Karna The Unsung Hero of the Mahabharata

by Kotru, Umesh

Kshatriya One belonging to the warrior class.

  Lokas Different worlds as per Hindu mythology.

  Maa (Vernacular); An affectionate way of addressing a mother, meaning the mother itself.

  Madhusudana Another name of Shri Krishna. The slayer of the demon Madhu.

  Maha (Mahaa) The Greatest.

  Mahabharata

  (Mahaabhaarata) The Epic (Poem composed by Maharishi Vyasa).

  Mahadeva Lord Shiva (Destroyer God of Hindu Trinity).

  Maharaj (Maharaja) A King.

  Maharani A Queen.

  Maharathi The most powerful warrior capable of engaging simultaneously with multiple opponents.

  Maharishi A Great Sage.

  Mahendra Astra Name of a divine weapon.

  Mamaji (Vernacular); Maternal Uncle (addressed with respect).

  Manasputras Mind born sons.

  Mandapa Sacrificial Altar.

  Mantra A spiritual spell/hymn.

  Matsyagandhaa A woman whose body smells like a fish; Sobriquet of Vyasa’s mother, Satyavati.

  Maunavrata Vow of silence.

  Maya Illusion.

  Mayavi Illusive. Power of casting magic spell.

  Moksha Salvation.

  Muni Sage

  Nagas Serpents.

  Namaste Indian way of respectful greeting with folded hands.

  Narayana Another name of Lord Vishnu (Preserver Deity of Hindu Trinity).

  Narayani Astra A divine weapon named after Lord Vishnu. Capable of causing shower of arrows and discs. The power of this weapon would increase by any resistance offered.

  Narayani Sena The army of Shri Krishna.

  Nishad (Nishaada) A Forest dweller. A tribe of hunters/nomads.

  Niyoga An ancient Hindu tradition of a married Kshatriya woman bearing a child through a revered Brahmin or person of the same lineage, in the event of her husband being incapable of bearing a child or having died without a child.

  Panchali Another name of Draupadi (daughter of the Panchala).

  Pandavas Sons of Pandu.

  Partha Another name of Arjuna, meaning Son of Pritha (Kunti).

  Paashupata Astra The Divine weapon of Lord Shiva capable of destroying the entire creation.

  Pitamaha Grandfather.

  Pranams The act of joining together of hands in front of an elder or touching the feet of an elderly or revered person.

  Pratismriti The ancient secret mantras which enable an individual to travel to the realm of gods.

  Prithvi The Earth.

  Puraan (Puraana) Ancient Hindu religious scripture.

  Purohit A priest.

  Puru Yayati’s son. Founder-king of the Puru/Kuru dynasty.

  Puruvamsha The line started by King Puru.

  Radhanandana Son of Radha.

  Rajan A way of addressing a king.

  Rajdharma The way a king should conduct his activities pertaining to running the affairs of his kingdom.

  Rajkumari Princess.

  Rajpurohit Royal Priest.

  Rajasuya Yajna The sacrificial fire ritual conducted by kings to declare themselves as the Emperor after subjugating kings of other kingdoms and collecting tributes from them.

  Ramayana One of the two Indian Epics pertaining to the life of Lord Rama.

  Rishi Sage.

  Ritviks Priests carrying out fire ritual.

  Sabha (Sabhaakaksha) Assembly Hall or Court

  Samsara (Samsaara) The World

  Samshaptakas A suicide squad of warriors under the leadership of King Susharma of Trigarta region, who were sworn to fight with the single objective of killing Arjuna in the war of Kurukshetra.

  Samskara (Samskaara) Behavioural traits acquired (from past lives or) over a period of time under the influence of environment in which one lives particularly at Home. An inheritance of mannerism and conduct from ones elders particularly parents.

  Sanyasa (Sanyaasa) Renunciation; The last stage in the four stages of life.

  Saptaha (Saptaaha) Week.

  Sarathi (Saarathi) A Charioteer.

  Sarpa A Snake.

  Sarpsatra Serpent Sacrifice.

  Sati A practice in ancient India wherein a widow would undertake self-immolation on the funeral pyre of her dead husband. This practice continued in some parts of India even in modern times till it was banned.

  Savyasachi

  (Savyasaachi) Another name of Arjuna; literally meaning a person who can perform tasks equally well with both hands. Ambidextrous.

  Sheshanag Name of a great serpent, forming the bed on which Lord Vishnu lies, according to Hindu mythology.

  Shakti The potent weapon of Indra.

  Shastras Weapons.

  Shastras Hindu Religious Scriptures.

  Shishya Pupil/Disciple.

  ShrimadBhagavata One of the eighteen Puraanas referred as the Maha Puraana.

  Shruti Veda; Scripture transmitted by word of mouth.

  Soma Sacred Vedic sacrificial wine.

  Shri (Shree) Salutation (Mr.).

  Shrimad-

  Bhagavadgita The Song of Supreme God. Often referred to as Gita also. The most sacred text of the Hindus consisting of a discourse between Shri Krishna and Arjuna just before commencement of the war of Mahabharata.

  Sudarshana Chakra A disc shaped weapon (discus) used by Lord Vishnu (Sri Krishna) to exterminate sinners.

  Surya The Sun-god.

  Suta (Soota) A charioteer; A king’s attendant; A bard who narrates ballads of kings; Usually a person of mixed birth.

  Suta Putra Son of a Suta.

  Svarga The Heavens.

  Svayamvara A ceremony wherein a highborn maiden chooses her own husband among a gathering of several aspirants.

  Swamy A Hindu honorific title meaning one who is a master of himself. Often used to address a deity, a husband or an employer.

  Upanishads Also known as Vedanta or the concluding part of the Vedas, are a collection of the core concepts of Hindu religious practices and philosophy/ commentary on Vedas.

  Vaidya A physician.

  Vaishnava Astra The divine weapon named after Lord Vishnu. The weapon completely destroys its target.

  Vajra Astra The most potent weapon used by Indra. The weapon strikes the target with bolts of lightning.

  Varuna The Lord (god) of the seas (water).

  Varuna Astra The divine weapon which releases torrential amounts of water. Normally deployed to counter Agni Astra.

  Vasuki Name of a great serpent.

  Vasus The eight elemental gods representing various aspects of Nature (Earth, Fire, Wind, Space, sky, ether, moon, stars).

  Vasuvarma A rich/golden Armour.

  Vayu (Vaayu) The Wind-god.

  Vedas The oldest/holiest Hindu religious scriptures.

  Vedic As per the Vedas or of the times when Vedas were composed.

  Viraata Svarupa

  (Vishvarupa) The universal/cosmic form of Shri Krishna or Lord Vishnu.

  Vishnu The sustainer Deity (One of Hindu Trinity).

  Vrikodara Another name of Bhima. One with voracious appetite.

  Yadava (Yaadava) Descendants of King Yadu.

  Yagna Fire Ritual

  Yaksha Spirit who guards hidden treasures. Attendants of Kubera, the god of wealth.

  Yama/Yamaraj The Lord (god) of Death.

  Yuga The name of an era within the cycle of four ages as per Hindu cosmology. The four yugas are namely Satya, Treta, Dvapar and Kali.

  Yuvaraj Crown Prince.