Intl Sai Org

Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust

main reference page

Vahini glossary main

download glossary

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

baaya-vidya (-vidhyaa). Worldly education, education in externals.

Baba. Sathya Sai Baba.

Badari (Badhari). Very holy place in the Himalayas.

baddha. Bound.

baddha-padmasana (padmaasana). Bound lotus pose.

Badraswa (Bhadhraashva). An island near the mountain of Meru.

Bahu-janma. Multiborn.

bahya-prapancha (baahya-prapancha). External world.

Bakasura (Bakaasura). Demon sent by Kamsa in form of a crane, which the child Krishna killed. Bakasura's brother then came as a python to kill Krishna but was also destroyed.

bala. Strength, vigour, power.

Balagopala (Balagopaala). Name for Krishna; ruler of cowherds.

Balarama (Balaraama). Elder brother of Krishna, noted for his strength.

Bali. Emperor of demons; grandson of Prahlada and son of the demon Virochana. Humiliated by dwarf Vamana, who was an incarnation of Vishnu.

Bana (Baana). Son of Vikukshi and father of Anaranya.

Banasura (Baanaasura). Powerful demon king of Shonithapura, descended from Vishnu. Destroyed by Krishna.

bandha-vicchedana (-vicchedhana). Liberation from bonds.

bap (baap). Dad.

bija (beeja). Seed, germ, primary cause; mystical letter or syllable that forms the essential part of a mantra.

bhaarya. Housewife.

bhaavana. Creative thought; creator.

Bhagavad Gita (Bhagavath Geetha). Literally, Song of God. Portion of the Mahabharatha that is a dialogue between Arjuna, one of the Pandava brothers, and Krishna. See Mahabharatha.

Bhagavan (Bhagavaan). Divinity; term of reverential address; Sathya Sai Baba is called Bhagavan by his devotees.

Bhagavantha. The Lord.

Bhagavatha (Bhaagavatha). A textbook of divine love, the story of Avatars, especially Krishna, it describes all the incarnations of Vishnu. It also means those with attachment to God, or the Godly.

Bhagavathas (Bhaagavathas). God's own people; the good, the Godly.

Bhagavatha-thathwa (Bhaagavatha-thathva). Wisdom of the divine.

Bhagavath-sankalpa. Will of God.

Bhagiratha (Bhageeratha). King of Solar Dynasty, son of Amsuman. Gave up his kingdom for enlightenment, but eventually returned as king.

Bhagirati (Bhaageerathi). Name for the Ganga river, because Bhagiratha brought the river to earth.

Bhaishajya Veda (Vedha). A name for Atharva-veda.

bhajan. Devotional song(s) to God; community singing of spirituals.

bhaktha. Devotee of the Lord.

bhakthavatsala. Kind to devotees.

bhakthi. Devotion to God.

bhakthi-maan. A person who is full of devotion.

bhakthi-marga (-maarga). Path of devotion to God.

bhakthi-yoga. Path of love and devotion. A conjunction (in astrological terms) of devotion.

bhakthi-yogi. Yogi on the path of devotion.

bhanopasana (bhanopaasana). Sun worship or meditation on the Sun.

Bharadwaja (Bharadhvaaja). Celebrated sage who taught the science of medicine; seer of Vedic hymns.

Bharath (Bhaarath). India; Indian; descendent of King Bharath, first emperor of India.

Bharatha (Bhaaratha). Mahabharatha.

Bharatha. Son of Dasaratha and Kaika; brother of Rama. "Bharatha" means "he who rules".

Bharatha-desa (Bhaaratha-dhesha). India; region of God-loving people.

Bharatha-khanda (-khandha). Continent of Bharath (India).

Bharatha-kupa (-kuupa). Holy well, by the side of the Chitrakuta mountain, that Bharatha cleaned.

Bharatha-varsha (Bhaaratha-varsha). Culture of India.

Bharathiya (Bhaaratheeya). Indian, dweller in the country of Bharath.

Bhargava (Bhaargava). Sage of the Bhrigu dynasty, author of Vedic hymns. Also called Vaidarbhi.

Bhargavarama (Bhaargava-Raama). Name for Parasurama.

bhashya (bhaashya). Commentary on spiritual texts by great sages.

Bhasmasura (Bhasmaasura). Sage who reduced hmself to ashes through misuse of boons from Siva.

bhathi (bhaathi). That which shines, illumines; chit.

bhautha-prathibandha. Past obstructions.

bhava (bhaava). Being, becoming.

bhava-nasana (bhaava-naashana). The end of ideation.

bhava-roga (bhaava-roga). Disease of worldliness.

Bhava-roga-vaidya (-vaidhya). The Lord; the curer of worldly ills.

bhava-sagara (bhaava-saagara). Ocean of worldly existence.

bhava-samadhi (bhaava-samaadhi). Mental union with the Divine.

bheda (bhedha). Separation, division.

bheri-naada (bheree-naadha). Kettle-drum sound.

Bhils. A mountain race who live in the Vindhya hills.

Bhima (Bheema). Second of five Pandava brothers; named for his size and strength. See Mahabharatha.

Bhishma (Bheeshma). The guardian and patriarch of the Kauravas and Pandavas. Remarkable for his wisdom and unflinching devotion to God. Trapped by his fate to fight on side of evil Kauravas; bled to death on a bed of arrows while thinking of God. See Mahabharatha.

bhoga. Catering to the senses, eating, enjoyment.

bhogaayathana. Abode of enjoyment, body.

bhoga-bhumi (-bhuumi). Pathways of the senses.

bhogya. Object that provides joy.

Bhoja. King of the Yadu tribe.

Bhoja. A territory in Sauvira, near the Sindhu (or Indus) river. Overrun by Kamsa.

bhoktha. Person who enjoys.

bhokthruthwa (bhokthruthva). Being an enjoyer or experiencer.

bhrama. Delusion.

bhramara-naada (-naadha). Bee sound.

Bhrigu. See Brighu.

Bhrigu-prasravana (-prashravana). Region of the Himalayas where Asitha fled.

Bhudevi (Bhuudhevi). The goddess of Earth; wife of Vishnu.

bhukthi. Nourishment, material enjoyment.

Bhu-loka (Bhuu-loka). Earth; first of the Upper Worlds.

bhuma (bhuuma). Vast, limitless, the eternal, the changeless.

bhumi (bhuumi). Earth.

bhumika (bhuumika). Basic step of yoga.

bhutha (bhuutha). Any of the five elementary constituents of the universe; spirit, monster.

bhuthakasa (bhuuth-aakaasha). Atma conditioned by the mind stuff; elemental ether.

Bhuthanatha (Bhuutha-naatha). Lord of the primordial elements; Lord of beings.

bhuvarloka (Bhuuvar-loka). Atmosphere; second of the upper worlds.

bikshu (bhikshu). Religious mendicant, who lives on alms.

bimba. Disc of sun or moon; object compared in comparisons; the original.

bodha. Teaching, understanding.

Brahma. The Creator in the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu (the Preserver), and Siva (the Destroyer).

Brahma-abhyasa (-abhyaasa). Practice of remembering Brahman.

Brahma-ananda (-aanandha). Bliss of realising Brahman.

Brahma-astra (-asthra). Brahma's weapon of infallible destruction.

Brahma-bhaava. Absorbed in Brahman.

Brahma-chaithanya. Supreme consciousness.

brahma-chari (-chaari). Student, celibate, first stage of life of a brahmin in the brahmin caste; one who dwells in God consciousness.

brahma-charya. Path to knowledge of Brahman; state of an unmarried religious student; first stage of life of a brahmin; spiritual studentship.

Brahma-chinthana. Ceaseless thought of Brahman.

Brahma-datta (-dhattha). Ruler of Kampilya.

Brahma-dhyana (-dhyaana). Meditation on Brahman.

Brahmaikyatha. The Godhead.

Brahma-jnana (-jnaana). Knowledge of Brahman.

Brahma-jnani (-jnaani). Knower of Brahman.

Brahma-kanda (-kaanda). Spiritual stage (of life). Also, some texts that are concerned with special features of ceremonial rituals and elaborations of moral codes.

Brahma-loka. Region of Brahma.

Brahma-muhurtha (-muhuurtha). Sacred period during early morning.

Brahman. Also Brahmam. Impersonal Supreme Being, primal source and ultimate goal of all beings. Thus, It is identical to the Atma.

Brahmana (Braahmana). A section of each of the four Vedas dwelling on the meaning and use of mantras and hymns at various sacrifices.

Brahmanda (Brahma-anda). Collection of inner forces of the five elements; macrocosm; the universe; literally, Brahma's egg.

Brahmanda-nirmana (Brahmaandha-nirmaana). Evolution of the universe.

brahmanic (braahmanik). Relating to brahmins.

Brahma-nishta (-nishtha). Steady contemplation of Brahman.

Brahman Mutt. A hermitage.

Brahmanubhava Upanishad (Brahmaanubhava Upanishath). One of the Upanishads.

Brahma-praapthi. Attainment of Brahman, i.e. God-realization or self-realization.

Brahma-priya (-priyaa). Beloved of Brahma.

brahmarshi. Highest sage; sage absorbed in divine consciousness.

Brahma-sakshathkara (-saakshaathkara). Direct perception of Brahman.

Brahma-sira-astra (-shira-asthra). Particular missile of Brahma.

Brahma Sutra (Suuthra). Spiritual text of Vedantic teachings in short maxims, attributed to Badharayana or Vyasa.

Brahma-thathwa (-thatthva). Formless God, Brahman principle.

Brahma-thwa (-thva). State of Brahman.

Brahma-upadesa (-upadhesha). Initiation into the spiritual path of Brahma-realization.

Brahma-vadin (-vaadhin). One who expounds the Brahman.

Brahama-vartha (Brahma-aavartha). Region of Brahma.

Brahma Veda (Vedha). A name for Atharva-veda.

Brahma-vid (Brahma-vith). Knower of Brahman.

Brahma-vid-vara (Brahma-vith-vara). Master knower of Brahman.

Brahma-vid-varishta (Brahma-vith-varishtha). Supreme knower of Brahman.

Brahma-vid-variya (Brahma-vith-vareeya). Excellent knower of Brahman.

Brahma-vidya (-vidhyaa). Spiritual attainment, knowledge of Brahman.

Brahma-yajna. Intense study and observance of the Veda; special daily worship-ritual dedicated to the Supreme.

Brahmic (Braahmik). Of or pertaining to Brahman.

brahmin (braahmana). First of four castes of social order, the priestly or teacher caste; a person belonging to this caste. See caste.

Brighu. A son of Brahma and a great sage. He had two incarnations. The second was when he was reborn from fire at Varuna's sacrificial rite and was brought up by Varuna as his son. Also, One of 10 great sages created by the first Manu.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Brihadhaaranyaka Upanishath). The Upanishad that sets forth teachings maintained by Yajnavalkya regarding Brahman.

Brihadratha. Son of Devaratha and father of Mahavira.

brihaspathi. Teacher of the gods.

Brihaspathi. Teacher of the gods for their battle against the demons. Son of the sage Angiras who was a son of Brahma.

brihath. Big, enlarged, gross, high.

Brindavan (Brindhaavan). The forest and pastoral lands where Krishna played in his childhood.

Brindavana-vihara (Brindhaavana-vihaara). Name for Krishna, roamer of Brindavan.

buddha. Awakened, enlightened, wise.

Buddha. Prince Gautama, circa 556­480 BC. Founder of Buddhism after attaining enlightenment.

buddhi. Intellect.

buddhi-balam. Strength of the intellect.

Buddhism. Religion founded by Buddha, which holds that life is full of suffering caused by desire and that the way to end the suffering is to end the birth-death cycle through enlightenment.

Buddhist. Follower of Buddhism.

buddhi-yoga. Yoga of intelligence.

Bujyu (Bhujyu). Royal sage; son of Thugra.

burkha. Veil.

caste. The four castes of social order are: brahmin (priestly or teacher), kshatriya (warrior, protector), vaisya (trader, merchant, agriculturist), and sudra (worker, helper).

Cauvery (Kaaveree). Holy river in the South of India in Rama's time.

chadana (chaadhana). Fostering, shielding, promoting the welfare of.

Chaithanya. Consciousness, intelligence, spirit.

Chaithanya. Fifteenth century Vaishnava mendicant reformer; taught the path of love and devotion to the Avatar of Sri Krishna.

Chaithanya-Brahma. Universal Soul; Supreme Consciousness.

Chaithanyopasana (-paasana). Chaithanya's spiritual ecstacy.

Chaithra. Second spring month.

chakora. Kind of partridge.

chakra. Disk; wheel; a weapon used by Krishna.

chakshu. Eye.

chala-dala (-dhala). Quivering leaf.

Chamaka. Hymn of prayer to Siva found in the Yajur-veda.

champak. East Indian tree in the magnolia family.

chandala (chandaala). Outcast.

Chandas (Chandhas). Poetic metre, which can be set to music; Vedic hymns; guide, shield. Also means pleasant, joyous. Also, a name for Vedas.

Chandogya Upanishad (Chaandhogya Upanishath). One of the ten important Upanishads; a great collection of theological-philosophical-allegorical utterances. Includes glorification of Om, Gayatri, Brahman, tale about Uddalaka instructing son Swethakethu, and Sanatkumara instructing Narada.

chandra (chandhra). Moon.

Chandra (Chandhra). Moon God in charge of crops and medicinal plants.

chandra-loka (chandhra-loka). Region of the moon principle.

Chandramas (Chandhramas). A sage who imparted spiritual knowledge to Sampathi and advised Jatayu to give directions about the way to the monkeys in their search for Sita.

chandrayana (chaandhra-ayana). Lunar system of measurements of time; also, a vow of penance performed during the waxing period of the moon.

chara. Moving.

Charaka. Author of earliest written compendium of ayur-vedic medicine (diagnostic and prognostic); forms basis of Sanskrit medical literature along with Sushrutha samhitha. See Dhanvantari. As Sesha, king of divine serpents, said to have visited earth, noted much sickness, and resolved to incarnate (as Charaka) to alleviate disease.

charana. Feet.

charma. Shield, skin; happiness, bliss.

chathushtaya. Fourfold.

chaya (chaaya). Shade, shadow.

chetana (chethana). Conscious, intelligent, superconscious.

chidabhasa (chidhaabhaasa). "I" awareness conditioned by consciousness.

chidakasa (chidhaakaasha). Atma.

Chidambaram (Chidhambaram). Town 122 miles SSW of Madras, noted for its temple dedicated to Siva in his aspect of "cosmic dancer", Nataraja.

chidatma (chidhaathma). Supreme Consciousness Atma.

chid-bhumi (chidh-bhuumi). Earthly consciousness.

chinmaya. Consisting of pure consciousness.

chinmaya-thathwa (-thatthvaa). Science of ultra-consciousness, pure intelligence.

chinta (chinthaa). Thought, mental agitation.

chintamani (chinthaa-mani). Wish-fulfilling gem that grants its possessor all desires.

chit (chith). Consciousness, knowledge, awareness.

chith-sakthi (-shakthi). Power of universal intelligence or consciousness.

chith-swarupa (-svaruupa). Embodiment of consciousness.

Chitra (Chithra). Abright constellation.

Chitrakethu (Chithrakethu). One of Lakshmana's two sons.

Chitrakuta (Chithrakuuta). Mountain renowned in the Puranas on the banks of the Mandakini river as a place where Rama and Sita lived for some time. Banda district of Uttar Pradesh State in modern India.

Chitrangada (Chithraangadha). One of Lakshmana's two sons.

chittha. Mind stuff, memory, subconscious mind.

Chitthakasa (Chittha-aakaasha). The deflect Atma, the mind stuff.

chittha-spandana (-spandhana). Pulsating subconsciousness.

chittha-suddhi (-shuddhi). Cleansing of the mind, purity of conscience.

Chudala (Chuudhaalaa). Saintly wife of King Sikhidwaja. When he renounced his kingdom, she gave him instruction in Atmic knowledge and brought him back to the throne.

Chyavana (Chayavana). Sage at whose hermitage the queens of Asitha took refuge.

crore. Ten millions; 100 lakhs.