Yoga Asana Index
A - B - C - D -
E - F - G - H - I - J -
K - L - M - N -
O - P - R - S - T - U - V -
W - X -
Y - Z
A
(sid-dhah-sa-na) Siddha-asana - The Sanskrit word siddha means accomplished
or adept, one who has attained the highest. The name implies the
attainment of a perfectly stilled mind and the experience of peace
that results from meditation. The siddha-asana is a
recommended pose for meditation.
B
(dha-noor-ah-sa-na) Dhanura-asana
-The Sanskrit word dhanur means
bow-shaped, curved or bent. The bow referred is a bow as in "bow and
arrow." This asana is so named because the body mimics the shape of
a bow with its string stretched back ready to shoot an
arrow.
C
(oosh-trah-sa-na) Ushtra-asana-The Sanskrit word ushtra means
camel.
(ba-lah-sa-na) Bala-asana
-The Sanskrit word bala means
child.
(na-gah-sa-na)
Naga-asana - The Sanskrit word naga means snake or
serpent. The naga-asana is also known as the
bhujanga-asana. The Sanskrit word
bhujanga, which also means snake, is derived from the root
bhuj which means to bend or curve.
(sha-vah-sa-na) Shava-asana - The Sanskrit word shava means corpse hence
this is the Corpse. The shava-asana is also known as the
mrta-asana.
(go-moo-khah-sa-na) Gomukha literally means "cow face"
in Sanskit.
E
(ga-roo-dah-sa-na) Garuda-asana -
The Sanskrit
word garuda means eagle. In Hindu mythology Garuda is known
as the king of birds. He transports the God Vishnu (shown with a bow
and arrow in the illustration to the left) and is said to be eager
to help humanity fight againt demons.
F
(oo-grah-sa-na) Ugra-asana - The Sanskrit word ugra means powerful, mighty,
strong or noble. We usually keep this posture untranslated but it
can be called the noble or powerful posture. Also known as the
pascimottana-asana or the
brahmacharya-asana. The word pascima
can mean behind, later, last or final but it literally means
"western" as in the direction. Pascimottana thus means
back-stretching
posture.
(maht-see-yah-sa-na)
Matsya-asana - The
Sanskrit word matsya means fish, therefore this is the fish
posture. Matsya (depicted to the left) is a divine being, found in
Hindu mythology, that saved mankind from a universal
flood.
H
(ard-ha-chun-drah-sa-na) Ardhachandra-asana -
The Sanskrit word ardha means
"half," and the word chandra means "moon," thus, this is
the "half moon" posture.
(ard-ha-mat-syen-drah-sa-na) Ardha-matsyendra-asana -
Ardha means half.
Matsyendra is one of many Siddhas or masters who where
accomplished Yogis mentioned in the medieval Yoga text the
Hatha-Yoga-Pradipika.
This posture posture is traditionally called the Spinal Twist
because the spinal column is twisted
gently.
(ha-sta-pah-don-goo-stah-sa-na)
Hasta-pada-angusta-asana - The Sanskrit word hasta means hand,
pada means foot, and angusta means big toe therefore
this is the hand-foot-big toe posture.
(sir-shah-sa-na) Sirsha-asana - The Sanskrit word sirsha means head. This
posture is the well-known headstand posture, and perhaps second only
to the padma-asana or lotus posture, is widely identified
with the practice of Yoga.
(veer-ah-sa-na) Vira-asana - The Sanskrit word vira means hero, brave or
eminent man, or warrior.
K
(nah-tah-raj-ah-sa-na)
Nataraja-asana - The
Sanskrit word nata means dancer and raja means king.
Nataraja is another name for Shiva, the Lord of the Dance, whose
cosmic dance is the creation and destruction of the
world.
L
(sha-la-bhah-sa-na) Shalabha-asana
- The Sanskrit word Shalabha
means locust or grasshopper. There is a variation of this posture
called the viparita-shalabha-asana. The
Sanskrit word viparita means "reverse." This is an advanced
variation not covered here.
(sin-gha-sa-na) Simha-asana - The Sanskrit word simha which literally
means "the powerful one" is the word for "lion." This, therefore is
known as the lion posture, and one performing it can be said to
resemble a roaring lion about to attack.
(pud-mah-sa-na) Padma-asana - The Sanskrit word naga means snake or
serpent. The naga-asana is also known as the
bhujanga-asana. The Sanskrit word
bhujanga, which also means snake, is derived from the root
bhuj which means to bend or
curve.
M
(ta-dah-sa-na) Tada-asana - The Sanskrit word tada means mountain. This
posture is also known by the name samasthiti-asana. Sama
means unmoved, equilibrium, and sthiti means standing upright or
firmly, abiding, remaining, thus samasthiti means standing
firmly without moving.
O
(eka-pod-ah-sa-na) Ekapada-asana - The Sanskrit word eka means one and
pada means foot making this the one-foot, or more commonly,
one-legged pose.
P
(hull-ah-sa-na) Hala-asana -
The The Sanskrit word Hala means
plow, as in a traditional plow that is drawn by a horse or oxen.
When performing this posture your body resembles a
plow.
(oo-grah-sa-na)
Ugra-asana -
The Sanskrit word ugra means
powerful, mighty, strong or noble. We usually keep this posture
untranslated but it can be called the noble or powerful
posture.
R
(ba-dah-cone-ah-sa-na) Baddha-kona-asana -
The Sanskrit word baddha means a
bond, chain, caught or restrained. The word pada means
foot, and kona means corner or angle therefore this is the
restrained-foot-angle posture.
S
(ahn-jah-nay-ah-sa-na)
Anjanaya-asana The Sanskrit word anjaneya means salutation
or praise from the root anj which means to honor, to
celebrate, to anoint.
(vrik-shah-sa-na)
Vrischika-asana - The Sanskrit word for scorpion is Vrischika. This posture is so named
because the body resembles a scorpion with its tail arched above its
head ready to sting its victim. Although it may not be a simple
posture for beginners to perform, the Scorpion is not as difficult
as it may at first seem.
(ah-car-nah da-noor ah-sa-na) - Akarna-dhanura-asana -
The Sanskrit word karna means
ear and the prefix "a" means near to or towards.
Dhanur means bow-shaped, curved or bent. The "bow" here
referred to is a bow as in "bow and arrow." Literally we could
translate this as the near-the-ear bow posture but because of the
obvious appearance of the posture we'll call it the shooting bow
posture.
(sar-vong-ah-sa-na)
Sarvanga-asana - The
Sanskrit word sarvaanga means limb or body. sarvanga therefore
translates as either "all-limb" or "whole-body posture". It is so
named because of the benefit it provides to the entire body. It is
commonly referred to as the "shoulder-stand" because one is
essentially standing on one's shoulders.
(soor-yee-ah-nahma-skar)
Surya-namaskar - The Sanskrit word surya
means sun. Namaskar is the Hindi word for Namaste, from the root
nam, to bow. Namaskar means salutation, salute, greeting or
praise.
T
(vuh-drah-sa-na) Vajra-asana - The Sanskrit word vajra means thunderbolt
or diamond.
(vrik-shah-sa-na) Vriksha-asana - The Sanskrit word vriksha means tree, thus
this is the Tree Posture.
(tri-cone-ah-sa-na) Trikona-asana -
The Sanskrit word tri means
three and kona means corner or angle. Thus "three corner or
three angle posture" is often called the triangle posture. This
posture is also known as the utthita trikona-asana.
Utthita means stretched or extended thus this is the Extended
Triangle Pose.
(par-ee-vrit-ah parsh-va-cone-ah-sa-na)
Parivritta-parshvakona-asana
- The Sanskrit word parivritta
means revolved, turned round or back, parsva means side and
kona means angle.
Return to
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W
(chu-krah-sa-na) Chakra-asana - Chakra, from the root
cak ("to move") means wheel and therefore this is the Wheel
Posture.
The cakra-asana is also known as the
urdhva-dhanurasana. Urdhva means
raised, elevated or upright and dhanur means bow. Both
"wheel posture" and "raised bow posture" describe the appearance of
this asana.
(pa-vana
mook-tah-sa-na) Pavana-mukta-asana -
The Sanskrit word pavana means
air or wind and mukta means freedom or release, therefore
this is the "wind relieving posture" so named because it assists in
releasing trapped digestive gas from the stomach and
intestines.
Baddha Vatsayasana in Yoga
Mudra
Bound Equestrian Pose
Demonstrated by André Sidersky
Professional
Photography : Online Asana
Index
~
200 Key
Sanskrit Terms of Yoga
by Georg
Feuerstein
*
Yoga Posture
Index
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Y
A
Abhyâsa — practice; cf.
vairâgya
Âcârya (sometimes spelled
Acharya in English) — a preceptor, instructor; cf. guru
Advaita (“nonduality”) —
the truth and teaching that there is only One Reality (âtman,
brahman), especially as found in the Upanishads; see also Vedânta
Ahamkâra (“I-maker”) —
the individuation principle, or ego, which must be transcended;
cf. asmitâ; see also buddhi, manas
Ahimsâ (“nonharming”) —
the single most important moral discipline (yama)
Âkâsha (“ether/space”) —
the first of the five material elements of which the physical
universe is composed; also used to designate “inner” space, that
is, the space of consciousness (called cid-âkâsha)
Amrita
(“immortal/immortality”) — a designation of the deathless Spirit
(âtman, purusha); also the nectar of immortality that oozes from
the psychoenergetic center at the crown of the head (see
sahasrâra-cakra) when it is activated and transforms the body into
a “divine body” (divya-deha)
Ânanda (“bliss”) — the
condition of utter joy, which is an essential quality of the
ultimate Reality (tattva)
Anga (“limb”) — a
fundamental category of the yogic path, such as âsana, dhâranâ,
dhyâna, niyama, prânâyâma, pratyâhâra, samâdhi, yama; also the
body (deha, sharîra)
Âranyaka (“that which
pertains to the forest”) — an early type of ritual text used by
forest-dwelling renouncers; cf. Brahmana, Upanishad, Veda
Arjuna (“White”) — one of
the five Pandava princes who fought in the great war depicted in
the Mahâbhârata, disciple of the God-man Krishna whose teachings
can be found in the Bhagavad-Gîtâ
Âsana (“seat”) — a
physical posture (see also anga, mudrâ); the third limb (anga) of
Patanjali’s eightfold path (astha-anga-yoga); originally this
meant only meditation posture, but subsequently, in Hatha-Yoga,
this aspect of the yogic path was greatly developed
Âshrama (“that where
effort is made”) — a hermitage; also a stage of life, such as
brahmacarya, householder, forest dweller, and complete renouncer
(samnyâsin)
Ashta-anga-yoga,
ashtanga-yoga (“eight-limbed union”)—the eightfold Yoga of
Patanjali, consisting of moral discipline (yama), self-restraint
(niyama), posture (âsana), breath control (prânâyâma), sensory
inhibition (pratyâhâra), concentration (dhâranâ), meditation
(dhyâna), and ecstasy (samâdhi), leading to liberation (kaivalya)
Asmita (“I-am-ness”) — a
concept of Patanjali’s eight-limbed Yoga, roughly synonymous with
ahamkâra
Âtman (“self”) — the
transcendental Self, or Spirit, which is eternal and
superconscious; our true nature or identity; sometimes a
distinction is made between the âtman as the individual self and
the parama-âtman as the transcendental Self; see also purusha; cf.
brahman
Avadhuta (“he who has
shed [everything]”) — a radical type of renouncer (samnyâsin) who
often engages in unconventional behavior
Avidya (“ignorance”) —
the root cause of suffering (duhkha); also called ajnâna; cf.
vidyâ
Âyurveda, Âyur-veda
(“life science”) — one of India’s traditional systems of medicine,
the other being South India’s Siddha medicine
Return-A
B
Bandha (“bond/bondage”) — the
fact that human beings are typically bound by ignorance (avidyâ),
which causes them to lead a life governed by karmic habit rather
than inner freedom generated through wisdom (vidyâ, jnâna)
Bhagavad-Gîtâ(“Lord’s
Song”) — the oldest full-fledged Yoga book found embedded in the
Mahâbhârata and containing the teachings on Karma-Yoga (the path
of self-transcending action), Sâmkhya-Yoga (the path of discerning
the principles of existence correctly), and Bhakti-Yoga (the path
of devotion), as given by the God-man Krishna to Prince Arjuna on
the battlefield 3,500 years or more ago
Bhâgavata-Purâna
(“Ancient [Tradition] of the Bhâgavatas”) — a voluminous
tenth-century scripture held sacred by the devotees of the Divine
in the form of Vishnu, especially in his incarnate form as
Krishna; also called Shrîmad-Bhâgavata
Bhakta (“devotee”) — a
disciple practicing Bhakti-Yoga
Bhakti (“devotion/love”)
— the love of the bhakta toward the Divine or the guru as a
manifestation of the Divine; also the love of the Divine toward
the devotee
Bhakti-Sűtra (“Aphorisms
on Devotion”) — an aphoristic work on devotional Yoga authored by
Sage Nârada; another text by the same title is ascribed to Sage
Shândilya
Bhakti-Yoga (“Yoga of
devotion”) — a major branch of the Yoga tradition, utilizing the
feeling capacity to connect with the ultimate Reality conceived as
a supreme Person (uttama-purusha)
Bindu (“seed/point”) —
the creative potency of anything where all energies are focused;
the dot (also called tilaka) worn on the forehead as indicative of
the third eye
Bodhi (“enlightenment”) —
the state of the awakened master, or buddha
Bodhisattva
(“enlightenment being”) — in Mahayana Buddhist Yoga, the
individual who, motivated by compassion (karunâ), is committed to
achieving enlightenment for the sake of all other beings
Brahma (“he who has grown
expansive”) — the Creator of the universe, the first principle
(tattva) to emerge out of the ultimate Reality (brahman)
Brahmacarya (from brahma
and carya “brahmic conduct”) — the discipline of chastity, which
produces ojas
Brahman (“that which has
grown expansive”) — the ultimate Reality (cf. âtman, purusha)
Brahmana — a brahmin, a
member of the highest social class of traditional Indian society;
also an early type of ritual text explicating the rituals and
mythology of the four Vedas; cf. Âranyaka, Upanishad, Veda
Buddha (“awakened”) — a
designation of the person who has attained enlightenment (bodhi)
and therefore inner freedom; honorific title of Gautama, the
founder of Buddhism, who lived in the sixth century B.C.E.
Buddhi (“she
who is conscious, awake”) — the higher mind, which is the seat of
wisdom (vidyâ, jnâna); cf. manas
Return-B
C
Cakra (“wheel”) —
literally, the wheel of a wagon; metaphorically, one of the
psycho-energetic centers of the subtle body (sűkshma-sharîra); in
Buddhist Yoga, five such centers are known, while in Hindu Yoga
often seven or more such centers are mentioned: műla-âdhâra-cakra
(műlâdhâra-cakra) at the base of the spine, svadhishthâna-cakra at
the genitals, manipura-cakra at the navel, anâhata-cakra at the
heart, vishuddha- or vishuddhi-cakra at the throat, âjnâ-cakra in
the middle of the head, and sahasrâra-cakra at the top of the head
Cin-mudrâ(“consciousness
seal”) — a common hand gesture (mudrâ) in meditation (dhyâna),
which is formed by bringing the tips of the index finger and the
thumb together, while the remaining fingers are kept straight
Cit (“consciousness”) —
the superconscious ultimate Reality (see âtman, brahman)
Citta (“that which is conscious”) — ordinary
consciousness, the mind, as opposed to cit
D
Darshana (“seeing”) —
vision in the literal and metaphorical sense; a system of
philosophy, such as the yoga-darshana of Patanjali; cf. drishti
Deva (“he who is
shining”) — a male deity, such as Shiva, Vishnu, or Krishna,
either in the sense of the ultimate Reality or a high angelic
being
Devî(“she who is
shining”) — a female deity such as Pârvatî, Lakshmî, or Râdhâ,
either in the sense of the ultimate Reality (in its feminine pole)
or a high angelic being
Dhâranâ(“holding”) —
concentration, the sixth limb (anga) of Patanjali’s eight-limbed
Yoga
Dharma (“bearer”) — a
term of numerous meanings; often used in the sense of “law,”
“lawfulness,” “virtue,” “righteousness,” “norm”
Dhyâna (“ideating”) —
meditation, the seventh limb (anga) of Patanjali’s eight-limbed
Yoga
Dîkshâ(“initiation”) —
the act and condition of induction into the hidden aspects of Yoga
or a particular lineage of teachers; all traditional Yoga is
initiatory
Drishti (“view/sight”) —
yogic gazing, such as at the tip of the nose or the spot between
the eyebrows; cf. darshana
Duhkha (“bad axle
space”) — suffering, a fundamental fact of life, caused by
ignorance (avidyâ) of our true nature (i.e., the Self or
âtman)
Return-C
G
Gâyatrî-mantra — a famous
Vedic mantra recited particularly at sunrise: tat savitur varenyam
bhargo devasya dhîmahi dhiyo yo nah pracodayât, “Let us
contemplate that most excellent splendor of God Savitri so that he
may inspire our visions."
Gheranda-Samhitâ(“[Sage]
Gheranda’s Compendium”) — one of three major manuals of classical
Hatha-Yoga, composed in the seventeenth century; cf.
Hatha-Yoga-Pradîpikâ, Shiva-Samhitâ
Goraksha (“Cow
Protector”) — traditionally said to be the founding adept of
Hatha-Yoga, a disciple of Matsyendra
Granthi (“knot”) — any
one of three common blockages in the central pathway
(sushumnâ-nâdî) preventing the full ascent of the serpent power
(kundalinî-shakti); the three knots are known as brahma-granthi
(at the lowest psychoenergetic center of the subtle body), the
vishnu-granthi (at the heart), and the rudra-granthi (at the
eyebrow center)
Guna (“quality”) — a term
that has numerous meanings, including “virtue”; often refers to
any of the three primary “qualities” or constituents of Nature
(prakriti): tamas (the principle of inertia), rajas (the dynamic
principle), and sattva (the principle of lucidity)
Guru (“he who is heavy,
weighty”) — a spiritual teacher; cf. acarya
Guru-bhakti (“teacher
devotion”) — a disciple’s self-transcending devotion to the guru;
see also bhakti
Guru-Gîtâ (“Guru’s Song”)
— a text in praise of the guru, often chanted in âshramas
Guru-Yoga (“Yoga
[relating to] the teacher”) — a yogic approach that makes the guru
the fulcrum of a disciple’s practice; all traditional forms of
Yoga contain a strong element of guru-yoga
H
Hamsa (“swan/gander”) —
apart from the literal meaning, this term also refers to the
breath (prâna) as it moves within the body; the individuated
consciousness (jîva) propelled by the breath; see jîva-âtman; see
also parama-hamsa
Hatha-Yoga (“Forceful
Yoga”) — a major branch of Yoga, developed by Goraksha and other
adepts c. 1000 C.E., and emphasizing the physical aspects of the
transformative path, notably postures (âsana) and cleansing
techniques (shodhana), but also breath control (prânâyâma)
Hatha-Yoga-Pradîpikâ
(“Light on Hatha-Yoga”) — one of three classical manuals on
Hatha-Yoga, authored by Svâtmârâma Yogendra in the fourteenth
century
Hiranyagarbha
(“Golden Germ”) — the mythical founder of Yoga; the first
cosmological principle (tattva) to emerge out of the infinite
Reality; also called Brahma
Return-G
I
Idâ-nâdî(“pale conduit”)
— the prâna current or arc ascending on the left side of the
central channel (sushumnâ-nâdî) associated with the
parasympathetic nervous system and having a cooling or calming
effect on the mind when activated; cf. pingalâ-nâdî
Îshvara (“ruler”) — the
Lord; referring either to the Creator (see Brahma) or, in
Patanjali’s yoga-darshana, to a special transcendental Self
(purusha)
Îshvara-pranidhâna (“dedication to the Lord”) — in
Patanjali’s eight-limbed Yoga one of the practices of
self-restraint (niyama); see also Bhakti-Yoga
J
Jaina (sometimes Jain) —
pertaining to the jînas (“conquerors”), the liberated adepts of
Jainism; a member of Jainism, the spiritual tradition founded by
Vârdhamana Mahâvîra, a contemporary of Gautama the Buddha
Japa (“muttering”) — the
recitation of mantras
Jîva-âtman, jîvâtman
(“individual self”) — the individuated consciousness, as opposed
to the ultimate Self (parama-âtman)
Jîvan-mukta (“he who is
liberated while alive”) — an adept who, while still embodied, has
attained liberation (moksha)
Jîvan-mukti (“living
liberation”) — the state of liberation while being embodied; cf.
videha-mukti
Jnâna
(“knowledge/wisdom”) — both worldly knowledge or
world-transcending wisdom, depending on the context; see also
prajnâ; cf. avidyâ
Jnâna-Yoga (“Yoga of
wisdom”) — the path to liberation based on wisdom, or the direct
intuition of the transcendental Self (âtman) through the steady
application of discernment between the Real and the unreal and
renunciation of what has been identified as unreal (or
inconsequential to the achievement of liberation)
K
Kaivalya (“isolation”) —
the state of absolute freedom from conditioned existence, as
explained in ashta-anga-yoga; in the nondualistic (advaita)
traditions of India, this is usually called moksha or mukti
(meaning “release” from the fetters of ignorance, or avidyâ)
Kali — a Goddess
embodying the fierce (dissolving) aspect of the Divine
Kali-yuga — the dark age
of spiritual and moral decline, said to be current now; kali does
not refer to the Goddess Kali but to the losing throw of a die
Kama (“desire”) — the
appetite for sensual pleasure blocking the path to true bliss
(ânanda); the only desire conducive to freedom is the impulse
toward liberation, called mumukshutva
Kapila (“He who is red”)
— a great sage, the quasi-mythical founder of the Sâmkhya
tradition, who is said to have composed the Sâmkhya-Sűtra (which,
however, appears to be of a much later date)
Karman, karma (“action”)
— activity of any kind, including ritual acts; said to be binding
only so long as engaged in a self-centered way; the “karmic”
consequence of one’s actions; destiny
Karma-Yoga (“Yoga of
action”) — the liberating path of self-transcending action
Karunâ(“compassion”) —
universal sympathy; in Buddhist Yoga the complement of wisdom
(prajnâ)
Khecari-mudrâ(“space-walking seal”) — the Tantric
practice of curling the tongue back against the upper palate in
order to seal the life energy (prâna); see also mudrâ
Kosha (“casing”) — any
one of five “envelopes” surrounding the transcendental Self
(âtman) and thus blocking its light: anna-maya-kosha (“envelope
made of food,” the physical body), prâna-maya-kosha (“envelope
made of life force”), mano-maya-kosha (“envelope made of mind”),
vijnâna-maya-kosha (“envelope made of consciousness”), and
ânanda-maya-kosha (“envelope made of bliss”); some older
traditions regard the last kosha as identical with the Self
(âtman)
Krishna (“Puller”) — an
incarnation of God Vishnu, the God-man whose teachings can be
found in the Bhagavad-Gîtâ and the Bhâgavata-Purâna
Kumbhaka (“potlike”) —
breath retention; cf. pűraka, recaka
Kundalinî-shakti (“coiled
power”) — according to Tantra and Hatha-Yoga, the serpent power or
spiritual energy, which exists in potential form at the lowest
psycho-energetic center of the body (i.e., the műla-âdhâra-cakra)
and which must be awakened and guided to the center at the crown
(i.e., the sahasrâra-cakra) for full enlightenment to occur
Kundalinî-Yoga — the
yogic path focusing on the kundalini process as a means of
liberation
Return-I,J
Valakhilyasana II
One-Legged Pigeon-Looking
Posture
Demonstrated by Desiree
Rumbaugh
L
Laya-Yoga (“Yoga of
dissolution”) — an advanced form or process of Tantric Yoga by
which the energies associated with the various psycho-energetic
centers (cakra) of the subtle body are gradually dissolved through
the ascent of the serpent power (kundalinî-shakti)
Linga
(“mark”) — the phallus as a principle of creativity; a symbol of
God Shiva; cf. yoni
M
Mahâbhârata (“Great
Bharata”) — one of India’s two great ancient epics telling of the
great war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas and serving as a
repository for many spiritual and moral teachings
Mahatma (from mahâ-âtman,
“great self”) — an honorific title (meaning something like “a
great soul”) bestowed on particularly meritorious individuals,
such as Gandhi
Maithunâ (“twinning”) —
the Tantric sexual ritual in which the participants view each
other as Shiva and Shakti respectively
Manas (“mind”) — the
lower mind, which is bound to the senses and yields information
(vijnâna) rather than wisdom (jnâna, vidyâ); cf. buddhi
Mandala (“circle”) — a
circular design symbolizing the cosmos and specific to a deity
Mantra (from the verbal
root man “to think”) — a sacred sound or phrase, such as om, hum,
or om namah shivâya, that has a transformative effect on the mind
of the individual reciting it; to be ultimately effective, a
mantra needs to be given in an initiatory context (dîkshâ)
Mantra-Yoga — the yogic
path utilizing mantras as the primary means of liberation
Marman (“lethal [spot]”)
— in Ayur-Veda and Yoga, a vital spot on the physical body where
energy is concentrated or blocked; cf. granthi
Matsyendra (“Lord of
Fish”) — an early Tantric master who founded the Yogini-Kaula
school and is remembered as a teacher of Goraksha
Mâyâ(“she who measures”)
— the deluding or illusive power of the world; illusion by which
the world is seen as separate from the ultimate singular Reality
(âtman)
Moksha (“release”) — the
condition of freedom from ignorance (avidyâ) and the binding
effect of karma; also called mukti, kaivalya
Mudrâ(“seal”) — a hand
gesture (such as cin-mudrâ) or whole-body gesture (such as
viparîta-karanî-mudrâ); also a designation of the feminine partner
in the Tantric sexual ritual
Muni (“he who is
silent”) — a sage
N
Nâda (“sound”) — the
inner sound, as it can be heard through the practice of Nâda-Yoga
or Kundalinî-Yoga
Nâda-Yoga (“Yoga of the
[inner] sound”) — the Yoga or process of producing and intently
listening to the inner sound as a means of concentration and
ecstatic self-transcendence
Nâdî (“conduit”) — one of
72,000 or more subtle channels along or through which the life
force (prâna) circulates of which the three most important ones
are the idâ-nâdî, pingalâ-nâdî, and sushumnâ-nâdî
Nâdî-shodhana (“channel
cleansing”) — the practice of purifying the conduits, especially
by means of breath control (prânâyâma)
Nârada — a great sage
associated with music, who taught Bhakti-Yoga and is attributed
with the authorship of one of two Bhakti-Sűtras
Nâtha (“lord”) —
appellation of many North Indian masters of Yoga, in particular
adepts of the Kanphâta (“Split-ear”) school allegedly founded by
Goraksha
Neti-neti (“not thus, not
thus”) — an Upanishadic expression meant to convey that the
ultimate Reality is neither this nor that, that is, is beyond all
description
Nirodha (“restriction”) —
in Patanjali’s eight-limbed Yoga, the very basis of the process of
concentration, meditation, and ecstasy; in the first instance, the
restriction of the “whirls of the mind” (citta-vritti)
Niyama
(“[self-]restraint”) — the second limb of Patanjali’s eightfold
path, which consists of purity (shauca), contentment (samtosha),
austerity (tapas), study (svâdhyâya), and dedication to the Lord
(îshvara-pranidhâna)
Nyâsa (“placing”) — the
Tantric practice of infusing various body parts with life force
(prâna) by touching or thinking of the respective physical
area
Return-L,M
O
Ojas (“vitality”) — the
subtle energy produced through practice, especially the discipline
of chastity (brahmacarya)
Om — the original mantra
symbolizing the ultimate Reality, which is prefixed to many
mantric utterances
P
Parama-âtman or
paramâtman (“supreme self”) — the transcendental Self, which is
singular, as opposed to the individuated self (jîva-âtman) that
exists in countless numbers in the form of living beings
Parama-hamsa, paramahansa
(“supreme swan”) — an honorific title given to great adepts, such
as Ramakrishna and Yogananda
Patanjali — compiler of
the Yoga-Sűtra, who lived c. 150 C.E.
Pingalâ-nâdî (“reddish
conduit”) — the prâna current or arc ascending on the right side
of the central channel (sushumnâ-nâdî) and associated with the
sympathetic nervous system and having an energizing effect on the
mind when activated; cf. idâ-nâdî
Prajnâ (“wisdom”) — the
opposite of spiritual ignorance (ajnâna, avidyâ); one of two means
of liberation in Buddhist Yoga, the other being skillful means
(upâya), i.e., compassion (karunâ)
Prakriti (“creatrix”) —
Nature, which is multilevel and, according to Patanjali’s
yoga-darshana, consists of an eternal dimension (called pradhâna
or “foundation”), levels of subtle existence (called
sűkshma-parvan), and the physical or coarse realm (called
sthűla-parvan); all of Nature is deemed unconscious (acit), and
therefore it is viewed as being in opposition to the
transcendental Self or Spirit (purusha)
Prakriti-laya (“merging
into Nature”) — a high-level state of existence that falls short
of actual liberation (kaivalya); the being who has attained that
state
Prâna (“life/breath”) —
life in general; the life force sustaining the body; the breath as
an external manifestation of the subtle life force
Prânâyâma (from prâna and
âyâma, “life/breath extension”) — breath control, the fourth limb
(anga) of Patanjali’s eigthfold path, consisting of conscious
inhalation (pűraka), retention (kumbhaka), and exhalation
(recaka); at an advanced state, breath retention occurs
spontaneously for longer periods of time
Prasâda (“grace/clarity”)
— divine grace; mental clarity
Pratyâhâra (“withdrawal”)
— sensory inhibition, the fifth limb (anga) of Patanjali’s
eightfold path
Pűjâ (“worship”) — ritual
worship, which is an important aspect of many forms of Yoga,
notably Bhakti-Yoga and Tantra.
Pűraka (“filling in”) —
inhalation, an aspect of breath control (prânâyâma).
Purâna (“Ancient
[History]”) — a type of popular encyclopedia dealing with royal
genealogy, cosmology, philosophy, and ritual; there are eighteen
major and many more minor works of this nature.
Purusha (“male”) — the
transcendental Self (âtman) or Spirit, a designation that is
mostly used in Samkhya and Patanjali’s
yoga-darshana.
R
Râdhâ— the God-man
Krishna’s spouse; a name of the divine Mother
Râja-Yoga (“Royal Yoga”)
— a late medieval designation of Patanjali’s eightfold
yoga-darshana, also known as Classical Yoga
Râma — an incarnation of
God Vishnu preceding Krishna; the principal hero of the Ramayana
Râmâyana (“Rama’s life”)
— one of India’s two great national epics telling the story of
Rama; cf. Mahâbhârata
Recaka (“expulsion”) —
exhalation, an aspect of breath control (prânâyâma)
Rig-Veda; see Veda
Rishi
(“seer”) — a category of Vedic sage; an honorific title of certain
venerated masters, such as the South Indian sage Ramana, who is
known as mahârshi (from mahâmeaning “great” and rishi); cf.
muni
Return-O,P
Ustrasana
(Variation)
Camel Pose
Variation
Demonstrated by André
Sidersky
S
Sâdhana or sâdhanâ
(“accomplishing”) — spiritual discipline leading to siddhi
(“perfection” or “accomplishment”); the term is specifically used
in Tantra
Sahaja (“together born”)
— a medieval term denoting the fact that the transcendental
Reality and the empirical reality are not truly separate but
coexist, or with the latter being an aspect or misperception of
the former; often rendered as “spontaneous” or “spontaneity”; the
sahaja state is the natural condition, that is, enlightenment or
realization
Samâdhi (“putting
together”) — the ecstatic or unitive state in which the meditator
becomes one with the object of meditation, the eighth and final
limb (anga) of Patanjali’s eightfold path; there are many types of
samâdhi, the most significant distinction being between
samprajnâta (conscious) and asamprajnâta (supraconscious) ecstasy;
only the latter leads to the dissolution of the karmic factors
deep within the mind; beyond both types of ecstasy is
enlightenment, which is also sometimes called sahaja-samâdhi or
the condition of “natural” or “spontaneous” ecstasy, where there
is perfect continuity of superconscious throughout waking,
dreaming, and sleeping
Samatva or samatâ
(“evenness”) — the mental condition of harmony, balance
Sâmkhya (“Number”) — one
of the main traditions of Hinduism, which is concerned with the
classification of the principles (tattva) of existence and their
proper discernment in order to distinguish between Spirit
(purusha) and the various aspects of Nature (prakriti); this
influential system grew out of the ancient (pre-Buddhist)
Sâmkhya-Yoga tradition and was codified in the Sâmkhya-Kârikâ of
Îshvara Krishna (c. 350 C.E.)
Samnyâsa (“casting off”)
— the state of renunciation, which is the fourth and final stage
of life (see âshrama) and consisting primarily in an inner turning
away from what is understood to be finite and secondarily in an
external letting go of finite things; cf. vairâgya
Samnyâsin (“he who has
cast off”) — a renouncer
Samprajnâta-samâdhi; see
samâdhi
Samsâra (“confluence”) —
the finite world of change, as opposed to the ultimate Reality
(brahman or nirvâna)
Samskâra (“activator”) —
the subconscious impression left behind by each act of volition,
which, in turn, leads to renewed psychomental activity; the
countless samskâras hidden in the depth of the mind are ultimately
eliminated only in asamprajnâta-samâdhi (see samâdhi)
Samyama (“constraint”) —
the combined practice of concentration (dhâranâ), meditation
(dhyâna), and ecstasy (samâdhi) in regard to the same object
Sat
(“being/reality/truth”) — the ultimate Reality (âtman or brahman)
Sat-sanga (“true
company/company of Truth”) — the practice of frequenting the good
company of saints, sages, Self-realized adepts, and their
disciples, in whose company the ultimate Reality can be felt more
palpably
Satya
(“truth/truthfulness”) — truth, a designation of the ultimate
Reality; also the practice of truthfulness, which is an aspect of
moral discipline (yama)
Shakti (“power”) — the
ultimate Reality in its feminine aspect, or the power pole of the
Divine; see also kundalinî-shakti
Shakti-pâta (“descent of
power”) — the process of initiation, or spiritual baptism, by
means of the benign transmission of an advanced or even
enlightened adept (siddha), which awakens the shakti within a
disciple, thereby initiating or enhancing the process of
liberation
Shankara (“He who is
benevolent”) — the eighth-century adept who was the greatest
proponent of nondualism (Advaita Vedânta) and whose philosophical
school was probably responsible for the decline of Buddhism in
India
Shishya
(“student/disciple”) — the initiated disciple of a guru
Shiva (“He who is
benign”) — the Divine; a deity that has served yogins as an
archetypal model throughout the ages
Shiva-Sűtra (“Shiva’s
Aphorisms”) — like the Yoga-Sűtra of Patanjali, a classical work
on Yoga, as taught in the Shaivism of Kashmir; authored by
Vasugupta (ninth century C.E.)
Shodhana
(“cleansing/purification”) — a fundamental aspect of all yogic
paths; a category of purification practices in Hatha-Yoga
Shraddhâ (“faith”) — an
essential disposition on the yogic path, which must be
distinguished from mere belief
Shuddhi
(“purification/purity”) — the state of purity; a synonym of
shodhana
Siddha (“accomplished”) —
an adept, often of Tantra; if fully Self-realized, the designation
maha-siddha or “great adept” is often used
Siddha-Yoga (“Yoga of the
adepts”) — a designation applied especially to the Yoga of
Kashmiri Shaivism, as taught by Swami Muktananda (twentieth
century)
Siddhi
(“accomplishment/perfection”) — spiritual perfection, the
attainment of flawless identity with the ultimate Reality (âtman
or brahman); paranormal ability, of which the Yoga tradition knows
many kinds
Spanda (“vibration”) — a
key concept of Kashmir’s Shaivism according to which the ultimate
Reality itself “quivers,” that is, is inherently creative rather
than static (as conceived in Advaita Vedânta)
Sushumnâ-nâdî (“very
gracious channel”) — the central prâna current or arc in or along
which the serpent power (kundalinî-shakti) must ascend toward the
psychoenergetic center (cakra) at the crown of the head in order
to attain liberation (moksha)
Sűtra (“thread”) — an
aphoristic statement; a work consisting of aphoristic statements,
such as Patanjali’s Yoga-Sűtra or Vasugupta’s Shiva-Sűtra
Svâdhyâya (“one’s own
going into”) — study, an important aspect of the yogic path,
listed among the practices of self-restraint (niyama) in
Patanjali’s eightfold Yoga; the recitation of mantras (see also
japa)
T
Tantra (“Loom”) — a type
of Sanskrit work containing Tantric teachings; the tradition of
Tantrism, which focuses on the shakti side of spiritual life and
which originated in the early post-Christian era and achieved its
classical features around 1000 C.E.; Tantrism has a “right-hand”
(dakshina) or conservative and a “left-hand” (vâma) or
unconventional/antinomian branch, with the latter utilizing, among
other things, sexual rituals
Tapas (“glow/heat”) —
austerity, penance, which is an ingredient of all yogic
approaches, since they all involve self-transcendence
Tattva (“thatness”) — a
fact or reality; a particular category of existence such as the
ahamkâra, buddhi, manas; the ultimate Reality (see also âtman,
brahman)
Turîya (“fourth”),
also called cathurtha — the transcendental Reality, which exceeds
the three conventional states of consciousness, namely waking,
sleeping, and dreaming
Return-S
U
Upanishad (“sitting
near”) — a type of scripture representing the concluding portion
of the revealed literature of Hinduism, hence the designation
Vedânta for the teachings of these sacred works; cf. Âranyaka,
Brâhmana, Veda
Upâya (“means”) —
in Buddhist Yoga, the practice of compassion (karunâ); cf.
prajnâ.
V
Vairâgya (“dispassion”) —
the attitude of inner renunciation, the counterpole to abhyâsa;
cf. samnyâsa
Vâsanâ (“trait”) — the
concatenation of subliminal activators (samskâra) deposited in the
depth of the mind where they exert a binding effect
Veda (“knowledge”) — the
body of sacred wisdom found in the four Vedic hymnodies that form
the source of Hinduism: Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sâma-Veda, and
Atharva-Veda; also the collective name for these hymnodies; cf.
Vedânta
Vedânta (“Veda’s end”) —
the teachings forming the doctrinal conclusion of the revealed
literature (shruti) of Hinduism; see also Upanishad; cf. Âranyaka,
Brâhmana, Veda
Videha-mukti
(“disembodied liberation”) — the state of liberation without a
physical or subtle body; cf. jîvan-mukti
Vidyâ
(“knowledge/wisdom”) — a synonym of prajnâ
Vijnâna Bhikshu — a
sixteenth-century Yoga master who authored several works on Yoga,
including the Yoga-Vârttika (a comprehensive commentary on the
Yoga-Sűtra) and Yoga-Sâra-Samgraha (a summary of Râja-Yoga as
taught by Patanjali)
Vishnu (“Worker”) — the
deity who is worshiped by the Vaishnavas and who has had nine
incarnations, including Râma and Krishna, with the tenth
incarnation (avatâra)—Kalki—coming at the close of the kali-yuga
Viveka (“discernment) — a
most important aspect of the yogic path
Vrâtya (from vrata “vow”)
— a member of the sacred brotherhood in Vedic times in whose
circles early yogic practices were developed
Vritti (“whirl”) — in
Patanjali’s yoga-darshana, specifically the five types of mental
activity: valid cognition (pramâna), misconception (viparyaya),
imagination (vikalpa), sleep (nidrâ), and memory (smriti)
Vyâsa (“Arranger”) — name
of several great sages, but specifically referring to Veda Vyasa,
who arranged the Vedic hymnodies in their current form and who
also is attributed with the compilation of the Purânas, the
Mahâbhârata, and other works, including the Yoga-Bhâshya
commentary on the Yoga-Sűtra
Y
Yajna (“sacrifice”) —
ritual sacrifice is fundamental to Hinduism; Yoga also knows of an
inner sacrifice (as accomplished through meditation and
self-surrender)
Yâjnavalkya — the most
renowned sage of the early Upanishadic era
Yama (“discipline”) — the
first “limb” (anga) of Patanjali’s eightfold path, comprising
moral precepts that have universal validity (such as nonharming
and truthfulness); also the name of the Hindu deity of death
Yantra (“device”) — a
geometric design representing the body of one’s meditation deity,
used for external and internal worship
Yoga (“union/discipline”)
— the unitive discipline by which inner freedom is sought;
spiritual practice, as practiced in Hinduism, Buddhism, and
Jainism; the spiritual tradition specific to India; the specific
school of Patanjali (see ashta-anga-yoga)
Yoga-darshana (“Yoga
view/system”) — Patanjali’s Râja-Yoga
Yoga-Sűtra (“Aphorisms of
Yoga”) — Patanjali’s aphoristic compilation forming the source of
Râja-Yoga, also called “Classical Yoga”
Yogin — a male
practitioner of Yoga
Yoginî— a female
practitioner of Yoga
Yoni (“womb”) — the
perineum or female genitals, but also the source of the universe;
cf. linga
Yuga (“age/era”) — a
division of time; see kali-yuga
Return to Key Terms
© 1999 by Georg
Feuerstein
Classic Agni Yoga
Glossary
Treasury of Terms and
Thoughts
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