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 (11:33 minutes) Bruce Kell from Strathfield, Australia, made this 1975 recording of Dadaji singing Sanskrit Sloka song during the Utsav Celebration in Calcutta India.
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THE TRUTH WITHIN, Dadaji, has moved me profoundly. I have always believed that Name is the highest and most direct path to God. I used to follow the various traditions of many masters, but found the teachings are steeped in the Guru/disciple relationship, plush Ashrams, and money taking traditions with controversy over succession. I became discouraged and left. Thank heavens for the saving Grace of Dadaji amidst all the confusion. --- N. Turlock, British Columbia CANADA |
 Ann Mills & Dadaji, Calcutta India 1984
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by Dadaji edited by Ann Mills  FREE download of book
of Sanskrit Terms
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Abhava - A feeling of want which is a lapse from Self-sufficiency in the Integral Fullness of Existence (Swabhava). Fragmentation of that Existence through Self-alienation and insularity of ego gives rise to Abhava that cuts one off from awareness of Absolute Truth.
Acharya - A teacher of ethics in any domain of life, spiritual or mundane.
Advaita - Monism. The view that Reality is One, without a second. Dadaji says he is a monist. The word is generally applied to the unqualified Monism of Sankaracharya (9th Century A.D.), which includes Mayavada viewing the world as an illusion, Dadaji, to the contrary, takes the world as real and its process as Vraja Leela.
Agarbattis - Incense sticks which are burned before the image of the Lord. According to Tantra this fragrance, which along with flowers symbolizes the earth-principle, is to be offered unto the Lord along with the four symbols of the other four elements.
Amrit - A fragrant honey-like Nectar. A reminder of Truth, it appears at far-distant places and has the Aroma of Dadaji.
Amiya - Nectar. Dadaji's first name. Madhava, his second given name is a name of the Lord. Ma means Mother, the manifesting aspect of Divine Energy, and Dhava means Husband. The exact date of Dadaji's birth is uncertain. His passport gives a birth date of January 13, 1910. He himself has said he was born on January 13th, on Pausa Samkranti day. Pausa is the name of the ninth month of the Indian calendar corresponding to December-January of the English calendar. Samkranti means the passing of one month into the following one or the juncture of the two. Pausa Samkranti is the time when, after winter solstice, there occurs the Uttarayana; that is, the sun starts moving northward toward the equator. In Indian mythology this symbolizes the Lord waking to world consciousness leading to regeneration of the Divine Spirit in His Creation. Dadaji may have been born in 1906 or 1909, instead, since Pausa Samkranti happens to be on January 13th in those years.
Ananda - Supreme Bliss. Ecstasy. This is Bliss of enjoying Consciousness. At the next higher stage, Consciousness as subject integrates Bliss into Its being and shapes out as Consciousness of Existence. At the final stage, Existence integrates Consciousness and, in its unruffled stance, become vibrationless Supreme Bliss, which is termed Paramananda by Dadaji.
Angagandha - Lit. Anga means body, Gandha means Fragrance. This Fragrance is a mixture of the fragrances of lotus, musk and possibly sandalwood. Sometimes it is so strong it can be suffocating to a degree. This Fragrance is the infallible index of the manifestation of Truth. Dadaji tells us that this Fragrance is the bewitching note of the flute of Krishna. You get this Fragrance when Dadaji thinks of you or occasionally when you think of Dadaji passionately, particularly in times of stress and you get over the crisis. Fragrance comes in three ways: In gusts of waves all about you; from your nostrils; and from your body. And, occasionally spots of fragrant Nectar appear on various objects or clothing. If you want it more often, that would tell upon the physical health of Dadaji. For, it comes when He is in tune with the Infinite, the Absolute. And, a physical body cannot stand the riot of the constant orgies of Infinity. Some use this term to refer to Dadaji's Fragrance.
Apan - One's own Self, one's Nearest and Dearest, that is, the Lord.
Apana - The downward moving breath of life, responsible for exhalation.
Asakti - possessive attachment
Asana - A body posture. One of the eight disciplines of Yoga which Dadaji insists are unnecessary, egotistic and even harmful.
Asana-Suddhi - Tantric observance preliminary to a rite or meditation, consecrating (Suddhi) the seat (Asana) occupied by the practitioner thus turning it into a booster. Dadaji rejects it.
Ashram - Originally one of the four stages of Hindu life. Commonly used to refer to a hermitage, the living quarters of a religious community or the abode of a recluse or a spiritual teacher. According to Dadaji, the world is His Ashram, the physical body is His Temple and the other is all business for the purposes of making money.
Asva Medha - Lit. Asva means horse, Medha means sacrifice. A ritual of olden days. A powerful King would let loose a consecrated horse and wherever the horse went unchallenged, that region would come under his sovereignty. Whoever caught the horse's reins had to fight with the King's army. Small Kingdoms surrendered. According to Dadaji, Asva refers to the senses, which are to be let run until their cycle is completed. They will then turn inward, become His expression and therefore, one's best friends.
Atma, Atman - Soul, inner Self, individual Life-principle.
Avatar - Incarnate of God (Krishna, Christ, etc.) or representative of God. The exact phonetic translation is apostle, with a downgraded meaning.
Baba - Lit. father. (Abba, then Abbot.) A term of reverence used to address an elderly, venerable person. Beej - primary cause, seed Benares - Major holy city in Eastern India said to be a place on the trident of Siva. Dadaji locates it in the heart in identity with Vrindavana. Bhagavad Gita - Lit. Bhagavad refers to Almighty God, Gita means song. Song of God. Spiritual poem comprising 18 chapters of the epic book Mahabharata, which has over one hundred thousand verses. The longest poem in the world of heroic literature, it interweaves idealism and practical wisdom with a passionate longing for spiritual vision. The Bhagavad Gita, a symbolic dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna is set on a field of battle and represents the great spiritual struggle of the human Soul. (See Mahabharata.) Bhagavatam - Pertaining to God. The sacred book on the life of Krishna, embodying the culmination of Vedic wisdom. Considered as the representative in scriptural form of Krishna of Vraja. Bhagawan - Almighty Lord Bhajan - singing praises of God Bhakti - pure devotional Love, attachment to God without self-interest Bhavan - House, residence; therefore, a holy sanctuary of God. Bhavantara - Transcending the charge of emotions; for, Prakriti is herein integrated into consciousness. It is beyond Vraja, beyond Radha-Krishna. Vraja is up to Dwijadasa. Then comes Brahmanatva, perfect condensation of emotion in which only "I" exists, characterized by vacuity of mind and intellect. But, self-illuminating sensation (Prabha) exists. This is the state of Sri Ram Thakur. Finally, comes the Void, the Satyanarayan state of triple vacuity in which Prabha also is not, the final state of Dadaji. From another viewpoint, one who surrenders to Truth and gets Mahanam (Brahma Mantra) is a Brahmana. Bhoga - To experience the fruits of good and evil actions. Without this experience, Prarabdha (destined unfolding of life) cannot be eliminated. Anything dedicated to God. Also, any edible offering to God. Bhuma - Literally, plenitude. Infinite, State of Supreme Liberation. The final state in which Existence lies in state over Existence and nothing is manifest. Bhutasuddhi - Bhuta refers to the five elements of the body (earth, water, fire, air, ether), Suddhi means purifying them. A Tantric practice. Bindu - Tantric term referring to the closed circular system of conserved cosmic sonal energy. Also called Maha-Maya, this Bindu splits into Visarga (two separate Bindus) and the process of Creation begins. The second state of the creative sound. (See Nada and Kala.) Boudi - Wife of Elder Brother, respected consort and counter-whole of Dadaji. Brahma - Divine Essence of Existence. Brahma, the Creator, first God of Hindu trinity, the others being Vishnu, the Maintainer, and Shiva, the Destroyer. Brahmacharya - The first stage in the life-conduct of a Hindu. Generally translated as celibacy. It results as a matter of course from dedication to the study of the Vedas. Original use was Brahma meaning Veda, Charya meaning culture. Brahma also means Absolute. According to Dadaji, it is a state in which Mahanam has been fully manifested in one's life. Buddhi - Generally translated as intellect. Primal intelligence. Intellect characterized by certitude and unwavering decision. Buddha, Budha - Absolute
Candala - Lit. one who eats corpses. One of the outcasts lying at the farthest fringe of Hindu society, living in or around the crematorium, doing the burning of corpses, while at times eating them. Refers to Tantric rite. According to Dadaji, the mind is Candala. Chaitanya - Consciousness Charan-Amrit - Sweetly fragrant, honey-like Nectar, known to manifest anywhere in the world as Dadaji's reminder of Supreme Truth. Charanjal - Lit. Charan means feet, Jal means water. Originally water with which Lord Narayan has been bathed, denigrated into the water supposedly sanctified by the touch of a holy person's feet. Water which by Dadaji's touch, directly or indirectly, becomes transformed into milky, deliciously perfumed liquid; known for miraculous healing powers and the transformation of Consciousness it brings about gradually. Related to the flow of Integral Consciousness or Ganga. Chinta - Commonly refers to worry or mental reflection, a bane to submission. Krishna Chinta refers to Krishna Consciousness or God Consciousness. Comilla - The area in Bengal where Dadaji was born. Crore - ten million
Dadaji - Dada in Bengali means Elder Brother, ji is the suffix added to show respect and affection. This is the superficial meaning generally approved by Dadaji to fool his admirers, for he calls himself nobody. Esoterically, he is Prana (Life-principle) which precedes mind that we are. So, he is Dada. Ontologically that is from the root, da, which is One Who has appeared being immersed in Mahanam and bestows It on all and sundry. Dakshina - Offering to God, commonly used to refer to the fee of a priest. According to Dadaji, all one can truly offer is loving remembrance of Mahanam. Darshan - The vision of God. Seeing the Supreme or Dada within and/or without. Dana - A contribution. Dadaji says, the Dana of the Gita means full absorption in work. Devas - Gods inhabiting another world created by the Supreme to preside over different aspects of Nature. Goddesses are their kinetic potencies. Devi Bhagavati - The consort of Bhagavan, the personal God. Refers to the ten-armed Durga who is worshipped in autumn for three consecutive days. She is in charge of material Nature. Our Utsav starts on the second day of her worship during traditional Durga Puja celebrations. In 1963, when Dadaji was having Utsav in his Calcutta residence, she suddenly appeared in a majestic dress on the staircase, talked to Boudi and Dadaji's mother, walked up into the room of worship and after awhile evaporated. Devis - Goddesses inhabiting another world created by the Supreme. Dhairya - Patience, which is our only strength and which leads to the relish of the first of the triple Rasa that the Lord is. Dharma-Kshetra - Lit. Dharma means Religion, Kshetra means field (of battle). According to Dadaji, the reference in the Gita is to a person's physical body wherein resides mind and God. Dhyana - meditation, contemplation Dhritarashtra - A blind person. Refers to the blind King in Bhagavad Gita, who according to Dadaji symbolizes the individual mind, blinded by the ego or I-sense. One who is attached to the body. Digambar - A state of spiritual nudity that emerges when all mental obsessions are liquidated. Dik means the ten directions of space, and Ambara means clothes. Literally means one who has ten directions for the clothes, or one who is stark naked. Diksha - Initiation, revelation. Misused by Gurus to initiate followers into a so-called spiritual path by whispering a Mantra in the person's ear, often for a monetary fee. Dadaji says this is business since no one can come into this world without prior initiation (Mahanam) by the Creator, for It (Mahanam) is the source of respiration, therefore life. Durga - Hindu Goddess, wife of Lord Shiva Dvapara Yuga - Lit. Dva means two. Age when only two of the cardinal virtues are in operation. Age of serving the image of the Lord or the Age of work as worship. Third cyclical time period or Age, which is twice as long as the Kali Yuga. Krishna of Dwaraka was born in this Yuga. (See Yuga.) Dwija - One who hears within the sounds of Mahanam with the mind filled with the emotion of love. Dwijadasa - One who is steady in the above state. These two states represent Mahanam in manifestation and of Avatars.
Gadadhara - A name of the Lord in His form as the four-armed Vishnu. Literally, Gada means mace, Dhara means wielder, the wielder of mace. Vishnu holds in one hand a mace, symbolizing wisdom. Gandharva - Musician demi-god, excelling in vocal and instrumental music and dance. Dadaji speaks of a region of Gandharvas where music, dance and fragrance run riot, a veritable ante-ante-ante-chamber of the Absolute, so to say, i.e. Vraja. Gandhari - The wife of Dhritarashtra in the Bhagavad Gita. Ganga - Flow of Integral Consciousness. The Ganges River a major river in India used for religious ceremonies. Ghee - Butter fat burned in sacrificial religious rite. Gopal Govinda - Two names of the Lord standing for the bipolarity of all existence. The vibration of these two sounds of Mahanam is responsible for our respiration. One comes in, Gopal; the other goes out, Govinda. One, Gopal, is for the manifestation of joy in His Creation; the other, Govinda, is for reintegration into the tranquil bliss of existence. The two sounds draw closer and closer to each other with progressive immersion in Spiritual Ecstasy. When the two coalesce, we are said to die, and then Govinda only remains. The Great Name of God chanting within each person giving Life. Source of Existence. Mahanam. Experienced in a visual, auditory and vibrational way in the presence of Dadaji. Gopi - Anyone, male or female, whose mind is totally immersed in God, both in outer and inner circumstances. Playmates of Lord Krishna. Grihastha - Lit. Griha means house, stha means situated. A married householder belonging to the second stage in the life of a Hindu. According to Dadaji, the real Grihastha is He, Who dwells in the body. When Griha and its Indweller are perfectly identical, that is the state of Grihastha, that is, one indivisible Truth, the nascent Satyanarayan state in which the Internal Absolute and the External Absolute, as Dadaji fascinatingly puts it, are identical. Gunas - Qualities, characteristics. Refers to Sattva as Essence, Rajas as Energy, and Tamas as Mass, which Dadaji asserts are all One, the differences being merely stages of manifestation. Also used to refer to qualities pervading Nature including: Sattva, the quality of goodness; Rajas, the quality of activity; and Tamas, the quality of passivity. Guru - The Supreme Absolute residing within each person. Common misuse refers to religious or spiritual preceptor. Dadaji rejects this as impossible saying God is the only Guru. Gurubad - Guru business. The doctrine that one cannot reach God without a human Guru or spiritual teacher and guide. Dadaji strongly rejects this calling it a moneymaking business and the worst sort of theft and hypocrisy.
Hamsa - Lit. a swan. Our inhalation makes the sound Ham, and our exhalation makes the sound sa. The meeting place of these two sounds is the void in the region of the heart, where the two sounds of Mahanam are constantly being chanted by the Supreme Creator. Mahanam is responsible for Hamsa. It also represents the Lord in a playful mood within us. And, refers to the third of the four stages of a traditional recluse, the fourth being Pramahamsa. Hari - One Who removes sin. Lord Krishna. Haribole - chant "Hari" Indriyas - Cognitive (perceptual) and conative (instinctive) organs. It represents the five cognitive organs or sense organs: Vak (organ of speech), Pani (two hands), Pada (two legs), Payu (the rectum), and Upastha (the sex organ). Mind is the eleventh organ, at once cognitive and conative. Dadaji says when the five sense organs are turned inward, relish of His Love manifests all about. They are called Pancha-pradipa, five lamps located near the heart region. Dadaji also calls them Pancha Amrita, five sanctified nectarine liquids. Although sometimes generally or figuratively called Ripus, Indriyas are not to be equated with the six Ripus, which are channels of operation of the drives. Iswara, Ishwara - God. The prime mover, the personal God, He dwells in the hearts of all and regulates them.
Jagat - The world, which is in constant flux. Jagatbandhu - Lit. friend of the world. Name of the Spiritual Master of Faridpur, recognized by Dadaji as an Avatar. Jagannath - Lord of the Universe. Famous Jagannath Temple in Puri, India. Jap - Ritualistic, mental repetition of the Name of God. Dismissing such mechanical mental gymnastics, Dadaji asks us to listen to what is being chanted within us around the clock, that is, Mahanam. Mahanam springs out of your heart like a fountain. Let our minds be all ears to it; otherwise, our ego will break It into fragments. Jata - Refers to All-integrating Consciousness (See Mahajana.). Matted hair worn as religious display. It symbolizes marriage with Govinda (God). Dadaji discards this as egotistical. Jiva - Life Force existing within everyone and everything. Jivatma - Individual human being. According to Dadaji, the mind is the Jivatma.
Kaivalya - Only-ness, single-ness. It is the highest expressible stage of Truth, the final state of Satyanarayana being ineffable. Though generally expressed as "I am that I am", it should properly be expressed as "I-I". For it is the stage of Integral Existential Consciousness feeding back, so to say, upon Itself. This is the stage of Sri Ram Thakur, much higher than those of Krishna and Mahaprabhu. There is, however, a semblance of Kaivalya, below Vraja, where one reaches through the reflective process of "Neti, Neti," the negative process of elimination. Kala - Lit. art. Tantric term related to cosmology. One sixteenth part, i.e. a digit, of the moon. It is the individual, concrete form of activity. Fifty Matrikakalas as sources of fifty letters of the Sanskrit alphabet. They are Acit-Kalas as root matter. And, Cit-Kalas are sixteen in all. (See Bindu and Nada.) Kali Yuga - The last of four periodic cycles of time, including Satya, Treta, and Dvapara. The Age when only one-fourth of the cardinal virtues are in operation. Age of strife. Age when singing hymns of Divine Names occurs. Kali is the current Age, ending in 1980 according to Dadaji. Kali refers to darkness, meanness, and violent destruction. It is the worst of times due to the breakdown of all structures and the abundance of ego. It is the best of times because, due to the breakdown, the personification of Mahanam (Dadaji) appears to bring about the Satya Yuga, Age of Truth. (See Yuga.) Kama-Kala - A Tantric term for a complex concept. Kama refers to creative desire or Supreme Will. Kala is a digit of the moon, creative energy, also a limited agency. According to Tantra, Siva or pure Consciousness, is the repository of Para Vac, summum verbum or Logos, which is otherwise known as Nada (sound continuum). Sakti or pure bliss, nurtures Pasyanti Vac (pre-vocal sound as crude, unanalysed ideation), which is called Vindu (sound quantum). Nada and Vindu together give rise to three Vindus, a triangle of three forces which is called Kama-Kala. This triangle is the matrix of all creation, maintenance and destruction, and is the seat of Shabda Brahma (Brahman as sound), that bifurcates into gross sound and material objects. So, Kama Kala is the immediate source of all creation through the evolution of 50 alphabetic sounds. According to another tradition, Kama Kala Vilasa is the Vraja Leela of Krishna (Kama) and his eternal consorts, the Gopis (Kala). Dadaji often says this world itself is Vraja Leela. Karma - Lit. action. Whatever one thinks, feels or does is Karma. Kama - desire Kauravas - In the Bhagavad Gita, the family of Dhritarashtra, the blind King who symbolizes the individual mind. Kauravas engage in battle with the Pandavas (symbolizing the five senses). Dadaji says this battle symbolizes the conflict between the mind-created concepts of "evil" and "good." Keshab Bharati - Mahaprabhu Sri Krishna Chaitanya is said to have told people that He was initiated into the order of recluses by one Keshab Bharati. Dadaji says it was a lie, resorted to by Him to befool people. As Dadaji explains, "Bharati means the body, and Keshab means the Lord. So, Keshab Bharati means 'The Truth Within.'" Keshava - Name of Lord Krishna Kinnaras - Spirits. Musician demi-gods, excelling in vocal music. Kirtan - devotional songs in praise of God Kripa - God's Grace which is Mahanam and is within everyone and everything; so we need not pray for it. Dadaji dismisses even prayer as bondage. Krishna - Great Avatar of India. Krishna of Vraja is different from Krishna of Dwaraka; however both are Avatari aspects of the Absolute. Krishna of Vraja appeared in the first Kali Yuga after Creation. "Christ" is a phonetic transformation of "Krishna." Kshetra - field Kumbha - Name of the eleventh sign of the Zodiac, Aquarius. A pitcher (filled with Amrita). Refers to Kumbhamela, a religious gathering held every six and twelve years either in Hardwar, Allahabad, or Nasik, India. Dadaji refers to everyone as being Purna Kumba, full of Him. Kundalini - Vital energy, which when awakened flows upward through the spinal cord. Called serpent power, it lies asleep forming three and a half coils in Muladhara Chakra. Kurukshetra - A battlefield in Bhagavad Gita. According to Dadaji this symbolizes the inner battleground between the attitudes ?i-and-mine" and "I-in-Him-and-His.? And, between the mental constructs of good and evil.
Laksa - one hundred thousand Laksya - aim or target Leela - Divine Play or Sport. Earthly career of an Incarnation of God, Whose Life is like a sport since He is not bound by the impelling force of past actions. Lungi - Men's traditional, skirt-like, wrap around attire worn from the waist and hanging to the ankles.
Maha Kala - Time eternal. The unsegmented flow of time as duration, conceived as God, and as opposed to finite time. Dadaji uses it to refer to great danger. Mahajnana - Supreme Wisdom. When Divine Love is manifested, Sahasrara at the topmost region of the skull is frozen and a flow of integrated knowledge comes down through the aperture and travels all the way down the back, to just below the region of the heart and this is Supreme Wisdom as Ganga. Mahabharata - An epic book of heroic literature, which has over one hundred thousand verses. The longest poem in the world, it interweaves idealism and practical wisdom with a passionate longing for spiritual vision. The main story centers around a great battle between the forces of good and evil, represented as the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Mahakasa - Akasa refers to sky, open or outer space as opposed to air in a jar. Maha means great, unbounded. Refers to infinite space seen or unseen, with or without vibrational property. Mahanam, Mahanama - Great Name of the Supreme Truth. Gopal Govinda. Name of God chanting within, residing just below the heart and giving each individual his or her life. (See Hamsa.) Mahant - head of a religious institution or sect Mahaotsav - Lit. Great Illumination of Truth. Occasion when Sri Satyanarayan (Creator of Truth) manifests as Light. (See Puja, Utsav.) Mahaprabhu - Maha means great, Prabhu means God. The Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya (also referred to as Gauranga or Nemai Pandit), who appeared 500 years ago is so called. He was a forerunner of Dadaji as was Sri Ram Thakur. In fact, Mahaprabhu unequivocally asserted he would be coming twice again in quick succession, in progressive ascendancy of manifestation. Mahaprasad - The Lord's highest Grace. Food that has been partaken of by the Lord and thus consecrated. Mahapuja - Lit. Maha means great, Puja means worship. (See Puja.) Maharaj - Lit. Great King. A term used to address holy person. Mandir - Hindu temple Manjari - Budding seed. Dadaji uses this to refer to one whose mind is merged in Mahanam, one who is a mind pure and blossoming in His Love. Mantra - Self-revealed Name which liberates the mind. Misused by self-proclaimed Gurus who whisper Names in seekers ears, usually for a fee. Marathi - language of Maharashtra Math - monastic institution Maya - Lit. that which can be measured. According to Sankaracarya, that which is subject to change, hence illusion. Dadaji uses it to refer to the manifesting potency or Creative Force of the Absolute, which manifests in physical Nature (Prakriti) and is, therefore, His Infinite Grace to us. Moksha, Mukti - Liberation of mind. First stage of liberation of negative nature being simply absence of bondage. The second stage is Prapti. Muni - An intellectual of the highest order. One having equanimity of mind. Murties - images of the Lord
Nada - Lit. sound. Tantric term pertaining to initial whistling or linear sound which subsequently gives rise to Bindu, a closed circular system of conserved cosmic energy. (See Bindu, Kala.) Nam, Nama, Naam - Supreme Name. The Source of Life residing within us from birth as Mahanam, Gopal Govinda. Nama Kirtan - singing Divine Names of the Lord Nama Sharan - surrender to Supreme Name Nama Smaran - remembrance of Supreme Name Namo - I have nothing of my own, I offer myself to God. Navamanjari - Newly budding seed. Dadaji uses this term to refer to the mind newly purified and married in Love unto Truth. Narayan, Narayana - God, Who is the source and support of all Naras, which means beings. Also, the omnipotent, majestic aspect of God beyond the reach of mental modalities. Neti, Neti - Lit. "Not this, not this." Method of intellectual elimination used in an attempt to discern Truth generally adopted by the followers of Samkaracharya. Dadaji attaches no importance to it. His attitude is positive in the form of "Everything is Brahma." Niyama - Restraint of the mind achieved by controlling one's thoughts.
Omiyam Brahma Tadvanam - The Supreme Being, the support of Om, that is to be worshipped with love. Refers to Amiya, proper name of Dadaji.
Omkar Brahma - Omkar means the mystic syllable "Om", the "Amen" of Jews and Christians, and the "Amin" of Moslems. Omkara is the first sound of Creation and is the epitome of all other sounds. As the sonal symbol of God, it is regarded as Sound-Brahma. Om is generally explained as a combination of "A" (Vishnu), "U" (Siva), and "M" (Brahma). The expression refers to a spiritual practice, a kind of symbol-worship, that occasioned the Vedas and was later itself reinforced by them, according to Dadaji. The Eternal Religion of Dadaji had nothing to do with it. And, as He says, it cannot lead to Vraja. "If you do not know the Husband, what use is Omkara with you?" But, from another standpoint, He says, "Omkara is beyond the state of Krishna. It is vacuity." Sri Ram Thakur also, in His characteristic way, invests the expression with a deeper impart: To bear with fortitude the ups and downs of life without any sense of ego and to keep waiting for His Grace is the practice called "Omkar Brahma". The symbol worship subsequently turned into Nada Sadhana, the practice of fixing the mind on the bio-physiogenic sound (not of Mahanama) within the body.
Pancha-Makara - Tantric term referring to five ingredients including, Matsya (fish), Mansa (meat), Mudra (finger and hand posture), Madya (wine) and Maithuna (copulation) which are used in the practice of Vamachara. Panchabhuta - Lit. Pancha means five. Bhuta refers to the gross elements of Nature, namely, earth, water, fire, air, ether or space, composing the world; called gross because each of them partakes of the other four elements. Panchamrita - Sweet, nectar-like soft cheese requiring five ingredients. Also refers to the five Pandavas (senses) merged with Truth. Pandavas - The five senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste, which when turned inward and are merged with Him into One, bring the mind to submission. Then one can relish the taste of His Divine Love. Family representing "good" in the Gita. According to Dadaji they symbolize the mental concepts of "good" in its inner struggle with "evil.? Paramatma - Lit. Parama means Supreme, Atman refers to Supreme Being. Parameshwar - Absolute Lord of Lords, Ishwara, God Prabhu - Absolute God Prakasa - manifestation Prakriti - Pra means Proto, first. Kriti means Creation, Creativity. Generally, it means physical nature, inalienable nature of anything or anyone. In Samkhya philosophy it refers to the primordial matter stuff in its state of perfect equilibrium, from which the universe is finally evolved. All things and beings of the universe are composed of the modified elements of Prakriti, which is compound of three Gunas (urges), Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. In the philosophy of Lord Chaitanya held to be a previous incarnation of Dadaji 500 years ago, the three Gunas are, at bottom, the Hladini (delighting), the Samvid (instilling consciousness), and the Sandhini (binding together, integrating) potencies of the Lord. In the Gita, the Lord speaks of three kinds of Prakriti; Apara, composed of the five primal elements and the mind, the ego, and the intellect, is the physical Prakriti. Para is the vital principle called Jiva, which upholds the entire universe. Finally, the Sva (own) Prakriti of the Lord which is His immutable Existence - Consciousness - Bliss continuum. Prana - Upward moving Life breath. Life-principle. Pranam, Pranama - Lit. obeisance. Traditional Indian greeting, hands held in a prayer-like position in front of one's heart region. Inner meaning is that one's whole body, heart and Soul greets the person one loves and respects. Also refers to traditional greeting by touching the feet of an elder; the inner meaning is both obeisance and willingness to follow in their footsteps. Pranayam - The moment the movement of Prana and Apana is arrested. Esoteric breathing practices leading to the control and purification of breath. Dadaji rejects such rituals as egotistical and unnecessary. Prana-rama - Prana is the vital breath of life, Arama means solace. ?Krishna is Prana and Satyanarayan, beyond Him, is Prana-rama. Prapti - The second stage of liberation, positive in character as when one recaptures the bond of Love with Truth. The stage of egoless loving which yokes one to relishable Truth. Realization. The third stage is Uddhara. Prarabdha - The unavoidable evolutionary process of one's life. Destiny or fate. The unfolding maturation process of all physical, mental, and emotional aspects of one's being. Prasad, Prasada - The Lord's Grace. Any eatable distributed after being ceremonially offered to God. Prem, Prema - unalloyed, instinctive Divine Love Preta-Sadhana - Tantric practice calculated to tame evil spirits and make them do one's wish. Puja - Lit. worship. Dadaji says, "Who worships whom? The worshipped and worshiper are the same." For many years at the annual Utsav gathering, a Mahapuja unlike any conventional ritualistic worship ceremony is held. Hundreds of people come from all over the world and meet in a large hall. An adjoining small room is completely emptied and all windows and doors are locked. A framed portrait of Sri Satyanarayan is placed against a wall. Before it are placed a small bowl full of coconut water and a container of pure water. Small containers of food are placed before the portrait. All present are allowed to inspect the room before the start of Puja. Dadaji selects one person to go with him into the room. Dadaji and instructs him or her to sit with closed eyes before Sri Satyanarayan and remember Mahanam. Dadaji then leaves the room and the door is locked. He returns to the main hall and reclines casually on his divan before the group. Pujya - respectable, venerable Purna - full Purna Kumbha - Lit. Purna means full, Kumbha means pitcher. Refers to fully internally contented person, one overflowing and filled to the brim with Supreme Truth. Purnahanta - Complete independence from the limitations of I-ness or ego. According to Kashmir Saivism, it is the third and the highest stage of liberation (first stage being Nirvana, second, Kaivalya). Purush, Purusha - Lit. male. Refers to the Eternal Supreme Male beyond individual mind. According to Dadaji, the Life-principle. Purushottam - Supreme Male, Who is beyond Ksara (mutative beings) and Aksara (non-mutative Brahma). Lord Krishna.
Radha - Female consort of Krishna. Through analogy, refers to a pure mind without modalities, attuned with the Almighty. The External Absolute, as the counter-whole of the Internal Absolute Krishna. Radha is the flow of Krishna, Who is Rasa. Even so, Krishna cannot do without being immersed constantly in the triple Rasa of Radha, like the yolk in the fluid of an egg. Rajasuya - Lit. Raja means King, Suya means sacrifice. The mind is King of the senses, so after Asva-Medha comes the sacrifice of the mind, giving rise to Supra-mental Consciousness immersed in mellow Love. Ram Thakur - (1860-1949) messenger of Truth in India. Avatari in succession from Sri Krishna Chaitanya, he is the immediate fore-runner of Dadaji. Sri Ram Thakur spoke of his Advent again in a new body after 22 years of his disappearance, and Dadaji's first major manifestation occurred in 1971. Rama - The hero of the Indian literary work, the Ramayana. Regarded as Avatar of Lord Vishnu, the Maintainer of Creation. This Rama, son of Dasaratha, represents, according to Dadaji, Rati (devotional attachment), the precursor of Prema (unalloyed love). The word refers also to Rama, a full manifestation of the Lord in the first Satya Yuga after Creation. Ramayana Savari - The Ramayana is a classic Indian literary work. Savari is a woman of the low, fowler caste doing menial work in a hermitage, biding time with an intense yearning for the arrival of Rama. A classic example of the saying, "They also serve who stand and wait." Dadaji's emendation is, "They only serve who stand and wait." Rasa - Lit. taste. Refers to relishing the taste of the Divine Love of God, which is the reason we come into this world. Also, refers to the perfume of a flower, the delicate essence of a fruit, and the pure delight of pleasure Triple Raise refers to Dhira (steady), Sthira (static), and Gambhira (profound). In these three Rasas (savory liquid) lies immersed the Lord, like the yolk of an egg in the whitish fluid. It may be called triple magnetism of all Existence. This is the basal Radha. This triple Rasa transforms itself, possibly, into Satva, Rajas, and Tamas in the world of finitude. Rasa-Leela - Divine Play or Sport of Lord Krishna with the Gopis. Rastra - Lit. country. In the Bhagavad Gita it is used symbolically to represent a person's body. Ripus - Lit. enemy. On the subjective plane, the six mental drives that are apt to disturb and liquidate mental integrity and equanimity. They are: Kama (lust, carnal desire), Krodha (anger), Lobha (greed, avarice), Moha (infatuation, stupefication), Mada (vanity, egotism), and Matsarya (jealousy). Sometimes called Sat-jala (a sixfold net) or Sat-chakra (six plexus) by Dadaji. Rishi - seer, sage Rudra-Sthapana - A Tantric technical term. A rite with certain postures of the palms and fingers calculated to implant a superhuman power in the practitioner. Rudra is the malefic aspect of the Lord Siva. There are eleven Rudras. They may be considered as the five vital airs, five bodily fires, and the mind. To set them into stability and equilibrium at the region between the eyebrows is called Rudra-Sthapana. But, Sri Ram Thakur takes it in a profoundly mystic sense. After crossing the successive stages of Vipra, Dwija, and Brahmana, one reaches the stage of Bhavantara beyond Vraja. While crossing even that stage, one practices Rudra-Sthapana, and, through emergence of great superhuman power, is entitled to enjoyment of Supreme Bliss. That is to say, to bring all the vibrations of diverse desires to a focal point at the region between the eyebrows and to resolve them into nullity.
Sadhan, Sadhana - Contemplative psycho-physical spiritual practices, which Dadaji dismisses as unnecessary. Sadhu - Derived from Sat, meaning Truth. According to Dadaji, it refers to every living being, as Truth is within all. Erroneously used to refer to so-called "holy" people doing austerities and religious display. Sahamaran - Lit. Saha means together or along with. Marana means dying. The wife who dies in the funeral pyre of her husband is called Sati (chaste), and this form of dying is called Sahamaran. But according to Dadaji, as long as He is within the body as Mahanam, one is Sati, man or woman. And, when Mahanam goes off, Sahamaran occurs as a matter of course. Sahasrara - Seat of the mind at the top of the cerebrum where, according to Tantra, Siva and Sakti are said to be in perfect identity. Dadaji dismisses it. Sai - Corruption of the word Swami. Saint. Sakti - Potency, power conceived as feminine and, as such, consorts of Gods. The kinetic principle is said to be feminine, while Purusha is in perfect equipoise. Sakshatkara - Visualizing God or any esoteric principle with the mundane eyes, or in the heart. Samadhi - Lit. directing together, uniting. Perfect union of all faculties. According to Dadaji, this occurs only at the death of the body. Sanatana Dharma - Sanatana means Eternal, Dharma refers to Religion. Dadaji's message is that Truth is One and Truth is the Eternal Religion which humanity is heir to right from the moment of birth in this world. Sandesh - Bengali sweet Sannyas - Lit. renunciation. Self-poised after complete effacement of ego. Childlike unmotivated submission to God. Sannyasi - renunciate, recluse Sanskaras - Impressions on one's mind or character. Attitudes, beliefs, notions, fears that have been acquired through generations of learning and knowledge. Mental conditioning factors, superstitions. Also, the ten sacramental rites in Hindu life. Sat-Chakra - Six plexuses within the spinal cord as six centers of awakened energy in Kundalini. Namely, Muladhara, Svadhisthana, Manipura, Anahata, Visuddha, and Ajna. It is contended that by piercing through the six plexuses, the energy can reach Sahasrara at the top of the cerebrum where Siva and Sakti are in perfect union leading to liberation. Dadaji vehemently repudiates it and asserts that the mind is the strongest at Sahasrara and unless it reaches the heart, all talk of liberation is idle prattle. Sati - Lit. chaste. Devoid of mental obsessions and attuned with Mahanam. (See Sahamaran.) Satya - From the root Sat which means Truth. That which Exists. Satya Yuga - Age of Truth and goodness, or the Golden Age. Age of fulfillment and integral righteousness, Age of esoteric meditation on the Lord; not the modern brand of meditation. It is the easy, spontaneous remembrance of Him. The first of four Ages. According to Dadaji, Satya Yuga has set in toward the end of 1980 and will be progressively manifest after 1990. (See Yuga.) Satyanarayan - Lit. Satya means Truth, Nara means person, Ayan means support. Supreme Truth, Existence Itself within each being. In 1965, when the film was developed of photos taken of Dadaji, an extraordinary image of an old man, which Dadaji says is the personification or symbolic representation of Truth, appeared. Dadaji insists his photo not be used for worship and offers this symbolic representation for those who want a reminder of Truth. Sava-Sadhana - An esoteric Tantric practice in which the practitioner sits upon a corpse in a crematorium in the dark of night, enlivens the corpse with the power of Mantras, makes him drink spirituous liquor and attains miraculous power with his help. Dadaji dismisses it as hocus pocus. Savitri - A character in the epic literary work Mahabharata, the wife of Satyavan, who symbolizes Truth. After the death of her husband, she succeeded in bringing him back to life after a great Tapasya. She symbolizes complete, undivided submission to Truth through which only It may be recaptured from the finitising, materializing clutches of the ego, that is likened to the god of death (Yama). Shabdabrahma - Lit. Shabda means sound, Brahma refers to God, the Essence of Existence. Word as God, summum verbum as God. Shastras - scriptures, religious or sacred doctrine Sharan - surrender to Supreme Name Sharanagati - self-surrender Shishya - disciple Siddha - One who has achieved the goal of spiritual practices and has no fear of fall into bondage. Siddhi - Eight miraculous powers achieved temporarily through Yoga practices. Dadaji says these Powers belong to God alone and anything achieved by a person by doing certain practices is temporary, egotistical and unnecessary. Sita Bhava - state of pure heart Siva - The third God of Hindu Trinity, presiding over destruction. Dadaji speaks of Maheswara instead. As Dadaji further says, Siva was a historical person, a Yogi, who married many times and attained Integral Consciousness with great difficulty. Possibly his phallic symbol is worshipped in many countries, including India. Dadaji often refers to a state called Sivatva as apart from the individual, Siva. He further states that the word is a corrupt form of the Lord's Name. Sloka - verse Smarana - remembrance of Supreme Name Sradh - The traditional propitiatory rites on the eleventh day from the date of death. Ceremonies which Dadaji asserts are unnecessary and a moneymaking business. Sri - holy, graceful, auspicious, revered Sruti - Lit. root means to hear. Refers to the four Vedas, as they were originally heard from the lips of the preceptor. The word implies an esoteric tradition of oral transmission through a hierarchy of teachers and pupils. Sudarshan Chakra - Power of Divine Love. Also refers to a mythical discus-like weapon with which Krishna cuts the heads of evil-doers; Dadaji rejects it. Surya - sun Svantantrya - freedom Swabhava - Lit. innate nature. Passive feeling of Integral Fullness in the Absolute with no sense of want. Beyond the mental domain of duality and separation. Living life in a natural state, fully attuned with God. Dadaji says this is the only way. Truth can only be lived. Swami - Master, Lord. Also used as honorific for saints.
Tantra - Philosophy embodying esoteric rites and practices. Dadaji rejects it as ego-based, unnecessary and dangerous. Tapasya - Penance, austerity. As practiced for spiritual purposes, Dadaji says it does not help you reach God. Instead, it makes a demon of you. According to Dadaji, to be engaged properly in any work is Tapasya. Tilak - Sandal paste mark placed on the forehead for religious purposes. Dadaji scoffs and calls it egotistical display. Treta Yuga - Lit. Age of Triads, Tri means three. The Age in which three-fourths of the cardinal virtues are in operation. Age of esoteric ceremonial sacrifice or self-sacrifice to the Lord. One of four cyclic time periods, three times as long as the Kali Yuga. (See Yuga.) Tri-Sandhya - Tri means three. Sandhya means a juncture of time of a day. The word means the ritual muttering of the Gayatri Mantra by a Brahmin three times a day, morning, noon and evening. Sri Ram Thakur calls it Savitri (Gayatri) Trisandhya, which means complete loving submission to the Husband, the Truth. Truth - Referred to by Sanskrit term Satya, the root of which is Sat meaning to exist. Truth is the Essence of Existence within everything and everyone. Tulasi Leaves - Leaves of a plant held dear to Krishna. Tulasi leaves with Manjaris (seeds) are placed upon the food offered to Krishna. The real significance of it stems from Manjari, which symbolizes "yoking to Him in love". Dadaji says that Tulasi, being antiseptic, was necessary in the past. Now it is superfluous.
Unmilana - The final Tantric meditation at the Unmana stage. Uddhara - Salvation, resurrection into the Absolute after leaving the final, most subtle body. The third and highest stage of liberation, the first two being Mukti and Prapti. According to Dadaji the only way to liberation, realization and salvation is Mahanam. Upanisad - Lit. at the Feet of God. Concluding portion of Vedic scriptures which poetically expresses the full splendor of inner vision. The central theme is that the outer Truth of the universe and the inner Truth of individuals are One. Essential message: That Thou Art. Utsav - Lit. Ut means giving up, Sava means body. The occasion when Sri Satyanarayan manifests and one is illuminated by Supreme Truth. A gathering of brothers and sisters to experience Utsav was first held in 1970 in Dadaji's home. In 1972 it was moved to Somnath Hall, Calcutta, to accommodate the large annual Utsav gathering held in October. (See Puja.)
Vac - The primal omnipotent Sound as the matrix of all Creation. Vaishnava - follower of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna Vaikuntha - Lit., free from limitation, illusion. The realm of four-armed Narayana, reached by reverential devotion governed by commandments and ritualism. Vanshi - Lit. flute. Refers to the Divine Fragrance of Lord Krishna. Also Dadaji's Fragrance, which calls one to remembrance of God's loving Presence. An unmistakable, unique Aroma hinting of roses and sandalwood. Vanshi-Dhwani - Refers to the sound of Krishna's flute which calls all to Him. However, Dadaji says it is the Divine Fragrance of Krishna's body. Vedas - Earliest record of Aryan culture when no temple or idol worship was practiced. Four Vedas: Rigveda, Shamveda, Yajurveda, and Atharbaveda. Vibhu - The omnipotent Lord, Who can become anything. Vibhuti - One who is Full. In the Gita, a person having miraculous, superhuman manifesting power. Vijnan - Refers to determinate knowledge, i.e. science. Vidyas - various arts and sciences Vipradasa - A stage of spiritual enlightenment from the empiric viewpoint. According to Dadaji, through surrender to Truth, one becomes Vipra (emotionally submitted to Mahanam). When surrender becomes steady, one becomes Vipradasa. Then one has in ascending scale Brahmanatva (perfect condensation of emotion), Bhavantara (transcendence of emotion), and Sunyatva (Voidness). From another standpoint, the ascending scale is Vipra (emotional submission to Mahanam), Vipradasa (steady submission), Dwija (hearing Mahanam within, with mind filled with love), Dwijadasa (steadily hearing Mahanam with love), Bhavantara (transcending the charge of emotions), Brahmana (surrendered to Truth), Sunya (Void). The conventional meaning of Vipra is Brahmana, the highest Hindu caste. Dwija has the same meaning; literally the twice born one. Dasa means servant. Vishwaroop Darshan - A vision of the Universal Form of the Lord. as shown to Arjuna by Lord Krishna on the eve of the Kurukshetra war around 1900 B.C. and as narrated in the Gita, Chapter XI. The Universal Form is the conglomeration of all individual beings on the gross plane of existence which is ours. It is said to be composed of countless limbs of the body. According to Dadaji, this vision belongs to the mental plane. As such, it is of a much lower order than those experienced by countless men and women in the presence or even in the absence of Dadaji, as these are far above and beyond the modalities of mind. Viswanath - Lord Almighty, Lord of the World Vivek - Conscience Vraja - The region where the Divine sport of Radha and Krishna is manifested. Also called Vrindavan or the Divine State. Vrindavan, Vrindavana - The solitary Abode within each person, wherein Divine Name exists. Symbolically represented by the playground of devotional love between Lord Krishna and His consort Radha. Vrindavan Leela - Refers to Lord Krishna's pastimes with His Gopis. Located within the heart region of each person.
Yajna - A sacrificial ritual. According to Dadaji the only true sacrifice is the passive performance and completion of work, that is, selfless work done without concern for the results. Yama - God of death, who is in charge of the souls of the dead. Ego, according to Dadaji. Yoga - Lit. union. Commonly refers to science and systems of esoteric physical and mental practices, which Dadaji says are unnecessary and ego-based. Yogamaya - Divine Creative Potency. Creative Power of God, from which manifests Prakriti, or physical Nature. Yogeswar - Supreme Lord. Lord of Yoga. Lord Krishna. Yogi - According to Dadaji, a true Yogi is one who lives in a natural state and does everything with God in mind. Commonly misunderstood and misused to refer to one who is accomplished in esoteric mental and physical practices. Yuga - An Age, cycle or period of time, particularly the four Ages, namely, Satya Yuga (Age of Truth), Treta Yuga (Age of perfection), Dvapara Yuga, (Age of serving through work), and Kali Yuga (Age of Destruction). Commonly believed to total 4,320,000 years, which is termed a Maha Yuga. According to Dadaji, the span of a Yuga varies from 3,000 to 5,000 years. The four cardinal virtues referred to in the glossary definition of each Age are, meditation on the Lord (during Satya Yuga); serving the image of the Lord through work (during Dvapara); ceremonial self-sacrifice (during Treta); and singing songs of praise to the Lord (during Kali).
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