Reference · उच्चारण
Pronunciation guide
उच्चारणSanskrit terms on this site are written in IAST — the standard Latin transliteration with diacritics. This page gives you a quick legend for every mark that appears, plus an A–Z glossary of terms with a plain-English reading you can play aloud.
Diacritics at a glance
Sanātana → sa-NAA-ta-na
Long 'aa' as in father — hold twice as long as a short 'a'.
Gītā → GEE-taa
Long 'ee' as in machine.
Sūrya → SOOR-ya
Long 'oo' as in food.
Ṛgveda → RIG-vay-da
Vocalic r — closer to 'ri' in modern Hindi ('rishi').
pitṝ → pi-TRII
Long vocalic r — rare; sustain the 'ri'.
kḷp → klip
Vocalic l — very rare; a brief 'li'.
oṃ → ohm
Anusvāra — nasalises the vowel; often heard as 'm' or 'n' at word-end.
namaḥ → na-ma-ha
Visarga — a soft breath echoing the preceding vowel: 'aḥ' → 'aha'.
Śiva → SHI-va
Palatal 'sh' — tongue near the hard palate.
Viṣṇu → VISH-noo
Retroflex 'sh' — tongue curled back; sharper than ś.
Rāmāyaṇa → raa-MAA-ya-na
Retroflex n — tongue curled back; softer, deeper than plain n.
haṭha → HUT-ha
Retroflex t — tongue curled back to the roof of the mouth.
ḍamaru → DUM-a-roo
Retroflex d — tongue curled back.
jñāna → gyaa-na
Palatal n — in 'jñ' clusters, commonly pronounced 'gy' in Hindi.
liṅga → LING-ga
Guttural n — the 'ng' sound in 'sing'.
candra → CHUN-dra
Always 'ch' as in church — never a hard 'k'.
chāyā → CHHAA-yaa
Aspirated 'ch' — a stronger puff of breath after ch.
A–Z glossary
A
- Ādi Śaṅkarāchāryaआदि शङ्कराचार्य
sayAH-dee shung-kuh-rah-CHAHR-yuh
The 8th-century philosopher who consolidated Advaita Vedanta.
- Advaitaअद्वैत
sayuhd-VYE-tuh
Non-duality; the philosophy that Atman and Brahman are one.
- Āgamasआगम
sayAH-guh-muhz
Non-Vedic scripture collections dictating ritual and temple practices.
- Āmbhṛṇīआम्भृणी
sayahm-bhri-NEE
The female seer (daughter of Sage Ambhrina) of the Vak Sukta.
- Anant Caturdaśīअनन्त चतुर्दशी
sayuh-nun-tuh chuh-toor-duh-SHEE
The fourteenth lunar day of Bhadrapada dedicated to worshipping Vishnu on Ananta.
- Anantaअनन्त
sayuh-NUN-tuh
The infinite, endless, or boundless reality; epithet of Vishnu and his serpent.
- Anantaśayanaअनन्तायन
sayuh-nun-TAH-yuh-nuh
The sacred movement or resting cycle connected to the infinite lord.
- Apauruṣeyaअपौरुषेय
sayuh-pow-roo-SHAY-yuh
Not of human origin; authorless divine revelations.
- Arthaśāstraअर्थशास्त्र
sayuhr-thuh-SHAHS-truh
The famous classical treatise on statecraft, economic policy, and military strategy.
- Atharvavedaअथर्ववेद
sayuh-thur-vuh-VAY-duh
The Veda of everyday life, spells, medicine, and philosophy.
- Avatāravādaअवतारवाद
sayuh-vuh-tah-ruh-VAH-duh
The doctrine of divine descent or incarnation of God on Earth.
- Avyākṛtaअव्याकृत
sayuhv-YAH-kruh-tuh
The unconditioned, unevolved, or unmanifest seed state of the cosmos.
- Avyaktaअव्यक्त
sayuhv-YUK-tuh
The unmanifested, subtle, or undifferentiated state of matter or divine reality.
B
- Bhādrapadaभाद्रपद
sayBHAH-druh-puh-duh
An autumn lunar month known for Ganesh Chaturthi and ancestral rituals.
- Bhāgavataभागवत
sayBHAH-guh-vuh-tuh
A devotee of the Supreme Lord or a text dedicated to the glories of Vishnu and Krishna.
- Brahmāब्रह्मा
saybra-uh-maa
The four headed God who is the creator of everything we know
- Brahmanब्रह्मन्
sayBRUH-mun
The ultimate, unchanging, infinite, and absolute reality.
- Bṛhadāraṇyakaबृहदारण्यक
saybri-huh-dah-RUN-yuh-kuh
"Great Forest Upanishad," one of the oldest mystical texts.
- Brihadaranyakबृहदारण्यक
saybri-huh-dah-RUN-yuh-kuh
"Great Forest Upanishad," one of the oldest mystical texts.
C
- Chālīsāचालीसा
saychah-LEE-sah
A popular devotional prayer consisting of forty rhyming verses.
- Chandogyaछान्दोग्य
saychahn-DOH-gyuh
One of the oldest and most vital primary Upanishads belonging to the Sama Veda.
D
- Darśanasदर्शन
sayDUR-shuh-nuhz
Worldviews or the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy.
- Daśāvatāraदशावतार
sayduh-shah-vuh-TAH-ruh
The ten principal, classic incarnations of Lord Vishnu on Earth.
- Dharmaधर्म
sayDHUR-muh
The cosmic law, duty, righteousness, and moral order that sustains existence.
- Dhrधृ
saydhree
To hold, sustain, support, or uphold (root of Dharma).
- Dīpadānaदीपदान
saydeep-uh-DAH-nuh
The ritual offering of lighted oil lamps to deities or sacred waters.
- dṛśदृश्
saydrish
The verbal root meaning to see, perceive, or visualize.
- Dvāparaद्वापर
saydwah-PUH-ruh
The third of the four cyclic world ages.
- Dvāraद्वार
sayDwa-aar-uh
The door, gate
E
- Ekādaśīएकादशी
sayay-KAH-duh-shee
The eleventh lunar day of every fortnight, strictly observed with fasting.
G
- Gaṇeśaगणेश
sayguh-NAY-shuh
The lord of hosts; the elephant-headed remover of obstacles.
- Gītāगीता
saygee-TAH
"The Song"; specifically refers to the sacred Bhagavad Gita.
H
- Hanumānहनुमान
sayhuh-noo-MAHN
The monkey-deity who embodies supreme selfless devotion to Lord Rama.
- Harivamshaहरिवंश
sayhuh-ree-VUM-shuh
The crucial epic appendix to the Mahabharata focusing on the life of Krishna.
- Hiraṇyagarbhaहिरण्यगर्भ
sayhee-run-yuh-GUR-bhuh
The golden womb or egg from which the universe and creation manifested.
I
- Īśvaraईश्वर
sayEESH-wuh-ruh
The Personal God, supreme ruler, or cosmic Lord.
- Itihāsaइतिहास
sayee-tee-HAH-suhz
Epic histories ("thus it happened"), specifically Rāmāyaṇa and Mahābhārata.
J
- Jñānaज्ञान
sayGYAH-nuh
Transcendental knowledge, wisdom, or absolute awareness.
- Jyotirliṅgaज्योतिर्लिङ्ग
sayjyoh-tir-LING-guh
The radiant, devotional pillar representation of Lord Shiva across twelve holy shrines.
K
- Kalāकला
saykuh-LAH
The limitation of agency or creative action; also a generic term for an art form.
- Kālaकाल
sayKAH-luh
The cosmic constraint of time, sequence, and duration upon the soul.
- Kaliकलि
sayKUH-lee
The final, current cyclic age of discord, spiritual darkness, and materialism.
- Kañchukasकञ्चुक
sayKUN-choo-kuhz
The five limiting cloaks or constraints that restrict universal consciousness into an individual soul.
- Kārtikaकार्तिक
sayKAHR-tee-kuh
A sacred lunar month in the Hindu calendar associated with light and major festivals.
- Kārttikeyaकार्त्तिकेय
saykahr-tee-KAY-yuh
The god of war; son of Shiva also known as Murugan or Skanda.
- Kṛtaकृत
sayKRU-tuh
The golden age or Satya Yuga, marking the era of supreme righteousness and truth.
- Kṛttikāकृत्तिका
sayKRIT-tee-kah
The Pleiades star cluster; the third Nakshatra.
- Kurukṣetraकुरुक्षेत्र
saykour-uk-shai-tra-uh
The site of the great war- The Mahabharat
L
- Lalitāललिता
sayluh-lee-TAH
The playful or beautiful supreme goddess forms in Shaktism.
- Liṅgodbhavaलिङ्गोद्भव
sayling-gohdh-BHU-vuh
The manifestations of Lord Shiva out of the primeval column of cosmic flame.
- Liṅgodbhavamūrtiलिङ्गोद्भवमूर्ति
sayling-gohdh-bhuh-vuh-MOOR-tee
The classic iconographic form of Shiva emerging from a pillar of cosmic fire.
- Lokaलोक
sayLOH-kuh
A realm, plane of existence, or world within Hindu cosmology.
M
- Māghaमाघ
sayMAH-ghuh
The auspicious late winter lunar month famed for holy river baths.
- Mahā Śivarātriमहाशिवरात्रि
saymuh-HAH shuh-vuh-RAH-tree
The great annual festival night celebrating the cosmic marriage and grace of Lord Shiva.
- Mahābhārataमहाभारत
saymuh-hah-BHAH-ruh-tuh
The great epic history of India detailing the Kurukshetra war and the Gita.
- Mahādevaमहादेव
saymuh-hah-DAY-vuh
"Great God"; a primary epithet used for Lord Shiva.
- Mahāpralayaमहाप्रलय
saymuh-HAH-pruh-luh-yuh
The great cosmic dissolution at the end of a universe's life cycle.
- Mahāpurāṇaमहापुराण
saymuh-hah-poo-RAH-nuh
The eighteen primary, principal great collections of ancient myth and lore.
- Mahatमहत्
saymuh-HUT
The cosmic intellect or the primary principle of intelligence emerging in creation.
- Māhātmyaमाहात्म्य
saymah-HAHT-myuh
Text detailing the greatness, majesty or merits of a deity/shrine.
- Mahāyugaमहायुग
saymuh-HAH-yoo-guhz
Great cosmic ages, each consisting of 4 cyclic Yugas.
- Mālinīvijayottaraमालिनीविजयोत्तर
saymah-lee-nee-vee-juh-YOT-tuh-ruh
A foundational tantric text highly revered in Kashmir Shaiva philosophy.
- Mandukyaमाण्डूक्य
saymahn-DOO-kyuh
A concise primary Upanishad discussing the four states of consciousness and the syllable OM.
- Manusmṛtiमनुस्मृति
saymuh-noo-SMRIT-ee
The traditional legal and ethical framework text attributed to Manu.
- Mārgaśīrṣaमार्गशीर्ष
saymahr-guh-SHEER-shuh
The winter lunar month dedicated heavily to spiritual practice and devotion.
- Markandeyaमार्कण्डेय
saymahr-kun-DAY-yuh
An ancient sage; name of a major Purana containing the Devi Mahatmya.
- Mārkaṇḍeyaमार्कण्डेय
saymahr-kun-DAY-yuh
An ancient sage; name of a major Purana containing the Devi Mahatmya.
- Matsyaमत्स्य
sayMUT-syuh
The divine fish incarnation of Lord Vishnu who saved cosmic life from the deluge.
- Mīmāṃsāमीमांसा
saymee-MAHM-sah
The orthodox school of reflection exploring Vedic ritual hermeneutics and philosophy.
- Mukti-dāyinīमुक्तिदायिनी
saymook-tee-dah-YEE-nee
She who bestows spiritual liberation or ultimate freedom.
N
- Nādaनाद
sayNAH-duh
Sacred cosmic sound vibration; primordial resonance.
- Nakṣatrasनक्षत्र
saynuk-SHUH-truhz
Lunar mansions or star constellations used in Vedic astrology.
- Nārāyaṇaनारायण
saynah-RAH-yuh-nuh
Name of Vishnu as the refuge and source of all beings.
- Nāsadīyaनासदीय
saynah-suh-DEE-yuh
The famous Hymn of Creation found in the Rigveda.
- Niḥśvasitaनिःश्वसित
saynihsh-wuh-SEE-tuh
Exhalation or breath; metaphor for Vedas as divine breath.
- Nirguṇaनिर्गुण
sayNIR-goo-nuh
Unconditioned, formless, without qualitative attributes.
- Niruktaनिरुक्त
saynee-ROOK-tuh
The Vedanga branch covering etymology and interpretation of Vedic words.
- Niyatiनियति
saynee-YUH-tee
The restriction of space, destiny, causality, and fixed cosmic order.
P
- Padmanābhaपद्मनाभ
saypud-muh-NAH-bhuh
An epithet of Lord Vishnu, meaning 'He who has a lotus emerging from his navel'.
- Pāñcarātraपाञ्चरात्र
saypahn-chuh-RAH-truh
Ancient Vaishnava texts outlining temple worship, ritual, and philosophy.
- Pañcāyatanaपंचायतन
saypun-chah-YUH-tuh-nuh
A system of worship centering around five major deities.
- Paraपर
sayPUH-ruh
Supreme, transcendental, ultimate, or beyond.
- Paramāśivaपरमशिव
saypuh-ruh-mah-SHI-vuh
The absolute, transcendent supreme reality in Shaiva philosophy.
- Pārvatīपार्वती
saypahr-vuh-TEE
The divine mother goddess of power and devotion, consort of Lord Shiva.
- Patañjaliपतञ्जलि
saypuh-TUN-juh-lee
The celebrated ancient sage who synthesized and compiled the Yoga Sutras.
- Prajāpatiप्रजापति
saypra-ja-pati
King
- Prakāśaप्रकाश
sayprak-aash-uh
Light
- Pralayaप्रलय
saypruh-LUH-yuh
Dissolution, destruction, or absorption of the cosmos.
- Prasthānatrayīप्रस्थानत्रयी
sayprush-thah-nuh-truh-YEE
The triple canon of Vedanta: Upanishads, Brahma Sutras and Gita.
- Pratyabhijñāप्रत्यभिज्ञा
saypruh-tyuh-bhee-GYAH
The philosophy of sudden spiritual recognition or remembrance of one's divine nature.
- Pūjāपूजा
sayPOO-jah
Ritual adoration worship or devotional offerings to a deity.
- Purāṇaपुराण
saypoo-RAH-nuhz
"Of ancient times"; vast texts on cosmology, myths, and history.
- Purāṇicपौराणिक
saypau-raa-nik
From the times of the Puranas
- Pūrṇimāपूर्णिमा
saypoo-ur-ni-ma
Full moon Night
R
- Rāgaराग
sayRAH-guh
The limitation of desire, attachment, or passion for specific material things.
- Rajas Guṇaरजोगुण
sayruh-joh-GOO-nuh
The quality of passion, activity, motion, and desire driving worldly creation.
- Rāmāyaṇaरामायण
sayrama-yan
the epic scripture - the story of Lord Rama
- Ṛgvedaऋग्वेद
sayrig-VAY-duh
The oldest Veda, consisting of hymns of praise to deities.
- Rudraरुद्र
sayROOD-ruh
Lord Shiva is also called Rudra.
- Rudramरुद्रम्
sayROOD-rum
A powerful Vedic hymn dedicated to Lord Shiva as Rudra.
S
- Saguṇaसगुण
saySUH-goo-nuh
Manifested reality possessing forms, qualities, and attributes.
- Sahasranāmaसहस्रनाम
saysuh-huhs-ruh-NAH-muh
A sacred hymn listing the one thousand names of a specific deity.
- Śaivaशैव
saySHAI-vuh
Relating to Shiva; a devotee of Lord Shiva.
- Śaivismशैवमत
saySHAI-vi-zum
Major Hindu tradition focused on the worship of Lord Shiva.
- Śāktaशाक्त
saySHAHK-tuh
Relating to Shaktism; a devotee who worships the Supreme as the Divine Mother.
- Śaktiशक्ति
saySHUK-tee
The dynamic divine feminine power, energy, and creative force of the universe.
- Śāktismशक्ति-ज़म्
saySHAHK-ti-zum
Tradition focused on worshipping the Goddess (Shakti/Devi).
- Samādhiसमाधि
saysuh-MAH-dhee
Meditative absorption, deep concentration, or spiritual liberation.
- Samavedaसामवेद
saysah-muh-VAY-duh
The Veda of melodies, chants, and sacred songs.
- Sāmavedaसामवेद
saysah-muh-VAY-duh
The Veda of melodies, chants, and sacred songs.
- Samhitaसंहिता
saysum-hee-TAH
Structured collections of hymns, prayers, and mantras in individual Vedas.
- Saṃhitāसंहिता
saysum-hee-TAH
Structured collections of hymns, prayers, and mantras in individual Vedas.
- Sampradāyaसम्प्रदाय
saysum-pruh-DAH-yuh
An established lineage, tradition, or school of spiritual thought.
- Sanātanaसनातन
saysuh-NAH-tuh-nuh
Eternal, timeless, or permanent.
- Ṣaṇmataषण्मत
saySHUN-muh-tuh
The six-fold system of worship popularized by Adi Shankara.
- Śāstraशास्त्र
saySHAHS-truh
A foundational sacred scripture, treatise, or book of authoritative knowledge.
- Śatarudrīyaशतरुद्रीय
sayshuh-tuh-rood-REE-yuh
The sacred Vedic hymn from the Yajur Veda praise-worshipping Rudra in a hundred forms.
- Sattvaसत्त्व
saySUT-vwuh
The quality of purity, light, truth, harmony, and spiritual clarity.
- Śeṣanāgaशेषनाग
sayshay-shuh-NAH-guh
The primordial king of serpents who supports the worlds and forms the bed of Vishnu.
- Śivaशिव
saySHI-vuh
The Auspicious One; cosmic transformer, destroyer, and yogi.
- Smārtaस्मार्त
saySMAHR-tuh
Relating to Smriti texts or a follower of the Smarta system.
- Smārtismस्मार्त-ज़्म
saySMRUHR-ti-zum
Orthodox tradition worshipping five or six deities equally.
- Smrtiस्मृति
saySMRIT-ee
That which is remembered; secondary, tradition-based scriptures.
- Śrīश्री
sayshri
Goddess of Wealth Laxmi, a respectful salutation to a man
- Śrī Vaiṣṇavaश्रीवैष्णव
sayshree VAISH-nuh-vuh
The prominent orthodox lineage worshipping Vishnu alongside Goddess Lakshmi.
- Sṛṣṭiसृष्टि
saySRISH-tee
Creation, manifestation, or cosmic emission.
- Śrutiश्रुति
saySHROO-tee
That which is heard; primordial revealed Vedic literature.
- Sthitiस्थिति
saySTHIT-ee
Maintenance, preservation, or sustenance of the universe.
- stotraस्तोत्र
saySTOH-truh
A hymn of praise, prayer, or ode addressed to a specific deity.
- Sūktaसूक्त
saySOOK-tuh
"Well spoken"; a Vedic hymn or praise song.
- Sūktamसूक्तम्
saySOOK-tum
Accented individual Vedic praise song or text block.
- Sūryaसूर्य
saySOOR-yuh
The Sun god; the visible solar source of light and life.
- Sūrya Siddhāntaसूर्यसिद्धान्त
saySOOR-yuh sidh-DHAHN-tuh
A foundational ancient treatise on Indian astronomy.
- Sūtraसूत्र
saySOO-truh
An aphorism, thread, or condensed rulebook of philosophical truths.
- Sūtrātmanसूत्रात्मन
saysoo-TRAHT-mun
The thread-soul that links all individual minds and objects in the cosmos together.
- Svayambhūस्वयम्भू
saysvuh-yum-BHOO
The self-existent, uncreated eternal being, often applied to Brahma or Shiva.
- Śvetāśvataraश्वेताश्वतर
sayshway-tahsh-wuh-TUH-ruh
A foundational Upanishad notable for highlighting Shiva and Bhakti.
T
- Taittirīyaतैत्तिरीय
saytye-tee-REE-yuh
A school and Upanishad belonging to the Black Yajurveda.
- Tantraतंत्र
saytun-tra
philosophy / instrument of expanding consciousness
- Tantrālokaतंत्र लोक
saytun-tra-loke
Land of Tantra
- Tretāत्रेता
saytray-TAH
The second of the four cyclic world ages.
- Trikaत्रिक
sayTREE-kuh
The triad system of non-dualistic Kashmir Shaivism focusing on Shiva, Shakti, and Nara.
- Trimūrtiत्रिमूर्ति
saytree-MOOR-tee
The triad of supreme functions: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
- Trivikramaत्रिविक्रम
saytree-VIK-ruh-muh
The gigantic form of Lord Vishnu's Vamana avatar who measured the universe in three steps.
U
- Upaniṣadउपनिषद्
sayoo-puh-NEE-shud
Mystical and philosophical treatises marking the end of Vedas.
- Upapurāṇaउपपुराण
sayoo-puh-poo-RAH-nuh
The secondary or minor suite of eighteen mythological texts.
V
- Vaikuṇṭhaवैकुण्ठ
sayvye-KOON-thuh
The supreme, heavenly spiritual abode of Lord Vishnu.
- Vaiṣṇavaवैष्णव
sayVAISH-nuh-vuh
Relating to Vishnu; a devotee of Lord Vishnu.
- Vaiṣṇavismवैष्णवमत
sayVAISH-nuh-vi-zum
Major Hindu tradition focused on the worship of Lord Vishnu.
- Vāk Sūktaवाक्सूक्त
sayvahk SOOK-tuh
A Rigvedic hymn where Speech personified proclaims divinity.
- Vāmanaवामन
sayVAH-muh-nuh
The dwarf-brahmin incarnation of Lord Vishnu who outwitted King Bali.
- Vedāntaवेदान्त
sayvay-DAHN-tuh
The end of the Vedas; the culmination of philosophy focused on Brahman.
- Vidyāविद्या
sayvid-ya-ha
Learning or education
- Vimarśaविमर्श
sayvee-MUR-shuh
The reflective consciousness or active kinetic self-awareness of the supreme.
- Virāṭविराट्
sayvee-RAHT
The cosmic, universal body or macrocosmic physical manifestation of the Divine.
- Virūpākṣaविरूपाक्ष
sayvee-roo-PAHK-shuh
An epithet of Lord Shiva, meaning 'He with oblique or misaligned eyes'.
- viṣविष्
sayvish
To pervade
- Viṣṇuविष्णु
sayVISH-noo
The All-Pervading deity; the cosmic maintainer and preserver.
- vyaktaव्यक्त
sayVYUK-tuh
The fully manifested, perceptible, or differentiated material universe.
Y
- Yajñaयज्ञ
sayyuh-g-yuh
The ancient fire ritual from the Vedas where offering is made to the sacred fire
- Yajurvedaयजुर्वेद
sayyuh-joor-VAY-duh
The Veda of ritual formulas and sacrificial mantras.
- Yajurvedicयजुर्वेदिक
sayyuh-joor-VAY-dik
Related to / from the Yajurveda
- Yāskaयास्क
sayYAHS-kuh
The ancient grammarian and sage who authored the Nirukta text.
Audio uses your browser's built-in speech engine. On most devices this reads the plain-English phonetic hint aloud — a close approximation, not a native Sanskrit voice. We'll add Sanskrit-native audio in a future pass.