Vocab Terms for Indo-Caribbean Shaktism

This will be the updated page for all vocab terms that will be able to be updated with new terms: Agarbhatti- Incense Sticks Abhishekam- Ritual Bathing of a Murtie Akshatas- Unbroken Rice Grains Amma- Name for Mother in Tamil Amman- Alternative name for Amma Asuras- Demons Attar- Perfume for Offering Ayurveda- Indo-Caribbean Herbal Medicine Baba- Name for father, a term of endearment for a deity Baboot- An Alternate name for Vibhut Bagavad Gita- Holy Hindu Scripture Bahavad Gita- Another name for Bagavad Gita Balidan- Sacrifice, may refer to symbolic sacrifice of fruits like coconuts, nutmegs, sugarcane, and/or squash or may refer to the sacrificial animals that are yearly sacrificed for Kali Maa in the month of Aadi Big Puja- Another name for Karagam Puja Bhakti- Faith Bhakti Esaiyil- Devotional Songs Chandan- Sandalwood Paste Damaru- Sanskrit name of Udukkai Deva- God Devi- Goddess

Deota- God Diya- Oil Lamp Divali- Hindu celebration celebrating good over evil, aka festival of lights Dhaan- Whole Brown Rice (sometimes called Paddy Rice) (May also refer to grains) Dhar- A powder that is mixed with water or milk or both for Abhishekam Dhaar- Another name for Dhar Dhoop- May refer to either Incense Sticks or Sticks used for Hawan Dye- Another name for Haldi Elaichi- Cardamom Pods Firepass- The ritual act of walking on hot coals while in trance or as an act of tribute to the Ullagattil Tayaa Ghanta- Bell Ghee- Clarified Butter Gogul- Resin Incense, Usually frankincense Guru- Spiritual Teacher Haldi- Turmeric Powder Hawan- Holy fire ceremony (Look at The Sacred Symbolism of Sacred Fire in Indo-Caribbean Shaktism post for more info) Hawan Kund- The container used for the Hawan Henna- A decorative paste made from Henna Leaves used to decorate the hands of one for a wedding or a puja, sometimes it is even just an ornament for everyday life Hing- Asafoetida Powder, a spice used sometimes for strong spiritual baths to remove curses (smells horrible but tastes pleasant in food) Japa- A necklace made up of 108 beads, being the 108 names of a god, similar to a Rosary Jhandi- A flag raised to symbolize a deity but may also refer to a spiritual ceremony Ji- a term of endearment for a deity (Example: Ganesh Ji) Jow- Pearl Barley Kalash- Another name for Lota Kalasam- Tamil name for Lota Kalsa- Another name for Lota Kargum- A pot that is decorated with flowers, neem leaves, leaf of life, and more used during Karagam Puja Karagam- Another name for Kargum Karakam- Alternative spelling of Karagam Karagam Puja- A three-day ceremony done to honour Madurai Minakshi, Mari Amman, and Karunai Kamakshi as well as to pay tributes to Kateri Amma and Gangai Amman through a procession to a body of water where offerings are left Kanji- a poriddge made of rice, black eyed peas, etc. eaten after a ceremony where the ingredients are traditionally gathered from going house to house asking for ingredients. An Important symbol of Kaliamman Kaval Deivam- Madrasi Gods, gods of rural villages Kirtanam- Devotional Songs, similar to Bhajans and Bhakti Esaiyil Kurta- A dress that is put on male deities to adorn them after their abhishekam Lobani- a type of incense Lota- A vessel, similar to a pot, used to hold water or another liquid Maa- Mother, a term of endearment, may be used individually to describe Kali or another female god Mala- a necklace of flowers, similar to a Hawaiian Lei Mari Amman- Tamil name for Kali Marlo- Someone who is able to act as a medium, allowing a god/goddess's shakti to go into their body to heal others or transmit messages Marulali- Devotee of Kali Amman Mata- Another name for Maa Muthu Mari Amman- Title for Kali, meaning (Mother of rain who is more beautiful than pearls) Murti- A representation of a devi or deva Murtie- another name for Murti Nav Graha- The planetary deities (meaning Nine planets) Navgraha- another name for Nav Graha Oath-Taking- The ritual act of putting a lit camphor on ones tongue as a way to cleanse the mouth before Amma speaks through you or as a way to pay tribute to Amman One-Day Puja- A shortened version of the Karagam Puja, lasting all day. Pancha Upatra- a small vessel, similar to a cup, used for ceremonial drinking Panchapatra- another name for Pancha Upatra Pandaram- Non-Vedic Priest who serves the kaval deivam Phagwa- A colorful hindu festival Prashad- Food to be offered to a deity, usually fruit or sweets Pujari- A priest Puja- A devotional ceremony Pundit- Someone who is knowledgable in the faith Poosai- Tamil name for Puja Pushpam- Sanskrit word for flowers Rakhi- A Bracelet made from Muli, similar to an amulet Sadaa- Non-Vegetarian Saidukadu- Cremation Grounds, where warrior deotas are said to reside Sami Aduthal- A trance entered when shakti enters the marlo's body, through ritual trance-possession by a god Sari- a dress used to adorn female deities Satwik- Vegetarian Sedha- a bag used to carry ingredients to be donated for a ceremonial use Shakti- the divine feminine energy Shankh- A shell horn Small Puja- Another name for One Day Puja Sri- A term meaning Holy Shree- Another name for Sri Sindoor- A red powder used for ceremonial use, also called Kumkum (may have variations for different devi and deva) Sooparie- Betal Nuts, may be also called Tambulam Supari- Another name for Sooparie Tabeege- A locket or Talisman Tanni Potutal- Water mixed with Neem Leaves and Haldi poured on the Marlo to cool any heat emitted from the Shakti within Tappu- Traditional frame drums used in poosai Tari- a plate that holds ingredients for a puja Thali- another name for Tari Theemithi- Tamil, Original name for Firepass Til- Sesame Seeds Trishul- A trident, a symbol of warrior deotas and devis, most known is Kali Maa, Shiva Maa, and the Kaval Deivam Udukai- Drums used for invoking Amma Kali or any other Deota/Devi, a symbol of Shiva Ullagattil Tayaa- Alternate name for Kali Amman, meaning "Mother of the Universe" Vibhuti- Sacred Ash made from ritually burnt dung, used as Tilak and offerings (Deity names list may be found in Introduction to Indo-Caribbean Shaktism) (This list will be updated when i find new Info to put)