by Roshen Dalal
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Woolner, Alfred C., Introduction to Prakrit (2nd edn, 1928; reprint, Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1999).
Yadava, B.N.S., Society and Culture in Northern India in the Twelfth Century (Allahabad: Central Book Depot, 1973).
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Glossary
This book contains a number of non-English words, which are explained within the text. This glossary contains a select list of these words. Unless otherwise mentioned, all words are from the Sanskrit. Sanskrit words can have multiple meanings and connotations. This list provides the meanings that are relevant to this text.
adhvaryu
a Yajur Veda priest
adhyaya
chapter, lesson, or section; also a term for reading or study, particularly of sacred books
agnishtoma
a Soma sacrifice
ahi
a serpent
ahura
a term for a deity in Avestan
aitihasika
legendary; historical; traditional; a traditional historian
anukramani
list, catalogue, or index
anuvaka
saying after; reciting; repeating; passages for recitation
amrita
divine nectar, the drink of immortality
antyeshti
funeral ritual
antyeshti-karika
funeral ceremonies
apri hymns
a class of hymns used in sacrifices and rituals
apsara
a divine nymph
Aranyakas
a class of texts attached to the Vedic Samhitas
aranya
forest
arthavada
explanations
arya
a term meaning 'noble'; used for a group of people in the Rig Veda
asat
untruth, unreality
ashrama
a stage in the life of a brahmana; a hermitage
ashtaka
one-eighth
ashva
a horse
asura
a divine being; in later texts, sometimes demonic
atiratra
a Soma sacrifice
ayas
metal
Brahma
a deity (pronounced Brahmaa)
brahman
a special priest of the Atharva Veda
brahmana
a member of the brahmana caste, the highest of the four castes
Brahman
a term for the Absolute; the ultimate creator and underlying substance of the world
Brahmana
a class of texts attached to the Vedic Samhitas
charana
a group of people who study one particular shakha of any Samhita
chhanda/chhandas
metre
daeva
a deity or a demonic being in Avestan
dakshina
fee or gifts given to a priest; also southern or right side
dana
donations or gifts
danastutis
hymns or parts of hymns, relating to gifts
dasa
a term for a group of people in the Rig Veda; later meant slave or servant
dashat
consisting of ten
dasyu
a term for a group of people in the Rig Veda
dehi
defences consisting of earthworks or dikes
deva
god
dharmashastrika
pertaining to law
durga
fort; literally, difficult to access, impassable, or unattainable
dvadashaha
twelve-day Soma sacrifice
dvija
twice-born, refers to the three upper castes
gana (gaana)
song; singing; a part of the Sama Veda
gana
group, flock, troop
gandharva
a semi-divine being, associated with apsaras
ghata karpara
potsherds, or fragments of a pot
gavidhuka
a type of grass
graha
a vessel, ladle, or cup used to take a portion of liquid out of a larger vessel; also to seize or capture
griha
assistant; servant; house; household; householder
grihya
belonging to a house; domestic; household sacrifices
havirdana
gift of oblation
hotr, hota
the main priest for the Rig Veda
jana
clan or tribe
jyotisha
astronomy and astrology (sciences), essential to fix the right time for ceremonies and sacrifices
kalpa
proper; fit; sacred precept, law, or rule
Kalpa Sutras
a category of Sanskrit texts, relating to ritual
kanda (kaanda)
a section, part, portion, chapter, or division of a work or book
kandika (kaandikaa)
a part or division of a book
karana
an astrological division of the day; there are eleven karanas divided into seven movable and four fixed; two karanas are equal to a lunar day
karika (kaarikaa)
a concise statement in verse, or a book or work containing such statements
khanda
a section of a work, part, or chapter
khandaka
fragment; part or piece; section of a work
khandika
section or part
khila
a supplement to a book, or an additional hymn
kimidin
a class of evil spirits
mandala
a circle; wheel; disk; province; in the Rig Veda, a division of the text
mantra
instrument of thought; a sacred text, prayer, or song of praise; a Vedic hymn; a sacrificial formula
muhurta
a division of time, the thirtieth part of a day; a moment; an instant
nakshatras
constellations through which the moon passes, lunar mansions
neshtri
a priest at a Soma sacrifice
nirukta
uttered; explained; etymological interpretation of a word
nishka
a golden ornament; later, a coin
nivid
proclaim; short formula in a liturgy
pada
a line or quarter of
a verse; a word or stem of a noun; a foot
padapatha
a category of texts in which words are arranged in their original form, without following the rules of sandhi
padapathas
word texts
paddhati
a category of texts
panchika
a section of a text containing five adhyayas
parishishta
a supplementary section of a text
parivrajaka
a religious mendicant, a wandering ascetic
parvan
(1) a section, break, pause, or division, particularly of a book, (2) a period or day when the moon changes; a time when the sun enters a new sign; a division of time; a moment
prapathaka
a lecture, chapter, or subdivision of a book
prayoga
a recitation; a sacred text; a connection
pitris
ancestors
pratishakhya
a class of texts on shiksha
pur
fort or rampart or temporary settlement
purodasha
sacrificial cake made of ground rice, placed on receptacles (kapala), offered as oblation
rakshasa
a demonic being
ratha
chariot
Rathantara
the name of a tune mentioned in the Rig, Sama, and other Vedas
rik
a verse
rishi
a sage or ascetic
rishika
a female rishi
sandhi
a conjunction of words, causing a modification of the final and initial letters of the separate words; methods of joining words
saman
a chant
samhita
a collection; compilation, usually of knowledge or hymns in a text
samskara
a sacred or sanctifying ceremony
shakha
literally a branch; in the Vedic context, a recension or school
shastra
hymn of praise; also a weapon
shiksha
phonetics; the science of pronunciation
shrauta
derived from the word 'shruti', that which is heard; refers to sacred tradition, and the three sacred fires
shruti
literally 'that which is heard', hence these texts were 'heard' by the composers, conveyed to them from some divine source
sita
name of a deity, literally 'furrow'
stobha
a sound without meaning that can be used in chanting or singing
stoma
type of verse
stotra
basic unit of verses to be sung
sura
a type of wine
sutra
a short aphorism; a thread or string
svadhyaya
self-study, particularly of the Vedas
svadha
a goddess; and a sacred exclamation, used with offerings to the pitris
svaha
a goddess; and a sacred exclamation, used with oblations to the gods
svara
accent; sound; note (as in music)
tapas
religious fervour; intense religious practices
tithi
a lunar day, the thirtieth part of the lunar cycle, which constitutes a little over twenty-seven days
uktha
types of verse
ukthya
a Soma sacrifice
Upanishads
a class of texts attached to the Vedic Samhitas
upanayana
initiation
uttarayana
the period of the sun's progress to the north
valakhilya
a term for some supplementary hymns in Vedas; also a class of tiny rishis, of the size of a thumb
vamsha
lineage, race, family; a dynasty of kings; a list of teachers; an offspring; a son
vanaprastha
the traditional third stage of life, when the householder's life had been renounced and the person retired to the forest to live the life of an ascetic
vajra
a thunderbolt, particularly Indra's weapon
vara
a day of the week
varga
a group of similar things; a class or separate division; any series or group of words
varna
individual sounds; musical sound or note; order or arrangement of a song or poem; caste; colour; species; tribe
vish (plural vishah)
precise meaning not known but refers to settlement; homestead; house; dwelling; members of a clan; community; tribe; race
vishuvat
equinox; with both sides equal; the central day in a sacrifice
vyakarana
grammar
Vedangas
subsidiary Vedic texts
vidhi
rule; ordinance; statute; precept; law
vritra
a foe or enemy; the name of a demon who may personify drought; he is killed by Indra
yajamana
sacrificing; worshipping; the sacrificer or person for whom the sacrifice is being conducted
yajnika
ritualist; performer of many sacrifices; one well versed in ritual
yajus
a prose or verse mantra recited with a ritual; a sacrificial prayer or formula; religious reverence or veneration
yoga
the main star in a lunar asterism; junction; union; joining; yoking; a philosophical system of uniting with the divine
yoni
in the context of music, of Sama veda, the basic verse; otherwise, the female emblem
yuga
a time period
yupa
the sacrificial post
The definitions here are selected from M. Monier-Williams’s A Sanskrit—English Dictionary (reprint; Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1973).
Acknowledgements
Among those who have contributed to this book, I would particularly like to thank Udayan Mitra of Penguin India for suggesting this book, and providing advice on its form and content; Mudita Chauhan-Mubayi for expertly editing it; and Tanvi Kapoor for carefully proofreading and finalizing the text.
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