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Glossary | |
Advaita | Non-duality. A school of philosophy associated with the Indian philosopher, Shankaracharya (788-820), which believes that there is only one Absolute Truth; all else is appearance. |
Ahimsa | Nonviolence, positively the practice of love. |
Ashram | Hermitage; a quiet place where people having common ideals lead a community life and follow a particular discipline. The place where Gandhi resided with his co-workers and disciples was referred to as the ashram. |
Ashrama | Hindu idealism prescribes four stages or periods of good life, called ashramas: the period of study and self-discipline; of life as a householder and man of the World; of contemplation and gradual withdrawal from worldly ties; of total renunciation. |
Atma | Soul, Self. |
Avatar | A divine incarnation. |
Bania | Member of the third caste among the Hindus, whose traditional occupation is trade and commerce. |
Bhagavat | A sacred book of the Hindus dealing also with the life and teachings of Lord Krishna. |
Brahmacharya | Celibacy; a life of self-discipline and continence dedicated to higher pursuits. |
Brahmin | Member of the first caste among the Hindus whose traditional occupation is priesthood or devotion to learning. |
Chapati | Cake of unleavened bread. |
Charkha | Spinning wheel. |
Dharma | Religion; moral law or practice; duty. |
Diwan | Chief minister of a princely State. |
Himsa | Violence |
Kalma | Designates the profession of faith whereby a Muslim witnesses the unity of God. |
Khaddar | Hand-spun and hand-woven doth. |
Mahatma | Lit. A great soul; a title generally given to saints. In later years Gandhi was generally referred to in India as the Mahatma. |
Manu | An ancient preceptor and author of the Code of Laws, named after him. |
Moksha | Emancipation from earthly attachments; liberation from the cycle of births. |
Muni | Seer; sage; particularly a Jain saint. |
Nawab | Muslim dignitary or ruler. |
Purdah | Veil worn by woman in some eastern countries. |
Rishi | Sage |
Sadavrata | Giving of alms to the poor |
Samskar | Indelible impression left by past action. |
Satyagraha | Lit. Holding on to truth. Name given by Gandhi to the technique of non-violent resistance as practiced by him and under his guidance. |
Seva Samiti | A society for voluntary social service. |
Shastra | Hindu scripture |
Swadeshi | Love of one's own country or patronage of things indigenous and native. |
Swaraj | Self-rule |
Upanishad | Ancient discourses on philosophy which are generally regarded as the source material of Hindu metaphysics. There are more than a hundred such Upanishads of which ten are considered as principal. |
Vakil | Pleader; lawyer |
Vedas | The earliest and most sacred writings of the Hindus. |