Hindu Glossary -The following is a glossary of terms and concepts in Hinduism.

 Hindu Glossary

 The following is a list of several common Hindu terms. We also recommend that you read our article What Is Hinduism , as we have pronunciations of many of ...

A

Aalaya - Temple

Abhaya - Fearless; refuge

Abhishekam - Ceremonial cleansing of the Lord's idol

Acharya - One who shows the right path for others to follow; a preceptor

Adisesha - Primeval serpent mythologically conceived to bear the world on his 1000 hoods. Traditionally believed to support Lord Sri Venkateswara upon seven of his hoods, Narasimha on his coiled frame, Mallikarjuna on his twisted tail, and Srikalahastivara at the opening of his mouth.

Aditya - Sun God

Alankaram - Decoration

Alvar - Seer of a specific religious order in the Vaishnavaite Cult

Amrit - Nectar which when consumed, grants immortality

Angapradakshinam - A vow whereby pilgrims lie prostrate and roll around the temple

Ankurarpanam - The start of the Brahmotsavam festival

Alipiri - Starting point at the foot of the hills, for pilgrims who wish to reach Tirumala on foot

Annadanam - Distribution of free food

Annam - Food

Annamacharya/Annamayya - (1408-1503 AD); the earliest musician to compose songs in favour of Lord Sri Venkateswara

Appams - A sweet dish made of rice flour and offered to the Lord

Archaka - Priest

Archana - Worship of the Lord

Arjita Seva - Any seva for the performance of which pilgrims pay a fee

Ashta - Eight

Asthanam - Royal Court/Official Chamber of the King

Asva - Horse

Aushadha - Medicine

Avatara - A manifestation of God on Earth, with a specific mission.

B

BIRRD - Balaji Institute of Surgery, Research and Rehabilitation for the Disabled

Bahumanam - Gift

Balaji - Another name for Lord Sri Venkateswara

Bhagaswamyam - Partnership

Bhakti - Devotion

Brahma - God of Creation

Brahmins - Hindu priests

C

Chakra - The sacred disc (weapon of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu)

Chakkera Pongal - Sweet dish made of sugar, milk and rice

Chandanam - Sandalwood

Chandra - Moon

Chaulam - Ear lobe-piercing ceremony

Cherupulu - Food offered to the Lord

Chinna - Small

Chitrannam - A rice preparation, rich in spices

Choultry - Guesthouse where accommodation is free of charge. Also called Dharmasala.

D

Daanam - Charitable offering

Dadhyodanam - Dish made of spiced rice and curd

Daiva - Divine

Dakshina - South; Offering money to the Lord

Dala - Leaf

Darsanam/Darshan - Viewing the idol of the Lord

Dasavataram - Ten incarnations of Sri Maha Vishnu

Deepam - Lamp

Devas - The Gods

Devasthanam - Abode of the Gods

Dhanya - Cereal

Dharma - Set of righteous principles to be followed

Dharmasala - Guesthouse where accommodation is free of charge. Also called Choultry.

Dhoti - Cloth tied around the waist like a sarong

Dhvajasthambham - A sacred pillar in front of the Sri Venkateswara temple

Dhyana Yoga - Meditation

Divya Ananda Nilaya Vimana - Dome of the abode of divine bliss

Divya Vimana - Divine dome

Dosa - Pancake made with rice flour, black gram flour and oil

Dupatta - Long scarf draped across the shoulders and worn with the salwar kameez.

Dvara gopura - Gateway with a sculpted tower above it

Dvara/Dvaram/Dwaram - Entrance; gateway

Dvarapalakas - Door-keepers

E

Ekangi - Celibate disciple of the Sri Vaishnava Jiyar Matham

Ekantam - Private

Ekanta Seva - Private service conducted for the Lord, to which pilgrims are not admitted

G

Gadha - Mace which is the sacred weapon of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu

Gajam - Elephant

Gangala - Brass vessel

Garbha griha - The sanctum sanctorum of the Sri Venkateswara Temple which houses the idol of the Lord

Garuda - A white-necked Brahmani Kite .He is considered the vehicle of Sri Maha Vishnu

Ghat - mountain. Also see Ghats (Eastern)

Ghats (Eastern) - Mountain range for a part of these ranges that runs along south-eastern India. Tirumala-Tirupati .

Gopuram - The sculpted upper crest of a temple

Gotram - The sect to which a devotee belongs

Grihastha - Donor

Gurkha - Security guard

Guru - Teacher

H

Hamsa - Swan

Harati - Waving a plate (in which a sacred flame is lit) in front of the Lord's image. Also called Nirajana

Harikatha - Musical rendering of divine stories

Hiranyakasipu - Demon King who tried to destroy the Earth

Hiranyaksa - Younger brother of Hiranyakasipu, who succeeded the latter as Demon King

Homam - Sacred fire

Hundi - Receptacle for depositing offerings (in cash and kind) for the Lord

I

Ishta Daivam - Favourite deity

J

Janaloka - One of the seven regions above the Earth

Japam - Sacred word that is chanted repeatedly

Jata - Twisted hair that hangs down in coils at the back of the Lord Sri Venkateswara's idol

Jeghanta - Cymbals

Jilebi - Spiral-shaped sweet dish made of flour and jaggery jelly

Jyeshtha - Name of a month in the Hindu calendar

K

Kainkaryam - Ritualistic offering to God or worship of God

Kali Yuga - The Dark Age

Kalpa - Age or aeon. Also called Yuga

Kalyana Katta - Place where devotees have their hair cut as an offering to the Lord

Kalyanam - Marriage

Kalyana Mandapam - Marriage Hall

Kalyanotsavam - Celebration of the divine marriage between Lord Sri Venkateswara and Sri Padmavathi Devi

Kankanam - Metal bracelet worn around the wrist

Kapila - Grey-coloured

Karma Yoga - deeds

Karpooram - Camphor

Kasturitilakam - Lineament of musk drawn on the Lord's forehead

Katika - Placed on the waist

Keertanas - devotional songs

Kiritam - Crown

Koil - Temple

Koluvu - Darbar

Kula Daivam - Family Deity

L

Laddu - Spherical-shaped sweet made of flour and jaggery/sugar

M

Madhura bhakti - Deep devotion

Maha - Great

Mahatmya/Mahatmyam - Greatness

Mahatva - Importance

Makara Kundalas - ornaments shaped like an alligator, that adorn the ears of the main idol of the Lord

Mandapam - structure or monument with rich sculpture meant for a specific purpose like performing fine arts

Mantra - Sacred word(s) to be chanted repeatedly

Mantrodaka - Sacred water

Matsya Avatara - Manifestation of Lord Vishnu as a fish

Muhurtam - Auspicious time

Mukhadvaram - Main entrance (door) at the front of the temple

Mukkoti - Three crore (merging of three crore teerthams in the Swami Pushkarini).

Mukti/Moksha - Liberation of the soul

Mulaberam - The central idol of Lord Sri Venkateswara

Murthi - Statue

Mutyam - Pearl

N

Nacchimars - The Lord's two consorts - Sridevi and Bhudevi

Naivedyam - Food offering

Namakarana- Naming ceremony

Namam - White caste-mark on the Lord's forehead

Narada - The supreme devotee of Lord Vishnu; a connoisseur of all arts; a devarishi (according to the Bhagavad Gita 10:26)

Narasimha - Lord Vishnu's manifestation, with the face of a lion and the body of a human

Narayana - Lord Sri Maha Vishnu

Nava - Nine

Nayaka - Leader

Nija - Real, Original

Niluvudopidi - Offering to the Lord, the clothes/ornaments that one is wearing when one visits the temple

Nirajana - See harati

Nivedana - Offer/present

O

Om - The sacred syllable

Om Sri Venkatesaya Namah - Saluting the Lord by reciting His name

P

Padmam - Lotus

Padmavathi - Consort of Lord Sri Venkateswara

Pallaki - Palanquin

Panchangam - Indian almanac

Panchanga Sravanam - Listening to the forecast as directed by the Sastras

Pandal - Canopy

Panyarams - Laddus. See Laddus.

Papam - Sin

Parinayam - Marriage

Parishad - Union of Scholars

Pataloka - The nether world

Pati - Husband

Patrika - Letter

Pavithra - Sacred

Payasam - Watery sweet made with milk, sugar, cardamom and cashewnuts

Periya Jiyar - Saint of the Sri Vaishnava Jiyar Matham

Periyatirdadi - The first devotee

Pinda Prasadam - Ceremony conducted in memory of the departed

Pitambaram - Yellow silk cloth

Pongal - Rice dish cooked with cereals and spices

Puja/Pooja - Ritualistic worship of God

Poojari - One who performs rituals, chants prayers and worships God as a representative of the devotee

Poolangi - Of flowers

Poorna - Complete, full

Pracharam - Spreading

Pradakshinam - Path for circumambulating the temple

Pradhana acharya purusha - Chief priest

Prahlada - Son of the Demon King Hiranyakasipu and a staunch devotee of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu

Prakaram - Wall surrounding the temple

Pralaya Kalpa - The Great Deluge

Prarthana - Prayer

Prasadam - Food offered first to the Lord and then distributed (as sacred) among devotees

Prasanna - Pleased

Pratima - Bronze icon

Pratyeka - Special

Pravachanam - Hymn sung in praise of the Lord

Prayoga - Ready for release

Pulihora - A rice dish made with tamarind/lime and spices.

Puranas - Ancient Hindu scriptures

Purohit - Priest

Purohit Sangam - An association of priests

Pushkarini - Sacred water tank

Pushpa Yagam - Vedic ritual involving offering of flowers to God.

Pushpam - Flower

R

Rakshasa - Demon

Rama Pattabhishekam - The coronation of Lord Rama

Ranganayaka - One of the manifestations of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. Also refers to the Deity at Sri Rangam.

Ratham - Chariot

Rishi - Sage

S

Sabha - Meeting;Group

Sadas - Meeting of intellectuals

Sahasra - Thousand

Sahasra Deepa - Thousand earthen lamps

Sakarabath - Sweetened rice

Salwar Kameez - Traditional Indian dress consisting of a loose knee-length top and a loose pant gathered at the ankles.

Samarpana - Offering

Samrakshana - Protection

Samsara Sagara - The ocean of Life

Sangam - Union

Sankalpam - Desire

Sankeertanas - Songs written in praise of the Lord

Sanku - The sacred conch of the Lord

Saranagati - To fall at a person's feet

Sari - traditional dress of Indian women

Sarovaram - Lake

Sarva - All

Sarvadarsanam - Viewing of the Deity for all; the time allotted for it.

Sastanga Danda Pramanam - prostrating before the Lord

Sastras - Various texts of ethical science dealing with code of conduct, morality, rituals etc.

Seera - Sweet dish

Seshachala - One of the famous seven hills of Tirupati believed to be the manifestation of the Snake God, Adisesha

Seshavahanam - Vehicle of the Lord (shaped like the Snake God Adisesha)

Seva - Service/Worship unto the Lord

Seven Hills - The seven hills of Lord Venkateswara's abode. They are Vrishabhadri, Garudadri, Seshadri, Anjanadri, Vedadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri; from Tirupati, the seven hills have to be crossed to reach Tirumala

Sikharam - Pinnacle

Simha - Lion

Sishya - Disciple

Sloka - Stanza

Smaraka - in memory of .

Soma - Moon

Somalatha - A plant whose juice intoxicates if drunk; plant offered to the sacred fire in Somayaga

Somayaji - The person who performs somayaga

Sopanamarga - Stairway (Stone footpath leading to Tirumala)

Sravanam - Season of rainfall (according to the Hindu calendar), usually in August

Sri Bhu Devi - Also called Sri Padmavathi Devi; one of the two consorts of Lord Sri Venkateswara, the other being Sri Lakshmi Devi

Sri Lakshmi Devi - Also called Sri Devi; one of the two consorts of Lord Sri Venkateswara, the other being Sri Bhu Devi

Sri Maha Vishnu - 'The Preserver' who is believed to have manifested Himself on Tirumala as Lord Sri Venkateswara, to save mankind in the Kali Yuga

Sri Venkatachala Mahatmya - The sacred text which extols the glory of Lord Venkaterswara and His abode.

Srinivasa - Lord Venkateswara

Srivaru - Lord Venkateswara

Sthala Mahathmya - The greatness of a place

Sudarsana - The sacred disc weapon of Lord Vishnu

Suddhi - Cleansing

Sukhasana - A Yogic pose

Suprabhatam - Auspicious time at dawn, when the Lord is woken and prayers chanted

Surya - Sun

Sveta - White

Sveta Varaha - The incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu as a fearsome white boar, to restore the Earth after the Great Deluge

Swami - God

T

Takeed - Receipt

Tatva - Substance

Tene - Honey

Thiru/Tiru - Respected, holy

Thirumanjanam - Fragrant powder prepared out of sandalwood and turmeric

Thomala Seva - Worship with garlands

Teertham - Holy water

Tirumala - Meaning 'the holy hill'; abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara situated atop the seven hills in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India

Tirumala Raya - a chieftain of the Araviti family, who renovated the Tirumala Raya Mandapam in the Sri Venkateswara temple

Tirupati - The sacred town of Lord Venkateswara at the foot of the seven hills in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh in India

Trimurthi - The holy trinity, comprising Lord Brahma, Lord Siva and Lord Vishnu

Tulabharam - Offering one's weight in coins to the Lord

U

Ubhaya Nacchiyars - The two consorts (Sri Devi and Bhu Devi) of the utsava murthi of Lord Sri Venkateswara.

Unjal - Cradle

Upanayanam -The ceremony of the investiture with the sacred thread

Utsava Murthi - Processional image of the Lord

Utsavam - Festival

Uttariyam - Garment for covering the shoulders or upper half of the body

Uyala Mandapam - Place where the Lord's idol is placed in a cradle and worshipped

V

Vada - Food item made of cereals and spices

Vaggeyakara - Composer

Vahana - The Lord's vehicle

Vaikuntam - Celestial abode of Sri Maha Vishnu

Vanabhivruddhi - Improvising gardens

Vanam - Garden; forest

Varada - boon

Varaha Kshetra - Place belonging to Varaha

Varahavatara/Varahaswami/Sveta Varaha - Incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu as a boar with a human body

Vasantam - The Spring season

Vasanthotsavam - A festival held in Spring

Vastram - Clothes

Vayu Deva - The God of Wind

Veda - That knowledge which is worth knowing

Vedic Mantras - Sacred hymns

Venkateswara - He who cleanses the sins of His devotees

Vigraham - Statue

Vimana/Vimanam - Dome

Vinjamara - Whisk

Visesha - Important

Vishnu - (Vyapana Seelanath Vishnuhu) That which is all-pervading; the Supreme Being who is the saviour of the universe; also see Sri Maha Vishnu

Vishvaksena - Chief commander of the Lord's army

Y

Yaga/Yagna - Vedic ritual in which various items are offered to God through a sacred fire

Yajnopavita - sacred thread worn by males of certain Hindu castes

Yuga - Aeon