Glossary |
Ahimsa |
Non-violence ; love |
Ashram |
A place of spiritual retirement ; Gandhiji's colony of workers Hindu philosophy of Monism or Non-dualism |
Bhagawata |
Name of a Purana, a sacred book of Hindus Zoroastrian fire-temple |
Brahmachari |
unmarried student ; anyone who practices chastity |
Brahmacharya |
continence, chastity |
Charkha |
spinning wheel |
Coolie |
wage-earner ; a term of contempt used for Indians in South Africa |
Dastur |
Parsi priest |
Dharma |
religion ; code of conduct |
Dhoti |
loose cloth worn round the waist by Indian men |
Gurukula |
teacher's family ; ancient type of school in India where pupils lived with their teacher as members of his family ; school conducted by members of Arya Samaj |
Harijan |
people of God ; a name given to 'untouchables' by Gandhiji |
Kamdhenu |
Kamadhenu, Kamadhuk-a fabulous cow which fulfils all desires |
Khaddar |
Khadi-hand-spun, hand-woven cloth |
Koran |
scared book of Muslims |
Mantra |
pithy, scared text used for meditation |
Maund |
Indian unit of weight, varying in different places in India from about 25lb. to 82lb. |
Mafussil |
outlying district |
Mulla |
Muslim priest |
Nai Talim |
the New Education ; Basic Education |
Rishi |
seer ; prophet |
Sahib |
gentleman |
Shastra |
sacred book of Hindus, embodying tradition |
Shudra |
the fourth caste consisting of manual workers |
Swadeshi |
indigenous, belonging go one's own locality |
Swaraj |
self-government |
Takli |
spindle used in spinning with the fingers without the use of the spinning wheel |
Talimi Sangh |
association for the spread of Basic Education or New Education |
Tola |
Indian weight, equivalent of 3/8th ounce |
Varna |
caste |
Vidyapith |
national university ; literally, seat of learning |
Vidyarthi |
student ; literally, seeker after knowledge |