Resources

Agarbhatti- Incense Sticks

Abhishekam- Ritual Bathing of a Murtie

Akshatas- Unbroken Rice Grains

Alagu- A piercing of put through the cheeks

Amma- Name for Mother in Tamil

Amman- Alternative name for Amma

Arul Vaaku- The period in which a marlo is entranced by Amman

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

Call-up- The invocations done to put a marlo in trance

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

Gopuram- A structure dedicated to a specific god or many gods of Tamil architecture

Gori- a Tamil-based creole with high amounts of Caribbean Hindustani and Urdu in which the deities may speak in when invoked through a person. Also used in songs and invocations. 

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 
 

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

Kalalou- A type of procession done by French Caribbean Shaktas to give offerings to an officiant of a ceremony where a young woman carries a Valse

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 Marlo Adi: The one who receives the goddess in the procession of Karagam Puja and holds the 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

Kawu Pusari: The one who holds the pole topped with neem leaves

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

Manjal Thannir- Water mixed with Neem Leaves and Haldi poured on the Marlo to cool any heat emitted from the Shakti within

Mari Amman- Tamil name for Kali

Marlo- The priest whose role is to act as a medium between the goddess and man

Marulali- Devotee of Kali Amman

Mata- Another name for Maa

Metalam- a type of drum used when singing bhajans or kirtans

Mugam- The face made out of turmeric paste which is put on a Karagam

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

Nadrom- A dance done by French Caribbean Shaktas after a Devi Puja

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, the Bhojpuri name for Holi

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

Sambrani- Name used in the English Caribbean for a Semblani, may also refer to Loban

Sami Attam- A trance entered when shakti enters the marulali'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

Semblani- A ceremony of Madrassi origins done by the French Caribbean Shakta community in honour of the ancestors

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- Betel Nuts, may be also called Tambulam

Supari- Another name for Sooparie

Tabeege- A locket or Talisman

Tappu- Traditional frame drums used in poosai

Tari- a plate that holds ingredients for a puja

Thalattu- Tamil name for "lullaby", such as the Mariamman Thalattu, Kali Thalattu, and Angalamman Thalattu

Thali- another name for Tari

Theemithi- Tamil, Original name for Firepass

Thirunazhu (Tirunalu)- Tamil name for worship done to God

Thiruvizha (Tirouvija in French Caribbean Tamil)- Procession of a God, most of all for Kartikeya

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

Udukai Pusari: The one who drums the Udukai to invoke the Sakthi of Amman

Ullagattil Tayaa- Alternate name for Kali Amman, meaning "Mother of the Universe"

Valsè- A tray where offerings are carried in French Caribbean Shaktism

Vibhuti- Sacred Ash made from ritually burnt dung, used as Tilak and offerings

Virutham- A type of song done to a deity

(Deity names list may be found in Introduction to Indo-Caribbean Shaktism)