25 Popular Sanskrit Words and Their Meanings

Sanskrit is a sacred language and is considered to be the mother of all languages because many words of these languages have been taken from Sanskrit. For instance, many of the words of English have been taken from Sanskrit. Many sacred texts of the Hindu religion like the Vedas, the Upanishads, epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and the holy Bhagavad Gita have been written in Sanskrit and this gives this holy language a highly revered status, especially in India.

As the world is gaining interest in India and in the Indian culture, more and more people are getting drawn to this divine language and are attempting to learn it. If you’re one of them, we have a list of Sanskrit words that not only sound melodious but also have profound meaning to them.

Anirveda - 

This is a unique Sanskrit word which means indomitability. The word points to qualities of courage and determination. It refers to the spirit of never giving up. This is a quality that everyone should have in life as it is necessary for overcoming the obstacles of life.

Moksha - 

It means liberation and is referred to as salvation. It is usually used in the context of detaching oneself from worldly attachments and uniting the soul with God. Many sacred texts of Hinduism focus on the importance of attaining Moksha.

Vairagya - 

It can also be used to refer to asceticism. This word means detachment from the illusions of the material world and renouncing all worldly possessions. Lord Shiva is said to have practiced Vairagya before taking up the grihastha Jeevan with Mata Sati.

Namaste - 

It is made from the amalgamation of two words, ‘namas’ which means to bow, and ‘te’ which means you. This gives it the meaning that I bow to you. It is a beautiful term that Hindus say to greet one another by joining their palms and bowing slightly. 

Om or Aum - 

The merging of ‘A’ and ‘U’ becomes O in Sanskrit. That is why we also write it as ‘Om’. it is said to be the sound of the universe, the holy sound that everything emerged from. It is usually associated with Lord Shiva and many yogis prefer to meditate to the sound of Om.

Avatara -

It means incarnation. When God descends on the earth among humans he comes in a physically manifested form i.e. an avatara. For instance, Lord Vishnu took the Narasimha Avatara to descend on earth and slay Hiranyakashyap and protect his bhakta Prahalad.

Sahasra - 

It literally translates to a thousand. This word is used to convey the extent or the magnitude of something. Whenever the count of something extends to a thousand, this word is used. It is generally used as a poetic expression.

Nirjara - 

This beautiful word means eternal and everlasting. It is used to refer to something that lasts for a lifetime and is in fact, timeless. This word can be used to describe something ageless and that transcends time. Many people prefer this word as a name for girls.

Aparigraha - 

Vices like greed are completely non acceptable in the Hindu religion and that is why the quality of Aparigraha is advocated. It means not owning anything and excess and in fact, not possessing anything. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali mention it as one of the 5 Yamas.

Advaita - 

Those who have heard of the Vedanta philosophy must be aware of this word. Non-duality or being one is called Advaita. The Vedanta school of thought advocates that the human soul and the Supreme soul are actually one. 

Nirvana - 

The state of being liberated from all suffering of the material world is called Nirvana. From the east to the west, the entire world knows about this word. Lord Buddha showed the path to attain Nirvana through many practices of Buddhism.

Swadharma - 

Two words come together to form this one beautiful word, ‘Swa’ which means self and ‘Dharma’ which means duty. Hence, this word means the duty of oneself that one is supposed to fulfill in this lifetime, the purpose of one’s life. 

Mangalam - 

The literal meaning of Mangalam is auspicious. You must have heard it in hymns chanted during rituals. Priests of the Hindu religion generally use it to refer to an auspicious work or an auspicious time to do a particular work.

Samskara - 

This is another Sanskrit word that is very commonly used in our daily life. It refers to the behavior patterns we follow on a daily basis. From our daily habits to our thought process, everything comes under this term.

Chaitanya - 

Chaitanya is the Sanskrit word for the state when a person achieves absolute consciousness. Being in this state means being completely and fully aware of one’s own reality, the reality of others, and the reality of the material world.

Charanamrita - 

Every Hindu is aware of this word. It means holy water and is made up of two words ‘Charana’ which means feet and ‘Amrita’ which means elixir of immortality. It is called Charanamrita because it is purified by touching with the feet of the Lord.

Kaivalya - 

Being in a state where one attains complete freedom spiritually is called Kaivalya. This term is used for being emancipated and having complete independence. Many people prefer to choose this name for baby boys.

Samsara - 

As humans we go through repeated cycles of birth and rebirth. It is this cycle that we call Samsara. Many practices of Hinduism like Yoga and many holy texts focus on the importance of attaining salvation and escaping Samsara.

Swadhyaya - 

Two words make up this term, ‘Swa’ which means self and ‘Adhyaya’ which means study. So, the meaning of this word is self explanatory. It means study of the self by observing one’s own thoughts and behaviors.

Mantra - 

Many Sanskrit words arranged in a particular fashion are called a Mantra. It has divine powers which are invoked when it is chanted. Different mantras are associated with different deities. A mantra should be chanted in a particular manner only.

Sumanas - 

A person who has a good heart and mind is described with this Sanskrit word. The usage of this word can be seen in numerous Sanskrit texts and works of literature in reference to characters who possess a personality that is pleasant.

Siddhi - 

The meaning of this Sanskrit word is accomplishment. Having any kind of achievement is called having a Siddhi. Many Sanskrit texts talk about having spiritual Siddhis like the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali refer to attaining Siddhis through Yoga.

Samarpan - 

The meaning of Samarpan is surrender and having complete devotion. Sanskrit texts mention this word in context of having complete devotion to the Lord and surrendering oneself entirely to the service of God in order to attain salvation.

Asteya - 

The practice of non-stealing is called Asteya. As one of the 5 observances mentioned in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Asteya is considered to be very important in order to attain salvation through Yoga. Practitioners of Yoga are well versed with this term.

Mridu - 

The Sanskrit word means soft and gentle. Writers of many poetic texts in Sanskrit use this term to express emotions and describe things and people that have qualities of softness, tenderness, and gentleness.

Wrapping Up - 

With many people getting curious about Sanskrit, there has been an increase in the number of people who are attempting to learn it. A good start to learning this divine language can be by acquainting yourself with terms of Sanskrit that you might have heard of.