Glossary

Words in SMALL CAPITALS are defined elsewhere in the Glossary.

A

adhibhautika—miseries caused by conflict with other living entities.

adhidaivika— miseries caused by the forces of nature.

adhyatmika—miseries caused by one’s own mind and body.

Advaita Acarya—an incarnation of the Lord who appeared as a principal
associate of another incarnation, Lord CAITANYA MAHAPRABHU.

Age of Kali—See KALI-YUGA.

Akriira—an uncle of Lord KRSNA.

Anandagiri—a prominent follower of SANKARACARYA.

apavarga—See MUKTI.

Arjuna—one of the five PANDAVA brothers; Lord KRSNA became his
chariot driver during the battle of KURUKSETRA and spoke to him
the BHAGAVAD.GITA.

ashrams—the four Vedic developmental divisions of the human life-
cycle which are meant to elevate one to spiritual perfection; these
begin with brahmacarya (celibacy and study), proceed to grhastha
(married life), and vdnaprastha (retirement), and culminate in san-
nyasa (complete renunciation of family life and material obliga-
tions). See also VARNASRAMA-DHARMA.

astanga-yoga—the eight-step process of meditation, beginning with sit-
ting postures and breath-control, and culminating with realization
of the Lord’s form within one’s heart.

ASvatthama—the nefarious son of the great military teacher DRONA who
murdered the children of the PANDAVA brothers.

atma—See JIivA.

avatara—a ‘‘descent,’’ or appearance on earth of the Supreme Lord or
His representative.

B

Badarayana—See VYASADEVA.

Baladeva—See JAGANNATHA, BALADEVA, AND SUBHADRA.

Bhagavad-gita—the paramount scripture of the Vedic tradition, em-
bodying the teachings of Lord KRSNA to His devotee ARJUNA and
expounding devotion to the Supreme Lord as both the principal
means and the ultimate end of spiritual perfection.

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