All words Flashcards
Currently contains all of the words across the YST texts (Sutton gita, Sutton sutras, Easwaran gita). Will add YTT decks as I get through them enough to remove any typos/errors.
abhiniveśa [HY]
the source of fear, attachment to life, one of the kleśas
abhiniveśa [SaS]
clinging to bodily life
abhyantara kumbhaka [HY]
holding the breath after inhaling
ābhyantara vṛtti [SaS]
internal retention of breath
abhyāsa [HY]
practice
abhyāsa [SG]
Regulated practice of a particular discipline.
abhyāsa [SaS]
spiritual practice
abhyāsa [SS]
Regulated practice of a particular discipline.
ācārya [HY]
teacher
ācārya [SG]
A teacher or interpreter of scripture, typically revered by groups of followers.
adharma [EG]
“Not dharma.” Injustice, evil, anything which goes against moral laws.
adhomukha śvānāsana [HY]
downward-facing dog pose
adhyatma [SS]
In relation to the self; a form of knowledge that reveals the true nature of the self.
adi śakti [JC]
primal or supreme power
Adiśeṣa [SaS]
the thousand-headed cobra upon which world the rests according to Hindu mythology
Ādityas [SG]
The twelve most prominent among the Vedic gods; the sons of Aditi.
advaita [SG]
Non-dualism; a strand of Vedanta philosophy that teaches absolute unity of ātman and Brahman, the individual self and the absolute reality.
advaita [EG]
Having no duality; the supreme Reality, which is the “One without a second.” The word advaita is especially used in Vedanta philosophy, which stresses the unity of the Self (Ātman) and Brahman.
advaita [HY]
nondualism
advaita [SS]
Non-dualism; an expression of Vedanta philosophy that teaches absolute unity of ātman and Brahman, the individual self and the absolute reality.
agama [SS]
A scripture or teaching that has been handed down; one of the three means of knowing accepted by Patañjali.
āgami karma [SaS]
karma being performed in the present
agni sāra [HY]
a cleansing process using the “fire” of the human body to remove impurities
agni [HY]
fire, one of the bhūtas
agni [SaS]
fire; the deva (god) or ruling power of fire
ahaṁkāra [EG]
[aham “I”; kāra “maker”] self-will, separateness.
ahaṁkāra [HY]
the sense of “I”
ahaṁkāra [JC]
I-consciousness, ego
ahaṁkāra [SaS]
ego feeling
ahaṁkāra [SG]
That part of our psychological makeup that gives us a sense of selfhood. Can also mean ‘pride’ and ‘arrogance’.
ahaṁkāra [SS]
That part of our psychological makeup that gives us a sense of selfhood. Can also mean ‘pride’ and ‘arrogance’.
aham [SaS]
I
ahimsā [EG]
[a “not”; himsā “violence”] Nonviolence, doing no injury, wishing no harm.
ahiṁsā [HY]
noninjury, consideration, love; one of the yamas
ahiṁsā [SaS]
non-injury (one of the yamas)
ahimsā [SS]
Non harming or non-violence.
ajapa [SaS]
unrepeated
Ajivikas [SS]
Ancient sect that rejected the authority of the Vedas and taught a doctrine based on absolute determinism
akartā [SaS]
non-doer
ākāśa [EG]
Space, sky; the most subtle of the five elements.
ākāśa [HY]
space; one of the bhūtas
ākāśa [JC]
void, also space
ākāśa [SaS]
the ether
akshara [EG]
The eternal; the syllable Om
akshara [SG]
That which does not decay; term applied to both the individual ātman and to the Supreme Deity.
amṛta [JC]
immortal nectar
amṛta [SaS]
nectar; immortality
anāgata [SaS]
not yet come (refers to the silence beyond the OM vibration, the unpronounced praṇava); the heart cakra
anahata nada, śabda brahma [JC]
the unstruck cosmic sound
ānanda [SaS]
bliss
ānanda [HY]
a state of bliss
ānanda [JC]
bliss
ānanda [SS]
Bliss, joy; often referred to as the experience of spiritual awakening.
Ananta [EG]
The cosmic serpent on which Vishnu reclines in rest.
ananta [HY]
without end
ānapānasati [SaS]
(Pali) Buddhist meditation technique involving watching the incoming and outgoing breath
aṅga [HY]
a “limb,” or aspect, of yoga
animā [SS]
The supernatural power that gives one the ability to make oneself minutely small.
anjali [SS]
Prayer.
anna [JC]
food
antaraṅga sādhana [HY]
internal practice in reference to Patañjali’s path of concentration (dhāraṇā), meditation (dhyāna), and integration (samādhi)
antaraṅga [SaS]
internal part
antarāya [HY]
obstacle to a clear and stable mind
antara [HY]
within, internal
antaryamin [SG]
The indweller; a term that can indicate either the ātman or the expansion of the Deity that is present in every being alongside the ātman.
anuloma ujjāyī prāṇāyāma [HY]
prāṇāyāma where one inhales with a sound in the throat (ujjāyī ) and exhales in a regulated way through alternate nostrils
anumāna [SS]
Inference; one of the three means of knowing accepted by Patañjali.
anuśāsanam [SaS]
exposition, instruction
aṇu [SaS]
atom
apāna-vāyu [HY]
the aspect of prāṇa responsible for excretion
apānāsana [HY]
wind-relieving pose
apāna [HY]
dirt; the center in which bodily waste collects
apāna [JC]
one of the five main pranas
apāna [SaS]
energy descending from the navel pit within the human body
apāna [SG]
The outward breath.
apara [EG]
[“Not transcendent”] Lower knowledge; intellectual knowledge.
aparigrahā [HY]
to receive exactly what is appropriate and no more; one of the yamas
aparigrahā [SaS]
non-greed, non-hoarding, non-acceptance of gifts (one of the yamas)
apuṇya [SaS]
non-virtuous; wicked
ap [HY]
water; one of the bhūtas
ardha padma paścimatānāsana [HY]
forward bending half-lotus pose
ardha utkaṭāsana [HY]
half-squat pose
Arjuna [EG]
One of the five Pāndava brothers and an important figure in Indian epic and legend. He is Srī Krishna’s beloved disciple and friend in the Bhagavad Gītā.
artha [JC]
security, meaning
artha [HY]
meaning, purpose
artha [SaS]
meaning; wealth
Aryaman [EG]
“The noble one,” a Vedic god, revered as an ancestor of mankind.
asaṁprajñata samadhi [JC]
unconscious-conscious state, blissful illumination, supreme consciousness
asaṁprajñata [SaS]
undistinguished samādhi (see Book One, sūtra 18)
āsana siddhi [SaS]
accomplishment of an āsana
āsana [HY]
posture
āsana [JC]
posture
āsana [SaS]
pose (the 3rd of the eight limbs of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga); seat
āsana [SG]
A sitting posture, as in yoga practice.
āsana [SS]
A sitting posture; especially as an element of Yoga practice.
asat [EG]
[a “not”; sat “truth, goodness”] Untruth; anything unreal, untrue, or lacking in goodness.
Ashvatthāma [EG]
A great archer and warrior who is Drona’s son.
ashvattha [EG]
The pipal tree, a kind of fig; it is regarded as holy and often grows in temple compounds.
asmitā samādhi [HY]
the merging of the mind with the object of meditation
asmitā [HY]
sense of ego; one of the kleśas
asmitā [SaS]
egoity, ego sense, egoism, I-ness
asmitā [SS]
A sense of personal identity that tends towards individualism.
āśrama [SaS]
a spiritual community where seekers practice and study under the guidance of a spiritual master; every stage of life, such as brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha, and sannyāsa
aṣṭāṅga yoga [SaS]
the Yoga of eight limbs; another name for Rāja Yoga (see Book Two, sūtra 29)
aṣṭāṅga [HY]
eight limbs. Aṣṭāṅga yoga is the eight limbs of yoga as explained by Patañjali in the second chapter of the Yoga Sūtra.
aṣṭāṅga [SaS]
eight-limbed
aṣṭāṅga [SS]
Eight-limbed; a name for the Yoga practice taught by Patañjali.
asteya [HY]
not coveting what belongs to others; one of the yamas
asteya [SaS]
non-stealing (one of the yamas)
āstika [SS]
Orthodox in the sense of accepting the authority and validity of the Vedic revelation.
asura [EG]
In Hindu myth, a demon; figuratively, a being with an evil nature.
asura [SG]
A group of powerful superhuman beings who are generally vicious in nature and who are the eternal enemies of the gods.
ātman [EG]
“Self”; the innermost soul in every creature, which is divine.
ātman [HY]
the self
ātman [SaS]
the Self
ātman [SG]
The spiritual entity that is present within every living being and which brings life to inert matter.
ātman [SS]
The self or soul.
avatāra [EG]
[ava “down”; tri “to cross”] The descent of God to earth; the incarnation of Vishnu on earth; the birth of divine consciousness in the human heart.
avatāra [SG]
One who crosses down; a manifestation of the Supreme Deity appearing in this world to restore the order of dharma set in place by the creation.
avatāra [SS]
A descent of the Supreme Deity to earth, as, for example, Krishna or Rāma.
avidyā [EG]
[a “not”; vidyā “wisdom”] Ignorance, lack of wisdom, want of knowledge.
avidyā [HY]
misapprehension, incorrect knowledge, false understanding, the most important of the kleśas
avidyā [SG]
Ignorance, absence of knowledge.
avidyā [SS]
Ignorance, the absence of true knowledge.
avyakta [SaS]
unmanifested
avyakta [SG]
Non-manifest, invisible; a term applied to the state of existence before creation.
avyaya [EG]
The eternal, the changeless.
Āyurveda [SaS]
(lit. scripture of life) one of the Indian systems of medicine
āyu [SaS]
life
bahiraṅga sādhana [HY]
external practice that includes the first four limbs of aṣṭāṅga yoga
bahiraṅga [HY]
external limb
bāhya kumbhaka [HY]
holding the breath after exalation
bāhya vṛtti [SaS]
external retention of breath
bāhya [SaS]
external
bandha [SaS]
bondage; lock
bandha [HY]
to bind or lock
Bhagavad Gītā [HY]
a part of the epic Mahābhārata where Kṛṣṇa teaches yoga to Arjuna
Bhagavad Gītā [EG]
[Bhagavat “Lord”; gītā “song”] “The Song of the Lord,” name of a Hindu scripture which contains the instructions of Srī Krishna.
Bhagavad Gītā [SaS]
Hindu scripture in which Lord Kṛṣṇa instructs his disciple Arjuna in the various aspects of Yoga
Bhagavad Gītā [SS]
A passage from the Mahabharata which contains a range of religious teachings, including those on the practice of meditational Yoga.
Bhagavān [SG]
The exalted one, God; a term used for Krishna in the Bhagavad-gītā.
bhajan [SG]
A devotional song performed to glorify a deity.
bhakti yoga [EG]
The Way of Love.
bhakti yoga [HY]
yoga in which devotion to God is prominent
bhakti [EG]
Devotion, worship, love.
bhakti [HY]
devotion
bhakti [JC]
divine love, devotion
bhakti [SG]
Devotion; one of the paths advocated by the Bhagavad-gītā to achieve spiritual perfection.
bhastrika prāṇyāma [HY]
bellows breathing through alternate nostrils
bhastrika [HY]
bellows
bhāvana [SaS]
thought, feeling; attitude
Bhīshmā [EG]
A revered elder of the Kaurava dynasty who allows himself to be killed by Arjuna in the Mahābhārata battle.
bhoga [JC]
enjoyment
bhoga [SaS]
enjoyment
Bhrigu [EG]
A sage famous in ancient legend.
bhujaṅgāsana [HY]
cobra pose
bhūtas [HY]
elements of space, air, light, water, and earth
bhuvana [SaS]
universe
bija mantras [JC]
seed sounds
bīja(m) [SaS]
seed
bīja(m) [SS]
A seed, or the source of an object.
bindu [JC]
semen, physical male seed, the supreme truth that is the seed of all manifest phenomena
bodhisattva [JC]
compassionate, concern for others’ welfare
Brahma Sūtras [SG]
An early text compiled by Badarayana that purports to summarize the teachings of the Upanishads. Regarded as an authoritative source by acharyas of Vedanta.
Brahmā [EG]
God as creator, one of the Hindu Trinity; the others are Vishnu, the Preserver, and Shiva, the Destroyer. Brahmā should not be confused with Brahman.
brahmacarya [HY]
one of the yamas. Moving toward the highest modification of the senses, it is the state of life where the young student studies the sacred texts.
brahmacarya [EG]
“Conduct leading to God,” self-control, purity.
brahmacarya [SaS]
(lit. relating to Brahman) continence, sense control, celibacy (one of the yamas); the stage in life of the celibate student
brahmacarya [SG]
Celibacy or sexual restraint.
brahmacarya [SS]
Celibacy or sexual restraint.
brahmamuhūrta [SaS]
two-hour period before sunrise (between four and six a.m.), especially conducive to meditation
brahmanirvāna [EG]
“Nirvana in Brahman,” the final state of spiritual fulfillment: eternal union with Brahman, the ground of all being.
Brahman [EG]
The supreme reality underlying all life, the divine ground of existence, the impersonal Godhead.
Brahman [SaS]
the unmanifest supreme consciousness or God;
Brahman [SG]
The ultimate reality that is the source of the world and is the world. Brahman is considered to be that which is all things, but for some acharyas, it is a term that dontes the Supreme Deity. In the Gītā, it is also used to mean ‘the Vedic scriptures’ and ‘the basic substance of matter’.
Brahmavidyā [EG]
The science of knowing Brahman.
brahmin [EG]
[Skt brāhmana] Literally, a person who strives to know Brahman; in traditional Hindu society, a person of the priestly or learned class.
Brihaspati [EG]
The guru or priest of the gods.
bṛmhaṇa [HY]
to expand
Buddha [EG]
[from budh “to wake up “] “The Awakened one,” the title given to the sage Siddhārtha Gautama Shākyamuni after he obtained complete illumination. The Buddha lived and taught in North India during the sixth century B.C.
Buddhi-yoga [SG]
The withdrawal of the intellect from material desires so that action is performed with no aspiration for personal gain.
buddhi [EG]
Understanding, intelligence; the faculty of discrimination; correct view, idea, purpose.
buddhi [HY]
intellect
buddhi [JC]
intellect
buddhi [SaS]
intellect; discriminative faculty of mind
buddhi [SG]
The intellect; that part of a person’s mental composition that analyzes information and makes decisions based on that information.
buddhi [SS]
The intellect; that part of a person’s psychological makeup that analyzes information and makes decisions based on that information.
cakra(s) [HY]
energy centers along the spinal column
cakra(s) [SaS]
(lit. wheel) one of the subtle nerve centers alone the spine which, when concentrated upon, yields experiences of various levels of consciousness
cakravākāsana [HY]
cat pose
Cārvākas [SS]
An ancient sect of skeptics who taught that knowledge came only from perception and denied the authority of the Veda.
Chitraratha [EG]
“Having a bright chariot,” the king of Gandharvas.
cit [HY]
consciousness
cit [JC]
truth
cit [SaS]
the principle of universal intelligence or consciousness
citta vṛtti nirodha [HY]
mental state devoid of agitation
citta(m) [HY]
mind
citta(m) [JC]
being, feeling self
citta(m) [SaS]
mind-stuff
citta(m) [SS]
The mind or thought processes; perhaps the combination of buddhi, manas, and ahaṁkāra.
citta-nāśa [SaS]
(lit. death of the mind) dissolution of mind in meditation
daivam [EG]
Divine will; destiny.
Dakṣiṇāmūrti [SaS]
(lit. south-faced deity) an aspect of Lord Śiva in which he instructs through silence
damaru [JC]
drum
dāna [HY]
to give away
dāna [SG]
Charity.
darśana [HY]
one of the six classical points of view of Indian thought
darśana [SaS]
vision or experience of a divine form or being
darśana [SS]
Seeing, or a philosophical system that claims to perceive the truth.
deśa [HY]
place
deśa [SaS]
space; place of concentration during Yoga practice
deva loka [SaS]
the plane where the gods abide
deva [EG]
A divine being, a god. The devas of Hindu mythology resemble the Olympians of the ancient Greeks - extraordinary, immortal, yet not unlike mortal men and women in their behavior. The feminine is devī, “goddess.”
deva [SaS]
celestial being; controller of an aspect of nature
devata [JC]
divine form
deva [SG]
A deity; a term that can be applied either to the one Supreme Deity or any of the lesser divine beings.
dhanurāsana [HY]
bow pose
dhāraṇā [HY]
the state of mind in which the mind is oriented toward one point
dhāraṇā [SaS]
concentration (the sixth of the eight limbs of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga)
dhāraṇā [SS]
A part of the Yoga system that involves intense concentration on a single object.
dharmamegha samādhi [SaS]
“cloud of virtue” samādhi (see Book Four, sūtra 29)
dharma [EG]
Law, duty; the universal law which holds all life together in unity.
dharma [HY]
duty, ethical value
dharma [JC]
code of conduct
dharma [SaS]
duty, righteousness, moral
dharma [SG]
Right action; there are a number of other meanings for the word, but in the Gītā it means ‘acting properly in accordance with pre-ordained rules or in relation to virtue.’
Dhritarāshtra [EG]
The king of the Kurus. He has been blind since birth and has therefore never been enthroned as the rightful king, but he serves as de factor ruler. The entire Bhagavad Gītā is a narration told by Sanjaya to the blind king, whose sons are the Kauravas.
dhriti [SG]
Resolve, determination.
dhyāna mudrā [HY]
gesture indicating meditation practice
dhyāna [HY]
meditation
dhyāna [SaS]
meditation (the 7th of the eight limbs of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga)
dhyāna [JC]
meditation
dhyāna [SG]
Meditation; controlling the mind and turning the vision inwards in order to gain direct perception of the ātman.
dhyāna [SS]
Meditation; controlling the mind and turning the vision inwards in order to gain direct perception of the ātman.
dhyāta [HY]
one who is in the state of dhyāna
divya [SaS]
divine
doshas [JC]
humors
draṣṭṛ [HY]
the seer, that which sees
draṣṭṛ [SS]
The one that sees or perceives, a term used to indicate the ātman.
Draupadī [EG]
The royal princess who became the wife of each of the five Pāndava brothers.
Drona [EG]
A learned brahmin who became a warrior, and eventually general of the Kaurava army. The preceptor of the royal princes, he taught the heroes of the Mahābhārata the skills of war.
dṛśya [HY]
that which is seen
dṛśya [SS]
That which is seen or perceived; a term used to refer to the external world.
duḥkha [EG]
Pain, suffering, sorrow.
duḥkha [HY]
feeling of discomfort, pain
duḥkha [SaS]
suffering
duḥkha [SG]
Sorrow, misery, suffering.
duḥkha [SS]
Sorrow, misery, suffering.
Duryodhana [EG]
The oldest son of Dhritarāshtra and the chief enemy of the Pāndavas and Srī Krishna.
Dvaita [SG]
Dualism; the understanding that the individual ātman and the Supreme Deity (Brahman) are absolutely and eternally distinct.
dvandva [EG]
In Sanskrit grammar, a kind of compound that combines two or more words as a pair or group.
dveṣa [HY]
dislike, hatred; one of the kleśas
dveṣa [SaS]
dislike
dveṣa [SS]
Hatred, aversion.
dvipāda pītham [HY]
table pose
eka pāda uttānāsana [HY]
a standing posture where the torso bends forward and one leg is lifted behind
ekāgrata pariṇāma [SaS]
mental modification of one-pointedness
ekāgratā [HY]
single direction, single mindedness
gandha [JC]
smell
Gandharva [EG]
Heavenly musicians who are demigods, rather touchy and proud, handsome and amorous.
Gāndīva [EG]
Arjuna’s bow, which was a gift from the god of fire.
Ganges [EG]
[Skt gangā] A major river of northern India, revered as a sacred symbol.
garimā [SS]
The supernatural power that gives one the ability to become heavy and immovable.
Garuda [EG]
The great eagle that is Vishnu’s vehicle.
gāyatrī [EG]
A meter used in Vedic hymns; a prayer to the sun composed in this meter.
Gītā [EG]
“The Song,” a shorter title for the Bhagavad Gītā.
gṛhastha [SaS]
householder stage of life
guṇa(s) [EG]
Quality; specifically, the three qualities which make up the phenomenal world. The corresponding adjectives are sattvic, rajasic, and tamasic.
guṇa(s) [HY]
qualities of the mind; qualities of the universe
guṇa(s) [JC]
qualities
guṇa(s) [SaS]
one of the qualities of nature (sattva, rajas and tamas or balance, activity and inertia)
guṇa(s) [SG]
The three strands or qualities that pervade everything material and exert an influence over our lives, our mentality, and the manner in which we conduct ourselves.
guṇa(s) [SS]
The three strands or qualities that pervade everything material and exert an influence over our lives, our mentality, and the way we conduct ourselves.
guru [EG]
A spiritual teacher.
guru [SaS]
(lit. remover of darkness) spiritual guide, teacher
halāsana [HY]
plow pose
hāna [SaS]
removal
hāno-pāya [SaS]
method for removal of sorrow
Hari [EG]
Name of Vishnu or Krishna.
hasta mudrā [HY]
hand symbol
Hastināpura [EG]
“City of the elephants,” an important city in ancient India, located about sixty miles northeast of the modern Delhi. It was the capital of the Pāndavas and their line.
Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā [HY]
a classical text on haṭha yoga
haṭha yoga [HY]
yoga in which the aim is to unify the two energies of the ha (the left) and ṭha (the right) and merge them into suṣumṇā in the center of the spine; the merging of prāṇa and apāna into the center of the body, at the heart
haṭha yoga [SaS]
the physical aspect of Yoga practice, including postures (āsanas), breathing techniques (prāṇāyāma), seals (mudras), locks (bandhas) and cleansing practices (kriyas)
haṭha yoga [SS]
A form of Yoga based primarily on physical exercises and postures.
haṭha [SaS]
(lit. ha – sun; tha – moon)
Himālaya [EG]
[hima “snow”; ālaya “abode”] The great mountain range which stretches across the northern border of India, important in mythology as the home of Shiva and the other gods.
hiṁsā [SaS]
injury or pain; violence
homa(m) [JC]
fire ceremony
hrit [JC]
heart
iḍā [HY]
a nādī that terminates at the left nostril
Ikshvāku [EG]
The son of Manu and the founder of the Solar Dynasty of kings.
Indra [EG]
The god of storms and battle. In the Veda, Indra is the chief of the gods (devas) and an important deity; later his role is greatly diminished.
Indra [SaS]
the king of the gods or ruling powers of nature
indriya(s) [HY]
senses
indriya(s) [JC]
sense organs and work organs
indriya(s) [SaS]
sense organ
īśitva [SS]
The supernatural power that gives one the ability to achieve mastery over the world.
Iṣta devatā [SaS]
one’s chosen deity
Īśvara praṇidhāna [HY]
to surrender and offer all actions to God, without attachment to the fruits of our action; one of the niyamas and a component of kriyā yoga
Īśvara praṇidhāna [SaS]
worship of God or self-surrender (one of the yamas) [mws: typo in the glossary of the book, this is a niyama]
Īśvara (Isha) [EG]
The Lord; God.
Īśvara (Isha) [HY]
God or Lord
Īśvara (Isha) [SaS]
the supreme cosmic soul; God
Īśvara (Isha) [SG]
The controller; the Supreme Deity. The term is sometimes used for the ātman.
Īśvara (Isha) [SS]
The Supreme Deity, God.
jada [JC]
non-sentience
jālandhara bandha [HY]
chin lock
Janaka [EG]
A king of ancient times who was both an effective ruler and a holy sage.
Janārdana [EG]
“He who stirs up the people,” name of Krishna.
Japa Yoga [SaS]
science of mantra repetition
japa [HY]
repetition of mantra
japa [JC]
repetition
japa [SaS]
repetition of a mantra
japa [SG]
Quiet or silent recitation of a prayer or mantra.
jaya [SaS]
victory, mastery
jīva, jīva(tman), jīva-bhūta [EG]
Living being; the living soul; the finite, individual soul that is identified with separate existence, as opposed to Ātman, the eternal Self.
jīva, jīva(tman), jīva-bhūta [JC]
the individual or individuated self
jīva, jīva(tman), jīva-bhūta [SaS]
individual soul
jīva, jīva(tman), jīva-bhūta [SG]
Another term used for the ātman, although it tends to apply to the ātman in its state of bondage in this world.
jīvanmukta [SaS]
liberated living soul
jnāna yoga [EG]
The Way of Wisdom.
jñāna yoga [HY]
yoga in which the emphasis is on inquiry
jñāna yoga [SaS]
Yoga of Self-inquiry
Jñāna-kanda [SG]
That portion of the Vedas that contains revelations about the nature of the self and the world. Typically applied to the Upanishads.
jñāna [EG]
[from jnā “to know”] Wisdom; higher knowledge.
jñāna [SaS]
wisdom of the Self; knowledge, idea
jñāna [SG]
Knowledge; either an understanding of mundane affairs or the realization that brings enlightenment and liberation.
jñāna [SS]
Knowledge; either an understanding of mundane affairs or the realization that brings enlightenment and liberation.
jñānin [SG]
One who possesses knowledge; an enlightened person.
jñeya [SG]
That which should be known; typically applied to the ātman, the object of knowledge.
jyotiḥ [SaS]
illumination, effulgence, light
kaivalya [HY]
ultimate state of yoga, freedom
kaivalya [SaS]
experience of absoluteness; non-qualified experience
kaivalya [SG]
Aloneness, separation; a term for liberation used in Sāmkhya teachings to indicate the separation of the true self from matter.
kaivalya [SS]
Aloneness, separation; a term used in Sāmkhya teachings to indicate the separation of the true self from matter.
kāla [SaS]
time
kāla [SG]
Time.
Kali-yuga [SG]
In Hindu cosmology, the present age, which is regarded as a period of decline and degradation amongst humanity.
kalpa [EG]
A period in cosmic time equaling one Day of Brahmā or 1,000 “great yugas” - a total of 4,320 million years.
kalpa [SG]
A period of creation from the time of the manifestation of the world until its withdrawal.
Kāmadhuk [EG]
“The cow of wishes,” who in legend fulfills all desires.
kāma [EG]
Selfish desire, greed; sexual desire, sometimes personified as Kāmadeva.
kāma [JC]
enjoyment
kāma [SG]
Desire, lust.
kapālabhātī prāṇāyāma [HY]
bellows breathing
Kapila [EG]
Name of a sage, first teacher of the Sānkhya philosophy
kāraṇa [HY]
cause
karma yoga [EG]
The Way of Action; the path of selfless service.
karma yoga [HY]
yoga in which action is done as duty, without concern for success or failure
karma yoga [SaS]
performing actions as selfless service without attachment to the results
karma yoga [SG]
The performance of action without attachment or desire for gain; a part of the path leading to liberation from the world.
karma-kanda [SG]
The portion of the Vedas that gives instruction on ritual acts to worship the Vedic deities.
karmāśaya [SaS]
womb, or bag, or karmas
karma [EG]
[from kri “to do”] Action; former actions which will lead to certain results in a cause-and-effect relationship.
karma [SaS]
action and reaction
karma [SG]
Action and reaction.
karma [SS]
Action that brings future reactions as destiny unfolds.
Karna [EG]
A brave warrior who plays an important role in the larger epic, but is only mentioned in passing in the Gītā.
karunā [SaS]
mercy, compassion
Kauravas [EG]
“The sons of Kuru,” Duryodhana and his brothers, who are the enemies of the Pāndava brothers.
kāya-kalpa [SaS]
a tonic for physical rejuvenation
kevala [SaS]
without qualities or conditions
kevala/i kuṁbhaka [JC]
automatic breath suspension
kevala/i kuṁbhaka [SaS]
natural, automatic breath retention during deep meditation
khechari mudra [JC]
dwelling in the space between the eyebrows
kleśa [HY]
afflication
kleśa [SaS]
obstruction or obstacle
kleśa [SS]
A difficulty, obstacle, or affliction.
kosha [JC]
sheath
Kripa [EG]
A revered teacher of the royal family who also serves as a warrior.
kripa [SG]
Compassion.
Krishna [EG]
[“black”; or from krish “to draw, to attract to oneself”] “The Dark One” or “He who draws us to Himself,” name of an incarnation of Vishnu. Vishnu, the cosmic force of goodness, comes to earth as Krishna to reestablish dharma, or law. Krishna is the friend and advisor of the Pāndava brothers, especially Arjuna, to whom he reveals the teachings of the Bhagavad Gītā. He is the inner Lord, who personifies spiritual love and lives in the hearts of all beings.
kriyā yoga [HY]
yoga of purifying action as taught by Patañjali
kriyā yoga [SaS]
according to Patañjali: the three preliminary steps in Yoga (tapas, svadhyaya and Īśvara praṇidhāna or austerity, study and self-surrender)
kriyā yoga [SS]
A form of Yoga practice that is based on specific forms of action.
kriyā [HY]
action
kriyā [SaS]
action, practice; (Hatha Yoga) cleansing practice
krodha [SG]
Anger.
kshara [SG]
That which decays; the opposite of akshara; usually applied to anything that is material, although not to prakriti itself.
kshata chakra bhedana [JC]
piercing the six chakras
kshata karmas [JC]
six acts of purification
kshatriya [EG]
A warrior or prince; a member of the ruling class of traditional Hindu society.
kshatriya [SG]
The second of the four varnas; the social class that includes warriors and rulers.
kshetrajña [SG]
The knower of the field; a synonym for ātman and purusha.
kshetra [EG]
A field; a place; a scared place or temple.
kshetra [SG]
The field; a Sāmkhya term for the body and the material manifestation.
kṣipta [HY]
agitated mind
Kubera [EG]
God of wealth.
kumbhaka prāṇāyāma [HY]
breathing exercise in which emphasis is on the retention of the breath
kuṁbhaka [JC]
breath suspension
kuṁbhaka [SaS]
breath retention
kuṇḍalinī [EG]
“The serpent power,” spiritual or evolutionary energy. In yoga literature, kundalinī is described as a force coiled at the base of the spine. Kundalinī may be aroused through meditation and the practice of yoga; then it rises up through the subtle body, awakening the higher centers of consciousness.
kuṇḍalinī [HY]
the obstacle located in the center of the spine that obstructs the movement of prāṇa into suṣumṇā
kuṇḍalinī [SaS]
(lit. coiled energy) the energy stored at the base of every individual’s spine
Kurukshetra [EG]
“The field of the Kurus,” where the Mahābhārata battle takes place. It is north of the modern city of Delhi.
laghimā [SS]
The supernatural power that gives one the ability to become very light and to float through the air.
laṅghana [HY]
to reduce
laya [HY]
to merge
līlā [EG]
Game; the divine play of the Lord disguising himself as the many beings of this world.
līlā [HY]
the divine play
līlā [JC]
sport, play, game
lingam [JC]
male generative organ
loka [JC]
plane
loka [SaS]
a world of names and forms
Lokāyatas [SS]
Atheists, skeptics who believe there is nothing that exists beyond the world we perceive.
Mādhava [EG]
Another name for Krishna, “of the Mādhava clan.”
Madhusūdana [EG]
“Slayer of Madhu,” a name for Krishna, who killed the demon Madhu.
Mahābhārata [EG]
Name of the great Indian epic composed some 2,500 years ago, traditionally attributed to the sage Vyāsa. It relates the conflict between the descendants of Pāndu (forces of light) and those of Dhritarāshtra (forces of darkness).
Mahābhārata [SG]
The vast Indian scripture of which the Bhagavad-gītā is one short passage.
Mahābhārata [SS]
The vast Indian scripture that includes the earliest extant teachings on Yoga.
mahabhutas [JC]
gross elements
mahāmudrā [HY]
a classic sitting pose
mahaṛṣi [SaS]
great sage
mahat [HY]
the great principle
mahat [SaS]
great
Mahatma [SG]
Great soul; a term of respect used for those who are enlightened.
mahāvrata [SaS]
(lit great vows) refers to the yamas
mahimā [SS]
The supernatural power that gives one the ability to become large in size.
maitrī [SaS]
friendliness
manas [EG]
The mind; specifically, the faculty which registers and stores sensory impressions.
manas [HY]
the power behind the senses
manas [JC]
mind
manas [SaS]
the desiring faculty of the mind-stuff
manas [SS]
The mind; that part of our psychological makeup that receives and categorizes perceptions received through the senses.
manas [SG]
The mind; that part of our psychological makeup that receives and categorizes perceptions received through the senses.
Māṇḍukya Upaniṣad [SaS]
the Upanishadic treatise of OM, considered the crest jewel of all the Upaniṣads
mano-nāśa [SaS]
death or dissolution of the mind
manovahi nādīs [JC]
channels of the mind, channels that carry mental energy
mantra japa [JC]
mantra repetition
mantra(m) [EG]
A holy name or phrase; a spiritual formula.
mantra(m) [HY]
a sacred sound, often used as the object of focus during meditation
mantra(m) [JC]
sound that enables a state of concentration, free from worldly thoughts
mantra(m) [SaS]
(lit. that makes the mind steady) a sound formula for meditation
mantra(m) [SG]
A hymn, prayer, or sacred sound; often used in meditation.
mantra(m) [SS]
A hymn, prayer, or sacred sound; often used in meditation.
Manu [EG]
The father of the human race, the Hindu equivalent of Adam or the first man.
mara [SaS]
(Tamil) tree
Mārgashīrsha [EG]
The lunar month that falls in November-December.
Marīchi [EG]
A Vedic demigod. The name means “particle of light.”
matrikas [JC]
sound units, letters of the alphabet
matsyendāsana [HY]
half spinal twist
māyā [EG]
Illusion; appearance, as contrasted with Reality; the creative power of God.
māyā [JC]
the veiling power; the ever-changing illusory existence, the phenomenon
māyā [SaS]
illusion
māyā [SG]
Illusion or divine power; used to denote the force that keeps living beings in a state of illusion about their own identity and that of the Supreme Deity.
mayūrāsana [SaS]
(Hatha Yoga) the peacock pose
Meerā [EG]
A woman saint of medieval India remembered for her songs to her beloved Krishna.
meru danda [JC]
spinal column
Meru [EG]
A mythical mountain said to stand at the center of the world or cosmos. The gods dwell on Meru in beautiful cities, amidst flowering gardens.
mokṣa [EG]
Liberation, salvation, illumination.
mokṣa [JC]
liberation
mokṣa [SaS]
liberation
mokṣa [SG]
Liberation, release; a term used to denote the state of liberation from the cycle of karma and rebirth.
mokṣa [SS]
Liberation, release; a term used to denote the state of liberation from the cycle of karma and rebirth.
mṛgi mudrā [HY]
finger position to control the nostrils during prāṇāyāma
mūdha [HY]
dull state of mind
mudrā [HY]
symbol
mudra [JC]
a specific kind of muscular control practice to aid meditation
mudrā [SaS]
sign, seal or symbol
mukta [SaS]
set free, released, liberated
mukti [SaS]
liberation, freedom
mūla bandha [HY]
base-of-trunk lock
Mūrti-pūjā [SG]
Worship of a deity in the form of a sacred image.
musu-musu-kkai [SaS]
(Tamil) herb used for Ayurvedic healing; it also means “hand of monkey” and “monkey”
nāda [HY]
sound
nāda [JC]
pure cosmic sound
nāda-bindu [JC]
the primal sound vibration from which the universe unfolded; the crescent (nada) with a dot (bindu)
nāḍī śodhana prāṇāyāma [HY]
alternate nostril breathing, bringing purification of the nāḍīs
nāḍī suddhi [SaS]
(Hatha Yoga) nerve-cleansing prāṇāyāma in which one breathes alternately through left and right nostrils
nāḍī(s) [HY]
subtle passage in the body through which prāṇa moves
nāḍī(s) [JC]
carriers of subtle energy in the body
Nakula [EG]
One of the junior Pāndava brothers.
Nārada [EG]
The divine musician and sage who is a devotee of Srī Krishna.
Nārada [SaS]
a sage and celestial singer of divine names
nāstika [SS]
One who does not accept the authority of the Vedic revelation; a non-believer.
nauli [SaS]
(Hatha Yoga) stomach kriyā where one isolates and then churns the abdominal recti muscles
Nāyanārs [SaS]
the sixty-three Saivite saints of South India
nidrā [HY]
dreamless sleep
nidrā [SS]
Sleep.
nimitta kāraṇa [HY]
intelligent cause, catalyst
nirbīja [SaS]
without seed, seedless
nirbīja [SS]
Free of any seed; the form of meditation in which no object is used as a point of focus.
nirguna [JC]
without attributes
nirodha parināma [SaS]
the moment of conjunction of a thought and one’s effort to restrain it
nirodha [HY]
restraint, state in which the mind focuses totally on one thing
nirodha [SaS]
cessation, restraint
nirvāna [EG]
[nir “out”; vāna “to blow”] Complete extinction of self-will and separateness; realization of the unity of all life.
nirvāna [SaS]
(lit. nakedness) in the Buddhist teachings, the state of liberation
nirvāna [SG]
An equivalent term for moksha; liberation from rebirth.
nirvāna [SS]
An equivalent term for moksha; liberation from rebirth.
nirvicāra [SaS]
without reflection (see Book One, sūtra 44)
nirvikalpa samādhi [EG]
A state of spiritual awareness in which there is no perception of duality; of inside or outside, of subject and object; merger in the impersonal Godhead.
nirvikalpa [SaS]
without thought or imagination
nirvitarka [SaS]
without reasoning (see Book One, sūtra 43)
nitya [SaS]
eternal, permanent
niyama [HY]
personal discipline
niyama [SaS]
observance (the second of the eight limbs of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga; see Book Two, sūtra 32)
niyama [SS]
An observance.
ojas [JC]
personal magnetism, radiance
ojas [SaS]
the subtle energy resulting from the preservation of sexual energy
Om (Aum) [EG]
The cosmic sound, heard in deep meditation; the Holy word, taught in the Upanishads, which signifies Brahman, the divine ground of existence.
Om (Aum) [HY]
a representation of Īśvara
Om (Aum) [SaS]
the cosmic sound vibration which includes all other sounds and vibrations, the basic mantra, the absolute Brahman as sound
pāda [SaS]
portion
pādārtha(s) [JC]
four objects of achievement
pādārtha(s) [SaS]
a thing; the substance and its meaning
padmāsana [HY]
lotus pose
pāñca indriya [SaS]
the five senses
Pāñca Tantra [SaS]
(lit.) five attitudes or approaches
Pāndavas [EG]
“The sons of Pāndu,” a collective name for Arjuna and his four brothers, Yudhishthira, Bhīma, Nakula, and Sahadeva. The Pāndavas are in conflict with the Kauravas; both claim the ancient throne of Hastināpura. The Gītā is set on the eve of the battle that will decide this conflict. The Pāndavas are looked upon as forces for good and the Kauravas as wicked usurpers.
pandita [SG]
A learned scholar, or one who has achieved a state of enlightenment.
papa [SG]
Sin, wicked action that produces unwanted karmic results; may also refer to these results as well.
Parabrahman [SaS]
the supreme unmanifest consciousness or God
param shiva [JC]
supreme consciousness
parama [SaS]
highest, supreme
Paramatman [SG]
The Supreme Soul; sometimes used to indicate the individual living entity and sometimes for the expansion of the Deity accompanying the individual ātman through the cycle of rebirth.
pariṇāmaduḥkha [HY]
duḥkha arising from change
pariṇāmavāda [HY]
the recognition that all we perceive is subject to change
pariṇāma [SS]
Transformation; the evolution of diverse elements from out of raw prakriti.
parivṛtti [HY]
redirection, reorientation
pārśva uttānāsana [HY]
a standing pose with one leg forward and the trunk folded on it
Pārtha [EG]
“Son of Prithā,” a name for Arjuna - or for his brothers Bhīma and Yudhishthira.
parvan [SG]
A chapter or section of a composition. The eighteen books of the Mahābhārata are referred to as parvans.
paścim[a/o]tānāsana [HY]
seated forward bend
paścim[a/o]tānāsana[SaS]
(Hatha Yoga) the full-forward bending pose
Patañjali Mahārṣi [SaS]
Yogi and sage who compiled the Yoga Sūtras; considered to be the “Father of Yoga”
Patañjali [EG]
The author of the Yoga Sūtras, a classic description of the way to Self-realization through meditation. Patañjali lived around the second century B.C., and his method is sometimes referred to as rāja yoga.
Pāvaka [EG]
“The purifier,” a name for the god of fire.
phalam [SaS]
fruit; effect
pinda [SG]
Offerings made on behalf of departed ancestors to ensure their well-being in the afterlife.
piṅgalā [HY]
nāḍī that terminates at the right nostril
pradhāna [HY]
original source
pradhāna [SG]
Prakriti in its non-differentiated unevolved form; primal matter.
pradhāna [SS]
Prakriti in its primal state before it evolves into the variegated universe.
Prahlāda [EG]
A demon prince who was greatly devoted to Vishnu.
Prajāpati [EG]
“Lord of offspring,” the creator of all beings. Indian myth encompasses many creation stories, and sometimes one great Father, or Prajāpati, is mentioned; sometimes there are seven or more fathers or sages who created all living creatures.
prajñā [EG]
[from jnā “to know”] a transcendental mode of knowing developed in deep meditation.
prajñā [HY]
clear understanding in the spiritual field
prākāmya [SS]
The supernatural power that gives one the ability to act in any way without restriction.
prakāśa [SaS]
illumination; sattva
prakṛti [EG]
The basic energy from which all mental and physical worlds take shape; nature.
prakṛti [HY]
matter
prakṛti [JC]
primordial nature, equipoised state of the three gunas
prakṛti [SaS]
the Nature
prakṛti [SG]
Matter in both its non-differentiated primeval form and in its evolved variegated form as well. In its non-differentiated state, it is also referred to as pradhāna and avyakta.
prakṛti [SS]
Matter in both its non-differentiated primeval form and in its evolved variegated form as well.
pramāṇa [HY]
right perception
pramāṇa [SS]
An accepted means through which true knowledge can be gained.
prāṇa vāyu [HY]
one of the five main life energies
prāṇa-apāna [SaS]
the ascending and descending energy within the human body
prāṇava [HY]
mystic syllable that represents Īśvara
prāṇavahi nādīs [JC]
channels of prana, channels that carry pranic energy
prāṇava [JC]
AUM
prāṇava [SaS]
OM, the basic hum of the universe
prāṇava [SS]
The sacred syllable om.
prāṇāyāma [HY]
regulated breathing technique
prāṇāyāma [JC]
conscious breath control
prāṇāyāma [SaS]
the practice of controlling the vital force, usually through control of the breath (the fourth of the eight limbs of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga)
prāṇāyāma [SG]
A part of the yoga system that involves regulation of the breathing process.
prāṇāyāma [SS]
A part of the Yoga system that involves regulation of the breathing process.
prāṇa [EG]
Breath; vital force.
prāṇa [HY]
life-force energy
prāṇa [JC]
vital life force
prāṇa [SaS]
the vital energy
prāṇa [SG]
The inward breath; also used to denote life itself or the breath of life.
praṇidhāna [SaS]
total dedication
prapatti [SG]
Absolute surrender to the will of the Deity and complete dependence upon him.
prāpti [SS]
The supernatural power that gives one the ability to acquire objects from distant places.
prārabdha karma [SaS]
the karma which has caused one’s present birth
prasāda(m) [SaS]
consecrated food offering; grace
prasāda(m) [SS]
Mercy, grace, serenity.
prasarita pada uttānāsana [HY]
standing posture with the torso bent forward between the legs
prātibha [SS]
Intuitive rather than reasoned knowledge.
pratikriyāsana [HY]
counterpose
pratipakṣa bhāvana [SaS]
practice of substituting opposite thought forms in the mind
pratiprasava [SS]
Reversing the flow; returning to the original state.
pratyāhāra [HY]
withdrawal of the senses
pratyāhāra [JC]
withdrawal of sensory perceptions
pratyāhāra [SaS]
sense control; withdrawal of the senses from their objects (the 5th of the eight limbs of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga)
pratyāhāra [SS]
A part of the Yoga system that involves restraining the senses from external perception.
pratyakṣa [SS]
Direct perception through the senses; one of the accepted means through which knowledge is acquired.
Prithā [EG]
Arjuna’s mother (also called Kuntī). Arjuna is called Pārtha, “son of Prithā.”
priya [SG]
Beloved, one who is loved.
pūjā [SaS]
worship service
puṇya [SaS]
virtuous
puṇya [SG]
Piety, virtue; forms of action that lead to a favorable karmic result.
puṇya [SS]
Piety, virtue; forms of action that lead to a favorable karmic result.
pūraka prāṇāyāma [HY]
breathing exercise in which the emphasis is on the inhalation
Puranas [SG]
A group of eighteen Sanskrit works, mostly composed after the Bhagavad-gītā, some of which describe the deeds performed by Krishna and other avataras.
Puranas [SS]
A group of eighteen Sanskrit works which, amongst other things, describe the actions performed by the Supreme Deity.
pūruśa [EG]
[“person”] The soul; the spiritual core of every person. In the Gītā, the terms Ātman and Purusha are virtually interchangeable.
pūruśa [HY]
source of consciousness, perceiver
pūruśa [SaS]
the divine Self which abides in all beings
pūruśa [SG]
A person, a man; a synonym for ātman frequently used in Sāmkhya teachings.
pūruśa [SS]
A person; frequently used as a synonym for ātman in Sāmkhya teachings.
Purushottama [EG]
“Highest Person,” Supreme Being, God.
Purushottama [SG]
The Supreme Person; a term for the Supreme Deity which Krishna applies to himself.
rāga [HY]
attachment or desire; one of the kleśas
rāga [SaS]
liking, desire; tune
rāga [SS]
Passion, longing, fierce attachment.
rāja yoga [EG]
“The Royal Path”; the path of meditation taught especially by Patañjali in the Yoga Sūtras.
rāja yoga [HY]
yoga in which union with the highest power is the goal; the yoga of Patañjali
rāja yoga [SaS]
the “Royal Yoga;” the system of concentration and meditation based on ethical discipline
rājā [SaS]
king
rājas [EG]
energy, passion.
rājas [JC]
passion, activity, mobility (rajasik)
rājas [HY]
the quality of prakṛti responsible for activity
rājas [SaS]
activity; restlessness (one of the three guṇas)
rājas [SG]
Passion, energy; one of the three guṇas, indicated by desire, passion, and intense activity for personal gain.
rājas [SS]
One of the three guṇas, which is indicated by passion, energy, action, and achievement.
rakshasa [SG]
A type of powerful evil being inimical towards the gods and said to roam the forests at night.
Rām(a) [SaS]
a name of God; a powerful seed mantra
Rām(a) [EG]
“Prince of Joy,” name of the son of Dasharatha, who was king of Ayodhyā. Rāma was the famous prince who killed the evil demon Rāvana to reclaim his wife Sītā. He is regarded as an incarnation of Vishnu.
Ramakrishma Paramahamsa [SaS]
(1836-1886) – saint of India; Guru of Swami Vivekananda
Rāmana Maharṣi [SaS]
(1879-1950) – sage of Thiruvannamalai; jñāni of India
Rāmāyana [SaS]
epic telling the story of Lord Rāma as a dutiful son, brother, husband, warrior and king
Rāmāyana [SG]
An early Hindu scripture that recounts the life and deeds of the Rāma avatāra.
Rāmāyana [SS]
An early Hindu scripture that recounts the activities of the Rāma avatāra.
rasa [JC]
taste
rasas [JC]
moods
recaka prāṇāyāma [HY]
breathing exercise in which the emphasis is on the exhalation
Rig Veda [EG]
The oldest of the four Vedas, the most ancient and sacred Hindu scriptures.
rishi [JC]
seer or saint
rishi [SG]
A sage or holy man; the rishis were the original recipients or ‘hearers’ of the Vedas.
ṝta prajñā [HY]
perception of a spiritual truth
ṛtaṁbharā prajñā [SaS]
absolute true conscionsness
ṛta [SS]
The proper universal order; the highest level of truth.
Rudras [EG]
A group of gods associated with storm and destruction. Sometimes the Rudras are mentioned as a group; at other times they are thought of as a single god, Rudra. In later Hinduism, Shiva is called Rudra.
rūpa [SaS]
appearance; form
rūpa [JC]
form, fire
sa-ānanda [SaS]
samādhi on the sattvic mind (see Book One, sūtra 17)
sa-asmita [SaS]
samādhi on the egoity alone (see Book One, sūtra 17)
śabda [JC]
sound
śabda [SaS]
sound, word or name
sabīja [SaS]
with seed
sadhaka [JC]
aspirant
sādhana [EG]
A body of disciplines or way of life, which leads to the supreme goal of Self-realization.
sādhana [HY]
practice
sādhana [JC]
practice
sādhana [SaS]
spiritual practice
sādhana [SS]
The means of attaining a result; regulated spiritual practice.
sādhu [EG]
A holy man, sage.
sādhu [SaS]
a spiritual person, often a wandering mendicant
sādhu [SG]
A wise and holy person; often, a wandering mendicant who is capable of giving spiritual instruction.
saguna [JC]
with attributes
Sahadeva [EG]
One of the junior Pāndava brothers.
sahasrāra (cakra) [SaS]
thousand-petaled lotus; the subtle center at the crown of the head, where the consciousness and energy go in the higher samādhis
Śaiva Siddhānta [SaS]
a philosophy which leads to the worship of the Absolute as Lord Śiva
Śaivism [SaS]
sect of Hinduism which worships the Absolute as Lord Śiva
sākṣi [SaS]
witness
śakti [EG]
Power; God’s feminine aspect; the Divine Mother.
śakti [HY]
power
śakti [JC]
energized consciousness
śakti [SaS]
energy; the Divine Mother
śalabhāsana [HY]
locust pose
Sāma Veda [EG]
The Veda of songs and chants. One of the four Vedas.
samādhi pariṇāma [SaS]
development in samādhi
samādhi [EG]
Mystical union with God; a state of intense concentration in which consciousness is completely unified.
samādhi [HY]
state of meditation in which only the object of meditation is apparent
samādhi [JC]
realized nonduality, complete equilibrium
samādhi [SaS]
contemplation, superconscious state, absorption (the eighth and final limb or culmination of the eight limbs of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga)
samādhi [SG]
The final state of yogic perfection, when the mind is absolutely tranquil and all thought processes are brought under control.
samādhi [SS]
The final state of yogic perfection, when the mind is absolutely tranquil and all thought processes are brought under control.
samāna-vāyu [HY]
prāṇa of the central region of the body, responsible for digestion
samāna [SS]
The air within the abdomen that is active in the process of digestion.
samāpatti [SS]
The state of mind that exists prior to samadhi, when the movements of the mind have been stilled.
samavṛtti prāṇāyāma [HY]
breathing technique in which different components of breathing are equal
Sāṁkyā Karika [SS]
A text that sets out the main precepts of the Sāmkhya system.
sāṁkyā [EG]
One of the six branches of Hindu philosophy. Sānkhya seeks to liberate the individual Purusha (spirit) from prakriti (mind and matter).
sāṁkyā [SaS]
count in prāṇāyāma
sāṁkyā [SG]
An early system of Indian thought that emphasizes the absolute distinction between prakriti and purusha, matter and spirit, and liberation through the knowledge of that distinction.
sāṁkyā [SS]
An early system of Indian thought that emphasizes the absolute distinction between prakriti and purusha.
saṁprajñāta [SaS]
distinguished samādhi (see Book One, sūtra 17)
saṁprajñāta samadhi [JC]
super-conscious concentration
saṁsāra [EG]
The world of flux; the round of birth, decay, death and rebirth.
saṁsāra [SaS]
round of births and deaths; family
saṃskāra-duḥkha [HY]
duḥkha caused by habits
saṃskāra [HY]
habitual movement of the mind; habit, conditioning
saṃskāra [SaS]
mental impression
saṃskāra [SS]
A latent impression, on the mind left by all thoughts, words, and deeds.
saṃtoṣa [HY]
contentment; one of the niyamas
saṁtoṣa [SaS]
contentment
saṃyama [HY]
total continuous concentration on one object
saṃyama [SaS]
practice of dhārāṇa, dhyāna and samādhi upon one object, usually for the attainment of a particular power
saṃyama [SS]
A collective term for the final three stages of the eight limbs of Yoga, dhāranā, dyhana, and samādhi.
saṃyoga [HY]
entanglement or confused identification
saṁyoga [SaS]
perfect union
Sanjaya [EG]
The sage who divinely perceives what is taking place on the battlefield and reports it to the blind king Dhritarāshtra.
sanjita karma [SaS]
karma awaiting another lifetime to bear fruit
sannyāsa [EG]
Renunciation.
sannyāsa [SaS]
renunciation
sannyāsa [SG]
Renunciation of the world; often in relation to individuals who renounce their previous lives in pursuit of spiritual perfection.
sannyāsi(n) [HY]
one who has given up everything except God
sannyāsi(n) [SaS]
a renunciate; member of the Holy Order of Sannyās, having taken formal initiation from another sannyāsi
śānti [SaS]
peace
śānti [SG]
Peace, tranquility; a state of consciousness achieved through yoga practice.
saptadhā bhūmi [SaS]
the seven planes of understanding
sarvajña [HY]
all-knower, omniscient
sarvāngāsana [HY]
shoulderstand
sat [EG]
[from as “to be”] The Real; truth; goodness.
sat [JC]
truth
sat [SaS]
existence or Truth
sat-cid-ānanda [SaS]
existence-knowledge-bliss absolute
sattva [EG]
Law, harmony, purity, goodness.
sattva [HY]
one of the three qualities of prakṛti responsible for clarity and lightness
sattva [JC]
equanimity, lightness, purity (sattvik)
sattva [SaS]
purity, balanced state (one of the three guṇas)
sattva [SG]
Truth, goodness, light; the first of the three guṇas; that which inspires virtue, knowledge, and joy in individuals.
sattva [SS]
The first of the three guṇas, indicated by truth, purity, light, goodness, and virtue. A term that is also used to refer to material manifestation.
satvāda [HY]
the concept that everything we see, experience, and feel is not illusion, but is true and real
satya [EG]
Truth, truthful; good, the Good.
satya [HY]
truth, truthfulness; one of the yamas
satya [SaS]
truth; truthfulness (one of the yamas)
satyam [SS]
Truthfulness, honesty.
śauca [HY]
cleanliness, purity; one of the niyamas
śauca [SaS]
purity (one of the niyamas)
śavāsana [HY]
corpse pose
savāsana [SaS]
(Hatha Yoga) the corpse pose
savicāra [SaS]
samādhi with reflection (see Book One, sūtra 17)
savikalpa samādhi [EG]
[sa-vikalpa “having distinctions” or “admitting separateness”] Samādhi in which some duality of subject and object remains, the devotee being absorbed in meditation without becoming completely identified with the object of contemplation; union with the personal God.
savikalpa [SaS]
samādhi with thought or imagination
savitarka [SaS]
samādhi with reasoning (see Book One, sūtra 17 & 42)
Shaivite [SG]
A devotee of Shiva who regards Shiva as the Supreme Deity.
shama [EG]
Peace; the peace of deep meditation.
Shankara [EG]
“Giver of peace,” a name of Shiva.
shastra(s) [JC]
scriptures
shastra(s) [SG]
A text or scripture that gives instruction.
shruti [SG]
That which is heard; the Vedic texts, including the Upanishads.
shuddha vidya [JC]
pure knowledge
shūdra [EG]
The fourth Hindu caste; a worker or servant.
shūdra [SG]
The fourth of the varnas; a member of the social class that is duty bound to perform work in the service of others.
siddha [SaS]
an accomplished one, often with supernatural powers
siddhasana [JC]
accomplished posture
siddhi(s) [HY]
gift; power that is given
siddhi(s) [JC]
powers, accomplishments, attainments
siddhi(s) [SaS]
accomplishment
siddhi(s) [SS]
Perfection, success; used to refer to the superhuman powers acquired through Yoga practice.
śirṣāsana [HY]
headstand
śītalī prāṇāyāma [HY]
breathing exercise in which one inhales through the mouth, shaping the tongue in a particular way
Śivananda, Sami [SaS]
(1887-1963) – sage of the Himalayas, founder of the Divine Life Society; Guru of Swami Satchidananda
Śiva [EG]
The third person of the Hindu Trinity, the other two being Brahmā, the Creator, and Vishnu, the Preserver. Shiva destroys, but he also conquers death.
Śiva [SaS]
God as asupiciousness
Skanda [EG]
A god of war, the son of Shiva; general of the divine forces when they go into battle against the demons.
smṛti [HY]
memory
smṛti [SaS]
memory; code of law
smṛti [SG]
Scriptures that do not form a part of the Vedas, being composed by human beings.
smṛti [SS]
Memory or recollection.
śodhana [HY]
purification
soma [EG]
A drink used in Vedic ritual; the drink of the gods.
soma [JC]
nectar
sparsha [JC]
touch
śraddhā [EG]
Faith.
śraddhā [SaS]
faith
Śri [EG]
[pronounced shrī] A title of respect originally meaning “auspicious” or “holy.”
Śri [SaS]
Goddess of Divine Wealth; eminent or illustrious; used in names to show respect or reverence
staṁbha vṛtti [SaS]
breath retention
sthala siddhi [SaS]
mastery over staying in one place (usually for at least twelve years)
sthira [HY]
steadiness and alertness
sthiti [SaS]
inertia; tamas
sukha pūrvaka [SaS]
(lit. easy, comfortable breathing) alternate nostril breathing with retention
sukhāsana [HY]
simple cross-legged pose
sukha [HY]
lightness and comfort; happiness
sukha [SaS]
happiness
sukha [SG]
Happiness, joy.
sūrya namaskar [HY]
sequence of āsanas collectively called the salute to the sun
suṣumṇā [HY]
central nāḍī running through the center of the spine, from the base to the top of the head
suta [SG]
A charioteer; considered to be of lower birth.
sūtra [SaS]
(lit. thread) aphorism
sūtra [SS]
A short, pithy aphorism that seeks to convey its meaning with the minimum words possible.
Svabhāva [SG]
One’s inherent nature that is formed by a particular configuration of the guṇas; it is shaped by previous actions and exists within an individual from the time of birth.
svadharma [EG]
The duty appropriate to a particular person, one’s own individual dharma.
svadharma [HY]
your own position
svādhyāya [HY]
self-inquiry; any study that helps you understand yourself; the study of sacred texts; one of the niyamas and a component of kriyā yoga
svādhyāya [SaS]
spiritual study (one of the niyamas)
svādhyāya [SS]
Study or recitation of the Vedas.
svarūpa [SaS]
essential nature
swāmī [SaS]
renunciate; member of the Holy Order of Sannyās
tadāsana [HY]
mountain pose
tamas [EG]
Inertia, ignorance.
tamas [HY]
one of the three qualities of prakṛti, responsible for heaviness and stability
tamas [JC]
sloth, inertia, darkness (tamasik)
tamas [SaS]
inertia, dullness (one of the three guṇas)
tamas [SG]
Darkness, ignorance; the lowest of the three guṇas, promoting indolence, stupidity, impurity, and disregard.
tamas [SS]
The third of the three guṇas, which is indicated by darkness, illusion, inertia, and impurity.
tanmātra [JC]
only that, principle
tanmātra[s/m] [HY]
the characteristics of sound, touch, form, taste, and smell
tanmātra[s/m] [JC]
pure essences, principles, pure frequencies
tanmātra[s/m] [SaS]
subtle element
tantra yoga [HY]
yoga in which the focus is the elimination of obstacles that block the free movement of prāṇa in suṣumṇā
tantra yoga [SaS]
a practice using yantra and mantra to experience the union of Śiva and Śakti (or the masculine and feminine, positive and negative forces) within the individual
tantra [HY]
technique
tantra [JC]
expanded consciousness
tantra [SS]
A system of spiritual thought and practice based on texts known as tantras; typically seeks a goal of transformation of matter into a spiritual form.
tanu [HY]
mild, feeble
tāpa-duḥkha [HY]
pain caused by craving
tapas(yā) [EG]
Austerity, control of the senses; the spiritual power acquired through self-control.
tapas(yā) [HY]
process of removing impurities; elimination, purification; one of the niyamas and a component of kriyā yoga
tapas(yā) [JC]
austerity or penance
tapas(yā) [SaS]
(lit. to burn) spiritual austerity; accepting but not causing pain (one of the niyamas)
tapas(yā) [SG]
Acts of austerity undertaken in the hope of gaining some material or spiritual reward.
tapas(yā) [SS]
Acts of austerity undertaken in the hope of gaining some material or spiritual reward.
Tat [SaS]
That; the unlimited, unmanifested Absolute
tattva [JC]
element
tattva [SaS]
principle
tattvas [JC]
eternal verities
tejas [SaS]
illumination; the aura of a brahmacari
Thirumūlar [SaS]
Tamil saint of South India
trā[d/ṭ]aka [HY]
gazing at a static object to invite meditation
trā[d/ṭ]aka [SaS]
gazing, concentration practice
trikonāsana [HY]
triangle pose
turiya [JC]
fourth state of consciousness, nondual, transcendental consciousness
tyāga [EG]
Renunciation.
tyāga [SaS]
dedication
tyāga [SG]
Renunciation, as defined by Krishna in Chapter 18 of the Gītā.
udāna-vāyu [HY]
the aspect of prāṇa responsible for speech and upward movement
udāna [SS]
The air within the body which rises upwards from the throat.
uddīyāna bandha [HY]
abdominal lock
uḍḍyana bandha [SaS]
(Hatha Yoga) stomach lift
ujjāyī [HY]
breathing technique in which one inhales with a sound in the throat
Upaniṣads [EG]
Ancient mystical documents found at the end of each of the four Vedas.
Upaniṣads [SaS]
the final portion of each of the Vedas which gives the non-dualistic Vedānta philosophy
Upaniṣads [SG]
Sacred texts from the Vedas that reflect on the true nature of the world and the individual.
urdhvamukha śvānāsana [HY]
upward-facing dog pose
Ushanas [EG]
A sage and poet who appears in the Vedas.
utkaṭāsana [HY]
squatting pose
uṭrāsana [HY]
camel pose
uttānāsana [HY]
standing forward bend
vahana [JC]
carrier, vehicle
vairāgya(m) [HY]
detachment, letting go
vairāgya(m) [SaS]
dispassion, detachment or non-attachment
vairāgya(m) [SG]
Detachment from material desires; an important element in the practice of yoga.
vairāgya(m) [SS]
Detachment from material desires.
Vaishnava [SG]
A devotee of Vishnu who regards Vishnu as the one Supreme Deity.
vaishya [SG]
A member of the third of the four social classes who is expected to live by trade and agriculture.
vajrāsana [HY]
thunderbolt pose
Vālmīki [SaS]
legendary Indian sage and poet who wrote the Rāmāyana, the epic story of the life of Śri Rāma
vānaprastha [SaS]
recluse or pilgrim who has finished family responsibilities and taken to the spiritual life; the stage prior to sannyāsa or formal renunciation
varna(s) [EG]
Caste or class.
varna(s) [SG]
The four original social classes, Brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shūdras.
Varuṇa [EG]
God of waters and the ocean; in the Vedas, the moral overseer of the world.
Varuṇa [SaS]
the deva (god) or ruling power of water
vāsanā [SaS]
(lit. smell) the impression of actions that remains unconsciously in the mind and induces a person to repeat the action (example: the smell of perfume is the vāsanā of perfume)
vāsanā [SS]
The impression of any experience that remains unconsciously in the mind.
vaśitva [SS]
The supernatural power that gives him the ability to bring others under one’s control.
Vāsuki [EG]
The king of the serpents, he lives in the underworld and balances the earth on his serpent hood.
vāyu [HY]
air, breath, wind; one of the bhūtas
vāyu [JC]
air
Veda(s) [EG]
[from vid “to know”] “Knowledge”; the name of the most ancient Sanskrit scriptures, considered to be a direct revelation from God to the mystics of the past.
Veda(s) [HY]
Hindu scriptures that are the basis for all yoga
Veda(s) [SaS]
the wisdom scriptures of Hinduism (Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva)
Veda(s) [SG]
The original revelation of the sacred truth divided into four parts, the Rig, the Sāma, the Yajur, and the Atharva Veda.
Vedānta [SaS]
final experience of the study of the Vedas
Vedānta [SG]
A group of religious and philosophical systems based on the teaching of the Upanishads, Brahma Sūtras, and Bhagavad-gītā.
Vedānta [SS]
A system of Indian religious thought which bases its ideas on the teaching of the Upinshads, Brahma Sūtras, and Bhagavad-gītā.
vedic [JC]
of the Veda, of the sacred teachings
vibhūti [SaS]
blessing or power
vibhūti [SS]
Glories, opulence or outstanding achievements.
vicāra [HY]
reflection on a subtle object
vicāra [SS]
Sustained contemplation of a particular object.
videha [SaS]
bodiless
vidyā [EG]
Knowledge, wisdom; a science or branch of study.
vidyā [HY]
clear understanding, high level of knowledge
vidyā [JC]
knowledge
vidyā [SaS]
knowledge, learning
vijñāna [EG]
Knowledge, judgement, understanding.
vijñāna [SG]
Practical knowledge, or knowledge that brings a higher form of realisation.
vikalpa [HY]
imagination
vikalpa [SaS]
thought or imagination; verbal delusion
Vikalpa [SS]
Inability of the thought processes to reach a definite conclusion; uncertainty.
vikṣipta [HY]
state in which the mind is moving without any consistent purpose or direction
viloma krama prāṇāyāma [HY]
breathing exercise in which one inhales in a regulated way through alternate nostrils and exhales through both nostrils with a sound in the throat
viloma ujjāyī prāṇāyāma [HY]
breathing exercise using nostril control for inhalation and exhalation
viṅyāsa krama [HY]
a correctly organized course of āsanas progressing appropriately toward a desired goal
viparyaya [HY]
false perception
viparyaya [SaS]
misconception
viparyaya [SS]
Misapprehension, false knowledge, illusion.
vīrabhadrāsana [HY]
warrior pose
vīrāsana [HY]
hero pose
vīrya [SaS]
vital energy, strength; semen
viṣamavṛtti prāṇāyāma [HY]
breathing technique in which the different components of the breathing are not equal
viśeṣa puruṣa [HY]
Īśvara
Vishva-rupa [SG]
The form of the Deity that embodies the entire universe.
Viṣṇu [EG]
Second in the Hindu Trinity; the Preserver who incarnates himself in age after age for the establishment of dharma and for the welfare of all creatures.
Viṣṇu [HY]
God, one of the Trinity
vitarka [HY]
reflecting on a gross object
vitarka [SS]
Conscious deliberation on a particular object or subject.
Vivasvat [EG]
The sun god, the father of Manu, the ancestor of mankind.
viveka [HY]
discrimination
viveka [SaS]
discrimination of the real from the unreal
viveka [SS]
Discrimination, particularly the ability to discern the distinction between prakriti and purusha.
Vivekānanda, Swami [SaS]
(1862-1902) – a disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and one of the founders of the Ramakrishna Order
Vrishni [EG]
Name of an important clan of ancient north India. According to legend the Vrishnis all perished at the end of Krishna’s life when their city, Dvāraka, sank into the sea.
vṛtti(s) [JC]
mental modifications, qualities
vṛtti(s) [SaS]
modification
vyāna-vāyu [HY]
prāṇa responsible for distribution of energy throughout the whole body
Vyāsa [EG]
The sage revered as the author of the Mahābhārata and the Gītā. He was the father of both Dhritarāshtra and Pāndu, and he gave Sanjaya the power of mystic vision so that he could behold the dialogue between Srī Krishna and Arjuna.
yajña [EG]
Offering, sacrifice, worship.
yajña [SG]
The ancient ritual prescribed in the Vedas whereby offerings to the gods are made into the sacred fire.
Yajur [EG]
One of the four Vedas.
yama [HY]
discipline concerning our dealings with society and the world
yama [SaS]
abstinence (the 1st of the eight limbs of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga; see Book Two, sūtra 30)
yama [SS]
Restraint; avoiding unwanted action.
yantra [JC]
shape, form, pattern
yantra [SaS]
a sacred geometrical figure representing a particular aspect of the Divine
Yoga mudrā [SaS]
(Hatha Yoga) the symbol of Yoga; a posture which awakens the spiritual force within the individual
yoga sādhana [HY]
yoga practice
yoga-maya [SG]
The divine potency by which the order of the universe is held in place and living beings are kept in a state of illusion.
Yoga-sūtra(s) [HY]
Patañjali’s classic text on yoga
Yoga-sūtra(s) [SG]
A work composed by Patañjali later than the Bhagavad-gītā which discusses the philosophy and practice of the yoga system.
yoga [EG]
[from yuj “to unite”] Union with God, realization of the unity of all life; a path or discipline which leads to such a state of total integration or unity. Yoga is also the name of one of the six branches of Hindu philosophy, and as such is paired with Sānkhya.
yoga [JC]
to unite, to join, detachment
yoga [SaS]
(lit union) union of the individual with the Absolute; any course that makes for such union; unruffled state of mind under all conditions
yoga [SG]
In the Bhagavad-gītā, a range of different religious practices. More specifically, the practice of mental restraint and inward meditation.
yogī(n) [EG]
A person who practices spiritual disciplines.
yogī(n) [HY]
someone adept at yoga
yogī(n) [JC]
practitioner of yoga, yoga adept
yogī(n) [SG]
A person who successfully engages in yoga practice.
yogī(n) [SS]
A practitioner of yoga.
yoni [JC]
female generative organ
Yudhishthira [EG]
Arjuna’s elder brother, famous for his adherence to dharma at all times.
yuga [EG]
An age or eon. In Hindu cosmology there are four yugas, representing a steady deterioration in the state of the world from age to age. The names of the yugas are taken from a game of dice. Krita Yuga is the age of perfection, followed by Tretā Yuga. The incarnation of Srī Krishna is said to mark the end of the third yuga, Dvāpara. We are living in the fourth and final yuga, Kali, in which the creation reaches its lowest point. The world goes through 1,000 such yuga-cycles during one kalpa or Day of Brahmā.
yuga [SG]
One of the four ages in Indian cosmology; in the Bhagavad-gītā, the term is also used to indicate the total time period of all four yuga ages combined.
yukta [SG]
Sometimes translated as ‘integrated,’ but more generally successful engagement in yoga practice.
