Sanskrit Glossary
A – non as in non violence
Abhaya – without fear
Abhaya Mudra – a gesture of no fear
Abhinivesa – clinging to life/fear of death
Abhyasa – determination in practice
Adhara – support
Adho Mukha – facing downwards
Adisvara – the primeval lord Shiva
Advaita – the non-duality of the Universal spirit with the individual soul
Agni – god of fire
Ahamkara – ego, the state of mind that knows ‘I am’
Ahimsa – non violence
Ajapa mantra – unconscious repetitive prayer. The in-breath – I am or individual soul, the outbreath – It, the universal spirit
Ajna Cakra – the nerve centre between the eyebrows, seat of command
Akasha – ether, space
Amanaska – the state of mind free of thoughts and desires
Ananta – Vishnu, the infinite
Anga – limb
Angustha – big toe
Antara – within
Antaranga sadhana – inward questing of the soul
Antaratma – supreme spirit within the heart
Anuloma – regular, normal (with the hair)
Apana – prana in the lower abdomen controlling functions of this region of the body
Aparigraha – freedom from hoarding possessions
Ardha – half
Arjuna – the son of Indra and recipient of the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita
Arkana – towards the ear
Asana – posture, seat, the third limb of Patanjalis Astanga Yoga system
Astanga Yoga – ‘eight limb path’
Astavakra – a spiritual teacher who was born with crooked limbs in eight places
Asteya – non stealing Asvini mudra – contraction of the Anal Sphincters Atman – the supreme spirit, the innermost self or essence
Atma satkam – six verses by sankarachara desamhadicribing the soul in a state of samhadi
Aum (Om) all, oneness,
Ayurveda – ancient Indian system of medicine & health
Baddha – bound
Bahya Kumbhaka – suspension of breath activity after full exhalation
Baka – crane
Bandha – fetter, used to indicate control of certain parts of the body
Bhagavad Gita – “song of the lord” an important sacred text & part of the epic Mahabharata.
Bhakti – devotion
Bhedana – breaking through, piercing
Bheka – frog
Bhramara – bee
Bhramari Pranayama – a breathing exercise where the exhalation is accompanied by a humming sound
Bhujanga – snake
Bija – seed
Bija mantra – a sacred prayer repeated continuously & silently during pranayama
Bindu – the centre of a seed (of the Universe)
Brahman – the absolute innermost essence of everything
Brahma randhra – the non physical aperture at the crown of the head where the soul is said to exit the body upon dying physically Brahmachara – one who lives celebate
Brahmanda prana – cosmic breath Buddha – an enlightened one (often refers to prince Sidhartha Gautama (in Hinduism the 9th incarnation of Vishnu) Buddhi – intellect, reason Buddhism – the philosophical/religious teaching developed from Gautama Buddha Chakra (Cakra) – wheel, usually referring to the various electromagnetic energy centres in the body Chandra – moon Citta – mind (the heart in eastern tradition) Citta Vrtti – fluctuations of the mind Damani – a layer within a Nadi for the movement of energy Danda – staff/stick Deva – god Devi – goddess Dharana – concentration (6th limb of Astanga Yoga) Dharma – duty Dhyana – Meditation (7th limb of Astanga Yoga) Dukkha – suffering/pain Dwi – two Eka – one Eka pada – one leg Ekagra – one pointed Ganesha – elephant deity, son of Parvarti & Shiva Garuda – eagle Gheranda – a sage who authored the Gherand Samhita, a sacred Hatha Yoga text Gu – darkness Gunas – three qualities of mind Guru – spiritual guide Hatha Yoga – the harnessing of the masculine & feminine energies within our total selves for the purpose of union with the supreme spirit. Ha – sun Hala- plough Hanuman – monkey god Hasta – hand Hatha – force, against ones usual temprement Ida – an energy channel starting from the left nostril to the crown of the head, down the back to the base of the spine. Conveys Luna energy. (Chandra nadi) Integral Yoga – a system combining hatha, raja, japa, Kriya, bhakti yogas. Isvara – the supreme being (god within) Jagrata avashta - complete awareness of ones state of mind Jalanhara bandha – the chin is dropped to meet the top of the breast bone. Janu – knee Japa – repetition of mantras Jathara – abdomen (stomach) Jaya – conquest Jiva – individual soul Jivamukti – the liberation of one’s soul Jnana – inquiry leading to spiritual knowledge Kaivalya – final emancipation Kama – lust/desire Kanda – knot/bulbous root – the centre below the stomach where the three main energy channels unite and then separate again (Ida, Pingala, Sushumna) Kapota – dove Karma – action Karma yoga – the path of yoga advocating the non-attachment to the fruits of one’s endeavours Karna – ear Karuna – compassion Kaya – body Klesa – pain, anguish Kona – angle Krouncha – heron Kriya – action Kukkuta – cock Kumbha – pot Kundalini – a primal energy said to lie dormant at the base of our spine. The latent life energy of wisdom & power. Kurma – tortoise Laksmi – goddess of beauty Laya – dissolution, absorption of the mind Laya yoga – the achievement of yoga through devotion & adoration Loma – hair Maha – great Mahabarata – an epic Hindu poem written around 500 bce Mahayana – school of Buddhism promoting the Bodhisattva ideals – the renunciation of one’s own liberation by staying in this world to assist others to gain their freedom Makara – crocodile Mala – garland Manas – mind Mandala – often used as a support to meditation – a diagram containing the elements of the universe, sacred geometry etc. Mantra – a sacred sound or word used in meditation practice Moksha – liberation Mudra – energetic gesture – energy seal Nadi – a subtle body energy channel Niyama – personal ethical code. (2nd limb of astanga yoga) Om – the primordial sound of the universe. The most important of mantras Padma – lotus Padmasana – lotus posture Panini – a Hindu scholar Patanjali – an important Indian saint. Codified the Astanga Yoga system around 200 bce Prakriti – nature Prana – energy, life force Pranayama – the control of the breath. (the 4th limb of Astanga Yoga) Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses. (5th limb of Astanga Yoga) Purusha – spirit Raja yoga – the royal path of yoga emphasising meditation. Patanjali’s eight limb system is the basis for Raja Yoga Sadhana – personal practice Samhadi – the end result of the process of deep concentration, the primary tool whereby freedom is reached Sanskrit – the ancient language of India Satsang – a religious gathering with a spiritual teacher/guide Shakti – spiritual energy Siddha – a liberated being Suriynamaskara – sun salute, a series of sequenced postures Sutra – thread Tantra – technique Tantric yoga – a path emphasising the unlocking of Kundalini energy Tapas – austerity Ujjayi – the victorious breath in Pranayama Upanishads – the mystical teachings at the end of the Vedas Vedanta – another term for the Upanishads Vedas – an ancient collection of spiritual hymns giving us the earliest mention of yoga Vinyasa – flowing sequence of postures emphasising co-ordination of the breath with movement Vishnu – the god of creation in the Hindu trinity Yama – group ethics (the 1st limb of asanga Yoga) Yogi – a practioner of yoga
A – non as in non violence
Abhaya – without fear
Abhaya Mudra – a gesture of no fear
Abhinivesa – clinging to life/fear of death
Abhyasa – determination in practice
Adhara – support
Adho Mukha – facing downwards
Adisvara – the primeval lord Shiva
Advaita – the non-duality of the Universal spirit with the individual soul
Agni – god of fire
Ahamkara – ego, the state of mind that knows ‘I am’
Ahimsa – non violence
Ajapa mantra – unconscious repetitive prayer. The in-breath – I am or individual soul, the outbreath – It, the universal spirit
Ajna Cakra – the nerve centre between the eyebrows, seat of command
Akasha – ether, space
Amanaska – the state of mind free of thoughts and desires
Ananta – Vishnu, the infinite
Anga – limb
Angustha – big toe
Antara – within
Antaranga sadhana – inward questing of the soul
Antaratma – supreme spirit within the heart
Anuloma – regular, normal (with the hair)
Apana – prana in the lower abdomen controlling functions of this region of the body
Aparigraha – freedom from hoarding possessions
Ardha – half
Arjuna – the son of Indra and recipient of the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita
Arkana – towards the ear
Asana – posture, seat, the third limb of Patanjalis Astanga Yoga system
Astanga Yoga – ‘eight limb path’
Astavakra – a spiritual teacher who was born with crooked limbs in eight places
Asteya – non stealing Asvini mudra – contraction of the Anal Sphincters Atman – the supreme spirit, the innermost self or essence
Atma satkam – six verses by sankarachara desamhadicribing the soul in a state of samhadi
Aum (Om) all, oneness,
Ayurveda – ancient Indian system of medicine & health
Baddha – bound
Bahya Kumbhaka – suspension of breath activity after full exhalation
Baka – crane
Bandha – fetter, used to indicate control of certain parts of the body
Bhagavad Gita – “song of the lord” an important sacred text & part of the epic Mahabharata.
Bhakti – devotion
Bhedana – breaking through, piercing
Bheka – frog
Bhramara – bee
Bhramari Pranayama – a breathing exercise where the exhalation is accompanied by a humming sound
Bhujanga – snake
Bija – seed
Bija mantra – a sacred prayer repeated continuously & silently during pranayama
Bindu – the centre of a seed (of the Universe)
Brahman – the absolute innermost essence of everything
Brahma randhra – the non physical aperture at the crown of the head where the soul is said to exit the body upon dying physically Brahmachara – one who lives celebate
Brahmanda prana – cosmic breath Buddha – an enlightened one (often refers to prince Sidhartha Gautama (in Hinduism the 9th incarnation of Vishnu) Buddhi – intellect, reason Buddhism – the philosophical/religious teaching developed from Gautama Buddha Chakra (Cakra) – wheel, usually referring to the various electromagnetic energy centres in the body Chandra – moon Citta – mind (the heart in eastern tradition) Citta Vrtti – fluctuations of the mind Damani – a layer within a Nadi for the movement of energy Danda – staff/stick Deva – god Devi – goddess Dharana – concentration (6th limb of Astanga Yoga) Dharma – duty Dhyana – Meditation (7th limb of Astanga Yoga) Dukkha – suffering/pain Dwi – two Eka – one Eka pada – one leg Ekagra – one pointed Ganesha – elephant deity, son of Parvarti & Shiva Garuda – eagle Gheranda – a sage who authored the Gherand Samhita, a sacred Hatha Yoga text Gu – darkness Gunas – three qualities of mind Guru – spiritual guide Hatha Yoga – the harnessing of the masculine & feminine energies within our total selves for the purpose of union with the supreme spirit. Ha – sun Hala- plough Hanuman – monkey god Hasta – hand Hatha – force, against ones usual temprement Ida – an energy channel starting from the left nostril to the crown of the head, down the back to the base of the spine. Conveys Luna energy. (Chandra nadi) Integral Yoga – a system combining hatha, raja, japa, Kriya, bhakti yogas. Isvara – the supreme being (god within) Jagrata avashta - complete awareness of ones state of mind Jalanhara bandha – the chin is dropped to meet the top of the breast bone. Janu – knee Japa – repetition of mantras Jathara – abdomen (stomach) Jaya – conquest Jiva – individual soul Jivamukti – the liberation of one’s soul Jnana – inquiry leading to spiritual knowledge Kaivalya – final emancipation Kama – lust/desire Kanda – knot/bulbous root – the centre below the stomach where the three main energy channels unite and then separate again (Ida, Pingala, Sushumna) Kapota – dove Karma – action Karma yoga – the path of yoga advocating the non-attachment to the fruits of one’s endeavours Karna – ear Karuna – compassion Kaya – body Klesa – pain, anguish Kona – angle Krouncha – heron Kriya – action Kukkuta – cock Kumbha – pot Kundalini – a primal energy said to lie dormant at the base of our spine. The latent life energy of wisdom & power. Kurma – tortoise Laksmi – goddess of beauty Laya – dissolution, absorption of the mind Laya yoga – the achievement of yoga through devotion & adoration Loma – hair Maha – great Mahabarata – an epic Hindu poem written around 500 bce Mahayana – school of Buddhism promoting the Bodhisattva ideals – the renunciation of one’s own liberation by staying in this world to assist others to gain their freedom Makara – crocodile Mala – garland Manas – mind Mandala – often used as a support to meditation – a diagram containing the elements of the universe, sacred geometry etc. Mantra – a sacred sound or word used in meditation practice Moksha – liberation Mudra – energetic gesture – energy seal Nadi – a subtle body energy channel Niyama – personal ethical code. (2nd limb of astanga yoga) Om – the primordial sound of the universe. The most important of mantras Padma – lotus Padmasana – lotus posture Panini – a Hindu scholar Patanjali – an important Indian saint. Codified the Astanga Yoga system around 200 bce Prakriti – nature Prana – energy, life force Pranayama – the control of the breath. (the 4th limb of Astanga Yoga) Pratyahara – withdrawal of the senses. (5th limb of Astanga Yoga) Purusha – spirit Raja yoga – the royal path of yoga emphasising meditation. Patanjali’s eight limb system is the basis for Raja Yoga Sadhana – personal practice Samhadi – the end result of the process of deep concentration, the primary tool whereby freedom is reached Sanskrit – the ancient language of India Satsang – a religious gathering with a spiritual teacher/guide Shakti – spiritual energy Siddha – a liberated being Suriynamaskara – sun salute, a series of sequenced postures Sutra – thread Tantra – technique Tantric yoga – a path emphasising the unlocking of Kundalini energy Tapas – austerity Ujjayi – the victorious breath in Pranayama Upanishads – the mystical teachings at the end of the Vedas Vedanta – another term for the Upanishads Vedas – an ancient collection of spiritual hymns giving us the earliest mention of yoga Vinyasa – flowing sequence of postures emphasising co-ordination of the breath with movement Vishnu – the god of creation in the Hindu trinity Yama – group ethics (the 1st limb of asanga Yoga) Yogi – a practioner of yoga
