Hindu Scriptures Dictionary On Bhagavata Purana
Bhagavata Purana It is the fifth purana in length but is the most popular and influencial among the puranas. It is primarily a vaishn...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Mahabharata: Vedic Hindu Scriptures Dictionary On Mahabharata
Mahabharata "[The Mahabharata] is...probably the longest single poem in the world's literature. Traditionally the author of the p...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Purana: Vedic Hindu Scriptures Dictionary On Purana
Purana "Literally "ancient"; any one of eighteen sacred books of Hinduism, attributed to Vyasa, which elaborate and pop...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Smriti: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Smriti
smriti: (Sanskrit) "That which is remembered; the tradition."   Hinduism's nonrevealed, secondary but deeply revered s...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Samkhya-karika: Vedic Hindu Scriptures Dictionary On Samkhya-karika
Samkhya-karika A treatise on the Samkhya philosophy, written by Isvarakrsna, one of the proponents of the Samkhya system of philosophy...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahman: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Brahman
Brahman: (Sanskrit) "Supreme Being; expansive spirit." From the root brih, "to grow, increase, expand." Name of Go...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahma: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Brahma
Brahma: (Sanskrit) The name of God in His aspect of Creator. Saivites consider Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra to be three of five aspects of...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Spiritual Dictionary: Dictionary Of Spiritual Terms
A Dictionary of Spiritual Terms. From Acupuncture to Zoroaster.   Please note that all words in grey, like "yoga", "...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sanskrit Dictionary: A Sanskrit Dictionary From Advaita To Yoga
Sanskrit dictionary. From Advaita to Yoga.   Please note that all words in grey, like "enlightenment" or "kundalini&...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Arthaveda: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Arthaveda
Arthaveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of statecraft." A class of ancient texts, also called Nitishastras, on politics, statecraft and...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Agama: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Agama
Agama: (Sanskrit) "That which has come down." An enormous collection of Sanskrit scriptures which, along with the Vedas, are r...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Scripture: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Scripture
scripture (scriptural): "A writing."   A sacred text or holy book having authority for a given sect or religion. See: ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - ‚handas Vedanga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On ‚handas Vedanga
‚handas Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on the metrical rules of poetic writing. ‚handa, meter, is among four linguistic ski...   » Read the article

Dictionary - çhandas Vedanga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On çhandas Vedanga
Çhandas Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on the metrical rules of poetic writing. Çhanda, meter, is among four ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upanishad: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Upanishad
Upanishad: (Sanskrit) "Sitting near devotedly."   The fourth and final portion of the Vedas, expounding the secret, ph...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yama-niyama: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Yama-niyama
yama-niyama: (Sanskrit) "Restraints-observances."   The first two of the eight limbs of raja yoga, constituting Hindui...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Siddha Siddhanta: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Siddha Siddhanta
Siddha Siddhanta: (Sanskrit) Siddha Siddhanta, also called Gorakhnatha Saivism, is generally considered to have come in the lineage of...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yajur Veda: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Yajur Veda
Yajur Veda: (Sanskrit) "Wisdom of sacrificial formulas."   One of the four compendia of revelatory texts called Vedas ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhashya: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Bhashya
bhashya: n (Sanskrit) "Speech, discussion." Commentary on a text.   Hindu philosophies are largely founded upon the in...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Puranas: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary Ii On Puranas
Puranas: Hindu mythological texts   (See also: Puranas , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Sou...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Ayurveda: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Ayurveda
ayurveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of life." A holistic system of medicine and health native to ancient India. This sacred Vedic ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upagama: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Upagama
Upagama: (Sanskrit) Secondary Agama.   A large body of texts and similar in character to the principle Agamas. Each of the 28 Si...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Tantra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Tantra
tantra: (Sanskrit) "Loom, methodology." 1)    Most generally, a synonym for shastra, "scripture." ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Veda: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Veda
Veda: (Sanskrit) "Wisdom."   Sagely revelations which comprise Hinduism's most authoritative scripture. They, along wi...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Veda: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Veda
Veda: (Sanskrit) "Wisdom." Sagely revelations which comprise Hinduism's most authoritative scripture. They, along with the A...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sutra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Sutra
sutra: (Sanskrit) "Thread."   An aphoristic verse; the literary style consisting of such maxims. From 500 bce, this st...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Bhagavad Gita: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary On Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gita: "The Song of God." The sacred philosophical text often called "the Hindu Bible," part of the epic M...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Aghorasiva: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Aghorasiva
Aghorasiva: (Sanskrit) A Saivite philosopher of South India who in the 12th century founded a Siddhanta school emphasizing dualistic pas...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sivajnanabodham: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Sivajnanabodham
Sivajnanabodham: (Sanskrit) "Treatise on Siva Wisdom."   A work authored (or, some believe, a portion of the Raurava A...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Saiva Agamas: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Saiva Agamas
Saiva Agamas: (Sanskrit) The sectarian revealed scriptures of the Saivas. Strongly theistic, they identify Siva as the Supreme Lord, i...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Hatha Yoga Pradipika: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Hatha Yoga Pradipika
Hatha Yoga Pradipika: (Sanskrit) "Light on hatha yoga."   A 14th-century text of 389 verses by Svatmarama Yogin which ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Aranyaka: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Aranyaka
Aranyaka: (Sanskrit) "Forest treatise." Third section of each of the four Vedas. Texts containing esoteric, mystical knowledge...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vira Saivism: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Vira Saivism
Vira Saivism (Saiva): (Sanskrit) "Heroic Saivism." Made prominent by Basavanna in the 12th century. Also called Lingayat Sai...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahmanas: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary Ii On Brahmanas
Brahmanas: Vedic ritualistic texts   (See also: Brahmanas , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Aranyaka Vedic: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary Ii On Aranyaka Vedic
Aranyaka Vedic: forest texts   (See also: Aranyaka Vedic , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and S...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Shrauta Shastra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Shrauta Shastra
Shrauta Shastra: (Sanskrit) "Texts on the revelation." 1)    Refers to scriptures or teachings that are in a...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Patanjali: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Patanjali
Patanjali: (Sanskrit) "Possessed of reverence."   A Saivite Natha siddha (ca 200 bce) who codified the ancient yoga ph...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Jyotisha Vedanga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Jyotisha Vedanga
Jyotisha Vedanga: (Sanskrit) "Veda-limb of celestial science (astronomy-astrology)." Ancient texts giving knowledge of astr...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Shiksha Vedanga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Shiksha Vedanga
Shiksha Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on Sanskrit phonetics, among four linguistic skills taught for mastery of the Vedas ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahma Sutra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Brahma Sutra
Brahma Sutra(s): (Sanskrit) "Threads (aphorisms) of the Absolute."   Also known as the Vedanta Sutras, composed by Bad...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sarvajnanottara Agama: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Sarvajnanottara Agama
Sarvajnanottara Agama: (Sanskrit) This text is not among the traditional list of Agamas and subsidiary scriptures. But it is thought t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Advaita Vedanta: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta: (Sanskrit) "Nondual end (or essence) of the Vedas." Names the monistic schools, most prominently that of Shan...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Narada Sutra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Narada Sutra
Narada Sutra (Sutras): (Sanskrit) A Vaishnava text of 84 aphorisms in which Sage Narada explains bhakti yoga (ca 1200). (See also: ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Nirukta Vedanga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Nirukta Vedanga
Nirukta Vedanga: (Sanskrit) "Etymology Veda-limb."   Auxiliary Vedic texts which discuss the origin and development of...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Tirumantiram: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Tirumantiram
Tirumantiram: (Tamil) "Holy incantation."   The Nandinatha Sampradaya's oldest Tamil scripture; written ca 200 bce by ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahman: Indian Hindu Dictionary On Brahman
Brahman (neuter gender): the impersonal God, devoid of all qualities; the Omnipresent, All-pervading, Transcendent Reality. This supre...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Linga Purana: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Linga Purana
Linga Purana: (Sanskrit) One of the six principal Siva Puranas. This text explains the purusharthas (the four goals of life) and the s...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Deha: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Deha
deha: (Sanskrit) "Body." From the verb dih, "to plaster, mold; anoint, fashion."   A term used in the Upanis...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Brahman: Indian Hindu Dictionary On Brahman
Brahman (Brahamana): the highest of the four Hindu castes. The priestly caste consists of many sub-castes depending on the area the pr...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Pada: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Pada
pada: (Sanskrit) 1)    "A step, pace, stride; footstep, trace." 2)    "The foot (of men...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Samhita: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Samhita
samhita: (Sanskrit) "Collection." 1)    Any methodically arranged collection of texts or verses. 2) &n...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedanga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Vedanga
Vedanga: (Sanskrit) "Veda-limb." Six branches of post- Vedic studies revered as auxiliary to the Vedas.   Four Vedanga...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vedanta: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary On Vedanta
Vedanta: Literally, "the end of the Vedas;" the Upanishads; the school of Hindu thought, based primarily on the Upanishads, ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Soul: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Soul
soul: The real being of man, as distinguished from body, mind and emotions. The soul - known as atman or purusha - is the sum of its t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Vyakarana Vedanga: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Vyakarana Vedanga
Vyakarana Vedanga: (Sanskrit) Auxiliary Vedic texts on Sanskrit grammar. Vyakarana is among four linguistic skills taught for mastery ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Panchartha Bhashya: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Panchartha Bhashya
Panchartha Bhashya: (Sanskrit) Commentary by Kaundinya (ca 100) on Lakulisha's Pashupata Sutras, one of the few extant philosophical t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sivakarnamrita: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Sivakarnamrita
Sivakarnamrita: (Sanskrit) A text by Appaya Dikshita (15541626) written to reestablish the superiority of God Siva in the face of wide...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yoga Sutras: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary On Yoga Sutras
Yoga Sutras: The oldest known writing on the subject of yoga, written by the sage Patanjali, a yogi of ancient India, and considered t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Siva Purana: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Siva Purana
Siva Purana: (Sanskrit) "Ancient [lore] of Siva."   1)    A collection of six major scriptures sacred t...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upagrantha: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Upagrantha
upagrantha: (Sanskrit) "Secondary text." Appendices or additional resources of a book. See: Grantha. (See also: Upagranth...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Tantra: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary Ii On Tantra
Tantra: medieval yogic and ritualistic Indian texts   (See also: Tantra , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Kama Sutra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Kama Sutra
Kama Sutra(s): (Sanskrit) "Aphorisms on pleasure."   A fifth-century text by Vatsyayana on erotics. The Kama Shutra an...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Upanishads: A Spiritual Dictionary On Upanishads
Upanishads: Ancient Hindu text. Part of the Vedas.   (See also: Upanishads , Body Mind and Soul)      » Read the article

Dictionary - Gandharvaveda: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Gandharvaveda
Gandharvaveda: (Sanskrit) "Science of music." A class of ancient texts on music, song and dance. It is the Upaveda of the Sa...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Paushkara Agama: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Paushkara Agama
Paushkara Agama: (Sanskrit) Subsidiary text (Upagama) of the Matanga Parameshvara Saiva Agama, containing 977 verses divided into 90 c...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Svarloka: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Svarloka
Svarloka: (Sanskrit) "Celestial or bright plane."   The third of the seven upper worlds, the mid-astral region (equate...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Rudrayamala Tantra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Rudrayamala Tantra
Rudrayamala Tantra: (Sanskrit) Little known text dealing with worship. (See also: Rudrayamala Tantra , Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati
Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati: (Sanskrit) "Tracks on the doctrines of the adepts."   A text of 353 highly mystical verses,...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Mahanarayana Upanishad: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Mahanarayana Upanishad
Mahanarayana Upanishad: (Sanskrit) A philosophical text of the Krishna Yajur Veda. (See also: Mahanarayana Upanishad , Hinduism, Bo...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Devikalottara Agama: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Devikalottara Agama
Devikalottara Agama: (Sanskrit) One recension (version) of the Sardha Trishati Kalottara Agama, (Sanskrit) a subsidiary text of Vatula...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Svayambhuva Sutra: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Svayambhuva Sutra
Svayambhuva Sutra (Svayambhuva Sutras): (Sanskrit) A subsidiary text of the Saiva Agamas. (See also: Svayambhuva Sutra , Hinduism, ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Siva Samhita: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Siva Samhita
Siva Samhita: (Sanskrit) Text from the Gorakshanatha school of Saivism, ca 1700. In 212 sutras it discusses anatomy, asanas, energy, b...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Sanskrit: Spiritual - Theosophy Dictionary On Sanskrit
Sanskrit [from Sanskrit sanskrita or samskrita]   The ancient sacred language of the Aryans, originally the sacred or secret lang...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Viveka Chudamani: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Viveka Chudamani
Viveka Chudamani: (Sanskrit) "Crest jewel of discrimination." A famous text by Shankara (788-820) on discipline and discrimi...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Shunya Sampadane: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Shunya Sampadane
Shunya Sampadane: (Sanskrit) "Gaining of Nothingness."   A primary text of Vira Saivism (ca 1550) consisting of debate...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Yoga Sutras: Hindu Sanskrit Dictionary Ii On Yoga Sutras
Yoga Sutras: classical text of Patanjali on Yoga   (See also: Yoga Sutras , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Tattva Prakasha: Hindu - Hinduism Dictionary On Tattva Prakasha
Tattva Prakasha: (Sanskrit) "Illumination of the categories."   Text of 76 verses by the philosopher-king Bhoja Parama...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Puranas: Sanskrit Hinduism Dictionary Ii On Puranas
puranas: hindu mythological texts   (See also: puranas , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and So...   » Read the article

Article - Knowledge: Of Vedic Philosophy - The Process Of Knowledge
The Process Of Knowledge: An object excites the senses. The mind arranges the sense-impressions into a percept. Egoism refers it to the S...   » Read the article

Article - Eighteen Puranas: The Eighteen Puranas: In The Hindu Scriptures
The Eighteen Puranas: There are eighteen main Puranas and an equal number of subsidiary Puranas or Upa-Puranas. The main Puranas are: Vis...   » Read the article

Article - Nyaya: Hindu Philosophy - The Nyaya
The Nyaya or Hindu logic was founded by Gautama Rishi, who is also known by the names Akshapada and Dirghatapas. The Nyaya and the Vaises...   » Read the article

Article - Islam And Hinduism: Persian Heritage In Hindu Traditions
Persian Heritage In Hindu Traditions Many would be surprised to learn that no ancient Hindu temple was dedicated to Rama - neither in Ay...   » Read the article

Article - Ancient Indian History And Culture: Knowledge Of Ancient Indian History And Culture In The Hindu Scriptures
Knowledge of Ancient Indian History and Culture: The Mahabharata contains also the immortal discourse of Bhishma on Dharma, which he gave...   » Read the article

Article - Tamil Puranas: The Tamil Puranas In The Hindu Scriptures
The Tamil Puranas: Lord Siva incarnated himself in the form of Dakshinamurti to impart knowledge to the four Kumaras. He took human form ...   » Read the article

Article - Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon On B
Hinduism Lexicon on B From backbiting to buddhi chitta.    » Read the article

Article - Hinduism: Hinduism Lexicon On A
Hinduism Lexicon on A From aadheenam to axis.      » Read the article

Article - Four Vedas: The Four Vedas In The Hindu Scriptures
The Four Vedas and Their Sub Divisions : The Veda is divided into four great books: the Rig-Veda, the Yajur-Veda, the Sama-Veda and the A...   » Read the article

Article - Sakta Agamas : The Sakta Agamas In The Hindu Scriptures
The Sakta Agamas: There is another group of scriptures known as the Tantras. They belong to the Sakta cult. They glorify Sakti as the Wor...   » Read the article

Article - Vyakhyana Or Tika : Vyakhyana Or Tika In The Hindu Scriptures
A Vyakhyana is a running explanation in an easier language of what is said in the original, with little elucidations here and there. A Vy...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Hinduism Dictionary: Spiritual Dictionary On Hindusim From R-z
A Hinduism dictionary with the most common spiritual words from P-Z. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritu...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Spiritual Dictionary: Spiritual Hinduism Dictionary
A spiritual dictionary of the 280 most common words in Hinduism. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual D...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Hinduism Dictionary: Hinduism Dictionary From A-i
A dictionary from A-J of most common spiritual words in Hinduism. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenment, Spiritual ...   » Read the article

Dictionary - Spiritual Dictionary: Hinduism Dictionary From J-r
A spiritual dictionary from J-R of the most common spiritual words in Hinduism. Also see these links: Hinduism, Spirituality, Enlightenme...   » Read the article