| LEXICON |
DESCRIPTION |
| ACAPELLA |
Choral singing in a church with out instruments |
| ACT OF GOD |
Law An occurence due to the forces of nature and could not have been prevented |
| ALTAR |
A flat tables or block for offerings to deities, A communion table |
| AMBROSIA |
food of the Gods in classical mythology |
| AMEN |
"So be it" |
| ANGELUS |
Roman catholic prayers said in the morning, noon, and evening |
| APOCRYPE |
A hermitage - A religious retreat |
| APOSTATE |
Abandonment of faith or belief |
| ATHEISM |
Belief that no God exists |
| ATMA |
Soul, the supreme universal self |
| ANUSHASAN |
Discipline |
| APOCALYPSE |
Any of the various religious writings depicting symbolically the end of evil and triumph of God |
| APIS |
A sacred bull worshipped by the ancient Egyptians |
| ASCENSION DAY |
40th Day after Easter |
| AHIMSA |
Doctrine of restraining from harming any living being- practiced by Hindus, Buddhists and Jains - Non - violence. |
| AHURA MAZDA |
The Supreme Being represented as a deity of goodness and light in Zorastrianism |
| AHRIMAN |
Ahura Mazda's antagonist who is a spirit of darkness and evil in Zorastrianism |
| ALMIGHTY |
Almighty God - relatively unlimited in power |
| ANTARATMA |
Conscience |
| ANGEL |
A spiritual being superior to man in power and intelligence |
| AWASTA TRAYAS |
Three stages of Mino (Hamsa Gita) waking state, dream state and deep dream state |
| ANOINT |
To apply oil to as a sacred rite, especially for consecration |
| APOSTASY |
Renunciation of a religious faith |
| ARGUS |
A hundred monster of Greek mythology |
| ATONEMENT |
A reconciliation of God and man through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ |
| AVE MARIA |
Hail Mary |
| BRAHMAN |
the Supreme Being from which all things evolve |
| BANSHEE |
Female spirits whose wail warns death in a house |
| BAPTISM |
Symbolic admission to Christian church with immersion or sprinkling with water |
| BHAKTHI |
Devotion to God |
| BENEDICTION |
Blessing |
| CANON |
A Regulation or dogma decreed by church council- accepted principle of rule. The most solemn and unwarying part of a mass including the consecration of the bread and wine |
| CANONIZE |
To declare an officially recognized Saint |
| CANON LAW |
Codified law governing a church |
| CAROL |
Song of joy or praise sung during Christmas |
| CABALA |
An occult rabbinical philosophy based on a mystical interpretation of the scriptures. Any esoteric or secret document - Occultism |
| CENSER |
a container in which incense is burnt |
| SHANKH |
shankh - "conch"- blowing a shankh is an auspicious signal for festivals and celebrations |
| CHANT |
repeats the God's name in a meditative spirit |
| CHELUM |
40th day of mourning |
| CHURAIL |
Ghost of a woman who died in a child birth |
| CHRISM |
The consecrated oil used in Baptism and other sacraments |
| CANONIST |
A specialist in Canon's law |
| COSMOS |
Universe as a well ordered whole |
| DEVA |
Deiva - DIVINITY |
| DEVALAYAM |
Hindu shrine |
| DHAMMA |
Buddhist religion |
| DHARMA |
Right way of life |
| DHARMA SHASTRA |
Hindu sacred law book |
| DHYANA |
Profound meditation |
| DIGAMBARA |
naked ascetic - Jainism |
| DEEKSHA |
Concentrated perseverance |
| DISPENSATION |
Exempted from penalty, rule, etc. Ordering or management of world of providence |
| DIRGE |
A funeral Hymn |
| DOXOLOGY |
Liturgical hymns etc of praise to God |
| EMBER |
three days set aside (Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) for prayer and (sometimes) fasting - observed by the Roman Catholic church and some other churches |
| ENLIGHTENMENT |
A final blessed state marked by the absence of desire or suffering |
| ETHEREAL |
regions beyond the earth, celestial, heavenly |
| EUPHEMISM |
Interpretation of myths as traditional accounts of historical persons and events |
| EVANGELIZE |
to preach the Gospel - to convert to Christianity |
| EXPIATION |
The act of making atonement |
| FATEHA |
prayers of the dead |
| FIVE Ks |
The five articles beginning with K, Kang (Comb), Kacha (Drawer), Kara (Iron Bangle), Kirpan (Sword), and Kesh (Hair) Obligatory for the Sikhs to wear |
| FAIRY |
A mythical being of folklore |
| FATWA |
A legal opinion or decree handed down by an Islamic religious leader |
| FIESTA |
A Saint's day celebrated in Spain and Latin America with procession and dances |
| FAITH |
Belief in the traditional doctrines of religions |
| GOD |
The Supreme or ultimate reality |
| GOSPEL |
Thing regarded as absolute truth |
| GOPIKA |
Companion and devotee of Lord Krishna |
| GARUDA |
Mythical kite- ridden by Lord Vishnu |
| GAYATHRI JAPA |
Brahmin's daily prayer |
| DEMON |
Evil spirit |
| DESTINY |
The seemingly inevitable succession of events- that will necessarily happen to a person- fate |
| DEVOTE |
Dedicate |
| DEITY |
Divinity - Personification of God |
| GANDHARVA |
Celestial singer |
| GHOST |
Spirit |
| GOMATHA |
Cow |
| HAJ |
Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca |
| HAJIRA |
Mohammed's flight from Mecca to Madina |
| HADES |
The underground abode of the dead- in Greek mythology |
| HODITH |
The collective body of traditions relating to Mohammed |
| HALAKAH |
Jewish law supplementing the scriptural law |
| HALO |
The aura of glory, veneration surrounding a deity or idealised person |
| HOLY WEEK |
The week before Easter |
| HOLY SPIRIT |
The spirit of God |
| HOLY FATHER |
Pope (title) |
| HOLY COMMUNION |
The rites in which bread and wine are consecrated and received as the body (flesh) and blood of Christ |
| HOLY ORDER |
The sacrament or rite of ordination |
| HEATHEN |
Member of any sect not worshipping any God |
| HARE KRISHNA |
the song used for meditation |
| HINAYANA |
Earlier austere school of Buddhism |
| HINDUISM |
Religious and social system with many adherents in India |
| HOMAM |
Oblation often with ghee and other herbs to Lord Agni |
| ID |
Muslim Holy festival- Ramzan, Bakrid, Moharram, etc. |
| INSHA ALLAH |
Please O God |
| INITIATION |
The process of being admitted into a religious system being invested with particular function, rites and status |
| I CHING |
It is an ancient Chinese text that provides advice and guidance in personal and occupational matters |
| JESUIT |
Member of the Roman Catholic society of Jesus, founded by St. Ignatius Loyola in 1534 and devoted to missionary and educational work |
| JEWRY |
Community of Jews |
| JEU D'ESPIRIT |
A witty comment |
| JIHAD |
Holy war waged on behalf of Islam as a religious duty |
| JEHOVA |
God (Jesus Christ) |
| JUDGEMENT DAY |
Time of God's final judgement of all people |
| JATRA | YATRA- Pilgrimage |
| GINA |
A title given to Tirthankara |
| JUMMAH |
Muslim congregation on Friday |
| JACOBITE |
Member of various monophysite eastern churches |
| JAPA |
Meditation (Japji for Sikhs) |
| JONAH |
An isrealite prophet believed to have resisted a call to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh, was swallowed and vomited by a big fish and eventually carried out his mission |
| JORUM |
One who brought with him vessels of silver (Bible) |
| KAUSTUBHAM |
Gem worn by Lord Krishna on his chest |
| KAIVALYA |
Absolute bliss |
| KALI YUG |
Hindu cosmology- The present age of action |
| KALPA VRIKSHA |
Divine tree providing any need to the devoted |
| KARADI- KAVADI |
a decorated arch carried on a procession to a temple as a penance |
| KARMA |
Destiny- fate |
| KINNARA |
A celestial musician |
| KRITA YUGA |
The first and best Yuga |
| KUNDALINI |
In tantra, the divine power coiled like a snake at the root of spine |
| KUSHA |
the grass sacred to Hindus used in religious ceremonies |
| KUSTI |
the woollen thread worn by orthodox Parsis |
| LANGAR |
Free kitchen and food offered during festivals of Punjabis and Sikhs where food is offered free without discrimination of caste or status. Food is also prepared not by cooks but women and men of all status |
| LECTERN |
A reading desk in a church |
| LATIN CHURCH |
Roman Catholic Church |
| LAST SUPPER |
the Last Supper eaten by Jesus with his disciples before crucifixion |
| LENT |
the period of 40-week days from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by Christians by fasting and penitence |
| LEVITE |
Any member of the tribe of Leri chosen to assist the priest in the temple (Church) |
| LIMBO |
The abode after death of unbaptised children and righteous people who lived before Jesus |
| LITURGY |
prescribed form of ritual for public worship in any of various religions or churches Eucharistic service |
| MAYA |
phenominal world- illusion |
| MADARSA |
Muslim school where religion is taught |
| MAHAYANA |
later- more widespread school of Buddhism |
| MAKARA |
A mythical creature- a crocodile with antelope's head |
| MECCA |
Goal of aspiration- place revered as birthplace of faith and policy- Mohammed's birth place |
| MIMAMSA |
One of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy- The poorva (Earlier) describing the duties of priests and Uttare (later) being usually called Vedanta |
| MOKSHA |
salvation - spiritual liberation |
| MUKTHI |
Spiritual liberation- Freedom |
| MICAH |
Hebrew prophet |
| MESSIAH |
(Jew)- a promised and expected deliverer of Jews. Any expected saviour |
| MANTRA |
Incantation prayer |
| MARDI GRAS |
The last day before Lent- the day of carnival |
| MENORAH |
A candelabrum (lamp stand) with seven branches a symbol of Judaism |
| MANDALA |
Circular design of concentric geometric form symbolizing the universe or wholeness in Hinduism or Buddhism |
| MANES |
The deified souls of the dead |
| MEDITATION |
pondering, concentrating deeply on a spiritual thought or a person of which there are three types
Vaikahari Roopa Japam - meditation - uttering the names loudly |
| UPAMSU JAPAM |
Meditation- moving the lips but without sound |
| MANASIKA JAPAM |
Meditation - maintaining the japam without moving the lips and without sound |
| NADIR |
the point of the celestial sphere directly opposite to the zenith- the lowest point |
| NAMAM |
Mark pipes clayed on to the forehead of a Vaishnavite.Two lines in white in the shape of a V and the central line in red. |
| NAMAVALI |
A piece of cloth printed with the name of a deity. Example : Rama |
| NAMAZ |
Muslim Prayer |
| NYAYA |
One of the orthodox Hindu philosophy systems (Six) teaching of logic |
| NATALIE |
Name given to a child born on X-Mas Day |
| NEMESIS |
Just punishment |
| NECTAR |
Drink of Gods- Amritam |
| NOAH'S ARC |
The Patriarch commanded by God to build the arc on which He, His family and two of every kind of creature survived the flood |
| OM |
Sacred syllable or Mantra used by Hindus & Sikhs at the beginning of prayers or in religious books. The transcendental syllable |
| OMKAR |
The sound which resonates from the word OM |
| ORMAZD |
The Supreme Deity and Creator of the world Zorashtrianism |
| PADMA |
The Holy Lotus flower on which Goddess Lakshmi is seated |
| PANCHANG |
Hindu calender where five aspects are given |
| PRADAKSHANA |
A reverential clockwise walk around the temple or deity. Circumambulation |
| PRAKRITI |
The natural world in Samkhya philosophy - matter made up of three Gunas - as opposed to spirit |
| PRAYER |
An earnest request to God |
| PRIE DIEU |
A narrow upright frame with a ledge for kneeling at the prayer |
| PRALAYA |
Annihilation- utter destruction |
| PRANAYAAMAM |
Breath control |
| PRASADAM |
Fruits food & sweets offered to God |
| PUJA |
Worship rites performed in Hindu idol worship |
| PUNYA |
Virtue- sacred |
| PURANAS |
Sacred legends of Hinduism |
| PRIOR |
Superior of a religious house |
| PRABHAT PHERI |
Group of devotees going round the streets, early in the morning, singing chorals, bhajans or chanting the Maha Mantra Hare Rama Hare Krishna |
| PARAMA PURUSHA |
The Supreme being |
| PANCHA JANYA |
The conch or shank used by Lord Krishna |
| PANTH |
Path / Sect |
| PONTIFF |
Pope |
| PITAMBARAM |
Yellow Silk Robes worn by Celestial Beings |
| PRAKRTTI |
Nature |
| PARAMARTHAM |
The cosmic word |
| PADUKAS |
Sandals- (Sri Rama's) |
| PAVITRA |
Holy |
| PADASRYAM |
Seeking refuges at the Divine Feet |
| PARABRAHMAM |
Supreme Almighty |
| PARASHAKTI |
Divine Mother |
| PARAMA PADAM |
Heavenly Abode |
| QUL |
Prayers for the dead |
| RAHU KAALAM |
The Demon - Hinduism- The inauspicious time |
| RAMZAN |
Ramadan The ninth month in the Muslim year- with rigid fasting during light hours |
| RAS LEELA |
Folk Drama A circular dancing celebrating Radha Krishna adoration |
| RATH |
Ratham- Chariot- A temple car used in Ratha Yatra |
| RICE CHRISTIAN | Hindu converted into Christianity |
| RIG VEDA |
Oldest and chief Veda |
| ROZA |
Muslims' fast during Ramzan |
| RUDRAKSHA |
The Holy Rosary- (beads naturally obtained from trees)- Used by Hindus and said to have sacred powers. It is a kind of fruit and the seed is not edible. The seed has a shrivelled appearance and the value of the Rudrakshas depend on the shape, the number of wrinkles and colour- they are named after the number of sides- Ekamukhi, Dumukhi, etc. Eka mukhi is the more precious, costly and rare too. In ancient days only Rishis and swamis used to wear them. Of late, having learnd of its efficacy and the spiritual importance, they are being by many people or used for meditation- Rudraksha conveys the meaning of Lord Siva's' eyes- Rudra= Siva, Aksha= eye |
| SACRED THREAD |
Cord worn over the left shoulder and under the right shoulder by Hindu Brahmins and Kshatriyas after the sacred initiation (second birth) and changed every year on Shravan Purnima Day after sacred pujas- yajnapaveetham in Sanskrit |
| SADHANA |
Religious training - discipline |
| SAMADHI |
Profound Meditation the last stage of Yoga - Tomb of Yogi - a Mausoleum |
| SAMSARAM |
Universe - family |
| SAMSKARA |
Hindu sacrament - Predisposition |
| SAMYAMA |
The third stage of yogic meditation |
| SANGAM |
confluence of rivers- especially Ganga Yamuna and Saraswathi |
| SANKHYA |
One of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy, analysing human nature |
| SAMYAS |
Fourth stage of Hindu aspect of life- renunciation of all worldly interests, ascetic, religious mendicant |
| SANSAR |
The world-The wordly resposibilities |
| SARASVATI |
Goddess of learning |
| SHRADDHA |
Periodic - yearly rites for dead relations |
| SURYA NAMASKARA |
early morning ablutions to Sun God - also an exercise prescribed for following in the morning |
| SUTRA |
Vedic or Buddhist Precept |
| SATSANG |
Wordly community gathering organised in which Bhajans are sung and discuss religious scripts |
| SATTVA |
One of the three gunas - harmony,lightness and purity |
| SHAITAN |
Devil |
| SHALIGRAM |
Black fossil-Story structure sacred for Hindu worship-worshipped along with other images-"Special stone formation in which God manifests himself" |
| SHARIAT |
Canon law of Islam |
| SHASTRA | Sacred Hindu law book |
| SATYA |
Truth - "Satyameva Jayate" |
| SHARIF | Muslim title accorded to the descendants of the Prophet, especially through Hasan |
| SAHASTRANAMA | Chanting of 1008 qualifying names-especially Sri Maha Vishnu - All the other Gods also have their own Sahastrnamas- chanting of Sahastra Naama everyday assures bliss |
| SOMA | Zorastrian ritual drink - juice offered to the Gods in India. A drink of immortality by worshippers in Vedic rituals |
| SHILANNIYAS | sthapana or placement of an sacred idol in a temple or a holy place |
| SRISHTI | Creation |
| SURA | Chapter of the Quran |
| SANDHYA VANDANA | Daily Vandana observed by orthodox brahmins as a ritual enjoined by the Vedas |
| SUPRABHATAM | Waking up sound for the God- sung by devotees early in the morning |
| TAMAS | One of the three gunas - Inertia , heaviness, darkness |
| TATHAGATA | Gautama Buddha |
| TAWEEZ | Amulet - talisman |
| TITANS | Were the first Gods in Greek mythology |
| TAAZIA | - Model tombs of Hasan and Hussain carried in procession at Moharram |
| TEMPLE | House of worship - usually refering to Buddhists, Confuscian, Hindu and Taoist religions- they are built to honour God and / or contruction according to Vedas -they are considered the homes of Gods |
| TABOOT | Model of Hussain Tomb |
| TANDAVA | Shivas'dance (Of anger & destruction) |
| TANTRA | Esoteric text relating to worship of Shakthi |
| TAPASYA | Penance - Austerity |
| TEERTHA | A place of pilgrimage for Hindus |
| TEERTHANKARA | One of the 24 defined saints of Jainism - the first being Adinath and the last three are Neminath, Parasnath, & Mahavira |
| TULASI | Basil plant- sacred to Hindus |
| TWICE BORN | Applied to members to Brahmin community, Shatriyas, and Vaishyas- their second birth being the initiation to the study of Vedas" Upanayanam" |
| TIS AB BAB | Jewish fast day commemorating the destruction of the temple |
| THIESM | Belief in God |
| TRANSCEND | Go beyond - exceed limits |
| TRANSCENDENTAL | Not based on experience, Intuitively accepted, abstract, and vague |
| THEOLOGY | Study and description of God |
| TRANSMIGRATE | Soul passing into a different body |
| TARPANA | Offering |
| TANMAYA | Ecstacy |
| ULEMA | Collective wisdom of Mullah and Moulvis |
| UTTHAVNA | Hindu-mourning ceremony held on the third day after death |
| URS | Ceremony commemorating a Muslim Saint |
| UPASANA | Adoration |
| VAHANAM | a sacred vehicle, especially a bird or animal - traditionally ridden by a Hindu God - Garuda Vahana, Mooshika Vahana, etc. |
| VAISESHIKA | One of the six systems of orthodox Hindu philosophy, analysing the Cosmos |
| VANAPRASTHA | The third stage of Hindu life - retirement to the forest |
| VEDANTA | System of Hindu Monistic or Panthestic philosophy based on Vedas |
| VEDAS | Four ancient sacred books of Hinduism consisting of Psalms, chants, sacred formulae, etc. |
| VIBHUTI | sacred ash Bhasmam - largely used by Shaivites, temples and also by Sri Sathya Sai Baba and Shirdi Baba devotees |
| | Heaven( Hindu) |
| VAIRAGYA | Renunciation |
| WAKF | Charitable endowment - Muslims authorised organization |
| YAKSHA | Supernatural being |
| YAMA DEVA | Hindu God who judges good and bad |
| YAB-YUM | in Tantric Buddhism- Ritual sexual union |
| YANTRA | Mystic diagram |
| YAJNA | Sacred offering in the form of sacrificial fire |
| YOGA | A discipline by which one seeks to achieve union with the universal soul through deep meditation, prescribed postures, controlled breathing, etc. |
| YOGI | A person who practices or teaches Yoga- Hinduism |
| YULE | Christmas or Christmas season |
| YULETIDE | Christmas Time |
| YUGA | Cyclic period in Hindu Cosmology |
| ZAVIER | St. Francis Special Jesuit Missionary |
| X-Mas | Christmas |
| ZIARET | Pilgrimage to a Muslim shrine |
| ZIMMI | Protected non-believer in a Muslim country |
| ZEN | A Japanese Buddhist sect |
| ZACKARIA | A Hebrew prophet |
| ZEPHANIA | A Hebrew prophet |
| ZION | The hill in Jerusalem on which the temple was built - a symbol of the centre of Jewish national life - the land of Israel - the Heaven |
| ASSEMBLIES OF GOD |
Is the largest pentacostal religion denomination in the world. The Church teaches that the Bible cannot be wrong
The Church teaches that the Christians should seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit
The Church emphasizes the healing through prayer
The return of Jesus Christ and his reign and eternal punishment for the unsaved |
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