Previous NextSaḿskrta Glossary date N/A Published in: Discourses on the Mahábhárata Notes: official source: Discourses on the Mahábhárata this version: is the printed Discourses on the Mahábhárata, 2nd edition, version (obvious spelling, punctuation and typographical mistakes only may have been corrected). I.e., this is the most up-to-date version as of the present Electronic Edition. Acarya – Teacher by example, especially a spiritual teacher. Aksema – Adversity. Avidya Tantra – The negative side of Tantra, wherein _psycho-spiritual power is used for crude purposes. Cadar – Loose wrapper used as a cover for the upper body. Caturvarga – Literally, “four classes”; the four basic kinds of _mental drives of human beings. Catuspathii – An ancient education centre oriented towards the _teaching of Saḿskrta literature. Dharma – Spirituality; the path of righteousness in social _affairs. Dharma Sádhaná – Spiritual practice as a way of life. Dharmika Sádhaná – Spiritual practice, not necessarily of a _deeper nature. Dhyana – Meditation in which the psyche is directed toward _consciousness; the seventh limb of Astauṋga Yoga. Garam Masala – Hot spices. Gopa – Cowherd,a devotee of Parama Puruśa. Guru – Spiritual master: in ancient days any schoolteacher was _also considered a guru. Jama – Any kind of stitched shirt. Jiiva – Individual living being. Jiivátma – Unit consciousness, the consciousness of a living being. Kamiij – Collarless stitched shirt. Kaola – A practitioner of Tantra who has succeeded in raising _the kundalinii. Kapha – See Vayu, pitta, kapha and rakta. Ksatriya – One of the ancient social divisions – those who were _devoted to the defense of the country. Ksema – Well-being. Kurta – Long-sleeved collarless shirt. Muni – A saintly person devoted to intellectual pursuits. Niiti – Morality. Nirguna Bhakti – Non-attributional devotion. Pandita – Literally, “one on the path of self-knowledge”; a _Saḿskrta scholar. Papa – Sin. Parama Puruśa – Supreme Consciousness. Paramashiva – Supreme Consciousness. Paramatman – Supreme Consciousness in the role of witness of Its _own Macro-psychic conation. Payjama – Loose pants. Piitha – Controlling point. Pitta – See Vayu, pitta, kapha and rakta. Polao – A food made of fine rice, ghee and Spices. Prakrti – Cosmic Operative Principle. Purohit – Priest. Puruśottama – Cosmic Nucleus. Rakta – See Vayu, pitta, kapha and rakta. Rśi – Sage; also, one who, by inventing new things, broadens _the path of progress of human society. Ruti – Flat bread made from whole-wheat flour. Sádhaka – Spiritual practitioner. Saguna Bhakti – Attributional devotion. Satya – “Satya” has no English synonym. “Parahitarthe _vaungmanasa yatharthatattvam satyam,” i.e., “The right spirit in _the use of words and actions, with the intention of welfare, is _satya.” Satya may be different from rta (literal truth). For a _clearer understanding of satya and rta, please refer to the book _A Guide to Human Conduct. Shakta – A follower of the Shakti cult, the branch of Tantra in _which Shakti, Cosmic Operative Principle, is the pivotal point. Sádhaná – Intuitional practice. Shaeva Tantrik – A follower of the Shiva cult, the branch of _Tantra in which Shiva is the pivotal point. Shastra – Scripture. Shloka – A Saḿskrta couplet expressing one idea. Shúdra – One of the ancient social divisions – those who were _devoted to physical labour. Tantra – Supreme spiritual science as propounded by Lord Shiva. _It emphasizes courageous vigour, both in internal meditation and _external action to overcome all fears and weaknesses. Vaeshya – One of the ancient social divisions – those who were _devoted to making money through trade, commerce or agriculture. Vaesnava – A follower of the Visnu cult, the branch of Tantra in _which Visnu is the pivotal point. Varga – Literally, “class”: one of the four kinds of basic _mental drives of human beings. Varna – Literally, “colour”; a social division, whether based on _underlying psychological reality, or, as in casteism, based on _heredity. See also Ksatriya, Shúdra, Vaeshya, Vipra. Vayu, Pitta, Kapha and Rakta – Vayu comprises (1) the ten basic _energy flows in the body, performing specific functions; (2) the _gas that is created in the digestive tract, lungs, etc., when the _energy flows become distorted. Pitta is the expression of the _luminous (fire) factor in the human body, responsible for _digestion and preservation of body heat. Examples of Pitta are _the liver bile and pancreatic juice. Kapha denotes mucus, phlegm, _and all physical factors such as some factors of the blood which _tend to create mucus. Rakta is blood. Vihara – Monastery Vipra – One of the ancient social divisions – those who were _devoted to scholarship. date N/A -- Source: Discourses on the Mahábhárata // Saḿskrta Glossary Published in: Discourses on the Mahábhárata Release: Electronic edition version 9.0.19