SANSKRIT GLOSSARY
Below is Glossary of Gaudiya Vaishnava Sanskrit and Philosophical Terms, as used in the books of Srila Prabhupada and the Gaudiya disciplic succession, all of which appear in Srila Prabhupada’s books and are standard in the Gaudiya Vaishnava line.
Definitions remain short, single meaning, non academic, and suitable for search based lookup from the sidebar on your right.
This glossary presents Sanskrit and philosophical terms as they are used and understood in the books of Srila Prabhupada and explained within the Gaudiya Vaishnava disciplic succession. It is not intended as an academic Sanskrit dictionary, nor as a survey of meanings from different philosophical schools. Each term is given a single, clear explanation according to Gaudiya siddhanta, so that meaning remains consistent and protected.
The terms are arranged progressively, beginning with essential words needed by newcomers, followed by foundational concepts, and then more advanced and technical terminology. Readers are not expected to understand all terms at once. This structure allows understanding to deepen naturally through continued reading and practice.
All definitions are intentionally concise and practical, reflecting how these words are actually used by the acharyas in describing the soul, the Supreme Lord, devotional service, bondage, and liberation. Where a term carries different meanings in other traditions, only the Gaudiya Vaishnava meaning is presented here.
This glossary is meant to serve as a reference for readers of this website, enabling them to look up unfamiliar terms easily and continue reading without interruption. Its purpose is clarity, consistency, and faithfulness to the teachings of Sri Krishna as presented by Srila Prabhupada and the Gaudiya guru parampara.
ESSENTIAL TERMS
Jiva
The individual eternal conscious living entity.
Krishna
The Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Bhagavan
The Supreme Lord possessing all opulences.
Bhakti
Loving devotional service to Krishna.
Seva
Personal service rendered to Krishna.
Nama
The holy name of Krishna.
Karma
Material action and its reaction.
Akarma
Action performed in devotion without material reaction.
Vikarma
Sinful action performed against scriptural injunctions.
Maya
Krishna’s illusory material energy.
Samsara
The cycle of repeated birth and death.
Mukta
A liberated soul.
Bandha
Material bondage.
Guna
The modes of material nature.
Sattva
The mode of goodness.
Rajas
The mode of passion.
Tamas
The mode of ignorance.
Atma
The individual soul.
Deha
The body.
FOUNDATIONAL PHILOSOPHICAL TERMS
Svarupa
The soul’s eternal spiritual identity.
Svarupa dharma
The soul’s constitutional function, service to Krishna.
Tatastha
The marginal position of the soul.
Nitya baddha
The eternally conditioned soul.
Nitya siddha
The eternally liberated soul.
Rasa
The soul’s eternal loving relationship with Krishna.
Bhava
The preliminary stage of pure love.
Prema
Pure love of God.
Sadhu
A saintly devotee.
Sadhu sanga
Association of saintly devotees.
Sraddha
Initial faith.
Anartha
Unwanted habits obstructing devotion.
Anartha nivritti
The gradual removal of impurities.
Nistha
Steadiness in devotional practice.
Ruci
Taste for devotion.
Asakti
Deep attachment to Krishna.
Ahankara
False ego, the false sense of independence.
Buddhi
Intelligence.
Manas
The mind.
Cit sakti
The spiritual potency of consciousness.
Seva vastu
The worshipable object of service.
COSMOLOGY AND ONTOLOGY
Vaikuntha
The spiritual world free from anxiety.
Goloka
The highest spiritual abode of Krishna.
Vrindavana
Krishna’s eternal abode of loving pastimes.
Baladeva
Krishna’s first expansion and source of spiritual strength.
Sankarshana
An expansion associated with cosmic manifestation.
Maha Vishnu
The expansion who initiates material creation.
Karanodakasayi Vishnu
The form of Vishnu who glances over material nature.
Garbhodakasayi Vishnu
The form who enters each universe.
Ksirodakasayi Vishnu
The Supersoul in all beings.
Paramatma
The Supersoul present in every heart.
Brahman
The all pervading spiritual effulgence.
PRACTICE AND DISCIPLINE
Sadhana
Regulated devotional practice.
Sadhana bhakti
Devotional practice performed under guidance.
Bhajana
Personal devotional worship.
Japa
Soft repetition of the holy name.
Kirtana
Congregational chanting of the holy name.
Smaranam
Remembrance of Krishna.
Arcanam
Deity worship.
Vandanam
Offering prayers.
Dasya
Service attitude.
Sakhya
Friendship with Krishna.
Atma nivedanam
Full self surrender.
Guru
The spiritual master.
Diksa
Initiation into spiritual life.
Siksa
Spiritual instruction.
Parampara
Disciplic succession.
ADVANCED AND TECHNICAL TERMS
Acintya
Inconceivable to material logic.
Acintya bheda abheda
Simultaneous oneness and difference.
Lila
The eternal pastimes of the Lord.
Mahabhava
The highest state of divine love.
Hladini sakti
The pleasure potency of Krishna.
Sandhini sakti
The potency of spiritual existence.
Samvit sakti
The potency of divine knowledge.
Linga sarira
The subtle body.
Sthula sarira
The gross material body.
Klesa
Material suffering.
Parabhakti
Supreme devotion.
Paramananda
Supreme spiritual bliss.
Dasa mula
The ten foundational truths of Gaudiya philosophy.
Svarga
Heavenly planets.
Naraka
Hellish planets.
ADDITIONAL ESSENTIAL AND COMMON TERMS
Bhagavata
A pure devotee or the book Srimad Bhagavatam.
Bhagavata dharma
The religion of loving service to Bhagavan.
Isvara
The supreme controller.
Prakriti
Material nature.
Purusha
The supreme enjoyer.
Kala
Eternal time.
Yajna
Sacrifice for the pleasure of Krishna.
Dharma
Eternal religious duty.
Adharma
Irreligious action.
Tapasya
Voluntary austerity for purification.
Tyaga
Renunciation.
Bhoga
Sense enjoyment.
Upasana
Worship.
Artha
Material prosperity.
Kama
Material desire.
Moksa
Liberation from material existence.
MORE FOUNDATIONAL TERMS
Anadi
Beginningless.
Sanatana
Eternal.
Nitya
Ever existing.
Aprakrta
Completely spiritual, beyond matter.
Suddha
Pure.
Suddha bhakti
Pure devotional service without material motive.
Misra bhakti
Devotion mixed with karma or jnana.
Jnana
Speculative knowledge.
Vairagya
Detachment from matter.
Yukta vairagya
Proper renunciation used in Krishna’s service.
Phalgu vairagya
False renunciation.
Bhagavat seva
Service to Bhagavan.
Vaishnava
A devotee of Vishnu or Krishna.
Vaishnavi
A female devotee of Krishna.
Aparadha
Offense.
Nama aparadha
Offense to the holy name.
Seva aparadha
Offense in service.
Vaishnava aparadha
Offense to a devotee.
Kripa
Mercy.
Kripa siddhi
Perfection attained by mercy.
STAGES AND PROCESSES OF BHAKTI
Sadhana
Spiritual practice.
Sadhya
The goal of practice.
Abhidheya
The process of devotion.
Sambandha
Knowledge of relationship with Krishna.
Prayojana
The ultimate goal, love of God.
Bhajana kriya
Engagement in devotional activities.
Bhava bhakti
The stage of spiritual emotion.
Prema bhakti
Pure love of Krishna.
Raganuga bhakti
Spontaneous devotional service.
Raga bhakti
Devotion based on deep attachment.
Vidhi bhakti
Devotion based on rules and regulations.
SCRIPTURAL AND CONCEPTUAL TERMS
Sastra
Revealed scripture.
Smriti
Remembered scripture.
Sruti
Heard scripture, the Vedas.
Purana
Ancient historical scripture.
Itihasa
Epic history.
Vedanta
The conclusion of Vedic knowledge.
Vedanta sutra
Aphorisms concluding Vedic philosophy.
Bhagavad Gita
Krishna’s instructions to Arjuna.
Srimad Bhagavatam
The spotless Purana.
Caitanya Caritamrta
The life and teachings of Sri Caitanya.
COSMOLOGY AND EXISTENCE
Bhu loka
Earthly planetary system.
Svarga loka
Heavenly planetary system.
Maha loka
Higher planetary region.
Jana loka
Planet of great sages.
Tapa loka
Planet of austerity.
Satya loka
The highest material planet.
Brahmanda
Material universe.
Viraja
The causal river separating matter and spirit.
Causal ocean
The boundary of material creation.
BODY AND CONDITIONING
Sarira
The body.
Indriya
The senses.
Karmendriya
Working senses.
Jnanendriya
Knowledge acquiring senses.
Citta
Subconscious mind.
Vasana
Latent desire.
Samskara
Mental impression.
Bandhana
Bondage.
Mukti
Liberation.
DEVOTIONAL MOODS AND RELATIONSHIPS
Dasya rasa
Servitorship.
Sakhya rasa
Friendship.
Vatsalya rasa
Parental affection.
Madhurya rasa
Conjugal love.
Santa rasa
Neutral appreciation.
Bhakta
A devotee.
Bhagavat priya
Dear to the Lord.
DIVINE POTENCIES AND TATTVA
Sakti
Energy or potency.
Antaranga sakti
Internal spiritual energy.
Bahiranga sakti
External material energy.
Tatastha sakti
Marginal energy.
Svarupa tattva
The Lord’s personal expansions.
Jiva tattva
The living entity category.
Visnu tattva
The category of Godhead.
Guru tattva
The principle of the spiritual master.
ADDITIONAL ADVANCED TERMS
Acarya
One who teaches by example.
Mahajana
A great authority.
Siddhanta
Conclusive truth.
Tattva
Philosophical truth.
Parakiya
Paramour love.
Svakiya
Wedded love.
Rati
Spiritual attachment.
Anubhava
Expression of emotion.
Sattvika bhava
Involuntary spiritual symptoms.
Vibhava
Stimulus of devotion.
Uddipana
Exciting causes of devotion.
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