Glossary
A
Ācamana —purification by sipping water and chanting the names of the Lord.
Ācārya —a spiritual master who teaches by example.
Ācit —without life or consciousness.
Ārati —a ceremony for greeting the Lord with offerings of food, lamps, fans, flowers and incense.
Ārcanā —the devotional process of Deity worship.
Ārtha —economic development.
Āsat —not eternal.
Āśrama —(1) the four spiritual orders of life: celibate student, householder, retired life and renounced life. (2) the residence of a saintly person.
Āsuras —atheistic demons.
Āvatāra —a descent of the Supreme Lord.
B
Bhagavad-gītā —the basic directions for spiritual life spoken by the Lord Himself.
Bhakta —a devotee.
Bhakti-yoga —linking with the Supreme Lord by devotional service.
Brahmacarya —celibate student life; the first order of Vedic spiritual life.
Brahman —the Absolute Truth; especially the impersonal aspect of the Absolute.
Brāhmaṇa —one wise in the  Vedas  who can guide society; the first Vedic social order.
Brahmāstra —a nuclear weapon produced by chanting  mantras .
C
Chandas —the different meters of Vedic hymns.
Cit —alive and conscious.
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