Meanings

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"The question is," said Alice,
"whether you can make words mean so many different things."
"The question is," said Humpty Dumpty,
"which is to be master—that’s all."
Lewis Carrol


CODE:
(A)—Arabic; (D)—Dari; (H/U)—Hindi-Urdu; (J)—Japanese (K)—Kashmiri; (Kl)—Kalash;
(Kw)—Kohwari; (L)—Ladakhi; (T)—Tibetan; (P) Pashtu; (Q) Quechua; (V)—Vietnamese.


acchaa—(H/U) good, great.

afyun—(D) opium.

ahankara—(H) term equivalent to western concept of ego.

Ahl e Ketab—(A) "People of the Book" (Bible), Jews and Christians.

Allah-o-Akbar—(A) "God is Great!"

Alu—(H/U) potato

amrita—(T) ambrosia, nectar of the Gods.

amma—(L) mother.

Angrez—(H/U) English person but used for most European-looking persons.

Anhad-Naad—(H) "music of God" heard by Shiva in the Himalaya

artha—(H) material gain.

asat—(H) opposite of sat, illusion of a plural, disconnected world.

ashram—(H) teaching monastery.

atta—(H/U) wheat flour.

atman—(H) term for a changeless self beyond all rationalization.

Avidya—(H) unconscious will: initial stage of twelve that Buddhists see as the stages of life

ayahuasca—(Q) drug made from bark by Amazonian Indians.

azadi—(D) freedom.

badal—(P) revenge.

baksheesh—(H/U) gratuity for some service.

baraabar—(D) equal

baradar—(U) brother.

barf—(D/H/U) snow.

barmakiri—(P) slang for sexual intercourse.

barsat(H/U) monsoon.

bekhor—(D) take (food).

bhaai—(H) brother.

bhaat—(H/U) cooked rice.

bhajan—(H) religious hymn.

bhakti—(H) concept of total devotion for God and, in turn, God’s love for the devotee.

bhang—(H/U) ganja tea.

bhavachakra—(H) the Buddhist "Wheel of Becoming."

bhuchal—(H) earthquake.

bidi—(H/U) cheap native cigarette made from rolled -up tobacco leaf.

biru—(J) beer.

Bismillah—(A) "In the name of God." A pious invocation before or after an action or prayer.

bisyaar tashakor—(D) thanks very much.

bisyaar afsos—(D) I am very sorry.

bizhra—(D) coward.

Borou bekheir—(A) Muslim invocation before an undertaking: "Go with a blessing!"

bubakshed—(D) excuse me.

bukhari—(D) metal stove.

burra(H) first class

caravanserai—(D/H/U) traditional resting-place, inn, for caravans.

chador—(D) all-encompassing cloak worn by women in purdah.

chai—(D/H/U) tea.

chaikanna—(D/H/U) teahouse

chalo—(H/U) term for "let’s go."

chapati—(H/U) unleavened, flat wheat bread.

chappal—(D) heavy leather sandals favored in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Changpa—(T) Tibetan nomadic shepherd.

charas—(H/U) hashish.

charasi—(H/U) person addicted to hashish.

charhai—(H/U) uphill.

charpoi—(H/U) rope-strung, wooden frame bed.

chaval—(H/U) uncooked rice.

chela—(H/U) student, pupil, follower.

chicha—(Q) home brewed beer.

chillum—(H/U) cone -shaped pipe.

chini—(H/U) sugar.

chi-pa—(T) non-Buddhist, outsiders.

choga—(Kw) robe-like overcoat.

chorten—(T) Buddhist monument (Stupa).

chot suh—(K) snow leopard.

chout—(L) novice lama, or lama of lowest rank.

chowkidar—(H/U) watchman.

chu—(L) river, stream.

churpe’—(L) cheese.

congai—(V) woman who becomes mistress to a foreigner.

coss—(L) maroon home-spun wool robe.

crachin—(V) rains of winter monsoon.

crore—(H/U) ten million.

daal—(H/U) lentil.

darshan—(H) religious audience.

decoit—(H/U) bandit.

deodar—(H/U) Himalayan cedar.

dhaba—(H/U) tea house, restaurant.

dham—(H) abode of a God.

dharma—(H) duty.

dojo—(J) Zen teaching monastery.

doonga—(K) houseboat.

dorje—(T) enlightenment symbolized by the lightning bolt.

drin—(K) marmot.

duhd—(H/U) milk.

du-khang—(T) meeting room or cloister for Buddhist monks.

dupatta—(H/U) long decorative scarf favored by Punjabi women.

dushman—(D) enemy.

diiwana—(H) foolish or mad, linguistically connected to English word divine.

fahmidan—(D) to understand.

fána—(A) annihilation of self, giving of self over to God.

ferenghi—(D) foreigner.

ferenghi-khanna—(D) foreigners’ house.

firnspiegel—iced surface on snow formed by thawing and freezing.

Gaddi—(H) nomadic shepherds found in valleys of the Pir Panjal.

gaijin—(J) foreigner, non-Japanese.

ganja—(H/U) marijuana.

garroti—(H/U) primitive cable car used to cross rivers in the mountains.

gazal—(U) love song.

geshe—(T) teacher.

ghee—(H/U) clarified butter.

godown—(H/U) warehouse.

gosht—(H/U) meat.

gomba—(T) Buddhist monastery.

gudma—thick wool blankets of Lahaul.

Gujar—(U) Moslem nomadic shepherd s who ranges from Eastern Afghanistan through Kashmir.

gulub jamum—(H/U) deep-fried sweets.

guru—(H) Hindu religious teacher.

halal—(A) all things pure, Muslim equivalent of "kosher."

hama—(D) all.

haput—(K) bear.

haram—(A) all things impure.

hujera—(P) men’s guest house.

IMLF—Acronym for "Indian Made Foreign Liquor."

Insha’Allah—(A) used throughout Islam: "if God wills."

i’nok—(L) yes.

Issa—(A) Jesus.

jai—(H) victory.

jao—(H/U) get going!

jangama—(H) moving, moveable.

ji—(H/U) yes.

jibi—(L) high-topped hat.

jihad—(A) holy war to establish the way of God.

jhana—(A) Hell.

jhola—(H/U) small shoulder bag.

jonga—(H/U) Indian-built, jeep-like vehicle.

jongli—Anglo-Indian term for European gone native.

jule—(L) greeting, "hello."

juma—(D) Friday.

kafir—(A) unbeliever, non-Muslim.

kail fhamb—(K) ibex wool.

Ka la gi ya—(T) call to Shambhala heard only by the anointed.

kalung—(T) Buddhist term for permission to study; e.g., certain mantras or texts.

kama—(H) love.

kambal—(H/U) blanket.

kameez—(H/U) Punjabi shirt.

karma—(H) fate deriving from a person’s actions.

kata—(L) prayer scarf

kaushak—(L) head lama of a gomba.

kehva—(K) spiced tea.

khadi—(H/U) home spun cloth.

khaansaamaa—(H/U) cook.

kharpo—(L) white.

kherab—(H/U) broken, finished, ruined.

Khodaa haafez—(D) parting phrase: "go with God."

kismat—(A) fate, destiny, or fortune.

kofi—(H/U) coffee.

koot—(H/U) wild herb valued in India as a base for perfume.

kopsei—(Kl) women’s hooded headpiece.

Kulantapith—(H) ancient name for Kulu: "land at the end of the Earth."

kyaa haal hay—(U) greeting: "how are you?"

la—(T) high pass.

laajward—(D) lapis lazuli

lakh—(H/U) one-hundred thousand.

lama—(T) Buddhist monk of guru status, used loosely in this text for monks of all grades.

lam-rim—(T) Gelugpa ta-wa of the "graded path."

lashkar—(P) war party.

lien—Form of "face" in Chinese that indicates moral character of an individual.

lha-khang—(T) chapel or literally "house of Gods."

lohi—Lahauli for "woolen shawl."

luk—(L) for "sheep."

lungi—(H/U) cloth worn by men in South India in place of pants.

lung-rta—(T) symbolic horse figure found on paper prayer flags.

makri—(H/U) spider.

mandala—(H) Buddhist symbolic representation of the world.

mandir—(H) temple.

mani—(T) stone inscribed with Buddhist prayers.

mani-don—(T) wall made of mani.

marate—(P) slave.

masala—(H/U) pre-mixed spice.

masala dhosa—(H/U) South Indian crêpe-type dish.

masjid—(U) Muslim place of worship, mosque.

maya—(H) Buddhist and Hindu concept for illusion that the human world is the reality.

mehman—(D) guest.

melang—(A) Sufi hermit.

melmastia—(P) hospitality.

Memsahib—(H/U) honorific for woman, equal to Ms.

metalled—British-era term: surfaced road.

mianzi—form of "face" in Chinese equivalent to American reputation or success.

mo-mo—(T) dumpling.

moksha—(H) retreat from material to spiritual life.

monlam—(L) prayer.

mujahed—(A) warrior for God in jihad.

mullah—(A) Muslim religious leader or teacher.

murgh—(H/U) chicken.

mytti-ka tel—(H/U) kerosene.

naga—(H/U) serpent.

nala—(H/U) canyon, side valley, stream.

namak—(H/U) salt.

Namaste—(H) greeting: "I salute the Godhead within you."

nanawati—(P) sanctuary.

nang—(P) honor.

Nang’pa—(L) Buddhist.

Nazareni—(A) Christian

nidhanas—(H) Buddhist term for twelve division of knowledge depicted on the outer rim of the bhavachakra, "Wheel of Becoming."

Nihonjin—(J) Japanese people.

nilam—(H/U) sapphire.

Nirvana—(H) total escape from samsara, the cycle of reincarnation.

no—(L) younger brother.

nup—(H) charas made from first shake of pollen, best quality.

oma—(L) milk.

on-jesta-mosh—(Kl) virgin boy who serves as a religious acolyte.

paceri—French term used in Vietnam for gang chieftains.

pakkaa—(H/U) well made.

pakhora—(H/U) fritter.

pancaksara—(H) "five syllable" mantra.

parash—(Kw) male homosexual, the anus.

parashkoti—(Kw) catamite.

parashtu dik—(Kw) to sodomize.

paratha—(H/U) chapati refried in oil.

parikrama—(H) act of circumambulation around a sacred object, e.g., Mt. Kailas.

peghor—(P) dishonor.

perag—(L) women’s headdress.

phonak daq—(Kw) term for dancing boy.

pisco—Peruvian grape brandy.

PRU—acronym for Provincial Reconnaissance Unit

pujah—(H) prayers, worship.

Pukhtunwali (or Pushtunwali)—(P) the way of the Pathan.

pukkah—(H/U) good, first class.

purdah—(A) practice of seclusion of women.

putanna—(P) prostitute, whore.

raga—(H/U) formal Indian music compositions.

Rabjampa—(T) Buddhist title equivalent to Doctor of Divinity.

Raj—(H/U) empire, era of British rule in India.

ra’ma—(L) goat.

rama hun—(K) wolf.

rebu—Changpa term for tent.

rish—(D) beard.

rishi—(H) saint.

rogan josh—(K) dish of mutton curry thick with ghee.

rudrakshi—(H) rosary-like beads worn by devotees of Shiva.

sabzi—(H/U) vegetable.

sadhu—(H) ascetic, mendicant holy man.

sadja—(A) token of submission at the end of Muslim prayer by touching forehead to floor.

safed—(H/U) for white.

Sahib—(H/U) honorific meaning Mr., Sir.

Salaam alekwm—(A) greeting: "peace be with you."

Samadhi—(H) awakening in cosmic order and super conscious state.

saman—(H/U) baggage.

samosa—(H/U) deep-fried, dumpling-like, pastry filled with curried vegetables or meat.

Samsara—(H) cycle of reincarnation.

sangam—(H) confluence of rivers considered sacred by Hindus.

sannyasi—(H) religious term referring to one who renunciates the material world, sacrifice and work, and strives for austerity.

sarariiman—(J) salary man.

sastaa—(H/U) cheap.

sat—(H) unity of all, ultimate reality.

Satcitananda—(H) being, truth, freedom, the essence of all life.

serac—ice towers found in an icefall.

serto—(T) spire-like decoration on roof of gomba.

sha—(L) meat.

shabash—(H/U) outstanding, well done.

shahtoosh—(K) "king’s wool," the finest quality of Kashmiri shawl made from ibex wool.

shalwar—(H/U) Punjabi-style pants.

Shambhala—(T) mythic valley in Tibetan Buddhist lore where truth prevails.

shanai—(H/U) flute-like instrument.

shari`a—(A) Islamic law.

sheiks(Kw) Kalash who convert to Islam.

sheytan—(A) Devil.

shikara—(K) gondola, or water taxi.

shokria—(H/U) thank you.

Shushok—(L) title for high lama of many reincarnations.

sidi—(H) spiritual energy of body and or mind.

sigaret—(H/U) cigarette.

sirdar—(H/U) guide.

sitar—(H/U) stringed instrument.

skya—(L) ibex.

sman—(L) medicine.

solja—(L) salt-butter tea.

Sonam—(H) karma accumulated over a series of lifetimes.

sorkh—(D) red.

sta—(L) pony.

sthavara—(H) word meaning a thing that is immovable.

sumimasen—(J) please excuse me.

swndar—(H/U) beautiful.

tabla—(H/U) small Indian drum.

tambuu—(H/U) tent.

tandoori—(H/U) a clay oven or to be cooked in a clay oven.

tangkha—(T) scroll painting.

taqdir—(A) destiny, fate.

tarboorwali—(P) term for enmity between families or clans.

ta-wa—(T) Buddhist term for mystical insight.

tehsil—(H/U) administrative district.

thana—(H/U) police station.

thugee—(H/U) bandit.

thuk’pa—(L) soup.

thik—(H/U) okay.

tirth—(H) place of pilgrimage.

tirthayatra—(H) pilgrimage.

tola—(H/U) 11.664 grams or .4 oz.

tsampa—(T) roasted barley flour.

Tulku—(T) title for reincarnate lamas.

Utah—(Kl) priest or shaman.

vaid—(H) the traditional healer or shaman.

vibhuti—(H) white ash markings made on foreheads of devotees of Shiva.

vihara—(H/U) Buddhist teaching monastery

wala—(H/U) expert at something, e.g., pony-wala, taxi-wala.

wang—(T) Tantric empowerment.

wangkur—(T) ritual granting wang, empowerment.

warzwan—(K) f east of traditional foods for important occasions such as weddings or to indulge wealthy tourists.

wog—British slang pejorative: "Westernized Oriental Gentleman."

wuzu—(D) Muslim ritual of absolution before prayer.

Yakusa—(J) organized crime mobs.

yatra—(H) religious pilgrimage.

yatri—(H) religious pilgrim.

yang—(L) prayer ritual.

yogini—(H) yoga practitioner.

zamin—(P) land.

zan—(P) woman.

zar—(P) gold.

zelzeleh—(D/U) earthquake.

zho—(L) yogurt.

Zhumlam—(L) middle way, middle path.