Vedanta is not simply a philosophy to be studied, but a teaching tradition designed to guide the seeker toward Self-knowledge. Its methods are subtle, layered, and often poetic. Words in Vedanta rarely carry just a single meaning; they are gateways into insight, pointing beyond themselves to what cannot be objectified.

 

This glossary is not meant as a dictionary of static definitions. Instead, it is a map of the tradition’s methods and insights, offering the seeker multiple entry points into the same nondual truth. Each entry includes not only the root and meaning of the term, but also its place in scripture, its traditional role, Vedantic analysis, common misunderstandings, and the way the teaching resolves them.

 

Just as a teacher chooses a prakriya (method) according to the readiness (adhikaritva) of the student, this glossary allows a reader to explore according to their own inclination. Some entries point to practical discriminations (such as the three states of experience or the five sheaths), others unfold conceptual frameworks (like mithya, vivarta-vada, or ajatavada), and still others describe the inner qualifications of the seeker. Together they form a complete picture: a set of mirrors revealing that the Self, ever-present and unborn, is already free.

 

Vedanta insists that no single word, analogy, or method is absolute. Each term is like a ladder rung: useful for climbing, but left behind once the view is attained. This glossary, then, is both a reference and a companion — a way of gathering the scattered jewels of the tradition into one place, so that their light can be seen in relation to each other.​

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A

Adhikaritva - Qualifications required for Vedanta study

Agami Karma - Future karma created by present actions

Ananda - Bliss; more precisely, limitlessness

Adhyaropa-Apavada - Superimposition-negation; the teaching method of provisional attribution and later retraction

Adhyasa - Superimposition of the unreal on the real

Advaita - Non-duality; the identity of Self and Brahman

Ahankara - Ego-sense; the "I-maker"

Ajata-Vada - The teaching of no-birth showing creation never truly occurred

Anatma - The non-Self; all that is not consciousness

Anirvachaniya - The indefinable nature of maya

Antahkarana - The inner instrument: mind, intellect, ego, memory

Ashtanga Yoga - The eight-limbed discipline of yoga

Atma - The Self; pure consciousness

Atma-Vichara - Inquirty into the nature of the Self

Avastha-Traya (Three States) - Waking, dreaming, and deep sleep

Avidya - Ignorance of the Self

Avyakta - The unmanifest; the causal state of maya

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B

Bhakti Yoga - Discipline of devotion

Brahman - Absolute reality; existence-consciousness-limitlessness

Brahma Satyam Jagan Mithya - Statement that Brahman alone is real, the world is apparent

Buddhi - Intellect; the discriminating faculty

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C

Chidabhasa - Reflection of consciousness in the mind

Chitta - Memory; the storehouse of impressions

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D

Dama - Control of the senses

Dharma - Duty, order, righteousness

Dhyana - Meditation; sustained attention on the Self

Dvaita - Dualism; doctrine of separateness

Dvandva - Pairs of opposites

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G

Gunas - The three qualities of nature: sattva, rajas, tamas

Guru - Spiritual teacher who reveals Vedanta

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H

Hiranyagarbha - Cosmic subtle total mind

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I

Ishvara - The Lord; maya plus consciousness

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J

Jagat - The world; that which is born and perishes

Jagrat (Waking State)

Jiva - The individual; consciousness identified with body-mind

Jivanmukta - One liberated while living

Jnana - Knowledge of the Self

Jnana Yoga - Path of Self-knowledge through inquiry

Jnanendriyas (Five Organs of Knowledge) - Senses of perception: hearing, touch, sight, tast, smell

Jnani - One who knows the Self

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K

Kama - Desire

Karana Sharira (Causal Body) - The seed state of ignorance and latent impressions

Karma - Action and its results

Karma Yoga - Offering action without attachment to results

Karmendriyas (Five Organs of Action) - Speech, hands, feet, excretion, procreation

Karta-Bhokta (Doer-Enjoyer) - The sense of agency and enjoyership

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L

Lila - Divine play; the appearance of creation

Laya - Individual dissolution

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M

Mahavakya - Great Upanishadic statements of identity between self and Brahman

Manana - Reflection to remove doubts

Manas - Mind; the faculty of thought and doubt

Maya - The power of illusion and projection

Mithya - Dependent reality; apparent existence

Moksha - Liberation; freedom from bondage

Mumukshutva - Strong desire for liberation

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N

Neti Neti - "Not this, not this"; method of negation

Nididhyasana - Contemplation to assimilate Self-knowledge

Nirguna Brahman - Brahman without attributes

Nirvikalpa Samadhi - Unbroken meditative absorption

Niyati - Cosmic order

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O

Om - Primordial sound; symbol of Brahman

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P

Panchakosha (Five Sheaths) - Layers covering the Self: physical, vital, mental, intellectual, bliss

Pancha Mahabhuta (Five Great Elements) - Space, aire, fire, water, earth

Panchikarana - Quintuplication; process of gross element formation

Paramarthika - Absolute reality

Prajna - Deep-sleep state consciousness; unified awareness

Prakriti - Nature; primordial matter

Prakriya - Teaching method

Pralaya - Cosmic dissolution

Pramana - Valid means of knowledge

Pranas - Vital energies; five physiological functions

Prarabdha Karma - Karma responsible for present birth

Pratibhasika - Illusory reality, like dream or mirage

Pratibimba-Vada - Teaching of reflection of consciousness

Purnatva - Fullness, completeness

Purusharthas - Four human goals: dharma, artha, kama, moksha

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R

Raga-Dvesha - Likes and dislikes

Rajas - Quality of activity, passion, restlessness

Rishi - Sage or seer of mantras

Rita - Cosmic order

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S

Sadhana - Spiritual discipline

Sadhana-Chatushtaya (Four-Fold Qualifications) - Discrimination, dispassion, discipline, desire for liberation

Saguna Brahman - Brahman with attributes, worshipped as Ishvara (God)

Sakshi - Witnessing consciousness

Samadhana - Single-pointedness of mind

Samadhi - Absorption of mind in object or Self

Samatvam - Evenness of mind

Sampradaya - Traditional teaching lineage

Samsara - Cycle of birth and death under ignorance

Samskara - Latent impression from past experience

Sanchita Karma - Accumulated karma from countless past lives

Sankalpa - Volition, intention, resolves

Sannyasa - Renunciation

Sat-Chit-Ananda - Existence-consciousness-bliss; nature of Brahman

Sattva - Quality of clarity, harmony, knowledge

Satya - Truth; that which is unchanging

Shama - Master of the mind

Shastra - Scripture; revealed texts

Shatka Sampatti (Six-Fold Discipline) - Six-fold inner wealth of discipline

Shraddha - Faith pending verification

Shravana - Listening to scripture from a teacher

Shrishti-Drishti-Vada - Provincial teaching that creation precedes perception

Shruti - Revealed scripture, primarily the Vedas

Sthula Sharira (Gross Body) - Physical body

Sukshma Sharira (Subtle Body) - mind, intellect, senses, pranas

Sushupti (Deep Sleep State)

Svabhava - Inherent nature or disposition

Svadharma - One's own duty in accord with nature

Svapna (Dream State)

Svarupa - Essential nature; true form

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T​

Taijasa - Dream state individual; subtle body experiencer

Tamas - Quality of inertia, dullness, ignorance

Tat Tvam Asi - "That thou art"; mahavakya declaring identity of self and Brahman

Titiksha - Endurance of opposites; forbearance

Triguna Yoga - Discipline of observing and managing the three gunas

Turiya - The fourth; pure consciousness beyond states

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U​

Upadhi - Limiting adjunct

Upasana Yoga - Discipline of meditation and worship​​​