Babaji - Gorakhvani: The Secrets of Guru Gorakhnath

Chapter 1 - 24.08.1976

Brahma: in the Hindu triad - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva - He is the Creator of the universe.

Vaikunta: in the Rig Veda is an epithet of Indra. In the post-vedic period Vaikunta it is a name of Vishnu and of his paradise, on the northeastern peak of Mount meru, i.e. the Kailash.

Sati: the consort of Shiva.

Veda: the 'supreme sacred knowledge' included in the four collections of sacred poems or hymns of praise, the Vedas.

Shastra: 'law', 'treatise' or 'code of laws', group of Hindu scripts of the post-vedic period.

Karma: the universal law of cause and effect.

Sanatan Dharma: eternal universal religion, cosmic law, divine order.

Mahakal: Shiva in his aspect of Lord of Time and Death, leading everything to the final destruction.

Ram: hero of the ramayana, elder son of Dasaratha, king of Kosala, is considered an avatar, or incarnation, of Vishnu.

Krishna: hero of the Mahabharata, Yadava prince, son of Devaki and of Vasudeva, is considered an avatar of Vishnu.

Vajra: the magical weapon of the Gods, in form of lightening.

Yama: the Lord and Judge of the dead.

Chapter 2 - 25.08.1976

The snake of the waters has an organ on top of its head that allows it to float: if it is lost the snake drowns.

Vishnu: Protector of the universe, the all-pervading incarnation of good and mercy. He is the second element of the Hindu triad, 'trumutri'.

Shesh Nag: the king of snakes.

Sanatan: 'Eternal, primeval'. One of the sons born of the mind of Brahma.

Chapter 3 - 26.08.1976

Guru: spiritual master, the one who guides the disciple from the darkness of ignorance to the light of knowledge and liberation.

Shiva: 'Auspicious One', 'merciful One'. The third element of the trimutri, the Hindu triad, leads the universe destruction and rebirth.

Upanishad: collection of sacred texts.

Sada Shiva: aspect of Shiva corresponding to the fifth gross element, the sky, the most elevated and complex, that cannot be seen even by the most advanced yogis; Sada Shiva leads to the final liberation.

Kali: Divine Mother who, represents the supreme realization of the truth beyond manifestation; She is symbol of the eternal time, She grants and destroys life.

Bhairav: 'Frightening One, one of the eight forms of Rudra and also a name of the southern face of the five-faced Shiva.

Kankal: a terrific aspect of Shiva.

Kal: the Cosmic Time, aspects of Shiva.

Sita: incarnation of Lakshmi - consort of Vishnu, daughter of king Janaka; She married Ram, the seventh Avatar Of Vishnu.

Ravana: king of Lanka and leader of the native tribes of southern India, stepbrother of Kubera, in the Ramayana is considered a demon. He kidnapped Sita and fought against Ram for many years.

Yuga: the four ages in which the existence of the world unfolds, Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dvapara Yuga, Kali Yuga, a total cycle of 3,320,000 years.

Maya: the Cosmic Illusion, and also the goddess who is its personification.

Chapter 4 - 28.08.1976

Duriodhan: prince leader of the army of the Kaurava princes in the battle of Kurukshetra.

Arjuna: Pandava prince protagonist of the battle of Kurukshetra. The teachings that Krishna gave to Arjuna on the battle field are collected in the Bhagavad Gita.

Hari: a name of Vishnu.

Japa: spiritual practice of the repetition of the Name of God, often helped by a rosary.

Chapter 5 - 29.08.1976

Nirvikalpa Samadhi: state of bliss in meditation, ecstasies.

Samsara: the bounds of life, death and rebirth imposed by the law of Karma, to which every individual is subject.

Rudra: 'the Shouting One', original form of Shiva.

Rajas, Sattva, Tamo Guna: the original matter, prakriti, is manifested in three ways, the gunas. Rajas guna is the moving energy and mental activity, Sattva guna is the brightness and intelligence, the virtue. Tamo guna is the static and psychic inertia. The three gunas are always present together, even if in different proportions.

Vishvanath: 'Lord of the universe', one of the names of Samba Sada Shiva.

Chapter 6 - 30.08.1976

Tapasya: ascetic practices, austerities.

Chapter 7 - 31.08.1976

Janaka: king of Videha, father of Sita, well-known for his right government and his great devotion to God.

Purana: collection of stories of the ancient times, dated on the first post-vedic period.

Asana: yoga posture assumed to reach a state of concentrated meditation, may also mean 'seat' or 'throne'.

Indra: tutelary divinity of the indo-arians, considered the first among the Gods, to whom many vedic hymns are dedicated.

Manu: was the first man to offer an oblation to the Gods. In general it mean the first men.

Matsyendranath: one of the eighty-four Siddhas, founder of the Nath order of the yogis, whose features are lost in legend. He was assumed as tutelary divinity of Nepal. His disciple and successor was the Siddha Gorakhnath.

Manasarovar: lake at the feet of mount Kailash in Tibet, place of pilgrimage.

Chapter 8 - 01.09.1976

Khand: place, or sacred place.

Kartikeya: also known as Skanda, Kumara, Subrahmanya, Mahasena, Guha, Murugan, his name means 'associated to the Pleiades'. Son of Shiva and Parvati, godof the war, in some myths the Pleiades, or Krttika, were said to have been his nurses.

Kali Yuga: age of Kali, period of darkness and destruction.

Satya Yuga: age of truth, golden age.

Pranam: bow, prostration.

Kashi: one of die sacred cities in India, ancient name of Benares, the city of Shiva, who is the Lord of Kashi. Benares is the main Kashi; along the Ganges there are two other cities called kashi: Uttar Kashi and Gupta Kashi.

Shesh Nag: cosmic snake with one thousand heads, theriomorphic aspect of Vishnu.

Sharda: name of Sarasvati, consort of Brahma, tutelary divinity of arts.

Bhairava: leaders of the army of Shiva, consorts of the Yoginis.

The Sixty-four Yoginis: their origin is traced up to Durga, Herself well-known as a Yogini, who created them to serve Herself and Shiva. They incarnate the forces of the magic of shamans and of Yoga.

The Fifty-six Kalwas: the army of Shiva.

Vishveshvari: the divine Mother, Lady of the world.

Jagadishvar, Jagadishvari: the Lord and the divine Mother, Ruler of the universe.

Maheshvar: Great Lord, epithet of Shiva.

Maheshvari: Great Goddess, shakti of Maheshvar, also called Durga, Parvati, etc.

Brahmani: also called Savitri, consort of Brahma. The first Manu was born from Her.

Gori: the Radiant, spouse of Shiva. She is the origin of the world.

Ganesh: god of wisdom with elephant head, son of Parvati, the one who removes the obstacles from every undertaking.

Surya: name of the sun and of the Sun God, symbolizes the immortal life.

Shankara: propitious, auspicious, epithet of Shiva.

Rudrani: consort of Rudra, identified with Durga in the post-vedic texts.

Jyoti Lingam: lingam of light, form assumed by Shiva, born of Himself.

The One Hundred Eight Places of the Mother: places of worship and pilgrimage where the one hundred eight pieces of the body of Sati fell down.

Deva: the Gods, celestial powers.

Yakshini e Yakshas: the feminine and masculine aspects of the mysterious spirits of the woods and forests; generally they abide in the sacred trees. They may have good or bad character, often associated to fertility and prosperity.