Many Marathi-Sanskrit terms in this text carry specific meanings that don't translate cleanly into English. Below is the working glossary of how each term has been rendered in the English translation, with notes for context. Suggestions and corrections are welcome.

Marathi Transliteration English Notes
नाम Naam the Name The divine Name of God; central concept in bhakti tradition. Capitalized to distinguish from any ordinary name.
नामस्मरण Naam-smaran remembrance of the Name Continuous mental repetition / remembrance of the divine Name.
नामजप Naam-jap repetition of the Name Verbal or mental chanting of the divine Name.
नामघास Naam-ghaas morsel of the Name घास = morsel/mouthful (food metaphor for the Name).
गुरू Guru Guru Spiritual teacher; kept untranslated.
भगवंत Bhagavant the Lord God / the Supreme Being.
भक्ती Bhakti devotion Loving devotion to God; the path of bhakti.
भक्तीभाव Bhakti-bhav devotional feeling भाव = feeling/emotion. The inner emotional state of devotion.
भोळा भाव Bhola bhav simple feeling / pure-hearted devotion भोळा = simple, innocent, guileless.
ब्रह्म / ब्रम्ह Brahman Brahman The Absolute / Supreme Reality of Vedanta.
अन्न परब्रह्म Anna Parabrahma food is the Supreme Brahman Vedic teaching: food itself is the supreme reality (Taittiriya Upanishad).
आत्मा Atma soul / Self The individual self.
परमात्मा Paramatma Supreme Soul The universal Self.
दर्शन Darshan darshan Sacred sight / audience with a holy figure or deity. Kept untranslated.
दिगंबर Digambar sky-clad दिक् + अंबर = "directions as clothing"; refers to a renunciant with no attachment to clothing.
चिलिम Chillum chillum Conical clay smoking pipe used by sadhus.
कर कमळे Kar-kamale lotus-hands कर = hand, कमळ = lotus. Honorific image of folded hands.
भवसागर / भवसिंधू Bhav-sagar / Bhav-sindhu ocean of existence / worldly ocean The cycle of birth and death; samsara.
लीला Leela leela Divine play / sport of God or saint. Kept untranslated.
संत Sant saint Realized spiritual master.
सत्पुरूष Satpurush holy man / true person सत् + पुरुष = "true person"; a realized soul.
कुलदीपक Kuldeepak lamp of the family A son who brings glory to the family lineage.
ऋतुशांत Ritushant rite for fertility A ceremony performed for a woman entering reproductive readiness.
तंद्री Tandri trance Absorbed meditative state.
तपोबळ Tapobal strength of austerity तप = austerity, बळ = strength. Power gained through ascetic practice.
नासाग्र दृष्टी Nasagra drishti gaze fixed at the tip of the nose A specific yogic eye-position used in meditation (nāsāgra = tip of the nose).
कवच कुंडले Kavach-kundale armor and earrings Refers to Karna's divine protections in the Mahabharata; metaphor for innate spiritual protection.
अहर्निश Aharnish day and night Continuously, without interruption.
मंत्र Mantra mantra Sacred sound formula. Kept untranslated.
मंत्ररटण Mantra-ratan repetition of the mantra रटण = constant repetition.
वेद Veda Vedas The foundational scriptures of Sanatan Dharma.
वेदपठण Ved-pathan recitation of the Vedas पठण = recitation.
अंतर्ज्ञान Antarjnan inner-knowledge / intuitive knowing Direct, non-sensory knowledge of others' minds and realities.
मनोरथ Manorath heart's desire मन + रथ = chariot of the mind; cherished wish.
पारायण Parayan recitation / reading-through Continuous reading of a sacred text.
अध्याय Adhyay chapter Used in the structure of sacred books.
ओवी Ovi verse (ovi) Marathi devotional verse-form, typically 4 lines.
ग्रंथ Granth sacred book / scripture A revered text.
गण गण गणात बोते Gan Gan Ganat Bote (mantra of Gajanan Maharaj) The mantra continually recited by Shri Gajanan Maharaj. Left transliterated; not translated.
शके Shaka Shaka (era) Indian calendar era; Shaka 1800 = approximately 1878 CE.
माघ वद्य सप्तमी Magh Vadya Saptami seventh day of the dark half of Magh Hindu lunar calendar date; the day Gajanan Maharaj first appeared in Shegaon.
वर्‍हाड Varhad Vidarbha Old Marathi name for the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra.
तालुका Taluka taluka Administrative subdivision (sub-district). Kept untranslated.
दैन्यदुःख Dainya-dukh misery and grief दैन्य = destitution, दुःख = sorrow.
प्रारब्ध Prarabdha destiny / past karma's fruit The portion of karma now ripening as one's lived experience.
क्रियमाण Kriyaman present action / current deed In karma theory: the karma being created right now.
भवसागर तरला Bhav-sagar tarla crossed the worldly ocean Attained liberation from samsara.
पाया पडणे Paya padne to fall at the feet of Gesture of surrender / reverence.
चरणकमळे Charan-kamale lotus-feet चरण = feet, कमळ = lotus. Honorific.
पुण्यवान / पुण्यात्मा Punyavan / Punyatma meritorious one पुण्य = spiritual merit. One who has accumulated good karma.
नृसिंह सरस्वती Nrusinha Saraswati Nrusinha Saraswati Saint considered an avatar of Dattatreya (15th century).
दत्तात्रेय Dattatreya Dattatreya Trinitarian deity (Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva); revered in Maharashtra.
श्रीपाद श्रीवल्लभ Shripad Shrivallabh Shripad Shrivallabh Saint considered an avatar of Dattatreya (14th century).
शारंगधर Sharangdhar Sharangdhar Epithet of Vishnu/Krishna — bearer of the Sharanga bow.
पंढरपूर Pandharpur Pandharpur Major pilgrimage town in Maharashtra; seat of Vithoba.
पांडुरंग / विठोबा Panduranga / Vithoba Panduranga / Vithoba Form of Vishnu/Krishna worshipped at Pandharpur; central deity of the Varkari tradition.
माळिणी Malini woman flower-seller A woman of the gardener/florist caste.
झुणका भाकर Zhunka-bhakar zhunka-bhakar Maharashtrian dish: spiced gram-flour curry with millet flatbread. Kept untranslated.
तुंब्या Tumba tumba (water-pot) A small water vessel.
नाला Naala stream / drain Small stream or channel.
शिंपी Shimpi tailor Tailor (also a community/caste name).
सच्चिदानंद Sat-Chit-Anand Sat-Chit-Ananda Existence-Consciousness-Bliss; the threefold nature of Brahman.
भागवत Bhagavata Bhagavata Purana Major Hindu scripture devoted to Vishnu/Krishna.
एकादश स्कंध Ekadash Skandha Eleventh Skandha The eleventh canto of the Bhagavata Purana.
हंसगीता Hamsa-gita Hamsa Gita A discourse in the Bhagavata Purana on the nature of the swan/pure soul.
नवस Navas vow / votive promise A vow made to a deity or saint, often involving an offering on fulfillment.
कीर्तन Kirtan kirtan Devotional musical performance combining narration, song, and explanation.
कीर्तनकार Kirtankar kirtankar One who performs kirtan.
भजन Bhajan bhajan Devotional song.
दिंडी Dindi dindi Procession of pilgrims, typically singing and chanting on the way to a holy site.
नैवेद्य Naivedya naivedya Food offered to a deity before being consumed as prasad.
प्रदोष Pradosh Pradosh Auspicious twilight hour, especially sacred to Shiva.
सोमवार Somvar Monday Day of the week sacred to Shiva.
महांकाळेश्वर Mahakaleshwar Mahakaleshwar Form of Shiva worshipped at Ujjain; one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
ओंकारेश्वर Omkareshwar Omkareshwar Form of Shiva worshipped on Mandhata island; one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
पंचारती Panchaarti five-flame arati Lamp with five wicks used in arati ritual.
साष्टांग वंदन Sashtang vandan full prostration Prostration with all eight limbs (knees, hands, chest, chin, forehead) touching the ground.
तिलक Tilak tilak Auspicious mark on the forehead, often saffron, sandalwood, or vermilion.
जानवे Janave sacred thread Yajnopavita — the sacred thread worn by initiated Hindus.
आरती Arati arati Ritual of waving lighted lamps before a deity or saint, often accompanied by singing.
आंबेमोहोर Ambemohor Ambemohor (rice) Fragrant rice variety from Maharashtra, named for its mango-blossom aroma.
वरण Varan varan (lentil dish) Plain Maharashtrian lentil curry served with rice.
तूप Tup ghee Clarified butter; auspicious in Hindu cooking and ritual.
जिलबी Jilbi jalebi Sweet fried spiral pastry soaked in syrup.
मोतीचूर Motichoor motichoor Sweet made of tiny gram-flour pearls; often shaped into laddu.
अनरसे Anarse anarsa Maharashtrian sweet of rice flour, jaggery and poppy seeds.
घीवर Ghewar ghewar Disc-shaped sweet associated with Rajasthani/North-Indian cuisine.
चटणी Chatani chutney Spicy condiment, fresh or dry.
कोशिंबिर Koshimbir koshimbir Maharashtrian fresh salad/raita-like accompaniment.
शिकेकाई Shikekai shikakai Soap-pod (Acacia concinna) traditionally used as natural shampoo.
शंकर / शिव Shankar / Shiva Shankar / Shiva Major deity; the destroyer/transformer of the Hindu trinity.
नारायण Narayan Narayan Epithet of Vishnu; the resting/sleeping form on the cosmic ocean.
हरिद्वार Haridwar Haridwar Major pilgrimage city on the Ganges in Uttarakhand.
वक्रतुंड Vakratund Vakratund Epithet of Ganesha — "curved-trunked one."
विघ्नहर्ता Vighnaharta remover of obstacles Epithet of Ganesha.
सुखकर्ता / दुःखहर्ता Sukhakarta / Dukhaharta bringer of joy / remover of sorrow Common epithets of Ganesha.
शरणागत Sharanagat one who takes refuge A devotee who has surrendered fully to a deity or guru.
गांजा / बुटी Ganja / Buti cannabis preparation Cannabis used by some sadhus as part of ritual practice.
गोसावी Gosavi gosavi (mendicant) Class of religious mendicants, often Saiva.
काशी Kashi Kashi (Varanasi) Sacred city on the Ganges; one of the holiest sites of Hinduism.
तीर्थ Tirth tirth Sacred water; also "pilgrimage site." Often given by saints as blessing.
अंगारा Angara angara Sacred ash, often given by saints with healing intent.
ज्वर / ताप Jvar / Tap fever Fever or illness.
गंडांतर Gandantar deadly crisis A grave, life-threatening turn of events; literally "passage through difficulty."
भंडारा Bhandara bhandara (community feast) Community meal, often given in fulfillment of a vow or in honor of a saint.
वशीला Vashila favoritism / influence Use of personal connections to gain access or favor.
संशयात्मा विनश्यती Samshayatma vinashyati the doubting soul perishes A Sanskrit phrase from the Bhagavad Gita (4:40).
वेदान्त Vedanta Vedanta Philosophical school based on the Upanishads.
मयुरेश्वरी Mayureshvari Mayureshvari Epithet of Saraswati or Sharada (peacock-vehicled goddess).
अक्षय तृतिया Akshay Tritiya Akshay Tritiya Auspicious day in Vaishakh month; "imperishable third"; said to be when good deeds yield undiminishing fruit.
वैशाख Vaishakh Vaishakh Hindu lunar month (April-May).
ज्येष्ठ Jyeshtha Jyeshtha Hindu lunar month (May-June).
घटदान Ghatdan pot-gifting Ritual gift of a water-pot, especially on Akshay Tritiya.
वैश्वानर Vaishvanara Vaishvanara (fire) The cosmic fire; also the digestive fire in the body.
पंचमहाभूत Panchamahabhuta five great elements Earth, water, fire, air, ether — the five elements composing all material things.
चिंचवणे Chinchavane chinchavane Tamarind-based dish traditional in Vidarbha, served on Akshay Tritiya.
दशरथ / श्रावण Dasharatha / Shravan Dasharatha / Shravan Reference to the Ramayana: King Dasharatha accidentally killed Shravan, the devoted son of blind parents — a famous story of unintended karma.
कानवले Kanvale kanvale Maharashtrian sweet stuffed pastry.
विप्र Vipra Brahmin Member of the priestly community.
यमराज / यमलोक Yamraj / Yamlok Yamraj / Yamloka God of death and his realm.
वैकुंठ Vaikuntha Vaikuntha The supreme abode of Vishnu; heaven.
वैरागी Vairagi renunciate One who has renounced worldly attachments.
पूर्वसंचित Purvasanchit accumulated past karma Karmic balance from previous lives.
वसंतपूजा Vasanta-puja Vasanta-puja Spring worship ceremony.
दक्षिणा Dakshina dakshina Honorarium gifted to Brahmins, gurus, or priests.
पन्हे Panhe panhe (sweet drink) Cooling summer drink made from raw mango.
अत्तर Attar attar Concentrated natural perfume.
सत्व / सात्विक Sattva / Sattvik sattva / sattvik The quality of purity, balance, harmony — one of the three gunas.

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