‘Deha’ means body; ‘Sadeha’ means with body and ‘Mukti’ means liberation. Hence, it means to be liberated while embodied.
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Sadeha
Mukti ‘Deha’ means body; ‘Sadeha’ means with body and ‘Mukti’ means liberation. Hence, it means to be liberated while embodied. |
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Sadguru Guru at a spiritual level of at least 85%.. |
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Sadhak A seeker. |
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Sadhana Spiritual practice. Spirituality is a science of experience and not of theoretical knowledge. One gets spiritual experiences only as a result of spiritual practice. What exactly is spiritual practice ? The science of Spirituality has two aspects:
Spiritual practice may be defined as efforts made by the body, mind and/or intellect for at least two to three hours everyday to realize God. The main doctrine of spiritual practice is 'there are as many temperament as there are people and a corresponding number of paths of spiritual practice'. Hence, depending on our physical, psychological and subtle constitution each one's path is unique. The fastest way to progress is the Path of Guru's Grace, i.e., Gurukrupayoga. |
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Sage A spiritually evolved person. |
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Sagun Manifest form. |
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Sahajavastha Natural state of communion with God. |
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Sadguru
Sai Baba A Sadguru from Shirdi, India Who blessed people of all religions. |
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Saint A spiritually evolved person. |
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Sakam
Sadhana Spiritual practice done with expectations of worldly gains. |
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Sakshatkar Realization |
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Sakshibhav Stance of a spectator. |
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Saman One of the five vital energies. |
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Samarth
Ramdas Swami Founded the Samarth sect in the sixteenth century stating that spiritual practice is more important than politics. He guided Shivaji Maharaj in the latter's mission of reinstatment of Righteousness both through spiritual and worldly guidance. He was a devotee of Lord Rama and Maruti. |
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Samashti
sadhana Collective Spiritual Practice for the benefit of society, that encourages others in the society to undertake spiritual practice. In the current era, the Kaliyug, collective spiritual practice is of 70% importance compared to 30% importance of individual spiritual practice. |
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Samhitas The Holy texts or verses systematically arranged in the form of poetic verses. |
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Sanatan That which is always new, full of divine consciousness (Chaitanya), which never ages. |
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Sanatan
Bharatiya Sanskruti Sanstha Literally, Sanatan Indian Culture Organization. This is the organization founded by H. H. Dr. Jayant Athavale in 1990 with the blessings of His Sadguru H. H. Bhaktaraj Maharaj. The name was changed in 1999 to the Sanatan Sanstha as the mission of the spread of Spirituality became world-wide. The implied meaning of the name of the organization is as follows : Sanatan: That which is always new, full of divine consciousness (chaitanya) and never ages. Only an eternal thing created by The Almighty can be like this.The consonant 's' appears in the organization's name three times; 's' means the 'bija' (seed) of the sun. The sun describes radiance (tej). Bharatiya: 'Bha' in the word Bharatiya means radiance. 'Rat' means remaining engrossed. Bharatiyas are thus those who remain engrossed in worshipping radiance that is in practising Spirituality. In other words, a seeker from any part of the world is a Bharatiya. Some preachers of our Sanstha (organization) profess Islam, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, etc., yet they conduct satsangs (spiritual meetings) in Hindu temples and teach Hindus about religion. See how expansive their love is! Finally all paths lead to the same Lord. Ramakrushna Paramhansa a great Indian saint, the Guru of Swami Vivekananda got a vision of Jesus Christ when He worshipped Him just as He worshipped His deity, Kaali. After attaining a particular spiritual level seekers transcend their religion, sex, etc., and blend with God. Thereafter, all seekers follow the same religion, that is the Sanatan religion (Dharma). Bharatiya Sanskruti: Literally, Indian culture. The Bharatiyas focus their attention on making spiritual progress. No matter what text of Sanatan Dharma one reads, all Indian sciences have only one motive - to give guidance on how to make spiritual progress through that corresponding medium. In short, Bharatiya Sanskruti means Spirituality and Spirituality means Bharatiya Sanskruti. Sanstha: An organization. From the above elaboration, it must become clear that the Sanatan Bharatiya Sanskruti Sanstha is an organization radiant with divine consciousness and devoted to the spiritual evolution of all seekers. |
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The Sanatan's Guidance
on meditation and activation of spiritual emotion (bhavjagruti) Introduction to the type of meditation
Preparing one self for the meditation
Steps for getting in to deep meditation
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Sanatan's
logo The logo shows a disciple-paying obeisance to the Guru. It symbolizes the Path of Guru's Grace (Gurukrupayoga). The essence of spiritual practice as per Gurukrupayoga consists of doing everything to attain the grace of a Guru for rapid progress towards Liberation. The obeisance of the disciple at the Guru's feet symbolizes the disciple's offering His everything - body, mind, wealth and very life - unto The Lord. |
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Sanatan
Online Seekers Study Group Sanatan's online group that helps the participating seekers to monitor their spiritual practice by sending daily emails about the same. |
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Sanatan
Prabhat A newspaper with daily, weekly and monthly editions in India, published by Sanatan Sanstha, which features the importance of righteousness and guides seekers. |
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Sanchit The accumulated give and take account, which is created as a result of our actions (refer to Prarabdha - Destiny). |
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Sandhya The ritualistic worship of the Sun deity. It is accompanied by chanting of the Gayatri mantra and meditation. |
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Sankalpa Resolve or intent. |
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Sankhya Philosophy Science of Numerology. |
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Sannyasashrama Stage of life of a renunciant. |
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Sanskrut An ancient Indo-Aryan language that is the classical language of India and of Hinduism. Many Hindu Holy texts are written in Sanskrut. |
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Sanskruti Pujan A compilation of H. H. Pandurang Shastri Athavale’s discourses. |
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Sanstha Organisation |
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Saptadevata |
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Goddess
Sarasvati (Saraswati) She is the deity of knowledge and art. |
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Sat The Absolute Truth. |
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Satsang ‘Sat’ means truth; ‘sang’ means company. Satsangs are spiritual meetings held weekly by Sanatan Sanstha in different parts of the world. These meetings are free of charge, and they are held with the motive of not only providing theoretical knowledge on the science of Spirituality, but also inspiring and guiding seekers. |
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Satseva Service unto the Absolute Truth. |
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Sattva Purity and knowledge. One of the trigunas (three components). |
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Sattvik Pertaining to or consisting of predomiately sattva. |
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Satyalok Seventh and highest of the seven regions (lokas) of the universe. |
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Satyayug ‘Yug’ means Era. According to Eastern philosophy, time since Creation can divided into 4 major Eras. First being Satyayug, followed by Tretayug, followed by Dvaparyug, and lastly the current era that we live in, i.e., the Kaliyug. In the Satyayug, the average spiritual level was 70%, and the appropriate spiritual practice was the Path of Knowledge. |
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Savior See Guru. (God has two aspects, namely, Savior and Destroyer. The Guru is the manifest form of the Savior aspect of God.) |
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Seeker Someone who does daily spiritual practice for at least 1-2 hours daily, with spiritual progress occurring. |
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Self-Realization
(God-Realization) A state of the experience of the One God Principle within one and all beings in the Universe; one is not separate from anything (non-duality). |
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Serenity Absolute peace |
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Shadripu The six foes or defects of the embodied soul: attachment, pride, anger, envy, passion and greed. |
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Shaiva A Hindu sect that worships Lord Shiva. |
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Shakti Divine energy. |
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Shaktipatayoga Path of transfer of spiritual energy. |
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Shami A type of tree found in India. |
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Shri
Shankaracharya (788 - 820 A.D.) A saint Who propounded the theory of non-duality (Advaita Vedanta). |
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Shanti Serenity |
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Sheera A sweet dish made out of ghee and farinas/rava. |
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Shesha The divine serpent form of Lord Vishnu. |
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Mrs.
Shilpa Kudtarkar A seeker undertaking spiritual practice under the Sanatan’s guidance, presently looking after spread of Spirituality outside India, as a part of her spiritual practice. |
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Shirdi A Holy place in India with the blessings of Sadguru Sai Baba. |
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Shishya A disciple. |
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Lord
Shiva The Principle of Dissolution. One of the five principle deities (Panchadevata). (More information given in book Science of Spirituality Vol. 9A - Shiva). |
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Shivaji
Maharaj King who ruled in India who was also a disciple of Samarth Ramdas Swami. |
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Shivadasha The state of being one with God (Shiva), the state of pure non-duality. This is the highest spiritual experience. |
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Shivatma A God-realized soul. |
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Shraddha Rituals to appease departed ancestors’ subtle bodies which exist in a particular sub-region or sub-plane of bhuvalok (one of the seven lokas). Such rituals help liberate departed ancestors’ subtle bodies to next higher sub-plane within bhuvalok from the sub-plane they are stuck in currently. However, such rituals can at the most liberate the departed ancestors’ subtle bodies to the next higher sub-plane within bhuvalok itself; rituals cannot liberate the subtle bodies from bhuvalok to the next higher plane, that is, svargalok or heaven. To be liberated to higher planes, such as heaven and higher heavens, the subtle bodies must do spiritual practice. |
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Shri Shakti (Energy), beauty, virtues etc. Respectful way of addressing the deity. |
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Shri
Dasbodh A great spiritual text compiled by Samarth Ramdas Swami . |
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Shri
Eknathi Bhagavat A Holy text written by Saint Eknath depicting His version of the Bhagavat Gita. |
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Shri
Ganeshaya Namaha The Name (chant) for Lord Ganesh. This Name is chanted for vital energy (pran shakti). |
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Shri
Gurudev Datta The Name (chant) for Lord Datta. This Name is chanted as protection from negative energies. |
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Shri
Hanumate Namaha The Name (chant) for Lord Hanuman. This Name is chanted for combating the negative energies in the external environment. |
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Shri
Rama Jai Rama Jai Jai Rama The Name that is repeated (chanted) for Lord Rama. |
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Shri
Satya Saibaba A Saint from India. |
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Shri
Yantra A type of yantra, i.e., a figure consisting of triangles within triangles, which has the ability to generate energy (shakti). |
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Shrimadbhagavat A Hindu holy scripture. |
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Sage
Shringi He was the son of Sage Shukdev. King Pareekshit had placed a dead snake on Sage Shukdev for not paying attention to him during meditation. |
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Shrutis Hindu scriptures. |
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Shudra A seeker who serves God by offering his body. |
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Siddhis Supernatural powers, which one acquires as a result of spiritual practice. |
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Siddhivinayak
Temple Temple of Lord Ganesh in Mumbai, India. |
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Sikh
Gurus Sikhism has a very specific definition of the word 'Guru'. It means the descent of divine guidance to mankind provided through ten Enlightened Masters. This honor of being called a Sikh Guru applies only to the ten Gurus who founded the religion starting with Guru Nanak in 1469 and ending with Guru Gobind Singh in 1708; thereafter, it refers to the Sikh Holy Scriptures, the Guru Granth Sahib, as the Guru in the Holy book form. The divine spirit was passed from one Guru to the next as: "The light of a lamp which lights another does not abate. Similarly a spiritual leader and his disciple become equal, Nanak says the truth." The ten Sikh Gurus are:
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Sion A suburb of Mumbai, a city in the state of Maharashtra, India. |
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Sita An icon of Chastity and devotion in the Hindu religion. She was the revered wife of Lord Rama. |
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Shri
Swami Sivananda Swami Sivananda's teachings are a synthesis of the various doctrines of Yoga. The author of more than 250 books on Yoga and health, Swami Sivananda was a medical doctor (then Dr. Kuppuswamy) before renouncing worldly life for the spiritual path. On the 1st of June 1924, His Guru, H. H. Shri Swami Visvananda, initiated Dr. Kuppuswamy into the spiritual life of a renunciant. The Guru gave Him the name of Swami Sivananda Saraswati. Swami Sivananda practiced the various Yogas and studied the scriptures as a part of His spiritual practice. After years of intense spiritual practice, He attained Nirvikalpa Samadhi. Swamiji traveled through out India during his wandering monk life. He visited places of pilgrimage and conducted lectures to spread Spirituality. In 1936 He founded the organization ‘The Divine Life Society’ on the bank of river Ganges, India. The Society grew incredibly and is now the headquarters of a worldwide spiritual organization with many branches both within India and outside, active in dissemination of spiritual knowledge and selfless service of humanity. Swami Sivananda, who exemplified the message of service and love for God, renounced His body on July 14, 1963. |
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Sola
Sanskar The religious rites that an individual undergoes from birth till marriage, that is, at the 16 major life events with a view to progressing towards God. |
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Special
Collective Chanting Collective chanting done on specific days, generally once a month as designated by Sri Durgadevi for protecting seekers’ and furthering their spiritual practice. |
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Spiritual
constitution
The proportion of trigunas (three components - Sattva, Raja, Tama), panchatattva (five principle elements- earth, water, fire, air and ether), sanchit (accumulated account), prarabdha (destiny), and kriyaman karma (willful actions) in a individual. |
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Spiritual
experience An experience beyond the five senses, mind and intellect. See anubhuti. |
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Spiritual
level On a scale of spiritual levels from 1% to 100%, a 20% spiritual level depicts that of an average individual while a 100% spiritual level depicts that of One Who has merged with the God Principle, that is, attained the Final Liberation (Moksha). |
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Spiritual love Unconditional love without expectations, priti. |
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Spiritual
practice See sadhana. |
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Spiritual
progress Spiritual progress is the progress of a seeker towards lasting Bliss or union with God. It is the purification and dissolution of the individual body, mind, intellect and ego consciousness as one merges with the Universal Consciousness. |
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Spiritually
evolved person Someone with a spiritual level of at least 70%, that is, a Saint or Guru. |
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H.
H. Srila Prabhupada H. H. Srila Prabhupada was the founder of ISKON, International Society for Krishna Consciousness. In 1922, He was instructed by His Guru to take the message of Sanatan Dharma to the western world. At the age of 69, after a lifetime of spiritual preparation, Srila Prabhupada received a free passage on board a steamship bound for America. He arrived in New York city with only 40 rupees (Indian currency) and a trunk load of His published works. He faced many hardships during his first year in America, despite which He gradually gathered a number of sincere seekers, who wanted to follow His footsteps in spiritual knowledge, spiritual love and total devotion to The Lord. Srila Prabhupada guided them in all aspects of Spirituality and Vedic concepts, and sent them to spread Spirituality through opening centers of Krishna Consciousness, at first in America, and later in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Despite His age, Srila Prabhupada traveled tirelessly, spreading Spirituality and guiding His disciples. Every day He would translate some of the Vedic literature. Within 12 years He wrote 70 books on Spirituality. His books have created a revolution of thinking in millions of people worldwide. H. H. Srila Prabhupada entered Mahasamadhi in November 1977. |
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St.
Stanislaus Kostka St. Stanislaus Kostka was born in Rostkovo near Prasnysz, Poland around October 28, 1550. His father, John Kostka, was a senator of the Kingdom of Poland and his mother was the sister of the Duke Palatine of Masovia and the niece of the celebrated Chancellor of Poland, Felix Kryski. Stanislaus was the second eldest among 7 siblings. The discipline at home helped Him develop piety, modesty and obedience. In July 1564 they were sent to Vienna to attend the Jesuit College. There, Stanislas soon became known for not only His amicability and cheerfulness, but also His religious fervor and angelic piety. This spirit of devotion continued to grow during the three years He remained in Vienna. His brother Paul said of Him, "He devoted Himself so completely to spiritual practice that He frequently went into meditative states, especially in the church of the Jesuit Fathers at Vienna." Stanislaus also joined the Congregation of St. Barbara and later mentioned that Saint Barbara had brought two angels to Him during a serious illness, to give him the Eucharist. St. Stanislaus entered the Society of Jesus at Rome on October 1567, after making a long and precarious journey to Rome on foot, dressed as a mendicant to escape any attention and the opposition from family. According to the testimony of Father Giulio Fazio of the Society of Jesus, St. Stanislaus was a model and mirror of spiritual perfection. Notwithstanding His very delicate constitution He did not spare Himself the slightest penance. On the eve of the feast of St. Lawrence, St. Stanislaus saw that His last hour had come. He wrote a letter to the Blessed Virgin (Mother Mary), praying to Her to call Him to celebrate with Her the glorious anniversary of Her Assumption. St. Stanislaus' faith in the Blessed Virgin, which had brought Him many spiritual experiences through out His life, was rewarded again this time. On August 15, towards four in the morning, while He was rapt in prayer to God, to the Saints and to the Virgin Mary, St. Stanislaus' soul passed to The Lord. It is reported that even in death, His face shone with the most serene light. The entire city proclaimed Him a Saint and people hastened from all parts to venerate His remains and to obtain, if possible, some relics. St. Stanislaus Kostka was canonized on December 31, 1726. He is one of the most popular Saints of Poland and many religious institutions attribute Him to be the protector of their mission. |
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Staring
in the eye therapy In this therapy, seekers that are affected by distressing energies sit across seekers from the Sanatan’s subtle department who give the therapy. The seeker who gives the treatment releases positive / divine energy from either their eyes, feet, hand or finger. Sitting opposite each other, the affected seeker looks into the eyes or hand or finger of the seeker who is giving the therapy. Due to the positive energy released from the subtle department seeker, the distressing energy in the affected seeker experiences distress and manifests itself. Upon manifesting, subtle department seekers talk to the distressing energy and uses all means necessary to ensure that it leaves the affected seeker alone. |
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Sthanadevta When a boundary is constructed on a piece of land, it is known as 'sthan' (place) and the presiding deity of that sthan is called deity of the place (Sthanadevta). |
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Stigmata The miraculous reappearance of the five wounds of Jesus Christ's crucifixion, in His evolved devotees. |
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Stotras Holy verses in Sanskrut. |
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Subconscious
mind That part of the mind which one is not aware of. The subconscious mind is 90% of the mind, compared to only 10% for the conscious mind. |
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Subtle That which is beyond the comprehension of the five senses, mind and intellect. |
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Subtle
body
 This comprises of the mind, intellect and ego covering the soul. The subtle body leaves the physical body at the time of death and during deep sleep. |
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Subtle
Department (sukshma vibhag) Sanatan seekers whose spiritual practice is understanding the subtle and helping seekers with obstacles in their spiritual practice due to subtle factors, such as distressing energies. |
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Subtle
Excursion Visit paid to holy places for studying the subtle readings of the place. |
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Sushumna
nadi The central channel of the spiritual energy flow system, which extends from the base of the spine to the top of the head. The Kundalini (spiritual energy) lies dormant, coiled at the base of the Sushumna nadi. It is awakened through initiation and begins to purify the whole spiritual energy flow system, by rising from the base of the spine and traveling up the Sushumna nadi to the top of the head. Also, see chakra. |
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Svarga (Swarga) Heaven. The third region of the seven regions (lokas) where one experiences only happiness. |
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Svayambhu ‘Svayam’ means by oneself and ‘bhu bhavati’means to be or to exist. The origin of The Lord's resolve of ‘Let Me manifest in several forms from My single being’ is called Svayambhu. |
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Swami A monk. |
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Swamiji A respectful way of addressing a Saint. |
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Swarayoga The Tantric science of brain breathing taught by Swami Satyananda Saraswati and Swami Muktibodhananda. |
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Swastik Also, svastik. A symbol commonly seen and used in Hindu artwork, which represents the principle of divine energy in the form of the Goddess Lakshmi. |
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Swayambhu Self-originated. |
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Swechcha 'sw' means 'I' or Mine, and 'echcha' means wish. Thus, doing as per one's own wish. |
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Weapon used by Lord Krushna and Sri Durgadevi.