1. |
अ |
A |
The first letter of the Sanskrit alphabet. It is Śiva Himself indeed. It is also named "Anuttara". |
2. |
अकल |
Akala |
The experient who is fully established in Śiva. |
3. |
अकुल |
Akula |
Śiva. The word "Kula" is a technical name for Śakti. Śakti is the Matrix from which the entire universe has been brought forth. And Śiva is "Akula" because He has not been brought forth from this Matrix. He is the eternal and uncreated Witness living in all. |
4. |
अक्रम |
Akrama |
(1) Without any succession or "krama". Successionless manifestation of one's essential nature. (2) It is also an epithet of Śāktayoga --Śāktopāya-- (the Yoga based on Śakti's viewpoint). |
5. |
अकृत्रिम |
Akṛtrima |
Inartificial, natural. That which is not "kṛtrima" or artificial. |
6. |
अख्याति |
Akhyāti |
(1) Primal ignorance. (2) Mahāmāyā. |
7. |
अग्नि |
Agni |
(1) Fire. (2) It is also symbolic of "pramāṇa" (knowledge). There is an eternal triad: pramātā (knower) - pramāṇa (knowledge) - prameya (known). Sūrya (sun) is symbolic of the knower, Agni (fire) is symbolic of knowledge and Soma (moon) is symbolic of that which is known. Of course, Agni is also one of the five Mahābhūta-s or gross elements. The other four are: Ākāśa, Vāyu, Ap or Āpas and Pṛthivī. |
8. |
अग्निषोमात्मिका |
Agniṣomātmikā |
The highest Śakti or Power that brings about sṛṣṭi (manifestation) and saṁhāra (withdrawal). She is the Supreme Śakti whose nature (ātmikā) is Agni (knowledge) and Soma (known). |
9. |
अग्निषोममय |
Agniṣomamaya |
The whole universe. This universe is called like this because it consists of Pramāṇa -knowledge- (agni) and Prameya -known- (soma). |
10. |
अज्ञान |
Ajñāna |
(1) The primal limitation (Āṇavamala). (2) Ignorance. In Trika "ajñāna" or ignorance does not mean "absence of knowledge", but contracted or limited knowledge. There is knowledge but it is scanty owing to the tremendous contraction. |
11. |
अघोर |
Aghora |
Not terrific. The merciful and compassionate Śiva. This is one of the five aspects of Supreme Lord. The remaining four are Īśāna, Tatpuruṣa, Sadyojāta and Vāmadeva. These five aspects form the Pañcamantra. |
12. |
अघोरशक्तयः |
Aghoraśaktayaḥ |
The Śakti-s or powers that lead the conditioned experients to the realization of Śiva. Nevertheless, those experients were always Śiva Himself. A real paradox. |
13. |
अघोरेश |
Aghoreśa |
This is the name of a Mantramaheśvara or experient of Sadāśivatattva (category 3) who is in charge of this limited universe. He has given rise to the impure tattva-s or categories (6 to 36). |
14. |
अणु |
Aṇu |
(1) The limited, conditioned experient. (2) "Cittamayapramātā", the experient who thinks he is his mind. (3) "Māyāpramātā", the experient dominated by Māyā (tattva or category 6). (4) Infinitesimal point, atom. |
15. |
अतिशान्तपद |
Atiśāntapada |
The state of Paramaśiva (Supreme Śiva) beyond all tattva-s or categories of Manifestation. |
16. |
अद्वय |
Advaya |
One without a second. An epithet of the Absolute Reality. |
17. |
अधःकुण्डलिनी |
Adhaḥkuṇḍalinī |
The descending Kuṇḍalinī. After rising up (Ūrdhvakuṇḍalinī), the powerful Śakti makes her way back to Mūlādhāracakra (root center). When She does so is called Adhaḥkuṇḍalinī. |
18. |
अधिकार |
Adhikāra |
(1) Office, service. (2) Prerogative, privilege. (3) Right. |
19. |
अधिष्ठातृ |
Adhiṣṭhātṛ |
(1) The ruling or presiding principle. (2) It is also an epithet of "aṇu" -the limited experient-. |
20. |
अधिष्ठान |
Adhiṣṭhāna |
(1) Base. (2) Substratum. (3) Supporting |
21. |
अध्वन् |
Adhvan |
This is the crude form of the word. In masculine gender it is "adhvā". It means course, way, journey, etc. |
22. |
अनच्क |
Anacka |
(1) Pronouncing the consonants without any vowels. (2) It also means "concentrating on the source of a mantra, where the mantra is no longer uttered". |
23. |
अनन्तभट्टारक |
Anantabhaṭṭāraka |
The presiding deity of the fifth tattva (Sadvidyā). The experient of this tattva is named "Mantra". Therefore, Anantabhaṭṭāraka presides over all Mantra-s. Do not mistake this term for the well-known sacred formulae. |
24. |
अनाश्रितशिव |
Anāśritaśiva |
Lit. "Śiva without any categories". In this state Śiva does not experience any objective universe. This stage is below Śakti (tattva 2) and above Sadāśiva (tattva 3). |
25. |
अनाहत |
Anāhata |
Inner unstruck sound. It continues to sound all the time and nobody is producing it. |
26. |
अनुग्रह |
Anugraha |
Idem Anugrahakṛtya. |
27. |
अनुग्रहकृत्य |
Anugrahakṛtya |
Grace. The fifth kṛtya (function or act) of Śiva. The other four functions are as follows: sṛṣṭi (creation), sthiti (maintenance), saṁhāra (withdrawal) and tirodhāna (concealment). The five acts are known as Pañcakṛtya. |
28. |
अनुत्तर |
Anuttara |
The Highest, the Ultimate Reality. A technical name for the letter "a". |
29. |
अनुपाय |
Anupāya |
Spontaneous realization of Self without any effort on the aspirant's part. The guru tells the Truth and the attentive disciple, by merely listening to it only once, understands and experiences it. |
30. |
अनुसन्धान |
Anusandhāna |
Investigation, inquiry, searching into. The philosophical meaning is: repeated intensive awareness of Self or Reality; as well as to join the succeeding experience to the previous one. |
31. |
अनुसन्धाता |
Anusandhātā |
A person who joins the succeeding experience into a unity. |
32. |
अनुस्यूत |
Anusyūta |
Sewed consecutively, strung together or connected regularly and uninterruptedly. Since our thoughts are like beads strung together by the thread of the inner Witness, they are "anusyūta". A good example I think. |
33. |
अनुस्वार |
Anusvāra |
The vowel "ṁ" indicated by a dot on top of a consonant. It is a nasal sound standing for the undivided knowledge of Śiva. |
34. |
अन्तःकरण |
Antaḥkaraṇa |
The inner (psychical) organ. It is formed from intellect (Buddhi), ego (Ahaṅkāra) and mind (Manas). These three are really one organ with three different but complementary functions. By the word "organ" I am not meaning to say "physical" organ, but "subtle" one. |
35. |
अन्तःस्थ |
Antaḥstha |
Lit. "being in the midst or between". The Semivowels "ya, ra, la, va". They are called like that because they are neither purely vowels nor purely consonants. Another interpretation says that they are Antaḥstha because they stand between Sparśa letters ("ka" to "ma") and Ūṣma letters (śa, ṣa, sa and ha). The philosophical viewpoint says that since they stand for Māyā (tattva 6) and Kañcuka-s (sheaths of ignorance, tattva-s 7 to 11), these letters operate from within the mind of man. Thus, they are properly named Antaḥstha (standing within the mind of man). |
36. |
अन्तकोटि |
Antakoṭi |
The last edge or point. It is a measure of twelve fingers called "dvādaśānta" |
37. |
अन्तरात्मा |
Antarātmā |
The limited and conditioned soul composed of Puryaṣṭaka (subtle body). The gross or physical body is an outer sheath of the "inner" soul. |
38. |
अन्तर्मुखीभाव |
Antarmukhībhāva |
Introversion. The state of turning one's attention within. |
39. |
अन्तर्व्योम |
Antarvyoma |
The inner space where exhalation and inhalation are dissolved. It is physically located on the cardiac region, but it is beyond space and time indeed. |
40. |
अप् |
Ap |
Water. One of the five Mahābhūta-s or gross elements. The other four are: Ākāśa, Vāyu, Agni and Pṛthivī. Idem Āpas. |
41. |
अपर |
Apara |
Lower, the lowest. The lowest condition in the universal manifestion, in which there are difference and duality. It is the opposite to Para (the Highest). |
42. |
अपवर्ग |
Apavarga |
Liberation. Final release and beatitude. |
43. |
अपवेद्यसुषुप्ति |
Apavedyasuṣupti |
Profound sleep without any object being consciouly perceived. |
44. |
अपशुशक्ति |
Apaśuśakti |
One who has attained to final liberation. One who is no longer a "paśu" or conditionated being. |
45. |
अपान |
Apāna |
The vital energy which goes in downward toward the base of spinal column. It enters through the inhaled air. One of the five major vital energies. The others are: prāṇa, samāna, udāna and vyāna. Its function is predominantly excretory because it brings all downward. |
46. |
अबुद्ध |
Abuddha |
Unawakened state. A condition of spiritual ignorance. |
47. |
अभाव |
Abhāva |
Nonexistence, nullity, void. |
48. |
अभिन्न |
Abhinna |
Non-different, identical. |
49. |
अभियोग |
Abhiyoga |
Backward reference of consciousness. |
50. |
अमायीय |
Amāyīya |
Beyond the scope of Māyā (tattva or category 6 in the process of Creation according to Trika). |
51. |
अमूढ |
Amūḍha |
Sentient. |
52. |
अमृत |
Amṛta |
Nectar, ambrosia. A condition from which one cannot fall again into the matter. |
53. |
अमृतवर्ण |
Amṛtavarṇa |
A technical name for the letter "sa". |
54. |
अम्बा |
Ambā |
The Highest Power of Śiva. It is one of the four śakti-s or powers (the other three are Jyeṣṭhā, Raudrī and Vāmā) of which Yoni or divine Womb is composed. |
55. |
अर्थ |
Artha |
Meaning, object, goal, perfect comprehension of reality. |
56. |
अर्धचन्द्र |
Ardhacandra |
Lit. "half-moon". There are twelve stages in the recitation of the sacred Aum̐ and "ardhacandra" is the fifth. It means subtle energy of sound too. |
57. |
अर्धेन्दु |
Ardhendu |
Ditto "ardhacandra". |
58. |
अलङ्ग्रास |
Alaṅgrāsa |
Bringing the perceived object to "complete unity" with the perceiver. There is absolute unity among the perceiver (I) and the perceived object (this). |
59. |
अवधान |
Avadhāna |
Full and constant attentiveness. |
60. |
अवस्था |
Avasthā |
State, condition. |
61. |
अविकल्प |
Avikalpa |
Without any thought. Free of all thoughts. |
62. |
अविकल्पप्रत्यक्ष |
Avikalpapratyakṣa |
An awareness or perception without any thought, without any perceptual judgement. Unparticularised awareness. |
63. |
अविवेक |
Aviveka |
Non-discernment. Non-awareness of Reality. Delusion and ignorance. |
64. |
अव्यक्त |
Avyakta |
Unmanifested. |
65. |
अशुद्धविद्या |
Aśuddhavidyā |
Impure knowledge. "Impurity" means "absence of unity-awareness" in Trika. When a person is not conscious of Reality and its inherent unity, he has "impure knowledge" because his knowledge is only of a few particulars. Limited and conditioned knowledge |
66. |
अशून्य |
Aśūnya |
Non-void. |
67. |
अशुद्धि |
Aśuddhi |
Impurity, "absence of unity-awareness". Limitation, conditioning. |
68. |
असत् |
Asat |
Non-being. |
69. |
अहङ्कार |
Ahaṅkāra |
Ego (tattva or category 15). Ego thinks he is the doer (kāra) of evil and good deeds, but this is false. Just Śiva is doing all. When a person understands this truth, he attains to final release. |
70. |
अहम् |
Aham |
I. True and absolute I. |
71. |
अहन्ता |
Ahantā |
The state of I. The condition of absolute I. I-consciousness. Interiority. |