Hopefully this glossary will get you started with some of the words in the chants we sing. Generally speaking, mantras are names for our different divine aspects, and are named after divine beings who have lived on the earth.

General Terms

Bhajan

Devotional Song

Kirtan

Devotional Chanting, combined with Dance

Bolo, Bol

Say, Sing Out! "Hari Bol" - sing the holy names!

Shrii

Holy, Divine

He

Hail, Exclamation "He Ma!"

Namo, Nam, Nama

Name Of, Essence Of

Namo, Nam, Nama

Name Of, Essence Of

Namah, Namaha

Adoration, Bow, Surrender, Accept

Namo Stuthe

Surrendering ever deeper to you, your essence

Sharanam

To take refuge, surrender, Accept

OM , AUM

Primordial Sound of Creation, Divine Source, Presence

Ananda

Pure Causeless Bliss

Shanti

Peace

Bhagavan

Lord, Incarnation, Avatar

Atma, Jiivatma

Individual Soul, Spirit

Brahma

Creator Aspect

Vishnu

Sustainer, Preserver Aspect

Shiva

Destroyer Aspect

Guru, Gurudeva

"Leading from darkness to light", Master, Teacher, Avatar

Natha, Pati

Lord, Supreme

Rupa, AnandaRupa

Form, Appearance (Ananda Rupa, Body of Bliss)

Bhaja

To sing, Remember

Vishva

Universe

Jagat, Jagad

World

BhajaMana

Fill my mnd with chant or mantra

Divine Energies of the Universe

Ma, Maha Devi, Amba

The Divine Mother, Creatress of the Universe

Mayii, AnandaMayii

The Divine Mother incarnate, Bliss-Mother

Narayanii

The Divine Feminine as consort of Narayana / Vishnu Preserver

Jagadambe

"Jagat + Amba" Mother of the World, Typically, the name of Durga

Shiva

The Divine Masculine, Formless Consciouss

Shakti

The Divine Feminine, Divine Energy in Form

Prakriti

The Creative aspect of Shakti

Shiva & Kali ~(Destroyers Of Attachment and Ilusion

Lord Shiva

Incarnation of "Shiva / Pure Consciousness", lived 5000 BC

Sada Shiva

Peaceful, Content, Blissful Shiva, Meditative

MahaDeva

Name of Shiva, Great Lord

Maheshvara

Lord of the Universe (Maha + Iishvara)

Hara

Name of Shiva, As Destroyer of Illusion

Shambo

Name of Shiva, Joyful, Benevolent

Shankara

Name of Shiva, Compassionate

Vishvanatha

"Vishva + Natha" Lord of the Universe

Ganesha

Son of Parvati & Shiva,

Kashi

‘ First City’, Abode of Shiva, Expansive Mind of Shiva

Arunachala

Mountain in South India, Revered as the Incarnation of Shiva

 OM Namah Shivaya

I bow to my divine true self, I AM THAT,  Shiva within

Parvati ~ Incarnation of Divine Feminine Shakti, Wife/Consort of Lord Shiva

Shivani, Bhavani, Brahmani, Narayani

Girija

Name of Parvati, "Goddess of the Mountain"

Uma

Divine Mother

Ananda Mayii

Mother of Bliss

Ganga Ma

Mother of the Ganges, Pure Expression, Raw Emotion, Juice of Life

Gauri

"White", name of Parvati, Golden Mother

Kali ~ Goddess over Time and Illusion

MahaKali

Supreme Kali, Goddess of Illusion

Kali

Goddess who takes away (Destroys) our suffering and attachments

Durga

Compassionate Mother who "Cries at our suffering"
Great Remover of Attachments and Illusion (Demons)

Shakti

Divine Feminie Power, Power to Create and Destroy

Mahesvari

Goddess of the Universe (Maha + Iishvari)

Kapalini

Wearing a garland of skulls (Dead Egos)

Bhadra

Compassionate

Kshamaa

Black, More dark than any darkness, Consumer of darkness

Ganesha ~ Lord over Obstacles

Ganesha

Son iof Parvati and Lord Shiva, Lord of new beginnings and journeys

Ganapati

Lord / Father (Pati) of the masses of devotees (Ganas)

GAM

The bija seed mantra of Ganesha - Opening, Overcomming Obstacles

Gajana

Looking like an Elephant

Vishnu / Narayana ~ (Preserver, Sustainer)

Vishnu

The unmanifest divine aspect of preservation

Narayana

Advent of Vishnu, Divine Masculine aspect of Preservation

Narayani

Consort of Narayana / Vishnu, A name of Lakshmi
Divine Feminine aspect of Preservation

Lakshmi-Narayana

The combined Divine Consorts (Divine Masculine and Feminine)

Krishna

8 th Incarnation of Vishnu

Buddha

9 th Incarnation of Vishnu

Kalki

The awaited 10 th Incarnation of Vishnu

Rama / Sita / Hanuman

Sita Ram

Satya, Living in Truth / Dharma

Lord Rama

Incarnation of Vishnu, Lived on earth, appx. 4000 BC?

Raghu Pati

King of Raghu people

Ramachandra

Gentle as the Moon

Sita

Narayani, Wife/Consort of Lord Rama, Aspect of Tara

Hanuman

Pure Devotee of Rama, Monkey King, Literally "Large or Broken Jaw)

Pavana

Son of the Wind

Anjani Putra

Son of Anjani

Rama Dhuta

Messenger of Ram, Breath of Ram

Bajarangee

Thunderbolt, (Vajra), Bajarangee Bali

Maha Viira

Great Fearless One

Hanuman Chalisa

40 Verses "Chalisa" in honor of Lord Hanuman

KRISHNA & RADHA

God and Goddess of Divine Love

Govinda

Krishna as Cowherd Boy, literally "Giving satisfaction to the senses"

Gopala, Hari

“DivineThief”, ‘Mischeivious Stealer Of Devotee’s Minds’,

Shyama

Black, All Attracting, Supreme Goal

Devaki

Krishna ’s Mother

Nanda

Name of Krishna ’s Father

Vasudeva

Krishna's Father, "Shining with the brightness of the Divine"

Vrindavan/Benares

Birthplace and childhood locale of Lord Krishna

Keshava

Beutiful, with long black hair

Madhava

Slayer of the demon Madu

Murali, Venu

Flute Player, Venu means flute

Mukunda

Name of Krishna

Radha - The Most Beloved, Pure devotee, Lover of The Divine

Radha

Divine Lover

Hare

Radha, The Feminine Shakti of Krishna

Radha Rani

"Queen" Radha

Gopi

Milk Maidens, Playmates of Krishna

Rukmini

Krishna ’s Wife in adult life

10 Mahavidyas ~ The 10 Aspects of the Divine Mother

(Considered sometimes to be the appearances of Sati, Shiva's first wife)

Mahavidya

The Great Wisdom Goddesses.

1. Kali

Remover of Darkness / Devourer of Suffering

2. Tara

Compassionate "Savior"

3. Sodashi -
Tripura Sundari

"Sixteen", Beautiful throughout the three worlds

4. Bhuvaneshvari

Goddess of Space, Body of the Universe

5. Bhairavi

The Fierce Goddess, Consort of Shiva

6. Chinnamasta

Headless Goddess, Nurturer of her Children

7. Dhumavati

The dark, smokey one. Goddess of shadow self

8. Bhagala Mukhi

Purifier of Speech, Paralyzes mean-ness, demons

9. Matangi

Mother of the artists, outcasts, the wild and crazy, Sarasvati

10. Kamala

Beautiful as a Lotus Flower, name of Lakshmi