Sanātana Dharma is rich with philosophical depth and scriptural nuance. This glossary explains commonly used terms found across our posts — helping you understand, connect, and go deeper.
| Term (IAST Transliteration) | Meaning / Explanation |
|---|---|
| Advaita (अद्वैत) | Non-duality; the doctrine that only Brahman is real |
| Adhyāya (अध्याय) | A chapter in a scripture (used in texts like the Bhagavad Gītā and Upaniṣads) |
| Ātman (आत्मन्) | The true Self; pure consciousness beyond body and mind |
| Avatar (अवतार) | A divine incarnation or descent of God (e.g., the Daśāvatāra of Lord Viṣṇu) |
| Brahman (ब्रह्मन्) | The ultimate Reality; infinite consciousness |
| Dharma (धर्म) | Often mistranslated as “religion,” dharma is the right path, the law of being, the duty |
| Dvārapālaka (द्वारपालक) | Gatekeepers of a divine abode |
| Jagat (जगत्) | The world; that which is perpetually changing |
| Kalpa (कल्प) | One full day of Brahmā (14 Manvantaras = 4.32 billion years) |
| Līlā (लीला) | Divine play, enacted by God to uphold dharma and teach higher truths |
| Mahāyuga (महायुग) | A grand cycle of 4 Yugas (4.32 million years). 71 Mahāyugas make one Manvantara |
| Māyā (माया) | Divine illusion; the power that projects the world-appearance |
| Manvantara (मन्वन्तर) | The reign of one Manu (cosmic progenitor); contains 71 Mahāyugas |
| Mithyā (मिथ्या) | Unreal; not absolutely real, only apparently so |
| Moksha (मोक्ष) | Liberation or release from the cycle of saṃsāra |
| Parva (पर्व) | A major section or book within an epic like the Mahābhārata (e.g., Śānti Parva) |
| Purāṇa (पुराण) | Ancient mythological and spiritual texts that narrate divine stories, cosmology, and dharma |
| Ṛta (ऋत) | The cosmic order or natural law that sustains the universe — deeper than just dharma |
| Sākṣī (साक्षी) | The witness; awareness watching thought and world |
| Saṃsāra (संसार) | The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth governed by karma |
| Śāśvataḥ (शाश्वतः) | Eternal, unchanging |
| Śloka (श्लोक) | A metrical Sanskrit verse; the basic poetic unit of most Hindu scriptures |
| Skandha (स्कन्ध) | A “Canto” or major book division, especially in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa |
| Svapna (स्वप्न) | Dream |
| Tapas (तपस्) | Austerity or spiritual practice done with determination and self-discipline |
| Vairāgya (वैराग्य) | Dispassion; detachment from the transient |
| Viveka (विवेक) | Discrimination between real and unreal |
| Vrata (व्रत) | A religious vow, fast, or observance performed for spiritual benefit or devotion |
| Yuga (युग) | A cosmic age. There are four Yugas: Satya, Tretā, Dvāpara, and Kali |
This glossary will be updated as we explore deeper into scriptures and concepts.
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