Glossary 213
Paramatma—the Supersoul, Lord Visnu sitting within the heart of each
and every living being.
Patalaloka—the lower planetary system, where the demons live.
Prakrti— material nature, who controls all phenomena in this world, as
well as all conditioned living beings, but is herself directly con-
trolled by the Supreme Lord.
Prasada—food spiritualized by being offered to the Lord.
Puranas—supplements to the original Vedas which recount the history
of the universe from its very creation and describe the Supreme
Lord’s various incarnations.
R
Rsis—sages.
Ss
Sannyasa—renounced life; the fourth order of Vedic spiritual life.
Sari—the standard women’s garment in Vedic culture.
Sastras—revealed scriptures.
Srimad-Bhagavatam—the ‘‘spotless Purdna,’’ which explains pure de-
; votional service to the Supreme Lord.
Sruti—the original four Vedas together with the Upanisads.
Sudra—a laborer; the fourth of the Vedic social orders.
Surabhis—the transcendental cows of the spiritual world, who can be
milked to get the fulfillment of any possible desire.
Svayarhvara—the ceremony in which a king’s daughter is allowed to
choose her own husband.
T
Tilaka—auspicious clay marks that sanctify a devotee’s body as a temple
of the Lord.
Tulasi—a sacred plant worshiped by devotees of Visnu.
U
Upanisads—philosophical sections of the Vedas, designed to bring the
student closer to the Absolute Truth.
Vv
Vaikuntha—the spiritual world.
Vaisnava—a devotee of Lord Visnu, Krsna.
