A
Abhay-mudra: a gesture (mudra) which dispels fear
Abja: ‘Lotus’, which is born or produced from water. Padma; Nilotpal
Adisakti: the primeval sakti.
Aditi: Name Of The Vedic Divine Mother Goddess who embodies the primordial vastness of Universal Nature symbolized
Adya sakti: primary sakti or primordial active female principle
Agama: a collection of traditional religious teaching contained in non-Vedic texts. The Agamas are the basic texts of Tantrism
Agni-Durga: an eight-armed three-eyed form of Durga.whose emblems are discus, sword, shield, noose and goad. One hand is in varada pose.
Aksamala: a rosary of string god beads which may consist of pearls, bones, dried seeds. Berries and skulls for demonic rites.
Amba: Mother. An aspect of Parvati. She carries a child (bala) water-vessel, lotus and noose.
Ambika: a Hindu goddess often identified with Amba. She is the Jaina counterpart of Durga. Ambika is also distinct from Parvati, Durga and Kali, when she is one of the central Sakta Cult deities.
Amrita: Immortal. The ambrosia, the food or drink of the gods. According to the Atharvaveda, amrita was produced during the cooking of the sacrificial rice-mess.
Anada: ‘Joy’, ‘happiness’ epithets of Siva and Balarama.
Andhakasura: the ausra who embodies darkness (tams) or spiritual blindness so holding all creatures in thrall.
Annapurna: filled with (or giver of) food. Name of a gentle form of Parvati who averts famine.
Aparajita: a name of Durga whose mount is lion. Her emblem includes sword, shield, snake, Pinaka, arrow, and the snake Vasuki.
Apsara: going in the waters. Seductive eternally young nymphs, the celestial dancers of the gods.
Apsmara: a demon-dwari personifying the evils of ignorance
Ardhalaksmihari: part Lakshmi and part Hari (Visnu).
Ardhanarisvara: a gentle (saumya) aspect of Siva in androgynous form which denotes the inseparability of all male and female forms the cause of creating in the world.
Astasvasaras: Eight Sisters – Parvati, Uma, Gauri and Jagadambi, the gentle aspect and; Kali, Durga, Chamunda and Mahesvari, the terrific forms.
Asura: Demons.
Avatara: Descent a divine incarnation which descends to earth in bodily form to protect gods, priests holds men and all creatures from evil and to safeguards the teaching.by a cow
Abja: ‘Lotus’, which is born or produced from water. Padma; Nilotpal
Adisakti: the primeval sakti.
Aditi: Name Of The Vedic Divine Mother Goddess who embodies the primordial vastness of Universal Nature symbolized
Adya sakti: primary sakti or primordial active female principle
Agama: a collection of traditional religious teaching contained in non-Vedic texts. The Agamas are the basic texts of Tantrism
Agni-Durga: an eight-armed three-eyed form of Durga.whose emblems are discus, sword, shield, noose and goad. One hand is in varada pose.
Aksamala: a rosary of string god beads which may consist of pearls, bones, dried seeds. Berries and skulls for demonic rites.
Amba: Mother. An aspect of Parvati. She carries a child (bala) water-vessel, lotus and noose.
Ambika: a Hindu goddess often identified with Amba. She is the Jaina counterpart of Durga. Ambika is also distinct from Parvati, Durga and Kali, when she is one of the central Sakta Cult deities.
Amrita: Immortal. The ambrosia, the food or drink of the gods. According to the Atharvaveda, amrita was produced during the cooking of the sacrificial rice-mess.
Anada: ‘Joy’, ‘happiness’ epithets of Siva and Balarama.
Andhakasura: the ausra who embodies darkness (tams) or spiritual blindness so holding all creatures in thrall.
Annapurna: filled with (or giver of) food. Name of a gentle form of Parvati who averts famine.
Aparajita: a name of Durga whose mount is lion. Her emblem includes sword, shield, snake, Pinaka, arrow, and the snake Vasuki.
Apsara: going in the waters. Seductive eternally young nymphs, the celestial dancers of the gods.
Apsmara: a demon-dwari personifying the evils of ignorance
Ardhalaksmihari: part Lakshmi and part Hari (Visnu).
Ardhanarisvara: a gentle (saumya) aspect of Siva in androgynous form which denotes the inseparability of all male and female forms the cause of creating in the world.
Astasvasaras: Eight Sisters – Parvati, Uma, Gauri and Jagadambi, the gentle aspect and; Kali, Durga, Chamunda and Mahesvari, the terrific forms.
Asura: Demons.
Avatara: Descent a divine incarnation which descends to earth in bodily form to protect gods, priests holds men and all creatures from evil and to safeguards the teaching.by a cow
B
GLOSSARY
Bhadra: Auspicious. A name of the goddess Laksmi who is depicted on a lotus plinth a characteristic of many deities
Bhadra-Kali: Originally a nature goddess later adopted by Saivas. She emerged from Uma’s wealth when her husband Siva was insulted by her father, Daksa. She carries 12 weapons
Bhagvati: The lady – a benign aspect of Parvati (Devi) who embodies the combined emerges of Siva, Visnu and Brahma.
Bhairavi: Terror or the power to cause terror. Name of a goddess, the sixth Mahavidya.
Bharati: A minor Vedic goddess who represent eloquence and hence is often associated with the Goddess Sarasvati.
Bhogasakti: Name of the Sakti of Siva when in his Sada Siva aspect.
Bhudevi: Second wife of Visnu, personifying the earth
Bhuta: A term for the five elements, Rudra is called Bhutesvara, Lord of all elements.
Bilva or Bel: The sacred wood-apple tree regarded as a vegetal form of Siva.
Bindu: Drop-point limit. Dot denoting the beginning of manifestation from the undifferentiated or non-manifestated state which is the productive point of potentiality – void (sunya)
Brahman (neuter): The ultimate substratum of the forces of the universe, the self-existent which is quality-less (aguavat). Brahman is the essence in all things and hence cannot be an object of knowledge, only the deities minor manifestations of Brahman can be approached by man.
Brahman: Brahma’s egg. Name of the cosmic golden egg that circumscribes the totality of manifestation and from which Brahma was born. It is divided into 21 regions, the earth being 7th from the top.
Brahmani Or Brahmi: Another name of Sarasvati, a consort of Brahma. Brahmi is a non Vedic goddess later adopted as Brahma’s sakti. She is included among the saptamatrikas.
Brahmapasa: Brahma’s noose. Name of Brahma’s mythical weapon
Bhadra: Auspicious. A name of the goddess Laksmi who is depicted on a lotus plinth a characteristic of many deities
Bhadra-Kali: Originally a nature goddess later adopted by Saivas. She emerged from Uma’s wealth when her husband Siva was insulted by her father, Daksa. She carries 12 weapons
Bhagvati: The lady – a benign aspect of Parvati (Devi) who embodies the combined emerges of Siva, Visnu and Brahma.
Bhairavi: Terror or the power to cause terror. Name of a goddess, the sixth Mahavidya.
Bharati: A minor Vedic goddess who represent eloquence and hence is often associated with the Goddess Sarasvati.
Bhogasakti: Name of the Sakti of Siva when in his Sada Siva aspect.
Bhudevi: Second wife of Visnu, personifying the earth
Bhuta: A term for the five elements, Rudra is called Bhutesvara, Lord of all elements.
Bilva or Bel: The sacred wood-apple tree regarded as a vegetal form of Siva.
Bindu: Drop-point limit. Dot denoting the beginning of manifestation from the undifferentiated or non-manifestated state which is the productive point of potentiality – void (sunya)
Brahman (neuter): The ultimate substratum of the forces of the universe, the self-existent which is quality-less (aguavat). Brahman is the essence in all things and hence cannot be an object of knowledge, only the deities minor manifestations of Brahman can be approached by man.
Brahman: Brahma’s egg. Name of the cosmic golden egg that circumscribes the totality of manifestation and from which Brahma was born. It is divided into 21 regions, the earth being 7th from the top.
Brahmani Or Brahmi: Another name of Sarasvati, a consort of Brahma. Brahmi is a non Vedic goddess later adopted as Brahma’s sakti. She is included among the saptamatrikas.
Brahmapasa: Brahma’s noose. Name of Brahma’s mythical weapon
C
Chamunda: One of the most terrifying forms of goddess Durga who symbolizes universal death and destructionas well as delusion (moha) or malignity (paisunya).
Chanda: An Aspect Of Mahisasurmardini And Also One Of The Nine Durgas. Her Emblems Include An Elephant Goad, Discus, A Large And A Small Drum, Mirror, Bow And Arrow, Mace, Sword, Shield, Hammer, Axe, Spear, Conch, Trident, Vajra Etc. Her Mudra Is Abhaya
Charka: Discus or wheel. One of Visnu’s attributes. It represents power and protection.
Chaturbhuja: Four armed. A number of divinities are shown with forearms which signify their divinity and superhuman powers. The arms also denote the four quarters of the universe.She is also one of the Saptamatrika
Chanda: An Aspect Of Mahisasurmardini And Also One Of The Nine Durgas. Her Emblems Include An Elephant Goad, Discus, A Large And A Small Drum, Mirror, Bow And Arrow, Mace, Sword, Shield, Hammer, Axe, Spear, Conch, Trident, Vajra Etc. Her Mudra Is Abhaya
Charka: Discus or wheel. One of Visnu’s attributes. It represents power and protection.
Chaturbhuja: Four armed. A number of divinities are shown with forearms which signify their divinity and superhuman powers. The arms also denote the four quarters of the universe.She is also one of the Saptamatrika
Chandanayika: Name of one of the Nine Durgas
Chandarupa: Name of one of the Nine Durgas
Chandavati: Name of one of the Nine Durgas
Chandi (or Chanda): Two of the many names of the Great Goddess whose sacred animal is inuana. She is the embodiment of the vats uncontrollable intensity of divine enrgy and divine wrath.
Chandika: A goddess who symbolizes desire (kama). She is sometimes identified with Chamunda.
Chandisakti: The personification of Chandi’s energy which emerged from the goddess body howling like hundred jackals
Chinnarmasta or Chinnamastaka: The Beheaded. The Headless form of Durga representing power of sacrifice venerated by Saktas of Bengal. she is one of the Mahavidyas
Chintamani: The wish-fulfilling gem that came with Laksmi
Chandarupa: Name of one of the Nine Durgas
Chandavati: Name of one of the Nine Durgas
Chandi (or Chanda): Two of the many names of the Great Goddess whose sacred animal is inuana. She is the embodiment of the vats uncontrollable intensity of divine enrgy and divine wrath.
Chandika: A goddess who symbolizes desire (kama). She is sometimes identified with Chamunda.
Chandisakti: The personification of Chandi’s energy which emerged from the goddess body howling like hundred jackals
Chinnarmasta or Chinnamastaka: The Beheaded. The Headless form of Durga representing power of sacrifice venerated by Saktas of Bengal. she is one of the Mahavidyas
Chintamani: The wish-fulfilling gem that came with Laksmi
D
Daitya: Son of kasyapa (one of the ten prajapatis) and Diti. They are the implacable enemies od gods.
Daksa: Skilled/able. The personification of ritual power which thinks men with the god. His father was Brahma and his wife, Prasuti. He had many daughters, 13 of whom were married to Dharma or Kasyapa. One of the daughters Svaha was married to Agni and another, Sati to Siva.
Damaru: A small double sided drum, shaped like hourglass and carried by Siva.
Danda: Staff or a Club signifying power and sovereignty. A emblem of Yama, god of death
Dasabhuja: Ten armed. The ten arms of particular deities representing the ten quarters of the sky and by extension symbolizes universal dominion.
Devi: Goddess
Dhana-Laksmi: A form of the goddess Laksmi denoting wealth
Dhanus: ‘Bow’ carried by Visnu’s incarnation Rama.
Dharani: Earth. A goddess personifying the earth and regarded as avatara of Laksmi.
Dhenu: A milch cow, symbolizing the abundance of the earth and said to be an animal form of Laksmi
Dikpala: The concept of the eight divine guardians of the four quarters and the four intermediate quarters – Indra (E), Agni (SE), Yama (S), Nirti (SW), Vayu (NW), Kubera (N), Isana (NE).
Dipa: Light. Laksmi is specially associated with Light.
Diti: Limited. A vedic goddess, the mother of demons (asuras) and sister of Aditi. Mother of Maruts, the howling storm gods.
Durga: An independent goddess personifying Shakti, consort of Siva
Durga: Name of an asuraDurga-Laksmi: The two goddess combined in one figure
Daksa: Skilled/able. The personification of ritual power which thinks men with the god. His father was Brahma and his wife, Prasuti. He had many daughters, 13 of whom were married to Dharma or Kasyapa. One of the daughters Svaha was married to Agni and another, Sati to Siva.
Damaru: A small double sided drum, shaped like hourglass and carried by Siva.
Danda: Staff or a Club signifying power and sovereignty. A emblem of Yama, god of death
Dasabhuja: Ten armed. The ten arms of particular deities representing the ten quarters of the sky and by extension symbolizes universal dominion.
Devi: Goddess
Dhana-Laksmi: A form of the goddess Laksmi denoting wealth
Dhanus: ‘Bow’ carried by Visnu’s incarnation Rama.
Dharani: Earth. A goddess personifying the earth and regarded as avatara of Laksmi.
Dhenu: A milch cow, symbolizing the abundance of the earth and said to be an animal form of Laksmi
Dikpala: The concept of the eight divine guardians of the four quarters and the four intermediate quarters – Indra (E), Agni (SE), Yama (S), Nirti (SW), Vayu (NW), Kubera (N), Isana (NE).
Dipa: Light. Laksmi is specially associated with Light.
Diti: Limited. A vedic goddess, the mother of demons (asuras) and sister of Aditi. Mother of Maruts, the howling storm gods.
Durga: An independent goddess personifying Shakti, consort of Siva
Durga: Name of an asuraDurga-Laksmi: The two goddess combined in one figure
G
Gada: Club. Mace which may be of various shapes and fashioned from wood or iron. The club symbolizes the power that ensures conformity to universal law and also represent Samkhya principle called buddhi.
Gaja-Laksmi: Name of an image of Laksmi depicted with an elephant (gaja) on each side. Their raised trunks sprinkle water over her which suggest she is mother goddess.
Ganga: The name of one of the most sacred river of India and its personification as a goddess who symbolizes the purity derived from primordial water, and hence her colour is white.
Gauri: Her colour is bright yellow. A gentle benevolent aspect of goddess, Parvati, consort of Siva. She is usually portrayed as two or four armed beautiful woman of white complexion. Her upper hands carry a rosary and a water pot, and lower hands are in abhaya and varada mudra.
Gaus: Cow. The most sacred animal in Hinduism whose symbolic quas-divine status stems from the Indus civilization representing abundance.
Ghanta or Ghanti: Bell.
Godhika: Iguana, an emblem of Gauri
Guna(s): Quality or property, characteristic that constitutes all creation. Theoretically there are three main gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas
Gaja-Laksmi: Name of an image of Laksmi depicted with an elephant (gaja) on each side. Their raised trunks sprinkle water over her which suggest she is mother goddess.
Ganga: The name of one of the most sacred river of India and its personification as a goddess who symbolizes the purity derived from primordial water, and hence her colour is white.
Gauri: Her colour is bright yellow. A gentle benevolent aspect of goddess, Parvati, consort of Siva. She is usually portrayed as two or four armed beautiful woman of white complexion. Her upper hands carry a rosary and a water pot, and lower hands are in abhaya and varada mudra.
Gaus: Cow. The most sacred animal in Hinduism whose symbolic quas-divine status stems from the Indus civilization representing abundance.
Ghanta or Ghanti: Bell.
Godhika: Iguana, an emblem of Gauri
Guna(s): Quality or property, characteristic that constitutes all creation. Theoretically there are three main gunas – Sattva, Rajas and Tamas
H
Haimavati: Metronymic of Parvati, the daughter of Himavat.
Hiranyagarbha: Golden germ (or womb). The golden cosmin egg from which the universe issued and a name of Brahma in his creative aspect. The golden germ expresses itself in the form of a vibrating energy (spanana – sakti rupa). It divides itself into the causal mass of potentialities (the causal waters Rayi) and the breath of life (span) pictured as the wind that creates the waves in the causal form which all forms develop.
Homa: The act of making an oblation to the gods by throwing ghee into sacrificial fire
I
Icchasakti: The tantric sakti of desire
Indira: Powerful one. Name of goddess Laksmi, consort of Visnu
Indrani: Sachi, consort of Indra and the embodiment of power and one of the Saptamatrikas. Her emblems are rosary, elephant goad, water vessel, a flower or leaves of atree, a vajra and spear.
Isu: Arrow
Isvara: Lord, the creator and the ruler of the Universe. The personification of the Absolute.
J
Jagadamba or Jagadambi or Jaganmati: Mother of the world, a dynamic mother aspect of the Great Goddess, Devi
Jayanti: Victorious. Name of daughter of Indra, and an epithet of Durga whose emblem are – a sword, trident, shield and spear.
Jnanasakti: A goddess personifying the power of knowledge.
Jyestha or Alaksmi: An ancient South Indian goddess who became popular in many parts of India. She is the elder sister of Laksmi, but represents the opposite qualities. Jyestha is one of the sistala, the goddess of small pox. A crow (dead ancestors) is her symbol depicted on her banner and her mount is an ass – an animal used ritually to expiate sexual offences.
K
Kacchapa: Tortoise. The vehicle of Yamuna
Kailasa: A mountain peak said to be part of Himalaya and the abode of Siva and his family
Kala: Black. Time kala (Siva) and Visnu are regarded as an aspect of Cosmic Time (Mahakala).
Kala: Bhadra. Time (or Death). An aspect of Siva’s sakti, who is worshipped in burial grounds
Kali: Name of one of Agni’s 7 tongues of fire. The sakti of Siva who symbolizes the power of time. She may hold a noose, vajra, skull topped staff, swords and severed head
Kalika: A variety of Chamunda and one of Durga’s many names. As Kalika she represents Absolute Time from which Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara and, other gods were born
Kalyanasundaramurti: An auspicious aspect of Siva taking Parvati’s hand in marriage.
Kama: The godama represent the creative impulse behind existence
Kamadhenu: The mythical wish-fulfilling Cow of plenty which emerged from Churning of the Ocean
Kamaksi or Kamakhya: Waton-eyed. A cruel form of Durga to whom formerly human beings were sacrificed . her chief temple is in Assam.
Kamandula: Small water-pot. Brahma has a water-pot as an emblem
Kapila: 7th century BC. According to tradition the t\ounder of the Samkhya system
Karma: An act of performance
Kasyapa: An ancient sage, the embodiment of the power of procreation. He is an archaic manifestation of the Lord of all creatures (Prajapati)
Katyayani: An aspect of the goddess Durga
Kauberi: Wife of Kubera and daughter of danava Mura, she is also called Yakshi or Carvi
Kaumari: Also called Sena. Name of the sakti of Kaumara (Skanda). Her mount is peacock and she is in abhaya nad varada mudra. She holds a staff bow, banner bell , water vessel, cockerel lotus, axe, spear etc.
Kausiki: Name of a goddess who sprang from the cells or Kosa of Parvati’s body
Kirttimuka: Face of glory. A magical protective mask to keep away evil
Kubera: King of Yakshas. And god of wealth
Kumbha: Pot or a Pitcher of water
Kurma: Cosmic Tortoise and an Incarnation of Visnu
L
Laksmi: Goddess of wealth and fortune. Consort of Visnu, the protector of the Universe
Laksmi-Narayana: Laksmi and her husband Visnu shown together
M
Madhavidevi: Earth goddess
Mahasakti: Great Sakti. The Mother aspect of Devi worshipped by Saktas
Mahesveta: An earth-goddess, a consort of Siva
Mahavidyas: Great (or transcendent) knowledge. Ten tantric goddesses of Sakti
Mahisa: Buffalo
Mahisasurmardini Durga: The Great Goddess who slayed of the Mahisa demon
Manasa: folk goddess of snakes
Maruts: Vedic storm gods, the allies of Indra
Matŗ: Mother
Matŗkas: Divine Mothers
Maya: Creative power or Illusion
N
Nama-rupa: Name and Form (or aspect)
Nirguna: ‘Beyond Qualities or Attributes’, the neuter Brahman
O
OM: The sacred syllable, the source of all mantras
P
Padma: Lotus,Symbolizes creation
Parasu: Battle-axe. Given to Durga by Visvakarma
Parvati: Daughter of King Parvat and consort of Lord Siva
Prakŗti: Nature. The world substance, matter, the source of universal material
Pratima: Image
Prithvi: The Earth
Puja: Worship or Homage
Purana(s): A collection of ancient texts – traditional tales describing the creation and destruction of the universe
R
Rajas: the tendency to manifest. One of the three gunas
Rupa: Form, Image.symbol
S
Sachi: A goddess personifying divine strength and power. She is Indra’s consort
Saguna: Deva
Salabhanjika: Statue or sculpture representing a girl gathering the flowers of a sala tree
Samkhya: The oldest of the six Hindu philosophies (darsana)
Sannyasin: Brhamin
Saptamatŗka: The group of seven divine mothers
Sarasvati: An ancient river and goddess personifying wisdom and speech
Sattva guna: Goddess. Purity, one of the three gunas
Savitri: Gayatri
Simha: Lion
Smriti: That which is ‘remebered’
Sri or SriDevi: Another name of Laksmi
Sruti: That which is ‘heard’
Sukta: A vedic ‘human’. Later the term denoted a wise saying, a song of praise etc.
Surasundari: Celestial nymph
T
Tamas: The tendeny to non-manifest and non-activity
U
Uma: Consort of Siva
Usa: Goddess of the dawn
V
Vach: Speech. Personified by goddess Sarasvati
Vahana: Mount or Vehicle carrying gods
Vaisnavi: Consort of Visnu holding a club and a lotus
Vajra: Thunder-bolt
Vana-Durga: Forset Durga, depicted in green
Vani: Sarasvati
Varahi: Consort of Varah holding a spear and a plough
Varuni or Varunani: Wife of Varuna and goddess of white wine and holds a wine cup (casaka), apiece of meat, alotus and Parijata flowers
Veda: Collection of four Samhitas written around 1500 BC onwards. Prior to it, were passed on orally
Vedanta: The end (anta) of Veda. Name of one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy
Vidya: Knowledge
Vighna; Obstacle
Visvarupa: Multi-form of a god or goddess
Y
Yajña: Offering sacrifice
Yakshi: The female Yaksha and a name of Kubera’s wife
Yama: The god of Death
Yami: Twin sister of Yama
Yamuna: A name of a river. Flanked at the doorways of Hindu temples along with Ganga to purify devotees before enetering the Sanctum
Yogesvari: The terrific form of Cinmaya Devi also represents light of pur consciousness. One of the eigth mother
Yoni: Female generative organ vulva when depicted with linga represent the two of them the cosmic Purusha and Prakriti – dualism
Disclaimer: This glossary was created as part of my MA assignment in 2003 and has not since then been revised. Please cross check with books by scholars of the field. New research has come up since then. This was for my personal reference only.
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