| English |
ITRANS |
Sanskrit |
Meaning |
| arthapatti |
arthApatti |
AwaRpiÄ |
inference from circumstances, presumption ; one of the 6 means of obtaining knowledge. See pramana. |
| asadarana |
asAdhAranNa |
AsaxarN[ |
not common, special, specific; quite uncommon, extraordianry. An asAdhAraNa lakShaNa is an attributs that clarly differentiates one object from another. |
| asana |
Asana |
Aasn |
sitting in special (and peculiar) postures for long periods supposedly in order to gain spiritual benefit. One of the eight steps of Raja yoga. |
| asanga |
asa~Nga |
As¼ |
relationless. c.f. satsa~Nga. |
| asat |
asat |
Ast! |
non-existent. See sat. |
| asatkarya vada |
asatkArya vAda |
AsTkayR vad |
the doctrine which denies that the effect pre-exists in the cause (usually in reference to the creation). |
| asha |
AshA |
Aaza |
wish, desire, hope, expectation; aspiration. |
| ashrama |
Ashrama |
Aaïm |
generic term for one of the four "stages" in the life of a Hindu brahmin, viz. brahmacharya, gRRihastha, saMnyAsa, vanaprastha. |
| ashraya |
Ashraya |
Aaïy |
locus. |
| ashtanga |
aShTA~Nga |
Aòa¼ |
consisting of eight parts, as in the aShTA~Nga yoga of Patanjali. |
| asparsha |
asparsha |
ASpzR |
intangible, touchless; name given to the "contentless" yoga of Gaudapada in the Mandukya Upanishad. |
| Astavakra |
aShTAvakra |
Aòav³ |
the eponymous Sage of the Astavakra Gita (or Samhita). The word literally means "twisted" (vakra) in "eight" (aShTan) ways. Astavakra was so called because he was born severely deformed after being cursed in the womb by his father (because the unborn child had criticised him for making mistakes whilst reading the scriptures!). (Later in life, after he had secured his father's release through defeating the court philosopher in debate, his father blessed him and, after swimming in a sacred river, he was cured.) See gita, samhita. |
| asteya |
asteya |
AStey |
not stealing. One of the five yama-s in Raja yoga. |
| asti |
asti |
AiSt |
existent, it exists. |
| astika |
Astika |
AaiStk |
literally "there is or exists"; used to refer to one who believes in the existence of God or, more specifically, one who defers to the authority of the Vedas. See nastika, veda. |
| asura |
asura |
Asur |
demon, spirit, opponent of the gods. |
| atah |
ataH |
At> |
hence, therefore. |
| atha |
atha |
Aw |
now, then therefore; often used to express the sense of an auspicious beginning e.g. to reading a key verse of scripture. |
| atita |
atIta |
AtIt |
beyond (e.g. time) |
| atma or atman |
Atma or Atman |
AaTm AaTmn! |
the Self. Usually used to refer to one's true (individual) nature or consciousness but Advaita tells us that there is no such thing as an 'individual' and that this atman is the same as the universal Consciousness, Brahman. see also jiva. |
| atmabodha |
Atmabodha |
AaTmbaex |
knowledge of Self or supreme spirit; a book attributed to Shankara. |
| atmavichara |
AtmavichAra |
AaTmivcar |
vichAra in this context means reflection or examination upon the Atman, the Self. See atman. |
| atmavid |
Atmavid |
AaTmivdœ |
someone who knows the truth of Atman, as opposed to a mantravid, someone who just knows the 'magical formulae'. |
| avacheda-vada |
avachCheda vAda |
AvCDed vad |
theory that the Self is limited by ignorance in the forms of upAdhi-s. avachCheda literally means "cut-off." See upadhi. |
| avantara |
avAntara |
AvaNtr |
intermediate. |
| avarana |
AvaraNa |
Aavr[ |
the veiling power of mAyA. In the rope-snake metaphor, this power prevents us from seeing the reality of the rope. See maya, vikshepa. |
| avastha |
avasthA |
AvSwa |
state; literally "to stay, abide, exist, remain or continue doing (anything)." In Advaita, it is most frequently encountered as avasthA traya - the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep. |
| avidya |
avidyA |
Aiv*a |
ignorance (in a spiritual sense) i.e. that which prevents us from realizing the Self. See also maya. |
| avinabhava |
avinAbhAva |
AivnaÉav |
a necessary connection of one thing with another; inherent and essential character. |
| avivada |
avivAda |
Aivvad |
agreed, not disputed; beyond all disputation. |
| avrita |
AvRRita |
Aav&t |
covered or concealed. |
| avyakta |
avyakta |
AVy´ |
unmanifest, imperceptible, invisible; the universal spirit (paramAtman). |
| avyapadeshya |
avyapadeshya |
AVypdeZy |
not to be defined, indescribable. |
