It is increasingly common in the Western world to find people who are attracted to Eastern spirituality. While this trend is nothing new, Eastern concepts of spirituality are much more mainstream today than they were 20 or even 10 years ago.

Today's boho cultures - from backpackers to the boho-chic - all incorporate Hindu and Buddhist symbolism and concepts within them. Yoga is a perfect example of this evolution. Practiced by many, yoga is certainly familiar to all adherents of the bohemian lifestyle worldwide - whether practiced in its original forms or in more Eastern-Western fusions of sport and spirituality.

Western cultures have absorbed Eastern concepts in their own beautiful and unique ways. Yet, as an Eastern-Western collaborative itself, 6362MetaForce feels it is important to remember where the original Eastern concepts behind these fusions come from. In that way, even as an amazing new world culture develops, we faithfully represent our roots, and we value the contributions of each culture to our new and fascinating global soup.

6362MetaForce has physical and cultural roots in India, and one of our co-founders was born and remains a practicing Hindu. Accordingly, we have the privilege of some in-house expertise on what Hinduismis all about. So, while many of our friends and family members have their own special ways of interpreting the Eastern symbols that are meaningful to them, it is one of our mantras that there can be no true cultural evolution without recognition of the roots.

In this section, we have included just a few ideas and terms that are commonly seen and heard in today's bohemian cultures. Whether you're a Burner, Goahead, hippie or a free-spirit with no community ties, these terms will probably be familiar to you. Some of them are included because we have received questions about them over time; others are included because they have become part of common speech in our communities, and have thus sometimes lost the ring of their original meaning.

Because of 6362MetaForce's base in Goa/psytrance culture, we've focused on some terms that may be most meaningful to trancers, and we've added extra details related to the mythology behind psytrance and trance parties.

If you have other terms or ideas that would be more meaningful to you and your community, please send us your thoughts! We welcome your suggestions, comments and questions.

Shiva
One of the three godheads of the Hindu pantheon, Shiva is the Destroyer and Rejuvenator of the Universe. He is usually pictured in a seated posed, meditating with half-closed eyes, holding in his arms a trishul (trident) to accompany him in battle; a conch shell to announce battle; and dumroo (Indian drum) to play during his dance. He is also pictured in his dancing form as the Nataraj, stomping through a circle of flames. Shiva is the most powerful of the gods, and he is also the most intense and independent. Hindu mythology tells stories of the millennia during which Shiva sat in meditation on the celestial Mt. Kailash, accompanied only by his charas (hashish) & chillum (clay pipe), and his own soul. Each time Shiva deemed the world ready for change, he rose up from meditation and danced in a powerful stomping style to destroy the evil in the world and to allow good to grow again in its place (see Kali, below). But Shiva also had a more “human” side, in which he lived in a powerful partnership with his wife Parvati, a ferocious lover and warrior in her own right. Together Shiva and Parvati were both admired and feared by the other gods, because they lived their life in absolute harmony with, and devotion to, each other, while they remained completely independent of the other gods or the society they inhabited.

Shiva’s Significance in Trance Music and Lifestyle:

While the ‘full-on’ subgenre of trance nods its head to Shiva in his relaxed meditative form, "nightpsy" artists celebrate the full spectrum and essence of Shiva, and of Shiva and Parvati. With powerful soundscapes designed to evoke the darkness of night, psystomp producers create tracks comprised of intensive aural journeys. Devotees of this music use parties as sacred liberation grounds where we stomp through the night and destroy the darkness in our own souls; and then greet the morning sun with clean hearts, purified bodies, and awakened minds. In so doing, we mirror Shiva’s cycle of destruction and rejuvenation.

Shaivite/Hindu Symbolism in Trance
• Trishul (trident): Shiva’s weapon, symbol of the battle between the forces of pure clean power and the ‘old’, impure ways.

• Lotus: A beautiful pink or white flower, the lotus blooms in any environment – even the most dirty and polluted. Lotuses are Eastern versions of waterlilies, found in the Western world from North to South America. The lotus in trance designs symbolizes our ability as humans to overcome even the greatest negativity – or the most difficult circumstances – and bloom to our fullest potential. The music and the trance experience should lead us toward that goal.

• Cobras/Snakes: Shiva was bit by 1000 cobras during his meditation in the mountains. He turned cold and blue, but was otherwise unharmed by their venom – and the snakes were so surprised by his hardiness that they decided Shiva must be one of them. Instead of continuing to attack him, they protected him. In trance we use cobras to symbolize the power and protection of our own souls.

Parvati
Wife of Shiva and mother of Ganesh, Parvati is a powerful symbol of femininity and womanhood. Parvati presents an utter contrast to the females that figure in all tales of Vishnu and his incarnations – and as such, Parvati further defines the personality and power of Shiva. Unlike the shy milkmaids sought by Krishna, or the delicate Sita who was sacrificed by Rama, Parvati was the true female counterpart of Shiva who inspired fear and respect among all other gods. Known for her fierce will, intense beauty and complete devotion to Shiva, Parvati is the idealized female in Shaivite mythology. See Shiva.

Ganesh
Also known as Ganpati, Ganesh is the son of Shiva and Parvati and the god of “good luck:” he is the god everyone looks toward for his blessing in any new business or personal ventures. Ganesh is a playful god, always looking for sweets to eat and jokes to enjoy. Usually pictured seated with a lotus flower in his hand and a rat at his feet, Ganesh is the elephant-headed god. Many stories are told in Hindu mythology as to how he lost his human head and gained the head of an elephant, but all of the stories have one thing in common: his loss was due to the passionate personalities of his fiery parents and their deep, mad love for each other.

Kali
Kali is the female form of Shiva, who actually carries out the destruction that Shiva wills down upon the Earth from his perch in the celestial mountains. Kali is often pictured with a black face, blood dripping from her mouth; or happily smiling with a necklace of men’s skulls adorning her as she dances on Shiva’s resting body. Kali is a warrior against evil, cleaning up the universe of its dark energy through physical annihilation. In trance, Kali is the celebrated female essence.

Bom Bholenath/Boom Shankar/Bom/Boom
Praises to Shiva. All four versions of this phrase can be said in greeting among trance devotees to remember and praise the patron saint of the battle and the dance. Bholenath and Shankar are names for Shiva; “Boom” is a variation on the deeply intoned “Bom,” meaning Praise. This phrase is also used before smoking the chillum, Shiva’s clay pipe, in order to give respect to the King.

In trance parties and in trance culture worldwide, "Boom" is a common greeting that recalls Shiva and gives praise to the spiritual head of the global community.

Namaste/Namaskar
A greeting with spiritual significance, meaning something like, “my soul salutes your soul” – or perhaps more accurately, “The divine in me salutes the divine in you.” Namaste (or Namaskar) is a Hindi/Sanskrit term of “hello.” Contrary to Western popular lexicon, namaste cannot be used as “goodbye” or “farewell”.

Sadhu
According to Wikipedia, sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or practitioner of yoga (i.e., a yogi) who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (enjoyment), artha (practical objectives) and even dharma (duty). The sadhu is solely dedicated to achieving moksha (liberation) through meditation and contemplation of God.” In India, you generally encounter two types of sadhus: the Shaivite (devoted to Shiva and the Vaishnavite (devoted to Vishnu). In trance we primarily recognize the Shaivite sadhus, due to our alignment with Shaivite devotion. Once sadhus reached an enlightened state, they are respected and referred to as “Babas.”

Baba
Old wise man. Baba is usually intended in reference to, or as a play on, sadhus. In speaking to or about a sadhu, you might call him “Baba,” or you might use it to describe any older, robust male that looks like a sadhu-type. But “baba” is also commonly used in Indian society as a term of endearment for friends and family – and in trance families and communities around the globe, the use of “baba” as a term of endearment is very common. See Sadhu.

“Ji”
In Hindi/Sanskrit, “-ji” is an honorific, which you can say at the end of someone’s name to give that person respect, or which you might attach to your one-word responses to questions from your elders, teachers, etc. For instance, you might call your teacher “Guru-ji”, or to a sadhu as “Baba-ji”. You might even refer to an older, respected friend by his name and attach the “-ji” to it in deference to his experience: “Tommy-ji”. However, you cannot call yourself “-ji” or refer to yourself by attaching “-ji” to your name, as it is not your place to give yourself respect; respect is something you must earn from others. Aside from conceptual problems, adding a “ji” to your own name is incorrect Hindi grammar.