Glossary Volume 2

Abhaya mudhra	A mudra is a symbolic or ritual gesture. While some mudrās involve the entire body, most are performed with the hands and fingers. The Abhaya mudra ("mudra of no-fear") represents protection, peace, benevolence, and dispelling of fear.
Adhithi	In the Vedas, Aditi is mother of the gods (devamatar) and all twelve zodiacal spirits from whose cosmic matrix the heavenly bodies were born. As celestial mother of every existing form and being, the synthesis of all things, she is associated with space (akasa) and with mystic speech (Vāc).  She is preeminently the mother of 12 Adityas who include Vivasvān, Aryamā, Pūṣā, Tvaṣṭā, Savitā, Bhaga, Dhātā, Vidhātā, Varuṇa, Mitra, Śatru, and Urukrama (Vishnu was born as Urukrama, the son of Nabhi and Meru.) She is also is the mother of the Vamana avatar of Vishnu. Accordingly, Vishnu was born as the son of Aditi in the month of Shravana (fifth month of the Hindu Calendar, also called Avani) under the star Shravana.
Adiyavare	Addressing or hailing an Adiyavar or Adiyar
Adiyavarhale	Addressing or hailing a  group of Adiyavar or Adiyar
Agni	Fire God
Agni, Vayu, Jalam, Aakasam, Bhumi	The Five elents  Fire, Wind, Water,Ether and Earth
Akhilandanayakiye	Addressing Annai Parvati as the one who rules the entire universe.
Akshatai	Rice smeared with turmeric powder.  It is generally used as an offering to deities in place of flowers etc. Also  used by elders to bless those who bow/ prostrate in front off them by spilling it on their heads.
Alakalananju	Halāhala  or Kalakootam is the name of a poison( nanju)  created from the sea when Devas (Gods) and Asuras (Demons) churned it.   The Samudra Manthan process released a number of things from the Milk Ocean. One product was the lethal poison known as Halahal. This terrified the gods and demons because the poison was so powerful that it could contaminate the Milk Ocean and destroy all of creation. On the advice of Lord Vishnu, the gods approached the compassionate Lord Shiva for help and protection. Lord Shiva inhaled the poison in an act to protect the universe, and Goddess Parvati pressed her hand on shiva's throat to save the universe. As a result, The color of Lord Shiva's neck turned blue. For this reason, Lord Shiva is also called Neelakanta (the blue-throated one; "neela" = "blue", "kantha" = "throat" in Sanskrit).
Amaichchare	Addressing the Amaichchar    Amaichchar - Minister
Annabhishekam	Abhishekam performed with cooked rice. In most cases , the Lingam iscovered with cooked rice ( annam) as if clothed rather than showered by cooked rice. .
Arudra darisanam	Arudhra Darisanam is a  festival celebrated in the South Indian state of Tamil nadu and Kerala. Thiruvathirai(Arudhra) in Tamil means "sacred big wave", using which this universe was created by Lord Shiva about 132 trillion years ago.  Sri Natarajar temple's annual Festival at Chidambaram  is celebrated on this date. It takes place on the full moon night in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December–January) and this is also the longest night in a year.
Athidevathas	They are Superior Deveathas  or a step higher than Devthas.
Aththai	Paternal Aunt. In some village customs, mother-in-law is also referred as such.
Ayushya homam	Homa (also known as homam or havan)  which refers to any ritual in which making offerings into a consecrated fire is the primary action. Ayushya Homam is performed for longivity and disease free life of a child when it atatins the age of one.
Ayyane	Hailing Easan or Lord
Ayyare	Hailing a  respectful elder or a Brahmin
Ayyo	Alas
Berigai, Udukkai and Parai	These are types of drums  Berigai or Murasu are beaten with palms or sticks. Udukkai is hand held and rattled with a bread attached to strings on both sides. Parai is played with thin sticks.
Bhaktane	Addressing or hailing a devotee or follower
Bhavathi Biksham dehi	Please give Me Alms
Bhishmar	In the epic Mahabharata, Bhishmar (or Bheeshma or Devavrata or Bhishma Pitamah) was the eighth son of Kuru King Shantanu. He is the  grand uncle of both the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Bhishma means He of the terrible oath, referring to his vow of lifelong celibacy.
Bhoomadevi	Bhuma-Devi or Bhū-Devī, is the personification of Mother Earth. She is the consort of Varaha, an avatar of Vishnu and regarded as the mother of the goddess Sita. According to the uttara-kanda, when Sita finally leaves her husband Rama, she returns to Bhumidevi. She is the mother of the demon Narakasura . Bhumi Devi is also believed to be one of the two forms of Lakshmi. The other is Sridevi, who remains with Narayana. Bhudevi is the Goddess of Earth, and the fertility form of Lakshmi. She is the daughter of Kashyap Prajapati. According to some she is also Satyabhama, wife of Sri Krishna in Dwapara Yuga and the divine saint Andal. Several female deities have had births similar to Sita. Alamelu Mangamma or Sri Padmavathi Devi of Tiruchanur had a similar beginning, being found in a ploughed field by Akasa Raja. Andal from Srivilliputtur in Tamil Nadu was found under a Tulasi plant by Periyaalvar
Biksha	To seek alms; beg for food
Bikshapathram	See Thiruvodu
Brahaspathi	Bṛhaspati  "lord of prayer or devotion",often written as Brihaspati or Brahaspati) also known as Deva-guru (guru of the gods), is a Hindu god and a Vedic deity. He is considered the personification of piety and religion, and the chief 'offerer of prayers and sacrifices to the gods' (Sanskrit: Purohita), with whom he intercedes on behalf of humankind. He is the guru of the Devas (gods).In Jyotisha (Hindu astrology), Bṛhaspati is the name for the planet Jupiter, which is one of the Navagraha (the nine planets) . He is also known as Guru, Cura and Devaguru.
Brahmachari	Celibate.
Brahmacharyam	Celibacy
Brahmanan	A brahmin
Brahma-upadesam	Brahmopadesam (revealing the nature of Brahman, the Ultimate Reality) or the Gayatri mantra. The final step in the process of conducting Upanayanam.
Burning pit	A pit dug and filled with wood and coal and lighted . The devotees enter the pit and come out or immolate themselves in it.
Chidambara rahasiyam	Chidambara Rahasyam (translation, "the secret of Chidambaram") is a Hindu belief that there is a secret message conveyed through the embossed figure near the shrine of Shiva in the Chidambaram Temple. Among scholars and saints, the phrase "Chidambara Ragasiyam" has a more profound philosophical interpretation. The curtain unveils empty space. Emptiness is the truth being conveyed and Shiva Himself manifests Shakti in the form of conscious Emptiness, which bears this entire creation. Emptiness is pervaded by Time, Shiva. And the Mahakala Shiva, who is the lord of the universe, and who is, even though, the inherent consciousness of the conscious Emptiness, is pervaded by it. Conscious Matter is the result of copulation of Shiva and Shakti, or in other words, Time and Emptiness. Conscious matter forms the body of this visible creation. Its creator is Emptiness, which though bears all movements of the matter, remains beyond and unaffected by it. The essence of matter and emptiness is the lord of the universe Mahakala Shiva, who pervades everything and yet remains beyond everything
Deekshithar	Also spelt Dikshitar. Dīkshitars or Thillai Vazh Anthaanar are a Brahmin servitor community of Tamil Nadu who are based mainly in the town of Chidambaram.
Devadasis	A servant of deva (god) or devi (goddess) );  a girl "dedicated" to worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. In addition to taking care of the temple and performing rituals, these women learned and practiced Sadir (Bharatanatyam), classical music  and  other classical Indian artistic traditions and enjoyed a high social status as dance and music were essential part of temple worship.
Devarajan,	King of Devas
Devathas	The term "devata" means devas (deva in plural form or the gods. They also denote  a kind of smaller more focused devas. There are male and female devatas. There are many kinds of devatas: vanadevatas (forest spirits, gramadevata (village gods), devata of river crossings, caves, mountains, and so on. In Hinduism, the devatas that guard the nine cardinal points are called Devata Lokapala (Guardians of the Directions)
Dharbha grass	Kusa grass or  Durva grass . Cynodon dactylon, also known as dūrvā grass, Dhoob. Usedin religious functions , yagams etc.
Dhundhubhi	A huge wind instrument blown to herald arrival of Easan or King , also used in a procession
Easwari	Another title for Annai Parvati.  Consort of Easwran or Easan
Emperumane	A form addressing one's Lord. In this context Siva
Gandharvas	The gandharvas  are male nature spirits, husbands of the Apsaras. Some are part animal, usually a bird or horse. They have superb musical skills. They guarded the Soma and made beautiful music for the gods in their palaces. Gandharvas are frequently depicted as musicians  in the court of Gods.
Gayatri mantram	The Gāyatrī Mantra is a highly revered mantra of the Vedic tradition. Just like all the Vedic Mantras Gayatri Mantra is considered not to have an author and like all other mantras is believed to have been revealed to a Brahmarshi, in this case Brahmarshi Vishvamitra. This is a Vedic Sanskrit verse from a hymn of the Rigveda (3.62.10).Gayatri is the name of the Gayatri meter in which the verse/hymn runs
Gettimelam	Beating of the Melam in a fast tempo to drown other sounds
Gopujai	Doing Puja to a cow
Grahams	See Navagrahas
Guru Brahma guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheswara, Guru sakshat parabrahmo Thasmy sri Guruve namaha’	See explanation in the post itself . Extolling that Guru or teacher is as Godly as the three deities Brahma, Vishnu and Sivan
Gurudhakshina	Fee paid to teacher
Gurukulam	Students reside in the house of their teacher  while undergoing their studies.
Guruve	Addressing the Guru
Gyanam	Wisdom
Ilavarasan	Prince
Kamadhenu	A celestial cow which bestows every wish of the owner.
Kamandalam	Kamandal or kamandalam is an oblong water pot made of a dry gourd (pumpkin) or coconut shell, metal, wood of the Kamandalataru tree, or from clay, usually with a handle and sometimes with a spout. Hindu ascetics or yogis often use it for storing drinking water. The water-filled kamandalu, which is invariably carried by ascetics, is stated to represent a simple and self-contained life.
Kanigai/Kanikayars	See Parathayar
Kanya Rasi	One of the  12 Zodiac Signs. Virgo in the Western astrology. But as per Hindu calender born under Uththiram, hastam and Chiththirai stars
Karpaga Vriksham	The Celestail tree of prosperity which grants all the wishes and riches
Karpoora Deeparadhanai	One of the upacharas in which camphor is lit  to serve as the lighted source.
Kasyapa gotram	The term gotra means clan. It broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor.  "the word gotra denotes the progeny (of a sage) beginning with the son's son." When a person says "I am Kashyapa-gotra," he means that he traces his descent from the ancient sage Kashyapa by unbroken male descent.
Kasyapar	Kashyapa  was an ancient sage (rishi), who is one of the Saptarishis in the present Manvantara: others being Atri, Vashistha, Vishvamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja, Gautama. He is the son of Marichi, one of the ten sons (Manasaputras) of the Creator Brahma.
King Dasarathar	The king of Ayodhya and a descendant of the Ikshvaku dynasty (also known as Suryavamsha or Raghuvaṃśa). His life story is narrated principally in the epic Ramayana. He was a descendant of Raghu and was the father of prince Rama, the principal character in the Ramayana. Dasharatha was the son of Aja and Indumati.
Konrai flower	Yellow flower from the Konrai Tree. Supposed to be very pleasing to Sivan.
Koothadi	Loosely a Jester who dances and makes merry. Easan is considered as the greatest Koothadi!
Korojanai	A herbal medicine for home treatment especially for children
Koupeenam	Loin cloth. Kaupinam , kaupinaor langot  is an undergarment worn by Indian men as a loincloth or underclothing. It is made up of rectangular strip of cotton cloth which is used to cover the genitals with the help of the strings connected to the four ends of the cloth for binding it around the waist of the wearer. It has fallen into disuse amongst the common people, but any Hindu godly people or saints continue to use it.
Kubera	Kubera also spelt Kuber, is the Lord of Wealth and the god-king of the semi-divine Yakshas in Hindu mythology. He is regarded as the regent of the North (Dik-pala), and a protector of the world (Lokapala). His many epithets extol him as the overlord of numerous semi-divine species and the owner of the treasures of the world. Kubera is often depicted as a fat man, adorned with jewels and carrying a money-pot or money-bag, and a club.
Lokanathan	Lord of the Universe
Makkale	Addressing people gathered to listen to a speech.
Mama/Maman	Maternal uncle.  Any elderly person unrelated can also be addressed as mama as it connotes elder / younger brother of one's mother.
Mannane	Addressing the King ;  Mannan King
Manthiram	Manthiram or Mantra  means a sacred utterance, numinous sound, or a syllable, word, phonemes, or group of words believed by some to have psychological and spiritual power. Mantra may or may not be syntactic or have literal meaning; the spiritual value of mantra comes when it is audible, visible, or present in though
Moodevi	Moodevi or Alakshmi is the older sister of Lakshmi and the Hindu goddess of misfortune. She is described as being “cow-repelling, antelope-footed, [and] bull-toothed." Or she “has [a] dry shriveled up body, sunken cheeks, thick lips, and beady eyes and that she rides a donkey.
Moolamantram	The basic or the seed of a mantra. It is to be imparted by a Guru to his disciple.
Moonjikayiru	Loin thread used for tying up the loin cloth or Koupeenam.
Mukti	Moksha , also called vimoksha, vimukti and mukti, means emancipation, liberation or release. In eschatological sense, it connotes freedom from saṃsāra, the cycle of death and rebirth. In epistemological and psychological sense, moksha connotes freedom, self-realization and self-knowledge.
Mutts	A matha (also written math or mutt; maṭha) is a monastic or similar religious establishment.The oldest matha follows the Advaita Vedanta tradition and they are headed by Shankaracharyas, a title derived from the name of Ādi Śankara
Naalai Poven	I  will  go tomorrow
Nanbha	Addressing a Friend.  Nanban  means  Friend
Navagrahas	Graha  is a 'cosmic influencer' on the living beings of mother Bhumidevi (Earth). In Hindu astrology, the Navagraha (Sanskrit:  lit. Imperial stars) are some of these major influencers. This includes the planets: Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn, the Sun, the Moon, as well as positions in the sky, Rahu (north or ascending lunar node) and Ketu (south or descending lunar node).
Palasa dhandam	Stick / Staff made of the barnch of  jackfruit tree .
Panchakavyam	A mix of five items derived from a cow. Milk, Curd, Ghee, Urine and Dung.  It is supposed to have both medicinal and curative properties. It is vbecoming increasingly popular in organic farming as it works both as a manure and as a pesticide.
Panchaksharam	Panchakshara, or Panchakshari, the "five-syllable" mantra  Namaḥ Śivāya is the most holy salutation to Śiva. The Panchakshara is  recited by Shiva devotees during pooja, Japa, Dhyana, homa and while smearing Vibhuti. According to Hindu traditions, the human body is made up of five natural elements and these holy letters represent these elements. Shiv Panchakshari Mantra, Namaḥ Śivāya is said to have evolved from the five seeds of aforesaid natural elements. Na energizes the Prithvi Tatva (Earth element) Ma energizes the Jal Tatva (Water factor) Shi energizes Agni Tatva (Fire element) Va energizes Vayu Tatva (Air factor) and Ya energizes Akash Tatva (Sky element). Finally, Om' purifies Bramhatatva and Crown Chakra.
Paraththayar/Paraththayars	Women/ Wemen  of ill repute
Parkadal	In Hindu cosmology, the Ocean of milk  is the fifth from the center of the seven oceans that surround loka or directional space and separate it from aloka or non-directional space. It surrounds the continent known as Krauncha. "Ocean of Milk" is the English translation .
Patasala	School , in ancient times where Vedas were taught.
Pavithrai	As a proper noun  , it is a name. Blemish free, Noble, Pure
Periyavare	A form addressing/ hailing an elderly or learned man.
Ponni River	Another name of Cauvery River. ~lit. golden
Poonool	The "sacred thread" yajñopavītam or upavīta is a thin, consecrated cord, composed of distinct cotton strands, worn to symbolize the permission given to the wearer to perform sandhyavandanam and recite the Gayatri Mantra. The sacred Yajñopavītam is known by many names (varying by region and community), such as Bratabandha, Janivaara, Jandhyam, Poita, Pūṇūl or poonool , Janeu, Lagun, Yajnopavita, Yagyopavit, Yonya and Zunnar. The other Sanskrit term for it is Avyanga.
Prajapathi	"lord of creatures" is a  deity presiding over procreation, and protection of life.  The sons of Lord Brahmā who generate progeny
Pranan	Braething , living being
Pulayan	a person of low caste
Purattasi	A   month in Tamil calander
Puravalar, Purvalare	Care taker,  Addressing the care taker
Puthrakameshti yagam	Putrakameshti Ygam is conducted for  begetting sons. See Yagam also.
Rohini (star)	A  star
Sandhyavandhanam	Sandhyavandanam is a mandatory religious ritual that needs to be performed by all twice-born people of Hinduism. Especially brahmins who are initiated into the sacred thread ceremony called as Upanayanam, and instructed in its execution by a Guru. Sandhyavandanam consists of excerpts from the Vedas that are to be performed thrice daily at morning (prātaḥsaṃdhyā), at noon (mādhyānika), and in the evening (sāyaṃsaṃdhyā).It literally means salutation to Sandhya. Sandhya literally means transition moments of the day namely the two twilights : dawn and dusk and the solar noon. Thus Sandhyavandanam means salutation to twilight or solar noon.
Sanyasam	Renunciation.  Sannyasam is the life stage of the renouncer within the Hindu system of philosophy of four age-based life stages known as ashrams.It is traditionally taken by men or women over fifty or by young Brahmacharis who wish to renounce worldly and materialistic pursuits and dedicate their lives to spiritual pursuits. People in this stage of life develop vairāgya, or a state of dispassion and detachment from material life, renouncing worldly thoughts and desires in order to spend the remainder of their lives in spiritual contemplation. A member of the sannyasa order is known as a sannyasin (male or female) or "sannyasini" (female).
Saptharishis	The Saptarishi (from saptarṣi, "seven sages") are the seven rishis who are extolled at many places in the Vedas and Hindu literature. The earliest list of the Seven Rishis is given by Jaiminiya Brahmana 2.218-221: Vashista, Bharadvaja, Jamadagni, Gautama, Atri, Visvamitra, and Agastya, followed by Brihadaranyaka Upanisad 2.2.6 with a slightly different list: Gautama and Bharadvāja, Viśvāmitra and Jamadagni, Vashiṣṭa and Kaśyapa, and Atri, Brighu. The late Gopatha Brāhmana 1.2.8 has Vashiṣṭa, Viśvāmitra, Jamadagni, Gautama, Bharadvāja, Gungu, Agastya, Vrighu and Kaśyapa.
Saraswathi	Goddess of learning and Wisdom. Consort of lord brahma.
Sarvam Sivamayam	Everything is Sivan or Sivan is omnipresent
Senathipathi	Chief of Army
Silambam	Silambam  or silambattam  is a weapon-based Indian martial art from. The word silambam refers to the staff which is the main weapon used in this system. Masters are called asaan while grandmasters are addressed as periyasaan  or iyan
Simhasanam	Royal Throne ; Generally the head of lion are carved on both  the hand rests  of the throne ;Simha  Lion; Aassanam  Seat
Soman	Moon God
Sooriyane!	Addressing or hailing Sooriyan ie Sun God
Sudras.	See Varnasramam
Suryabaghawan	The sun God
Suryadevan	The Sun God
Thali	Mangalasutram ;  A yellow card or a gold chain worn by all married wemen
Thandhaye	Addressing father;  Thandhai  Father
Thaye	Asddressing mother ; Thai  Mother
Thevaram	The Tevaram  denotes the first seven volumes of the Tirumurai, the twelve-volume collection of Tamil Saiva devotional poetry. All seven volumes are dedicated to the works of the three most prominent Tamil poets of 7th century, the Nayanars - Sambandar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar.
Thillai Ambalavanan	Another name for Lord Natarja of Chidambaram
Thirumathilsuvar	Sacred compound wall
Thirunaalai povar	The greatone who will go tomorrow!
Thiruvodu	The vessel for receiving alms. Generally made of clay or the hard shell of a type of pumpkin.
Trilokasanchari	The one who wanders around the three worlds. Earth, Heavens and the Nether world.
Umayaval	Annai Uma / Parvati
Upanayanam	Loosely translated as sacred thread ceremony.  Upanayana is the initiation ritual by which initiates are invested with a sacred thread, to symbolize the transference of spiritual knowledge. Details are in the chapter itself
Uththiram	One of the stars in the constallatin.
vahanam
Vanaprastham	The final stage of a householder, when he renounces everything and goes to forest alone to spend his remaianing life time .
Varnasrama dharma	Varna is the term for the four broad ranks into which traditional Hindu society is divided. The four varnas are: the Brahmins: priests and scholars. the Kshatriyas: kings, governors, warriors and soldiers. the Vaishyas: cattle herders, agriculturists, artisans and merchants. the Shudras: labourers and service providers. This quadruple division is the ancient division of society into "principal castes"; it is not to be confused with the caste system in India based on occupation as it emerged in the medieval period.
Vastram	Clothes , that which is worn
Vayubaghawane	Addressing the Wind God,Vayubaghawan
Veena	A plucked stringed musical instrument   used mainly in Indian classical music. It derives its distinctive timbre and resonance from sympathetic strings, bridge design, a long hollow neck and a gourd resonating chamber.
Veena and Yazh	Yazh is another type of stringed musical instrument like Lyre but of a hand held size.
Visakam	One of the stars of the constallation.
Viswamittirar	A sage  In the Ramayana , he is the one who takes the young Rama and Lakshmana to the forest  and teaches them many skills in archery to protect his yagam from Asuras. Known for his short temper.
Vyasar	Vyasa  is a central and revered figure in most Hindu traditions. He is also sometimes called Veda Vyāsa , (the one who classified the Vedas into four parts) or Krishna Dvaipāyana (referring to his complexion and birthplace).He is the author of the Mahabharata, as well as a character in it. He is considered to be the scribe of both the Vedas and Puranas. According to Hindu beliefs, Vyasa is an incarnation of God Vishnu.[
Yagachariyar	The Chief Priest who conducts the yagam.
Yagams	It  is a ritual of offerings accompanied by chanting of Vedic mantras (also "worship, prayer, praise, offering and oblation, sacrifice"  derived from the practice in Vedic times. It is an ancient ritual of offering and sublimating the havana sámagri (herbal preparations) in the fire. The sublime meaning of the word yajna is derived from the Sanskrit verb yaj,which has a three-fold meaning of worship of deities (devapujana), unity (saògatikaraña) and charity (dána)
Yagnopaveetham	The sacred thread ceremony .   See poonool
Yaman	The Lord of Death