Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

Deb said:
“I do come here to read but don't comment much.  I think that the terminology gets in my way a bit. ”

So, I am going to try to use non-Sanskrit terms to some extent. But also make a glossary here, in words we can all understand. The point here, is that we are sharing universal truths, so we should do it universal language–and here, it is English!

 I will also use English words  in my posts with the sanskrit in parentheses so that better communication results. I hope no Sanskrit scholars sensibilities are harmed in this kind of communication!!! Much as Mandarin-speaking Tao scholars may wince at one interpretation over another. [was the Tao written in Mandarin, I wonder!]

The reason I will also show the Sanskrit is because I have seen friends, who did not understand a word of Sanskrit , go into raptures just hearing the sounds. There is something transcending in the sounds of this ancient language.

THIS IS MY INTERPRETATION. Sanmugan is a Sanskrit scholar, and will correct me if I'm wrong. I hope he will also add simple explanations here, of words as they come up in the Amrita Bindu Upanishad.


Amrita [pronounced um-rita with a soft 't'] - Nectar
Bhajan - [pronounced bhe-junn] devotional songs- can take one into a trance state of devotion to God
Bindu - [pron. bindoo] Drops
Brahman- [pron. bruhmun] the source of creation, the Oneness, Primal energy.
Japa - [pron. jup]chanting; with or without beads; can take one into a meditative state
Mantra -[ pron. muntraa - soft 't']  a word or words strung together that are felt to have an integral vibration.

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

Beautiful…thank you Meenakshi.

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

I beg your kindness as to not to call me a sanskrit scholar, as i did that as a subject for my GCE Advaced level examination. I am very much interested in it . That is all. Some people call it a dead language but in my view point it is not such.There are people who can easily talk and lecture in that language. If you wish to learn sanskrit, ther is a pod for that available in Gaia.

I prefer name instead of mantra, names of deities become short and easy to repeat, mantras are usually long even though there are exceptional ones too.

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

Sanmugan, I think you are being modest; as you are after all, still studying Sanskrit and that is what a scholar does! But I will respect your wish and not name you a Sanskrit scholar.

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms-OM

OM- also called Omkar or Aum. that which sustains everything . The Mandukya Upanishad is entirely devoted to the explanation of the syllable. Beyond the meaning of the sound, which begins most sacred texts; is the vibration that clarifies and centers energy.

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms:English words

Words in English that are derived from Sanskrit.

Asana 

from Sanskrit āsanam which means “seat”, a term describing yoga postures.

Ashram 

ultimately from Sanskrit āsramah, a religious hermitage. 

Avatar 

from Sanskrit avatarana, which means “descent”.

Bhagavad-Gita 

from Sanskrit, which means “song of the sublime”

Bhakti 

from Sanskrit bhakti, which means “loyalty”

Brahma 

from Sanskrit brahmā, which means “a prayer”. 

Brahman 

from Sanskrit brāhmana. 

Brahmin 

from Sanskrit brahmana-s, from brahman.

Chakra 

from Sanskrit cakra, which means “a circle, a wheel”

Deva, Diva 

from Sanskrit deva, which means “a god”. Diva means day like in divakara, sun who makes the day.

Devi 

from Sanskrit devi, which means “a goddess”. ^[

Dharma 

from Sanskrit, which means “law, justice”

Guru 

via Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit guru-s, which means “a teacher”

Himalaya 

from Sanskrit himalayah, which means “place of snow”.

Hindi 

from Hindi Hind, via Persian Hindu “Sind” ultimately from Sanskrit sindhu, which means “a river”. 

Hindu 

via Persian Hindu ultimately from Sanskrit sindhu, which means “a river”

Karma 

from Sanskrit karman, which means “work, fate”

Maharishi 

from Sanskrit maha-rishi, which means “a great sage”. 

Mahatma 

from Sanskrit mahatman, which means “a great breath, soul”.

Mandala 

from Sanskrit mandala, which means “a disc, circle”

Mantra 

from Sanskrit mantra-s which means “a holy message or text”.

Maya 

from Sanskrit māyā, a religious term related with illusion. ^[112]

Moksha 

from Sanskrit moksha, liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. ^[115]

Namaste 

through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit namas-te, which means “bowing to you”. ^[121]

Nirvana 

from Sanskrit nirvana-s which means “extinction, blowing out”. ^[127]

Pundit 

ultimately from Sanskrit payndita-s via Hindi payndit, which means “a learned man, teacher”. ^[145]

Raj 

through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit rājā, which means “a king”. Raj means kingdom or domain of a ruler. ^[151]

Rajah 

through Hindi from Sanskrit rājān, which means “a king”. ^[152]

Rama 

from Sanskrit Ramah, which means “pretty”. ^[153]

Sadhu 

ultimately from Sanskrit sādhu. ^[163]

Samsara 

from Sanskrit samsAra, which means “passing through”. ^[167]

Sandal 

via Old French and Arabic ultimately from Sanskrit candanam, this is the word sandalwood, not related to sandals which is a type of footwear. ^[168]

Sangha 

from Sanskrit saṅgha, a community of Buddhist monks and nuns. ^[170]

Sanskrit 

from Sanskrit samskrtam “put together, well-formed”. ^[171]

Sattva 

from Sanskrit sattvah, which means “truth”. ^[176]

Shaman 

through Russian from Tungus shaman, perhaps from Chinese sha men, via Prakrit finally from Sanskrit sramana-s “a Buddhist monk”. ^[177]

Swastika 

from Sanskrit svastika, which means “one associated with well-being, a lucky charm”. ^[197]

Veda 

from Sanskrit veda, which means “knowledge, holy book”. ^[199]

Yoga 

through Hindi ultimately from Sanskrit yoga-s, which means “yoke, union”. ^[206]

Yogi 

through Hindi yogi from Sanskrit yoga, one who practices yoga or ascetic. ^[207]

Zen 

through Japanese and Chinese ch'an ultimately from Sanskrit dhyana, which means “a meditation”. ^[208]

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

[For Tattva-Boddha or The Awakening to Reality]
Source: Online Sanskrit Dictionary
Tattva - true or real state , truth , reality

bodha  knowing , understanding, waking , becoming or being awake , consciousness, the opening of blossom , bloom
viveka  discrimination , distinction,true knowledge , discretion , right judgment , the faculty of distinguishing and classifying things according to their real properties,the power of separating the invisible Spirit from the visible world (or spirit from matter , truth from untruth , reality from mere semblance or illusion)
virAga  passionless , without feeling , dispassionate , indifferent, stoic
sampatti prosperity , welfare , good fortune , success , accomplishment , fulfilment

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

[For Tattva-Boddha or The Awakening to Reality] contd.:

Vairaagyam eva abhayam : [one with] dispassion is fearless.

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

Meenakshi,

How sweet of you to take on this effort.  Your heart is ever searching for connection.  I like the Sanskrit words, they just are hard for me not only to pronounce but sort out.  So, what you have done here is so very nice.

You are a treasure to this pod.

Deb

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

You're welcome, Deb. I feel it's a treat for me too. Sanskrit is such an oral language; that to hear it is such a different experience than just reading it. I can imagine how hard it is to say the sounds when you're reading it…but for some, as I see on the Sanskrit pod on Gaia; it just resonates…

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

Hi All, here is the URL for a glossary of Sanskrit words.
http://www.swargarohan.org/Glossary.htm

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

Thanks Ian! It is a good basic and clear one.

Re: Growing glossary of Sanskrit terms

I learned a new Sanskrit word last week:
Mudhita:  a Tantric principle of celebrating and reveling in the success of another without letting their success make you feel “less than”.  A great practice to try on :-)