Common Sanskrit technical terms

Common Sanskrit Technical Terms

Source: http://www.advaita.org.uk/sanskrit.htm In square brackets is ITRANS code (Note: the ong vowe s are capita ised! "A more e#tended dictionar$ is avai ab e %or down oad at http://sanskritdocuments.org/dict/dicta .pd%& A a "a& ' as a pre%i# to another word( it changes it into the negative. e.g. vid$a ) know edge( avid$a ) ignorance. abhasa "AbhAsa& ' semb ance( phantom( %a acious appearance.Shankara*s teaching metaphor o% the white cr$sta taking on the co or o% ad+acent ob+ects is ca ed AbhAsa vAda ) the argument o% appearance. abhava "abhAva& ' non)e#istence( absence. See anupa abdhi. abhimana "abhimAna& ' se %)conceit( pride, conception (esp. an erroneous one regarding one*s se %!. abhiv$akti "abhiv$akti-& ' mani%estation, distinction. (abhiv$akta ) mani%est( evident( distinct.! abh$asa "abh$Asa& ' e#ercise( discip ine, in Ra+a .oga( this re%ers to /the (repeated! e%%ort o% the mind to remain in its unmodi%ied condition o% purit$ (sattva!./ Ramana 0aharshi sometimes re%ers to a spiritua aspirant as an abh$AsI ) i.e. one who practices (uniterrupted $!. achar$a "AchAr$a& ' a spiritua guide or teacher. See Shankarachar$a. achint$a "achint$a& ' inconceivab e or be$ond thought. adhama "adhama& ' owest( vi est( worst. adhara "AdhAra& ' support( prop( sta( substratum. adhe$a "Adhe$a& ' assigned( attributed( contained, the attributes in the AdhAra subtratum. adhibhautika "adhibhautika& ' (resu ting! %rom such things as wars( disagreements( natura disasters. adhi means %rom( %rom the presence, bhautika means an$thing e ementa or materia . adhidaivika "adhidaivika& ' (resu ting! %rom the presence o% divine or supernatura %orces. adhi means %rom( %rom the presence, daivika is the ad+ective %rom deva (god! meaning coming %rom the gods( divine. adhikarana "adhikaraNa& ' (in phi osoph$! a substratum, rea tionship o% words in a sentence (e.g. ad+ective and substantive( sub+ect and predicate!. adhikari "adhikArin or adhikArI& ' a seeker who is menta $ prepared (see chatuShTa$a sampatti! and there%ore read$ to receive the %ina teaching %rom the guru, itera $ /possessing authorit$( entit ed to( %it %or./ adhikAra e%%ective $ means *e igibi it$*. adhisthana "adhiShThAna& ' substratum, itera $ basis( support( that upon which something rests. adh$aropa "adh$Aropa& ' erroneous $ attributing one thing to another. adh$aropa)apavada "adh$Aropa apavAda& ' 1ne o% the principa methods o% teaching Advaita( whereb$ an attribute is app ied to brahman initia $ (and erroneous $ ) hence 1

Common Sanskrit technical terms adh$Aropa! but is ater taken back( once the point has been understood. apavAda means denia or contradiction. An e#amp e wou d be the teaching o% the kosha)s. adh$asa "adh$Asa& ' used to re%er to the /mistake/ that we make when we /superimpose/ a %a se appearance upon the rea it$ or mi# up the rea and the unrea . The c assica e#amp e is when we see a snake instead o% a rope( which is used as a metaphor %or seeing the wor d o% ob+ects instead o% the rea it$ o% the Se %. This concept is %undamenta to Advaita and Shankara devotes a separate section to it at the beginning o% his commentar$ on the 2rahmasutra. adh$atmika "adh$Atmika& ' resu ting %rom se %( i.e. prob ems such as pain and menta su%%ering. adhi means %rom( %rom the presence, Atmika means re ating to se %. adh$a$a "adh$A$a& ' esson( ecture or chapter. adi "Adi & ' beginning( commencement. Thus sa Adi 3 sAdi 3 with a beginning, a(n! Adi 3 anAdi 3 without an$ beginning( beginning ess. adrishta "adRRiShTa& ' unseen( imperceptib e( un%oreseen( invisib e( unobserved( unknown. advaita "advaita& ' not (a! two (dvaita!, non)dua phi osoph$. (Ad+ective ) advitI$a ) unique( without a second.! adva$a "adva$a& ' not two( without a second( unique, identit$ (esp. o% brahman and Atman or +agat!, adva$am is non)dua it$. agama "Agama& ' acquisition o% know edge( science, traditiona doctrine, an$thing handed down and %i#ed b$ tradition, a so used as equiva ent to shabda( the pramANa o% the scriptures. agamin "AgAmin& ' That t$pe o% sanskara which is generated in reaction to current situations and which wi not bear %ruit unti sometime in the %uture. It itera $ means *impending*( *approaching* or *coming*. A so ca ed kri$amANa( which means *being done*. See prarabdha( sanchita( sanskara. agni "agni & ' %ire, the 4od o% %ire. agocara "agochara& ' ( itera $! imperceptib e b$ the senses but treated as an$thing that is unavai ab e to an$ pramANa other than shabda (i.e. scriptures!. agrahana "agrahaNa& ' non)comprehension or non)perception. agrah$a "agrAh$a& ' inconceivab e( inadmissib e. aham "aham& ' I. aham vritti "aham vRRitti& ' the thought /I am/ as opposed to thoughts about ob+ects( %ee ings etc. ) idam vritti. See vritti. ahankara "aha0kAra& ' the making( kara ( kAra!( o% the utterance /I(/ aham ( aham! ) this is the equiva ent o% what we wou d ca the /ego/ but speci%ica $ re%ers to the identi%ication or attachment o% our true Se % with something e se( usua $ the bod$ or mind but can be much more speci%ic e.g. I am a teacher( I am a woman. It is one o% the /organs/ o% the mind in c assica Advaita ) see antahkarana. ahimsa "ahi0sA& ' not in+uring an$thing (one o% the $ama)s!. aik$a "aik$a& ' unit$( oneness, in Advaita speci%ica $ the identit$ o% Atman and brahman. aishvar$a "aishvar$a& ' the state o% being a might$ ord( sovereignt$( power, super) human power. a+ati "a+Ati& ' no or not, +Ati ) creation, the princip e that the wor d and ever$thing in it( 2

Common Sanskrit technical terms inc uding these mind)bod$ appearances were never created or *brought into e#istence*. 0ost c ear $ stated b$ 4audapada in his karika on the 0anduk$a 5panishad. +Ata is the ad+ective( meaning born( brought into e#istence. The theor$ that there has never been an$ creation is ca ed either a+Ata vAda or a+Ati vAda. a+nana "a+6nAna& ' (spiritua ! ignorance. See +nana. An a+6nAnI is one who is not en ightened( i.e. sti (spiritua $! ignorant. akandakara vritti "akhaN7AkAra vRRitti& ' the menta *occurrence* which e%%ective $ causes en ightenment. This is the vRRitti (thought modi%ication! in the %orm o% (AkAra! the %orm ess or undivided (akhaN7a!. akasha "AkAsha& ' space( ether or sk$, one o% the %ive e ements in the 5panishads( the subt e % uid supposed to pervade the universe. Associated with sound and hearing. akrita "akRRitA& ' not made or created( natura tendenc$, natura traits o% some things or ob+ects in creation( e.g. water % owing downwards. akshara "akShara& ' imperishab e( unchangeab e. a atashanti "a AtashAnti& ' the %ourth topic in gau7apAda*s kArikA on the mAN75k$a upaniShad ) /1n the 8uenching o% the %irebrand./ a Ata is a %irebrand or coa , shAnti is /peace./ a paprana "a paprANa& ' In the Sanskrit a phabet( describes a consonant that is sounded without an$ additiona e#pe ing o% air. It means /with itt e breath./ Speci%ica $( it is used %or those consonants on the 9 st and : rd rows o% the main groups( name $ k( ch( T( t( p and g( +( 7( d( b. amsha "a0sha& ' part or portion. amurta "am5rta& ' unmani%est( %orm ess( shape ess. anadi "anAdi& ' without an$ beginning( o%ten used to re%er to *ignorance*. ananda "Ananda& ' /true/ happiness, usua $ ca ed /b iss/ to di%%erentiate it %rom the transient variet$ that a wa$s a ternates with pain or miser$. It is an aspect o% our true nature and is o%ten combined with the other e ements o% our rea nature ) sat and chit ) into a sing e word( satchidananda. See sat( chit and satchidananda. anandama$akosha "Anandama$akosha& ' the sheath made o% b iss (one o% the /%ive ;overings/ that surround our true essence!. ananta "ananta& ' eterna ( without end. anatman "anAtman& ' something other than spirit or sou (not Se % or atman!, perceptib e wor d. See atman. anichcha "anich;hA& ' without desire. See prArabdha. anirvachani$a "anirvachanI$a& ' not ab e to be categori<ed, itera $: unutterab e( indescribab e( not to be mentioned. 5sed to describe nature o% rea it$ etc. anit$a / anit$atva "anit$a / anit$atva& ' transient /transient or imited e#istence (morta it$!. ankura "a6Nkura& ' sprout( shoot. (As opposed to bI+a ) seed. Seed is used as metaphor %or cause, sprout %or e%%ect.! annama$akosha "annama$akosha& ' the sheath made o% %ood( anna. (1ne o% the /%ive ;overings/ that surround our true essence!. anta "anta& ' end( conc usion( death etc. antahkarana "anta=karaNa& ' used to re%er to the overa /organ/ o% mind, the seat o% thought and %ee ing. It derives %rom antar ) within( interior ) and karaNa( which means 3

Common Sanskrit technical terms /instrument/ or sense)organ (an a ternative %or indri$a!. It consists o% a number o% separate %unctions ) see manas( buddhi( chitta and ahankara. antaranga "antara6Nga& ' essentia to( interna ( interior as opposed to bahira6Nga( e#terna or wor d $ (in re ation to spiritua discip ines!. antar$Amin "antar$Amin& ' the sou ( /interna ru er./ antahsta "anta=sthA & ' the Sanskrit term %or the /semi)vowe s/: $( r( ( v. These are %ormed b$ combination o% i( RRi( >>i and u( respective $ with the vowe a. The word itera $ means /stand between./ anubhava "anubhava& ' perception( understanding( e#perience, know edge derived %rom persona observation. Intuition as (opposed to reasoning ) $ukti!. anubhuti "anubh5ti& ' know edge gained b$ means o% the pramANa)s. anugraha "anugraha& ' grace, itera $ showing %avor or kindness( con%erring bene%its. anumAna "anumAna& ' in%erence (in ogic!, one o% the ? means o% obtaining know edge. See pramana. anunasika "anunAsika& ' in the Sanskrit anguage: sounded through the nose( nasa . anupa abdhi "anupa abdhi& ' non)perception( non)recognition, one o% the ? means o% obtaining know edge. See pramana. anusvara "anusvAra& ' (Sanskrit anguage! This itera $ means /a%ter sound./ It is represented as a0 but is not actua $ a etter and does not occur on its own. It changes the sound o% a etter( causing the associated vowe to be sounded through the nose. In ITRANS( it is represented b$ 0 or .n and in Romanised trans iteration b$ a dot( above or be ow the preceding consonant. The precise nature o% the sound is determined b$ the consonant that %o ows. It wi take on the sound o% the anunAsika in the same group as this consonant. e.g. in sa0dhi( the sound wi be that o% n whi e in sha0kara( it wi be that o% 6N. anva$a)v$atireka "anva$a v$atireka& ' a method in ogic %or determining the truth o% something. @or e#amp e( is the c a$ or the pot rea A anva$a estab ishes the ogica connection that /when the potis( the c a$is./ v$atireka estab ishes the ogica discontinuit$ that /when the potis not( the c a$is./ There%ore the c a$ is sat$a( the pot is mith$A. anva$a means /connection( association/, v$atireka means /distinction( separateness( e#c usion./ an$ata "an$athA& ' %a se $( erroneous $, otherwise. an$on$a ash$ra$a "an$on$a ash$ra$a& ' mutua dependence in a /cause)e%%ect/ situation such as the chicken and egg e#amp e. ap "ap& ' water ) one o% the %ive e ements or pa6nchabh5ta. Associated with taste. apana "apana& ' one o% the %ive /vita airs(/ re ating to e#cretion. 0ore genera $ re%ers to re+ection o% irre evant materia gained %rom perception etc. and to the %ormation o% imited views. apara "apara& ' 9! in%erior( ower (opposite o% para! but ma$ a so beB! having nothing be$ond or a%ter, having no riva orsuperior.;onte#t wi hope%u $ c ari%$ which meaning to useC aparigraha "aparigraha& ' renouncing o% a possessions. 1ne o% the %ive $ama)s in Ra+a $oga. aparoksha "aparokSha& ' immediate (re ating to gaining o% know edge( i.e. does not require app ication o% reason!. 4

Common Sanskrit technical terms aparokshanubhuti "apArokShAnubh5ti& ' one o% the works attributed to Shankara. The word means /know edge acquired direct $ b$ one o% the va id pramANa)s./ apaurushe$a "apauruShe$a& ' itera $ /not coming %rom men/, used to re%er to the shruti ) scriptura te#ts passed on verbatim %rom generation to generation since their origina observation b$ rea ised sages. See shruti. apavada "apavAda& ' denia ( re%utation( contradiction. See adh$Aropa)apavAda %or teaching method o% advaita. aprame$a "aprame$a& ' immeasurab e( un imited( un%athomab e. (D.g. that *I know that I e#ist* is aprame$a ) I do not need an$ pramANa to te me this.! apritak "apRRithak& ' inseparab e, together with( co ective $. apta)vak$a "Apta vAk$a& ' something reported b$ another in whom one has %aith. >itera $ /a correct sentence./ Apta means /respected( trustworth$/, vAk$a means /statement( dec aration./ arambha "Arambha& ' itera $ /beginning( commencement/ but encountered in the conte#t o% a materia cause in which the e%%ect is c ear $ distinguishab e %rom its cause but has not actua $ been trans%ormed( e.g. c oth made %rom cotton as opposed to butter made %rom mi k. arambha vada "Arambha vAda& ' the theor$ that the wor d (i.e. universe! is the resu t o% the coming together o% atoms. arank$aka "AraNk$aka& ' a c ass o% re igious or phi osophica writings c ose $ connected with the brAhmaNa)s and so)ca ed because the$ were written or studied in the %orest. artha "artha& ' acquisition o% wea th. 1ne o% the %our puruShArtha)s. See purushartha. arthapatti "arthApatti & ' in%erence %rom circumstances( presumption , one o% the ? means o% obtaining know edge. See pramana. asadarana "asAdhAranNa& ' not common( specia ( speci%ic, quite uncommon( e#traordianr$. An asAdhAraNa akShaNa is an attributs that c ar $ di%%erentiates one ob+ect %rom another. asana "Asana& ' sitting in specia (and pecu iar! postures %or ong periods supposed $ in order to gain spiritua bene%it. 1ne o% the eight steps o% Ra+a $oga. asanga "asa6Nga& ' re ation ess. c.%. satsa6Nga. asat "asat& ' non)e#istent. See sat. asatkar$a vada "asatkAr$a vAda& ' the doctrine which denies that the e%%ect pre)e#ists in the cause (usua $ in re%erence to the creation!. asha "AshA& ' wish( desire( hope( e#pectation, aspiration. ashrama "Ashrama& ' generic term %or one o% the %our /stages/ in the i%e o% a =indu brahmin( vi<. brahmachar$a( gRRihastha( sa0n$Asa( vanaprastha. ashra$a "Ashra$a& ' ocus. ashtanga "aShTA6Nga& ' consisting o% eight parts( as in the aShTA6Nga $oga o% Eatan+a i. asparsha "asparsha& ' intangib e( touch ess, name given to the /content ess/ $oga o% 4audapada in the 0anduk$a 5panishad. Astavakra "aShTAvakra& ' the epon$mous Sage o% the Astavakra 4ita (or Samhita!. The word itera $ means /twisted/ (vakra! in /eight/ (aShTan! wa$s. Astavakra was so 5

Common Sanskrit technical terms ca ed because he was born severe $ de%ormed a%ter being cursed in the womb b$ his %ather (because the unborn chi d had criticised him %or making mistakes whi st reading the scripturesC!. (>ater in i%e( a%ter he had secured his %ather*s re ease through de%eating the court phi osopher in debate( his %ather b essed him and( a%ter swimming in a sacred river( he was cured.! See gita( samhita. aste$a "aste$a& ' not stea ing. 1ne o% the %ive $ama)s in Ra+a $oga. asti "asti& ' e#istent( it e#ists. astika "Astika& ' itera $ /there is or e#ists/, used to re%er to one who be ieves in the e#istence o% 4od or( more speci%ica $( one who de%ers to the authorit$ o% the Fedas. See nastika( veda. asura "asura& ' demon( spirit( opponent o% the gods. atah "ata=& ' hence( there%ore. atha "atha& ' now( then there%ore, o%ten used to e#press the sense o% an auspicious beginning e.g. to reading a ke$ verse o% scripture. atita "atIta& ' be$ond (e.g. time! atma or atman "Atma or Atman& ' the Se %. 5sua $ used to re%er to one*s true (individua ! nature or consciousness but Advaita te s us that there is no such thing as an *individua * and that this atman is the same as the universa ;onsciousness( 2rahman. see a so +iva. atmabodha "Atmabodha& ' know edge o% Se % or supreme spirit, a book attributed to Shankara. atmavichara "AtmavichAra& ' vichAra in this conte#t means re% ection or e#amination upon the Atman( the Se %. See atman. atmavid& ' Atmavid& ' someone who knows the truth o% Atman( as opposed to a mantravid( someone who +ust knows the *magica %ormu ae*. avacheda)vada "avach;heda vAda& ' theor$ that the Se % is imited b$ ignorance in the %orms o% upAdhi)s. avach;heda itera $ means /cut)o%%./ See upadhi. avantara "avAntara& ' intermediate. avarana "AvaraNa& ' the vei ing power o% mA$A. In the rope)snake metaphor( this power prevents us %rom seeing the rea it$ o% the rope. See ma$a( vikshepa. avastha "avasthA& ' state, itera $ /to sta$( abide( e#ist( remain or continue doing (an$thing!./ In Advaita( it is most %requent $ encountered as avasthA tra$a ) the three states o% waking( dreaming and deep s eep. avid$a "avid$A& ' ignorance (in a spiritua sense! i.e. that which prevents us %rom rea i<ing the Se %. See a so ma$a. avinabhava "avinAbhAva& ' a necessar$ connection o% one thing with another, inherent and essentia character. avivada "avivAda& ' agreed( not disputed, be$ond a disputation. avrita "AvRRita& ' covered or concea ed. av$akta "av$akta& ' unmani%est( imperceptib e( invisib e, the universa spirit (paramAtman!. av$apadesh$a "av$apadesh$a& ' not to be de%ined( indescribab e. 2 badha "bAdha& ' sub ation or subration. This is the process b$ which an accepted point 6

Common Sanskrit technical terms o% view or understanding is superseded b$ a tota $ di%%erent one when some new in%ormation is received. An e#amp e is seeing a ake in the desert and then rea ising that it is on $ a mirage. The ad+ective is bAdhita( meaning negated( contradictor$( absurd( %a se. bahiranga "bahira6Nga& ' e#terior( e#terna ( wor d $ as opposed to inner (antara6Nga!( (in re ation to spiritua discip ines!. ba a "ba a "strength (o% mind!( power. bandha / bandhana "bandha bandhana& ' bondage( attachment to the wor d. bhaga t$aga akshana "bhAga t$Aga akShaNa& ' technique used b$ scriptures to point to aspects that cannot be e#p ained direct $ in words. The oneness that is pointed to ( akShaNa! is understood b$ /giving up/ (t$Aga! the contradictor$ parts (bhAga!. An e#amp e wou d be in the apparent contradiction o% the +Iva being /created/ whi e Ishvara is the /creator./ 2oth are given up in order to recogni<e their identit$ as brahman. 2hagavad "bhagavat& ' generic term %or one o% the %our /stages/ in the i%e o% a =indu brahmin( vi<. brahmachar$a( gRRihastha( sa0n$Asa( vanaprastha. 2hagavad 4ita "bhagavadgItA& ' the scriptura te#t %orming part o% the =indu epic( the mahAbhArata. It is a dia ogue between Grishna( the charioteer/4od( representing the Se % and the warrior Ar+una( representing $ou and me( on the batt e%ie d o% Gurukshetra prior to the commencement o% batt e. The scripture is regarded as smRRiti. See 2hagavad( smriti. bha+ "bha+& ' to pursue( practice( cu tivate or seek. (As in the work attributed to Shankara ) bha+a govindam( /Eractice( 4ovinda./! bhakta "bhakta& ' one who practices bhakti $oga. See bhakti $oga. bhakti "bhakti& ' devotion or worship as a means to en ightenment. See a so karma and +nana. bhamiti "bhAmitI& ' itera $ / ustrous/, name o% one o% the two schoo s o% Advaita( a so ca ed the vAcaspati schoo ( a%ter the phi osopher vAcaspati mishra. The other schoo is the vivaraNa schoo . 2hartihari "bhartRRihari& ' poet and grammarian in Hth centur$ A7, composer o% vAk$apadI$a. bhash$a "bhASh$a& ' e#p anator$ work( e#position or commentar$ on some other scriptura document. Thus Shankara( %or e#amp e( has written bhASh$a)s on a number o% 5panishads( the 2hagavad 4ita and the 2rahmasutra. bhas$akara "bhAS$akAra& ' various commentators (on a phi osoph$!. bhati "bhAti& ' evidence( perception( know edge. bhava "bhAva& ' condition or state o% bod$ or mind. bhavana "bhAvana& ' re% ection( contemp ation. bhavarupa "bhAvar5pa& ' rea $ e#isting( rea ( actua . bhavat "bhavat& ' being( present. bhavish$a "bhaviSh$a& ' to be about to become or come to pass( %uture( imminent. bheda "bedha& ' separation( distinction( division( di%%erence, change( modi%ication. There are three t$pes o% di%%erence: di%%erent %ami $ or species (vi+Ati!( di%%erence within the %ami $ (sa+Ati! and interna di%%erence (svagata!. 7

Common Sanskrit technical terms bhoga "bhoga& ' en+o$ment( e#periencing( %ee ing. bhoktri "bhoktRRi& ' one who en+o$s (or eats!( an e#periencer or %ee er. bhrama "bhrama& ' con%usion( perp e#it$( mistake (N.2. Not to be con%used with brahma or brahmanC!. bhranti "bhrAnti& ' perp e#it$( con%usion( error( %a se opinion. 2huma "bh5mA& ' the supreme rea it$( 2rahman (used in the ;handog$a 5panishad!, itera $ the aggregate o% a e#isting things (p ura !. bh5man( the singu ar noun( means abundance( p ent$( wea th. bhuta "bh5ta& ' (noun! e ement (e.g. %ire or water!. (ad+.! past (something that actua $ happened!. bi+a "bI+a& ' seed( germ( primar$ cause. bodha "bodha& ' knowing( understanding( as in the c assic work attributed to Shankara ) *Atmabodha*( know edge o% Atman. 2rahma "brahma& ' 4od as the creator o% the universe in =indu m$tho og$ (the other ke$ ones in the *trinit$* are Fishnu( viShNu( the preserver and Shiva( shiva( the destro$er!. N.2. Not to be con%used with 2rahmanC 2rahma Sutra "brahmas5tra& ' a book (in sutra %orm( which is terse verseC! b$ F$asa. This book is the best known o% the third accepted source o% know edge (n$a$a prasthana!. D%%ective $( it attempts to summarise the 5panishads. It has been e#tensive $ commented on b$ the three main phi osophica branches o% Indian thought( dvaita( advaita and vishishtadvaita( and the proponents o% each c aim that it substantiates their be ie%s. Shankara has commented on it and provided e#tensive arguments against an$ interpretation other than that o% Advaita. See bhash$a( n$a$a prasthana( sruti( smriti. brahmachar$a "brahmachar$a& ' the %irst stage o% the traditiona =indu spiritua path( in which the 2rahman begins his i%e as an unmarried( re igious and chaste student. (char$a means *due observance o% a rites and customs*.! 1ne o% the %ive $ama)s in Ra+a $oga. See a so grihasta( san$asa( vanaprastha. 2rahman "brahman& ' the universa Se %( Abso ute or 4od. There is on $ 2rahman. It derives %rom the Sanskrit root bRRih( meaning to grow great or strong and cou d be thought o% as the ad+ective *big* made into a noun( imp $ing that which is greater than an$thing. See a so atman( 2rahma( +iva( +ivatman( paramatman. brahmana "brAhmaNa& ' an aspirant, a member o% the %irst o% the traditiona %our castes in India (a so ca ed 2rahmin!, a ternative $ a portion o% the Fedas( containing in%ormation re ating to the use o% mantras and h$mns in sacri%ices. brahmanishta "brahmaniShTha& ' one who is absorbed in contemp ating brahman and committed on $ to that purpose. niShTha means /devoted to./ brahmavid$a "brahmavid$A & ' know edge o% the one Se %. (A so brahmavitva( with someone with this know edge being ca ed a brahmavit.! See brahman. 2rihadaran$aka "bRRihadAraN$aka& ' one o% the ma+or 5panishads (and possib $ the o dest!. The word derives %rom bRRihat ) great( arge( wide( ta etc. and Aran$aka ) produced in (or re ating to! a %orest. See 5panishad. buddhi "buddhi& ' the organ o% mind responsib e %or discrimination and +udgement( perhaps nearest equated to the inte ect in Iestern usage. See a so( ahankara( antahkarana( manas and chitta. 8

Common Sanskrit technical terms ; chaitan$a "chaitan$a& ' consciousness( universa sou or spirit. chakra "chakra& ' itera $ /circ e/ or /whee /, one o% the points in the spine through which energ$ is supposed to % ow in kunda ini $oga. ;handog$a "chhAndog$a& ' one o% the ma+or 5panishads. See 5panishad. charvaka "chArvAka& ' materia ist phi osopher( and the s$stem named a%ter him. chaturta "chaturtha& ' %ourth. chatushpad "chatuShpad& ' %our)step( %our)part etc. chatushta$a sampatti "chatuShTa$a sampatti& ' the %our%o d pre)requisites speci%ied b$ Shankara as needed b$ a seeker be%ore he can achieve Se %)rea isation. chatuShTa$a means /%our%o d/, sampatti means success or accomp ishment. See sadhana( vairag$a( viveka( mumukshutvam. chetana "chetana& ' consciousness( inte igence etc. chidabhasa "chidAbhAsa& ' %a se appearance or re% ection (AbhAsa! o% consciousness (chit! ) i.e. the ego. chintana "chintana& ' thinking or re% ecting upon, consideration. chit "chit& ' pure thought or ;onsciousness. See ananda( sat( satchidananda. chitta "chitta& ' the organ (part! o% mind responsib e %or memor$. See antahkarana( ahankara( buddhi( manas. chod$a "chod$a& ' goa motivated( impe ed or incited. 7 dakshina "dAkShiNa& ' the o%%ering that is made at a sacri%ice or the co ection o% those o%%erings. guru dAkShiNa is the pa$ment made b$ a student to his teacher on comp etion o% his studies (not in mone$ but usua $ as a task or specia gi%t!. daksina "dakShiNa& ' right (as opposed to e%t!, south( southern, straight%orward( candid( sincere. guru dakShiNa is the %ee( present( gi%t or donation made to the guru %rom the discip e %or teaching. dama "dama& ' se %)restraint but understood as contro over the senses, one o% the si# qua ities that %orm part o% Shankara*s chatushta$a sampatti. See chatushta$a sampatti( shamAdi shhaTka sampatti. darshana "darshana& ' audience or meeting (with a guru!, viewpoint, one o% the si# c assica Indian phi osophica s$stems (purvamimamsa( uttaramimamsa( n$a$a( vaisheshika( samkh$a( $oga!. deha "deha& ' person( individua ( outward %orm or appearance (bod$!. dehatmavada "dehAtmavAda& ' materia ism (/bod$ is atma/!. desha "desha& ' space. deshika "deshika& ' a guide (someone %ami iar with a p ace!, more speci%ica $( a spiritua teacher or guru. deva "deva& ' (p . noun! the gods, (ad+.! heaven $( divine. devadatta "devadatta& ' %e ow( common noun %or /man/ used in phi osoph$, itera $ /god)given./ 7evanagari "devanAgarI& ' the script used in Sanskrit representation. The word itera $ means /cit$ o% the 4ods/ (deva ) gods, nAgara ) be onging or re ating to a town or 9

Common Sanskrit technical terms cit$!. dharana "dhAraNA& ' concentration o% the mind. The si#th step o% Ra+a $oga. dharma "dharma& ' customar$ practice( conduct( dut$( +ustice and mora it$. 1ne o% the %our puruShArtha)s. The %avored meaning o% most traditiona teachers is( however( /nature( character( essentia qua it$(/ which the$ o%ten trans ate as /essence./ 1ur own dharma (svadharma! is what we ought to do with our ives in order to disso ve our accumu ation o% sa0skAra. See sanskara( karma. dharmara+a "dharmarA+a& ' a +ust or righteous king (dharma J rA+a!, an$ king or prince. dhuma "dh5ma& ' smoke. dh$ana "dh$Ana& ' meditation( usua $ in the sense o% the mechanica act using a mantra as opposed to nididh$Asana. dipa "dIpa& ' con%usion( perp e#it$( mistake (N.2. Not to be con%used with brahma or brahmanC!. dirgha "dIrgha& ' a ong vowe in Sanskrit (sounded %or B mAtrA)s or measures!, itera $ ong( high( ta . dosha "doSha& ' de%ect( %au t, o%%ence( transgression, harm. drav$a "drav$a& ' substance. drg)drs$a)viveka "dRRigdRRish$a viveka& ' /7iscrimination between the Seer and the Seen/ ) a work attributed to Shankara. dRRik is the seer or perceiver and dRRish$a that which is seen or which can be ob+ecti%ied. drishtanta "dRRiShTAnta& ' the end or aim o% what is seen( e#amp e or instance. drishti)srishti)vada "dRRiShTisRRiShTivAda& ' the theor$ that our mistaken view o% the wor d arises %rom a menta image (based on memor$ and sense data! superimposed upon the rea it$. dRRiShTi means /seeing/, sRRiShTi means /creation/, vAda means /thesis/ or /doctrine./ See a so adh$asa( a+ati( srishti)drishti)vada. duhkha "du=kha& ' pain( sorrow( troub e. dvaita "dvaita& ' dua it$( phi osoph$ o% dua ism, be ie% that 4od and the atman are separate entities. 0adhva is the scho ar most o%ten associated with this phi osoph$. dva$a "dva$a& ' two things, two%o d nature, dua istic. dvesha "dveSha& ' hatred( dis ike. dviti$a "dvitI$a& ' second. D eka "eka& ' one( a one( sing e( so itar$( the same( identica . As opposed to nAnA ) di%%erent $( various $( distinct $( separate $, or (used as an ad+ective! di%%erent( distinct %rom. ekagra "ekAgra& ' one)pointed( %i#ing one*s attention on one point. ekAgratA ) intentness in the pursuit o% one ob+ect. eva "eva& ' +ust so( indeed( tru $, most %requent $ used to strengthen the meaning o% the associated word ) e#act $( same( even( on $ etc. 4 gandha "gandha& ' sme (one o% the tanmAtra)s or %ive subt e senses!. 4audapada "gau7apAda& ' The author o% the commentar$ (kArikA! on the 0anduk$a 5panishad. =e is said to have been the teacher o% Shankara*s teacher. See karika( 10

Common Sanskrit technical terms 0anduk$a( 5panishad. ghana "ghana& ' compact mass or substance. gita "gItA& ' a sacred song or poem but more usua $ re%ers to phi osophica or re igious doctrines in verse %orm (gIta means /sung/!. The most %amous are the 2hagavad 4ita and Astavakra 4ita. I% the word is used on its own( it wi be re%erring to the %ormer. See 2hagavad( Astavakra. gocara "gochara& ' ( itera $! perceptib e b$ the senses but a so regarded as seen b$ the mind( in%erred etc.. grahana "grahaNa& ' itera $ sei<ing( catching etc, perceiving( understanding( comprehension, agrahaNa means non)comprehension or non)perception. grantha "grantha& ' t$ing( binding, knot )Ramana 0aharshi re%erred to the *knot* in the heart that must be *untied* in order %or rea i<ation to occur. It a so re%ers to a verse composition or treatise. grihasta "gRRihastha& ' this is the second stage o% the traditiona =indu spiritua path( ca ed the period o% the househo der( in which the 2rahman per%orms the duties o% master o% the house and %ather o% a %ami $. See a so brahmachar$a( grihasta( san$asa( vanaprastha. guna "guNa& ' According to c assica sA0kh$a pho osoph$( creation is made up o% three /qua ities(/ sattva( ra+as and tamas. Dver$thing ) matter( thoughts( %ee ings ) is /made up o%/ these three in var$ing degrees and it is the re ative proportions that determine the nature o% the thing in question. See sattwa( ra+as and tamas %or more detai s. guru "guru& ' itera $ /heav$/, used to re%er to one*s e ders or a person o% reverence but more common $ in the Iest to indicate one*s spiritua teacher. = ha anta "ha anta& ' a consonant that is not sounded with a vowe a%ter it. It is marked as such b$ the use o% a virAma. The term derives %rom the prat$AhAra /ha (/ which re%ers to /an$ consonant(/ and anta( which means /end(/ since such consonants norma $ occur at the end o% a word. hani "hAni& ' abandonment( re inquishment, damage( oss, insu%%icienc$. D.g. an advaita hAni is a statement that is against the %undamenta tenets o% advaita and( i% true( wou d mean that advaita was inva id. hatha "haTha& ' haTha $oga re%ers to the ph$sica aspects o% Ra+a $oga( i.e. Asana)s and prANa$Ama. It itera $ means /vio ence( %orce or obstinac$(/ /abso ute necessit$/ and stems %rom the idea o% /%orcing the mind/ to withdraw %rom ob+ects. 0onier) Ii iams has the additiona words: /per%ormed with much se %)torture ( such as standing on one eg ( ho ding up the arms ( inha ing smoke with the head inverted etc../ hetu "hetu& ' cause or reason, the ogica reason or argument in a s$ ogism. hrasva "hrasva& ' a short vowe in Sanskrit, itera $( short( sma ( dwar%ish( weak etc. hrida$a "hRRida$a& ' heart( seat o% %ee ings and sensations, heart or essence o% something, true or divine know edge. I iccha "ich;hA& ' wish( desire( inc ination. idam vritti "idam vRRitti& ' thoughts o% ob+ects( concepts( %ee ings etc.( as opposed to aham vRRitti ) the thought /I am./ See vritti. 11

Common Sanskrit technical terms iha "iha& ' in this wor d, now. (iha oka as opposed to para oka( in the *ne#t wor d*( i.e. a%ter death!. indri$a "indri$a& ' the number %ive s$mbo i<ing the %ive senses. The %ive sense organs are ca ed +6nAnendri$a)s and the %ive /organs/ o% action are the karmendri$a)s. Isha 5panishad "IshopaniShad& ' a so known as the Isavas$a 5panishad( because its %irst verse begins: 10 IshA vAs$amidamKLmJM sarva0. IshAvAs$a means /pervaded b$ the ord./ ishta "iShTa& ' wished( desired( iked( be oved. Isvara "Ishvara& ' the >ord, creator o% the phenomena universe, wie der o% the %orce o% mA$A. See saguna 2rahman. N +ada "+a7a& ' inert( i%e ess. +agat "+agat& ' the wor d (earth!( mankind etc. +agrat "+Agrat& ' the waking state o% consciousness. The /waker ego/ is ca ed vishva. See a so( sushupti( svapna( turi$a. +a pa "+a pa& ' ta k( speech( discourse, disputation with *overbearing and disputed re+oinder*, arguing %or the sake o% winning( irrespective o% who is right. (Three t$pes o% disputation: +a pa( vitaN7a( vAda.! +anana "+anana& ' +birth. +anma "+anma& ' birth. +apa "+apa& ' the simp e repetition o% a mantra, usua $ associated with the initia stage o% meditation. See mantra. +ara "+arA& ' o d age. +ati "+Ati& ' birth( the %orm o% e#istence (as man( anima etc.!, genus or species. +i+nasa "+i+6nAsA& ' the desire to know (onese %!. 1ne who desires to know onese %, a seeker is ca ed a +i+6nAsu. +iva "+Iva& ' the identi%ication o% the Atman with a bod$ and mind, sometimes spoken o% as /the embodied Atman./ See atman. +ivanmukti "+Ivanmukti& ' (mukta is the ad+ective ) iberated, mukti is the noun ) iberation! the emotiona bene%its o% Se %)know edge, the *secondar$* gain o% en ightenment (dependent upon whether the seeker was %u $ qua i%ies according to sAdhana chatuShTa$a sampatti. A +Ivanmukta is one is both en ightened and who ives with these bene%its( which mani%est in outward ove and compassion. +ivatman "+IvAtman& ' another word %or Atman( to emphasise that we are re%erring to the Atman in this *embodied state*( as opposed to the paramAtman( the /supreme Se %./ See atman. +nana ($oga! (note that +nana is o%ten written g$ana! "+6nAna& ' $oga based on the acquisition o% true know edge (+6nAna means /know edge/! i.e. know edge o% the Se % as opposed to mere in%ormation about the wor d o% appearances (vid$A!. See a so bhakti( karma. +nana kanda "+6nAna kAN7a& ' those sections o% the Fedas concerned with know edge( i.e. the 5panishads. +nana nishta "+6nAna niShThA& ' the %u and %ina know edge that this Se % is a that there is. 12

Common Sanskrit technical terms +nanendri$a "+6nAnendri$a& ' an organ o% perception (e$e( ear( nose( tongue( skin!( p ura +6nAnendr$Ani. +nani or +nanin "+6nAnI or +6nAnin& ' itera $( one who is endowed with know edge or inte igence, a sage, o%ten used to re%er to one who is en ightened. (+6nAnin is the prAtipadika +6nAnI is the nominative singu ar pada.! See +nana ($oga!. +natri "+6nAtRRi& ' one who knows or understands, a so sometimes used interchangeab $ with sAkShin (witness!. +ne$a "+6ne$a& ' heart( seat o% %ee ings and sensations, heart or essence o% something, true or divine know edge. +$otis "+$otis& ' ight (o% sun( dawn( ightning etc.!, %ire, ight as the divine princip e o% i%e( inte igence. G Gai asa "kai Asa& ' %ab ed paradise o% Shiva in the =ima a$as. kaiva $a "kaiva $a& ' abso ute unit$( detachment o% the sou %rom %urther transmigration( eading to eterna happiness or emancipation. ka a "kA a& ' time Ga i $uga "ka i $uga& ' the present and %ina age (Iron age! in a c$c e o% creation (%o owed b$ disso ution ) pra a$a )and start again!. See ka pa. ka pa "ka pa& ' one da$ in the i%e o% 2rahma( the ;reator, equa to OOP c$c es o% ages and P(:BQ(QQQ(QQQ $ears. ka pita "ka pita& ' made( %abricated( arti%icia , invented, supposed, in%erred. kama "kAma& ' desire( onging, one o% the %our puruShArtha)s. Shankara di%%erentiates this %rom rAga: rAga is attachment to something one a read$ has whereas kAma is wanting something one doesn*t have. (Not to be con%used with karma.! See purushartha. kam$a "kAm$a& ' desirab e( agreeab e, more usua $ encountered in the conte#t o% *action* ) kAm$a karma means actions prompted b$ desire or the wish %or persona bene%it( as opposed to nit$a karma( done out o% a sense o% dut$. kanda "kAN7a& ' part or section( division o% a work or book( especia $ re ating to the Fedas kandana "khaN7ana& ' breaking( destro$ing( annihi ating, re%uting (o% an opponent*s phi osoph$!. kara "kAra& ' term used to designate a etter or sound or indec inab e word (as in 10 kAra!, or making( doing( working etc (as in aha0kAra!. karana "karaNa& ' /instrument/ in the conte#t o% karaNa kAraNa ) instrumenta cause. (The %irst /a/ is hrasva.! karana "kAraNa& ' cause (noun! as in nimitta kAraNa or causa (ad+.! as in kAraNa sharIra. >itera $ /a cause (in phi osoph$ i.e. that which is invariab $ antecedent to some product!./ (The %irst /a/ is dIrgha.! karika "kArikA& ' (strict $ speaking! a concise phi osophica statement in verse. The most we known is that b$ 4audapada on the 0anduk$a 5panishad. (Not to be con%used with karika( which is an e ephantC!. See 4audapada( 0anduk$a( 5panishad. karma "karma& ' itera $ /action/ but genera $ used to re%er to the / aw/ whereb$ actions carried out now wi have their aw%u e%%ects in the %uture (and this ma$ be in %uture 13

Common Sanskrit technical terms ives!. Note that karma $oga is something di%%erent ) see be ow. See a so sanskara. karma kanda "karma kAN7a& ' that portion o% the Fedas re ating to ceremonia acts( the ritua s we shou d %o ow( sacri%icia rites and so on. karma pha a "karma pha a& ' the %ruit (pha a! o% action, i.e. the resu t or consequence o% our actions. karma $oga "karma $oga& ' the practice o% acting in such a wa$ as not to incur karma( b$ carr$ing out /right/ actions( not /good/ or /bad/ ones. See bhakti( karma( +nana. karmendri$a "karmendri$a& ' an organ o% action( p ura karmendri$Ani. These are hand( %oot( ar$n#( organ o% generation and organ o% e#cretion. karta "kartA& ' /doer/( see kartri kartri "kartRRi& ' one who makes( does or acts, the agent o% an action. kartri tantra "kartRRi tantra& ' the resu t o% *doing* (activit$( desire and e%%ort!( as opposed to vastu)tantra( begotten o% Atma!. kar$a "kAr$a& ' e%%ect or resu t. kataka "kataka& ' the /c earing nut/ p ant( used %or precipitating dirt %rom drinking water. Gatha 5panishad "kaThopaniShad& ' one o% the 9QRJ 5panishads and one o% the 9Q ma+or ones. kaTha was a sage and %ounder o% a branch o% the .a+ur Feda. See 5panishad. Gena 5panishad& ' kenopaniShad& ' one o% the 9QRJ 5panishads and another one o% the 9Q ma+or ones. kena means /whenceA/ (/howA(/ /wh$A/ etc.! and is the %irst word o% this 5panishad. See 5panishad. kha vidam& ' kha vidam& ' in the statement sarvam kah vidam brahma ) a this is veri $ 2rahman. kha u means /indeed( veri $(/ idam is /this/ (neutra pronoun!. kh$ati "kh$Ati& ' opinion( view( idea( assertion, perception( know edge. akh$Ati is misperception( as opposed to adh$Asa. kinchana "ki0chana& ' something( somewhat, an$thing. koham "ko.aham& ' who am IA (ka ) whoA, aham ) I am!. kosha "kosha& ' itera $ /sheath/ as in the scabbard o% a sword, one o% the %ive a$ers o% identi%ication that cover up our true nature. krama srishti "krama sRRiShTi& ' step)b$ step creation o% the creation m$ths %rom the Fedas. kri$a "kri$A& ' ikri$A $oga is a branch o% rA+a $oga (%or the intermediate student!, kri$A itera $ means /doing( per%ormance./ krodha "krodha& ' anger( passion. kshara "kShara& ' perishab e (more norma $ seen as akShara re%erring to the imperishab e Se %!. kshatri$a "kShatri$a& ' a member o% the second o% the traditiona %our castes in India( the mi itar$ caste. ksha$a "kSha$a& ' destruction. kshetra "kShetra& ' itera $ a /%ie d/ or /propert$/, used in the 2hagavad 4ita to re%er to the bod$)mind organism in which we %ind ourse ves. kshetra+na "kShetra+6na& ' that which knows the kShetra( i.e. the true Se %. Gumari a 2hatta "kumAri a bhaTTa& ' %ounder o% the schoo o% p5rva mImAmsa 14

Common Sanskrit technical terms phi osoph$. kunda ini "kuN7a inI& ' the $oga that re ates to awakening the energ$ at the base o% the spine and channe ing this through *chakras* to the head. This has nothing to do with advaita. kutastha "k5Tastha& ' the immovab e( unchanging spirit ( itera $ /standing at the top./ > akshana " akShaNa& ' pointer, indicating or e#pressing indirect $, accurate description or de%inition. aksh$a " akSh$a& ' that which is to be characteri<ed( de%ined( indicated or e#pressed. aksh$artha " akSh$Artha& ' imp ied or indirect $ e#pressed meaning (as opposed to vAch$Artha!. aukika " aukika& ' wor d $( be onging to or occurring in ordinar$ i%e. aukika anumAna is in%erence b$ scienti%ic reasoning( based on observation. a$a " a$a& ' itera $ /disso ution/ (and the ast stage in the c$c e o% creation( preservation and destruction o% the universe!. A so used to re%er to the %our)stage process %or disso ving ignorance described in the aShTAvakra gItA. See Astavakra( 4ita. esha " esha& ' trace( sma part or portion. i a " I A& ' itera $ /p a$(/ /amusement/ or /pastime/, the idea that the apparent creation is a diversion %or a creator ) a means %or =im to en+o$ =imse %. =e p a$s a the parts in such a wa$ that the$ are ignorant o% their rea nature and be ieve themse ves separate. inga " i6Nga& ' sign( mark or badge, evidence. Sometimes used as i6Nga sharIra to describe the subt e bod$. oka " oka& ' wor d( universe( sk$ or heaven etc. (ad+ective aukika!. 0 0adhva "madhva& ' %ounder o% the schoo o% dvaita phi osoph$. madh$ama "madh$ama& ' midd e( intermediate. madh$amA ) mediating, the third stage in the production o% sound, the /medium/ in which something is e#pressed. mahabhuta "mahAbh5ta& ' gross e ement (ether( air( %ire( water( earth!. mahaprana "mahAprANa& ' In Sanskrit( describes a consonant that is sounded with additiona e#pe ing o% air. It means /with much breath./ Speci%ica $( it is used %or those consonants on the Bnd and Pth rows o% the main groups( name $ kh( ;h( Th( th( ph and gh( +h( 7h( dh( bh. mahasha$a "mahAsha$a& ' respectab e person( nob e( magnanimous, *Sir* as a %orm o% address. mahat "mahat& ' great( important( distinguished. mahatman "mahAtman& ' high)minded( nob e, e#ceeding $ wise, distinguished, the supreme spirit( great sou o% the universe. mahavak$a "mahAvAk$a& ' maha means /great/, vAk$a means /speech( sa$ing or statement./ The %our /great sa$ings/ %rom the Fedas are: ) /;onsciousness is 2rahman(/ /That thou art(/ /This Se % is 2rahman/ and /I am 2rahman./ maheshvara "maheshvara& ' a great ord. mamakara "mamakAra& ' interesting onese % about an$thing, (more usua $! the notion that *this is mine*( c.%. aha0kAra. 15

Common Sanskrit technical terms manana "manana& ' the c earing o% doubts b$ asking questions on what has been heard (shravaNa! %rom the guru. This is the second stage o% the c assica spiritua path. See a so samsha$a( shravana( nididh$asana. manas "manas& ' the /organ/ o% mind acting as intermediar$ between the senses and the inte ect (buddhi! on the wa$ in and the inte ect and the organs o% action on the wa$ out. These are its primar$ %unctions and /thinking/ ought to consist on $ o% the processing o% data on beha % o% the inte ect. 5n%ortunate $( it usua $ tries to take on the ro e o% the inte ect itse % and this is when thinking becomes a prob em. See ahankara( antahkarana( buddhi and chitta. 0anduk$a "mAN75k$a& ' 1ne o% the ma+or 5panishads and possib $ the sing e most important( when considered in con+unction with the kArikA written b$ gau7apAda. (In man$ versions o% this 5panishad( there is no distinction made between the origina and the additions made b$ gau7apAda and there is some argument over which is which.! See 4audapada( karika( 5panishad. manisha "manIShA& ' thought( re% ection( consideration( wisdom( inte igence. (ad+. manISha$a! mano a$a "mano a$a& ' oss o% consciousness, used to indicate an intense *spiritua e#perience*. manoma$akosha "manoma$akosha& ' the menta sheath (one o% the /%ive ;overings/ that surround our true essence!. mantra "mantra& ' a group o% words (or sometimes on $ one or more s$ ab es!( traditiona $ having some m$stica signi%icance( being in man$ re igions an actua *name o% 4od* or a short pra$er. 1%ten used in meditation (a wa$s in Transcendenta 0editation!. See +apa. mantravid "mantravid& ' someone who +ust knows *about* Atman rather than knowing Atman direct $ (an Atmavid!. marana "maraNa& ' death. marga "mArga& ' path( track( wa$. vichAra mArga is trans ated as /7irect Eath(/ re%erring to the particu ar method o% teaching Advaita. mata "mata& ' be ie% (a so thought( idea( opinion( sentiment( doctrine!. A so used in the sense o% a *phi osoph$*. math or matha "maTha& ' (re igious! co ege or temp e. matra "mAtrA & ' a measure o% an$ kind. In Sanskrit( the short vowe is said to be 9 mAtrA and the ong vowe B( i.e. sounded %or twice the ength. matrika "mAtRRikA& ' In Sanskrit( re%ers to the 9P vowe s( together with the anusvAra and visarga. mA$A "mA$A& ' itera $ /magic/ or /witchcra%t(/ o%ten personi%ied in =indu m$tho og$. The /%orce/ used to e#p ain how it is that we come to be deceived into be ieving that there is a creation with separate ob+ects and iving creatures etc. See a so avarana and vikshepa. mA$Avin ) magician( possessing magica powers. ma$akara "mA$AkAra& ' a maker o% magic i.e. a con+urer or magician. See ma$a. mimamsa (noun! mimamsaka (ad+! "mImA0sA mImA0saka& ' pro%ound thought( re% ection( e#amination. See purvamimamsa( utteramimamsa. mith$a "mith$A& ' (ad+.! dependent $ rea , itera $ /incorrect $/ or /improper $(/ used in the sense o% /%a se( untrue./ It is( however( more %requent $ used in the sense o% 16

Common Sanskrit technical terms /depending upon something e se %or its e#istence./ It is ascribed to ob+ects etc.( meaning that these are not a together unrea but not strict $ rea either i.e. the$ are our imposition o% name and %orm upon the undi%%erentiated Se %. The noun( as with man$ Sanskrit ad+ectives( is %ormed b$ adding *tva* ) mith$Atva ) dependent rea it$. See adh$asa. moha "moha& ' de usion( bewi derment( in%atuation( preventing the discernment o% truth, / ove/ in its se %ish %orm o% ove o% another person( where something is desired %or onese %( as opposed to prema( /pure unse %ish ove./ moksha "mokSha& ' iberation( en ightenment( Se %)rea i<ation, one o% the %our puruShArtha)s. Remember that *o* is pronounced as in *grow*( not as in *top*. mudra "mudrA& ' particu ar positions or inter)twinings o% the %ingers( common $ practiced in re igious worship. mukha "mukha& ' opening( mouth, chie%( principa ( best. mukti "mukti& ' setting or becoming %ree( %ina iberation. (mukta is the ad+ective ) iberated! mu a "m5 a& ' itera $ a *root*, basis( %oundation( cause( origin( beginning. mu avid$a "m5 Avid$a& ' origina ignorance. mumukshu "mumukShu& ' one %or whom the desires to achieve en ightenment is the predominant goa in i%e, a seeker. mumukshutva "mumukShutva& ' the desire to achieve en ightenment( to the e#c usion o% a other desires. See sadhana( chatushta$a sampatti. 0undaka 5panishad "muN7akopaniShad& ' Another one o% the 9QRJ 5panishads and a so one o% the 9Q ma+or ones ) but not to be con%used with the 0anduk$a. muN7a means /having a shaved head/ and the 5panishad is so ca ed because ever$ one who comprehends its sacred doctrine is /shorn/ o% (i.e. iberated %rom! a error. See 5panishad. muni "muni& ' sage( seer( saint( ascetic( monk etc. murta "m5rta& ' mani%est( materia ( embodied. N naimittika "naimittika& ' occasiona ( specia . naimittika karma are those occasiona duties that we have to per%orm( such as he ping a neighbor who has he ped one in the past. naisarga( naisargika "naisarga naisargika& ' innate( natura . Nai$a$ika "nai$A$ika& ' a %o ower o% the n$A$a phi osoph$. nama)rupa "nAmar5pa& ' name and %orm. namas "namas& ' bow( obeisance( reverentia sa utation. namaskAra ) the e#c amatation *namas*. nana "nAnA& ' di%%erent $( various $( distinct $, (used as ad+. various( di%%erent( distinct %rom! nanatva "nAnAtva& ' di%%erence( variet$( mani%o dness. naraka "naraka& ' he . (A so pAtA a.! nashita "nAshita& ' destro$ed( ost. nastika "nAstika& ' atheist( unbe iever, usua $ re%ers to one who does not recogni<e the authorit$ o% the Fedas.

17

Common Sanskrit technical terms neti "neti& ' not this (na ) not, iti ) this!. @rom the bRRihadAraN$aka upaniShad (B.:.?!. 5sed b$ the inte ect whenever it is thought that the Se % might be some /thing/ observed e.g. bod$( mind etc. The Se % cannot be an$thing that is seen( thought or known. See 2rihadaran$aka( 5panishad. nididh$asana "nididh$Asana& ' meditating on what has been direct $ seen at the time o% teaching unti there is tota conviction. The third stage o% the c assica spiritua path. See a so shravana and manana. It is to be understood as /right apprehension/ (vi+6nAna!, recapitu ating or going over the teaching rather than simp $ mechanica +apa( as with dh$Ana. nidra "nidrA& ' s eep. nimitta "nimitta& ' itera $ the /instrumenta or e%%icient cause/ but norma $ used (nimitta kAraNa! as meaning the atter. nirguna "nirguNa& ' /without qua ities/, usua $ re%erring to 2rahman and meaning that it is be$ond an$ description or thought. Since there is on $ 2rahman( an$ word wou d imp $ imitation or dua it$. See 2rahman( saguna( Isvara. nirmukta "nirmukta& ' %ree %rom ever$ attachment. nirna$a "nirNa$a& ' (in ogic! deduction( in%erence( conc usion, app ication o% a conc usive argument, discussion( consideration. nirodha "nirodha& ' restraint. nirupadhika "nirupAdhika& ' without attributes or qua ities. nirupAdhika adh$Asa is superimposition as o% the snake on the rope( as opposed to sopAdhika adh$Asa e.g. the sunrise( which is sti seen even when the mistake is rea i<ed nirveda "nirveda& ' ibeing indi%%erent towards or even having a oathing %or wor d $ ob+ects. nirvika pa "nirvika pa& ' (re%erring to samAdhi! without doubts about one*s identit$ with the one Se %. See savika pa( samadhi( vika pa, a so means *%ree %rom di%%erences or change*( not having an$ a ternative. nirvika paka "nirvika paka& ' know edge not depending upon or derived %rom the senses( indeterminate know edge. nirvikara "nirvikAra& ' unchanged( unchangeab e( change ess( uni%orm. nirvishesha "nirvisheSha& ' making or showing no di%%erence. nirvisheShaNa ) attribute ess. nishchita "nishchita& ' one who has come to a conc usion( %ormed a certain opinion, decided( positive, certaint$, a so used in sense o% *wise peop e*. nisheda "niShedha& ' contradiction( negation( denia . nishkama "niShkAma& ' desire ess( disinterested. niShkAma karma is so)ca ed /right action(/ per%ormed in response to the need( neither se %ish $ nor unse %ish $ ) it generates no sa0skAra. nishtha "niShTha& ' committed or devoted to, having a basis or grounding in. niShThA is the noun( meaning %irmness( steadiness( devotion. nit$a "nit$a& ' eterna . It a so means /ordinar$( usua ( necessar$( ob igator$./ It is used in this atter sense in connection with action. nit$a karma are those dai $ duties that we have to per%orm( such as ooking a%ter one*s chi dren. nivritti "nivRRitti& ' giving up( abstaining( renouncing (esp. o% desires in the path to 18

Common Sanskrit technical terms en ightenment ) nivRRitti mArga!. ni$ama "ni$ama& ' restraining( contro ing, an$ %i#ed ru e or aw, necessit$. There are %ive ni$ama)s in rA+a $oga. n$a$a "n$A$a& ' ogica argument, itera $( /that into which a thing goes back(/ a /standard/ or /ru e/, one o% the ? c assica Indian phi osophica s$stems( whose principa e#ponent was 4autama in the :rd ;entur$ 2;. So ca ed because the s$stem /goes into/ a ph$sica and metaph$sica sub+ects in a ver$ ogica manner. n$a$a prasthana "n$A$a prasthAna& ' re%ers to ogica and in%erentia materia based upon the Fedas( o% which the most we known is the brahma s5tra o% F$asa (n$A$a can a so mean method( a#iom( ogica argument etc.!. See pramana( prasthana) tra$a( smriti( sruti. E pada "pAda& ' %oot( part( quarter. The 0anduk$a 5panishad re%ers to the %our pAda as the three states o% consciousness p us turI$a. A better trans ation o% pAda( here( is *%acet*. (Not to be con%used with pada.! pada "pada& ' word (as opposed to padArtha ) meaning or thing corresponding to the meaning!, portion o% a verse or ine o% a stan<a, a so trace( mark( sign etc., a so position( rank or status. (Not to be con%use with pAda ) the *%ourth*( *quarter* or *%acet* e.g. 05! padartha "padArtha& ' the meaning o% a word, the thing( materia ob+ect or person that corresponds with that meaning. Eadmapada "padmapAda& ' one o% the %our principa discip es o% Shankara. paksha "pakSha& ' sub+ect o% the discussion( proposition to be proved. panchabuta "pa6ncha bh5ta& ' the %ive e ements( vi<. earth ) pRRithivI, water ) ap, %ire ) te+as, air ) vA$u, space or ether ) AkAsha. Eanchadashi "pa6nchadashI& ' itera $ means /%i%teen/ because it has this man$ chapters ) a book written b$ Fid$aran$a (vid$AraN$a!( based upon the 5panishads. It discusses man$ Advaitic truths and uses some origina metaphors to i ustrate the concepts. panchakosha "pa6ncha kosha& ' the %ive sheaths. Eanchapadika "pa6nchapAdikA& ' a commentar$ b$ Eadmapada on Shankara*s commentar$ on the %irst part o% the brahma s5tra. pandita "paN7ita& ' itera $ /wise/ as an ad+ective or /scho ar( teacher( phi osopher/ as a noun and used in this wa$ in the scriptures. =owever( it has come to mean someone who knows a ot o% theor$ but does ver$ itt e practice. Ie sometimes use the word /pundit/ in our anguage ) the word /sophist/ wou d probab $ be a good s$non$m. papa "pApa& ' itera $ /bad/ or /wicked/ but used in the sense o% the /sin/ that accrues (according to the theor$ o% karma! %rom per%orming /bad/ actions( i.e. those done with a se %ish motive. See a so pun$a. para "parA& ' the %irst stage in the production o% sound. A so means be$ond( distant( remote( highest( supreme, cou d be trans ated as /transcendent./ parama "parama& ' chie%( highest( most prominent( best etc. paramartha (noun!, paramarthika (ad+.! "paramArtha pAramArthika& ' the highest truth or rea it$, the noumena as opposed to the phenomena wor d o% appearances (v$avahAra!. See pratibhasa and v$avahara. 19

Common Sanskrit technical terms paramatman "paramAtman& ' usua $ trans ated as the /supreme Se %/ as opposed to the Atman in the embodied state( the +IvAtman. Swami 7a$ananda insists that it actua $ means / imit ess/ in the sense o% not imited b$ time or p ace and there%ore change ess. See atman. parampara "paramparA& ' itera $ /proceeding %rom one to another/, /guru paramparA/ re%ers to the tradition o% guru ) discip e passing on wisdom through the ages. See a so samprada$a. paratantra "paratantra& ' dependent on or sub+ect to another (opposite svatantra!. parechcha "parech;hA& ' re ating to the desires o% others ) see prarabdha. paribhasa "paribhAshA& ' speech( discourse( words, an e#p anator$ ru e or genera de%inition, a ru e or ma#im which teaches the proper interpretation or app ication o% other ru es. (e.g. vedAnta paribhAshA o% dharmarA+a adhvarindra!. paricchinna "parichchinna& ' cut)o%%( divided( detached( con%ined( imited( circumscribed. parinama "pariNAma& ' itera $ /change( trans%ormation into/, encountered in the conte#t o% a materia cause in which the e%%ect is a trans%ormation %rom its cause as opposed to simp $ distinguishab e %rom( e.g. butter made %rom mi k as opposed to c oth made %rom cotton. parinama vada "pariNAma vAda& ' the doctrine o% evo ution as proposed b$ sA0kh$a phi osoph$. paripurna "parip5rNa& ' comp ete $ %i ed or covered with, accomp ished( per%ect( who e( comp ete. paroksha "parokSha& ' remote( m$sterious( invisib e( hidden (a so pArokSh$a!, opposite o% prat$akSha. pash$anti "pash$antI& ' seeing, the second o% the %our stages o% sound production. ;ou d be trans ated as /visua i<ation(/ %rom the verb pash( meaning /to see./ pata a "pAtA a& ' he . (A so naraka.! Eatan+a i "pata6n+a i& ' phi osopher( author o% the /.oga Sutras/ and responsib e %or aShTA6Nga or rA+a $oga. pha a "pha a& ' %ruit, o%ten used in the conte#t o% the consequences that necessari $ %o ow as a resu t o% action. See karma pha a. It is a so used in respect o% the emotiona bene%its o% se %)know edge ) +6nAna pha a or +Ivanmukta. p uta "p uta& ' a engthened vowe in Sanskrit (sounded %or : or more mAtrA)s or measures!. Erabhakara "prabhAkara& ' %ounder o% an o%%shoot ot the purva mImAmsa schoo o% phi osoph$. pradhana "pradhAna& ' most important or essentia part o% an$thing, primar$ matter or nature, supreme or universa sou , equa s prakRRiti and is the cause o% the universe according to sA0k$ha. pra+na "pra+6nA& ' (verb! to know or understand( %ind out( perceive or earn, (noun! wisdom( inte igence( know edge. Not to be con%used with prA+6na be ow. pra+na "prA+6na& ' the /deep s eep ego/ in the deep s eep state o% consciousness( suShupti. >itera $( /wise( c ever/ (ad+.! or /a wise man/ or /inte igence dependent on individua it$./ See a so visva( tai+asa. pra+nana "pra+6nAna& ' consciousness. 20

Common Sanskrit technical terms prakarana "prakaraNa& ' sub+ect( topic( treatise etc. but especia $ opening chapter or pro ogue. prakarana grantha "prakaraNa grantha& ' this is the term used to re%er to authoritative commentaries on the scripture but which are not part o% the prasthAna tra$a. It is %requent $ used in respect o% the works attributed to Shankara such as upadesha sAhasrI( vivekach57AmaNi etc. The word grantha itera $ means /t$ing or stringing together/ though can itse % mean composition or treatise. prakriti "prakRRiti& ' itera $ the origina or natura %orm or condition o% an$thing, genera $ used to re%er to what we wou d ca /nature./ prakri$a "prakri$A& ' a methodo og$ o% teaching, itera $ a chapter (esp. the introductor$ chapter o% a work!. pra a$a "pra a$a& ' disso ution( destruction( annihi ation( especia $ re ating to the destruction o% the universe at the end o% a ka pa. See ka pa. prama "pramA& ' true know edge( basis or %oundation. pramana "pramANa& ' va id means %or acquiring know edge. There are ? o% these in Fedanta: ) perception (prat$akSha!( in%erence (anumAna!( scriptura or verba testimon$ (shabda or Agama shruti!( ana og$ (upamAna!( presumption (arthApatti! and non)apprehension (anupa abdhi!. The %irst three are the ma+or ones re%erred to b$ Shankara. pramatri "pramAtRRi& ' the sub+ect o% know edge obtained via a pramANa, authorit$( one who has a correct notion or idea. prame$a "prame$a& ' the ob+ect o% know edge obtained via a pramANa, a so /thing to be proven/ or /topic to be discussed./ pramiti "pramiti& ' correct notion( right conception( know edge gained or estab ished b$ pramANa. prana "prANa& ' itera $ the /breath o% i%e/, the vita %orce in the bod$ with which we identi%$ in the /vita sheath./ pranama$akosha "prANama$akosha& ' the sheath made o% breath (one o% the /%ive ;overings/ that surround our true essence!. pranava "praNava& ' m$stica or sacred s$mbo (10!, 10 is usua $ ca ed praNava shabda( though either word separate $ can a so be use with the same meaning. praNu means /to make a humming or droning sound./ It is a so said that praNava means *idea name*. It is the *idea name* %or brahman because it represents both the saguNa aspects (in the actua word 10! and the nirguNa aspects (in the si ence that %o ows!. prana$ama "prANA$Ama& ' usua $ understood to mean contro o% breathing in advanced $oga techniques or as a pre ude to meditation. According to Swami ;hinma$ananda( however( it does not mean this but re ates to the %ive /departments/ o% active i%e: prANa$Ama( prat$AhAra( nit$a)anit$a)viveka( +apa and samAdhi. pranidhana "praNidhAna& ' meditation on/contemp ation o%/devotion to Ishvara. 1ne o% the %ive ni$ama)s o% rA+a $oga. prapancha "prapa6ncha& ' the visib e wor d, appearance( diversit$( phenomenon. prapta "prApta& ' attained( acquired( accomp ished. prAptas$a prApta is gaining something which has a read$ been gained (as oppose to aprAptas$a prApta ) gaining something that one does not have!, the e#pression is used o% mokSha( 21

Common Sanskrit technical terms en ightenment. prarabdha "prArabdha& ' This itera $ means /begun/ or /undertaken./ It is the %ruit o% a o% our past action that is now having its e%%ect. This is one o% the three t$pes o% sa0skAra (see agamin( sanchita( sanskara!. A so( there are three t$pes o% prArabdha karma ) ich;hA( anich;hA and parech;hA (persona $ desired( without desire and due to others* desire!. prasada "prasAda& ' re%ers to the %ood o%%ered to a god (ido ! or that e%t b$ a spiritua teacher which ma$ now be eaten b$ the discip e as a token, (more genera $! c earness( brighteness( ca mness( tranqui it$( serenit$( graciousness. prasthana)tra$a "prasthAna tra$a& ' prasthAna means /s$stem/ or /course/ in the sense o% a +ourne$, tra$a +ust means /three%o d./ It re%ers to the three sources o% know edge o% the Se % (shabda!( n$A$a prasthAna( shruti and smRRiti. See n$a$a prasthana( shabda( shruti( smriti. pratama "prathama& ' %irst( %oremost, ear iest( primar$( origina ( prior( %ormer, intia ( chie%( principa . pratibandhaka "pratibandhaka & ' impediment( obstac e (usuaua $ in re ation to gaining +6nAna pha am!. pratibhasa (noun!pratibhasika (ad+.! "pratibhAsa prAtibhAsika& ' appearing or occurring to the mind( e#isting on $ in appearance( an i usion. See paramartha( v$avahara. pratibimba "pratibimba& ' a re% ection. In ogic( bimba is the ob+ect itse %( with the pratibimba being the counterpart with which it is compared. pratibimba)vada "pratibimba vAda& ' the theor$ that the +Iva is a re% ection o% the atman( simi ar to a the re% ection o% an ob+ect in a mirror (bimba!. prati+na "prati+6nA& ' (in ogic! an assertion or proposition to be proved. pratipad$a ) pratipadaka sambandha "pratipAd$a pratipAdaka sambandha& ' re%ers to that t$pe o% know edge where the know edge itse % brings about the goa without the need %or an$ action. pratipAd$a means /that which is to be e#p ained or revea ed/, pratipAdaka means /that which revea s( e#p aining or demonstrating/, sambandha means /re ationship./ prati$ogin "prati$ogin& ' an$ ob+ect dependent upon another and not e#isting without it. prat$abhi+na "prat$abhi+6nA& ' recognition. prat$agatman "prat$agAtman& ' the individua sou . prat$ahara "prat$AhAra& ' withdrawa o% the senses %rom e#terna ob+ects. prat$aksha "prat$akSha& ' /present be%ore the e$es( c ear( distinct etc./ but particu ar $ /direct perception or apprehension/ as a va id source o% know edge. 1pposite o% pArokSha( hidden. See pramana. prat$a$a "prat$a$a& ' be ie%( %irm conviction( certaint$, basis or cause o% an$thing, e#perience or cognition e.g. Atmaprat$a$a ) the *I* e#perience. pravritti "pravRRitti& ' active i%e( %o owing one*s desires (pravRRitti mArga as opposed to the path to en ightenment ) nivRRitti mArga!. pra$aschitta "prA$ashchitta& ' atonement( e#piation( amends( penance. pra$o+ana "pra$o+ana& ' motive or purpose, uti it$. prema "prema& ' ove( in its pure( unse %ish %orm (as opposed to moha!. pre$as "pre$as& ' the *p easant* as opposed to the *good*, more agreeab e( more desired. 22

Common Sanskrit technical terms prithak "pRRithak& ' apart( separate $( di%%erent $. prithivi "pRRithivI& ' earth ) one o% the %ive e ements or pa6nchabh5ta. Associated with sme . pri$a "pri$a& ' ove( kindness( p easure. pu+a "p5+A& ' honor( worship( respect( reverence. punarapi "punarapi& ' ever again (punar ) again( once more( repeated $, api ) %urther emphasis!. As in punarapi +ananam( punarapi maraNam to indicate sa0sAra (+anana 3 birth( maraNa 3 death!. pun$a "puN$a& ' itera $ /good/ or /virtuous/, used to re%er to the /reward/ that accrues to us (according to the theor$ o% karma! through the per%orming o% unse %ish actions. See a so papa. purna "p5rNa& ' %u ( comp ete( satis%ied( per%ect. purusha "puruSha& ' person (usua $ ma e!( spirit. purushartha "puruShArtha& ' The genera meaning o% this term is /an$ ob+ect o% human pursuit/ but it is used here in the sense o% human (i.e. se %! e%%ort to overcome /%ate(/ the %ruit o% one*s past actions. The %our c assica pursuits are kAma( artha( dharma and mokSha. puruShArtha) abha is %u %i ment o% those pursuits. See karma( sanskara. purusha)tantra "puruSha tantra& ' sub+ective( the resu t o% *doing* (as opposed to vastu) tantra!. See a so kartRRi)tantra. purva "p5rva& ' %ormer( preceding. Eurva mimamsa "p5rva mImA0sA& ' the phi osophica s$stem based upon the %irst part o% the Fedas and attributed to Naimini. 0ain $ concerned with enquiring into the nature o% dharma or right action. See mimamsa( uttaramimamsa. purvapaksha "p5rvapakSha& ' the %irst ob+ection to an assertion in an$ discussion or( more genera $( the /ob+ector/ in a debate. R raga "rAga& ' an$ %ee ing or passion but especia $ vehement desire, interest in( attachment. Shankara di%%erentiates this %rom kAma: rAga is attachment to something one a read$ has whereas kAma is wanting something one doesn*t have. rAga) dveSha is ove)hatred. rahita "rahita& ' deserted b$( separated or %ree %rom( deprived o%. ra+a "rA+a& ' itera $ /king or sovereign(/ as in rA+a $oga (or aShTA6Nga $oga! o% Eatan+a i( where it is usua $ trans ated as /ro$a $oga./ ra+as "ra+as& ' the second o% the three guNa. Associated with anima s and activit$( emotions( desire( se %ishness and passion. Ad+ective ) ra+assic (Dng.!, rA+asa or rA+asika (Sansk.! See guna. ra+u "ra++u& ' rope. Ramanu+a "rAmAnu+a& ' %ounder o% the vishiShTAdvaita schoo o% phi osoph$. rasa "rasa& ' taste (one o% the tanmAtra)s or %ive subt e senses!. rina "RRiNa& ' ob igation( dut$ or debt( as in AchAr$a RRiNa ) the ob igation one has to one*s teacher to pass on that know edge to others. rina "RRiNa& ' an$thing due( ob igation( dut$( debt, a debt o% mone$( mone$ owed. AchAr$a RRiNa is the ob igation o% a seeker to provide some %inanancia assistance 23

Common Sanskrit technical terms %or teaching %rom the guru( even though this is %ree $ given. See a so dakShiNa. rishi "RRiShi& ' author or singer o% sacred Fedic h$mns but now more genera $ used to re%er to a saint or Sage. rupa "r5pa& ' %orm( outward appearance (one o% the tanmAtra)s or %ive subt e senses!. S sada "sadA& ' ever( a wa$s( continua $( perpetua $. sadarana "sAdhAraNa& ' generic( common to a ( universa . sadguru "sadguru& ' the u timate guru ) one*s own Se % (sat 3 true( rea !. See guru. sadhaka "sAdhaka& ' a seeker or( more pedantica $( a worshipper. sadhana "sAdhanA& ' re%ers to the spiritua discip ines %o owed as part o% a /path/ toward Se %)rea isation. See a so chatushta$a sampatti. sadharma "sadharma& ' having the same nature or qua ities, common %eatures. sadhu "sAdhu& ' a sage( saint( ho $ man, itera $ eading straight to the goa ( hitting the mark. sadh$a "sAdh$a& ' (in ogic( that which is! to be conc uded( proved or demonstrated. sadrish$a "sAdRRish$a& ' ikeness( resemb ance( simi arit$. saguna "saguNa& ' /with qua ities./ The term is usua $ used to re%er to brahman personi%ied as the creator( Ishvara( to s$mbo ise the most spiritua aspect o% the wor d o% appearances. See 2rahman( Isvara( nirguna. saha+a "saha+a& ' born or produced together ( ike the inborn %acu ties o% certain iving beings( e.g. the % $ing abi it$ o% a bird!. saha+a sthiti "saha+a sthiti& ' 1nce Se %)rea i<ation has been attained( there is %u and asting know edge o% the Se %. /saha+a/ means /state/ but this stage o% samAdhi is not a state ) it is our true nature. It is permanent (sthiti meaning /stead$/ or /remaining/!( un ike the ear ier stages o% samAdhi. See nirvika pa( samadhi( savika pa( vika pa. sa+ati "sa+Ati& ' itera $ be onging to the same caste or tribe, simi ar or homogeneous. sakshatkara "sAkShAtkAra& ' evident or intuitive perception( rea i<ation. sakshibhava "sAkShibhAva& ' being or becoming (bhAva! a /witness/ (sAkShin!. sakshin "sAkShin& ' a witness( the ego or sub+ect as opposed to the ob+ect (a so sAkShi or sAkShI!. saksh$a "sAkSh$a& ' visib e (to!, testimon$( evidence, that which is witnessed (b$ the witness!. (A so sAkSh$am.! sama "sama& ' same( equa ( simi ar, neutra ( indi%%erent, impartia . samadhana "samAdhAna& ' contemp ation( pro%ound meditation, more usua $ trans ated as concentration, one o% the /si# qua ities/ that %orm part o% Shankara*s chatuShTa$a sampatti. See chatushta$a sampatti( shamadi shatka sampatti. samadhi "samAdhi& ' the state o% tota peace and sti ness achieved during deep meditation. Severa /stages/ are de%ined ) see vika pa( savika pa samadhi( nirvika pa samadhi and saha+a sthiti. samana "samAna& ' one o% the %ive /vita airs(/ concerned with the digestive s$stem. 0ore genera $( re ates to assimi ation and integration o% perceptions with e#isting know edge. samanva$a "samanva$a& ' regu ar succession or order, connected sequence or 24

Common Sanskrit technical terms consequence, con+unction, reconci iation through proper interpretation (not to be con%used with samavA$a!. saman$a "sAmAn$a& ' genera ( universa ( opposite o% speci%ic, genus as opposed to species. samashti "samaShTi& ' tota it$( as opposed to v$aShTi( the individua . samava$a "samavA$a& ' (in phi osoph$! the constant and inseparab e con+unction between an attribute and substance (e.g. b ue and otus! or between a who e and its parts (e.g. c oth and %ibers!. >itera $( it means *coming or meeting together* (not to be con%used with samanva$a!. sambandha "sambandha& ' re ationship( itera $ /union( association( con+unction./ samhita "sa0hitA& ' a phi osophica or re igious te#t constructed according to certain ru es o% sound. There are man$ o% these in the Fedas. The one most ike $ to be encountered is the aShTAvakra sa0hitA or 4ita. This book is not part o% the Fedas. See Astavakra( gita. samitpani "samitpANi& ' ( itera $! ho ding %ue in the hands( i.e. having renounced a desire and approaching the deit$ to o%%er sacri%ice. samkh$a "sA0kh$a& ' one o% the three main divisions o% =indu phi osoph$ and one o% the si# darshana)s, attributed to Gapi a. samprada$a "sampradA$a& ' the tradition or estab ished doctrine o% teaching %rom master to pupi through the ages. See a so parampara. samsara "sa0sAra& ' the continua c$c e o% death and rebirth( transmigration etc. to which we are supposed $ sub+ect in the phenomena wor d unti we become en ightened and escape. sa0sArin ) one who is bound to the c$c e o% birth and death. samsha$a "sa0sha$a& ' uncertaint$( irreso ution( hesitation or doubt. See manana. samsiddhika "sA0siddhika& ' se %)e#istent ( e#isting b$ its own nature or essence ( e#isting abso ute $ ( abso ute. samsthana "sa0sthAna& ' itera $ *standing together*( resemb ing, having the same shape( %orm or appearance. sam$oga "sa0$oga& ' con+unction( combination( connection, in Sanskrit grammar( the term %or a con+unct consonant( i.e. two or more consonants +oined together without an intervening vowe sound. The word itera $ means *+oined together*. sanatana "sanAtana& ' itera $ /eterna / or /permanent/, in con+unction with dharma( this re%ers to our essentia nature. The phrase /sanAtana dharma/ is a so used to re%er to the traditiona (a so carr$ing the sense o% /origina / and /unadu terated/! =indu practices or as a s$non$m %or /=induism./ See dharma. sanchita "sa0chita& ' one o% the three t$pes o% sa0skAra( itera $ meaning /co ected/ or /pi ed up./ That sa0skAra( which has been accumu ated %rom past action but has sti not mani%est. See agamin( prarabdha( sanskara. sandhi "sa0dhi& ' a comprehensive set o% ru es governing the wa$ in which sounds combine in Sanskrit when the$ appear ne#t to each other. These prevent( %or e#amp e( the situation where one word ends in a vowe and the ne#t word begins with one( b$ merging the two. There are three /c asses/ o% sa0dhi( vowe ( consonant and visarga. sanga "sa6Nga& ' assemb $( association( compan$. See satsanga. sanka pa "sa0ka pa& ' conception( idea or notion %ormed in the mind (or heart!, wi ( 25

Common Sanskrit technical terms vo ition( desire( purpose( intention. sanskara "sa0skAra& ' Ihenever an action is per%ormed with the desire %or a speci%ic resu t (whether %or onese % or another!( sa0skAra is created %or that person. These accumu ate and determine the situations with which we wi be presented in the %uture and wi in% uence the scope o% %uture actions. There are three /t$pes/ ) AgAmin( sa0chita and prArabdha. The accumu ation o% sa0skAra (sa0chita! dictates the tendencies that we have to act in a particu ar wa$ (vAsanA)s!. This is a part o% the mechanism o% karma. See agamin( karma( prarabdha( sanchita and karma. santosa "sa0toSha& ' satis%action( contentment with one*s ot. 1ne o% the %ive ni$ama)s in rA+a $oga. san$asa "sa0n$Asa& ' the %ina stage o% the traditiona =indu spiritua path, invo ves comp ete renunciation. The word itera $ means /putting or throwing down( a$ing aside/, i.e. becoming a pro%essiona ascetic. 1ne who does so is ca ed a san$asin (sa0n$Asin!. See a so brahmachar$a( grihasta( vanaprastha. sara "sAra& ' compendium( summar$( epitome (as in upadesha sAra ) summar$ o% teaching o% Ramana 0aharshi!. sarpa "sarpa& ' snake( serpent. sarvabhuta "sarvabh5ta& ' being( ever$where, a beings, the maker or cause o% a things, the supreme pervading spirit. sarva+na "sarva+6na& ' omniscient, a knowing (o% Ishvara!. sarva)vedanta)siddhanta)sarasangraha "sarva vedAnta siddhAnta sArasa0graha=& ' book attributed to Shankara. sarva means /who e/, siddhAnta means /conc usion/, sAra means /epitome/ or /summar$/, sa0graha carries the sense o% /comp ete summing)up./ So( as a who e( it means something ike /Dver$thing $ou a wa$s wanted to know about Fedanta./ sarveshvara "sarveshvara& ' omnipotent, the * ord o% a *. sashtanga "sAShTA6Nga& ' reverentia prostration( per%ormed with *eight imbs* ) %eet( knees( breast( hands( %orehead. sat "sat& ' e#istence( rea it$( truth (to mention a %ew!. See a so ananda( chit( satchitananda. satchitananda "sat chit Ananda ) sachchidAnanda& ' the o%t used word to describe our true nature( in so %ar as this can be put into words (which it can*t!. It trans ates as being)consciousness)b iss but see the separate bits %or more detai . satkar$a vada "satkAr$a vAda& ' the doctrine o% the e%%ect actua $ pre)e#isting in the cause (usua $ in re%erence to the creation!. satsanga "satsa6Nga& ' association with the good, keeping /good compan$/, most common $ used now to re%er to a group o% peop e gathered together to discuss (Advaita! phi osoph$. satta "sattA& ' e#istence( being. sattva "sattva& ' the *highest* o% the three guna. Associated with sti ness( peace( truth( wisdom( unse %ishness and spiritua it$( representing the highest aspirations o% man. Ad+ective ) sattvic (Dng.!( sAttvika (Sansk.!. See guna. sattvapati "sattvApati& ' the (Pth! stage on a spiritua path( a%ter which there is no onger an$ need %or e%%ort to be made (so)ca ed because there is now an abundance o% sattva!. Apatti means /entering into a state or condition./ 26

Common Sanskrit technical terms sat$a "sat$a& ' true( rea , sat$am ) truth. A so one o% the $ama)s ) truth%u ness( sincerit$. saucha "shaucha& ' purit$ o% mind( integrit$. 1ne o% the %ive ni$ama)s in Ra+a $oga. savika pa "savika pa& ' (re%erring to samadhi! sti /with/ doubts about one*s identit$ with the one Se %. See nirvika pa( samadhi( vika pa, a so means *di%%erentiated*( possessing variet$ or distinctions. savika paka "savika paka& ' know edge depending upon or derived %rom the senses, determinate know edge. savikara "savikAra& ' *with change*( as opposed to nirvikAra ) used o% anAtman as opposed to Atman. shabda "shabda& ' scriptura or verba testimon$. See pramana( n$a$a prasthana( prasthana)tra$a( sruti( smriti. shakha)chandra)n$a$a "shAkhA chandra n$A$a& ' the ru e o% the moon on a bough. Re ates to the situation where one thing (the moon! is e%%ective $ pointed out b$ its re ationship to something e se (the bough!. shakti "shakti& ' power( strength (especia $ in connection with a deit$!. shama "shama& ' itera $ tranqui it$( absence o% passion but more usua $ trans ated as menta discip ine or se %)contro , one o% the shamAdi ShaTka sampatti or /si# qua ities/ that %orm part o% Shankara*s chatuShTa$a sampatti. See chatushta$a sampatti( shamadi shatka sampatti. shamadi shatka sampatti "shamAdi ShaTka sampatti& ' the si# qua ities that %orm part o% Shankara*s chatuShTa$a sampatti. These are shama( dama( uparati( titikShA( samAdhAna and shraddhA. Shankara "sha0kara& ' Rth ;entur$ Indian phi osopher responsib e %or %irm $ estab ishing the princip es o% Advaita. Though he died at an ear $ age (:BA!( he commented on a number o% ma+or 5panishads( the 2hagavad 4ita and the 2rahmasutras( as we as being attributed as the author o% a number o% %amous works( such as Atmabodha( 2ha+a 4ovindam and Fivekachudamani. Shankarachar$a "sha0karAchAr$a& ' The tit e given to one o% the %our teachers (see achar$a! %o owing the tradition in India estab ished b$ Shankara (see Shankara!. =e set up %our positions( North( South( Dast and Iest( to be he d b$ rea i<ed men( who wou d take on the ro e o% teacher and cou d be consu ted b$ an$one having prob ems or questions o% a spiritua nature. shanti "shAnti& ' peace( tranqui it$. sharana "sharaNa& ' protection( re%uge( as$ um. A so used in the conte#t o% *surrender*. sharira "sharIra& ' one*s bod$ (divided into gross( subt e and causa aspects!, itera $ /that which is easi $ destro$ed or disso ved./ shastra "shAstra& ' order( teaching( instruction, an$ sacred book or composition that has divine authorit$. shastri$a anumana "shAstrI$a anumAna& ' in%erence based upon the materia contained in the scriptures. Shiva "shiva& ' the *auspicious one* ) the third god o% the =indu trinit$ (2rahma( the creator, Fishnu( the preserver and Shiva( the destro$er!. =app$( %ortunate, iberation( %ina emancipation. sh oka "sh oka& ' a stan<a (verse!( usua $ %rom the scriptures. Eedantica $( it re%ers to a speci%ic meter. 27

Common Sanskrit technical terms shraddha "shraddhA& ' %aith( trust or be ie% (in the absence o% direct persona e#perience! ) the student needs this initia $ in respect o% what he is to d b$ the guru or reads in the scriptures, one o% the /si# qua ities/ that %orm part o% Shankara*s chatuShTa$a sampatti. See chatushta$a sampatti( shamAdi shhaTka sampatti. shravana "shravaNa& ' istening to the teachings (o% such works as the 5panishads! un%o ded b$ the guru, %irst o% the three ke$ stages in the c assica spiritua path. See a so manana( nididh$asana. shre$as "shre$as& ' the *good* as opposed to the *p easant*, most e#ce ent( best( auspicious. shrotri$a "shrotri$a& ' someone (usua $ a brAhmaNa! who is we )versed in the scriptures. shruti "shruti& ' re%ers to the Fedas( incorporating the 5panishads. >itera $ means /hearing/ and re%ers to the be ie% that the books contain ora $ transmitted( sacred wisdom %rom the dawn o% time. See n$a$a prasthana( pramana( smriti. shubhecha "shubhech;hA& ' good desire, the initia impu se that start us on a spiritua search. shubha means /auspicious(/ /good (in a mora sense!/ and ich;hA means /wish(/ /desire/. shuddhi "shuddhi& ' c eansing( puri%ication as in chitta)shuddhi( puri%ication o% the mind. shudra "sh5dra& ' the %ourth and owest o% the traditiona %our castes in India( their purpose said to be to serve the three higher castes. shun$a "shun$a& ' empt$( void as in the 2uddhist be ie% o% shun$a vAda. siddhanta "siddhAnta& ' %ina end or purpose, conc usion o% an argument, %i#ed or estab ished teaching on a particu ar topic( e.g. advaita siddhAnta is the strict teaching according to Shankara. sis$a "shiSh$a& ' pupi ( scho ar( discip e smriti "smRRiti& ' re%ers to materia /remembered/ and subsequent $ written down. In practice( it re%ers to books o% aw (in the sense o% guidance %or iving! which were written and based upon the know edge in the Fedas( i.e. the so)ca ed dharma) shAstras ) 0anu( .a+nava k$a( Earashara. In the conte#t o% n$a$a prasthana( it is used to re%er to +ust one o% these books ) the 2hagavad 4ita. See pramana( n$a$a prasthana( sruti. sopadhika "sopAdhika& ' nirupAdhika adh$Asa is superimposition as o% the snake on the rope( as opposed to sopAdhika adh$Asa e.g. the sunrise( which is sti seen even when the mistake is rea i<ed. sparsha "sparsha& ' touch sphota "sphoTa& ' sound (conceived as eterna ( indivisib e and creative! ) the theor$ that the universe was brought into e#istence as a resu t o% sound (c.%. *in the beginning was the word*!. sri "shrI& ' used as a tit e( c.%. /reverend(/ to signi%$ an eminent person. 0a$ a so be used in a simi ar manner to re%er to revered ob+ects or works o% scripture( %or e#amp e. srimat "shrImat& ' beauti%u ( charming( ove $. shrImatI is used as an honori%ic when addressing respected adies in the same wa$ as shrI above. srishti "sRRiShTi& ' creation. srishti)drishti)vada "sRRiShTi dRRiShTivAda& ' the theor$ that the wor d is separate %rom ourse ves( having been created (b$ 4od or big)bang! and evo ving independent $ o% 28

Common Sanskrit technical terms ourse ves( i.e. the /common sense/ view o% things. See a so adh$asa( a+ati( drishti) srishti)vada. sthitapra+na "meaning one /standing/ (sthita! in /wisdom/ (pra+6na!, a man o% steadiness and ca m( %irm in +udgment( contented. The name given b$ the 2hagavad 4ita to one who is Se %)rea i<ed. sthu a "sthu a& ' arge( thick( coarse( dense. sth5 a sharIra is the gross bod$. sukha "sukha& ' (ad+! com%ortab e( happ$( prosperous etc, (noun! com%ort( p easure( happiness. sukshma "s5kShma& ' subt e( as in the subt e bod$ ) s5kShma sharIra. sushupti "suShupti& ' the deep)s eep state o% consciousness. The /s eeper ego/ is ca ed pra+6na. See a so( +agrat( svapna( turi$a. sva "sva& ' one*s own. svabhava "svabhAva& ' one*s natura disposition. (ad+. svAbhAvika ) arising %rom its own nature, , ike the intrinsic properties o% things. e.g. heat is the intrinsic nature o% %ire. svadharma "svadharma& ' one*s own dharma. See dharma. svadh$a$a "svAdh$A$a& ' se %)stud$ or more speci%ica $ stud$ing the scriptures( itera $ reciting the Fedas in a ow voice to onese %. 1ne o% the %ive ni$ama)s in Ra+a $oga. svagata "svagata& ' be onging to onese %. svapna "svapna& ' the dream state o% consciousness. The /dreamer ego/ is ca ed tai+asa. See a so( +agrat( sushupti( turi$a. svara "svara& ' Sanskrit term %or a vowe ( itera $ meaning /sound/, sounded %or 9 mAtrA or measure. svarga "svarga& ' heaven. svarupa "svar5pa& ' one*s own character or nature (r5pa means *%orm*!, e.g.( svar5pAnanda ) one*s own Ananda ( imit ess b iss!. svatantra "svatantra& ' independent( se %)wi ed( %ree. (A so svAtantr$a ) %o owing one*s own %ree wi or choice!. (1pposite ) paratantra.! svata)praman$a)vada "svata= prAmAN$avAda& ' the theor$ o% the /se %)va idit$ o% know edge(/ i.e. accepting a given e#p anation( i% reasonab e( unti something better comes a ong. (c.%. 1ccam*s ra<or! sva$am "sva$am& ' o% or b$ onese %. svecha "svech;hA& ' %ree wi . swami "svAmin svAmi& ' a spiritua preceptor 2rahman or Eandit (used as a tit e at the end o% names T tadatm$a "tAdAtm$a& ' sameness( identit$ o% nature or character. tai+asa "tai+asa& ' the individua /dreamer ego/ in the dream state o% consciousness( svapna. See a so visva( pra+na. Taittiri$a "taittirI$a& ' one o% the principa 5panishads. (taittirI$a was one o% the schoo s o% the .a+ur Feda.! tamas "tamas& ' the / owest/ o% the three guna. Associated with matter and carr$ing characteristics such as inertia( a<iness( heed essness and death. It itera $ means /darkness/ or /g oom./ Ad+ective ) tamasic (Dng.!, tAmasa or tAmasika (Sansk.!. See 29

Common Sanskrit technical terms guna. tanmatra "tanmAtra& ' subt e e ement( o% which there are %ive: shabda (sound( speech!( sparsha (touch!( r5pa (%orm!( rasa (taste! and gandha (sme !. (The gross e ements are the mahAbh5ta)s: ether( air( %ire( water and earth.! tantra "tantra& ' main or essentia point. (A so doctrine or theor$ and the bod$ o% scriptures re ating to attaining m$stica union with the divine through meditation.! tapas "tapas& ' austerit$( iving a simp e i%e without com%orts. 1ne o% the %ive ni$ama)s in Ra+a $oga. tarka "tarka& ' reasoning( specu ation( phi osophica s$stem or doctrine. tarkika "tArkika& ' (ad+. %rom tarka! re ated to or be onging to ogic, (noun( ess common! ogician or phi osopher. tarpana "tarpaNa& ' satiating( re%reshing( process o% p easing (esp. o% gods via appropriate ceremon$!. tatastha "taTastha& ' a propert$ distinct %rom the nature o% the bod$ and $et that b$ which it is known. An e#amp e wou d be te ing someone that the house the$ are re%erring to in the street ahead is the one with the crow on the chimne$. The house is what the istener is interested in but the crow is a taTastha akShaNa( i.e. that b$ which it is known. tatratatra "tatratatra& ' ever$where (tatra on its own means *there( in that p ace( thither( on that occasion!. te+as "te+as& ' %ire (or ight! ) one o% the %ive e ements or pa6nchabh5ta. Associated with sight. tikka "TIkA& ' commentar$( esp on another commentar$( e.g. that b$ Anandagiri on Shankara*s commentar$ on 4audapada*s kArikA. tikshna "tIkShNa& ' sharp (o% the inte ect ) buddhi!. titiksha "titikShA& ' %orbearance or patience, one o% the /si# qua ities/ that %orm part o% Shankara*s chatuShTa$a sampatti. See chatushta$a sampatti( shamadi shatka sampatti. trika a "trikA a& ' the three times or tenses (past( present and %uture!. trika atita "trikA AtIta& ' that which transcends past( present and %uture (describing the Se %!. tripti "tRRipti& ' contentment( satis%action. triputi "tripuTI& ' three%o d (noun! used o% knower)known)act o% knowing( seer)seen)act o% seeing etc, (tripuTa is the ad+ective! triti$a "tRRitI$a& ' third. tucha "tuch;ha& ' empt$( vain( tri% ing( itt e, a so used in the sense o% *tota $ unrea *( c.%. prAtibhAsika. turi$a "turI$a& ' itera $ the /%ourth/ "state o% consciousness&. It re%ers to the non)dua rea it$( the background against which the other states (waking( dream and deep s eep! arise. It is our true nature. The other three states are mith$A. (I% de%ined mere $ as the highest /state/ then Ramana 0aharshi ca s our true nature *turi$atita* but this word is not encountered in the scriptures.! t$aga "t$Aga& ' renunciation. 5 30

Common Sanskrit technical terms ubha$a "ubha$a& ' itera $ both( in both wa$s( o% both kinds, having intermediar$ status. uchita "uchita& ' su%%icient( required. As in uchita desha kA a ) (ever$ ob+ect requires a certain amount o% space and duration %or it to be *rea * !. udaharana "udAharaNa& ' e#amp e( instance( i ustration. udana "udAna& ' one o% the %ive /vita airs(/ associated with the throat. 0ore genera $ re ates to the understanding that has been gained %rom past e#perience. upadana "upAdAna& ' itera $ /the act o% taking %or onese %/, used to re%er to the /materia cause/ in ogic (upAdAna karaNa!. upadesha "upadesha& ' instruction or teaching. 5padesha Sahasri "upadesha sAhasrI& ' /A Thousand Teachings/ ) book attributed to Shankara (with more certaint$ than most!. sAhasrika means /consisting o% a thousand./ upadhi "upAdhi& ' itera $( this means something that is put in p ace o% another thing, a substitute( phantom or disguise. In Fedanta( it is common $ re%erred to as a / imitation/ or / imiting ad+unct/ i.e. one o% the /identi%ications/ made b$ aha0kAra that prevents us %rom rea i<ing the Se %. upahita "upahita& ' depending upon, connected with. upamana "upamAna& ' comparison( resemb ance( ana og$. upanishad "upaniShad& ' one o% the (9QRJ! books %orming part (usua $ the end! o% one o% the %our Fedas. The parts o% the word mean: to sit (Shad! near a master (upa! at his %eet (ni!( so that the idea is that we sit at the %eet o% a master to isten to his words. 0onier)Ii iams (Re%. S! states that( /according to native authorities( upanishad means /setting at rest ignorance b$ revea ing the know edge o% the supreme spirit./ See Fedanta. uparama or uparati "uparama or uparati& ' desisting %rom sensua en+o$ment, /reve ing/ in that which is /near/ i.e. one*s own Se %, a so trans ated as %o owing one*s dharma or dut$, one o% the /si# qua ities/ that %orm part o% Shankara*s chatushta$a sampatti. See chatushta$a sampatti( shamadi shatka sampatti. upasaka "upAsaka& ' worshipper( %o ower( seeker. upasana "upAsana& ' worship( homage( waiting upon, itera $ the act o% sitting or being near to, sometimes used in the sense o% /meditation./ upashama "upashama& ' cessation( stopping( becoming quiet. "prapa6nchopashamam in the 0a. 5.& upa$a "upA$a& ' another term %or /path/ (see marga! ) that b$ which one reaches one*s aim( a means or e#pedient( wa$. ushman "5Shman& ' the Sanskrit term %or the sibi ants( sh( Sh and s( together with h. The word itse % itera $ means /heat( steam or vapour./ utkarsha "utkarSha& ' superior( eminent. uttama "uttama& ' uppermost( e#ce ent( highest. 5ttara 0imamsa "uttara mImA0sA& ' the Fedanta phi osoph$( based on the atter (uttara! part o% the Fedas rather than the ear ier (p5rva!. Its %ounder was 2adara$ana( who authored the 2rahmasutras. There are three main schoo s within this ) dvaita( advaita and vishiShTAdvaita. See 2rahmasutras( mimamsa( purvamimamsa( veda. 31

Common Sanskrit technical terms F vacharambhana or vaga ambana "vAchArambhaNa or vAgA ambana& ' depending on mere words or some mere $ verba di%%erence. Fachaspati "vAchaspati& ' name o% one o% the two schoo s o% Advaita( a%ter the phi osopher vAchaspati mishra. It is a so ca ed the bhAmatI schoo . The other schoo is the vivaraNa schoo . vach$artha "vAch$Artha& ' the direct $ e#pressed meaning ( itera description!( as opposed to akSh$Artha. vada "vAda& ' speech( proposition( discourse( argument( discussion( e#p anation or e#position (o% scriptures etc.!, dispute with the aim o% reaching the right conc usion( irrespective o% who *wins*. (Three t$pes o% disputation: +a pa( vitaN7a( vAda!. vaidarm$a "vaidharm$a& ' di%%erence( heterogeneit$. vaidharm$a "vaidharm$a& ' having di%%erent nature or qua ities, heterogeneit$. vaikhari "vaikharI& ' speech, the %ourth stage in the production o% sound. vaikuntha "vaikuNTha& ' heaven. vairag$a "vairAg$a& ' detachment or dispassion, indi%%erence to the p easure that resu ts %rom success or the disappointment that resu ts %rom %ai ure. >itera $ to be /deprived o%/ (vai! /passion or desire/ (rAga!. See sadhana( chatushta$a sampatti. vaisheshika "vaisheShika& ' one o% the si# c assica Indian Ehi osophies( a ater deve opment o% n$A$a b$ the theo ogian( Ganada, named a%ter the nine /essentia $ di%%erent substances/ be ieved to constitute matter. See darshana( vishesha. vaishvanara "vaishvAnara& ' the gross ph$sica condition( or waking state o% man (more usua $ known as vishva( the waker!. brahman / ocated in/ the bodi $ %orm. >itera $ means /re ating to or be onging to a men( universa ./ The word is a so used %or the macrocosmic eve ( virA+ or virAT. vaish$a "vaish$a& ' a working man( trader or %armer ) the third o% the traditiona %our castes in India. vaitath$a "vaitath$a& ' %a seness. Dquiva ent to mith$Atva. 5sed in second chapter o% 4audapada*s kArikA)s on 0a. 5. to e#p ain meaning o% prapa6nchopashamam in Hth mAntra. vak "vAch& ' speech( anguage sound, speech personi%ied as the 4oddess( wi%e o% pra+Apati ( ord o% creatures!. Fak$apadi$a "vAk$apadI$a& ' book on Sanskrit grammar( written b$ bhartRRihari. va i "va I& ' re ating to the sections o% particu ar 5panishads. vanaprastha "vanaprastha& ' the third stage o% the traditiona =indu spiritua path( in which the 2rahman retires %rom i%e and becomes a /%orest dwe er(/ iving as a hermit. Traditiona $ speaking( /a proper $ initiated dvi+a or twice)born./ See a so brahmachar$a( grihasta( san$asa. vand$a putra "vandh$A putra& ' itera $ *son o% a barren woman*, used in genera to re%er to an$thing that is imaginar$ or impossib e. vasana "vAsanA& ' itera $ /desiring/ or /wishing/ ) atent behaviora tendenc$ in one*s nature brought about through past action (karma! and the sa0skAra that resu ted %rom this. See karma( sanskara. Fasishta "vAsiShTha& ' epon$mous sage o% the /.oga Fasishta/ one o% the c assica 32

Common Sanskrit technical terms works o% Advaita. vastava "vAstava& ' substantia ( rea ( true. vastu "vastu& ' a thing that e#ists( ob+ect( sub+ect matter. Strict $ speaking( there is on $ one vastu ) Atman. Dver$thing e se is incidenta ) it comes and goes. 1n $ ;onsciousness is a wa$s there( intrinsic. vastu)tantra "vastu tantra& ' ob+ective( governed b$ rea it$ (as opposed to kartRRi)tantra or puruSha)tantra( the resu t o% *doing*!. va$u "vA$u& ' air (or wind! ) one o% the %ive e ements or pa6nchabh5ta. Associated with touch. veda "veda& ' know edge( but the word is norma $ on $ used to re%er to one o% the %our Fedas (see Fedanta! and vid$A is used %or know edge per se. See vid$a. Fedanta "vedAnta& ' itera $ /end/ or /cu mination/ (anta! o% know edge (veda! but veda in this conte#t re%ers to the %our Fedas( the =indu equiva ents o% the ;hristian bib e (ca ed Rig( RRig veda, Sama( sama veda, Atharva( atharva veda, .a+ur( $a+ur veda!. Traditiona $( the ast part o% the vedas (i.e. /end/! is devoted to the 5panishads. See upanishad. Fedantasara "vedAntasAra& ' itera $ /essence o% Fedanta/, a treatise on Fedanta b$ Sadananda .ogindra. vesha "veSha& ' dress( appare ( e#terior( assumed appearance etc., used in the sense o% the disguise or outward appearnace that concea s one*s true nature. vibhu "vibh5ti& ' a )pervading( omnipresent( eterna , might$( power%u , ord( ru er( soveriegn (a so app ied to 2rahma( Fishnu and Shiva!. vibhuti "vibh5ti& ' (Ad+.! pervading( abundant( power%u . (Noun! p ent$( abundance( superhuman power( sp endor( g or$( magni%icence, the ashes o% cow dung( smeared on the %orehead. (In devotiona ceremonies( a sma ba o% cow dung( together with a % ower is used to represent the god gaNesha to protect the house. A new ba is used each da$ and these are co ected and then burnt to produce the ash.! vichara "vichAra& ' consideration( re% ection( de iberation( investigation. vichAra mArga is trans ated as /7irect Eath/. videha "videha& ' ibodi ess( incorporea ( dead, videha mukti is de iverance b$ re ease %rom the bod$ (death!. vidhi "vidhi& ' %ormu a( in+unction( ru e( precept( aw, an$ prescribed act( rite or ceremon$, mode o% conduct or behavior. vid$a "vid$A& ' know edge( science( earning( phi osoph$ (as opposed to +6nAna( which rather re%ers to direct se %)know edge. Atma +6nAna!. Atma)vid$A or brahma)vid$A is the ob+ective know edge o% the Se % taught b$ the scriptures and guru. Fid$aran$a "vid$AraN$a& ' author o% the Eanchadashi. vi+ati "vi+Ati& ' itera $ be onging to another caste or tribe, dissimi ar or heterogeneous. vi+nana "vi+6nAna& ' discerning( understanding( comprehending, /right apprehension/ in the case o% nididh$Asana as opposed to dh$Ana. vi+6nAna vAda is the phi osophica theor$ o% Idea ism. vi+nanama$akosha "vi+6nAnama$akosha& ' the inte ectua sheath (one o% the %ive /coverings/ that surround our true essence!. vika pa "vika pa& ' doubt( uncertaint$ or indecision. 33

Common Sanskrit technical terms vikara "vikAra& ' trans%ormation( modi%ication( change o% %orm or nature. A so vikAratva ) the state o% change, and vikAravat ) undergoing changes. vikarma "vikarma& ' prohibited( un aw%u ) actions that must be avoided. vikshepa "vikShepa& ' the /pro+ecting/ power o% mA$A. In the rope)snake metaphor( this superimposes the image o% the snake upon the rope. See avarana( ma$a. vi akshana "vi akShaNa& ' di%%erent %rom, not admitting o% e#act de%inition. viparita "viparIta& ' reversed( inverted( perverse( wrong, contrar$, %a se( untrue. viparIta akShaNa is using a word in the opposite sense( i.e sarcasm. vipar$asa "vipar$Asa& ' imagining what is unrea or %a se to be rea or true, error backed b$ ignorance, se %)ignorance p us se %)de usion. vipar$a$a "vipar$a$a& ' error( misapprehension( mi#ing up the nature o% one thing with another or mistaking something to be the opposite o% what it actua $ is ( itera $ reversed( inverted!. vira+ or virat "virA+ or virAT& ' gross( macrocosmic equiva ent o% vishva (vaishvAnara! at the eve o% creation. virama "virAma& ' in Sanskrit( the diagona mark underneath a consonant to indicate that it is not to be sounded with a vowe a%ter it. The itera meaning is /cessation( termination or end./ (A consonants are sounded with *a* b$ de%au t( un ess indicated otherwise.! A consonant with such a mark is ca ed a ha anta consonant. (The term a so re%ers to the sing e vertica mark to indicate the end o% a sentence or sing e ine o% a verse o% poetr$.! virodha "virodha& ' opposition hosti it$, a ( ogica ! contradiction or inconsistenc$. visarga "visarga& ' this itera $ means /sending out/ or /emission./ In Sanskrit( it is represented as a= but is not actua $ a etter and does not occur on its own. Its e%%ect is to add a brie%( breathing out sound a%ter the vowe sound associated with a consonant, represented b$ two dots p aced to the right o% the associated etter. visha$a "viSha$a& ' ob+ect o% sensor$ perception, an$ sub+ect or topic, the sub+ect o% an argument. (not to be con%used with visha$a( with a pa ata *sh*( meaning *doubt or uncertaint$!. Ad+ective ) viSha$ika. vishesha (noun!,visheshana (ad+! "visheSha visheShaNa& ' itera $ /distinction/ or /di%%erence between/, particu ar or speci%ic. The Faisheshika phi osoph$ be ieves that the materia universe is made up o% nine substances( each o% which is /essentia $ di%%erent/ %rom an$ other. See Faisheshika.ad+ective ) distinguishing( speci%$ing( qua i%i$ing. vishesh$a "visheSh$a& ' (noun! that which is to be distinguished (%rom something e se!. vishishta "vishiShTa& ' distinguished( particu ar( e#ce ent (as in $oga vashiShTa!. vishishtadvaita "vishiShTAdvaita& ' qua i%ied non)dua ism, be ie% that 4od and the Atman are distinct but not separate. Ramanu+a is the scho ar most o%ten associated with this phi osoph$. See advaita( dvaita. vishvarupa "vishvar5pa& ' mani%o d( various. visva "vishva& ' the /waker ego/ in the waking state o% consciousness( +agrat. A so sometimes re%erred to as vaishvAnara. See a so tai+asa( pra+na. vitanda "vitaN7a& ' cavi ( %a acious controvers$( perverse or %rivo ous argument( criticism, argument pure $ %or the sake o% winning the point (three t$pes o% disputation: +a pa( vitaN7a( vAda!. 34

Common Sanskrit technical terms vivarana "vivaraNa& ' itera $ /e#p anation/ or /interpretation/, name o% one o% the two schoo s o% Advaita. The other schoo is the vAcaspati or bhAmati schoo . vivarta "vivarta& ' an apparent or i usor$ %orm, unrea it$ caused b$ avid$A. vivarta vada "vivarta vAda& ' the theor$ that the wor d is on $ an apparent pro+ection o% Ishvara (i.e. an i usion!. viveka "viveka& ' discrimination, the %unction o% buddhi( having the abi it$ to di%%erentiate between the unrea and the rea . See sadhana( chatushta$a sampatti. Fivekachudamani "vivekach57AmaNi& ' the tit e o% a book attributed to Shankara. ch57AmaNi is the name given to the +ewe worn on top o% the head. An Dng ish version o% the book is ca ed /The ;rest Newe o% 7iscrimination./ vritti "vRRitti& ' in the conte#t o% Fedanta( this means a menta disposition. In genera ( it can mean a mode o% conduct or behaviour( character or disposition( business or pro%ession etc. See aham vritti and idam vritti. v$akh$a "v$Akh$A& ' (v! to e#p ain in detai , (n! e#p anation( g oss( comment. v$akh$ata "v$Akh$Ata& ' name given to the successors o% Shankara( who commented on his interpretations and (o%ten! gave other interpretations. v$akta "v$akta& ' mani%ested( apparent( visib e( perceptib e to the senses as opposed to av$akta ) transcendenta . v$akti "v$akti& ' visib e appearance or mani%estation, speci%ic appearance( distinctness, an individua (as opposed to +Ati( the genus!. v$ana "v$Ana& ' one o% the %ive /vita airs(/ concerned with the circu ator$ s$stem. 0ore genera $( a udes to the discriminator$ %acu ties( eva uating and +udging etc. v$an+ana "v$a6n+ana& ' Sanskrit term %or a consonant( meaning a /decoration/ (o% the basic vowe sound!. v$apti "v$Apti& ' inseparab e presence o% one thing in another( invariab e concomitance (as in e.g. no smoke without %ire!. v$ashti "v$aShTi& ' the individua or /individua it$/ as opposed to the tota it$( samaShTi. v$atireka "v$atireka& ' distinction( di%%erence( separateness( separation( e#c usion, a separate or particu ar e#istence. >ogica discontinuance (in *anva$a v$atireka*!. v$atirikta "v$atirikta& ' separate( di%%erent or distinct %rom. v$avahara (noun! v$avaharika (ad+.! "v$avahAra v$AvahArika& ' the re ative( practica ( or phenomena wor d o% appearances, the norma wor d in which we ive and which we usua $ be ieve to be rea , as opposed to pAramArthika (rea it$! and prAtibhAsika (i usor$!. See paramarthika and pratibhasika. . $a+na "$a+6na& ' worship( devotion( sacri%ice( o%%ering. $ama "$ama& ' restraint. itera $( rein or brid e. There are %ive o% these %orming the %irst step o% Ra+a $oga ) ahi0sA( sat$am( brahmachar$a( aste$a and aparigraha. $atra$atra "$atra$atra& ' wherever ($atra on its own means *where( wherein( to which p ace( whither*!. $oga "$oga& ' itera $ /+oining/ or /attaching/ (our word /$oke/ derives %rom this!. It is used genera $ to re%er to an$ s$stem whose aim is to /+oin/ our /individua se %/ back to the /universa Se %./ The .oga s$stem pedantica $ re%ers to that speci%ied b$ Eatan+a i. See bhakti( +nana( karma. 35

Common Sanskrit technical terms $uga "$uga& ' one o% the %our ages in the c$c e o% creation. See ka pa( ka i $uga. $ugapat)srishti "$ugapatsRRiShTi& ' instantaneous creation( i.e. simu taneous with the perception o% it. $ugapad means /together( at the same time./ $ukti "$ukti& ' reasoning( argument( induction( deduction (as opposed to intuition ) anubhava!. $uta "$uta& ' united( combined( +oined, connected with( concerning( associated with. TTTTTT

36