Reference
Glossary
The words you will hear in a temple or read on these pages, explained in a sentence, with an approximate English pronunciation (stressed syllable in capitals).
A
- Ācāryasay “ah-CHAR-ya”
- A teacher who teaches by example. Used for the great teachers of a lineage.
- Āratisay “AH-ra-tee”
- A ceremony of worship in which incense, a lamp, water, cloth and flowers are offered before the altar while everyone sings.
- Ātmāsay “AHT-mah”
- The soul: the conscious, eternal self who lives in the body. See Philosophy.
- Avatārasay “a-va-TAH-ra”
- “The one who descends”. Each of God’s appearances in the world.
B
- Bhagavānsay “BHUG-a-vahn”
- God in person; “the one who possesses every perfection”.
- Bhagavad-gītāsay “BHUG-a-vud GEE-tah”
- “The song of the Lord”. The conversation between Krishna and Arjuna. See The Bhagavad-gītā.
- Bhajansay “BHUJ-un”
- A devotional song sung seated and with recollection.
- Bhaktasay “BHUK-ta”
- A devotee; someone who practises bhakti.
- Bhaktisay “BHUK-tee”
- Devotion: loving service to God. See Bhakti-yoga.
- Brahmacārīsay “brah-ma-CHAH-ree”
- A celibate student who lives in the temple. He wears saffron.
C
- Caitanya Mahāprabhusay “chai-TUN-ya ma-HAH-pra-bhoo”
- Bengali teacher (1486–1534) who spread the chanting of God’s names. His followers consider Him Krishna Himself.
D
- Darśanasay “DAR-shun”
- “Seeing”. The moment of beholding the sacred images on the altar.
- Deity
- The form of Krishna worshipped on the altar. For a devotee it is not a symbol: God agrees to be present in it in order to receive service.
- Dharmasay “DHAR-ma”
- Duty, and also the inherent nature of something. The eternal dharma of the soul is to serve God.
- Dhotīsay “DHO-tee”
- A traditional men’s garment: a long cloth wrapped around the waist.
E
- Ekādaśīsay “ay-KAH-da-shee”
- The eleventh day of each lunar fortnight. Grains and pulses are avoided. See the calendar.
G
- Gauḍīyasay “GOW-dee-ya”
- The branch of Vaishnavism that comes from Caitanya Mahāprabhu. The name comes from Gauḍa, Bengal.
- Gopīsay “GO-pee”
- A cowherd girl of Vrindavan. The gopīs are the highest model of love for Krishna.
- Guṇasay “GOO-na”
- Each of the three modes of nature: goodness, passion and ignorance.
- Gurusay “GOO-roo”
- A spiritual teacher. They hand on the teaching just as they received it from their own teacher.
H
- Harināmasay “ha-ree-NAH-ma”
- “The name of Hari”. The public chanting of the names of God.
I
- ISKCON
- The International Society for Krishna Consciousness, founded by Prabhupāda in 1966. See What is Hare Krishna.
J
- Japasay “JUP-a”
- Reciting the mantra alone and softly, counting on beads. See The japa mala.
- Jīvasay “JEE-va”
- The individual soul.
K
- Kali-yugasay “KA-lee YOO-ga”
- The present age, the fourth in a cycle of four, marked by quarrel. For it, the chanting of God’s names is recommended.
- Karatālassay “ka-ra-TAH-las”
- Small bronze hand cymbals that keep the rhythm in kirtan.
- Karmasay “KAR-ma”
- Action, and the reaction every action produces. See Philosophy.
- Kīrtansay “KEER-tun”
- Group singing of the names of God. See What is kirtan.
M
- Mahā-mantrasay “ma-HAH MUN-tra”
- “The great mantra”: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.
- Mantrasay “MUN-tra”
- A sacred sound that frees the mind.
- Māyāsay “MAH-yah”
- “That which is not”. The illusion that makes the soul forget who it is.
- Mṛdaṅgasay “mri-DUNG-a”
- A two-headed drum that accompanies kirtan.
P
- Paramparāsay “pa-rum-pa-RAH”
- The succession from teacher to disciple through which the teaching is handed down.
- Prabhupādasay “PRABH-oo-pah-da”
- A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda (1896–1977), founder of ISKCON.
- Prasādamsay “pra-SAH-dum”
- “Mercy”. Food offered to Krishna. See Prasādam.
- Premasay “PRAY-ma”
- Pure love for God; the goal of bhakti.
- Pūjāsay “POO-jah”
- Worship, a ceremony of offering.
R
- Rādhāsay “RAH-dhah”
- Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, Krishna’s eternal companion and devotion in person.
S
- Sādhanasay “SAH-dha-na”
- Daily, regulated spiritual practice.
- Saṁsārasay “sum-SAH-ra”
- The cycle of birth and death.
- Saṅkīrtanasay “sun-KEER-tun”
- Congregational chanting of the names of God.
- Sannyāsīsay “sun-YAH-see”
- A monk who has renounced family life to devote himself to teaching.
- Śrīmad-Bhāgavatamsay “SHREE-mud BHAH-ga-va-tum”
- A scripture in twelve cantos that tells of God’s appearances and the lives of His devotees. Also called the Bhāgavata Purāṇa.
T
- Tilakasay “TI-la-ka”
- A clay mark Vaishnavas apply to the forehead and eleven other places on the body.
- Tulasīsay “TOO-la-see”
- Sacred basil, a plant very dear to Krishna. Japa beads are made from its wood.
V
- A devotee of Vishnu or Krishna. See What is Vaishnavism.
- Vedassay “VAY-das”
- The oldest scriptures of India.
- Vrindavansay “vrin-DAH-vun”
- The village in northern India where Krishna spent His childhood. It is the Vaishnavas’ main place of pilgrimage.
Y
- Yogasay “YO-ga”
- “Union”. The link of the soul with God, and the paths that lead to it.