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Glossary of terms in Hinduism

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The following is a glossary of terms and concepts in Hinduism. The list consists of concepts that are derived from both Hinduism and Hindu tradition, which are expressed as words in Sanskrit as well as other languages of India. The main purpose of this list is to define the concept in one or two lines, to make it easy for one to find and pin down specific concepts, and to provide a guide to the concepts of Hinduism all in one place.


Contents: Top - 0–9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

  • Abhimanyu (अभिमन्यु) : Son of Arjuna and Subhadra who was married to Uttara, daughter of King Virata.
  • Āchārya (आचार्य): Teacher or Guru.
  • Adhiratha (अधिरथ) : Karna's foster-father.
  • Aditi (अदिति) : A goddess of the sky, consciousness, the past, the future and fertility.
  • Advaita Vedanta (अद्वैत वेदान्त) : A school of Hindu philosophy often called a monistic or non-dualistic system which refers to the indivisibility of the Self (Atman) from the Whole (Brahman).
  • Agastya (अगस्त्य)  : A great sage whose life-story the Pandavas learnt while on pilgrimage to holy places, his wife Lopamudra was equally a great sage in her own right.
  • Aghāsur (अघासुर) : A dragon sent by Kamsa to destroy Krishna
  • Āgneyāstra (आग्नेयास्त्र): Āgneyāstra is the fire weapon, incepted by God Agni, master of the flames.
  • Agni (अग्‍नि): The sacred Hindu fire god. [1]
  • Agnihotra (अग्निहोत्र): A sacrifice to God Agni.
  • Ahi (अहि): Means ("snake"), Vritra was also known in the Vedas as Ahi cognate with Azhi Dahaka of Zoroastrian mythology and he is said to have had three heads.
  • Ahamkara (अहंकार): A Sanskrit term that refers to egoism, that is the ego of one's self, the identification of one's own ego.
  • Ahimsā (अहिंसा): A religious concept which advocates non-violence and a respect for all life.
  • Airāvata (ऐरावत): Indra's elephant.
  • Ajātasatru (अजातशत्रु): Having no enemy, friend of all born things, an epithet of Yudhishthira.
  • Akampana (अकम्‍पन): Meaning (Unconquerable) - A rākshasa slain by Hanumaān at seize.
  • Akshayapatra (अक्षयपत्र): A wonderful vessel given to Yudhishthira by the Sun god which held a never-failing supply of food.
  • Alambasa (अलम्‍बस): A Rakshasa friend of Duryodhana who had joined his forces but Satyaki compelled him to flee from the battlefield.
  • Amarāvati (अमरावती) : The city of Indra
  • Amarkantak (अमरकंटक): Amarkantak is a unique natural heritage area in eastern Madhya Pradesh, India. This is the meeting point of the Vindhyas and the Satpuras, with the Maikal Hills being the fulcrum. This is the place from where the Narmada River, the Sone River and Johila River emerge.
  • Ambā (अम्‍बा), Ambikā (अम्‍बिका), Ambālikā (अम्‍बालिका) : The three daughters of King of Benares, Eldest daughter Ambā was in love with King Shālwa
  • Amrit (अमृत): Ambrosia, the food of the gods, which makes the partaker immortal.
  • Ananta (अनन्‍त): Ananta may be 1.The thousand headed nāga that issued from Balrāma's mouth 2. Author and commentator of Katyayana sutra 3. Ananta was the name of present Shekhawati region of Rajasthan in India.
  • Andhaka (अंधक): Andhaka was the demon son of Shiva, and was created from a drop of his sweat. He was born blind. After birth, Andhaka was given to Hiranyaksha to be raised, as he had no sons. Later, Andhaka became the king of Hiranyaksha's kingdom.
  • Anga (अंग) : Mlechchha kings, a Kaurava supporter.
  • Angada (अंगद): One of the monkey host; Son of Valī
  • Aniruddha (अनिरुद्ध): Son of Pradyumna (a rebirth of Shatrughana who married with Chārumati and Ushā
  • Anjalikā (अंजलिका): The greatest of Arjuna's arrows with which he slays Karna
  • Anjanā (अंजना): Mother of Hanumāna
  • Anshumat (अंशुमत): A mighty chariot-fighter
  • Anusuya (अनुसूया)  : Sati Anusuya was wife of the sage Atri and mother of Dattatreya (दत्तात्रेय) who is considered by some Hindus (in western India) to be an incarnation of the Divine Trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Siva.
  • Apsarās (अपसरा): Heavenly nymphs, The dancing girls of Indra's court
  • Aquila (अक्‍विला): Equivalent, Garuda; the divine eagle
  • Araṇi (अरणि): An upper and a lower piece of wood used for producing fire by attrition.
  • Arjuna (अर्जुन) : The third of Pāndavas
  • Artha (अर्थ) : Wealth, one of the objects of human life, the others being Dharma, (righteous- ness), Kama (satisfaction of desires), Moksha (spiritual salvation).
  • Arya  : 'The Nomads.' The name of the immigrant race who came to india and chased the drividians to the south.
  • Asamanja (असमंज): Son of Sāgra
  • Ashtavakra (अष्‍टवक्र): A towering scholar while still in his teens.
  • Ashvatthāman (अश्‍वत्‍थामां): Son of Dronacharya and last supreme commander of the Kaurava force, strong as a horse
  • Ashvins (अश्‍विन) : The divine twins
  • Ashwamedha (अश्‍वमेध): The horse sacrifice
  • Asvamedha Yajna (अश्‍वमेध यज्ञ): A horse sacrifice.
  • Ashwapati (अश्‍वपति): Uncle of Bharata and Shatrughna
  • Ashwasena (अश्‍वसेन): Five mighty arrows shot by Karna
  • Asita (असित): A sage who held that gambling was ruinous and should be avoided by all wise people.
  • Asmaka (अस्मक): A Kaurava warrior who attacked Abhimanyu.
  • Astra (अस्त्र): A missile charged with power by a holy incantation.
  • Ātma (आत्‍मा): The underlying metaphysical self, sometimes translated as spirit or soul.
  • Ayodhyā (अयोध्या): Unconquuerable, The city in the country of Koshala

B

  • Babhruvahana  : Babhruvahana was son of Arjuna by his wife Chitrāngadā.
  • Badarikasram (बद्रीकाश्रम): Badarikasram is a place sacred to Vishnu, near the Ganges in the Himalayas, particularly in Vishnu's dual form of Nara-Narayana.
  • Bahlika (बाह्लिक), Dasharna (दशर्ण), : States the kings of which were Kalinga, Magadha, friendly to thePandavas, Matsya, Panchala, Salva.
  • Bahu (बाहु): A king of the Solar race. who was vanquished and driven out of his country by the tribes of Haihayas and TaIajanghas. He was father of Sagara.
  • Bahuka (बाहुक): The changed name of Nala, as a charioteer of Rituparna, the king of Ayodhya. Also other name of king Bahu.
  • Baladeva (बलदेव): Balarama, elder brother of Sri Krishna.
  • Balarāma (बलराम): Elder brother of Lord Krishna.
  • Balarāma (बलराम): An avatar or incarnation of Adisesha the thousand-hooded serpent on which Lord Mahavishnu reclines in Vaikuntha.
  • Bakāsura (बकासुर): A voracious, cruel and terribly strong Rakshasa or demon who lived in a cave near the city of Ekachakrapura whom Bhima killed to the great relief of the citizens.
  • Baṇāsura (बाणासुर): Banasura was a thousand-armed asura and son of Bali. He was a powerful and terrible asura. All people even the king of earth and Devas of heaven were afraid of him. Banasura was a follower of Siva. He had a beautiful daughter named Usha.
  • Bhadra (भद्र): A mighty elephant
  • Bhadrakālī (भद्रकाली): Bhadrakālī is also known as the gentle Kali, who came into being by Devi’s wrath, when Daksha insulted Shiva. She is the consort of Virabhadra.
  • Bhagadatta (भगदत्‍त): King of Pragjyotisha, a Kaurava ally.
  • Bhagawān (भगवान): Form of address to Gods and great rishis, example-Bhagawan Sri Krishna, Narada, Vyasa. A Sanskrit word meaning "Holy or Blessed one". It is a title of veneration, often translated as "Lord" and refers to God.
  • Bhagavatī (भगवती): Alias Pārvatī, Shiva's wife
  • Bhagīratha (भगीरथ) : Son of Dilipa, king of Kosala
  • Bhajan (भजन): A Hindu devotional song. Great importance is attributed to the singing of bhajans within the Bhakti movement.
  • Bhaktī (भक्ति): A Sanskrit term that means intense devotion expressed by action (service). A person who practices bhakti is called bhakta.
  • Bhaktī Yoga (भक्ति योग): The Hindu term for the spiritual practice of fostering of loving devotion to God, called bhakti. [1]
  • Bharadwāja (भरद्वाज): A rishi, father of Yavakrida.
  • Bharata (भरत): Means "to be or being maintained"). Bharat may be 1. a name of Agni 2. a name of Rudra 3. one of the Adityas 4. Emperor Bharata, son of Dushyanta and Shakuntalā 5. Bharata (Ramayana), a son of Dasharatha, younger brother of Rama 6. Bharata Muni, the author of the Natyashastra 7. Bharata (Bhagavata), the eldest of a hundred sons of a saintly king by name Rishabha Deva according to the Bhagavata purana.
  • Bhārata (भारत): Meaning ("descended from Bharata"). Bhārata may refer to 1. The Bhāratas, an Aryan tribe of the Rigveda 2. an early epic forming the core of the Mahabharata (allegedly comprising about a quarter of the extended epic) 3. the Republic of India (properly, Bhārata GaNarājya, भारत गणराज्य).
  • Bhārgava (भार्वग): Karna's divine weapon
  • Bhaumāsur (भौमासुर): A demon slain by Krishna
  • Bhīma (भीम): The second of Pāndavas who excelled in physical prowess as he was born of the wind-god.
  • Bhīshma (भीष्‍म): Bhīshma was son of Shāntanu, the great Knight and guardian of the imperial house of Kurus.
  • Bhīshmak (भीष्‍मक): Raja of Kundalpur and father of Rukminī.
  • Bhojas (भोज): A branch of the Yadava clan belonging to Krishna's tribe.
  • Bhuminjaya (भुमिंजय): Another name of prince Uttara son of Virata who had proceeded to fight the Kaurava armies, with Brihannala as his charioteer.
  • Bhuriśravas (भुरिश्र्वस): Bhurisravas was a prince of the Balhikas and an ally of the Kauravas, who was killed in the great battle of the Mahabharata.
  • Bhūta  : A ghost, imp, goblin. Malignant spirits which haunt cementeries, lurk in trees, animate dead bodies, and delude and devour human beings.
  • Bibhatsu (बिभत्‍सु): One of Arjuna's name meaning a hater of unworthy acts.
  • Brahmā (ब्रह्‍मा): Creator of the universe, The Hindu creator god, and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. He must not be confused with the Supreme Cosmic Spirit of Hindu philosophy Brahman.
  • Brahmāstra (ब्रह्‍मास्‍त्र): A divine weapon, irresistible, one given by Lord Brahma himself.
  • Brahmachārin (ब्रह्‍मचारिन): A religious student, unmarried, who lives with his spiritual guide, devoted to study and service.
  • Brahmacharya (ब्रह्‍मचर्य) : Celibacy, chastity; the stage of life of Vedic study in which chastity and service are essential, The word Brahmacharya symbolises a person who is leading a life in quest of Brahma, or in other words a Hindu student.
  • Brahmadatta (ब्रह्‍मदत्‍त): King of Benares
  • Brahman (ब्राह्‍मण): The signifying name given to the concept of the unchanging, infinite, immanent and transcendent reality that is the Divine Ground of all being.
  • Brahmin (ब्राह्ममन): One of four fundamental colours in Hindu caste (Varna) consisting of scholars, priests and spiritual teachers.
  • Brihadaswa (बृहदास्‍व): A great sage who visited the Pandavas in their forest hermitage and reminded them of King Nala of Nishadha who also lost his kingdom in the game of dice and who deserted his wife Damayanti because of a curse but ultimately regained both,
  • Brihadratha (बृहद्रथ): Commander of three regiments reigned over Magadha and attained celebrity as a great hero, married the twin daughters of the Raja of Kasi. His two wives ate each half of a mango given by sage Kausika and begot half a child each. A Rakshasi recovered the two portions from a dustbin wherein they were thrown and when they accidentally came together, they became a chubby baby, which she presented to the king, saying it was his child, which later became known as Jarasandha.
  • Brihadyumna (बृहद्युम्‍न): A King, a disciple of sage Raibhya.
  • Brihannala (बृहन्नल): Name assumed by Arjuna while living at Virata's court in incognito. He taught arts to Uttarā, the princess of the kingdom of Virata.
  • Brihaspati (बृहस्‍पति): Father of Kacha and priest of devas
  • Brihatbala (बृहत्बल): A daring warrior who charged at Abhimanyu caught in the Kaurava army's net.

C

  • Caste (कास्‍ट): Mythical origin of Hindu system of racial continuity, equivalent in modern vernacular, birth (jāti)
Diagram of chakras
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Diagram of chakras
  • Chakra (चक्र): An energy node in the human body. The seven main chakras are described as being aligned in an ascending column from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Each chakra is associated with a certain colour, multiple specific functions, an aspect of consciousness, a classical element, and other distinguishing characteristics.
  • Chala (चल): A Kaurava warrior.
  • Champā (चम्‍पा): A city on banks of Ganges river where Karna found as a babe by Adhiratha and Rādhā
  • Chāndāla (चांडाल): A person of a degraded caste, whose conduct was much below standard and whose cause pollution.
  • Chandraketu (चंद्रकेतु): A devotee of Manasā
  • Chānd Sadāgar (चांद सागर): A merchant-prince of Champaka Nagar. Manasā Devi woos the devotion of him
  • Charachitra (चरचित्र): A son of King Dhritarashtra who perished in the war.
  • Chavadi  : Place of public assembly of the village. It is the property of the entire community. In it all public business is transacted, and it serves also as the village club the headquarters of the village police and guest house for travellers.
  • Chitra (चित्र): A son of Dhritarashtra killed in the war.
  • Chitraksha (चित्राक्ष): One of the many sons of King Dhritarashtra who fell in the war
  • Chitrakūta (चित्रकूट): Chitrakūta was in mountain forests where Rama, Sita and Lakshmana spent eleven and half years of their exile; The hermitages of Vālmīki, Atri, Sati Anusuya, Dattatreya, Maharshi Markandeya, Sarbhanga, Sutikshna were here; and here the principal trinity of the Hindu pantheon, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, took their incarnations.
  • Chitralekha (चित्रलेखा)  : Chitralekha was a friend of Usha and daughter of minister of Banasura. She was a talented lady who helped Usha to identify the young man, Aniruddha, seen in the dream of Usha. Chitralekha through supernatural powers abducted Aniruddha from the palace of Krishna and brought him to Usha.
  • Chitrasena (चित्रसेन): King of the Gandharvas who prevented the Kauravas from putting up their camp near the pond where he himself had encamped.
  • Chitrayudha (चित्रयुद्‍ध): A Kaurava prince who laid down his life in the war.
  • Chitravarma (चित्रवर्मा): A brother of Duryodhana who was killed in the war
  • Chitrangada (चित्रांगद): Elder son of Santanu born of Matsyagandhi (Satyavati) who succeeded his father on the throne of Hastinapura.
  • Chitrāngadā  : Chitrāngadā was one of Arjuna's wives. Arjuna travelled the length and breadth of India during his term of exile. In ancient Manipur in the eastern Himalayas he met Chitrāngadā, the daughter of the king of Manipur and married her. Babhruvahana was soon born to the couple. Babruvahana would succeed his grandfather as king of Manipur.
  • Chyavana (च्‍यवन): A great rishi, husband of beautiful wife Sukanyā whom Ashvins beheld at her bath

D

  • Dāruka (दारुक): Sri Krishna's charioteer.
  • Dadhichi  : Dadhichi was a Vedic king, son of Atharvan, who turned a great Rishi. Dadhicha gave his bones to destroy Vritra, a brahmin, who became the head of the Asuras.
  • Daityas (दैत्‍य): Daityas were the children of Diti and the sage Kashyapa. They were a race of giants who fought against the gods.
  • Daksha (दक्ष): The skilled one, is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas, and a son of Aditi and Brahma.
  • Dākshāyani (दाक्षायनि): Dākshāyani is the Goddess of marital felicity and longevity; she is worshipped particularly by ladies to seek the long life of their husbands. An aspect of Devi, Dākshāyani is the consort of Shiva. Other names for Dākshāyani include Gaurī, Umā, Satī, Aparnā, Lalithā, Sivakāmini.
  • Damayantī (दमयंती): She is the wife of Nala whose story is told in the Mahabharata.
  • Dandaka (दंडक): A kingdom and a forest, had the same name, was a colonial state of Lanka under the reign of Ravana. Ravana's governor Khara ruled this province. It was the stronghold of all the Rakshasa tribes living in the Dandaka Forest.
  • Dasaratha (दशरथ): King of Ayodhya and Rama's father.
  • Darshana (दर्शन): A country whose king attacked Bhagadatta's elephant in an effort to save Bhima.
  • Dasharna (दशार्ण): Dasharna was an ancient Indian kingdom in Malwa region near Mandsaur. The queen of Chedi kingdom and mother of Damayanti were daughters of king of Dasharna.
  • Demons  : A supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit. A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be conjured and insecurely controlled, they were constantly at war with devas.
  • Devadatta (देवदत्‍त): Name of Arjuna's conch, also Buddha's cousin.
  • Deva (देव): The Sanskrit word for god or deity. It can be interpreted as a demi-god, deity or any supernatural being of high excellence.
  • Devarata (देवर‍त): Father of Yajnavalkya, the gods had given him a great bow and neither gods, nor gandharvas, nor asuras, nor rākshsa, nor men had might to string that.
  • Devatā (देवता): A sage who condemned the game of dice as an evil form of gambling and declared it unfit as entertainment for good people, as it usually offered scope for deceit and dishonesty.
  • Devavrata (देवव्रत): The eighth child of Santanu and Ganga who in time mastered the art yielding arms and learned the Vedas and Vedanta as also the sciences known to Sukra was crowned Yuvaraja (heir apparent), but later vowed to celibacy and was known as Bhishma.
  • Devayanī (देवयानी): The beautiful daughter of Sukracharaya, preceptor of the demons, who fell in love with Kacha, son of Brihaspati, preceptor of the Devas.
  • Devendra (देवेन्‍द्र): King of the Gods.
  • Devī (देवी): The female version of a Deva, ie. a female deity or goddess. Devi is considered to be the Supreme Goddess in Shaktism.
  • Dhanvantari (धन्‍वंतरी): An avatar of the Hindu God Vishnu. Dhanvantari appears in the Vedas as the physician of the gods, and is the god of Ayurvedic medicine.
  • Dharma (धर्म): Righteous course of conduct. Can mean law, rule or duty. Beings that live in harmony with Dharma proceed quicker towards moksha.
  • Dharmagranthi (धर्मग्रंथी): Assumed named of Nakula at Virata's court.
  • Dharmananda (धर्मनन्‍द):The delighted of Dharma, a name of Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma or Yama.
  • Dharmavyadha (धर्मव्‍याध): He possessed the secret of good life and lived in the city of Mithila. He was a meat-seller.
  • Dhananjaya (धनन्‍जय): One of the names of Arjuna.
  • Dhanusaksha (धनुसक्ष): A great sage whom Medhavi, son of sage Baladhi, once insulted. He took the form of a bull and butted at that mountain and broke it to pieces. Then Medhavi fell down dead.
  • Dhaumya (धौम्‍य): Preceptor of the Pandavas, who accompanied them during their exile to the Kurijangala forest, singing Sama hymns addressed to Yama, Lord of Death.
  • Dhrishtadyumna (धृष्‍टद्‍युम्‍न): Supreme commander of the Pandava forces and twin brother of Draupadi.
  • Dhrishtaketu (धृष्‍टकेतु): Dhrishtaketu may be 1. A son of Dhrishtadyumna. 2. A son of Sisupala, king of Chedi, and an ally of the Pandavas. 3. A king of the Kekayas, also an ally of the Pandavas. 4. Son of Satyadhriti. 5. Son of Nriga.
  • Dhritarāshtra (धृतराष्‍ट्र): Elder son of Vichitravirya and Ambika, born blind, father of Duryodhana.
  • Dharmaputra (धर्मपुत्र): The son of Yama, epithet of Yudhishthira.
  • Dhartarashtras (धार्तराष्‍ट्र): Sons of Dhritarashtra
  • Dhruva (ध्रुव): Dhruva was the prince blessed to eternal existence and glory as the Pole Star (Dhruva Nakshatra in Sanskrit) by Lord Vishnu. The story of Dhruva's life is often told to Hindu children as an example for perseverance, devotion, steadfastness and fearlessness.
  • Dhumrāksha (धुमराक्ष): The Grey-eye rākshasha appointed by Rāvana who was slain by Hanumāna.
  • Dilipa (दिलीप): Son of Anshumat and father of Bhāgīratha.
  • Draupadī (द्रौपदी): Daughter of King Drupada, King of Panchala, who married all the five Pandavas though Arjuna had won her in the Swayamvara, because of the vow that they would share everything in common.
  • Droṇa (द्रोण): A Brāhman discovered by Bhīshma, Son of a Brahmana named Bharadwāja; married a sister of Kripa and a son Aswathama was born to them; learnt military art from Parasurama, the maser. Later he became the instructor to of the Kaurava and Pandava princes in the use of arms. He was slain by Dhrishtadyumna in Mahabharata war.
  • Drupada (द्रुपद): King of Panchala, Drona's friend, father of Draupadi who became the wife of the Pandavas
  • Duhsāsana (दुसासन): Duryodhana's brother who dragged Draupadi to the hall of assembly pulling her by her hair.
  • Durdhara (दुर्धर): A son of Dhritarashtra killed by Bhima in the war.
  • Durgā (दुर्गा): A form of Devi, the supreme goddess. She is depicted as a woman riding a lion with multiple hands carrying weapons and assuming mudras.
  • Durjaya (दुर्जय): A brother of Duryodhana who was sent to attack Bhima, to save Karna's life but lost his own.
  • Durmarsha (दुर्मर्श): A son of Dhritarashtra killed by Bhima.
  • Durmata (दुर्मत): A son of Dhritarashtra who got killed by Bhima.
  • Durmukha (दुर्मुख): A chariot-borne warrior on the Kaurava side.
  • Durvāsa (दुर्वास): An ancient sage known for his anger who visited the Kauravas.
  • Durvishaha (दुर्विषह): A warrior fighting on the Kaurava side.
  • Duryodhana (दुर्योधन): The eldest son of the blind king Dhritarashtra by Queen Gandhari, the eldest of the one hundred Kaurava brothers, and the chief antagonist of the Pandavas.
  • Dushkarma (दुष्‍कर्म): A warrior belonging to the Kaurava side.
  • Dushyanta (दुष्‍यंत): A valiant king of the Lunar, race, and descended from Puru. He was husband of Sakuntala, by whom he had a son, Bharata. The loves of Dushyanta and Sakuntala, her separation from him, and her restoration through the discovery of his token-ring in the belly of a fish, form the plot of Kalidasa's celebrated play Sakuntala.
  • Dussaha (दुस्‍सह): A son of Dhritarashtra killed by Bhima.
  • Dvaita (द्वैत): A branch of Hindu philosophy, founded by Shri Madhvacharyathat advocates dualism and stresses a strict distinction between God and souls.
  • Dwaitayana (द्वैतायन): A forest where the Kaurava, cows were being bred and housed.
  • Dwārakā (द्वारका): Krishna renounced war in Mathura for the greater good and founded and settled in Dwārakā. Leaving the Vrishnis people in Dwaraka, Krishna returned to Mathura and killed Kamsa (his maternal uncle) and Kālayavans demon and made Ugrasen (his maternal grandfather) the king of Mathura.
  • Dyumatsena (द्‍युमतसेन): King of Shālwas and father of Satyavān.

E

  • Ekachakra (एकचक्र): It was a city where the Pandavas are said to have lived here with their mother, Kunti, when they were exiled to the forest and escaped from the burning of house of lac.
  • Ekalavya (एकलव्‍य): He was a young prince of the Nishadha tribes, who achieves a skill level parallel to the great Arjuna, despite Drona's rejection of him. He was a member of low caste and he wished to study in the gurukulam of Dronacharya.

F

  • Fire-God  : Same as Agni who had son Nila.
  • Flute  : Lord Krishna had a flute (called a Bansuri in Indian languages) which he used to play in the woods and all the herd-girls of Braj used to go out on the voice of this flute.

G

  • Gajasura (गजासुर): Gajasura (elephant demon) is the name used to refer to demon Nila when he took the form of an elephant and attacked Shiva. He was destroyed by Ganapati.
  • Gaṇapati (गणपति): Lord of the territory, The fulfiller of desire, the god of merchants, Second son of Shiva and Pārvati. Scourge of Carpathia and the Sorrow of Moldavia. Amanuensis of Vyasa who agreed to write down without pause or hesitation the story of the Mahabharata dictated by Vyasa.
  • Ganga (गंगा): A holy river in Northern India, believed to be a goddess by Hindus (see Ganga in Hinduism), Equivalent Ganges, The story of the birth of Ganges was told to Rama and Laxmana by Vishvamitra.
  • Gaṇesha (गणेश): The god of good fortune, commonly identified for his elephant head.
  • Gaṇeśa Chaturṭhī (गणेश चतुर्थी): Ganesh Chaturthi is an occasion or a day on which Lord Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, makes his presence on earth for all his devotees. It is the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The festival is observed in the Hindu calendar month of Bhaadrapada, starting on the shukla chaturthi
  • Gāndhārī (गांधारी): Dhritarashtra's wife and queen mother of the Kauravas.
  • Gandharvas (गंधर्व): A class of celestial beings regarded as specialists in music.
  • Gāṇdīva (गाण्डीव): Arjuna's most potent bow.
  • Gangadwara (गंगद्वार): A place where sage Agastya and his wife performed penance.
  • Garuda (गरुड): It is a large mythical bird or bird-like creature that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology.
  • Gaurī (गौरी): Gaurī or Dākshāyani is the Goddess of marital felicity and longevity; she is worshipped particularly by ladies to seek the long life of their husbands. An aspect of Devi, Dākshāyani is the consort of Shiva.
  • Gāyatrī (गायत्री): A revered mantra in Hinduism, found in the Yajur Veda.
  • Ghatotkacha (घटोत्‍कच): Son of Bhima from demoness Hidimba.
  • Gopas (गोप): Equivalent, herd-boys
  • Gopāla (गोपाल): Name of Krishna indicating his origin as a god of flocks and herds.
  • Gopīs (गोपी): Gopi is a word of Sanskrit origin meaning 'cow-herd girls'.
  • Govardhan (गोवर्धन): Govardhan is a hill located near the town of Vrindavan in India.
  • Govinda (गोविन्‍द): One of the epithets of Sri Krishna and Vishnu; it means a cow-keeper and refers to Krishna's occupation in Gokula, the colony of cowherds
  • Grihastha (गृहस्‍थ): The second of the four phases(Purushartha) of a man, when a person gets married and settles down in life and begets children.
  • Guru (गुरु): Revered preceptor, A spiritual teacher. In contemporary India, the title and term "Guru" is widely used within the general meaning of "wise man".
  • Guru Pūrṇimā (गुरु पूर्णिमा): The day of full moon, Purnima, in the month of Ashadh of the Hindu calendar is traditionally celebrated by Hindus as Guru Pūrṇimā. On this day, devotees offer puja (worship) to their Guru.

H

  • Hamsa (हंस), Hidimbā (हिडिम्‍बा), Kamsa (कंस) : Allies of King Jarasandha; the last married the two daughters of Jarasandha. Also Krishna's step-uncle whom Krishna killed.
  • Halayudha (हलयुद्ध): Plough-weaponed, an epithet of Balarama who wielded a plough as his weapon.
  • Hanumāna (हनुमान): Wise and learned monkey devotee of Sri Rama, who possessed extraordinary powers of discrimination and wisdom and who searched and found Sita in her confinement in Lanka. Son of Vayu and Anjana.
  • Hari (हरि): Hari is another name of Vishnu or God in Vaishnavism, Smarta or Advaitan Hinduism, and appears as the 650th name in the Vishnu sahasranama.
  • Harivamsa (हरिवंश): Harivamsa is an important work of Sanskrit literature. It is a kind of appendix to the Mahābhārata, that runs to 16,375 verses and focuses specifically on the life of Lord Krishna.
  • Hastināpura (हस्‍तिनापुर): Hastinapura is the capital and the kingdom of the Kauravas, the descendants of Kuru, which include the Pandavas. The throne of this city is the prize over which the great war of the epic is fought.
  • Hidimbā (हिडिम्‍बा): A powerful Asura, who had yellow eyes and a horrible aspect. He was a cannibal, and dwelt in the forest to which the Pandavas retired after the burning of their house. He had a sister named Hidimbi, whom he sent to lure the Pandavas to him; but on meeting with Bhima, she fell in love with him. By his mother's desire Bhima married her, and by her had a son named Ghatotkacha.
  • Hindu scripture : Sacred texts of Hinduism mostly written in Sanskrit. Hindu scripture is divided into two categories: Śruti – that which is heard (i.e. revelation) and Smriti – that which is remembered (i.e. tradition, not revelation).
  • Hinduism : A worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas and is the direct descendent of the Vedic religion. It encompasses many religious traditions that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies.
  • Hiranyakashipu (हिरण्‍यकश्यप): Hiranyakashipu was an Asura, and also a King of Dravida whose younger brother, Hiranyaksha was killed by Varaha, one of the avatars of Vishnu. Identical with Shishupāla and Rāvana.
  • Hiranyaksha (हिरण्‍याक्ष): Hiranyaksha was an Asura of the Daitya race, and a King of Dravida who was killed by Lord Vishnu after he took the Earth to the bottom of the ocean. He had an older brother named Hiranyakashipu.
  • Holikā (होलिका): Holika was a demoness who was killed on the day of Holi. She was the sister of King Hiranyakashipu. The story of Holika's conflict signifies the triumph of good over evil.

I

  • Ikshvaku (इक्ष्वाकु): The word Ikshvaku means "bitter gourd". Ikshvaku was the first king and founder of the Sun Dynasty in Vedic civilization in ancient India. He was the son of Manu (the first man on earth), sired by the Sun God, Surya. Rama, of the epic Ramayana is a descendant of the house of Ikshvaku. So are Bhagiratha, Dasaratha, Luv and Kusa.
  • Ilvala (ईवल): Ilvala and Vatapi were asuras, the rulers of Badami, formerly known as Vatapi, was named after asura king Vatapi.
  • Indrajīt (इन्‍द्र जीत): Son of Ravana, King of Lanka, who conquered Indra, the Lord of Gods and who was killed by Rama's brother Lakshmana.
  • Indraprastha (इन्‍द्रप्रस्‍थ): Indraprastha (City of Indra) was a major northern city in ancient India that was the capital of the kingdom led by the Pandavas in the Mahabharata epic, located upon the banks of the river Yamuna and extremely close to the modern national capital of Delhi.
  • Indrasena (इन्‍द्रसेन): A kinsman of the Pandavas, son of Nala and Damayanti.
  • Indrasenā (इन्‍द्रसेना): Daughter of Nala and Damayanti.
  • Indrakila (इन्‍द्रकिला): A mountain Arjuna passed on his way to the Himalayas to practise austerities to acquire powerful new weapons from Lord Mahadeva.
  • Iravan (इरवन): Arjuna's son by a Naga princess Ulupi who fell in the battle on the eighth day, fought on the side of the Pandavas, killed by the Rakshasa Alumvusha.
  • Ishvara (ईश्व‍र): A Hindu philosophical concept of God referring to the Supreme Being which is the lord and the ruler of everything. Hinduism uses the term Ishvara exclusively to refer to the Supreme God in a monotheistic sense.

J

  • Jāmbavān (जाम्‍बवान): Jambavan or Jamvanta is a bear in Hinduism and believe to lived from Treta Yuga to Dvapara Yuga.
  • Janaka (जनक): King of Mithila, a great Rajarishi; father of Sita, wife of Rama).
  • Janamejaya (जनमेजय): A king who conducted a great sacrifice for the well being of the human race.
  • Janārdana (जनार्दन): A name of Krishna
  • Jarāsandha (जरासंध): A rākshasa father-in-law of Kamsa, Son of Brihadratha. Mighty king of Magadha of whose prowess all Kshatriyas were afraid. Killed by Bhima in a thirteen-day non-stop physical combat: with Sri Krishna and Arjuna as witnesses.
  • Jarita (जरित), Laputa (लपुत): Female companions of a saranga bird, who was a rishi named Mandapala in his previous birth when he was refused admission to heaven because he was childless.
  • Jalāsura (जलासुर): A demon killed by Bhima.
  • Japa (जप): A spiritual discipline in which a devotee repeats a mantra or the name of God. The repetition can be aloud, just the movement of lips or in the mind.
  • Jātaka (जातक): The Jataka is a voluminous body of folklore and mythic literature, primarily associated with the Theravada Buddhist tradition, as written in the Pali language (from about the 3rd century, C.E.); The story of Rama is told in one of Jātakas.
  • Jatāsura (जटासुर): A Rakshasa who disguised himself as a Brahman and carried Yudhishthira, Sahadeva, Nakula, and Draupadi. He was overtaken and killed by Bhima.
  • Jatāyū (जटायू): Jatāyū was king of all the eagles-tribes, the son of Aruna and nephew of Garuda. A demi-god who has the form of an (eagle), he tries to rescue Sita from Ravana, when Ravana is on his way to Lanka after kidnapping Sita. His brother was Sampatī
  • Jaya (जय): A son of King Dhritarashtra, who was killed by Bhima in the war
  • Jayadratha (जयद्रथ): A warrior on the side of Kauravas who closed the breach effected by Abhimanyu in the Chakravyuha military formation by Dronacharya and trapped him inside.
  • Jayatsena (जयत्‍सेन): A kinsman of the Pandavas.
  • Jayatsena (जयत्‍सेन): A warrior fighting on the side of Kauravas.
  • Jīwal (जीवल): The charioteer of Rituparna, king of Ayodhya, who accompanied with Bahuka.
  • Jnana (ज्ञान): Knowledge of the eternal and real

K

  • Kacha (कच): Grandson of sage Angiras and son of Brihaspati, who went to seek knowledge under Sukracharya as a brahmacharin. Devayani, the preceptor's lovely daughter, fell in love with him. The Asuras (demons) suspecting him of wanting to steal the secret of reviving the dead, killed him a number of times. But due to Devayani's love for him, her father brought him back to life every time he was killed. Ultimately the secret was learnt by the devas who then succeeded in defeating the asuras.
  • Kagola (कगोल): A disciple of the great sage and teacher of Vedanta, Uddalaka.
  • Kaikeyī (कैकेयी): She was the youngest of King Dasaratha's three wives and a queen of Ayodhya. She was the mother of Bharata.
  • Kailāsh (कैलास): It is a peak in the Gangdisê mountains, the source of rivers in Asia—the Indus River, the Sutlej River, and the Brahmaputra River—and is considered as a sacred place in four religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Bön faith. The mountain lies near Lake Manasarowar and Lake Rakshastal in Tibet.
  • Kaitabh (कैतभ): Kaitabh is an asura associated with Hindu religious cosmology. He along with his companion, Madhu, originated from one of the ears of God Vishnu. Kaitabh and Madhu were designed to annihilate Brahma.
  • Kālayāvan (कालयावन): Kālayāvan was an asura who surrounded Mathura with an army of thirty million monstrous friends. Then Krishna departed to built a city of Dwārkā amidst sea, transported all his people to this city and left them in Dwārkā. Then Krishna returned and slew Kālayāvan.
  • Kāl-Purush (काल-पुरुष): The time-man, Bengali name of Orion.
  • Kali (कलि): Kali was a demon, the personified spirit of the Fourth yuga who possesses Nala.
  • Kalī Yuga (कली युग): Kalī Yuga (lit. Age of Kali, also known as The Age of Darkness), is one of the four stages of development that the world goes through as part of the cycle of Yugas, as described in Hindu scriptures, the others being Dwapara Yuga, Treta Yuga, and Satya Yuga.
  • Kālī (काली): A dark, black aspect of the mother-goddess Devi whose consort is Shiva.
  • Kālindī (कालिन्‍दी): Kālindī was daughter of the Sun who marries Lord Krishna while he was ruling at Dwārkā, Kālindī is also another name for the river Yamuna in northern India.
  • Kāliyā (कालिया): Kāliyā was the name of a poisonous hydra or Nāga living on the bank of Yamuna River. Kāliyā was quelled by Krishna and sent to his abode in Ramanaka Dwīpa.
  • Kāl nāginī (काल नागिनी): A serpent who kills Lakshmindara, the son of Chand Sadagar who was a merchant-prince of Champaka Nagar.
  • Kalki (कल्कि): The tenth avatar of Vishnu who is yet to come and will appear as a man on a horse at the end of Kali Yug.
  • Kāma (काम): Best understood as aesthetics, the definition of Kama involves sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, pleasure of the senses, love, and the ordinary enjoyments of life regarded as one of the four ends of man (purusharthas).
  • Kāmadeva (कामदेव): Kāmadeva is the Hindu god of love. He is represented as a young and handsome winged man who wields a bow and arrows.
  • Kambojas (कम्बोज): Enemies of the Kauravas whom Karna had defeated
  • Kāmadhenu (कामधेनु): Kamadhenu was a divine cow believed to be the mother of all cows. Like her child Nandini, she could grant any wish for the true seeker. Kamadhenu provided Vasishta with his needs for the sacrifices. Kamadhenu (kama-dhenu, 'wish-cow'), was a miraculous cow of plenty who could give her owner whatever he desired.
  • Kamsa (कंस): Maternal Uncle of Sri Krishna and son of Ugrasena, also son-in-law of Jarasandha, whom Sri Krishna killed.
  • Kanika (कणिक): Minister of Sakuni.
  • Karkotaka (कर्कोटक)  : The naga who bit Nala at the request of Indra, transforming Nala into a twisted and ugly shape.
  • Kartavirya Arjuna (कार्तवीर्य अर्जुन) : Kārtavīrya Arjuna was King of Mahishamati, kshatriya of Ramayana period believed to have a thousand arms. He had beheaded Jamadagni, father of Parashurama. In revenge, Parashurama killed the entire clan of Kartavirya Arjuna. Ravana was comprehensively defeated and was put to humilation by him.
  • Kausikam (कौसिकम्): A sage who learnt from Dharmavyadha the secret of Dharma, of performing one's duty.
  • Karma (कर्म): A Sanskrit term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect.
  • Karma Yoga (कर्म योग): The practise of disciplining action. Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by doing his duties in an unselfish manner. [1]
  • Karṇa (कर्ण): A matchless warrior, son of the Sun god and Kunti. Disciple of Parasurama. Also son of Radha, his foster-mother, and was known as Radheya.
  • Kārtavīrya (कार्तवीर्य): A great warrior who defeated Ravana, King of Lanka.
  • Kārtikeya (कार्तिकेय): Commander of the armies of the devas, A god born out of a magical spark created by Shiva, his father. His brother is Ganesha.
  • Kashyapa (कश्‍यप): An ancient sage , father of the Devas, Asuras, Nagas and all of humanity. He is married to Aditi, with whom he is the father of Agni and the Adityas. His second wife, Diti, begot the Daityas. Diti and Aditi were daughters of King Daksha and sisters to Sati, Shiva's consort. One of Dashratha's counsellors also.
  • Kauravas (कौरव): Kaurava is a Sanskrit term, that means a descendant of Kuru, alternate name of sons of Dhritarashtra.
  • Kausalyā (कौसल्‍या): She was the eldest of King Dasaratha's three wives and a queen of Ayodhya. She was the mother of Rama.
  • Kekaya (केक‍य): A brave warrior on the Pandava side into whose chariot Bhima got during the fighting on the sixth day. Usinaras, the Sibi, the Madras, and the Kekayas were the direct descendants of Yayati's son Anu.
  • Kesava (केसव): One of the names of Sri Krishna.
  • Keshinī (केशिनी): Wife of Sāgara
  • Ketama (केतम): Another chief whose head was cut off by Drona.
  • Ketu (केतु): Ketu is generally referred to as a "shadow" planet. It has a tremendous impact on human lives and also the whole creation. Astronomically, Ketu and Rahu denote the points of intersection of the paths of the Sun and the Moon as they move on the celestial sphere.
  • Khaṇdavaprastha (खाण्डवप्रस्‍थ): The ancient capital from where the ancestors of Pandavas, Nahusha and Yayati ruled. The Pandavas rebuilt the ruined city and erected palaces and forts and renamed it Indraprastha.
  • Khara (खर): Khara was younger brother of Rāvana who was slain by Rama.
  • Kichaka (किचक): Sudeshna's brother, commander-in-chief of Virata's army, who made advances to Sairandhri (Draupadi). He was invited to meet her at night at the ladies dancing hall and was met instead by Valala (Bhima) dressed up as a female who killed him (Kichaka).
  • Kinnars (किन्‍नर) : Human birds with instruments of music under their wings.
  • Kirāta (किरात): Huntsman, The non-Aryan aborigines of the land. They are mentioned along with Cinas for Chinese. Kiratas are believed to be of Tibeto-Burman origin.
  • Kirmira (किर्मीर) : Kirmira was a Rakshasa, the brother of Bakasura. He lived in the forest of Kamyaka, and used to terrorize the Rishis who inhabited that forest. He ran into the Pandavas when they began their exile in the Kamyaka forest. Upon learning that Bheema was present, who had slain his brother Bakasura, the Rakshasa then challenged the Pandava to fight. After a fierce battle, Bhishma choked Kirmira to death
  • Kishkindhā (किष्किन्‍धा): Kishkindhā was the kingdom ruled by a Vanara King Sugreeva, the younger brother of Bali, during the Ramayana period. This was the kingdom where he ruled with the assistance of his most intelligent minister, Hanuman.
  • Kosala (कोशल): Kosala was an ancient Indian Aryan kingdom, corresponding roughly in area with the region of Oudh. Its capital was Ayodhya, where Rama was born.
  • Kripāchārya (कृपाचार्य): Aswathama's uncle who advocated a combined assault on Arjuna in battle as against Karna's boast that he could take him on single-handed.
  • Krishṇa (कृष्‍ण): The eighth avatar of Vishnu, one of the most worshipped by many Hindus. Krishna is famous for his lecture to Arjuna written in the Bhagavad Gita.
  • Krauncha (क्रौंच): Curlew-heron.
  • Krauncha-Vyuha (क्रौंच व्‍युह): military formation on a pattern supposed to resemble a heron with outstretched beak and spreading wings. In ancient Indian practice, armies were arrayed for battle in formations of definite patterns, each of which had a name such as Chakra, or Kurma or Krauncha, or Makara according to a real or fancied resemblance.
  • Kritavarma (कृतवर्म): A notable Yadava warrior fighting on the side of Kaurava forces.
  • Kshatriya (क्षत्रिय): One of the four fundamental colours (Varnas) in Hindu tradition, consisting of the warriors, soldiers and rulers of society.
  • Kshatradharma (क्षात्रधर्म): This is a form of spiritual practice that involves "Protection of the seekers and destruction of the evildoers". In other words, it is the duty of fighting against evil as told by lord Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita.
  • Kubera (कुबेर): One of the gods of wealth and riches.
  • Kuchasthala (कुचस्‍थल): A city where Krishna stayed the night on his way to the court of Dhritarashtra.
  • Kumāra (कुमार): Son of Shiva and Parvati who conquered and slew the demon Taraka.
  • Kumbha (कुम्भ): Kumbha was a rakshasa who led a host against the monkeys when Hanumana fetches healing herb.
  • Kumbhakarna (कुम्भकर्ण): Brother of Ravana, King of Lanka, who was asleep most of the time because of the curse of Brahma.
  • Kundalpur (कुण्‍डलपुर): Capital of Raja Bhismak who was father of Rukmini, the wife of Krishna.
  • Kundinapura (कुण्‍डिनपुर): Capital of Vidarbha.
  • Kuntī (कुंती): Mother of Pandavas, Daughter of Sura also known as Pritha. She was given in adoption to the king's childless cousin Kuntibhoja and was named Kunti after her adoptive father.
  • Kunti-Madri (कुंती-माद्री): Queens of King Pandu who gave birth to three and two sons known as the Pandavas in the forest where he spent many years for having committed some sin. The sons were known as Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva.
  • Kurma (कुर्म): Tortoise, The second avatar of Vishnu where he took the form of a