title
 
 
Glossary of terms used in Hinduism  
 
 

Madhvacarya (Madhva)
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
Founder of the Dvaita of Vedānta. He was born in a village near Udupi, Karnātak in 1199 (more)

maha-naivedya
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
See under "naivedya" (more)
Related Terms: naivedya

maha-pralaya
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
in Hinduism, the "great" or final "dissolving" of the universe. (more)

Mahapralaya
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
In Hinduism, the “great” or final “dissolving” of the universe at the end of a kalpa, or “day in the life of Brahmā”. (more)

mahasamadhi
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
In Hinduism, the final merging into the Absolute with no return to corporeal existence (more)

mahatma
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
great soul; sage (in Hinduism) (more)

Mahavakyas
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
four "great sentences" from the Vedas, proclaiming the truth of ātman/Brahman identity (more)

Mahendravarman I
    (Language:   Tamil)
7th Century Pallava ruler who excavated temples from living rock and had a great interest in art. (more)

maingala-sasanam
    (Language:   Tamil)
Places that have been sung by the Vaisnava hymnodists and been made specially sacred by their words with their grace and power of creating auspiciousness. (more)

maitri
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
benevolence; kindness (more)

manana
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
constant reflection upon the Truth as given by a spiritual Master (guru) (more)
Related Terms: shravana and nididhyasana

manas
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
mind (more)

Mangaiyarkkarasi
    (Language:   Tamil)
Pandyan queen who humbled herself, along with her minister Kulacciraiyar, in the service of Siva. (more)

mangala-sutra (mangalya-sutra)
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
The auspicious string worn by the bride at her wedding (more)

mangalya-dharana
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
Wearing of the mangala-sūtra during the marriage ceremony. (more)

mani
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
"jewel," often in the shape of a tear-drop (more)

Manikkavacakar
    (Language:   Tamil)
A Saiva saint and composer who spent his early years as a minister to a Pandyan king. (more)

manomaya-kosha
    (alternate spellings:  manomaya-kosa)
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
the sheath of the mind (more)
Related Terms: panchakoshas

manonasha
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
extinction of the mind (more)

mantra
    (alternate spellings:  mantram)
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
literally, "instrument of thought" (more)

mantraksata
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
Simply stated, unbroken rice grains that are imbued with the power of mantras are mantrāksata. (more)

mantrapuspa
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
The recitation of a sacred text with the offering of flowers. (more)

mantravadin
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
One who recites mantras; one who tries to cure diseases, etc., with the chanting of mantras (more)

mantrika
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
See under mantravādin". (more)
Related Terms: mantravadin

Manu-niti-cola
    (alternate spellings:  manu-niti-kanda-cola)
    (Language:   Tamil)
An ancient king of legendary fame held up as an ideal in dispensing justice. (more)

manvantara
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
The regnal period of a Manu. (more)

marga
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
In Hinduism, a spiritual “way, path”; see bhakti, jnāna, karma. (more)

marjana
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
wiping away, cleaning, washing, purifying (more)

Mastan Sahib
    (Language:   Tamil)
Mastan Sahib (1800-1847) was a man of great devotion and one of the first to translate the Qur'an into Tamil. (more)

matha
    (alternate spellings:  math)
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
The dwelling of an ascetic. (more)

matra
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
literally, "measure, element" (more)

Maya
    (alternate spellings:  Māyā)
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
"artifice, illusion"; in Advaita Vedānta, the beguiling concealment of Brahma (more)

Menaka
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
The name of a divine dancer, who was considered one of the most beautiful of the celestial damsels (apsaras). (more)
Related Terms: Apsara

Minaksisundaram Pillai
    (Language:   Tamil)
Minaksisundaram Pillai (1815-1876) was a man of great erudition with profound knowledge of the Tamil heritage. (more)

mleccha
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
foreigner; "barbarian"; one who deprecates the Vedas (more)
Related Terms: varna

Mt. Meru
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
in Purānic legend, the mythical golden mountain; the axis of the world. (more)

mudita
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
sympathetic joy; joy at the happiness of others. (more)

mudra
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
In Sanskrit, “seal, sign.” In Hinduism and Buddhism, a stylized and symbolic gesture, especially one involving the hands and the fingers. (more)

muhurta
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
A period of 48 minutes; an instant; auspicious time for the performance of a rite. (more)

mukta
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
In Hinduism, one who has attained moksha or “liberation”; see jivan-mukta. (more)

mumukshutva
    (alternate spellings:  mumuksutva)
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
the desire for liberation; one of the four prerequisites for qualification as a spiritual aspirant of Vedānta (more)
Related Terms: sadhanacatushtaya; viveka vairagya and shatkasampatti.

murti
    (Language:   Sanskrit)
Anything that has a definite shape; an image or idol; personification. (more)

Murugan
    (alternate spellings:  Muruga)
    (Language:   Tamil)
Litteraly meaing, beautiful. The Tamils regard him as their god. (more)

Muvar
    (Language:   Tamil)
The three great Saiva saint-poets (more)

Muvendar
    (Language:   Tamil)
The rulers of the three Tamil kingdoms (more)

©2003 Dictionary of Spiritual Terms