Glossary Of Terms | |
agnihotra |
rituals of sacrifice with the use of fire |
alim (plural ulama) |
learned men in Islamic religious sciences |
anjuman |
a Muslim association |
arthi |
waving of lamps before the alter |
bhajan |
religious hymn |
cha-pani |
refreshments |
darshana |
visual feasting of the gods |
Dassera |
Hindu festival commemorating Rama's victory over Ravana |
Diwali (Dipavali) |
the Hindu festival of lights |
Eid-ul-fitr |
festival marking the end of fast observed during month Ramadan |
Eid-ul-Zuha (Bakri-id) |
festival to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim |
ghazal |
genre of lyric poems originating in Arabia in the late seventh century |
haj |
pilgrimage to Mecca |
homa |
rituals of sacrifice |
ilm |
Islamic knowledge |
imam |
Muslim priest who leads the prayers in mosque |
jamat |
Muslim congregation |
kavady |
religious festival honoring Muruga, son of Lord Shiva |
khalifa |
a successor of the Prophet Mahomed as head of the Muslim community |
kirtan |
religious hymn |
kom |
community |
Krishna Jayanti (Krishnajanmastmi) |
celebration of Krishna's birthday |
madressa |
school teaching the Koran in Arabic |
majlis |
an assembly commemorating the sufferings of the House of Hussain |
mandal |
association/club |
mantra |
sacred chants |
masjid |
mosque |
maulana |
an Islamic religious scholar |
maulvi |
a religious leader. |
mehfil (mehafil) |
a committee or an organization |
Milad-ul-Nabi |
festival to honor Prophet Mahomed's birthday |
Mohurram (Muhharum) |
festival commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, grandson of Prophet Mahomed in 680 ACE |
mosque (masjid) |
a place of worship for Muslims |
murthi |
icons representing gods and deities |
namaz |
prescribed prayer in Islam |
nyati |
caste/community |
ooros (urs) |
festival commemorating death of a saint; also term for wedding or fare |
panchamrita |
liquid confection |
pir |
spiritual guide in the Sufi tradition |
puja |
prayers |
praja |
nation. |
prasada |
food representing the deity's power and grace |
Ramadan (Ramzan) |
fast observed during the holy month of the Muslim calendar |
Ramnavami |
celebration of Lord Rama's birthday |
sabha |
association |
sharia |
Islamic law |
sandhya |
rituals of prayer |
Shia |
follower of Ali, the first cousin of Prophet Mahomed |
Shravan |
a Holy month for Hindus dedicated to Lord Shiva |
Sunni |
Muslim who acknowledges first four Khalifas as successors of Prophet Mahomed |
swadeshi |
self-reliance through support of indigenous institutions; patriotism |
tajjia |
decorated miniature mausoleums carried during mohharum |
qawwali |
devotional songs in the Sufi tradition |
yagna |
sacrifice |