The Bow yoga position (Dhanurasana) works all parts of your back simultaneously. In this asana, your head, chest, and legs are lifted, while your body rests on your abdomen. The pose is so named because as you hold it, your body is bent back like a bow and your arms are held straight and taut like a bowstring.

Read more here: » Yoga Poses: The Bow Pose - Yoga Poses

Vedic Yoga and the Three Gunas

The Vedas present a vast pantheon of deities (devatas) on many different levels, often said to be innumerable or infinite in number. One of the main early efforts to classify the Vedic Gods (as in the Brihad Devata of Shaunaka) was to reduce them to the three prime deities for the three worlds.

Agni or Fire on Earth (Prithivi)

Vayu or Wind in the Atmosphere (Antariksha)

Surya or the Sun in Heaven (Dyaus)

These three deities are three aspects of the One God or the Purusha, the supreme consciousness principle and higher Self that is pure light.

Read more here: » Three Gunas: Vedic Yoga and the Three Gunas

SUKSHMA SARIRA: the subtle body, the astral body

(See also: SUKSHMA SARIRA , Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Definition of The Cobra yoga position (Bhujangasana): Coiling your upper body up and back.

Read more here: » Yoga Positions: The Cobra - Yoga Position

In the language of yoga, the purpose or the effect of continuous nada sadhana on the human mind is ananda - extreme bliss.

Nada, or sound, is divided into two parts - aahada and anhada, heard and unheard. Heard means that which is possible for you to hear 'through the physical ears', and unheard means 'felt', which is the condition of nada before it is musically shaped and regularised. Then come the shrutis, then swaras, notes, which from time to time have been explained by the masters.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Peace of Mind: Shunya to Nada Yoga - Journey of Peace

The four main spiritual paths for God-realisation are Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga and Jnana Yoga. Karma Yoga is suitable for a man of active temperament, Bhakti Yoga for a man of devotional temperament, Raja Yoga for a man of mystic temperament, and Jnana Yoga for a man of rational and philosophical temperament, or a man of enquiry.

Mantra Yoga, Laya Yoga or Kundalini Yoga, Lambika Yoga and Hatha Yoga, are other Yogas. Yoga, really, means union with God. The practice of Yoga leads to communion with the Lord. Whatever may be the starting point, the end reached is the same.

Excerpt from All About Hinduism by Sri Swami Sivananda

Read more here: » Hindu Yoga: The Four Paths of Hindu Yoga

O Divine Mother Kundalini, the Divine Cosmic Energy that is hidden in men! Thou art Kali, Durga, Adisakti, Rajarajeswari, Tripurasundari, Maha-Lakshmi, Maha-Sarasvati! Thou hast put on all these names and forms. Thou hast manifested as Prana, electricity, force, magnetism, cohesion, gravitation in this universe. This whole universe rests in Thy bosom. Crores of salutations unto thee. O Mother of this world! Lead me on to open the Sushumna Nadi and take Thee along the Chakras to Sahasrara Chakra and to merge myself in Thee and Thy consort, Lord Siva.

Read more here: » Kundalini Yoga: Preface to Kundalini Yoga by Sri Swami Sivananda

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

Sanskrit dictionary. From Advaita to Yoga.

Please note that all words in grey, like "enlightenment" or "kundalini" are hyperlinked to archives further explaining the term. At the corresponding archive you will also find articles related to the term.

The Bhagavad Gita has been universally hailed by the learned as truly reflecting the essence of all the Vedas. Its depth, richness and rationality of philosophy have universal appeal.

It teaches man that the true goal of life is union with God or the Supreme Impersonal-Personal Brahman, and the principal means to attain it are the four paths of karma or work, jnana or knowledge, yoga or psychic control and bhakti or loving devotion.

(See also: Bhakti Yoga , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Bhakti Yoga: Krishna's Choice - Bhakti Yoga  

The different yoga schools simply adhere to different applications of inner discipline, all of which ultimately lead to the liberation of the soul and to a unique understanding of the Divine Unity. The schools are merely named according to the yogi's objective of self-transformation and the instrument chosen for such anticipated change. The yoga schools are: Ashtanga Yoga, Purna Yoga, Integral Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Karma Yoga, Raja Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Mantra Yoga,and Tantra Yoga.

Read more here: » Yoga Schools: The different Schools of Yoga

During the Spiral Twists yoga position (Ardha Matsyendrasana) your vertebrae are mobilized; the exercises also allow more nourishment to reach the roots of the spinal nerves and the sympathetic nevous system.

Read more here: » Yoga Positions: Spinal Twisting - Yoga Position

Greco-Buddhism, sometimes spelled Græco-Buddhism, is the cultural syncretism between the culture of Classical Greece and Buddhism, which developed over a period of close to 800 years in Central Asia in the area corresponding to modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan, between the 4th century BCE and the 5th century CE. Greco-Buddhism influenced the artistic (and, possibly, conceptual) development of Buddhism, and in particular Mahayana Buddhism, before it was adopted by Central and Northeastern Asia from the 1st century CE, ultima ...

Including:

• Greco-Buddhism - Historical outline
• Greco-Buddhism - Religious interactions
• Greco-Buddhism - Alexander the Great in Bactria and India 331-325
• Greco-Buddhism - The Mauryan empire 322–183 BCE
• Greco-Buddhism - The Greek presence in Bactria 325 to 125 BCE
• Greco-Buddhism - The Indo-Greek kingdom and Buddhism 180 BCE –10 CE
• Greco-Buddhism - The Kushan empire 1st–3rd century CE
• Greco-Buddhism - Artistic influences
• Greco-Buddhism - The anthropomorphic representation of the Buddha
• Greco-Buddhism - A Hellenized Buddhist pantheon
• Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the rise of the Mahayana
• Greco-Buddhism - Conceptual influences
• Greco-Buddhism - Gandharan proselytism
• Greco-Buddhism - Intellectual influences in Asia
• Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the West
• Greco-Buddhism - Exchanges
• Greco-Buddhism - Religious influences
• Greco-Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » Greco-Buddhism: Encyclopedia - Greco-Buddhism

Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

Hatha Yoga is the branch of Yoga that focuses on the physical well-being of a person and sees the body as the driver of the spirit. Each of these styles of yoga use Asanas or poses to balance the body, mind and spirit. However, some emphasise the alignment of the body while others concentrate on co-ordinating the movement and breath. Ten of the most common styles of Hatha Yoga are described: Ashtanga Yoga, Iyengar Yoga, Viniyoga, Bikram Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Ananda Yoga, Anusara Yoga, Jivamukti Yoga, Sivananda Yoga and Svaroopa Yoga.

Read more here: » Hatha Yoga: Hatha Yoga Styles

The Fish Yoga Position (Matsyasana) is the stretch that counters the Plough, and so follows them in Yoga session. The name of the posture derives from the fact that if you adopt the position in water, you will float quite easily.

Read more here: » Yoga Positions: The Fish - Yoga Position

Buddhist art originated in the Indian subcontinent in the centuries following the life of the historical Gautama Buddha in the 6th to 5th century BCE, before evolving through its contact with other cultures and its diffusion through the rest of Asia and the world. A first, essentially Indian, aniconic phase (avoiding direct representations of the Buddha), was followed from around the 1st century CE by an iconic phase (with direct representations of the Buddha). From that time, Buddhist art diversified and evolved ...

Including:

• Buddhist art - Aniconic phase 5th century - 1st century BCE
• Buddhist art - Iconic phase 1st century CE – present
• Buddhist art - Northern Buddhist art
• Buddhist art - Central Asia
• Buddhist art - China
• Buddhist art - Korea
• Buddhist art - Japan
• Buddhist art - Tibet and Bhutan
• Buddhist art - Vietnam
• Buddhist art - Southern Buddhist art
• Buddhist art - Burma
• Buddhist art - Cambodia
• Buddhist art - Thailand
• Buddhist art - Indonesia

Read more here: » Buddhist art

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Urdu: اسلامی جمہوریۂ پاکستان, islāmī jamhūriya i pākistān), or Pakistan (Urdu: پاکستان, pākistān) is a country located in South Asia that overlaps onto the Greater Middle East and Central Asia. The country borders Iran (Persia), Afghanistan, China, India and the Arabian Sea. The name of the country "Pakistan" in Urdu and Persian means Land of the Pure. With around 163 million inhabitants, it is the sixth most populous country with the secon ...

Including:

• Pakistan - History
• Pakistan - Ancient History
• Pakistan - Arrival of Islam
• Pakistan - Pre-colonial History
• Pakistan - British rule
• Pakistan - Independence and After
• Pakistan - Politics
• Pakistan - Domestic Politics
• Pakistan - Foreign Relations
• Pakistan - Political History
• Pakistan - Geography
• Pakistan - Economy
• Pakistan - Overview
• Pakistan - Macroeconomic Reform and Prospects
• Pakistan - Tourism
• Pakistan - Demographics
• Pakistan - Population Statistics
• Pakistan - Religion
• Pakistan - Languages
• Pakistan - Ethnic Groups
• Pakistan - Subdivisions
• Pakistan - Society and Culture
• Pakistan - Roots
• Pakistan - Film Television & Music
• Pakistan - Globalization
• Pakistan - Sports
• Pakistan - Mercantile Culture

Read more here: » Pakistan: Encyclopedia - Pakistan

Please remove this notice after the article has been expanded. Details are on this talk page or at Wikipedia:Requests for expansion. Dwarka is a city in Gujarat, India. Dwaraka is rated as one of the seven most ancient cities in the country. The legendary city of Dwarka in Hindu mythology was the dwelling place of Sri Krishna. It is believed that, due to damage and destruction by the sea, the city of Dwarka has submerged six times and the current city is the 7th city of Dwarka. Recent archealogical findings have ...

Including:

• Dwarka - Geography
• Dwarka - Holy City
• Dwarka - History
• Dwarka - Recent archeological findings
• Dwarka - Under Water Dwaraka Museum
• Dwarka - Places of Interest
• Dwarka - Book

Read more here: » Dwarka: Encyclopedia - Dwarka

Through art and religion, the influence of Greco-Buddhism on the cultural make-up of East Asian countries, especially China, Korea and Japan, may have extended further into the intellectual area. At the same time as Greco-Buddhist art and Mahayana schools of thought such as Dhyana were transmitted to East Asia, central concepts of Hellenic culture such as virtue, excellence or quality may have been adopted by the cultures of Korea and Japan after a long diffusion among the Hellenized cities of Ce ...

See also:

Greco-Buddhism, Greco-Buddhism - Historical outline, Greco-Buddhism - Religious interactions, Greco-Buddhism - Alexander the Great in Bactria and India 331-325, Greco-Buddhism - The Mauryan empire 322–183 BCE, Greco-Buddhism - The Greek presence in Bactria 325 to 125 BCE, Greco-Buddhism - The Indo-Greek kingdom and Buddhism 180 BCE –10 CE, Greco-Buddhism - The Kushan empire 1st–3rd century CE, Greco-Buddhism - Artistic influences, Greco-Buddhism - The anthropomorphic representation of the Buddha, Greco-Buddhism - A Hellenized Buddhist pantheon, Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the rise of the Mahayana, Greco-Buddhism - Conceptual influences, Greco-Buddhism - Gandharan proselytism, Greco-Buddhism - Intellectual influences in Asia, Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the West, Greco-Buddhism - Exchanges, Greco-Buddhism - Religious influences, Greco-Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » Greco-Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Greco-Buddhism - Intellectual influences in Asia

A Yoga Dictionary from Abhyasa to Yukti.

From "Kundalini Yoga" by Sri Swami Sivananda

Yadavs, known by various other names including Gopes, Gaurs, Yadavas, Ahirs ,Kurubas, Abhirs, Surabhirs, Suras, Surasena, Souryasaini, Ghosals,Rawals, Bhatis, Goudas, Pradhans, Rauts, and Yaduvanshis, are among five most ancient Aryan races of Bharata. They mostly follow Hindu religion, and are currently located in different parts of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. Yadav - Mythology. According to Hindu mythology, Yadavas are descendants from Yadu, one of the five Aryan clans mentioned in the Rig Veda. Promine ...

Including:

• Yadav - Mythology
• Yadav - Manusmriti on Ahirs
• Yadav - Introduction
• Yadav - General profile
• Yadav - Major Yadav clans
• Yadav - Scythian origin
• Yadav - Famous Yadavs

Read more here: » Yadav: Encyclopedia - Yadav

The length of the Greek presence in Central Asia and northern India provided opportunities for interaction, not only on the artistic, but also on the religious plane. Greco-Buddhism - Alexander the Great in Bactria and India 331-325. When Alexander conquered the Bactrian and Gandharan regions, these areas may already have been under Buddhist influence. According to a legend preserved in Pali, the language of the Theravada canon, two merchant brothers from Bactria, named Tapassu and Bhallika, visited the Buddha and became his disciples. They then ret ...

See also:

Greco-Buddhism, Greco-Buddhism - Historical outline, Greco-Buddhism - Religious interactions, Greco-Buddhism - Alexander the Great in Bactria and India 331-325, Greco-Buddhism - The Mauryan empire 322–183 BCE, Greco-Buddhism - The Greek presence in Bactria 325 to 125 BCE, Greco-Buddhism - The Indo-Greek kingdom and Buddhism 180 BCE –10 CE, Greco-Buddhism - The Kushan empire 1st–3rd century CE, Greco-Buddhism - Artistic influences, Greco-Buddhism - The anthropomorphic representation of the Buddha, Greco-Buddhism - A Hellenized Buddhist pantheon, Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the rise of the Mahayana, Greco-Buddhism - Conceptual influences, Greco-Buddhism - Gandharan proselytism, Greco-Buddhism - Intellectual influences in Asia, Greco-Buddhism - Greco-Buddhism and the West, Greco-Buddhism - Exchanges, Greco-Buddhism - Religious influences, Greco-Buddhism - Notes

Read more here: » Greco-Buddhism: Encyclopedia II - Greco-Buddhism - Religious interactions