SELF :

The state of Self-realisation.

AIRAVATA:

The celestial elephant.

INDRANI :

Consort of Indra.

GITA :

Prajahati yada kaman sarvan Partha manogatan

Atmanyeva'tmana tustah sthita-prajnastad'ocyate

- Bhagavadgita, 2. 55

ATMAN :

See Chapter 33, Part Five.

TARA-STHAYI :

The upper ocatve or register.

MANGALA :

This is similar to the statement: " A rose is a rose is a rose. "

VALLUVAR :

In order to abandon (earthly) desires, hold the feet of the Lord who is himself without any desire.

ATMASAKTI :

Gandhiji often spoke about "soul force".

NISEKA :

The literal meaning of the word is "sprinkling".

PARSIS :

Zoroastrians.

19 +21 +40 :

All these are explained in detail in subsequent chapters.

PRATHAMA :

The first day of the lunar fortnight.

SARIRA - PINDA :

This term may be taken ot mean the embryo, a blob of life; it also means a lump, a ball of rice, etc.

PUMSAVANA :

This is a ceremony performed for the birth of a male child.

SIMANTA:

Simanta of simantonnayana literally means "parting of the hair " (that is of the expectant mother).

JATAKARMA:

Also known as "cuda- karma", the first cutting of the hair on the child's head. "Cuda" means the "lock or tuft of hair" kept after the remaining part is shaved off.

SALAGRAMA :

Stone found in the Gandaki river and worshipped as a symbol of Visnu.

BRAHMARANDHRA :

Aperture in the crown of the head where the susumna-nadi terminates. This nadi is situated between the "ida" and the "pingala" of the spinal column.

VAIDIKA BRAHMINS :

Brahmins who adhere to the Vedic dharma. In theory all Brahmins are expected to follow this dharma.