Adho-loka
The lower world. The home of infernal beings.
Agama
Scripture. Canonical literature.
Aghati
The four types of karmas whose powers are much milder than those of the four-ghati karmas. These powers end at the end of a life.
Ahimsa
“Non-violence
Ahimsa Paramo Dharma
Non-violence as the supreme religion.
Abhavya
One who is incapable of attaining moksha.
Abhigraha
Resolution.
Abhisheka
Anointing ceremony.
Abrahma-varjana
Abandonment of all incontience.
Acharya/ji
“A Sadhu who learned
Adhi
Two and a half.
Agni
Fire.
Ailaka
“The highest state of a Digambara layman
Akasha
Space.
Aloka-akasha
Totally empty space.
Amari
Prohibition of animal sacrifice.
Anekaantvaad
“Non-singular conclusivity’ or multiplicity of viewpoints. The concept that humans
Antaraay
A Ghati karma that obstructs the strength of a soul.
Anuvrat
“A vow that is not as strict as a Mahavrat. Anuvrats are for people living family lives. The five vratas are: Ahimsa (non-violence)
Aparigraha
Non-possessiveness.One of the mahavrats and anuvrats.
Ara
“One of the six divisions of time in one half of the time cycle. Runs from thousands to billions of years. We are currently in the 5th ara of the descending half of the time cycle
Arambhatyaga-himsa
Violence occurring either accidentally or through the performance of an acceptable occupation.
Arati
The lamp-waving ceremony.
Ardha-phalaka
A piece of cloth worn by ancient Jaina monks.
Arihant
“Conqueror of internal enemies
Ashrava
Karmic influx. One of the nine tattvas.
Asteya
Non-stealing. One of the mahavrats and anuvrats.
Atishaya
Thirty-five special attributes of Tirthankaras.
Atithi
“One who may come any time
Atma
Soul.
Avamaudarya
Eating only a very small portion of food.
Avarsarpini
Regressive half of the time cycle.
Ayu karma
Karma that determines the span of a given lifetime.
Ayushya
An aghati karma that determines how long you will live.
Bandh
Karmic bondage. One of the nine tattvas.
Beindriya
“Souls that live with two sense
Bhante
Repected (Lord).
Bharat
Name of a kshetra. We live in Bharat Kshetra. It is located in the southern part of Jambu Dweep (look at geography section for more details).
Bhav
“Internal. States of a dravya.Thoughts
Bhoga-antaraya
Karma that restricts enjoyment.
Brahmacharya
“Physical control
Brahmacharya-ashrama
The life of a student.The first of four stages that a Jain shravak and shravika are recommended to pass through in his or her lifetime.
Charitra
Conduct.
Chattari
Four
Chauvisantho
“A prayer to the twenty-four Tirthankaras of this kaal in Bharat Kshetra. We list
Choindriya
“Soul that lives with four senses
Chovisi
A group of twenty-four.
Dana
Charity. Alms-giving.
Dana-antaraya
A type of karma that hinders the practice of charity.
Darshan
Vision. Intuition. Insight. Perception. A system of philosophy.A pure soul has infinite vision.
Darshana varaniya
A ghati karma that obstructs the capacity of a soul to see things clearly.
Dev
“A soul in heaven
Deva-dusya
Divine’ cloth. A finely woven piece of cloth.
Devlok
Heaven. The place where devs reside.
Dhariya
Patience. A pure soul has infinite patience.
Dharma
Holy law. Elements in Buddhist doctrine. Righteousness (ten forms).
Dharma dravya
The principle of motion.
Dharma tirtha
Holy path.
Dhivyadhvani
“Miraculous sound. When a Tirthankara attains enlightenment
Digambara
Sky-clad. Name of the Jaina sect whose mendicants practice ascetic nudity.
Dravya
Substance.
Dukkadam
Forgive me (or dissolve my mistakes).
Dvija
Twice-born.
Dweep
“Island. A large isolated area. There are two and a half dweeps
Eka
One or unitary.
Ekantavada
Extremism. Absolutist doctrine.
Eka sataka
A mendicant who wears a single piece of cloth.
Ekendriya
A being with only one sense faculty- that of touch. A synonym for sthavara beings.
Ganadhara/ji
“The first mendicant disciples of Tirthankaras.Supporters of the order. Mahavir had eleven
Gandhasti
The best elephant.
Ghati
“The four types of karmas
Ghoratavassi
One who practices severe austerities.
Gnan (jnana)
Knowledge.A pure soul has infinite knowledge.
Gnanavaraniya
A ghati karma that obstructs the capacity of soul to know things in their purest forms.
Gotra karma
Karmas that determine environmental circumstances.
Gruhasth-ashrama
Family life. The second of four stages that a Jain shravak and shravika are recommended to pass through in his or her lifetime.
Gunastana
The fourteen stages of purification.
Gunavratas
Retraints that reinforce the practice of anuvratas.
Himsa
“Injury
Hundavasarpini
A period of avasarpini in which extraordinary events may take place.
Indriya
Sense organ.
Jaina
“Followers of a Jina
Jainabhasa
False Jainas.
Jaina-brahman
Laypeople in charge of priestly functions within certain Jaina communities.
Jambu dweep
“The continent of the rose-apple tree. The realm in the universe that is inhabited by humans. This region is transverse by six mountains which divide the region into seven regions.The most important regions are India in the south
Janma-kalyana
Birth. One of the five auspicious events in the career of a Tirthankara.
Jina
“Conqueror. He who has conquered love and hate
Jina-agama
Jaina scripture.
Jina-bhavana
Jaina temple
Jina-bimba
Image of a Jina.
Jiv
Soul.
Jiva Daya
Compassion toward living beings.
Jyotish Chakra
“Area of space in which zodiac planets
Kaal
“Time. Time stages within the progressive and regressive half-cycles. Runs into more than billions of years
Kalyanaka
Auspicious moments.
Kanyadana
Ceremony of giving away the bride.
Karemi
I do.
Karma
“Action. A deed
Kashaya
Passion.
Kausagga
“A motionless state of body
Kayotsarga
“Abandonment of the body
Kevaldarshan
“Infinite vision and perception. After acquiring it
Kevaldarshi
One who has kevalgnan.
Kevangnan
Infinite knowledge. Knowledge isolated from karmic obstruction. Omniscience. Knowledge involving awareness of every existent in all its qualities and modes.
Kevalin/gnani
One who has kevalgnan. Synonym for arhat.
Khamana
“Homages
Khamasamano
Forgiving Gurudev.
Krodha
Anger.
Kshama
Forgiveness.
Kshetra
“An area
Ksullaka
Minor. A junior monk. A Jaina layman on the eleventh pratima. One who wears three pieces of clothing.
Kumara-sramana
A life-long celibate.
Logassa
(Masters) of the entire universe.
Loguttama
Supreme.
Maharaj Saheb
“King
Mahavideha
“Name of a kshetra. Twenty Tirthankaras currently exist there
Mahavir
“Twenth-fourth Tirthankara in this ara of the time cycle.His name means ‘The most courageous one. Mahavir was an actual historical figure who lived some time between 599-527 BCE.He was a contemporary of another great spiritual teacher–Gautama Sakyamuni–who would come to be known in history as Buddha.According to most accounts
Mahavrat
“A vow that is much stricter than an Anuvrat. Only those who take diksha will take on these vows (i..sadhus and sadhvis). There are five mahavrats- namely ahimsa
Mangal/Mangalam
Destroyer of sins. Auspicious.
Mantra
A prayer with strong psychological powers.
Maun
Silence.
Michchhami
I wish.
Mohaniya
A ghati karma that obstructs the capacity of soul to think properly.
Moksha
“The state of freedom
Muktishila
“The topmost area of the universe
Muni
“One who keeps maun. He only observes
Naam
An aghati karma that determines the body
Namoththunam
Expression of respect to the virtuous gurus.
Namaskara mantra
“Reverent salutation to the five holy beings- arihants
Naraki
Hell beings.
Nigoda
The lowest form of life.
Nirjara
Dissociation of karma. One of the nine tattvas.
Nitya
Eternal.
Niyati
Fate.
Niyativada
Fatalism.
Om
Sacred sound formed by combining the first syllable of each word in the namaskara mantra.
Pachchakhan
Formality for taking a vow.
Pad
Poem
Panch
Five
Panch kalyana
The five auspicious events in the life of a Tirthankara.
Panchendriya
“Souls with five senses
Pani patra
Hand-bowl.
Pannato
“Spoken
Papa
Unwholesome karmas.
Paramanu
Atom.
Paramataman
The highest liberated soul.
Parasparopagraho Jivanam
Souls render service to one another. From Tattvartha Sutra 1: 4: 1.
Parvan
Jaina holy days.
Parigrahatyaga-pratima
The ninth stage in which a layman abandons the cares of worldly possessions.
Paryushan-parva
A ten-day holy period for fasting during the rainy season (usually August or September).
Pavazzami
I seek.
Phala
Fruit.
Poshadh
A day chosen by a householder to live like a muni.
Pratikraman
“Going back to the original virtues (of soul)
Pratima
Stages of renunciation for a layman.
Pudgala
Matter
Puja
Worship
Pumveda
Sexual cravings for a female.
Pundarik
The best lotus.
Punya karma
Wholesome karma.
Puranas
Name of a class of sacred texts dealing with the lives of Tirthankaras.
Purva
“A group of fourteen Jaina canonical texts
Pushakarvar
Name of a dweep. Only half of it is used for living.
Raga
Desire. Passion. Attachment.
Rajlok
“Geographical term.The universe is divided into 14 Rajloks
Sadhu/sahoo
“A male who has given up the family life
Sadhvi/ji
“A female who has given up the family life
Salekhana
“Voluntary and controlled fasting to death. This is a very misunderstood and controversial concept in Jainism. It is believed that in 420 BCE
Samayik
State of calmness and sinlessness of mind and speech. Usually 48 minutes for householders and a lifetime for sadhus and sadhvis.
Samiti
“Five areas of caution: walking
Samkeet
“Awakening of the soul to the right path. Once a soul has samkeet
Samurchchhin
“A small human-like life
Samavasarana
Holy assembly of the Jina.
Samaya
Moment.
Samkalpaja-himsa
“Intentional
Samsara
Cycle of transmigration for all non-liberated souls.
Samvar
Stoppage of the influx of karmas. One of the nine tattvas.
Sangh
“Fourfold society
Santharo
“Peaceful
Sanvibhag
“Sharing equally
Sanyast-ashrama
“Life as a monk
Sharanam
Shelter.
Shikshavrat
“Four vows
Shravak/ji
“Male householder
Shravika
“Female householder
Shri
A prefix used to indicate respect.
Siddha
“One who has achieved complete liberation from cycles of births and deaths
Stavara
“Immobile beings
Sthapana
Ritual act of asking a monk to stop for alms.
Sutra
A scripture written in the ancient Ardhamaghdhi language.
Svetambara
“White
Tapa
Penance which contributes to the destruction of karmas. A pure soul has infinite tapa.
Tassa
For (my blemished soul).
Tattva
“The nine ‘reals’
Teindriya
“Lives with three senses
Tikhkhooto
Three times.
Tirthankara
“Builders of the ford.?? One who reestablishes the religion and fourfold society system of Sadhus
Upadhyay/ji
“A sadhu who learned
Uttari
Upliftment or elevation.
Vandana
“Act of bowing
Vanaprasth-ashrama
Family and service to society. This is the third of four stages that a Jain shravak and shravika are recommended to pass through in his or her lifetime.
Vanasi
Forest dweller.
Vandana (1)
Reverent salutation.
Varna
“Caste
Varnalabha
Ritual celebrating the establishment of a new household by a married son.
Veda
Sexual feelings.
Vedniya
An aghati karma that determines the mundane experience of pain and pleasure.
Veerya
Strength. A pure soul has infinite strength.
Vira-nirvana
Beginning of the Jaina era. Death anniversary of Mahavir.
Vitraag
One from whom attachment is gone for materials.
Vrat
Vow.
Yathapravrtta-karana
The soul’s ineradicable tendency towards spiritual growth.
Yati
A spiritually advanced layman of the Svetambara sect.
Yatra
Pilgrimage.
Yoga
“Vibration
Yojana
A measure of distance equal to about eight or nine miles.