doctrine of identity of human soul and divine essence
Agarbattis
perfumed incence sticks
Agnihotri
brahmin who maintains a perpetual sacred fire
Agninarayan
divinity presiding over fire
Agyan
ignorance
Ahutis
offerings put into the sacred fire
Akshata
consecrated rice
Allah Malik
God is all powerful
Allah Miya
endearing name of ‘Allah’
Amalak
rare fruit
Amavas/Amavasya
dark night prior to the new moon
Ambemohar
fragrant variety of rice
Ambika
Goddess Durga
Ambil
a thin sour gruel
Amra
mango
Anandashram
a place of boarding & lodging named as such
Angarkha
long coat / cloak
Anima-mahima-laghima
laghima is the power to become as small as lilliput and mahima or garima – big as a giant
Ankush
goad
Annas
old Indian coin; sixteen annas to a rupee
Anna-shuddhi
ghee i.e. clarified butter added to food for purification
Anushthan
practice of religious austerity
Anusmruti
one of the five jewels from the Mahabharat
Apar Brahma
Sagun (manifest) Brahma
Aratis
circulatory waving of wick lights along with singing of praises of deity/guru
Archana
a ritual of performing worship
Arghya
oblation of water to God
Artha
meaning
Arvachin
modern or recent
Asat
untruth/illusory
Ashadi Ekadashi
11th day of 4th month of Hindu calendar Ashram - hermitage; four stages of life
Ashta satvik bhava
the eight forms of spiritual changes/ecstacies
Ashtami
8th day of Hindu calendar
Ashtang
the eight parts of the body: hands, thighs, breast, eyes, forehead etc.
Ashwatha
peepal tree, holy fig tree
Ashwin
7th month of Hindu calendar around October
Atal
one of the seven hells - refer saptapatals
Atithi
guest
Atma/Atman
soul
Atmaram
one rejoicing in knowledge of the self
Atma-tatva
essence of the Supreme Spirit
Attar
perfume
Attithi Yagna
offering food to the uninvited guest who may come to the door step
Augusti
a sage
Aulia
Muslim saint
Aum/Aumkar
a symbol of Parabrahma to be meditated upon and worshipped
Avatar
an incarnation of God
Avyakrit
unmanifested
B
Bairagi
an ascetic
Balgopals
children of God; also childhood of Lord Krishna
Barat
marriage procession
Barfi
Indian sweet made of milk & sugar
Basundi
Indian sweet
Batasas
Indian sweet made of sugar
Beeba
myrobalan - marking nut
Bel
aegle marmelos or cratoeva religiosa, a tree sacred to Shiva
Bhadrapad
6th month of Hindu calendar - Bhadon (August - September)
Bhagat
a devotee; a nickname given to Mhalsapati
Bhagvan
God
Bhagvat Dharma
ancient Hindu religious philosophy Bhagvat Gita - preachi$$ngs of Lord Krishna
Bhajan
devotional songs
Bhajan Mala
a garland of devotional songs
Bhajis
gram flour preparation, which is fried
Bhakri
thick bread of jowar (sorghum), bajri (millet) flour
Bhakta
a devotee
Bhakta Leelamrut
a sacred book written by Das Ganu
Bhakti
devotion
Bharits
brinjals seasoned with curds
Bharta
curry made from roasted brinjals
Bhat
rice
Bhavarth Ramayan
holy book
Bhavartha Dipika
Hindu sacred book
Bhavishyottar Puran
book predicting future events.
Bhikshu
one who solicits alms
Bhishma Stavaraj
one of the five jewels from the Mahabharat
Bhoota Yagna
refer pancha maha yagnas
Bhu
dearer than life (part of Gayatri Mantra)
Bhuva
destroyer of sorrows (part of Gayatri Mantra)
Bhuvarlok
region between the sun & the earth
Bidi
hand rolled tobacco leaf indigenous cigarette
Brahma Gñyan
divine knowledge
Brahma Yagna
refer pancha maha yagnas
Brahmachari
a person vowed to celibacy
Brahmacharya
celibate
Brahmadev
Brahma, supreme Hindu deity, the creator
Brahmaiva
one who has no desires and has no fruits thereof. So he is not re-born. Therefore, there is no departure of his vital life force. In this world, such a person is Brahma and attains Brahman
Brahmalok
abode of Brahma, one of the heavens
Brahmananda
divine bliss
Brahmanic
one with the Brahma, the creator
Brahmaroop
embodiment of Brahma
Brahmarthi
seeker of Brahma
Buka
fragrant dark powder
Burfi
Indian sweat
C
Chaitra
first month of Hindu calender
Chakor
a greek patridge said to subsist on moon beans and drinks water from the clouds
Chakravati
emperor
Chamar
the tail of Bos grunniens, used to whisk off flies
Chandi
another name of Goddess Durga
Chandogya Upanishad
one of the ancient and longest Upanishads
Chandrakant
a fabulous gem
Chandrayan
religious observation or penance
Changbada
traditional musical instruments
Chapatis
round breads
Charanatirtha
holy water obtained after washing Lord’s feet
Charan
sacred feet of the deity
Chatak
pied cuckoo/papiha that lives only on rain drops
Chaturai
cleverness
Chavadi
meeting place of the villagers, the office of the Kulkarni and where Baba slept on alternate nights
Chela
disciple
Chhapi
a piece of cloth placed around the chillum
Chillum
clay pipe for smoking
Chintamani
a jewel which grants desired object
Chiplis
wooden sticks which are beaten to a rhythm
Chitnis
patwari - the village revenue officer
Chopdar
mace bearer
Chulli
a mud hearth (refer panch soonas)
Chuna
lime
Chutneys
a paste with seasoning, chillies, coriander leaves, lemon juice, etc.
D
Da
dana - charity
Dada
respectful addressing of elder
Dakshina
offering of money as gift to God/sage
Dakshinayan
the half year in which the sun is said to move from north to south
Dal
pulses
Dama
control of body & senses
Dana
charity
Dand
punishment
Danda
baton
Danta
to have restraints
Darshan
divine vision
Darshan yatra
pilgrimage for divine vision
Dashavatar
the ten incarnations of Vishnu as Fish, Tortoise, Boar, Man-Lion, Vaman the Dwarf, Parshuram, Ram, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki yet to manifest
Dashmi
10th day of Hindu calendar
Dassehra
see Vijayadashmi
Daya
kindness
Dev Yagna
refer panch maha yagnas
Deva
endearing way of addressing Baba
Devasthan
holy place
Dhangar
shepherd woman
Dhanteras
13th day of dark half of the month of Kartik, 2 days before Diwali
Dharamshala
a building for stay of pilgrims
Dharma
religious & social obligations which a Hindu devout has to adhere to
Dhoti/Dhotar
a piece of cloth worn round the lower body
Dhoti-poti
yogic practice of cleaning of internal organs
Dhuni
sacred fire
Dhwaja
flag
Dhyana
meditation
Digambar
naked pious sage, anger personified, descendent of Bhrigu, follower of Parashuram
Dñyaneshwar
Hindu saint
Dñyaneshwari
Hindu sacred book written by Dñyaneshwar
Dñyanoba Maharaj
sage Dñyaneshwar
Dugdugas
those who imitate the sound of a rickety, shaking article
Durbar
gathering of devotees around Baba
Durga
Goddess
Dwaravati
Lord Krishna’s Dwarka
Dwarka Mayi
the mosque in Shirdi which was used as a dwelling by Sai Baba
E
Ekadashi
11th day of a lunar fortnight
Eknath Bhagvat
holy book
F
Feni
preparation like ‘sevain’, made out of wheat or rice
G
Gadi
seat with bolster
Gajendra Moksha
one of the five jewels from the Mahabharat
Gandh/Gandha
sandalwood paste
Gandharva
celestial chorister
Ganga/Gangas
holy Indian river
Garima
refer to anima-garima-laghima
Gayatri Mantra
a sacred & powerful mantra from the Vedas
Gharba-avasta
being pregnant
Gharge
fried pat of wheat or rice, boiled with sugar
Ghats
banks of the rivers, canals, ponds, etc.
Ghee
clarified butter
Ghol
ring with bits of iron loosely attached and fastened to the top of a staff
Girija
Parvathi, consort of Lord Shiva
Gita Rahasya
Tilak’s commentary on the Gita in Marathi
Gnyani
learned one
Godavari
a river of Western India
Gokul Ashtami
Lord Krishna’s birthday
Gondhalis
musicians and singers and makers of gondhal/noise
Gopal Kala
feasting and merriment, following the breaking of the mud pot, filled with curds, parched rice, coins etc. The pot is hung high and reached by the formation of human pyramids by the merrymakers
Grinati
one who teaches or gives sermon i.e. the guru
Guavas
Indian fruit
Gulal
coloured powder
Gulpapdi
cake made by frying wheat flour & adding it to jaggery
Gulvadi
wadis made out of jaggery
Gunas
the constituent qualities of nature
Gurav
a caste
Guru Bandhu
disciples of the same guru
Guru Charitra
the story of Narasimha Saraswati Swamiji, avatar of Dutta. Its reading is said to destroy all evils & grants salvation
Gurudev/Gururaya
guru - revered mentor - spiritual teacher
Gururaj
respectful address of a guru
Gurumaya
guru, the mother
Gurupurnima
full moon night for worship of guru
Guruputra
disciple
Gyan
knowledge
H
Hakim
learned in herbal medicines
Halal
slaughter of an animal in accordance with Islamic law
Handi
round vessel to cook food
Harijans
Hindu outcaste
Hatha Yoga
one of the yogic practices
Hiranyagarbha
the golden egg of the Brahman from which comes the earth, its seven islands and nine continents, the seven heavens and the seven netherlands
Holi
festival of colours
Holika
a deity, worshipped during Holi
Homa
havan
I
Id
Muslim festival
Idgah
a place for Muslim prayers
Indra
God of rain
Ishavasya Bhavartha Bodhini
holy book
Ishavasya Upanishad
holy book
Ishta Devta
favourite deity
J
Jamadagni
pious sage, anger personified, descendent of Bhrigu, follower of Parashuram
Janalok
abode of sons of Brahma
Janmotsav
birthday celebration
Japa
repetitive chantings of the name of deity
Jari
see zari
Jeshth
3rd month of Hindu calendar
Jhanj
musical instrument
Jholi
a bag for alms hanging from the shoulder Jiresal - excellent variety of rice
Jiva/Jeeva
soul - atman - individual
Jñyana
knowledge
Jowar
sorghum grain
K
Kacharya
delicacy of sliced brinjals fried crisp & brown
Kadva
bitter
Kafni
long, ankle length shirt like robe
Kakad arati
early morning prayer
Kaliyug
the 4th age of the world, the iron age or that of vice. Its duration is through 4,32,000 years
Kalpataru/Kalpavraksh
wish fulfilling tree
Kamadhenu
cow that fulfils all desires
Kandani
refer panch soonas
Kans
Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle, who tried to kill Krishna
Karmas
law of retribution / cause and effect
Karmath
one who takes to the path of knowledge
Kashi
Banaras, one of the holy places
Kasturi
musk
Kaustubh
one of the fourteen precious things obtained from churning of the ocean
Ketaki
pandanus odoratissimus - flowering tree
Ketu
planet
Khand-yoga
yogic practice of severing & reassembling organs of the body
Khanjari
small tambourine
Kheer
rice, milk and sugar dish
Khichadi
dish cooked of a mixture of rice and pulses
Kirtans
singing the God’s praises to the accompaniment of music Kolamba - the mud pot into which all offerings of food including Baba’s alms were put
Kolhatinis
the rope dancers
Konkan
new land created by Parashuram by forcing the waters of the ocean in the western ghats of India
Koran
a sacred book of the Muslims
Koshimbiri
raw fruit or vegetables pickled or preserved
Koss
9 miles equal to a Koss
Kruttika Nakshatra
third of lunar mansions
Kuber
treasurer of the heavens
Kulkarani
patwari, a village officer
Kumkum
vermillion
Kurdiyas
preparation of rice flour, fried in circular swirls
L
Lalaji
a term of respectful address
Langoti
a loin cloth
Leelas
divine sport
Lendi
stream on the outskirts of Shirdi village
Long Maharaj
long snake
Lota
tumbler
M
Maha Bhagvat
holy book
Mahasamadhi
leaving the mortal coil
Mahalok
sphere of sun and luminaries
Mahanaivedya
offerings of variety of
Mahanirvan
refer mahasamadhi
Mahar
refer Harijan
Maharaj
respectful way of addressing
Mahatal
one of the seven hells
Mahatma
high soul of noble nature
Mahattva
the 2nd of the twenty-five principles of samkhyas, one of the six Shastras
Mahendra
Indra, God of rain
Maheshwar
Lord Shiva
Mahoday Parva
a festival of joy. A good action that confers special merit upon the performance
Mahurat
auspicious time
Mala
garland
Mama
maternal uncle
Mamlatdar
a revenue official
Mandes
preparation of wheat flour, a very thin chappati slightly sweet
Mangal Ghat
banks on river Ganga in Kashi
Mantra
sacred verse or text from Vedas
Margashirsh Purnima
full moon night of 11th month of Hindu calender around December
Marjani
refer pancha soonas
Marwadi
Hindu community hailing from Marwar - Rajasthan (India)
Masjid
mosque
Masjidmai
mosque where Baba lived & named it Dwarkamai
Math
religious establishment
Maulana
title given to a learned Muslim
Maulvi
Muslim priest
Mavashibai
aunt / mother’s sister
Maya
the invisible, illusory or unmanifest and also the material world
Mimansa
ancient Hindu philosophy
Moksha
salvation, release from cycle of existence
Moong Vadis
small, flatish cakes made from moong pulse
Moulvis
Muslim priest
Mridang
drum
Muga vadi
small, flatish cakes made from phaseolusmango
Muhurat
auspicious time
Muhurram/Moharram
1st month of Mohammaden year; fast observed in memory of killling of Hasan & Hussein (grandsons of prophet Mohammad)
Mujawar
a devotee who tends the tomb of a saint
Mukti
liberation; four fold mukti means absorption into the essense of brahman
Mulla
Muslim theologian
Munim
clerk
Munis
sages
Munshi
clerk
Munsif
civil judge
Muttal
one of the seven hells; refer saptapatals
N
Naivedya
food offering to the deity
Nakshatra
asterism in the moon’s path
Namaaz
prayer offered by the Muslims
Namaskar
respectful salutations
Nanda-deep
light kept burning before a deity, day & night
Nandi
bull God, vehicle of Lord Shiva
Narada
the most enlightened of enlightened sages - son of Brahma
Naradiya Bhakti
way of worship as per the sage Narad
Narasimha
a fierce avatar of Lord Vishnu
Nath Bhagvat
sacred book
Nautanki
street play
Navachandi Havan
oblations to the fire with recitations of hymns in praise of Goddess Durga
Navrathra
1st nine days of the light half of the month of Ashwin during which Durga is worshipped
Neelkanth
Lord Shiva
Neem
margosa
Nidhis
nine treasures of the God Kuber
Nimbar
niche in the western wall of the mosque where the sandalwood paste etc. is applied
Nirakar
that which is without form
Niranjan
the lamp
Nirayan
leaving mortal coil
Nirgun
unmanifest, formless (abstract)
Nirvan
see mahasamadhi
Nirvikalpa
state of samadhi & complete peace
O
Oti
portion of the sari touching the lap
Ovi
verse
P
Pada-puja
worshipping of Lord’s feet Padukas - holy feet/shoes of the Lord
Palkhi
palanquin
Pan
betel leaf
Panch soonas
five sins i.e. “kandani” – pestle, “chulli” – lighting the hearth fire, “udkumbhi” – water pots; “peshani” – grinding, “marjani” – sweeping
Pancha
poormen’s dhoti which is short - also used as towel
Panchamrut
a blend of curd, milk, sugar, honey etc.
Panchang
a calendar which deals with five things, such as the lunar date, the day of the week, planets’ conjunction and half lunar day Panchmaha yagnas - five yagnas i.e. Brahma Yagna is reciting of Vedas; Pitru Yagna – offering food by encircling with water; Dev Yagna – offering food to the deities; Bhoota Yagna – offering food to all creatures. Attithi Yagna – offering food to the uninvited guest who may come to the doorstep
Panchikaran
combining amicably together of the five elementary substances
Panch-pran
five vital airs i.e. prana, apana, samana, udana, vayana Panchratani Gita - a compilation of five jewels from the Mahabharat namely a) Srimad Bhagvat Gita, b) Sree Vishnu Saharsranam Stotra, c) Bhishma Stavaraj, d) Anusmruti, e) Gajendra Moksha
Pandits
one well versed in shastras
Panga
dough spread over a leaf, rolled and baked over fire
Panja
a hand, which symbolises the five great saints of the Muslims Pan-vida - rolled betel leaf with areca nut & other ingredients
Papad
thin, crisp cake of urad pulse
Parabrahma
nirgun unmanifested Brahma
Pãrãyan
religious observances - regular reading of sacred books / texts
Parees
a stone which can turn ordinary stone into gold
Parijat
flower
Parmarth
ultimate spiritual goal
Parmatma
the God
Patal
one of the seven hells
Pativrata
faithful & devoted wife
Payalu
child born with legs first
Payas
sweet made of milk, sugar & rice
Pedas
sweetmeat made of milk & sugar
Pehran
long shirt
Peshani
refer panch soonas
Phalgun Shud
2nd fortnight of 12th month of Hindu calendar Pheta - cloth headdress
Pie
coin of small demonitional value of British India
Pilaf
rice cooked with other ingredients
Pind
symbolic representation of Shiva / food offerings to the departed soul
Pir
Muslim saint
Pitamber
a dhoti of yellow silk
Pitru Yagna
refer panch maha yagnas
Polis
refer puran poli
Pothi
sacred text
Prabhuraya
respectful address of the God
Pradakshina
circumambulation of an idol by way of reverence Prajapati - the creator
Prakrithi
the nature
Pralay
deluge
Pran-ahuti
oblation to the five pranas done at the beginning of meals
Prarabdha
previous karma; actions of past life
Prasad
sanctified food offerings
Prathnasamajist
one who does not worship image
Prayag
confluence of three rivers
Puja
worship
Pujari
priest
Puja-thali
a round tray containing articles for worship of a deity
Punya
merit
Punyatitthi
auspicious day of any saint leaving mortal coil
Puran/Puranas
ancient sanskrit Hindu mythology
Puranika
a brahman well versed in the puran (Hindu sacred text)
Puranpoli
a wheat cake with stuffings of bengal gram cooked with jaggery
Purdah
veil
Puris
thin puffed wheat cakes
Purnima
full moon night
Purush
the supreme soul
Pushpanjali
offering of flowers
R
Rahu
planet
Rajaram
Lord Ram, the king
Rajas
passion, one of the three gunas
Rakshas
demon
Ram Raksha Stotra
hymn of praise to Lord Ram
Ramnavami
birth day of Lord Ram
Ramvijay
holy book
Rangoli
design drawn with lime/coloured powder
Rasatal
one of the seven hells; refer saptapatals
Rashi
the sign of the zodiac
Rath
chariot
Ravan
Ravan was the King of Lanka, who kidnapped Sita and was enemical to Ram
Rishis
saints
Rogda
puffed mass of dough baked on embers
Rudra
Lord Shiva
Rudraksh
a tree whose berries are used as beads for rosaries
S
Sabha-mandap
courtyard of Dwarkamai
Sachidananda
person pure in mind & body
Sadgati
liberation
Sadguru
realised teacher and avatar - an incarnation
Sadgurunatha
respectful address
Sadgururaya
respectful address of Sadguru
Sadhak
disciple
Sadhana
devoted striving
Sadhu
ascetic, holyman
Sagun
manifest, virtuous
Saimauli
Mother Sai
Sai Prabha
a magazine published by Sai devotees
Sairaya
respectful address of Sai Baba
Samadhan
quintessence of the mind
Samadhi
profound meditation; complete burial or entombment of a saint
Samadhi Mandir
temple where mortal remains of a saint are buried
Samarth
competent & powerful
Samsar
the world
Sandhya
religious meditation and repetition of mantras in the mornings/evenings