Shiva Dictionary

 Adisvara:

the primeval lord, a name of Shiva

(See also:  Adisvara , Body Mind and Soul)

Rudraksha: "The Eye of Shiva;" a tree seed considered sacred to Shiva and worn by worshippers of Shiva, Shakti, and Ganeha, and by yogis, usually in a strand of 108 seeds. Also used as a rosary to count the number of mantras repeated in japa.

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

 Uma:

Shiva's wife, Parvati

(See also:  Uma , Body Mind and Soul)

Shivaratri:

(lit., night of Shiva) The night of the new moon in late February that is especially sacred to Lord Shiva. Devotees repeat the mantra Om Namah Shivaya throughout the night; on this night each repetition is said to equal the merit of a thousand repetitions.

(See also: Shivaratri , Yoga, Yoga Dictionary, Siddha Yoga, Siddha Yoga Dictionary)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

GANESHA

Hindu elephant-headed God of Wisdom and Literature, who is invoked at the beginnings of all undertakings. He is also the God of those who have been disfigured or maimed through heroism, in the line of duty or through no fault of their own. His original head was severed because he once barred the door of his mother's (Parvati's) bath from his father (Siva). His mother replaced it with the elephant's head, as the first thing she could find. He then lost a tusk trying to prevent Rama from disturbing Shiva's sleep. The elephant's head enables him to overcome every obstacle in his path. He also rides on the back of a mouse attribute (or familiar), which grants him access to small places.

(See also: GANESHA , Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul,)

Bhairava:

Bhairava - terrible, one of the forms of Shiva

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

Lingam:

Lingam. Male genital organ. The special symbol of Shiva. A man's "wand of light". From Linga, pillar of adoration and worship of Lord Shiva- cosmic masculine force, igniting destruction or creation, consort and Tantric lover to Shakti

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

Brahman:

Brahman:'The universal spirit, soul' (also called Hiranyagarbha: 'of the gold inside' - SB 8-17) Associated with Creation, He is Brahma, with Protection; He is Vishnu, with Dissolution; He is Siva. (BV-30) The Creator in the trinity Brahma, Vishnu (the Preserver), and Shiva (the Destroyer). Impersonal Supreme Being, primal source and ultimate goal of all beings. Thus, it is identical to the Atma.

Brahman: Krishna's impersonal sat-aspect. Is divided in para and apara-brahman relating to having respectively the unseen and the visible of the creation.

 - The omnipresent effulgence in as well the material as the spiritual space known as light.

- The full of the spirit, of the spiritual, in two: saguna-brahman; the word driven by the guna's and nirguna-brahman, the spiritual free from the influence of the modes of nature.

 - The mindful, the spiritual, the spiritual soul in an impersonal sense.

 - As the Absolute Truth the Absolute or Supreme.

 - Also indicating the Veda's.

 - First level of realization preceding the one of paramata.

 - Name for the complete of matter (maha-brahman, maha-tattva).

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

 Gana:

Shiva's attendants

(See also:  Gana , Body Mind and Soul)

A dictionary Of Commonly Used Sanskrit terms. From Lac to Omkarasana.

Please note that all words in grey, like "yoga", "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

gana:

gana - Shiva's attendants

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

Ardhanariateshvara (and) Ardhanarishvara

Shiva and his Shakti united as one

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

AUM

This is the holy word (OM) in its tripartite form, representing the Hindu Trinity. A = Vishnu (the self). U = Brahma (Not-Self). M = Shiva (location).

(See also: AUM , Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul,)

lalita:

sexual aspect of shakti. Collective form of the three Shaktis of shiva (See shiva): Will, knowledge, action.

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

Lalita:

Lalita. Sexual aspect of Shakti. Collective form of the three Shaktis of Shiva (See Shiva): Will, Knowledge, Action.

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

parvati:

goddess, the consort of god shiva

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

akula:

Not kula. shiva. The alpha Ovule.

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

Ashoka:

Ashoka: A tree bearing beautiful red flowers. Sita was held in a grove of ashoka trees by Ravana. The tree is considered sacred to Lord Shiva. Also the Champaka and Kesara trees.

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

Bhairava:

Bhairava. The terrific aspect of Shiva. His vehicle is a black dog.

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

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.

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

Nataraj:

(lit., king of the dance) A name of Shiva, referring to the dancing Shiva. The object of his dance is to free all souls from the fetters of illusion.

(See also: Nataraj , Yoga, Yoga Dictionary, Siddha Yoga, Siddha Yoga Dictionary)

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V X Y Z

Ardhanareswara:

Ardhanareswara Shiva and Shakti in one image.

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