Yoga: Yoga Dictionary

By Sri Swami Sivananda

Yoga Glossary - Yoga Dictionary

ABHYASA - Spiritual practice.

Abhyasin - Practitioner.

Acharya - Preceptor; Teacher.

Adhara - Foundation; base which supports.

Adhikarin - Qualified person.

Adhyatmic - Pertaining to Atman.

Agni - Fire.

Ahankara - Egoism.

Ajna Chakra - Spiritual centre at the eyebrows.

Ajnana - Ignorance.

Akasa - Ether.

Akhanda - Unbroken.

Anahata Chakra - Cardiac plexus.

Ananda - Bliss; happiness; comfort.

Antahkarana - Fourfold internal organs, viz., Manas, Chitta, Buddhi and Ahankara.

Anubhava - Experience.

Asana - Seat; posture.

Avidya - Ignorance.

BAHIH - Outward; external.

Basti - The purificatory exercise for congested bowels. Bhakta - Devotee.

Bhakti - Devotion.

Bhava - Feeling.

Bheda - Difference; piercing.

Bhrumadhya - The space between the eyebrows.

Bhuta Siddhi - Control over elements.

Brahmachari - Celibate.

Brahmacharya - Celibacy.

Brahmamuhurta - The period from 3 to 6 a.m. intended for Yoga - Abhyasa.

Brahmarandhra - An aperture in the crown of the head.

CHAITANYA - Consciousness.

Chakras - Spiritual centres in Sushumna Nadi.

Chandra - Nadi - Moon - flow; another name for Ida.

Chit - Knowledge.

Chitta - Consciousness.

DANA - Charity.

Darshana - Interview.

Deha - Physical body.

Dharana - Concentration.

Dhauti - The exercise for cleaning the stomach.

Diksha - Initiation.

Dosha - Fault; impurity.

Drishti - Vision.

Duhkha - Misery; pain.

Dvesha - Hatred; repulsion.

GRIHASTHA - Householder.

Granthi - Knot.

Gulma - Chronic gastritis.

Guru - Spiritual preceptor.

ICCHA - Desire.

Ida - The Nadi that runs on the left side of Sushumna.

Indriyas - Senses.

JADA - Insentient; lifeless.

Jada Kriya - Physical exercise.

Japa - Repetition of a Mantra.

Jaya - Mastery.

Jiva - Individual soul.

Jnana - Indriyas - Five organs or senses of Knowledge. viz., ear, skin, eye, tongue and nose.

KAIVALYA - Isolation.

Kama - Passion, desire.

Kanda - The source of all Nadis.

Karma - Indriyas - Five organs of action, viz., speech, hands, legs, genitals and anus.

Karma - Action; duty.

Kaya - body.

Kaya - Sampat - Perfection of body.

Krama - Order.

Kripa - Grace.

Kriya - Physical action or exercises.

Krodha - Anger.

Kumbhaka - Retention of breath.

Kundalini - The mysterious power in the body.

LAKSHYA - Object of concentration.

Laya - Dissolution.

MADHYAMA - Middle; centre.

Manana - Reflection or concentration.

Manas - Mind.

Mandala - Region.

Manipura - Solar plexus situated at the navel.

Mantra - Holy words.

Matsarya - Envy; jealousy.

Maya - Illusive power; veiling Shakti.

Mada - Arrogance; pride.

Mitahara - Moderation of diet.

Moha - Attachment; infatuated love.

Moksha - Liberation; emancipation.

Mouna - Vow of silence.

Mrityunjaya - Conqueror of death.

Mukti - Final beatitude.

Mula - Origin; root; base.

Muladhara Chakra - The spiritual centre at the base of the spinal column.

NABHI - Navel.

Nada - Anahata Sound.

Nadi - Astral tube that carries Prana.

Nasikagra Drishti - Vision at the tip of the nose.

Nauli - Purificatory exercise of abdominal region.

Neti - The exercise for cleaning the nostrils.

Nididhyasana - Profound meditation.

Nirguna - Formless; without attributes.

Nishkama Karma - Disinterested work.

Nishtha - Fixity; steadiness.

Nivritti Marga - Path of renunciation.

Niyama - Religious rules; second step in Yoga.

OJAS - Spiritual energy.

Oordhvareto - Yogi - The Yogi in whom the seminal energy flows upwards.

PADMA - Lotus; Chakra; a name for the plexus.

Parama - Supreme.

Pingala - The Nadi that runs on the right side of Sushumna Nadi.

Poorna - Full.

Prakriti - Nature; undifferentiated matter.

Prana - Vital energy.

Pranayama - Regulation of breath.

Pratyahara - Withdrawing the senses from objects.

Pratyakshatva - Direct perception.

Prema - Divine love.

Prerana - Inner goading.

Puraka - Inhalation.

RAGA - Attachment.

Rajas - Passion; motion.

Rajasic - Passionate.

Rechaka - Exhalation.

Rupa - Form.

SADHAKA - Spiritual aspirant.

Sadhana - Spiritual practice.

Saguna - With form.

Sahasrara - The spiritual centre at the head.

Sakshatkara - Direct perception.

Sama - Equal; balanced state of mind.

Samadhi - Superconscious state.

Samsara Chakra - Wheel of death and birth.

Samskara - Impression.

Sankalpa - Formative will; determination.

Sattva - Purity.

Sattvic - Pure.

Satyam - Truth; Brahman.

Shakti - Power.

Shat - Karmas - Six purificatory exercises of Hatha Yoga, viz., Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Trataka and Kapalabhati.

Siddhas - Perfected Yogins.

Siddhi - Perfection; psychic power.

Sindur - Vermilion.

Sparsha - Touch; feeling.

Sraddha - Faith.

Sravana - Hearing of Srutis.

Sthula - Physical; gross.

Sukha - Happiness; comfortable.

Sukshma - Astral; subtle.

Surya Nadi - Another name for Pingala.

Sutra - Aphorism.

Svara Sadhana - Regulation of breath.

TAMAS - Inertia; darkness.

Tamasic - Dull; lazy.

Tattva - Elements; faculty.

Titiksha - Forbearance.

Trataka - Gazing at a particular spot.

Trikala - Jnani - One who knows the past, present and future.

Trishna - Craving.

Triveni - The place where three holy rivers meet.

Tushti - Satisfaction.

UNMANI AVASTHA - Mindless state of Yogins.

Uttama - Qualified person.

VAIRAGYA - Renunciation; dispassion.

Vajra - Adamantine; firm.

Vak - Speech.

Vasana - Impression of action that remains in the mind.

Virya - Seminal power; energy.

Vishuddha - Laryngeal plexus at the base of the throat.

Vritti - Mental function.

YAMA - The first step in Yoga.

Yatra - Pilgrimage.

Yoga - Superconscious state; union with Paramatma.

Yogic - Pertaining to Yoga.

Yogin - One who is devoted to Yoga.

Yukti - Common - sense.