Glossary of Terms

Asha = Hope

Agan = Fire

Basuri / Bansari = flute

Braj / Vraj = A rural district near Mathura, North India, where Shri Krushna grew up.

Deva = God / demi-gods

Devi = Goddess

Divali / Diwali / Deepavali = Autumn festival celebrating the agricultural New Year ; “Festival of lights” celebrated with lamps and fireworks

Gopa = Herdsmen ; cow-boys

Gopi = Milkmaids

Govardhan = A mountain in Vraj

Govardhan-dharan = Krushna who has lifted the mount Govardhan on his left hand.

Govind = Krushna as the King of Cows

Grishma = Summer

Guru = Spiritual teacher / guide

Hemant = Winter

Holi = Spring festival celebrated with a riot of colours !

Kalindi = River Yamuna, rising from the mountain Kalind ; Fourth wife of Lord Krushna

Kalpa-taru = Wish granting tree ; Heavenly tree ; Cornucopia in Hindu legend

Kirti = fame

Kirtans describe the greatness of God and His lilas.

Lila = Divine sport / play

Nanda(baba) = Foster father of Krushna

Mangal = Auspicious

PPrem = Love

Sakhi = Female friend ; girlfriend

Sakha = Male friend ; boyfriend

Shant = Peaceful

Sharad = Post Monsoon season

Sharada = Goddess of Knowledge

Shashanka = Moon

Shishir = Autumn

Shiv(ji) = God of dance, life and death ; One of the three Gods of the Hindu Trinity.

Shubh = Good ; Auspicious

Shuka = Parrot

Shukacharyaji = Devotee of Krushna ; Guru of king Pariksheet ; First person to recite the Shrimaad Bhagvatam in public.

Uddhav(ji) / Odha(ji) = Cousin, friend and confidant of Krushna once He left the Vraj.

Vadan = Face

Venu = flute

Vraj / Braj = A rural district near Mathura, North India, where Shri Krushna grew up.

Vraj-vasi = People who live in Vraj.

Vraj bhasa = Local dialect of Vraj.

Varsha = Monsoon

Vasant = Spring

Vyassan = Addiction

Yashoda(ji) = Foster mother of Krushna