Glossary

A

Acarya—a spiritual master who teaches by his own example.

Acintya-bhedabheda-tattva—Lord Caitanya’s “simultaneously one and different” doctrine,
which establishes the inconceivable simultaneous existence of the Absolute Truth as
both personal and impersonal.

Arati—ceremony of worshiping the Lord by the offering of various auspicious articles such as
incense, flowers, water, fans, ghee lamps, foodstuff, etc.

Ardha-bahya—half-external consciousness.

Avaisnava—a nondevotee.

Avatara—(lit., one who descends) an incarnation of the Lord who descends from the spiritual
sky to the material universe with a particular mission described in scriptures.

Bhagavan —(bhaga—opulence; van—possessing) the possessor of all opulences, which are
generally six —wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation; an epithet
of the Supreme Person.

Brahman—(1) the infinitesimal spiritual soul; (2) the all-pervading impersonal aspect of
Krsna; (3) the Supreme Personality of Godhead; (4) the total material substance.

Brahmana—the intelligent class of men, according to the system of social and spiritual orders.

Bramajyoti—(brahma—spiritual; jyoti—light) the impersonal effulgence emanating from the
body of Krsna.

C

Cakravaki—the female counterpart of the cakra bird. When the male cakra bird and the
female cakravaki bird are separated they make mournful sounds during the night.
Candalas —dog-eaters; the lowest class of human beings.

D

Dama —self-control.

Damodara—(Dama—rope; udara—belly or waist) a name of Krsna given to him when he was
bound around the waist with a rope by mother Yasoda.

Dharma —that which is the natural established order of things or that which is the natural es-
tablished function of the living being.

G

Gauracandra—(gaura—golden; candra—moon) a name of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
denoting his appearance to be like that of a golden moon.

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