Glossary

Abhangs - devotional songs in verses in Apar Brahma - Sagun (manifest) Brahma specified meter Aratis - circulatory waving of wick lights Abhishek - ritualistic holy bath along with singing of praises of deity/ Acharya - a spiritual teacher guru Adharma - irreligious Archana - a ritual of performing worship Adhibhautik - primordial materialism Arghya - oblation of water to God Adhidaivik - primordial & godly Artha - meaning Adhyatma - see adhyatma ramayan Arvachin - modern or recent Adhyatmik - spiritual Asat - untruth/illusory Adhyatma Ramayan - esoteric version Ashadi Ekadashi - 11th day of 4th month of Ram’s story of Hindu calendar Adi Maya - primordial illusions Ashram - hermitage; four stages of life Advaita - doctrine of identity of human Ashta satvik bhava - the eight forms of soul and divine essence spiritual changes/ecstacies th Agarbattis - perfumed incence sticks Ashtami - 8 day of Hindu calendar Agnihotri - brahmin who maintains a Ashtang - the eight parts of the body: perpetual sacred fire hands, thighs, breast, eyes, forehead etc. Agninarayan - divinity presiding over Ashwatha - peepal tree, holy fig tree th fire Ashwin - 7 month of Hindu calendar Agyan - ignorance around October Ahutis - offerings put into the sacred Atal - one of the seven hells - refer fire saptapatals Akshata - consecrated rice Atithi - guest Allah Malik - God is all powerful Atma/Atman - soul Allah Miya - endearing name of ‘Allah’ Atmaram - one rejoicing in knowledge of the self Amalak - rare fruit Atma-tatva - essence of the Supreme Amavas/Amavasya - dark night prior Spirit to the new moon Attar - perfume Ambemohar - fragrant variety of rice Attithi Yagna - offering food to the un- Ambika - Goddess Durga invited guest who may come to the door Ambil - a thin sour gruel step Amra - mango Augusti - a sage Anandashram - a place of boarding & Aulia - Muslim saint lodging named as such Aum/Aumkar - a symbol of Parabrahma Angarkha - long coat / cloak to be meditated upon and worshipped Anima-mahima-laghima - laghima is the Avatar - an incarnation of God power to become as small as lilliput and Avyakrit - unmanifested mahima or garima – big as a giant Bairagi - an ascetic Ankush - goad Balgopals - children of God; also Annas - old Indian coin; sixteen annas childhood of Lord to a rupee Barat - marriage procession Anna-shuddhi - ghee i.e. clarified butter Barfi - Indian sweet made of milk & sugar added to food for purification Basundi - Indian sweet Anushthan - practice of religious Batasas - Indian sweet made of sugar austerity Beeba - myrobalan - marking nut Anusmruti - one of the five jewels from Bel - aegle marmelos or cratoeva religiosa, the Mahabharat a tree sacred to Shiva Glossary 787

Bhadrapad - 6th month of Hindu has no fruits thereof. So he is not re- calendar - Bhadon (August - September) born. Therefore, there is no departure Bhagat - a devotee; a nickname given to of his vital life force. In this world, such Mhalsapati a person is Brahma and attains Brahman Bhagvan - God Brahmalok - abode of Brahma, one of Bhagvat Dharma - ancient Hindu the heavens religious philosophy Brahmananda - divine bliss Bhagvat Gita - preachings of Lord Brahmanic - one with the Brahma, the Krishna creator Bhajan - devotional songs Brahmaroop - embodiment of Brahma Bhajan Mala - a garland of devotional Brahmarthi - seeker of Brahma songs Buka - fragrant dark powder Bhajis - gram flour preparation, which Burfi - Indian sweat is fried Chaitra - first month of Hindu calender Bhakri - thick bread of jowar (sorghum), Chakor - a greek patridge said to subsist bajri (millet) flour on moon beans and drinks water from Bhakta - a devotee the clouds Bhakta Leelamrut - a sacred book Chakravati - emperor written by Das Ganu Chamar - the tail of Bos grunniens, used Bhakti - devotion to whisk off flies Bharits - brinjals seasoned with curds Chandi - another name of Goddess Bharta - curry made from roasted brinjals Durga Bhat - rice Chandogya Upanishad - one of the Bhavarth Ramayan - holy book ancient and longest Bhavartha Dipika - Hindu sacred book Chandrakant - a fabulous gem Bhavishyottar Puran - book predicting Chandrayan - religious observation or future events. penance Bhikshu - one who solicits alms Changbada - traditional musical Bhishma Stavaraj - one of the five jewels instruments from the Mahabharat Chapatis - round breads Bhoota Yagna - refer pancha maha Charanatirtha - holy water obtained after yagnas washing Lord’s feet Bhu - dearer than life (part of Gayatri Charan - sacred feet of the deity Mantra) Chatak - pied cuckoo/papiha that lives Bhuva - destroyer of sorrows (part of only on rain drops Gayatri Mantra) Chaturai - cleverness Bhuvarlok - region between the sun & Chavadi - meeting place of the villagers, the earth the office of the Kulkarni and where Baba Bidi - hand rolled tobacco leaf slept on alternate nights indigenous cigarette Chela - disciple Brahma Gñyan - divine knowledge Chhapi - a piece of cloth placed around Brahma Yagna - refer pancha maha the chillum yagnas Chillum - clay pipe for smoking Brahmachari - a person vowed to Chintamani - a jewel which grants celibacy desired object Brahmacharya - celibate Chiplis - wooden sticks which are beaten Brahmadev - Brahma, supreme Hindu to a rhythm deity, the creator Chitnis - patwari - the village revenue Brahmaiva - one who has no desires and officer 788 Sree Sai Samartha Satcharita

Chopdar - mace bearer Dñyaneshwar - Hindu saint Chulli - a mud hearth (refer panch Dñyaneshwari - Hindu sacred book soonas) written by Dñyaneshwar Chuna - lime Dñyanoba Maharaj - sage Dñyaneshwar Chutneys - a paste with seasoning, Dugdugas - those who imitate the chillies, coriander leaves, lemon juice, etc. sound of a rickety, shaking article Da - dana - charity Durbar - gathering of devotees around Dada - respectful addressing of elder Baba Dakshina - offering of money as gift to Durga - Goddess God/sage Dwaravati - Lord Krishna’s Dwarka Dakshinayan - the half year in which the Dwarka Mayi - the mosque in Shirdi sun is said to move from north to south which was used as a dwelling by Sai Baba Dal - pulses Ekadashi - 11th day of a lunar fortnight Dama - control of body & senses Eknath Bhagvat - holy book Dana - charity Fateha - Muslim way of offering food Dand - punishment Feni - preparation like ‘sevain’, made out Danda - baton of wheat or rice Danta - to have restraints Gadi - seat with bolster Darshan - divine vision Gajendra - one of the five jewels Darshan yatra - pilgrimage for divine from the Mahabharat vision Gandh/Gandha - sandalwood paste Dashavatar - the ten incarnations of - celestial chorister as Fish, Tortoise, Boar, Man-Lion, Ganga/Gangas - holy Indian river Vaman the Dwarf, Parshuram, Ram, Garima - refer to anima-garima-laghima Krishna, Buddha and yet to Gayatri Mantra - a sacred & powerful manifest mantra from the Dashmi - 10th day of Hindu calendar Gharba-avasta - being pregnant Dassehra - see Vijayadashmi Gharge - fried pat of wheat or rice, Daya - kindness boiled with sugar Dev Yagna - refer panch maha yagnas Ghats - banks of the rivers, canals, ponds, Deva - endearing way of addressing Baba etc. Devasthan - holy place Ghee - clarified butter Dhangar - shepherd woman Ghol - ring with bits of iron loosely Dhanteras - 13th day of dark half of the attached and fastened to the top of a staff month of Kartik, 2 days before Diwali Girija - Parvathi, consort of Lord Shiva Dharamshala - a building for stay of Gita Rahasya - Tilak’s commentary on pilgrims the Gita in Marathi Dharma - religious & social obligations Gnyani - learned one which a Hindu devout has to adhere to Godavari - a river of Western India Dhoti/Dhotar - a piece of cloth worn Gokul Ashtami - Lord Krishna’s round the lower body birthday Dhoti-poti - yogic practice of cleaning Gondhalis - musicians and singers and of internal organs makers of gondhal/noise Dhuni - sacred fire Gopal Kala - feasting and merriment, Dhwaja - flag following the breaking of the mud pot, Dhyana - meditation filled with curds, parched rice, coins etc. Digambar - naked pious sage, anger per- The pot is hung high and reached by sonified, descendent of Bhrigu, follower the formation of human pyramids by of Parashuram the merrymakers Glossary 789

Grinati - one who teaches or gives Janmotsav - birthday celebration sermon i.e. the guru Japa - repetitive chantings of the name Guavas - Indian fruit of deity Gulal - coloured powder Jari - see zari Gulpapdi - cake made by frying wheat Jeshth - 3rd month of Hindu calendar flour & adding it to jaggery Jhanj - musical instrument Gulvadi - wadis made out of jaggery Jholi - a bag for alms hanging from the Gunas - the constituent qualities of shoulder nature Jiresal - excellent variety of rice Gurav - a caste Jiva/Jeeva - soul - atman - individual Guru Bandhu - disciples of the same Jñyana - knowledge guru Jowar - sorghum grain Guru Charitra - the story of Kacharya - delicacy of sliced brinjals fried Saraswati Swamiji, avatar of Dutta. Its crisp & brown reading is said to destroy all evils & grants Kadva - bitter salvation Kafni - long, ankle length shirt like robe Gurudev/Gururaya - guru - revered Kakad arati - early morning prayer mentor - spiritual teacher Kaliyug - the 4th age of the world, the Gururaj - respectful address of a guru iron age or that of vice. Its duration is Gurumaya - guru, the mother through 4,32,000 years Gurupurnima - full moon night for Kalpataru/Kalpavraksh - wish fulfilling worship of guru tree Guruputra - disciple Kamadhenu - cow that fulfils all desires Gyan - knowledge Kandani - refer panch soonas Hakim - learned in herbal medicines Kans - Lord Krishna’s maternal uncle, Halal - slaughter of an animal in who tried to kill Krishna accordance with Islamic law Karmas - law of retribution / cause and Handi - round vessel to cook food effect Harijans - Hindu outcaste Karmath - one who takes to the path of Hatha Yoga - one of the yogic practices knowledge Hiranyagarbha - the golden egg of the Kashi - Banaras, one of the holy places Brahman from which comes the earth, Kasturi - musk its seven islands and nine continents, the Kaustubh - one of the fourteen precious seven heavens and the seven netherlands things obtained from churning of the Holi - festival of colours ocean Holika - a deity, worshipped during Ketaki - pandanus odoratissimus - Holi flowering tree Homa - havan Ketu - planet Id - Muslim festival Khand-yoga - yogic practice of severing Idgah - a place for Muslim prayers & reassembling organs of the body Indra - God of rain Khanjari - small tambourine Ishavasya Bhavartha Bodhini - holy Kheer - rice, milk and sugar dish book Khichadi - dish cooked of a mixture of Ishavasya Upanishad - holy book rice and pulses Ishta Devta - favourite deity Kirtans - singing the God’s praises to Jamadagni - pious sage, anger the accompaniment of music personified, descendent of Bhrigu, Kolamba - the mud pot into which all follower of Parashuram offerings of food including Baba’s alms Janalok - abode of sons of Brahma were put 790 Sree Sai Samartha Satcharita

Kolhatinis - the rope dancers Mantra - sacred verse or text from Vedas Konkan - new land created by Margashirsh Purnima - full moon night Parashuram by forcing the waters of the of 11th month of Hindu calender around ocean in the western ghats of India December Koran - a sacred book of the Muslims Marjani - refer pancha soonas Koshimbiri - raw fruit or vegetables pick- Marwadi - Hindu community led or preserved hailing from Marwar - Rajasthan (India) Koss - 9 miles equal to a Koss Masjid - mosque Kruttika Nakshatra - third of lunar Masjidmai - mosque where Baba lived mansions & named it Dwarkamai Kuber - treasurer of the heavens Math - religious establishment Kulkarani - patwari, a village officer Maulana - title given to a learned Muslim Kumkum - vermillion Maulvi - Muslim priest Kurdiyas - preparation of rice flour, Mavashibai - aunt / mother’s sister fried in circular swirls Maya - the invisible, illusory or Lalaji - a term of respectful address unmanifest and also the material world Langoti - a loin cloth Mimansa - ancient Hindu philosophy Leelas - divine sport Moksha - salvation, release from cycle of Lendi - stream on the outskirts of Shirdi existence village Moong Vadis - small, flatish cakes made Long Maharaj - long snake from moong pulse Lota - tumbler Moulvis - Muslim priest Maha Bhagvat - holy book Mridang - drum Mahasamadhi - leaving the mortal coil Muga vadi - small, flatish cakes made Mahalok - sphere of sun and luminaries from phaseolusmango Mahanaivedya - offerings of variety of Muhurat - auspicious time delicious foods to a deity Muhurram/Moharram - 1st month of Mahanirvan - refer mahasamadhi Mohammaden year; fast observed in Mahar - refer Harijan memory of killling of Hasan & Hussein Maharaj - respectful way of addressing (grandsons of prophet Mohammad) Baba/emperor Mujawar - a devotee who tends the tomb Mahatal - one of the seven hells of a saint Mahatma - high soul of noble nature Mukti - liberation; four fold mukti Mahattva - the 2nd of the twenty-five prin- means absorption into the essense of ciples of samkhyas, one of the six Shastras brahman Mahendra - Indra, God of rain Mulla - Muslim theologian Maheshwar - Lord Shiva Munim - clerk Mahoday Parva - a festival of joy. A good Munis - sages action that confers special merit upon Munshi - clerk the performance Munsif - civil judge Mahurat - auspicious time Muttal - one of the seven hells; refer Mala - garland saptapatals Mama - maternal uncle Naivedya - food offering to the deity Mamlatdar - a revenue official Nakshatra - asterism in the moon’s path Mandes - preparation of wheat flour, a Namaaz - prayer offered by the Muslims very thin chappati slightly sweet Namaskar - respectful salutations Mangal Ghat - banks on river Ganga in Nanda-deep - light kept burning before Kashi a deity, day & night Glossary 791

Nandi - bull God, vehicle of Lord Shiva Brahma Yagna is reciting of Vedas; Pitru Narada - the most enlightened of Yagna – offering food by encircling with enlightened sages - son of Brahma water; Dev Yagna – offering food to the Naradiya Bhakti - way of worship as deities; Bhoota Yagna – offering food to per the sage Narad all creatures. Attithi Yagna – offering food Narasimha - a fierce avatar of Lord to the uninvited guest who may come to Vishnu the doorstep Nath Bhagvat - sacred book Panchikaran - combining amicably to- Nautanki - street play gether of the five elementary substances Navachandi Havan - oblations to the Panch-pran - five vital airs i.e. prana, fire with recitations of hymns in praise apana, samana, udana, vayana of Goddess Durga Panchratani Gita - a compilation of five Navrathra - 1st nine days of the light half jewels from the Mahabharat namely a) of the month of Ashwin during which Srimad Bhagvat Gita, b) Sree Vishnu Durga is worshipped Saharsranam Stotra, c) Bhishma Stavaraj, Neelkanth - Lord Shiva d) Anusmruti, e) Gajendra Moksha Neem - margosa Pandits - one well versed in shastras Nidhis - nine treasures of the God Kuber Panga - dough spread over a leaf, rolled Nimbar - niche in the western wall of and baked over fire the mosque where the sandalwood paste Panja - a hand, which symbolises the five etc. is applied great saints of the Muslims Nirakar - that which is without form Pan-vida - rolled betel leaf with areca Niranjan - the lamp nut & other ingredients Nirayan - leaving mortal coil Papad - thin, crisp cake of urad pulse Nirgun - unmanifest, formless (abstract) Parabrahma - nirgun unmanifed Brahma Nirvan - see mahasamadhi Pãrãyan - religious observances - regular Nirvikalpa - state of samadhi & com- reading of sacred books / texts plete peace Parees - a stone which can turn ordinary Oti - portion of the sari touching the stone into gold lap Parijat - flower Ovi - verse Parmarth - ultimate spiritual goal Pada-puja - worshipping of Lord’s feet Parmatma - the God Padukas - holy feet/shoes of the Patal - one of the seven hells Lord Pativrata - faithful & devoted wife Palkhi - palanquin Payalu - child born with legs first Pan - betel leaf Payas - sweet made of milk, sugar & rice Panch soonas - five sins i.e. “kandani” – Pedas - sweetmeat made of milk & sugar pestle, “chulli” – lighting the hearth fire, Pehran - long shirt “udkumbhi” – water pots; “peshani” – Peshani - refer panch soonas grinding, “marjani” – sweeping Phalgun Shud - 2nd fortnight of 12th Pancha - poormen’s dhoti which is short month of Hindu calendar - also used as towel Pheta - cloth headdress Panchamrut - a blend of curd, milk, Pie - coin of small demonitional value sugar, honey etc. of British India Panchang - a calendar which deals with Pilaf - rice cooked with other ingredients five things, such as the lunar date, the Pind - symbolic representation of day of the week, planets’ conjunction and Shiva / food offerings to the departed half lunar day soul Panchmaha yagnas - five yagnas i.e. Pir - Muslim saint 792 Sree Sai Samartha Satcharita

Pitamber - a dhoti of yellow silk Rashi - the sign of the zodiac Pitru Yagna - refer panch maha yagnas Rath - chariot Polis - refer puran poli Ravan - Ravan was the King of Lanka, Pothi - sacred text who kidnapped and was enemical to Prabhuraya - respectful address of the Ram God - saints Pradakshina - circumambulation of an Rogda - puffed mass of dough baked on idol by way of reverence embers Prajapati - the creator Rudra - Lord Shiva Prakrithi - the nature Rudraksh - a tree whose berries are used Pralay - deluge as beads for rosaries Pran-ahuti - oblation to the five pranas Sabha-mandap - courtyard of done at the beginning of meals Dwarkamai Prarabdha - previous karma; actions of Sachidananda - person pure in mind & past life body Prasad - sanctified food offerings Sadgati - liberation Prathnasamajist - one who does not Sadguru - realised teacher and avatar - an worship image incarnation Prayag - confluence of three rivers Sadgurunatha - respectful address Puja - worship Sadgururaya - respectful address of Pujari - priest Sadguru Puja-thali - a round tray containing Sadhak - disciple articles for worship of a deity Sadhana - devoted striving Punya - merit Sadhu - ascetic, holyman Punyatitthi - auspicious day of any saint Sagun - manifest, virtuous leaving mortal coil Saimauli - Mother Sai Puran/ - ancient Hindu Sai Prabha - a magazine published by mythology Sai devotees Puranika - a brahman well versed in the Sairaya - respectful address of Sai Baba puran (Hindu sacred text) Samadhan - quintessence of the mind Puranpoli - a wheat cake with stuffings Samadhi - profound meditation; of bengal gram cooked with jaggery complete burial or entombment of a saint Purdah - veil Samadhi Mandir - temple where mortal Puris - thin puffed wheat cakes remains of a saint are buried Purnima - full moon night Samarth - competent & powerful Purush - the supreme soul Samsar - the world Pushpanjali - offering of flowers Sandhya - religious meditation and Rahu - planet repetition of mantras in the mornings/ Rajaram - Lord Ram, the king evenings Rajas - passion, one of the three gunas Sanjoriya - stuffed cake made out of Rakshas - demon sheera Ram Raksha Stotra - hymn of praise to Sansthan - Sai Baba Sansthan of Shirdi Lord Ram / any organization Ramnavami - birth day of Lord Ram Sant Leelamrut - a sacred book written Ramvijay - holy book by Das Ganu Rangoli - design drawn with lime/ Sant Vijaya - a sacred book written by coloured powder Mahapati Rasatal - one of the seven hells; refer Sanyas - a stage of reclusion saptapatals Sanza - wheat pudding Glossary 793

Sapta Shringi - carved image of the Shastris - well versed in shastras Goddess near Vani (Nasik) Sheera - cream of wheat with sugar/ Saptapatals - netherworlds; seven hells - jaggery and ghee atal, vittal, muttal, talatal, mahatal, rasatal, Sheera-puri - cream of wheat with sugar/ patal jaggery and ghee and puffed wheat cake Saptashati - collection of seven hundred fried in oil verses in praise of Durga in Markandaya Shehnai - traditional Indian musical in- Puran strument played on auspicious occasions Sardar - head of a group Shethji - a term of respectful address Sari - dress worn by Indian women Shidha - rice, dal, flour and ghee Sarkar - master Shikharini - sweet dish made of ripe Sarodes - those who play the seven- plantains in milk & sugar stringed instrument and constantly Shiva-ling - the phallus or emblematic practise the prediction of good fortune representation of Shiva to the lower caste. Shivratri - name of a festival in honour Sat - truth / real of Lord Shiva Satcharita - life & teachings of Sai Baba Shlokas - spiritual verses / any great person Shradha - faith in the guru Sat-chit-anand - truth, consciousness & Shravan - 5th month of Hindu calendar bliss Shrirang - Lord Shriranga Satka - black wood baton about 2 1/2 Shruti - Vedas severally or collectively feet long Siddha - a person who abides within the Satsang - association with virtuous perpetual bliss of self realization i.e. a people semi divine person Satva - harmony, goodness, one of the Siddha-rana - one who has acquired all three gunas the eight siddhis Satvaguna - righteousness Siddhi - phenomenol power acquired Satvik - spiritual through holiness Satyalok - heaven of Brahma and rishis Skanda - sections of a holy book Satya Sai Katha - reading of 3 chapter Smaran - meditating on the Supreme relating to Sai Nath from Das Ganu’s Being Arvachin Bhakta Leelamrut Smritis - Vedas Satya Sai Vrat - Sai pooja after bath and Somakant - jewel which starts oozing being abstemious water when the rays of the moon fall on Satyanarayan puja - worship of Lord it Satyanarayan Sovala - state of purity Seemolanghan - the crossing of the bor- Stambha - all space der in pompous procession on the festi- Stotra/Stotras - hymns - religious cou- val of Dassera plets Seer - approx. 2 kilos Sudarshan Chakra - the discus of Sesh/Sheshnag - a legendary 1000 headed Vishnu, a flaming weapon serpent Sudras - low caste Shake - Hindu calendar / commencement Sunthwada - sweetmeat with ginger of an era Supari - areca nut - supreme & divine energy Surma - antimony black powder applied Shakti–pata - transference of power from to the eyes the guru to the disciple, which is effected Sutak - thirteen days after death when a by touch, words or even a mere glance household is deemed to be impure and Shama - mental restraint during which no religious rites are per- Shastras - Hindu religious literature formed 794 Sree Sai Samartha Satcharita

Swami - respected Hindu guru Tulsi - sacred basil Swarlok - region between sun and Tumrel - tin pot used by Baba for polarstar collecting gravied food Tabut - see tazia Turban - head dress made of cloth Takia/Takiya - resting place for the Tuvar - pulse fakirs Uddhava Gita - 11th chapter of the Tal - pair of cymbals Bhagvat Talatal - one of the seven hells; refer Udi - holy ash from Baba’s sacred fire saptapatals known as dhuni Taluka - a division of the district Udkumbhi - refer to panch soonas Tamas - inertia, darkness, one of the Udyapan - the concluding ceremony for three gunas religious observance Tamasha - a show Ukkal - pot where the grains are crushed Tamburi - a small Turkish guitar with to remove chaff four strings Uma - Parvathi, consort of Lord Shiva Tantras - a system of techniques Upadesh - sermon / advice Tapa - ascetic fervour or practice Uparna - small cloth worn loosely over Tapasvis - ascetic engaged in penance the shoulders Tapolok - heaven of the tapasvis Upasana - worship Taptamudra - impressions on the skins Urus - Muslim festival made by hot stamping Vades - cake made of pulses, ground Tarak mantra - hymn for crossing the spiced and fried ocean of existence Vadranal - the fire under the ocean Tathastuta - be it as you wish Vaid/Vaidyas - learned in herbal Taziya - the bier supposed to be sym- medicines bolically, the tombs of Hassan and Vairagi - an ascetic Hussein carried in procession at Vairagya - a state of saintlyhood/ Muhurram asceticism Teli - oilman Vaishnav - devotee of Lord Vishnu Thali - platter Vaishwadev - fire Tilak - circular auspicious mark on the Vajra - thunder bolt forehead Valpapdi - wax beans Tirth - sacred water Vanaprashthachari - 4th stage of life when Tirtha - holyplace of pilgrimage those renouncing society are taken to the Tithi - Hindu calendar date forest Titiksha - forebearance, bearing the opposites Vanjari - a trader who knows the paths Tonga - a small carriage drawn by horse in the forest / horses Varan - highly tasteful dish made of Tongawallah - driver of the horse car- pulses riage Varun - God of water Tripundra - three horizontal lines drawn Vasanas - desires on the forehead by applying sandalwood Vasudev - Lord Krishna paste, turmeric or kumkum, particularly Vayu - wind to Lord Shiva or self Vedangas - shastras Trishanku - person left hanging Vedant/Vedanta - system of Hindu phi- between heaven & earth losophy Trishudhi - corporal, oral & mental pu- Ved - ancient holy scripture rification Vedic Mantras - vedic hymns Glossary 795

Vedis - brahmin well versed in vedas; an in 1188, i.e. more than 100 years before altar prepared for sacrifice Dñyaneshwari, on Adwait, in Marathi Veena - Indian lute Vrat - religious ritual for observance of Venkatesh Stotra - hymn to Vishnu vow Vibhuti - see Udi Vrindavan - tulsi (sacred basil) plant Vichar Sagar - Hindi version of holder ‘Panchadasi’ Vrittis - way of behaviour Vijayadashmi - the 10th day of the light Wada - a dwelling half of the Hindu month Ashwin and Yada Panchavatishthante - when all the the festival celebrating the victory of Ram five senses & the intellect become steady, over Ravan considered the highest state of yoga Viraja - state of desirelessness Yagnas/Yagya - sacrificial act or rite Vishnu - Hindu God regarded as Yajñya - effort supreme deity & second member of triad Yavan - Muslim i.e. Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva Yoga - Hindu system of philosophical Vishnu Sahasranama - thousand name meditation & asceticism for effecting re- of Lord Vishnu union with the universal spirit Vishnupad - the image of Vishnu’s feet Yoga Agni - sacred fire at Gaya Yogacharaya - spiritual teacher for Vittal - one of the seven hells; refer philosophical meditation saptapatals Zari - golden Vivek Sindhu - written by Mukundraj Zilla - district

Bow to Shri Sai Peace be to all 796 Sree Sai Samartha Satcharita