Questions tagged [terminology]
For questions about terms and jargon used in Hinduism.
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Who are the Viśvedevas that are mentioned in Shraddha ceremonies?
I have come across the term of Viśvedevas in various vedic texts pertaining to the performance of Shraddha ceremonies, however I am confused about who the texts refer to, as some definitions refer to ...
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What is the realitionship between Saguna Brahman and Maya?
What is the relationship between Saguna Brahman and Maya? And which one is close to the word reality?
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Simple definition of karma according to Hinduism
I wanted to ask about the simple definition of karma according to Hinduism. In most websites or sources I've come across Karma means Action/Deed, but on one website it says "Karma means only good ...
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What is the source of “mananāt trāyatē iti mantrah”?
Definition of Mantra: “mananāt trāyatē iti mantrah” (मननात् त्रायते इति मंत्रः)
That which protects/releases by repetition/contemplation is called a Mantra.
The sustained repetition/contemplation (...
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What is the difference between the two words - Jagat and Vishva?
The two words जगत (jagat) and विश्व (vishva) are both Sanskrit in origin and are also used synonymously in common Hindi parlance.
In English, both translate to either 'world' or 'universe', or more ...
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What is the meaning of Sachidanand?
What is the meaning of Sachidanand? What does the word "Sachidanand mean?
I think the word can be broken into - Sat + Chit + Anand.
Does it have some relation with Brahmha (Sat) , Chit (Vishnu) ...
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What do the words 'Dhatu,' 'Moola,' and 'Jeeva' mean in Vedic astrology?
What do the words 'Dhatu,' 'Moola,' and 'Jeeva' mean in Vedic astrology?
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Is the period of one muhurta fixed, and what is the ghatika which is mentioned in panchanga?
Muhurta is considered approximately 48 minutes.
But it is determined as 1/30 of the day, so if the length of the day is changing will the period of muhurta also change?
Also, panchanga mentions ghati ...
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What is Sam-Dan-Danda-Bhed?
Whenever, in India, we get into a conflict with someone, we use the phrase "Sam-dan-danda-bhed" to resolve the matter. What is it, and what exactly does it mean? Please explain it with ...
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Meaning of words in a marriage/baby shower invitation
I recently came across an invitation for baby shower. I have mentioned below some terms mentioned in it on which i wanted some clarification/their meaning.
Dhouhitran (and there was another word with ...
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is the term baba mentioned in scriptures?
we the have titles called BABA for saints like
Neem karoli Baba
Sai Baba
Satya Sai Baba
Baba Ramdev
Is scriptures talks about this baba term and what does it mean? Could any saint be given baba titles?...
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Is there any difference between 'ajna chakra' and the 'third eye' of a human?
When I try to know more about the stages of a yogi, I read more discussions about a chakra named Ajna. There are numerous mentions of this chakra in several scriptures. Lalitha Sahastranaama also ...
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Is there a precise statement in scripture to delimit what scriptures have the status of being "Vedic" (in Sanskrit वैदिक)?
"Vedic" here only means the adjectival form of Vedas - not "scriptures having the status of Vedas", "scriptures based on Vedas", "scriptures that explain the Vedas&...
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What are all the entities that are induced by ones kula (कुल)?
The word कुल is used across scriptures in different contexts. I am using the meaning of family here. Many entities are induced in an individual born in a kula.
I want to know all the entities that are ...
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What is the fundamental difference between 'lok' and 'jagat'?
We generally refer Jagat to our physical universe. I think there is no ambiguity about it. Hence, Jagat is the same for all living beings living in the same physical universe with a physical body.
But,...
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Is the deity of the Sun (Surya) a 'Devatā', or a 'Bhagvān, ' according to major sects?
What's the status of Surya as a deity as per acharyas of major sects (currently Vaishnava, Shaiva, Shaktas)?
Adi Shankaracharya listed him as one of the five equally worship-worthy Pañcayatan deities. ...
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Is it proper to call "world in swapna" as srusti?
There are three avasthas for humans: Jagrath, Swapna, and Sushuphi.
In Jagrath avastha, srusthi of Brahma exists and humans experience their karma in the srusthi.
In Swapna avastha also there are ...
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What is the meaning of the word 'Gītā (गीता)'?
Well, it's a no-brainer that etymologically, the word 'gītā' literally means 'that which is sung or chanted'.
However, by that logic even Rāmacaritamānasa is sung or chanted, or even a daily ārtī (आरती...
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What is the essential difference between Śaraṇāgati (शरणागति) and Prapatti (प्रपत्ति)?
Sanskrit Kosha dictionary gives:-
Śaraṇāgati (शरणागति): surrender
Prapatti (प्रपत्ति): Pious resignation or devotion.
Shri Shailacarya (18th century) uses the words interchangeably in Chapter 18 ...
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Does the term - 'Vedānta (वेदान्त)' occur in any canonical text?
Vedānta is the most popular 'School of Thought' within Hinduism.
As per Wikipedia:
Vedānta also (called) Uttara Mīmāṃsā, is one of the six (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy.
Literally meaning &...
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What exactly can be the concept of possessing in this context?
We frequently encounter the phenomenon of "someone possessing the others" in the scriptures. One example can be found here. I provided below another example of kali possessing Nala.
"...
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What is the difference between 'chetana' and 'chaitanya'?
We generally come across these two words in the scriptures. For example, you can see both in Lalitha sahastranaamas.
Although they look similar, the meanings of both are different. Afaik, Chaitanya ...
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What exactly is Hrudayam?
There are several similar and related terms in the scriptures of Sanatana Dharma. But there will be subtle differences between those terms. Manas, Chitta, buddhi, Hrudayam are one such example.
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Sanskrit references for the usage of the word varna for a given sense
The word Varna has been used by scriptures in different senses/meanings based on the context. This question is restricted to the usage of Varna in Humans only.
I know at least five senses:
Varna ...
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Meaning of chitraguptha and its corresponding entity in Jiva
Chitragupta, according to widely known belief, is a god who stays near Yama and records all the karma of an individual.
The actual meaning of Yama, according to a dictionary is
The one who decides ...
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What do the terms "Sanchit Karma" and "Prarabdha", mean?
What do the terms "Sanchit Karma" and "Prarabdha", mean?
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Why is Ramana Maharshi referred with the title of "Bhagwaan"?
According to his Wikipedia:
Ramana Maharshi was an Indian Hindu sage and a jivanmukta (liberated being). He was born Venkataraman Iyer, but is mostly known by the name Bhagavān Sri Ramana Maharshi.
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Partition of night in to parts
Night or nighttime (also spelled night-time or night time) is the period of ambient darkness from sunset to sunrise during each 24-hour day.
Consider the following statement of Vyasa from the ...
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What exactly is Vamachara?
For any great verses or naamas in scriptures, there can be different kinds of interpretations. Dharmic, vedic etc., are the types of interpretations.
I heard that there can be another type of ...
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A person capable of knowing anything and everything
In sanathan dharma, Sarvajna stands for a person who realizes that everything is Brahman.
So, Sarvajna is not the person I'm asking for.
I know that saguna brahman satisfies the property mentioned in ...
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Does apauruṣeyā mean truly authorless or simply 'no human author'? Or do different schools of philosophy interpret the word differently?
Does apauruṣeyā when applied to Vedas just mean 'not of human origin' leaving the possibility that a superhuman being could have authored them?
Or do different schools of Hindu philosophy interpret ...
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Are static and mobile mounts of Gods called by different names?
Vishnu lies on Adisesha but uses Garuda to move around. Garuda is called "vahana" I believe, but how about Sesha? What is Sesha considered?
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Person without parampara cannot be a sadhguru
Sadguru may have several definitions across scriptures.
I want a definition from scriptures that is similar to the following
A person is not eligible to be a Sadguru if (s)he has no known
parampara(...
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Who exactly are Charanas?
In Mahabharata and many other scriptures, there is a class of elite people called Charanas.
For example, consider the following excerpt from Mahabharata
The men carried the message in a trice to the ...
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Are many peetadhipathis pseudo Vedantists?
The term Pseudo Vedantist has been explained by Swami Sivananda in an article called "Pseudo-Vedantic Student".
Vedanta in the hands of raw and unregenerate persons who lack purity
and ...
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Raghuvamsha - Meaning of Kakapakshadhara
In Raghuvamsha Maha-kavya, chapter 11, stanza 1, why is Lord Rama referred to as Kakapakshadhara? What does it mean?
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What is meant by Kavacha?
There are Kavachas for several gods and goddess.
Is it a mantra? If yes, then which mantras falls into the category of Kavacha? If no, then what is the exact (scriptural) definition for Kavacha?
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Which scriptures should be suffixed with the term Samhita?
According to the Wikipedia
Samhita literally means "put together, joined, union", a "collection",
and "a methodically, rule-based combination of text or verses".
Samhita ...
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Is the word vanara mentioned for a particular race in scriptures can be different from monkeys?
According to the dictionary, the word वानर has multiple meanings. One among them is Monkey.
But others include ape, Monkey-like etc.,
Hanuman, Sugreeva etc., are said to be of Vanara race.
In this ...
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What is meant by Adhi-Vyadhi?
I heard the word Adhi-Vyadhi (ఆధివ్యాధులు) several times in preachings as well as in scriptural books.
Example: From Sloka 3
What is the exact meaning for that word?
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Who exactly are nishadas?
Nala was a king of Nishadas
Vrihadaswa said, "There was a king named Nala, the son of Virasena.
And he was strong, and handsome, and well-versed in (the knowledge of)
horses, and possessed of ...
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Is there a concept like the concept of Logos in Hinduism?
In western Philosophy, Jewish mysticism and Christianity there's an important concept, that is the concept of Logos.
This concept is important in theology, cosmology and creation of the world.
Is ...
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What is meant by the term Nirukta?
I would like to understand what exactly is 'Nirukta'?
What is it's origin?
Does it have any association with Sanskrit language?
Please do cite authentic references.
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What does the term Āstika-Nāstika mean- as such - without any connection with one particular faith?
There are different shades of interpretation of the terms Āstika-Nāstika.
Most of the answers on this forum relate to the interpretations that are propounded by some vested groups to denigrate other ...
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Meaning of Ghataka Shruti
Advaita follows Abheda Shruti, Dvaita Bheda Shruti. Vishishtadvaita follows Ghataka Shruti.
Abheda Shruti means passages from Shruti literature which talk about non-difference. Bheda Shruti means ...
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What actually transfers during rebirth?
Consider the concept of rebirth in Hinduism.
Is there any established definition for rebirth in Hinduism?
Hinduism supports the idea of rebirth.
As per my understanding, in general, the following ...
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What is the meaning of upasana?
I heard many times the word Upasana. Upasana is used as suffix to the names of god or goddesses. For example: Sri Vidya upasana, Siva upasana etc.,
What is the meaning for the term upasana?
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Is Jnana means knowledge alone or knowledge by experience in Hinduism?
We come across the word Jnana several times in Hinduism.
In general, Jnana stands for knowledge. But there are several types of knowledge. Knowledge of a human may come from books, experience etc., ...
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What is meant by bhaya(fear) yogi?
What is meant by bhaya yogi? And is the term bhaya yogi anywhere mentioned in scriptures?
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What is the difference between a stotra, stava, stuti, sukta and mantra?
What is the difference between a stotra, stava, stuti, sukta and mantra? Please give examples of each to explain.
Would be helpful if any references can be quoted from scriptures.
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