Vedic Sanskrit Glossary - G -

Gadā — Kṛṣṇa’s younger brother, born to Vasudeva’s wife Devarakṣitā.

* Gadā — the club held by Lord Viṣṇu.

* Gada — a brother of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Lord Baladeva. He was born to Vasudeva’s wife Rohiṇī.

* Gadādhara — a name for the Personality of Godhead meaning “He who wields a club [in one of His four hands];” an intimate associate of Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

* Gadādhara-prāṇanātha — Lord Caitanya, the life and soul of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

* Gadāira Gaurāṅga — Lord Caitanya, the Lord Gaurāṅga of Gadādhara Paṇḍita.

Gajendra — The king of elephants, a human king in his previous life but cursed to be born an animal. Attacked by a crocodile and unable to free himself, Gajendra remembered Lord Viṣṇu and prayed to Him in full surrender. Lord Viṣṇu then appeared and saved him.

* Gajendra — the king of the elephants. He was saved from a crocodile by Lord Viṣṇu and awarded liberation.

* galangal — there are two varieties of galangal — greater and lesser. Both are closely related, although the lesser is more important. Greater galangal (Alpinia galanga), native to Indonesia, is related to ginger. Its large, knobby, spicy roots taste rather like ginger and are used in Indonesian cooking. Lesser galangal (Alpinia officinarum) is the rhizome of a plant native to China. Its roots have a pepper-ginger flavour and are used in many Indonesian and Malaysian dishes. In Indonesia it is also known as laos. Laos or galangal can occasionally be obtained fresh from Chinese or Indonesian shops. Peel and slice it before use. If unavailable, substitute fresh ginger. Laos powder is also used, especially in Indonesian cooking. It is less hot and more bitter than fresh laos. Use very sparingly or substitute slices of fresh ginger.

Gambhīrā — A room in Jagannatha Puri where Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu would experience intense feelings of separation from Kṛṣṇa.

gamcha — a thin cotton towel, commonly used in India.

* gamcha — an item of cloth, worn casually, usually around the waist.

Gandhamādana — A celestial mountain, sixteen thousand miles high, to the east of Mount Sumeru.

* Gandhamādana — a mountain situated east of Mount Meru. Renowned for its fragrant forests, it forms the boundary between Ilāvṛta-varṣa and Bhārata-varṣa.

* Gāndhāra — a province in ancient India believed to be the present day Afghanistan.

* Gāndhārī — the saintly and faithful wife of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and mother of one hundred sons. The daughter of King Subala of Gāndhāra. She was a great devotee of Lord Śiva from her childhood. Lord Śiva blessed her with a benediction she could have one hundred sons. Śrīla Vyāsadeva also blessed her with the same benediction. She was married to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who was blind. When she found out that her future husband was blind, she voluntarily blindfolded herself for the rest of her life. She is considered one of the most chaste women of all time.

Gandharva — A celestial musician.

* Gandharvas — the celestial demigod dancers, singers, and musicians of the heavenly planets.

* Gāṇḍīva — the famous bow of Arjuna gifted to him by Varuṇa before the burning of the Khāṇḍava forest. (Ādi Parva in Mahābhārata)

Gaṇeśa — The first son of Lord Śiva and Pārvatī. He has the head of an elephant and removes obstacles for those who worship him.

* Gaṇeśa — the demigod in charge of material opulence and freedom from misfortune. He is the son of Lord Śiva and Pārvatī, and is the scribe who wrote down the Mahābhārata. He has an elephant head. He has a rat for a carrier.

Gaṅgā — (-devī) The great sacred river flowing from the peaks of the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal and delivering from sin everyone who comes in contact with her. When she cascaded down from heaven by the endeavors of King Aṁśumān and his son and grandson, Lord Śiva detained her waters on his head to cushion the earth from the force of her descent.

* Gaṅgā — the famous and holy Ganges river of India, which runs throughout the entire universe. She originates from the spiritual world, and descended when Lord Vāmanadeva kicked a hole in the top of the universe. One is recommended to bathe in the Ganges for purification. She married Mahārāja Śantanu and begot the famous devotee and warrior, Bhīṣmadeva

* gāñjā — marijuana.

* Garam masala — (literally, “hot spices”) A blend of dry-roasted and ground spices well-used in Indian cuisine. The spices used for garam masala warm the body (garam means warm). Such spices include dried chilies, black pepper, cardamom, coriander, cinnamon, cloves, and cumin. Other spices, such as ajowan, mace, nutmeg, fennel, bay leaves, ginger, and white and green pepper, as well as other ingredients, such as sesame seeds, coconut, and saffron, are also used according to the region, since Indian cooking styles vary immensely according to the geographical location. Generally, garam masala is added towards the end of cooking. It is available at Indian grocery stores.

* garbha-gṛha — inner sanctuary or altar room that contains the main Deity of the temple. The literal meaning is “womb chamber.”

garbhādhāna-saṁskāra — a Vedic purificatory process performed for the conception of children.

* garbhādhāna-saṁskāra — the Vedic ceremony of purification to be performed by parents before conceiving a child.

* Garbhodaka Ocean — the body of water that fills the bottom part of each material universe.

Garbhodaka-śāyī Viṣṇu — The second of the three Puruṣas, incarnations of the Supreme Lord for the creation of the material universe.

* Garbhodakaśāyī Viṣṇu — the second Viṣṇu expansion, who enters each universe and from whose navel grows a lotus upon which Lord Brahmā appears. Brahmā then creates the diverse material manifestations.

* Garga Muni — the family priest for the Yadu dynasty.

Garga — A sage who served as family priest of the Yadus. He performed the name-giving ceremony for the infant Kṛṣṇa.

* garh — fort.

* gari — vehicle.

* Garuḍa Purāṇa — one of the eighteen Purāṇas, or Vedic historical scriptures.

Garuḍa — The eternal companion of the Supreme Lord who serves as His personal carrier in the form of a large bird. He appeared as the son of Kaśyapa and Vinatā.

* Garuda — Lord Viṣṇu’s eternal carrier, a great devotee, the son of Aditi and Kaśyapa who takes the form of an eagle and is the bird carrier of Lord Viṣṇu. He is often found atop a pole facing the entrance of Viṣṇu temples. The emblem of Garuḍa is always on the chariot of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Garuḍa-stambha — The pillar, found in front of many Viṣṇu temples, on top of which stands Garuḍa, Lord Viṣṇu’s carrier. While having darśana of Lord Jagannātha at Purī, Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu would usually stand behind the Garuḍa-stambha.

* garva — pride, a vyabhicāri-bhāva.

Gauḍa — (-deśa) The ancient kingdom of West Bengal where Lord Caitanya’s eternal abode, nondifferent from Vṛndāvana, manifests itself on earth.

* Gauḍa-deśa — Bengal.

* Gauda-desa — the holy lands of Lord Caitanya’s birthplace.

* Gauḍa-maṇḍala-bhūmi — the places in Bengal where Lord Caitanya stayed.

* gauḍas — pullers of Lord Jagannātha’s car.

Gauḍīya Math — The Kṛṣṇa conscious institution founded by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvati Ṭhākura.

* Gauḍīya Maṭha — a Vaisnava institution, originally with 64 temples in India and elsewhere, founded by Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Thākura for propagating the sacred teachings of Lord Caitanya throughout India and the world. It was first established in 1918 as the Śrī Bhaktivinoda Āsana. In 1919 he re-established it as the Viśva-vaiṣṇava-rāja-sabhā, an institution originally established by Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī and re-instituted by Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura. The organization ultimately came to be known as the Gauḍīya Maṭha. Its influenced waned after the passing of Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya — The school of pure devotion to Rādhā and Kṛṣṇa founded by Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu and His followers. It formally descends from the Brahma-Mādhva sampradāyathrough Lord Caitanya’s initiation by Śrī Īśvara Purī.

* Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya — the authorized Vaiṣṇava disciplic succession of bona fide spiritual masters coming through Śrīla Madhvācārya and Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu; the followers in that tradition.

* Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya — the Bengal Vaisanava sect founded by Caitanya Maha-prabhu in the late fifteenth century. Lord Caitanya’s immediate disciples, the six Gosvamis, inititated the resurection of Vrndavana.

Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava — A follower of Lord Caitanya.

* Gauḍiya Vaiṣṇava — specifically, a Vaiṣṇava born in Bengal, or, more generally, any Vaiṣṇava who follows the pure teachings of Lord Caitanya.

* Gaura mantra — mantra composed of the four syllables gau-ra-aṅ-ga.

Gaura Pūrṇimā — The appearance day of Lord Caitanya.

* Gaura Pūrṇimā — the appearance day of Lord Caitanya.

Gaura — (Gaurāṅga, Gaurasundara) A name of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu meaning “golden.”

* gaura — of fair complexion.

* Gaura-gopāla mantra — mantra composed of the four syllables rā-dhā-kṛṣ-ṇa.

* Gaura-Hari — Radha and Krsna combined into one form as the Golden Avatar.

Gaura-kiśora Dāsa Bābājī — The spiritual master of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

Gaura-Nitāi — Lord Caitanya (Gaura) and Lord Nityānanda (Nitāi).

* Gauracandra — (gaura — golden; candra — moon) a name of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu denoting His appearance to be like that of a golden moon.

* Gaurakiśora dāsa Bābājī — the disciple of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura who was the spiritual master of Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura.

* Gaurakṛṣṇa — see: Caitanya Mahāprabhu

* Gaurāṅga-nāgarīs — the name of a particular sahajiyā sect.

* Gaurasundara — the beautiful, golden-complexioned Lord, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

* gaurava-dāsya — condition when the devotee takes the form of giving protection to the Lord; category of dāsya-rasa.

* gaurava-sakhya — the mellow of friendship in awe and veneration.

Gaurī Pārvatī — Lord Śiva’s consort, “Golden-complexioned Pārvatī.”

* Gautama Muni — one of the seven sons born from Lord Brahma’s mind. He belongs to the family of Aṅgirā Ṛṣi and is the author of Nyāya-śāstra, the science of logic, which explains that the combination of atoms is the cause of everything.

* Gayā — a famous holy place on the bank of the Phalgu River in the state of Bihar, where many pilgrims go to offer worship on behalf of their forefathers. The imprint of the lotus feet of the Lord are enshrined there, and it was there that Lord Caitanya met and was initiated by Isvara Purī. Lord Buddha attained here nirvāṇa. This is one of the four places in India where many pilgrims come to offer oblations to deparated ancestors.

gāyatrī — A prayer chanted silently by brāhmaṇas at sunrise, noon, and sunset.

* Gāyatrī — a sacred mantra that a brāhmaṇa chants silently three times a day at sunrise, noon and sunset to attain the transcendental platform; the Vedic mantra that delivers one from material entanglement.

 GBC — Governing Body Commission, ISKCON’s board of directors.

* ghana — transcendental bliss that is complete (lit. “concentrated”).

* ghara-bhāta — rice prepared at home, not offered to Lord Jagannātha in His temple.

* ghat — steps that lead down to holy river, lake or kuṇḍa.

ghāṭa — Steps built for bathing in a river or lake.

* ghaṭa-paṭiyā — Māyāvāda philosophy, which sees no distinctions, stating that everything is one.

* Ghaṭotkaca — the son of Bhīma by Hidimbī, a Rākṣasa woman. He played a very important role in the Kurukṣetra war. He was killed by Karṇa with the Śakti weapon of Indra.

* ghee — clarified butter; Its delicate flavor and special qualities make it the best of all cooking mediums. It is used in cooking, in the performance of sacrifices, and for other activities of worship. The oil produced by clarifying butter over gentle heat until all the moisture is driven off and the milk-solids are fully separated from the clear butterfat. Ghee is an excellent choice for sauteeing and frying and is much favoured in Indian cooking, as well as some French, Saudi Arabian, and other Middle Eastern cuisines. The best ghee comes from Holland, Scandinavia, and Australia, although home-made ghee is easy to prepare and cheaper than purchasing ready-made ghee. Ghee can be purchased at Indian or Middle Eastern grocery stores, or some well-stocked supermarkets.

* ghṛta — ghee.

* ginger — the thick, white, tuberous underground stems, or rhizomes, of the plant Zingiber officinale, which thrives in the tropical areas of the world. Fresh ginger root has a spicy-sweet aroma and a hot, clean taste and is used in many cuisines especially throughout China, Japan, Thailand, and India. The young “green” ginger is especially appreciated for its fibre-free texture and mild flavour. Mature ginger root is more readily available at produce markets, Asian grocery stores and some supermarkets. Fresh ginger should be peeled before use. It can be minced, sliced, pureed, shredded, or cut into fine julienne strips and used in vegetable dishes, dals and soups, savouries, fried dishes, chutneys, rices, sweets, and drinks. Ginger powder is not a substitute for fresh ginger, having lost its volatile essential oil, and being sometimes stale or adulterated. Ginger powder is used mostly in European cooking in puddings, creams, beverages, biscuits, breads, and cakes. It is available at most grocery shops or supermarkets.

* giri — hill.

* Giridhārī (Govardhana)-silā — stones from Govardhana Hill in Vṛndāvana. Worship of these stones was inaugurated by Lord Caitanya and Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī. On the basis of statements from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Lord Caitanya established the non-difference of Govardhana Hill and Kṛṣṇa. By such worship Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī got the direct darśana of the Lord.

girimalli — Wrightia antidysenterica, Eastertree, a bush with jasminelike flowers.

Girirāja — “The king of mountains,” another name of Govardhana.

* Giriśa — see: Śiva

* Girivraja — the capital city of Jarāsandha.

Gītā, Gītopaniṣad — See Bhagavad-gītā; another name for the Bhagavad-gītā, signifying its place among the Upaniṣads as spiritual instruction.

Gita-nagari — a spiritual farm community established by Śrīla Prabhupāda in central Pennsylvania.

* glāni — a feeling that one is in a faulty position, a vyabhicāri-bhāva.

* gluten flour — a flour made from the protein constituent of wheat flour. It creates an extra-spongy texture when added to breads, by virtue of the elastic network it forms in the dough when water is added.

* glutinous rice flour — a pure-white, starch-like flour made from a special round-grain, matt-white rice, which is much stickier than ordinary rice when cooked. It is used in Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean cooking for batters (savoury and sweet) and pastries. Glutinous rice flour is available at any Asian grocery store.

* godāsa — servant of the senses.

* Godhead — the ultimate source of all energies.

 Godhead — The Absolute Truth, the Supreme Reality, progressively realized first as the impersonal all-pervasive oneness, more fully as the Supersoul within the heart of every living being, and ultimately as the all-opulent Supreme Person.

* godown — warehouse, storage room.

Gokula — The first home of the infants Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma in Vraja, before Nanda’s cowherds moved to Nanda-grāma. It is located in the Mahāvana forest, on the eastern shore of the Yamunā, seven miles south of Mathurā City. The name Gokula is also sometimes used to distinguish Kṛṣṇa’s abode on earth from Goloka in the spiritual world.

* Goldsmith, Oliver (1730-1774) — an Anglo-lrish author who was famed as an essayist, poet, novelist, playwright, biographer and historian. One of his major poems is “The Deserted Village”.

* Goloka Vṛndāvana (Kṛṣṇaloka) — the highest spiritual planet in the kingdom of God, Lord Kṛṣṇa’s personal abode.

Goloka — The eternal abode of the Supreme Lord in His original form of Kṛṣṇa. It is located above all the other Vaikuṇṭha planets. It has three parts:Vṛndāvana, Mathurā, and Dvārakā.

* goonda (guṇḍa) — hired thug.

gopa — a cowherd boy; one of Kṛṣṇa’s eternal cowherd-boy associates.

* Gopāla Bhaṭṭa Gosvāmī — one of the Six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, who directly followed Lord Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and systematically presented His teachings, born at the beginning of the 16th century near Śrī Raṅgam in South India. He met Lord Caitanya as a child when the Lord stayed with his father, Vyenkata Bhaṭṭa, during the four-month rainy season. On the order of Lord Caitanya he journeyed to Vṛndāvana to join the other Gosvāmīs. While on pilgrimage he obtained twelve śālagrama-śīlās. Later, a Dāmodara śilā manifested Himself as the beautiful Rādhā-ramaṇa Deity, Who is worshiped to this day with great eclat. Gopāla Bhaṭṭa assisted Sanātana Gosvāmī in his writing.

Gopāla mantra — A confidential hymn, in ten syllables, to Kṛṣṇa in His original form as a young cowherd. Although chanted by the main character in Bṛhad-Bhāgavatāmṛta, Śrīla Sanātana Gosvāmī does not divulge the words of the mantra anywhere in Bṛhad-Bhāgavatamṛta or his commentary on the work. Those who want information on it may consult the Krama-dīpikā of Keśava Bhaṭṭa.

Gopāla — Kṛṣṇa the cowherd.

* Gopāla — a name of Kṛṣṇa as a young boy; the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, who protects the cows.

gopas — Cowherds, especially those of the community led by Nanda Mahārāja in Vraja.

gopī — A cowherd girl or woman; especially Kṛṣṇa’s young girlfriends in Vraja, who are His most intimate devotees.

* gopī-candana — type of clay used for tilaka.

gopī-mañjarīs — Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī’s most confidential maidservants.

* Gopijana-vallabha — the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is dear to the gopīs.

 Gopinātha Ācārya — The son-in-law of Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya, with whom he argued in favor of Lord Caitanya’s divinity.

Gopīnātha — Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of the gopīs.

* Gopīs — the cowherd girls of Vraja, who are generally the counterparts of Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s hlādini-sākti, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī. They assist Her as maidservants in her conjugal pastimes with the Supreme Personality of Godhead; Gopāla Kṛṣṇa's cowherd girl friends, who are His most surrendered and confidential devotees.

Gopīśvara Mahādeva — The liṅga deity of Lord Śiva in Vṛndāvana who protects the site of Kṛṣṇa’s rāsadance with the gopīs.

* Gopīśvara — see: Śiva

gopura — The ornately decorated ceremonial gateway or archway of a temple or city. The gopuras of Viṣṇu temples simulate the gateways to Vaikuṇṭha.

* gopuram (gopura) — highly carved soaring towers over the gates of the temples

* gosāñi — other name for gosvāmī.

goshala — Cowshed.

* goṣṭhy-ānandī — a Vaiṣṇava who is interested in spreading Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

goṣṭhyānandī — A devotee who desires to preach the glories of the holy name.

Gosvāmī (goswami) — One who controls his mind and senses; title of one in the renounced order of life. May refer specifically to the six Gosvāmīs of Vṛndāvana, direct followers of Lord Caitanya who systematically presented His teachings.

* gosvāmī — a person who has his senses under full control: the title of a person in the renounced order of life, sannyasa. (go — senses + svamī — master) master of the senses.

* gosvāmī-viddhi — “the way of the gosvāmīs,” i.e., transcendental devotional service.

Govardhana — Girirāja, “the king of mountains,” a large hill located fifteen miles west of Mathurā City. For seven days, Kṛṣṇa lifted Govardhana like a huge umbrella to protect the residents of Vraja from a devastating storm caused by the jealous Indra. Sometimes the name Govardhana refers to the village in the center of the hill.

* Govardhana — a large hill dear to Lord Kṛṣṇa and His devotees. Kṛṣṇa held it up for seven days to protect His devotees in Vṛndāvana from a devastating storm sent by Indra.

Govardhana-dhārī — Kṛṣṇa, the “lifter of Govardhana.”

* Govardhana-dhārī — Kṛṣṇa, the lifter of Govardhana Hill.

Govardhana-pūjā — The worship of Govardhana Hill by offering mountains of food and circumambulating the hill. This pūjā was initiated by Kṛṣṇa to establish that worship of Him is superior to worship of even the king of heaven, Indra.

* Govardhana-śilā — a stone from Govardhana Hill in Vṛndāvana; it is as worshipable as Kṛṣṇa Himself.

Govardhanoddhāraṇa — Kṛṣṇa, the “lifter of Govardhana.”

* Govinda dāsa Ṭhākura — the author of several important Vaiṣṇava songs.

Govinda — Kṛṣṇa, the proprietor of the cows, the earth, and the senses of His devotees; “one who gives pleasure (vinda) to the cows (go) and senses (also go); may also refer to Lord Caitanya’s personal servant.

* Govinda — name the Supreme Lord Kṛṣṇa. “One who gives pleasure to the land, the cows and the senses.”

* grāmya-karma — mundane activities.

* grāmya-kathā — talk concerning family life.

* grāmya-kavi — a poet who writes only about the relationship between man and woman.

* Granthika — a name used by Nakula during the last year of the Pāṇḍavas’ exile in the kingdom of Virāṭa.

* gṛha — home. For spiritual cultivation one requires an undisturbed place or the good association of devotees.

gṛha-vrata — The determination to remain in materialistic householder life.

* gṛha-vrata — one who is attached to living in a comfortable home although it is actually miserable; one attached to the material duties of family life.

* gṛham andhakūpam — the “blind well” of family affection.

* gṛhamedhi — envious materialistic householder who lives only for sense gratification.

gṛhastha — A member of the household order of life, the third stage of spiritual progress in the varṇāśrama social system.

* gṛhastha — householder stage of life. One who lives in God conscious married life and raises a family in Kṛṣṇa consciousness; regulated householder living according to the Vedic social system; the second order of Vedic spiritual life.

gṛhastha-āśrama — The household order of life, the third stage of spiritual progress in the varṇāśramasocial system.

Guha — A king of the low Niṣāda tribe befriended by Lord Rāmacandra.

guhyam — Confidential; hidden.

* Gujarat — a province in northwestern India.

* gulab jamun — a sweet made of deep-fried powdered milk balls, soaked in rose-flavored syrup.

gulabjamun — a sweet ball made from milk powder, fried in ghee, and soaked in sugar syrup.

guṇa-avatāras — The empowered incarnations of the Supreme Lord who preside over the three modes of nature. Brahmā, the secondary creator, directs the mode of passion. Śiva, the destroyer, directs ignorance. And Viṣṇu, the maintainer, primary creator, and Supreme Lord Himself, directs goodness.

* Guṇa-avatāras — incarnations who control material qualities; the presiding deities of the three modes of nature. Viṣṇu, Brahmā and Śiva.

* guṇa-māyā — the material world.

guṇas — The three modes of material nature, or controlling principles, sattva-guṇa (goodness), rajo-guṇa (passion), and tamo-guṇa (ignorance).

* guṇas — the three modes, or qualities, of material nature: Brahmā controls passion, Viṣṇu goodness, and Śiva ignorance.

* guṇātīta — see: nirguṇa.

gunda — Dacoit, thug.

* Guṇḍicā-mārjana — washing and cleansing the Guṇḍicā temple.

guñjā — Abrus precatorius, jequirity. A vine with clusters of pink flowers and seed pods containing scarlet berries. The berries are said to represent service to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, so Kṛṣṇa often wears a garland of guñjā berries. Garlands of guñjā are considered especially sacred by Lord Caitanya and His followers.

* Gurdwara — Sikh religious complex, which usually includes a temple and guest house.

Guru Mahārāja — (Gurudeva) Title of respect given to one’s own spiritual master.

guru — A spiritual master. The gurus who initiate one and instruct one in pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness are to be honored equally with the Supreme Lord.

* guru — spiritual master.

guru-aparādha — An offense against one’s spiritual master. Such an offense is the most likely cause of falling from spiritual life.

* guru-avajñā — disobeying the instructions of the spiritual master.

* guru-bhai — god-brother

* guru-dakṣiṇā — a disciple’s gift to his spiritual master, collected by begging and given as a token of gratitude.

* guru-kṛpā — the mercy of the spiritual master.

* guru-kula — a school of Vedic learning. Boys begin at five years old and live as celibate students, guided by a spiritual master.

guru-niṣṭhā — Firm faith in one’s guru.

* guru-pūjā — worship of the spiritual master.

guru-sevā — Service to the spiritual master.

guru-tattva — The principles defining a spiritual master.

gurukula — ” The guru’s family,” a teacher’s āśrama where traditional education is given.

Gurukuli — a colloquial word referring to an alumnus of an ISKCON gurukula.

Gurvaṣṭakam — A eight-verse prayer by Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura in praise of the spiritual master.