Glossary | |
| Advaita | Non-duality. A school of philosophy associated with the Indian philosopher, Shankaracharya (788-820), which believes that there is only one Absolute Truth; all else is appearance. |
| Ahimsa | Nonviolence, positively the practice of love. |
| Ashram | Hermitage; a quiet place where people having common ideals lead a community life and follow a particular discipline. The place where Gandhi resided with his co-workers and disciples was referred to as the ashram. |
| Ashrama | Hindu idealism prescribes four stages or periods of good life, called ashramas: the period of study and self-discipline; of life as a householder and man of the World; of contemplation and gradual withdrawal from worldly ties; of total renunciation. |
| Atma | Soul, Self. |
| Avatar | A divine incarnation. |
| Bania | Member of the third caste among the Hindus, whose traditional occupation is trade and commerce. |
| Bhagavat | A sacred book of the Hindus dealing also with the life and teachings of Lord Krishna. |
| Brahmacharya | Celibacy; a life of self-discipline and continence dedicated to higher pursuits. |
| Brahmin | Member of the first caste among the Hindus whose traditional occupation is priesthood or devotion to learning. |
| Chapati | Cake of unleavened bread. |
| Charkha | Spinning wheel. |
| Dharma | Religion; moral law or practice; duty. |
| Diwan | Chief minister of a princely State. |
| Himsa | Violence |
| Kalma | Designates the profession of faith whereby a Muslim witnesses the unity of God. |
| Khaddar | Hand-spun and hand-woven doth. |
| Mahatma | Lit. A great soul; a title generally given to saints. In later years Gandhi was generally referred to in India as the Mahatma. |
| Manu | An ancient preceptor and author of the Code of Laws, named after him. |
| Moksha | Emancipation from earthly attachments; liberation from the cycle of births. |
| Muni | Seer; sage; particularly a Jain saint. |
| Nawab | Muslim dignitary or ruler. |
| Purdah | Veil worn by woman in some eastern countries. |
| Rishi | Sage |
| Sadavrata | Giving of alms to the poor |
| Samskar | Indelible impression left by past action. |
| Satyagraha | Lit. Holding on to truth. Name given by Gandhi to the technique of non-violent resistance as practiced by him and under his guidance. |
| Seva Samiti | A society for voluntary social service. |
| Shastra | Hindu scripture |
| Swadeshi | Love of one's own country or patronage of things indigenous and native. |
| Swaraj | Self-rule |
| Upanishad | Ancient discourses on philosophy which are generally regarded as the source material of Hindu metaphysics. There are more than a hundred such Upanishads of which ten are considered as principal. |
| Vakil | Pleader; lawyer |
| Vedas | The earliest and most sacred writings of the Hindus. |