SanskritWords

Sanskrit Word

THINGSWEOFFERTOGOD Meaning Details

Phalam

Fruit Generalterm:anyfruit

Pushpam

Flower

Generalterm:allflowers

Dhoopam

Incense sweetsmell

Somethingthathasacalminginfluenceand

Deepam

Lamp

DiwalialsocalledDeepavaliisthefestivalof lights

Naivedyam

Cookedfood offeredtoGod beforeeating

Afterpooja,Naivedyaisofferedasprasadaor prasadamtoeveryone

Sanskrit Word

Meaning

Details

Aasanam

Seat

Chairoranelevatedplacetosit Note:SimhaasanameansthroneSimhalion; Aasanaseat

Paadyam Arghyam

Waterofferedto washfeet Waterofferedto washhands

Snanam

Bath thepooja.

Waterispouredontheidolstocleansebefore Idolsaregenerallydecoratedwithclothing,

Alankaram

Decorating

flowers/garlands,kumkumandsandalpaste aspartofthepooja.

Vastram

Cloth/Fabric poojas.

Idolsareadornedwithfestiveclothingbefore

Gandham Chandanam SandalwoodPaste Sandalwoodtreesarefoundinforestsin manypartsofIndia;itwasusedtomake beautifulcarvings.Itssweetsmellmakesthe tree/woodveryexpensive

Sanskrit Word

Meaning

Details

Kumkumam

Redcolored powder

Kumkumismadeoutofturmericandsaffron. Kumkumistraditionallyred,butisavailable inmanydarkshadesusedinholi.

Haridra

Turmeric

UsedinpoojasaswellasIndiancooking;has medicinalproperties

Circumambulation Or Pradakshina walkingaroundin Theritualofpradakshinaormovingincircles acirclearoundthe aroundthedeityrecognizesGodasthefocal deity pointinourlives.Pradakshinasarealwaysin aclockwisedirectionaroundtheidol. GenerallycoupletsinSanskritpoetry: Shloka Verse RamayanaandMahabharathaareboth writteninshlokas Asound,syllable,wordorgroupofwords Mantra Repeatedchanting capableofcreatingaspiritualtransformation ofshlokas byrepeatingoverandover

Sanskrit Word

Meaning

Details

Aarathi

Wavinglightwith camphororwith wickssoakedin ghee

Aarthisarenormallydonewhilesinginga songinpraiseofthedeity

Geeta Nritya Song Dance Songsanddancesinpraiseofthedeitiesare traditionallyofferedaspartofelaboratepooja rituals. Pooja Worship Worship Offeringdry articlessuchus flowersor kumkum Pouringwater, milk,honey, yoghurt,ghee, rosewater,etcon theidolofthe deity Thepersonthatprofessionallyperformsthe poojaiscalledpujari Thisdevotionalactivityorritualisperformed amidstchantingofmantrasforthedeity. Pushparchanaworshipwithflowers Kumkumarchanaworshipwithkumkum Thisdevotionalactivityorritualisperformed amidstchantingofmantrasforthedeity. Liquidsusedfortheabhisekaarecollected andofferedasteerthaaftertheabhisheka Thisdevotionalactivityorritualinvolves Havanaor Homa Offeringprayers offeringprayerswithothersymbolicofferings inthepresenceof toAgniorfire.Havanasareperformedamidst fire chantingofmantrasforadeity. Congregationalworshipintheformofgroup Bhajana Groupsinging singingwithsymbols&percussion instrumentstocreatealivelyupbeat

Archana

Abhisheka

experience

Sanskrit Word

Meaning

Details
Bowingdownorsurrenderingonesegoto God. Namasthe:isthecommonIndiangreeting (gesturewithfoldedhandsandboweddown head)headthatmeansIsaluteyouorIbowto

Namanaor Namaskara

Salutations

theGodwithinyou.

Prarthana Prayer Partofworshippingritualsorpoojaorcanbe asimpledailyprayeroffered.

COMMONWORDSREPEATEDINPOOJAS&HAVANS
SanskritWord Meaning Details
Arpanatooffer Samarpanatooffer(completely) awholesomeoffering SamarpayaamiIoffer Karomi/ Kaarishyaami Mangalam/ Shubham Iwilldo/ Iamdoing Auspicious/Good KaromiIwilldo KarishyaamiIamdoing Auspiciousnessorasenseofwellbeing Swahaischantedduringfiresacrifices Swaha Anoffering ofhavanasattheendofeachmantra whenofferingsaremade.

Arpana/Samarpana Samarpayaami

ToOffer Ioffer

Swahaisalsoconsideredtobethewife ofAgniwhopresidesoverofferings madeduringahavana.

SOMESPIRITUALWORDS
SanskritWord Meaning Details
Peace,rest,calmness,tranquility,bliss OmShanthiShanthiShanthiHithe Shanthi Peace threeshanthischantedattheendof mantrasisaprayerforpeaceinthe worldaroundus. Meditationofteninvolvesinvokingand Dhyana Meditation cultivatingafeelingorinternalstateof contemplation. Jnana Bhakthi Mukthi Moksha Knowledge Devotion Liberation Salvation Wisdom,orIntellect Also,Bhaktha=devotee Liberationfromthecycleofbirthsand deaths. LikeMukthimeansliberationfromthe cycleofbirthsanddeaths PhilosophicaltermusedinHinduism toidentifythesoulwhetheringlobal Aathman Soul sense(worldssoul)orinindividual sense(ofapersonsownsoul). Maathru Pithru Mother Father Also,Maatha=Mother Also,Pitha=Father

Bandhu

Relative

Awellwisherorrelativethatisnot immediatefamily Aguruisonewhoisregardedas havinggreatknowledge,wisdomand

Guru

Teacher

authorityinacertainarea,andwho usesittoguideothers(teacher) DevaGod;DeviGoddess Celestialbeing,oranybenevolent supernaturalbeingstheypossess powersandabilitiesthathumansdo notpossess;theyusethesepowersto dogood. Ahimsa,orrefrainingfromcausing paintoanylivingcreature,isa distinctivequalityemphasizedby Indianethics&culturefromthe earliestdaysofitshistory. AhimsawaspopularizedbyMahatma Gandhihepreachednonviolenceor ahimsainIndiasfightfor independence. (also,Himsameansviolence) Thereisnoproperequivalentwordin EnglishfortheSanskrittermDharma. Although,generallydefinedas righteousnessorduty,Dharma includesallexternaldeedsaswellas thoughtsthattendtoelevatethe characterofman. (Adharma:antonym)

Deva/Devi

Deity

Ahimsa

Nonviolence

Dharma

Righteousness orduty

Thereisnoproperequivalentwordin EnglishforKarma.Although,itmeans actionordeed,Karmaissometimes Karma Actionordeed referredtoasa"morallawofcause andeffect."ThemorallawofKarma maintainsthatgooddeedswillbe returnedwithgood;evildeedswith evil