GLOSSARY

Distinct Being

Spiritual being, an integral part of God but distinct from Him.

False ego

Identification with the body.

Garbhodakasayi Visnu

Second Purusa-avatar. The form under which Karanodakasayi-Visnu penetrates within each universe to give rise to multiplicity.

Goloka

Another name for Krishnaloka.

Gopis

Female companions of Krishna in Vrndavana. They incarnate the highest devotion because of their pure love for him.

Gunas

Attributes of the material nature, (Virtue, Passion, Ignorance).

Kali-Yuga

The age of kali, also called the age of iron or black age. The current age.

Kapila

Avatar appeared during the satya-yuga (Golden Age) in order to expose the philosophy of devotional service.

Kapiladeva

See also Kapila.

Karanodakasayi Visnu

Or Maha-Visnu.  The first Purusa Avatar. Emanation of the Lord who created the material manifestation. From it come the aggregate of the 24 elements of material nature and all the universes, which again return to him the time of annihilation.

Karma

The Law of cause and effect. A law of nature according to which every material action, good or bad, necessarily involves consequences, which have the effect of chaining the author more and more to the material existence and to the cycle of death and rebirth. Interested action.

Krishnaloka

Goloka Vrndavana, a planet where Krishna lives eternally with his pure devotees. It is the highest of all planets, both material and spiritual.

Ksatriya

Administrator, warrior, protector of the nation.

Ksirodakasayi Visnu

Third Avatar. Form under which Garbhodakasayi Visnu enters the heart of every being, in every atom and even between atoms. He is the omnipresent Supreme Soul.

Maha-Visnu

See also Karanodakasayi Visnu.

Manu

Father of the humanity, in charged of populating the universe.

Material Nature

Another name for material energy is the external energy of God.

Mâyâ

What is not, or illusion.

Narayana

Emanation of Krishna, with four arms. There are several manifestations of Narayana that bear different names according to the order in which they hold the four symbols (a conch, a disk, a mass and a Lotus flower) and each reign over one of the innumerable Vaikunthas planets.