Glossary

Abhav  To dislike, to take offence, to condemn.
Agnan  Ignorance
Ahinsa  non-violence
Ahum / Ahankar  Ego
Akshar  The eternal abode of God – in whom God dwells constantly
Akshar -Purushottam  Gunatitanand Swami & The Lord Swaminarayan also known as Sahajanand Swami.
Akshardham  Abode of God, Eternal abode of Lord Swaminarayan.
Amahima  Negative, pessimistic thoughts – thoughts of criticism.
Ang  The fundamental characteristic
Antahkaran  The four inner instruments of the mind, intellect, emotive mind and ego (man, buddhi, chitta and ahum)
Anuvruti  Inspiration from the Lord.
Atma  The soul
Atma-buddhi  One-ness
Atyantik Kalyan  Ultimate redemption of the soul achieved by attaining the state of ‘brahmroop’
Bhajan  Hymns
Bhavatit  To become immune to emotions or feelings
Brahm  The Supreme being as the emblem of truth; knowledge and eternal bliss.
Brahm Swaroop  One who has attained equivalence and identification with the Par-brahm and is in permanent communion with God.
Brahm-bhav  Virtuous qualities.
Brahm-charya  To remain sub-merged in Brahm
Brahm-niyantrit  Instigated & Controlled by Brahm.
Brahmroop  Oneness or identification with God
Buddhi  Intellect
Chitta  Emotive mind
Darshan  Seeing with reverence or devotion
Das-atwa nu ang  Fundamental Characteristic predominated by the faith in the Swaroop
Déha  Physical body.
Déhabhav  Impurities of the soul.
Dhoon  Chanting of the Swaminarayan Mantra
Dhyan  Meditation
Divya-bhav  Divine vision, relating to everyone amicably and harmoniously
Drashta  Focus point of one’s life.
Dukh  Misery / misfortune / distress / gloom etc
Dukhé  Sadly, with torment, grief and hardships etc
Ékantik  Single minded devotee- enlightened soul with intense aspiration and attachment to God only.
Ékantik Dharma  True Worship
Ékta  Unity
Gnan  Spiritual Knowledge.
Gnan nu ang  Fundamental Characteristic predominated by the intellect
Gunatit Bhav  Transcendental eternal state of consciousness or divyabhav with equanimity.
Gunatit Samaj  The divine society of enlightened souls.
Gunatit sant  A saint who is above the three modes of nature.
Gunatit Swaroop  One who has attained equivalence and identification with the Par-brahm and is in permanent communion with God.
Guru  Spiritual Guide , a sadhu who has established a rapport with God.
Indriyas  Five sense organs
Jagratta  Alertness / awareness
Japyagna  Constant chanting of the Swaminarayan mantra.
jiv  Embodied soul
Jivbhav  The ego – our innermost self
Kal  Present age of chaos, conflicts etc.
Kalyan  Ultimate Redemption of the soul.
Kalyan-data  The redeemer
Kam  Yearning desire, a passion for sensual happiness or pleasure, lust.
Karma  Action entailing its consequences.
Kusang  Negative influences
Leela  To recognise and accept Maharaj as the all mighty controller of everyone and everything.
Lobh  Greed, avarice, covetous, intense longing, passion for possession.
Maan  Pride- also a desire to acquire fame, respect, credit or goodwill.
Maha-manav  Person with super human qualities.
Mahatmya  Glory of God & His devotees, deep respect for devotees of God.
Mahatmya-yukt séva  Service with selfless devotion.
Mahima  Glory of God (see mahatmya)
Manushya-bhav  To see human nature or tendencies working in Divine Entities.
Maya  One of the five eternal entities.
Moksh  Ultimate redemption of the soul
Mukta / Mutkto  Devotees
Mun-mukhi  Inspiration from the mind – i.e. not inspired by ‘brahm’
Munjvan  Distress and emotional disturbances.
Murti  An idol, a deity or sadhu who is worshipped.
Nirakar  Non-existent
Nirdosh  Innocent
Nirdosh-buddhi  Spiritual Divine acceptance.
Nirdoshbhav  Spiritually divine acceptance.
Nirgun  Without virtues or qualities
Nirvasnik  Free from worldly desires and attachments
Nirvikalpa Samadhi  A state where the soul has no reservations or doubts, only total surrender.
Par-Brahm  God, the ultimate reality
Par-matma  God, the ultimate reality
Param-hansas  Ascetics / Sadhus.
Prakruti Purush  Crude, natural forces of the world
Prapati nu ang  Fundamental characteristic predominated by a total dependence on the Pratyaksh Swaoop
Prapatiyog  The total dependence on the pratyaksh swaroop – it means placing total faith in Him
Prarabhdhas  Past destiny
Pratyaksh  Personified, living divine being.
Pratyaksh Swaroop  The person that has attained equivalence and identification with Aksharbrahm and is in permanent communion with Par-brahm.
Priti  Attachment / fondness / love
Priti nu ang  Fundamental Characteristic predominated by attachment / love
Purushottam  God, The Lord Swaminarayan.
Purushottam Narayan  The Lord Swaminarayan also known as Shreeji Maharaj.
Sabha  A gathering a congregation for the purpose of worship.
Sadhak  A true devotee, Aspirant.
Sadhna  Effort or practices necessary to realise one’s spiritual goal: self discipline.
Sadhu  An ascetic.
Sakshatkar  Realisation / Recognition of the Pratyaksh Swaroop
Samaj  A fellowship of divine enlightened souls.
Sambandh  Relationship.
Sambandhwala  Relation of God – devotees.
Samp  Harmony
Sangarthanbhav  Divine friendship
Santo  Ascetic Saints who have renounced all worldly attachments and have devoted their lives to the service of God.
Satsang  Holy fellowship
Satsangi  A follower of the Swaminarayan faith.
Séva  Services tendered without selfish motives.
Sévak  A humble servant
Shabdatit  To become immune to words
Shreeji Maharaj  Lord Swaminarayan
Smruti  To remember, recollect memories of God – Pratyaksh Swaroop.
Sukh  Happiness
Sukhé  Happily, free from hardships
Suhradbhav Spiritual Friendship
Swabhav  One’s own intrinsic characteristics – one’s instincts.
Swad  Sense of taste, a fondness of certain foods, interest in certain things.
Swa-dharma  One’s own morals, principles and religion.
Swami-ni-Vato  A holy scripture which embodies the teachings of Swami Shree Gunatitananda Swami in his own words.
Swaroop- nishtha  Absolute conviction and faith in the Swaroop
Swaroopyog  Daily ritual of prayers
Tyag  To renounce / to neglect
Upasana  Worship / Devotion
Vachnamrut  The holy Scripture of the Swaminarayan religion. The Vachanamruts are the actual
discourses of Lord Swaminarayan to his disciples.
Vairagya  Detachment, having no love for the world or its pleasures
Vasna  Worldly desires.
Vickshép  Emotional state of unhappiness, gloom despondency & dejection .
Vijli Jéva sant  Gunatit Swaroop.
Vrat-dhari Brothers  Male aspirants saints who have renounced all worldly attachments and have devoted their lives to the service of God.
Vrat-dhari Sisters  Female aspirants saints who have renounced all worldly attachments and have devoted their lives to the service of God.
Vruti  Inner-most desires / impurities of the soul