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Hindu Ritual Glossary
Plain-English meanings of common terms families encounter. These are general explanations, not personal religious advice — Gurukkal can guide what applies to your family.
Pooja also: Puja
A form of devotional worship offered to a deity, with prayers, offerings, and mantras.
Homam also: Homa / Havan
A sacred fire ritual in which offerings are made into a consecrated fire while reciting mantras.
Samskara also: Sanskara
A traditional rite of passage marking an important stage of life, such as naming or marriage.
Sankalpam also: Sankalpa
A formal statement of intention made at the start of a ceremony, naming the time, place, and purpose.
Gothra also: Gotra
A family's ancestral lineage, traditionally traced to a sage; sometimes noted during ceremonies.
Nakshatra also: Natchathiram
One of 27 lunar constellations used in the traditional calendar and in timing considerations.
Rashi also: Raasi
A zodiac sign based on the moon's position; part of traditional almanac calculations.
Tithi
A lunar day in the traditional calendar, based on the angle between the sun and moon.
Muhurtham also: Muhurta
An auspicious time chosen for beginning an important ceremony. A personal Muhurtham is determined by the priest, not by an automated tool.
Panchangam also: Panchang
The traditional Hindu almanac describing five elements of each day: tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana, and vara (weekday).
Rahu Kalam also: Rahu Kaalam
A period of the day traditionally considered inauspicious for beginning important new undertakings.
Yamagandam also: Yamagandam
Another daily period traditionally avoided when beginning major auspicious activities.
Gulika Kalam also: Gulikai
A context-dependent daily period. In Sri Kumar Gurukkal's tradition it is not a general prohibition; ordinary poojas may be performed, though certain death-related rites should not be begun during it. Consult the priest responsible for the rite.
Abhijit Muhurta
A short auspicious window around midday, used as a general reference when it does not overlap a restricted period.
Brahma Muhurta
The pre-dawn period traditionally considered especially favorable for prayer and study.
Sampradaya
A tradition or lineage of practice; customs can differ between sampradayas and families.
Sivachariyar also: Shivacharya
A trained priest of the Saiva Agamic tradition, qualified to perform temple and domestic Saiva rituals.
Yajurveda
One of the four Vedas, containing prose mantras used in many rituals; Gurukkal follows the Krishna Yajurveda.
Agama
A class of scriptures guiding temple worship, ritual, and iconography, especially in the Saiva tradition.
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