Glossary
| A | |
|---|---|
| Acharya | teacher; spiritual preceptor |
| Adi | original, primordial |
| Advaita | an aspect of yogic philosophy which aims at the goal of experiencing a state beyond duality, beyond opposites such as like and dislike, good and bad, etc |
| Agni | fire; fire element, see Tattwas |
| Agnisar Kriya | increases prana and heat in the body through pranayama and mudra; preparatory for nauli |
| Aham | individuality, the concept of ahamkara - the ego factor which identifies the self with the material environment; identity of the individual being |
| Ahara | the craving for satisfaction: the urge to consume |
| Ahimsa | absence of negativity from within; non - violence |
| Ajna Chakra | concentration point at the top of the spine; situated in the mid brain, behind the eyebrow centre at the medulla oblongata, associated with deeper knowledge, ability to visualise, memory and intuition. It is considered to be responsible for monitoring the other chakras. |
| Akara | form; dimension in which individuality manifests |
| Akasha | space; Brahman. Akasha tattwa is the ether element, see Tattwas |
| Akasha Dharana | preparatory practice for Laya Yoga |
| Alakh Bara | invisible boundary; secluded place for sadhana |
| Amaroli | the practice of using one's own urine for therapy |
| Anahata Chakra | concentration point in the spine behind the heart; centre of emotion and the experience of unconditional love. |
| Anandamaya Kosha | the dimension of bliss |
| Annamaya Kosha | the dimension of matter: the physical body |
| Antar Darshan | vision of the inner self; the practice of observing emotions in the hridayakasha |
| Antar Dhyana | observing and channelling the desires |
| Antar Mouna | thought observation; inner silence |
| Anushasanam | governing or managing the subtle aspects of human personality; discipline |
| Anusthana | constant remembrance of God; observance |
| Apana Vayu | downward flowing prana between manipura and mooladhara |
| Aparigraha | happiness with whatever is there without any desire for more; non-accumulation |
| Arjuna | in the Bhagavad gita he is the warrior who questions Krishna about his purpose in life. |
| Arohan | a nadi or flow of ascending energy; to climb |
| Artha | security in the social realm |
| Asana | physical posture in which one is at ease and in harmony with one's self. |
| Ashram | traditional name referring to places where yoga is lived and taught. |
| Ashuddha | impure |
| Ashwini Mudra | involves contraction and relaxation of the anal sphincter muscles causing a rise in pranic energy. |
| Asteya | an inner state in which one is true to oneself non-stealing; honesty |
| Atma | individual soul; spirit |
| Atha | now, therefore |
| Aum | a mantra which is described as the primordial sound; the sound through which the manifest world comes into being. In some Upanashadic texts it is written that enlightenment may come from chanting this mantra alone. |
| Aum Namah Shivaya | a well known "universal mantra" that may be repeated by anyone, but also a personal mantra that may be given by a guru at the time of initiation. |
| Avadhoota | one who transcends body and worldly consciousness |
| Avasthanam | to be established in |
| Avidya | ignorance of reality |
| Awarohan | a nadi of descending energy; to climb down |
| Ayurveda | a traditional Indian system of medicine |
| B | |
| Bandhas | Bandhas are a series of powerful locks designed to unlock blockages of energy in the body. Moolbandha contracts an area around mooladhara chakra in the perineal area. Uddiyana bandha involves a contraction of the abdominal area. Jalandhara bandha involves a contraction of the throat. Mahabandha is a combination of all three locks. |
| Basti | a practice which cleans the bowels |
| Beeja | seed |
| Bhagavad Gita | an important section from the great Indian epic known as the Mahabharat. It takes the form of a long beautifully written dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, guru and disciple, on the battlefield between two sides preparing for civil war. Arjuna is filled with doubt and questions his purpose in life; Krishna, in turn, shows him over 18 separate chapters, the secrets of yoga. The text is widely translated and available. |
| Bhajans | bhajans are a form of chanting. Usually, they are traditional sanskrit passages, with several or many verses, and are sung to beautiful traditional melodies. It is a traditional way that important spiritual texts were passed on. In contrast kirtans are generally shorter and repeated many times. |
| Bhakti | the yoga of devotion, one of the main branches of yoga. |
| Bharat | a land which is immersed in light; India |
| Bhastrika | a dynamic diaphragmatic breathing practice, known as bellows breathing, in which the breath is forcibly drawn in and out in equal proportions through the nostrils. |
| Bhava | attitude, state of being according to Tantra |
| Bhaya | fear, especially fear of the unknown |
| Bhramari | tranquillising pranayama; humming breath |
| Bhuh Loka | dimension of consciousness related to the dimension of earth and mooladhara chakra |
| Bhuvah Loka | dimensions of consciousness related to the element of water and swadhisthana chakra |
| Bindu | the source; a drop; psychic centre, concentration point at the top back of the head where the hair whorls |
| Brahmacharya | being established in Brahman |
| Brahmacharya Asana | lifting the seated body from the floor by balancing on the palms with the arms and legs straight, thus causing a rise in pranic energy |
| Brahman | the consciousness which allows growth to take place; the one unchanging reality |
| Buddhi | discerning discriminating aspect of mind; from the route "bodh" meaning to be aware of, to know; intellect. |
| C | |
| Chaitanya | eternal; the conscious |
| Chakra | wheel; vortex of prana; psychic centre; Chakras are subtle energy centres in the body. The main chakras in the body are situated along the spinal column. Moving up the body the chakras are described in the following way. |
| Chidakasha | the mental screen; the space of chitta. Subtle space inside the head often used as a place of awareness in meditation practices. |
| Chitta | individual consciousness including the subconscious and unconscious layers of the mind (memory, thinking, concentration, attention, enquiry). Aspect of mind which receives impressions of the present experience and stores it for future use |
| D | |
| Daharakasha | the space in the regions of mooladhara and swadhisthana; space associated with vigyanamaya kosha |
| Darshan | vison actual manifestation of the image |
| Dasnami | sannyasa tradition of Shankarcharya consisting of ten branches: Arana, Ashrama, Bharati, Giri, Parvati, Puri, Sagara, Saraswati, Teertha and Vanam |
| Deva | the luminous nature of the spirit |
| Dharana | concentration; the focusing of mental energies; holding the state of creativity of the senses and the mind |
| Dharma | inner knowledge of one's correct duty or obligation; expression of natural sattwic qualities |
| Dhauti | techniques which purify different parts of the body |
| Dhoti | unstitched cloth used as lower garment |
| Dhyana | fusion of the mind with the object of contemplation, inner awakening; natural expression of sattwic state |
| Diksha | initiation; from the verb to see or to concentrate |
| Divali | Festival of Light, traditional celebration in India when the goddess Lakshmi gives blessings |
| Drasta | the observer, the witness, the seer |
| Dukha | pain, suffering |
| Dwesha | repulsion; something which brings pain or enmity |
| E | |
| Ekagra | the state of one - pointed attention |
| Ekant | solitude, total isolation |
| G | |
| Gayatri Mantra | a powerful universal mantra; "Om bhuh bhuvah swaha tat savator varenium bargo devasya de mahe deya yona prachodhyat." |
| Geru | orange dye used on the dhotis of sannyasins |
| Grihastha | householder |
| Guna Rahita Akasha | space without attributes; preparatory to Laya yoga, observing consciousness related with mooladhara |
| Gunas | attributes; sattwa, rajas and tamas; natural qualities governing life; genetic qualities of the universe |
| Guru | one who guides us in our process of evolution and enables us to become stable in our spiritual life; dispeller of darkness; that inspiration which manifests within |
| Guru Poornima | celebration of guru's grace in July |
| Gyana | wisdom; path of understanding and knowledge |
| Gyanendriyas | the five organs of knowledge, the five senses |
| H | |
| Ham | beeja mantra for vishuddhi chakra |
| Hamsa | Dhyana - higher meditative practice |
| Harmonium | a musical instrument with a keyboard, pumped by hand, often used in kirtan |
| Hatha Yoga | practices to balance the pranas which are manifesting in the body and in the mind |
| Hatha Yoga Pradipika | classic text on yoga |
| Havan | a traditional fire ceremony |
| Hridayakasha | heart space of feelings and anahata chakra |
| Hum | mantra governing the solar force. Part of the mantra "so hum" a mantra often associated with the breath. |
| I | |
| Ida | nadi connected with the left nostril, the lunar aspect, the passive mental force |
| Indra | king of the gods; controller of the senses |
| Indriyas | the senses, the forces which rule the mind |
| Ishta Devata | symbol of divinity |
| Ishwara | a state of unchanging transcendental reality |
| Ishwara Pranidhana | surrender or dedication to the divine will by realizing the cosmic energy which flows within us |
| J | |
| Jagrit | conscious mind |
| Jal | water |
| Janah Loka | the dimension of consciousness related to vishuddhi chakra and the space element |
| Japa | repetition |
| Jhola | shoulder bag |
| Jignasu Sannyasa | path of the seekers who maintain their normal lifestyle, their identity as spiritual seekers and perform sadhana to cultivate certain qualities in life |
| Jivan | life |
| Jyoti | light, name |
| Jyotir Linga | symbol of incandescent consciousness, Shiva |
| K | |
| Kama | desire |
| Kapalbhati | breathing technique to purify and stimulate the frontal lobe of the brain |
| Kapha | mucous |
| Karma | action in the manifest or unmanifest dimension; law of cause and effect; deep impressions in life which make us think, feel and act in particular ways |
| Karma Yoga | immunity from the cause and effect of actions: harmony in action |
| Karma Sannyasa | path of the householders who, in harmony with their normal lifestyle, follow sadhana and cultivate the qualities of intense awareness and non attachment |
| Karmendriyas | the five organs of action: hands, feet, tongue, excretory and reproductive organs |
| Kaya Kalpa | rejuvenation of the physical body |
| Khechari Mudra | lightly placing the underside of the tip of the tongue against the upper palate |
| Kham Brahman | space is Brahman |
| Kirtan | mantras which are sung to music |
| Kosha | a form; a sheath; a body; a dimension; the five kosha are: annamaya, pranamaya, manomaya, vigyanamaya, anandamaya |
| Kri | action, motion |
| Kriya Yoga | sequence of techniques involving the movement of prana and consciousness leading to dhyana |
| Krodha | anger |
| Kundalini | latent energy in mooladhara chakra; evolutionary force |
| Kundalini Yoga | practices for the awakening of kundalini |
| Kunjal | a practice of dhauti which removes excess mucus by voluntarily vomiting after taking warm salty water |
| L | |
| Laghoo | light; a short form of shankaprakshalana |
| Lam | beeja mantra for mooladhara chakra |
| Laya Yoga | meditation practice involving dissolving different stages of consciousness without creating imbalance |
| Lobha | greed |
| Lokas | 22nd to 28th levels of evolution: dimensions where consciousness is active and energy is passive: bhuh, bhuvah, swah, mahah, janah, tapah, and satya |
| M | |
| Mada | ego |
| Maha Akasha | great space; preparatory to Laya Yoga; observation of consciousness related with manipura chakra which is bright like the middle of the sun |
| Mahah Loka | dimension of consciousness related to anahata chakra and the element of air Maha prana - space, cosmic energy |
| Mahat | unmanifest mind: manas. buddhi, chitta, ahamkara |
| Maithuna | the sexual instinct; tantric union |
| Mala | a garland usually composed of 108 beads; an aid to meditation practise |
| Manas | aspect of manifest mind involved in experiences of sensory perception and thought/counter thought |
| Mandala | diagram within a circumference symbolising the deeper aspects of man's psyche; complex geometrical symbol merging macrocosmic and microcosmic events |
| Manipura | chakra located at the spine behind behind the navel. Associated with strength and power |
| Manomaya Kosha | the dimension of mind |
| Mantra | subtle sound vibrations which liberate internal forces |
| Mantra Diksha | an initiation practice involving receiving a mantra from a guru |
| Mantra Yoga | the science of understanding the effect of sound vibrations as they influence the human personality |
| Matsarya | negative tamasic possessiveness, jealousy, malice |
| Maya | ignorance of reality; illusion or creative power |
| Moha | attachment |
| Moksha | freedom |
| Mooladhara Chakra | basic pranic and psychic center in the human evolutionary scale. concentration point is at the perineum in males, the cervix in females; seat of kundalini |
| Moolbandha | concentration and contraction at mooladhara |
| Mouna | (or mauna) silence; measured silence |
| Mudha | the dormant or confined, bound state of mind |
| Mudra | psycho-neural attitude which redirects pranic energy |
| Muhurta | time |
| N | |
| Nadi | channel or flow; passage through which energy and/or consciousness flows; river |
| Nadi Shodhana | alternate nostril breathing, a practice to purify the nadis; a balancing pranayama |
| Nama Smarana | remembrance of the divine name |
| Narakas | 1st to 7th levels of evolution which are dormant and crude, where consciousness is in the seed form |
| Nasikagra Drishti | gazing at the nose tip, a mudra which stimulates mooladhara |
| Nauli | practice beneficial for the abdominal area and the activation of pranic flows: relates directly to manipura |
| Neti | practice which cleanses the sinuses, relates to ajna chakra |
| Niranjan | immaculate, without stain |
| Niranjanananda | Swami Niranjanananda is the successor to Paramahamsa Satyananda |
| Nidra | isolation from the senses and the mind; sleep |
| Nirbeeja Samadhi | samadhi without seed |
| Nirodhah | controlling, blocking, managing |
| Nirvana | liberated state |
| Nirvikalpa Samadhi | samadhi without illusion, or alternative |
| Nishkama Seva | selfless service |
| Nivritti | path to liberation; retirement, cessation, return |
| Niyama | codes of conduct to imbibe in life: saucha. santosha, tapah, swadhyaya, ishwara pranidhana; natural states of the transformed personality. One of the eight limbs of Raja yoga |
| Nyasa | proper use of cosmic strength within |
| O | |
| Om | (or aum) universal mantra; source of all other mantras; beeja mantra for ajna chakra; sound symbol of Brahman |
| P | |
| Pancha | five |
| Panchagni | sadhana of the five fires |
| Pancha Vyoma Dharana | meditations on five spaces of consciousness; also called vyoma panchaka dharana |
| Paramahamsa | sannyasins who are able to discriminate between unreality and reality |
| Param Akasha | preparatory to Laya Yoga, observation of deep space and starlight in swadhisthana |
| Patalas | 8th to 14th levels of evolution which are an instinctive manifestation of individuality in life |
| Pawanmuktasana | a series of asana to harmonise the body and prana |
| Philosophy | yogic philosophy is both ancient and evolving. |
| Pingala | nadi connected with the right nostril conducting active vital energy; the solar aspect; the dynamic aspect |
| Pitta | connected with water and fire; digestive enzymes |
| Poorna Sannyasa | complete sannyasa; the traditional form of sannyasa involving internal and external renunciation and total dedication to guru |
| Poornata | completeness |
| Pramana | means of right knowledge; one of die five vrittis |
| Prana | force which governs the manifest dimension; energy; vital force of life which exists in everything |
| Prana Utthana | activation of pranic energy |
| Prana Vayu | upward flowing prana between manipura and vishuddhi |
| Pranamaya Kosha | the dimension of energy |
| Pranayama | practices involving control of inhalation, exhalation and breath retention; techniques for expanding pranic energy |
| Prapti | attainment |
| Pratyahara | feeding and then withdrawing the senses; observing, adjusting and accepting inner forces to attain inner harmony |
| Pravritti | path of involvement in the world where evolution follows its natural pattern; continued effort in behaviour |
| Prithvi | earth; earth tattwa |
| Psychology | the field of yogic psychology has a long history and comprehensive vocabulary for dealing with the subtleties of the mind. Where western psychology may classify experience into conscious, subconscious and unconscious, ego, memory, etc., for example, yoga has for many centuries divided the mind into buddhi (intellect, intuition), manas (sensory perception and thought/counter thought), chitta (memory), and ahamkara (ego, "I" identity). The complexity, richness and subtlety of this field is worth exploring. (Try the book Yoga Darshan by Paramahamsa Niranjanananda) |
| R | |
| Raga | attraction; something which brings attachment |
| Rahita | without |
| Raja Yoga | eightfold path classified by Sage Patanjali: yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi |
| Rajas | creative force on the positive side; self-oriented, selfish activity on the negative side Ram -beeja mantra for manipura chakra |
| Ramayana | the epic story of the life of Rama |
| Rishi Sannyasa | sannyasins with strong spiritual yogic aims living as a family unit and pursuing their spiritual paths |
| Ritam | evolving reality; settled order; truth |
| Rupa | form |
| S | |
| Sabeeja Samadhi | samadhi with seed |
| Sadhak | one who tries to become perfect; spiritual aspirant established in sadhana |
| Sadhana | regular practice where the entire life process becomes part of an effort to achieve higher realization; practice combined with regularity, continuity, conviction and faith; |
| Sahajoli Mudra | practice involving physical contraction of muscles around the urethra and directing the energy upward; a technique for raising energy |
| Sahasrara Chakra | concentration point is at the crown of the head; represents the permanent state, the pure, unchanging state of energy and consciousness; state of inner effulgence or enlightenment; threshold into a new dimension |
| Sakshi | the witness, the seer |
| Salute To The Sun | see surya namaska |
| Sam Or San | prefix meaning total, harmonious |
| Samadhi | realization of union; dissolving or merging with divine consciousness, and the application of that realization |
| Samana Vayu | the energy between prana and apana vayu |
| Samarpan | the ability to surrender to the divine will living in the present; dedication |
| Samskara | unconscious memories which set up impulses and trains of thought; education: impressions in the mind leading to creative performance |
| Sangha | A sanskrit word meaning spiritual community |
| Sankalpa | resolve; determination or conviction |
| Sankhya | (or samkhya) one of the six classical Indian philosophies |
| Sannyasa | inner harmony which expresses itself externally proper use of cosmic strength; renunciation, dedication |
| Sannyasin | one who is dedicated to spiritual knowledge |
| Sanskrit | ancient language from which many modern languages are derived; the language related to mantras |
| Santosha | contentment; acceptance of life |
| Sanyama | flow of pratyahara, dharana and dhyana; restraint |
| Saraswati | goddess of creativity; one of the 12 dashnami schools founded by Adi Shankaracharya and the school to which the Satyananda tradition belongs. |
| Satsang | being in the company or field of truth |
| Sattwa | guna experienced when tamas and rajas are balanced; the purity and harmony which is of the inner self |
| Satya | establishing oneself in truth |
| Satya Loka | dimension of consciousness related to sahasrara; the final state of consciousness which does not go through any changes; the fixed permanent eternal reality Saucha - experiencing the inner purity; cleanliness |
| Satyananda Paramahamsa | Satyananda Saraswati, Founder of Satyananda yoga. |
| Savikalpa Samadhi | samadhi combined with sense, verbal and true knowledge |
| Sayuja | total identification with the object of contemplation; fusion with the object of contemplation: union |
| Seva | selfless service; devotion |
| Shakti | energy |
| Shakti Bandhas | a series of asana to release blocked energy |
| Shambhavi Mudra | focusing the open or closed eyes on the eyebrow centre |
| Shankaprakshalana | one of the practices of dhauti: removes toxins and mucus from the digestive tract |
| Shanti Mantras | mantras for invoking peace |
| Sharira | body |
| Shasan | to govern, to rule |
| Shatkarma Or Shatkriya | six cleansing techniques of Hatha Yoga: neti, dhauti, nauli, basti, trataka, kapalbhati |
| Shankaracharya | Adi, founder of the yogic lineage associated with many schools of yoga and the Satyananda tradition |
| Shishya | one with the urge to realize the inner self and the ability to follow the guidelines given by the guru and surrender the ego |
| Shivalingam | symbol of Shiva, or consciousness |
| Shoonya Or Shoonyata | nothingness, the void |
| Shram | effort in work, penance, austerity |
| Shuddha | pure |
| Siddha | master; one who has perfected |
| Siddhi | power; perfection; the ability to flow with life |
| Siva (or Shiva) | Hindu deity representing consciousness |
| Sivananda | a great and influential spiritual teacher, guru of Paramahamsa Satyananda and many other teachers. Sivananda Math, a charitable organisation set up by Paramahamsa Satyananda, is named in his honour. |
| Smriti | memory; one of the five vrittis |
| Sneha | affection for all; attachment |
| Spandan | vibration |
| Sukha | pleasure |
| Suryabheda | a vitalising pranayama |
| Surya Namaskara | salute to the sun', a series of twelve asanas to acknowledge the sun and the inner flame of evolving consciousness |
| Sushumna | nadi activated through the balance between ida and pingala nadis; transcendence |
| Sutra | verse thread |
| Swa | self |
| Swadhisthana Chakra | concentration point at the base of the spinal column; "one's own abode;" centre of the unconscious |
| Swadhyaya | the study of one's personal nature; self analysis |
| Swah Loka | dimension of consciousness related to manipura chakra and the fire element Swami - master of the self |
| SWAN Theory | strengths, weaknesses, ambitions, and needs; a formula for success in life proposed by Swami Niranjanananda |
| Swapna | dream state, subconscious |
| Swara | subtle flows of energy related to breath and the gunas |
| Swarupa | one's own form |
| T | |
| Tadasana | an asana which stretches the spine; the tree pose |
| Tamas | stability, attainment on the positive side; stagnation, fear of change on the negative side |
| Tantra | ancient universal science, philosophy and culture which deals with the transcendence of human nature: expansion of mind and liberation of energy |
| Tapah Loka | dimension of consciousness related to ajna chakra |
| Tapas | a process of transcendence through continued effort, experiencing the force of evolution in life; heat; austerity |
| Tattwa | elements: prithvi (earth), jal (water), agni (fire), vayu (air), akasha (ether) |
| Tattwa Akasha | practice of experiencing the different bodies of the tattwas in order to know their nature and function |
| Tattwa Shuddhi | a process of purifying the tattwas within |
| Tejas | fire; tip of the flame; brilliance: energy |
| Thum | mantra governing the lunar force |
| Tiryaka Tadasana | an asana which flexes the spine |
| Tra | rescue; save: protect; see trayati |
| Trataka | gazing at a fixed point |
| Trayambakeshwar | one of the twelve Jyotir linga |
| Trayati | liberates |
| Turiya | superconsciousness |
| Tyaga | renunciation, letting go of an attachment |
| Tyaga Jayanti | the anniversary of renunciation |
| U | |
| Uddiyana Bandha | pulling the abdominal organs up and in, creating a natural upward flow of energy |
| Ujjayi Pranayama | slightly contracting the glottis of the throat so the breath makes a light snoring sound; a deep relaxing breath used often in meditation practices |
| V | |
| Vairagya | not being attached to the desires and personal cravings nor influenced by raga; being non-attached |
| Vajroli Mudra | involves physical contraction of the muscles surrounding the urethra causing pranic energy to rise |
| Vam | beeja mantra for swadhisthana chakra |
| Vata | related to air and ether; wind |
| Vayu | air; prana or energy flow as in pancha vayu: prana, apana, samana, udana, vyana |
| Vedanta | cream of the vedas, a series of ancient philosophical dialogues, often in the form of discussions between guru and disciple, in which the great questions of life are examined. They are often found as sections within the Vedas |
| Vedas | A series of extensive ancient texts which detail rituals and duties in life |
| Vidya | wisdom |
| Vigyana | absolute knowledge; intuitive ability |
| Vigyanamaya Kosha | the dimension of inner wisdom |
| Vikalpa | one of the five vrittis; doubt; an alternative; error |
| Vikshipta | the dissipated or oscillating state of mind |
| Viparyaya | wrong knowledge; one of the five vrittis |
| Vipareeta Karani Mudra | inverted psychic attitude; the half shoulder-stand with greater intensity of concentration |
| Vishuddhi Chakra | energy centre with the concentration point in the spine behind the thyroid gland; centre for pure expression. |
| Viveka | discrimination, right knowledge or understanding |
| Vrittis | fluctuations, modifications, forces which dominate the mind at one given moment |
| Vyoma | space |
| Y | |
| Yam | beeja mantra for anahata chakra |
| Yama | five codes of conduct or disciplines to imbibe ill life: ahimsa, satya, asteya, brahmacharya, aparigraha; natural states of the transformed human personality |
| Yan From Yana | the subtle vehicle |
| Yantra | simple or complex geometric symbols which aid in liberating the subtle vehicle of consciousness |
| Yoga | attaining harmony, union |
| Yoga Nidra | where one is neither awake nor in deep sleep |
