| Glossary (showing records 1 - 20 of 185) |   |
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| Aapad Dharma | Permitted relaxation of religious restrictions, written in the scriptures, for extreme calamities and times of adversity. [>>] |
| Achamanam | Sipping of pure water three times, a ritual used on commencing religious ceremonies for self-purification. [>>] |
| Acharya | Spiritual leader and teacher of a particular Hindu sect; establisher of a religious doctrine or a school of philosophy; the head of a Sampradaya. [>>] |
| Akshar | 1) 'Imperishable'. Second-highest of the five eternal entities; i.e., transcends everything except Purushottam. Also referred to as Aksharbrahma or Brahma. See also the other four eternal entities: Jiva, Ishwar, Maya, and Purushottam.
2) In his personal form, Akshar serves Purushottam in His abode, Akshardham, and manifests as His ideal devotee, the Satpurush, on earth. Both forms are human in appearance.
3) In his impersonal form, Akshar is the abode of Purushottam, called Akshardham.
4) In his all-pervading anvay form, Akshar is called Chidakash {Gadhada I-21; I-46; I-65}. [>>] |
| Akshar-mukta | A Jiva that has attained ultimate liberation and resides forever in Akshardham. [>>] |
| Akshardham | The highest abode. The divine abode of Purushottam Bhagwan Swaminarayan, where He is forever seated before countless Muktas, who have attained qualities similar to those of Akshar {Gadhada I-21}. The impersonal form of Akshar. [>>] |
| Amas | 'No-moon' day signifying the last day of a lunar month. [>>] |
| Artha | Second of the four Purusharthas, related to wealth, power, material gain or prosperity acquired by legitimate means. [>>] |
| Arti | Hindu ritual of waving lighted wicks before the Murti of God as an act of worship. [>>] |
| Asana | 1) 'Seat'; Yogic sitting posture. 2) Third of the eight steps of Ashtanga Yoga, entailing physical exercises of postures for soundness of body, which promotes concentration. [>>] |
| Asat-Shudra | The lower labourer class of men according to the Vedic system of social divisions. See 'Varna'. [>>] |
| Ashadha | A month of the Indian Calender, normally beginning between June and July. [>>] |
| Ashtanga Yoga | System of Yoga comprising eight progressive steps leading ultimately to Yoga. See also 'Yam', 'Niyam', 'Asana', 'Pranayam', 'Pratyahar', 'Dharna', 'Dhyan', and 'Samadhi'. [>>] |
| Atal | Seventh realm of a Brahmand, where demons reside. [>>] |
| Atharva Veda | Fourth Vedas dealing with knowledge of science. See Vedas. [>>] |
| Atma | The pure soul, distinct from any traces of Maya. [>>] |
| Atmanivedi | One who offers Atmanivedanam, the ninth type of Bhakti. [>>] |
| Bhadrapada | A month of the Indian Calender, normally beginning between August and September. [>>] |
| Bhagawan | The Supreme God. [>>] |
| Bhakta | Ardent devotee practising 'Bhakti' [>>] |
