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Satsang Glossary


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Padma Purãn
One of the 18 Purãns. Scripture of 55,000 verses describing the process of creation, the world, swarg, pãtãl and also the seat of Brahmã, the lotus – called ‘padma’ in Sanskrit. Considered to have been infiltrated by unfounded scholars with several concocted verses, thus rendering it unauthoritative
Pãdma-kalp
Period of time during the process of creation when Marichi and others jivas are given their respective bodies by God {Gadhada I-13.3}. Measuring one of Brahmã’s days, i.e., 4.32 x 109 human years.
pãgh
Long, thin piece of cloth tied around the head like a turban to form a traditional headdress.
pakhwãj
Type of mrudang or double-sided drum. Traditional Indian percussion instrument with a deep, mellow sound, played to supply rhythm in the singing of devotional songs.
pal
Duration of time equaling approximately 24 seconds.
Panchrãtra Tantra
Sacred scripture of the Vaishnavs composed by Vãsudev Bhagwãn serving as authority regarding rites and rituals, mandir construction, etc. Revered by Vaishnavs on par with the Vedas, i.e., considered as being ‘revealed’ (Shruti) rather than ‘remembered’ (Smruti).
panchvishays
The five types of objects in which the jiva indulges via the indriyas – i.e., various sights, sounds, smells, tastes and touches. See: vishay.
Parabrahma
‘Supreme Brahma’, God. Also called Paramãtmã or Parabrahma. Highest of the five eternal entities – transcending even Brahma. See: Purushottam. See also other four eternal entities: jiva, ishwar, mãyã, and Akshar.
Paramãtmã
‘Supreme being’, God. Also called Parabrahma or Purushottam. Highest of the five eternal entities – transcending even Akshar. See: Purushottam. See also other four eternal entities: jiva, ishwar, mãyã, and Akshar.
Param-Bhãgwat
Ideal devotee of God, referring to the Satpurush. See: Satpurush.
Param-Bhãgwat
Sant Ideal sãdhu of God, referring to the Satpurush. See: Satpurush.
Param-Ekãntik Sant
Ideal ekãntik sãdhu of God, referring to the Satpurush. See: Satpurush.
paramhansa
‘Supreme swan’. A male sãdhu of the highest order, characterised by his ability to discriminate between sat and asat – just as swans were traditionally considered to be able to distinguish between milk mixed with water. Traditionally, they renounce not only worldly pursuits but also all religious accessories such as rites, symbols and objects – daily worship, chãndlo, kanthi, etc. – and lead a life of traveling and preaching. In the time of Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, there was an illustrious band of 2,000 learned, talented and saintly sãdhus of which 500 were initiated into the paramhansa order. These were later re-initiated as sãdhus and had returned to performing all traditional religious rites and rituals, but were still known as paramhansas.
parãrdh
Duration of time equaling 1 x 1017 human years.
Parãshar Smruti
One of the principal ancient Smruti scriptures. Ascribed to Parãshar Rishi, father of Vyãs. See also: Smrutis .
pãrasmani
“Philosophers’ stone”. Magical gem that turns iron into gold.
pãrshad
Male renunciant in the time of Bhagwãn Swãminãrãyan, similar to a sãdhu, but one whose niyams were not as stringent; i.e., they observed brahmacharya in general but were allowed to talk with women, were allowed to touch money but not keep it for themselves, etc. Most pãrshads shaved their heads like other sãdhus but wore a white – not saffron – dhotiyu and upper garment. See also: sãdhu.
pãtãl
Collective term for the region of realms below Mrutyulok.
Pãtãl
Lowest realm in the 14-realm system of a brahmãnd, where serpents reside.
pingalã
nãdi Nerve or channel of a masculine nature transmitting intellectual and mental energy within the inner body of a person, where the current of energy flows upward and ends on the right side of the body. One of the three major nãdis.
Posh
Seventh month of the Ãshãdhi Samvat year, normally beginning between December and January.
Pradhãn
Pradhãn-Prakruti. See: Pradhãn-Prakruti.
Pradhãn-Prakruti
Prakruti half of the Pradhãn-Purush pair, ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Also called simply Pradhãn.
Pradhãn-Purush
One of the countless pairs of Pradhãn-Prakruti and Purush (2nd definition) – ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Subsequently, from each pair of Pradhan-Purushes, the 24 elements2 are created, and in turn, the jivas and ishwars receive their respective bodies.
prãgna
Term for the jivãtmã when in the state of deep sleep, i.e., when it is conscious of its kãran body.
prakruti
Refers to chaitanya prakruti and/or jad prakruti. See: chaitanya prakruti and jad prakruti.
Prakruti
1) ‘Primal nature’. Divine energy or instrument of God that initiates the creation process by being ‘impregnated’ by Purush – also called Mul-Purush, Mahã-Purush, or Akshar-Purush – and from which countless pairs of Pradhãns and Purushes are ‘conceived’ for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Taken to be feminine in nature, she is composed of the three gunas, is both jad and chaitanya, eternal, nirvishesh, and in her dormant state houses all jivas and all elements {Gadhada I-12}. Also called Mul-Prakruti, Mul-mãyã, and even mahãmãyã. See also: mãyã.
2) Also refers to Pradhãn-Prakruti {e.g., Gadhada I-46}.
Prakruti-Purush
The pair of Mul-Prakruti and Mul-Purush, from which countless pairs of Pradhãns and Purushes are formed for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Also called Mul-Prakruti-Purush.
prãkruti-pralay
1) ‘General dissolution’. Destruction of the body of Virãt-Purush, i.e., of all 14 realms of one brahmãnd, and the absorption of Pradhãn-Purush and the 24 elements 2 including mahattattva into mahãmãyã, i.e., Mul-Prakruti {Gadhada I-12, Bhugol-Khagol.13}. This occurs when the two-parãrdh lifespan of Virãt-Purush has elapsed {Amdavad-2}. See also the other three types of dissolution: nitya-pralay, nimitta-pralay and ãtyantik-pralay.
pranav
The three-syllable – ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’ – sound known as Aum, also often spelled as OM. A transformed form of the divine, transcendental vibration emanated at the moment of first creation, and from which all other sounds, and ultimately the sacred Vedas, come forth.
prãnãyãm
‘Controlling the prãns’. Fourth of the eight steps of ashtãng-yoga, entailing controlling of prãns through breathing exercises leading to the quietening of the chitt in preparation for concentration.
prãns
‘Vital airs’, derived from verb-root ‘pran’– to breathe. Collective term referring to the principle life force or energy flowing within the primary life-currents of the body, called vãyus, which control crucial bodily functions. There are five main vãyus:
(1) prãn – exhaled breath
(2) apãn – inhaled breath
(3) samãn – equalising breath
(4) udãn – ascending breath
(5) vyãn – retrained breath
and five subordinate vãyus: (1) nãg, (2) kurma, (3) kukal, (4) devadatta, and (5) dhananjãy.
prãrabdha
Prãrabdha karmas. Often loosely taken to mean fate or destiny. See also: prãrabdha karmas and karma.
prãrabdha karmas
‘Deeds whose consequences are already set in motion’. The portion of the stock of karmas (sanchit karmas) that are presently bearing fruit, based on the principle of past deeds shaping present events. Prãrabdha karmas influence the nature of one’s body and associations {e.g., Gadhada I-13}, prevailing circumstances {e.g., Gadhada III-37, Loyã-17}, and even personal inclinations. Also referred to as simply prãrabdha. See also: prãrabdha and karma.
prasãd
Sanctified food, blessed and consecrated by having been offered to God.
pratyãhãr
‘Withdrawal’. Fifth of the eight steps of ashtãng-yoga, entailing withdrawing of consciousness from oneself to engage in a higher consciousness.
pravrutti
1) ‘Activity’. Activity in the form of social duties and affairs. In this sense, often used to refer to the path of a householder.
2) Can also encompass all forms of activities and responsibilities – even religious activities such as serving in the mandir, attending to devotees of God, etc. – i.e., emphasising devotion and service rather than mere contemplation and meditation.
pravrutti dharma
‘Dharma characterised by pravrutti’. Path of activity. See: pravrutti.
pruthvi
1) ‘Earth’ or solid matter. One of the five gross elements, from which the sthul body of Virãt-Purush, i.e., the physical world, is formed. By nature, it supports all jivas, and in the form of a celestial body, is their place of residence. It separates ãkãsh and the other four bhuts, and gives a physical form to all life forms {Gadhada I-12}. See also: mahãbhuts.
2) Also used to mean earth.
Punam
‘Full-moon’ day signifying the central day of a lunar month, i.e., the 15th day of the bright half of an Indian calendar month.
Purãns
‘Ancient’. Set of 18 scriptures recording ancient Hindu narratives incorporating ethical and spiritual teachings, most popular of which is the Shrimad Bhãgwat Purãn. The other 17 Purãns are, namely: the Brahma Purãn, Padma Purãn, Vishnu Purãn, Vãyu Purãn, Nãrad Purãn, Mãrkandeya Purãn, Agneya Purãn, Bhavishya Purãn, Brahma-Vaivart Purãn, Ling Purãn, Varãh Purãn, Skand Purãn, Vãman Purãn, Kurma Purãn, Matsya Purãn, Garud Purãn, and Brahmãnd Purãn. Forms a portion of the Smrutis.
Purush
Satpurush. See: Satpurush.
Purush
1) An akshar-mukta selected by Aksharbrahma to ‘impregnate’ Prakruti for the creation process, from which countless pairs of Pradhãns and Purushes are formed for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd. Taken to be masculine in nature, he possesses a divine body, is the controller of Prakruti, and is also distinct from her, is indivisible, without a beginning, without an end, self-luminous, omniscient, satya, kshetragna, and the cause of the activities of all objects that possess a form {Gadhada I-12, Gadhada II-31}. Also called Mahã-Purush, Mul-Purush or Akshar-Purush.
2) Purush half of the Pradhãn-Purush pair, ‘conceived’ by Mul-Purush and Mul-Prakruti for the creation and sustenance of each brahmãnd.
purushãrths
‘Pursuits’. Collective term for the four goals legitimately pursued by all Hindus, namely: dharma (duties), arth (material wealth), kãm (desires), and ultimately, ‘moksh’ (liberation) {Amdavad-5.11}.
Purushãvatãr
Physical world, or a brahmãnd, which is, in fact, human in form – possessing hands, feet, etc. – but beyond visualisation because of its immense size {Gadhada I-63.10}. Also known as Virãt-Purush. See: Virãt-Purush.
Purushottam
‘Supreme being’, God. God, according to Shriji Mahãrãj, is: one and unparalleled, omnipotent and the all-doer, omniscient, omnipresent, the reservoir of all forms of bliss, devoid of any attributes of mãyã (i.e., divine), replete with all forms of redemptive attributes, always manifesting on Earth, and always with a human form. Also called Parabrahma or Paramãtmã. Highest of the five eternal entities – transcending even Akshar. See also other four eternal entities: jiva, ishwar, mãyã, and Akshar
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© 2003, Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, Swaminarayan Aksharpith
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