Bhakti - the word bhakti comes from the root bhaj, which means to serve (see bhajana). Therefore the primary meaning of the word bhakti is to render service. Sri Rupa Gosvami has described the intrinsic characteristics of bhakti in Sri Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu (1.1.11) as follows: anyabhilasita-sunyam jnana-karmady-anavrtam anukulyena krsnanu-silanam bhaktir uttama - "

Uttama-bhakti, pure devotional service, is the cultivation of activities that are meant exclusively for the benefit of Sri Krsna, in other words, the uninterrupted flow of service to Sri Krsna, performed through all endeavors of body, mind, and speech, and through expression of various spiritual sentiments (bhavas).

It is not covered by jnana (knowledge of nirvisesa-brahma, aimed at impersonal liberation) and karma (reward-seeking activity) , yoga or austerities; and it is completely free from all desires other than the aspiration to bring happiness to Sri Krsna.”

(See also: Bhakti , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Many studies have reported the beneficial effect of the practice of yoga on diabetes. Some studies have mentioned up to 65 percent beneficial effect of yogic therapy for diabetes. K.N. Udupa has even mentioned 5 cases of juvenile diabetes who were completely controlled by yogic treatment. All of these studies have emphasized the possible mechanism of the yogic practices.

Read more here: » Yoga and Diabetes: The effects of exercise and yoga on Diabetes - A Clinical Research (Part II of II)

Karma-kanda - a division of the Vedas which relates to the performance of ceremonial acts and sacrificial rites directed toward material benefits or liberation.

(See also: Karma-kanda , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Sraddha - a ceremony in honor of and for the benefit of deceased relatives. The forefathers are offered pinsa, an oblation of rice and meal, which endows them with a body suitable to attain pitr-loka, the planet of the forefathers. There they enjoy a high standard of material enjoyment.

(See also: Sraddha , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Kamya-karma - religious rites performed to obtain some specific material benefit.

(See also: Kamya-karma , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Karma -

(1) any activity performed in the course of material existence.

(2) pious activities leading to material gain in this world or in the heavenly planets after death.

(3) fate; former acts leading to inevitable results.

(See also: Karma , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Mudras and Bandhas are certain postures of the body by which Kundalini is successfully awakened. In Gheranda Samhita, the description of 25 Mudras and Bandhas, is given. The following 12 are the most important:-,, 1. Mula Bandha, 2. Jalandhara Bandha, 3. Uddiyana Bandha, 4. Maha Mudra, 5. Maha Bandha, 6. Maha Vedha, 7. Yoga Mudra, 8. Viparitakarani Mudra, 9. Khechari Mudra, 10. Vajroli Mudra, 11. Shakti Chalana Mudra, 12. Yoni Mudra.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Mudras and Bandhas: Kundalini Yoga - Mudras and Bandhas

Visrambha-guru-seva - service to guru which is imbued with deep faith and intimacy (see visrambha). Service devoid of formality. Complete absence of any feeling of separateness from the guru. This type of service is possible only in an advanced stage.

(See also: Visrambha-guru-seva , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Practising yoga regularly imparts great benefits. Among them are improved concentration and clarity in mind. But in the more advanced stages of yoga practising comes benefits like mind and psychic control. When thoughts are experienced just as thoughts, not as reality itself, then the path to freedom which yoga promises begins to unfold naturally. And that path is as sweet as a perfectly ripe mango.

Read more here: » Yoga: Special Spiritual Benefits of Yoga

Parama-guru - grand-spiritual master; the guru of one’s guru.

(See also: Parama-guru , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

There are many different asana s (postures) in yoga, which you can practise at any time of the day with excellent benefits. However, best results can be obtained only by doing yoga under expert guidance. Here's a listing of the commonly practised asanas with both the name of the asana in sanskrit and in english.

Read more here: » Yoga: Major Types of Asanas - Yoga Positions

Raga - a deep attachment which is permeated by spontaneous and intense absorption in the object of one’s affection. The primary characteristic of raga is a deep and overpowering thirst for the object of one’s affection.

The desire for water is called thirst. When the body is deprived of water, thirst arises. The greater the thirst, the greater the longing for water. When this thirst reaches the point that without water one can no longer maintain the body, it is known as an overpowering thirst.

Similarly, when the loving thirst to please the object of one’s affection becomes so intense that in the absence of such service one is on the verge of giving up his life, it is known as raga.

(See also: Raga , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ragamayi bhakti - bhakti which is permeated with raga, or spontaneous affection. Ragamayi bhakti is not within sadhana. It refers to the stage after prema has arisen. In the beginning, there is prema, which then develops into sneha, mana, pranaya, raga, anuraga, bhava and mahabhava.

When prema attains the state of raga it is called ragamayi. It comes after one takes his birth in the womb of a gopi and attains the association of Krsna’s ragatmika-bhaktas. By that association, first prema will come and then it will gradually evolve to the stage of raga and on up to mahabhava. The word trsna used here means ‘thirst’ to drink Krsna, His form (rupa) , taste (rasa) , smell (gandha) , sound (sabda) and touch (sparsa). The word premamayi is a general term that can indicate the stage of prema anywhere in its development from the stage of sneha right up to the stage of mahabhava.

(See also: Ragamayi bhakti , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Maya - illusion; that which is not; Sri Bhagavan’s external potency which influences the living entities to accept the false egoism of being independent enjoyers of this material world.

(See also: Maya , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Advaita-jnana - knowledge of non-duality. Although in the true sense this refers to the Supreme Absolute Personality of Godhead who is devoid of all duality, the Mayavada conception of advaitajnana is that the ultimate substance, brahma, is devoid of form, qualities, personality, and variegatedness.

(See also: Advaita-jnana , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Samadhi - meditation or deep trance either upon the Paramatma or upon Krsna’s lila.

(See also: Samadhi , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Jiva - the eternal individual living entity who, in the conditioned state of material existence, assumes a material body in any of the innumerable species of life.

(See also: Jiva , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Bhagavan - the Supreme Lord; the Personality of Godhead. In the Visnu Purana (6.5.72-74) Bhagavan is defined as follows: "suddhe mahavibhuty akhye pare brahmani varttate maitreya bhagavac-chabda sarva-karana-karane; sambharteti tatha bhartta bha-karo ‘rthadvayanvita neta gamayita srasta ga-kararthas tatha mune; aisvaryasya samagrasya dharmasya yasasah sriyah jnana-vairagyayos caiva sannam bhaga itingana - "

The word bhagavat is used to describe the Supreme brahma who possesses all opulences, who is completely pure, and who is the cause of all causes. In the word bhagavat, the syllable bha has two meanings: one who maintains all living entities and one who is the support of all living entities.

Similarly, the syllable ga has two meanings: the creator, and one who causes all living entities to obtain the results of karma and jnana. Complete opulence, religiosity, fame, beauty, knowledge, and renunciation are known as bhaga, or fortune.” (The suffix vat means possessing. Thus one who possesses these six fortunes is known as Bhagavan.)

(See also: Bhagavan , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Yogi - one who practices the yoga system with the goal of realization of the Paramatma or of merging into the Lord’s personal body.

(See also: Yogi , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Brahma - the spiritual effulgence emanating from the transcendental body of the Lord; the all-pervading, indistinct feature of the Absolute. Depending on the context, this may sometimes refer to the Supreme Brahma, Sri Krsna, who is the source of brahma.

(See also: Brahma , Bhakti, Bhakti Yoga, Bhakti Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)