Glossary

 

Paul Marett

Oli: nine-day semi-fast kept twice a year

Panca Namaskara (Panch Namaskara)

or Namaskara Mantra: formula of obeisance to the five categories of superior beings

Papa: demerit, bad results in karma

Paryusana (Paryushan): annual eight-day period of fasting and religious activities

Prakrit: ancient colloquial languages of India, no longer spoken, including Ardha Magadhi

Pratikramana: ritual of repentance

Pudgala: matter, non-living material substance

Puja: worship

Punya: merit, good results in karma

Purva: lost scriptures of the Jains

Ratnatraya: the Three Jewels, Right Faith, Knowledge and Conduct

Sadhu: a monk

Sadhvi: a nun

Sallekhana: accepting death by ceasing to take food

Samayika: equanimity achieved through meditation and prayer Samvara: cessation of influx of karma into the soul

Sanskrit: the classical learned language of India

Shramana/shramani: monk/nun of the Terapanthi sect who has taken partial vows only

Siddha: a totally liberated soul

Siddhacakra: metal disc with sacred images

Snatra Puja: ritual of bathing the Jina image

Sravaka: lay man

Sravika: lay woman

Sthanakvasi: sect of Jains who do not worship images

Sutra: a religious text

Svetambara: 'white-clad', one of the two major sects of Jainism (see 'Digambara')

Syadvada: the assertion that 'in some respects' a fact is true (but in other respects it may not be)

Swastika: ancient Indian auspicious symbol

Tapas (tapa): austerity

Terapanthi: non-image-worshipping sect which developed out of the Sthanakvasi in the eighteenth century

Tirthankara: the twenty-four enlightened souls in each half- cycle of time who are the 'prophets' or teachers of Jainism

Upadhyaya: preceptor or teacher of monks

Upasraya: meditation hall