OM

Ajnanatimirintasyajnananjanasalakaya

Cakshurunmilitam yena tasmai 

srigurave namah

ADVAITA VEDANTA

D   Krishna Ayyar

 

GLOSSARY FOR ADVAITA VEDANTA

 

A-H

 

Acala

That which is devoid of movement

Adhishtanam

Sub-stratum.  In Advaita Vedanta, the real entity located in which an unreal thing is perceived

Adhyasa

Superimposition. The wrong notion concerning a real entity, attributing to it the nature and characteristics of an unreal thing  and vice versa

Advayam

Non-dual . The only Absolute Reality

Agami karma

Punya and papa arising from action and thought in the present janma

Ahambrahmasmi

“ I am Brahman”

Ahamkara

Ahampratyaya

Mind cum reflected consciousness

The ‘I’ notion part of the mind,  the changing ‘I’ as the knower, doer etc.

Ajah

That which has no birth

Akasa

Space

Akhanda caitanyam

Undivided, all pervading consciousness

Anadi

That which has no origin

Ananda

Bliss

Anandamaya kosa

Bliss sheath. The ignorance and bliss experienced by a person during deep sleep

Anantam

That which is not limited , space-wise, time-wise or entity-wise. The infinite

Anantam

That which has no end

Anavastha dosha

The fallacy of infinite regress

Anirvacaniyam

Unexplainability; Undefinability

Annamaya kosa

The physical body

Antahkarana

Mind – consisting of Manas, buddhi, ahamkara, and citta

Arthadhyasa

 Perception of an unreal entity

Asanga

Unassociated.; relationless

Asuras

Demons

Atma

The Consciousness aspect of Brahman’s nature recognized as the witness-consciousness in individual beings.

Avarana sakti

Veiling power. The power of Maya by which Maya makes human beings forget their real nature

Avastha traya viveka

Enquiry into one’s real nature by analyzing the states of waking, dream and deep sleep

Avatara

Incarnation

Avidya

Avidya vritti

Maya                                                                                                                                                                  

The mode of the dormant mind  in sushupti registering the non-experiencing state.

Avyakruta

Literal meaning is ‘unevolved’. However, it is used as a technical term synonymous with Maya

Avyakta

Literal meaning is ‘ unmanifest’. However, it is used as a technical term synonymous with Maya

Avyavaharyam

That which is beyond transactions

Ayamatama Brahma

“This consciousness which is my real nature is none other than the all pervading consciousness”

Bhashya

Commentary on the scriptural text

Bhokata

Enjoyer or sufferer

Bhokruttvam

The sense that one is an enjoyer or sufferer

Bhrama

(1)Erroneous knowledge (2) Illusion

Brahmaa

Creator-God.  The creator aspect of Iswara

Brahman

The Absolute Reality defined as Existence-Consciousness-Bliss

Brahmana

Seeker of knowledge of Brahman; one who has known Brahman

Brahmasatyam jaganmithya

Brahman is the Reality; the universe is mithya

Buddhi

Faculty of the mind which is of the nature of decision  - also, the reasoning faculty – generally referred to as the intellect

Caitanyam

Consciousness

Cidabhasa

Reflected  Consciousness

Cit

Consciousness

Dama

Control of the  sense organs of perception and action

Devas

Gods. Deities

Drkdrsya viveka

Enquiry into one’s real nature by analysing  the known and the knower

Dwaitam

The existence of more than one reality

Golakam

The physical part of the sense organs

Guna

Attribute

Guru

Preceptor

Hiranyagrha

(1) Brahmaa , the  God embodying Iswara’s power of  creation power   (2) Cosmic subtle body