Elements
There are five elements - Agni (fire), Vaayu (air), Jal (water), Prithvi
(earth), and Aakaash (space, or ether). All objects on this earth are
composed of these elements.
When the objects are
destroyed, all the elements of the object are absorbed in elements.
Gaayatree Mantra see also Mantra
This is a famous Mantra
that first appears in Yajur Ved. It is considered to be the mother of all
Mantra.
Grihasth
see also Aashram
Grihasth word is used in three contexts:-
(1) When one lives in a family, he is called Grihasth.
(2) Grihasth Aashram - The second stage of life according to Hindu religion.
(3) Grihasth Dharm - When a Grihasth follows the rules to live in a family,
he follows his Grihasth Dharm.
Gun
Guru Dakshinaa see also Dakshinaa
It is also a kind of Dakshinaa, but given to Guru only
after a child finishes his education and goes back to home. Without paying Guru Dakshinaa education
is not complete. It was long time ago, when these modern schools were not there, and boys used to go to Gurukul (Guru's
place) for learning. They used to live there up till they finished their education. Guru
Patnee (wife of Guru) used to prepare food for them and take care of them. Guru
Dakshinaa was not given at the will of the student, but was given at the will of the Guru.
Bhagvaan Krishna returned His Guru's lost son in the form of Guru Dakshinaa.
Gyaan Kaand
see Ved
Gyaan Yog
There are three paths to emancipation - Gyaan Yog (or Saankhya Yog), Karm
Yog, and Bhakti Yog. Gyaan Yog is the path of pure intellect. It is possible
only when a seeker has already purified his higher Buddhi.
Hotaa
According to Ved he is one of the four
priests (Hotaa, Adhwaryu, Brahmaa
and Udgaataa) who perform Vedic ceremonies. He is the one who
offers the oblations into the fire. In the same way Jeev, the Individual
Self offers all his Sanskaar into the fire of knowledge.
Indriyaan
Jeev or Jeevaatmaa
Then Individual Soul is called Jeev or
Jeevaatmaa as long as it uses the vehicle of mind. He, in association with
A-Vidyaa (ignorance), conceives itself to be limited.
Kali Yug
see Yug
Kalp Vriksha
Kalp Vriksha (tree) is one of the
10 Ratna coming out of the Ksheer Saagar Manthan when Dev and Asur churned the sea to get Ambrosia (Amrit).
This tree was planted in Dev's city. It never dries up and fulfills Devtaa's all desires.
Kaamdhenu
Kaamdhenu (Kaam means desire and Dhenu means cow, so Kaamdhenu means a cow
which fulfills all desires) is one of the 14 Ratna coming out of the Ksheer
Saagar Manthan when Dev and Asur churned the sea to get Ambrosia (Amrit). This cow was given
to Rishi to serve them with plenty of milk and to fulfill their other daily needs.
Karm,
Karm Kaand, Karm Yog see Karm
Kaulaa School of Tantra
see Tantra
Ksheer Saagar
Ksheer Saagar is the milky sea in which Lord Vishnu is said to be resting
on the bed of Shesh Naag with Lakshmee Jee sitting at their feet massaging His feet.
Kundalinee
It is the inner fire, the dormant fire, the coiled energy. In its dormant
state, it resides at the base of the spine in an area called Kund (that is why it is called Kundalinee). By
following a systematic discipline of Praanayaam, meditation and Mantra
Jaap one prepares himself to awaken this power. At the completion of these
practices, through the help of a competent Guru, this force is awakened
and is led to Sahasraar Chakra where Jeevaatmaa unites with
Brahm.
Lakshmee Jee
She was also one of the 14 Ratna coming out of the Ksheer Saagar Manthan when
Dev and Asur churned the sea to get Ambrosia (Amrit). Lakshmee Jee selected
Lord Vishnu as her husband as she came out of the Sea.
Leelaa
Leelaa are playful activities or drama which is not true. Normally this word
is used in Bhagavaan's Avataar's activities. This world is also His Leelaa
because it is not true.
Mahaa Yug
see Time
Mahaabhaarat
It is the famous
epic written by Ved Vyaas Jee in Sanskrit language. It consists of 100,000
verses. It is believed to be the biggest book of the world.
Maanas
Maanas means mind. This is the inner thing which receives information from
the outer world with the aid of senses and presents it to the higher faculty
of intellect - Buddhi. It is characterized by doubt.
Maanas
Poojaa
Means mental worship. Followers of Mishra school of Tantra perform their
rituals not on an external altar but at their heart. Their entire worship is
internal and that is called mental worship.
Mantra
There are two meanings of Mantra. (1) Divine seed syllables which,
when are constantly remembered and repeated, lead the seeker toward higher spiritual
achievement. Some of them are known to people, some of them are given by
Guru at the time of initiation for meditation. (2) The earliest part of
Vedic literature is called mantra or hymns which are written in four Ved.
Maayaa
The power of Brahm through which His infinity is veiled and the finite
world is projected and manifested. On the cosmic level it is Maayaa, on
the individual level it is A-Vidyaa.
Mishra School of
Tantra
see Tantra
Moksh
Moksh
means Mukti, liberation, freedom from bondage of life and death cycle.
According to Upanishad, the final stage of liberation can be attained only
through Paraa Vidyaa, or Brahm knowledge.
Moolaadhaar Chakra
see Chakra
Mundak
Means
"shaven head". Normally monks keep their head shaven.
Mundak Upanishad
One
of the 10 main Upanishad
which belongs to Atharv Ved and is traditionally studied by monks.