abhicara
(alternate spellings: abhichara)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Exorcism; practice of black magic
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Abhirami Antadi
(Language: Tamil)
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See under "Abhirami Bhatta".
(more)
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| Related Terms: Abhirami Bhatta |
Abhiramibhattar
(alternate spellings: Abhiramibhatta)
(Language: Tamil)
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His real name was Subrahmanya and he was a contemporary of the Maratha raja of Tanjavur, Sarabhoji II (1798-1832).
(more)
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abhiseka
(alternate spellings: abhisheka)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Sprinkling; showering; bathing a deity or a guru.
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abhivadana
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Reverential salutation of a superior like a teacher or any elder.
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acara
(alternate spellings: achara)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Matters of custom and tradition that serve as a general discipline.
(more)
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acarya
(alternate spellings: acharya)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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A teacher or spiritual Master
(more)
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adhikarana
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Placing at the head of; appointing;
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adhyapana
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Imparting instruction in the Vedas
(more)
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adhyaropa
(Language: Sanskrit)
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lit. "false covering"; superimposition of the unreal upon the real.
(more)
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adhyasa
(Language: Sanskrit)
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false perception; superimposition.
(more)
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adhyaya
(Language: Sanskrit)
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A chapter or division of a work
(more)
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adhyayana
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Learning the Vedas, chanting them
(more)
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Adi Sankara
(alternate spellings: Adi Shankara)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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"Adi" means "first." See under the name "Shankara"
(more)
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| Related Terms: Shankara |
Advaita
(Language: Sanskrit)
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"non-dualist" interpretation of the Vedānta
(more)
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Agama
(Language: Sanskrit)
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The āgama śāstras deal with ritual, iconography, the construction of temples, yantras and so on.
(more)
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agrahara
(Language: Sanskrit)
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The Brahmin quarter in a village or town
(more)
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ahankara
(alternate spellings: ahamkara)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the ego; the "I"-consciousness
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ahimsa
(Language: Sanskrit)
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"non-violence," a fundamental tenet of Hindu ethics
(more)
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ahitagnin
(alternate spellings: ahitagni)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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One who tends the sacred śrauta and grhya fires
(more)
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ahuti
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Oblation made in the sacrificial fire.
(more)
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Airavata
(Language: Sanskrit)
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The celestial elephant.
(more)
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Aiyanar
(Language: Tamil)
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Almost all villages of Tamil Nadu have a guardian deity (grama devata) called Aiyanar, also known as Sasta.
(more)
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aksata
(alternate spellings: akshata)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Whole, uninjured; unbroken rice grains used in various rites.
(more)
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amrita vrisht
(Language: Sanskrit)
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“shower of nectar” (in Hinduism)
(more)
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ananda
(Language: Sanskrit)
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"bliss, beatitude, joy"
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anandamaya-kosha
(alternate spellings: anandamaya-kosa)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the sheath of bliss
(more)
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| Related Terms: panchakoshas |
Anandashram
(Language: Sanskrit)
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“abode of bliss” (in Hinduism)
(more)
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Andal
(Language: Tamil)
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Daughter of Visnucitta who belonged to Srivilliputtur in Tirunelveli district.
(more)
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anga (s)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Limb(s); the six limbs of the Vedas
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annamaya-kosha
(alternate spellings: annamaya-kosa)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the sheath of nutriment; the physical body
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| Related Terms: panchakoshas |
antahkarana
(Language: Sanskrit)
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The internal organ consisting of mind, memory, intellect, and ego
(more)
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anudatta
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Lowered tone in Vedic chanting
(more)
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| Related Terms: udatta |
anumana
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Inference in Nyāya.
(more)
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anusvara
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Literally means "after-sound"
(more)
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apara vidya
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Lower type of knowledge.
(more)
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Apara-Brahman
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the "non-supreme" or penultimate Brahman
(more)
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aparoksa
(alternate spellings: aparoksha)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Literally, "not indirect, non-mediated"; thus, direct, immediate (jñāna, knowledge)
(more)
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| Related Terms: paroksha |
apavada
(Language: Sanskrit)
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de-superimposition; the removal of superimposition
(more)
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apavarga
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Liberation, emancipation of the soul
(more)
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Appar
(alternate spellings: Apparsvamigal, Apparsvamin, Tirunavukkarasu)
(Language: Tamil)
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A celebrated Saiva saint poet whose hymns are included in the Tevaram (qv).
(more)
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Appayya Diksita
(Language: Sanskrit)
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(1554-1626) He belonged to a family of scholars and wrote 104 works on such topics as poetics and Vedanta.
(more)
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Apsara
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Celestial damsel.
(more)
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arangerru
(alternate spellings: arangerram)
(Language: Tamil)
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Presenting a literary work, dance recital or dramatic performance for the first time.
(more)
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arghya
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Libation to the gods, rsis or fathers
(more)
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Arunagirinathar
(Language: Tamil)
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He belonged to the 15th century and his hymns in praise of Kanda or Muruga
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arupa
(Language: Sanskrit)
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formless; beyond form
(more)
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| Related Terms: rupa |
asamshakti
(alternate spellings: asamsakti)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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non-attachment; the fifth of the seven stages of enlightenment
(more)
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ashrama
(alternate spellings: ashram, asram, asrama)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the four stages of life for a Hindu
(more)
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ashtanga-yoga
(alternate spellings: astanga-yoga)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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lit. "eight-limbed yoga"; a reference to the eight steps of rāja-yoga.
(more)
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astaksari
(alternate spellings: ashtakshari)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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An eight-syllable mantra like "Aum Namo Nārāyanāya".
(more)
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asvamedha
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Horse-sacrifice performed by an imperial ruler or a "sārvabhauma" (literally a "universal monarch").
(more)
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asvattha
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Ficus religiosa, the sacred-fig tree ("peepal" tree), the bo tree
(more)
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atithya
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Pertaining to a guest; acts of hospitality
(more)
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Atma
(alternate spellings: ātmā, Atmā, Âtma, Âtmâ, Atman)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the real or true "Self," underlying the ego and its manifestations
(more)
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Atma-jnani
(Language: Sanskrit)
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one who has realized the Self.
(more)
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Atma-vichara
(Language: Sanskrit)
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enquiry into the Self
(more)
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Atma-vidya
(Language: Sanskrit)
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Science of the Self; it is learning that imparts the highest wisdom and enlightenment.
(more)
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Aum
(alternate spellings: Om)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, regarded as the "seed" of all mantras
(more)
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Auvvai
(alternate spellings: Auvvaiyar)
(Language: Tamil)
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Great saint-poetess who is often referred to as "Auvya-patti".
(more)
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avarana
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the veiling or concealment of Brahman by manifestation.
(more)
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avastha
(Language: Sanskrit)
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state of consciousness
(more)
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avatara
(alternate spellings: avatar)
(Language: Sanskrit)
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the earthly "descent," incarnation, or manifestation of God
(more)
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avidya
(Language: Sanskrit)
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"ignorance" of the truth; spiritual delusion, unawareness of Brahma.
(more)
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avyakta
(Language: Sanskrit)
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hidden, unmanifest.
(more)
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azhvar
(alternate spellings: alvar, alwar)
(Language: Tamil)
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The word means "immersed in the Lord". The Azhvars, numbering twelve, are Vaisnava saint-poets.
(more)
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©2003 Dictionary of Spiritual Terms
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