✶ A — Y ✶
Glossary
The vocabulary of the practice, briefly defined.
- Apsara
- Celestial dancer, nymph of the heavenly waters; attendant of Indra's court.
- Arghya
- An offering of water, traditionally for the deity's hands.
- Asana
- A seat — both a meditation posture and the seat offered to a deity in puja.
- Avahana
- The ritual invitation that opens a puja, calling the deity into the image or yantra.
- Bhupura
- The outer square 'earth-fortress' of a yantra, with four gates.
- Bija
- Seed; a single-syllable or short mantra holding the essence of a deity.
- Bindu
- Point; the seed-dot at the center of a yantra, representing undifferentiated presence.
- Deva / Devi
- A radiant being; god / goddess.
- Dhupa
- Incense; one of the classical offerings.
- Dipa
- Lamp; the lit flame offered in puja.
- Gandha
- Fragrance, perfume, or sandalwood paste offered to the deity.
- Ghee
- Clarified butter; used for lamps and offerings.
- Indra
- King of the devas; ruler of the heavens where the Apsaras dance.
- Mala
- A string of 108 beads used to count mantra repetitions.
- Mantra
- A sacred sound formula; a 'tool of mind' that focuses presence and attention.
- Naivedya
- Food offering, later received back as prasad (blessed).
- Nirmalya
- Used offerings (wilted flowers, leftover food) — to be returned to earth, water, or fire with respect.
- Padya
- Water offered to wash the deity's feet.
- Prasad
- The 'grace' — offerings blessed by the deity, then received back by devotees.
- Pradakshina
- Circumambulation, clockwise, around the altar or deity.
- Puja
- Worship; the ritual offering of attention, flowers, light, food, and sound.
- Pushpa
- Flower; one of the classical offerings.
- Sadhana
- Sustained spiritual practice over time.
- Shodashopachara
- The 'sixteen attentions' — the classical sixteen-step formal puja.
- Sringara
- The aesthetic and emotional mode of love, beauty, and adornment.
- Stotra
- A hymn of praise.
- Tambula
- Betel leaf with areca and spices, offered after food.
- Vapu
- Body, form, embodied beauty.
- Visarjana
- The ritual release at the end of puja, thanking and dismissing the deity.
- Yantra
- A sacred diagram; a geometric 'body' in which a deity's presence may be installed.