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    Glossary
A
Adharma: Unrighteousness.
Agna: Spiritual commands/instructions.
Akshar: Eternal abode of Lord Swaminarayan. In its personal form, Akshar serves Purushottam in His abode and manifests as His choicest devotee on this earth.
Aksharbrahman: Akshar; Brahman.
Amrut: Nectar; immortal.
Anuvrutti: Innerfelt wish.
Atma: The pure soul.
Atmabuddhi: Oneness; deep attachment.
Atmajnan: Knowledge of one’s self as atma.
Atmanivedanam: Total sacrifice.
Atmarup: Oneness with Akshar; Brahmanised state.
Archa: Ritual of anointing or smearing.
Ashtang yoga: Eight steps of yoga culminating in the realisation of God through samadhi.
B
Bapa: Affectionate term used to refer to Yogiji Maharaj or Pramukh Swami Maharaj.
Bal mandal: Children’s group.
Balak: Child.
Bhajan: Devotional song; worship.
Bhakti: Devotion; path of devotion.
Brahman: Akshar; eternal abode of Lord Swaminarayan.
Brahmabhav: Consciousness of being one with Brahman.
Brahmajnan: The knowledge of Brahman.
Brahmarup: Oneness with Brahman.
Brahmavidya: The knowledge of Brahman.
D
Dasbhav: Feeling of servitude.
Dandavat: Prostration.
Darshan: Seeing; the sight or beholding of the deity or holy person with reverence or devotion.
Deh: Body.
Dehbhav: Consciousness that one is the body.
Deva: Demigod; deity.
Dharma: Righteousness; moral or social duty and law; code of ethical conduct; religion.
Dharmic: Pertaining to dharma.
Dhyan: Meditation; concentration.
Divyabhav: Divine attributes; seeing as divine.
E
Ekantik dharma: Composite religion of Dharma, Jnan, Vairagya and Bhakti.
G
Ghar sabha: Home assembly.
Gunas: Qualities referring to Sattva (goodness), Rajas (passion) and Tamas (darkness).
Gunatit: State beyond the three gunas or qualities.
J
Jnan: Knowledge of the self or God.
Jnan pralay: State of ultimate realisation.
Jnan samadhi: The supreme knowledge of God, culminating in the constant realisation of God.
Japa: Mantra recitation.
Jiva: One of the five eternal entities; soul.
K
Kal: Time.
Kam: Lust; carnal desires.
Kaliyug: The fourth and present age of the world.
Katha: Scriptural discourses.
Khichadi: Hotchpotch
Kirtan: Religious hymn; devotional song.
Kishore: Teenager.
Krupa: Grace.
M
Mahima: Glory; greatness.
Mala: Rosary used when reciting the Lord’s name.
Malvu: Embracing
Mandal: Satsang centre.
Mandir: Temple.
Mantra: Revered word(s) or syllable or hymn recited during worship and meditation.
Maya: One of the five eternal entities; the power of God responsible for creating attachment towards the body and its relations.
Moksha: Ultimate salvation or liberation from the fetters of maya.
Murti: Image of the deity installed in a temple for worship; a picture or statue.
N
Naimisharanya Kshetra: A famed sacred place of penance in Uttar Pradesh where one can gain much spiritual progress.
Nirgun: Devoid of attributes; divine.
Nirakar: Formless; devoid of all forms evolved from maya.
Nirvikalpa Samadhi: The highest state of realisation where only the undisturbed bliss of God is experienced.
Nischay: Conviction of the form of God.
Niyam: Moral habit or rule.
P
Parabrahman: The supreme God; Lord Swaminarayan.
Paramhansa: Highest stage of ascetic renunciation.
Paramatma: God.
Parshad: First stage of initiation into the ascetic life; a renunciate wearing white clothing.
Pradakshina: Circumambulation.
Pragat: Manifest; present.
Pramukh: President.
Prasadi: Sanctified food from that offered to the deity.
Prem: Love.
Puja: Act of worship or adoration; ritual and prayer offered at home or in the temple.
Punya: A measure of righteous deed; merit.
Purushottam: The supreme God; Lord Swaminarayan.
R
Rotlo: Unleavened flat bread.
S
Sakshatkar: God-realisation.
Sabha: Assembly.
Sadhana: Religious practice or discipline; spiritual endeavour.
Sadhak: An aspirant walking on the spiritual path.
Sadhu: Holy man who has renounced the world; ascetic; Satpurush.
Sadhvi: Female ascetic/renunciate.
Samagam: Spiritual association or company.
Samadhi: State of trance.
Sankhya yogi: Dedicated female devotees practising full time devotion.
Sanstha: Religious community; usually refers to Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Sanstha.
Satpurush: Saint who has constant and total rapport with God; God-realised Saint.
Satsang: Holy Fellowship; religious group or gathering; association with sadhus and devotees.
Satsangi: Member of the Satsang.
Seva: Voluntary service.
Sevak: Servant.
Shangar: Decoration.
Shanti: Peace.
Swarup: Form.
T
Taltumbadiya Shastri: A story often told by Yogiji Maharaj to help lagging students. A dull Sanskrit student found it hard to memorise certain phrases. He hit upon an idea. He would say the phrase and throw a sesame seed (tal) into a gourd (tumbadi). He would repeat the phrase and throw another seed in, and so on. In this way he became a Sanskrit scholar (Shastri).
Tapa: Austerities.
Tej: Divine light.
Tilak chandlo: Imprint applied on forehead by Satsangis.
U
Upasana: Mode or doctrine of worship.
V
Vairagya: Detachment; indifference or aversion to worldly pleasures.
Vato: Discourses, katha

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