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Practical Sanskrit Part 1

By Michael Laughrin, Michael@jyotish.ws

(Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5)

A rudimentary knowledge of Sanskrit is indispensable in discussing Jyotish. I learned this during my practice as a Vedic astrologer for the last eighteen years. Sanskrit also helped me deal with Hindu priests for the pujas and homams (fire sacrifices) I have had done at various Hindu temples over the last ten years or so. Sanskrit is also extremely useful in Ayurveda and in understanding, and discussing, Vedic philosophy and religion.

The main problem with Sanskrit is Sanskrit itself. It is HARD! And I am considered fairly good at foreign languages. Sanskrit is, quite simply, the most difficult language that I have ever been associated with. But it is also the most useful foreign language that has come my way. Do we see a quandary here or what? Useful, but hard, hmm. What to do?

So that you, dear readers and lovers of Vedic philosophy, will not have to struggle quite as much as I have in learning Sanskrit, I have prepared this little guide of some of the most useful Sanskrit words (in my opinion). I hope you can use it to more easily communicate with priests, astrologers, Vaidyas, swamis and others.

I speak no modern Indian languages. I tried learning Hindi but it was a grand failure. However, I seem to be able to communicate quite well with priests whose English is D+ at best. I use a combination of simple English phrases peppered with many appropriate Sanskrit words. And they seem to understand me quite well.

This guide is basic. Proper pronunciation is another issue and you are on your own. I suggest you take a course in Sanskrit if you need to learn proper pronunciation, or get an expert skilled in Sanskrit to pronounce choice phrases into a tape recorder for you. This list does not feature the devenagari alphabet, either, so I leave these details up to you.

108 Sanskrit Phrases For Discussing Jyotish and Pujas That I Have Found Useful

Number

Sanskrit

English

     

1.

Murti

Form (or statue) - usually of a deity.

2.

Deva

God.

3.

Devi

Goddess.

4.

Devata

Divine beings.

5.

Puja

Worship (in which fruits, flowers, and mantras are offered).

6.

Japa

Rhythmic repetition of a mantra.

7.

Abhishekam

Ritual washing of the statue (murti) of a devata during which mantras, fruits, flowers, water, and other liquids are offered.

8.

Yagya

Fire sacrifice (however, in English, this word is often used to include japa, puja and abhishekams also).

9.

Parayana

Many repetitions of a holy verse.

10.

Kundali

A Vedic astrology birth chart.

11.

Nakshatra

The Moon's nakshatra or star placement at birth.

12.

Karma

Action (used in Vedic philosophy to indicate the results of past actions [good or evil} that we are now experiencing.

13.

Phala

Fruit (used to indicate the results of one's previous actions).

14.

Kripa

Grace (guru kripa is the grace of the guru; devata kripa is the grace of a god or goddess).

15.

Sankalpa

Holy intention (the purpose or desired result of a yagya or puja).

16.

Purohit

Priest.

17.

Yajamana

The sponsor of a yagya; he who receives most of the good results of a yagya. He who pays for the yagya.

18.

Manas

Mind.

19.

Dakshina

Donation (the tip given to a priest for services rendered).

20.

Atman (atma)

Individual soul (alma in Spanish).

21.

Brahman

The Absolute; the hidden, underlying ground of the Universe.

22.

Muhurtha

Auspicious time for starting something.

23.

Papa

Sin.

24.

Acharya

Teacher.

25.

Mudra

Holy gesture.

26.

Amba

Mother (refers especially to the Divine Mother of all that is).

27.

Sarva

All or everything (sarva devata means all the gods).

28.

Sara

Essence (mantra sara means the essence of the mantra).

29.

Ratna

Gem or jewel.

30.

Lila

Play (usually used as divine play; this universe is all Veda Lila (the play of the Vedas)

31.

Veda

Knowledge.

32.

Dharma

The path of Truth or righteousness for an individual (very hard to translate into English.)

33.

Loka

Place.

34.

Maha

Great.

35.

Stotra

(Holy) verse.

36.

Somya

Benign and gentle; pleasant.

37.

Tattva

Reality.

38.

Maya

Illusion.

39.

Sattva

Purity (the highest and best of the three gunas).

40.

Bhoga

Enjoyment (of worldly pleasures).

41.

Buddhi

Intellect.

42.

Mantra

A holy word of phrase; a word of Power.

43.

Yantra

An image of power; a visual mantra.

44.

Gotra

Traditional family group; applies especially to higher caste Hindus.

45.

Punya

Religious merit; that which comes from doing good deeds.

46.

Purna

Whole.

47.

Nama

Name.

48.

Rupa

Form.

49.

Chit

Consciousness.

50.

Ananda

Bliss.

51.

Hrdaya

Heart.

52.

Shata

One hundred.

53.

Eka

One.

54.

Pancha

Five.

55.

Mata

Mother.

56.

Havan

Fire sacrifice (homam is the same thing; the word yagya may also indicate the same).

57.

Havan kund

Fire pit where a havan is performed.

58.

Kama

Desire (may also indicate sexual desire).

59.

Artha

Wealth.

60.

Moksha

Liberation (or Enlightenment).

61.

Mukti

Liberation (the same as moksha).

62.

Shakti

Divine energy.

63.

Bhakti

Devotion.

64.

Ahamkara

Egotism (the sense of individuality that, eventually, must leave so that one can realize one's Divine, eternal nature).

65.

Labha

Gain (especially refers to financial gain).

66.

Mrtyu

Death.

67.

Amrit

Immortality.

68.

Tat

That (Supreme Truth).

69.

Mukhi

Face.

70.

Siddhi

Psychic powers.

71.

Bala

Strength.

72.

Mamsa

Flesh (of an animal or person).

73.

Chatur

Four.

74.

Tri

Three.

75.

Kala

Time.

76.

Gyana

Knowledge.

77.

Smrti

Memory (also - holy texts based on the Vedas).

78.

Shravana

Hearing (also a nakshtra found in Capricorn).

79.

Vidya

Knowledge.

80.

Sri (shri)

The simplest mantra of Mother Divine.

81.

Guru

Spiritual master.

82.

Chela

Disciple.

83.

Go

Cow.

84.

Sarpa

Snake.

85.

Ashwin

Horse.

86.

Gaja

Elephant.

87.

Hamsa

Swan.

88.

Dvaita

Dualism.

89.

Advaitya

Non-dualism.

90.

Yatra

Course.

91.

Yatri

One who goes on a pilgrimage.

92.

Bhumi

The earth (also the Earth goddess).

93.

Putra

Son (or child).

94.

Aksha

Eye.

95.

Pada

Foot.

96.

Hasta

Hand.

97.

Pushpa

Flower.

98.

Dupam

Incense.

99.

Deepam

Light (as in candle offered during a puja).

100.

Jyoti

Light.

101.

Ojas

Vitality.

102.

Mantri

Minister (like the King's right hand man).

103.

Mala

Garland (necklace - which usually has 108 beads that are used for counting mantras during japa).

104.

Amurta

Without form.

105.

Mula

Root.

106.

Shastras

Scriptures.

107.

Kartri

The doer; the actor; he who performs karmas.

108.

Jiva

Living being.

For those of you who may know some Sanskrit, please forgive any errors that may have crept into this essay. They are all mine. This is all based on my experience and a couple of years of underachieving Sanskrit study. Also, thanks go to "Sri Lalita Sahasranama" (The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother) for helping me to remember some Sanskrit words that I wanted to include in this list.

The more you use Sanskrit, the easier it gets and the better you'll like it. The study of Sanskrit is, in my experience, one of the quickest ways to grow spiritually and purify your consciousness.

Peace.

(c) copyright 2004 Michael Laughrin.

From the September, 2004 issue of Michael Laughrin's North American Jyotish Newsletter. Click to subscribe to this free Jyotish newsletter.


Related articles:

Practical Sanskrit Part 1
Practical Sanskrit Part 2
Practical Sanskrit Part 3
Practical Sanskrit Part 4
Practical Sanskrit Part 5
Mantras for the Planets and More

Read more articles by Michael Laughrin.

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