A Compiled Glossary of Yoga and Spiritual Terms

This glossary has been complied from writings by Swami Shivananda, the Sanskrit Dictionary,the Bihar School and my own personal definitions.

A

ABHASA: reflection.
ABHEDA: without difference.
ABHIMANA: ego-centred attachment.
ABHYASA: spiritual practice. From Patanjali who writes: "Abhyasa vairagyabhyam tan nirodah." Practice and renunciation will lead to the state of yoga.

Abhyasin—Practitioner, a person who practices abhyasa.
ACHARYA: preceptor or teacher. Often a yoga teacher is called in India, 'yogacharya'. It seems to carry less weight than the word 'guru'.

ADAMBHITVA: unpretentiousness
ADHAMA-UDDHARAKA: uplifter of the downtrodden. It is considered high spiritual work to aid those who are less fortunate than one's self.
Adhara—Foundation; base which supports. Most often seen in connection with the root chakra, muladhara. The base or root is crucial to the upward journey.

Adhi: Above, over or beside.
ADHIBHAUTIC: elemental, above the bhutas or elements.
ADHIDAIVIC: celestial, above the devas.

Adhikari: One who is ready for initiation or higher realizations.
Adhikarin—Qualified person.
ADHYATMIC: spiritual.Pertaining to Atman.

ADVAITA: non-duality. One of the systems of philosophy which holds the highest consciousness to be the only truth.
ADVAITA-NISHTHA: establishment in the state of non-duality
AGNI: fire. The 3rd element, or bhuta, of 5. The inner agni must be lit by the yogi before any true transformation can occurr.
AGNI-ASTRA: fire-missile

AGNIHOTRA: a fire-offering or ceremony. One of the ancient modes of communion with the divine.
AHAM BRAHMA ASMI: I am Brahman. A mantra used by Sadhus to remind them of the limitless nature of their own self.
AHAM: 'I am'. Also used to describe the the ego self or ahamkara, the 'i am body'.
AHANGRAHA UPASANA: meditation in which the aspirant identifies himself with Brahman.
AHAMKARA: ego body, which is the origin of the small, individual self. Our individual urges, tastes and needs originate from this body. The other parts of the citta are manas (the mental self) and buddhi (the intuition body).

AHIMSA: non-violence, one of the Yamas.
AISVARYA: divine powers.
AJNA CHAKRA: centre of spiritual energy between the two eyebrows. The 6th and final of the major chakras. This is where duality unites into perfect divisionless harmony.

AJNANA: ignorance or 'without knowledge'.

AKARTA: non-doer. From the roots 'A' : without and 'Krt' or doing.
AKASA: ether, the highest of the 5 elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether.

AKASAMATRA: ether only.
AKHANDA EKARASA: the one undivided Essence.
AKHANDA: indivisible, entire, whole.Unbroken..
AKHANDAKARA: of the nature of indivisibility.
Akhara: place for training in arms; headquarters of the Naga sect of sadhus.

Alakh Bara: 'invisible boundry'; the place where paramhamsa sannyasins live in seclusion.
AMALAKA: phyllanthus emlica, Indian gooseberry. A plant used commonly in Ayurvedic medicine.
AMRITA PUTRA: nectar's son. 'Amrita' means nectar and 'putra' means son.
AMRITA: the nectar of existence. This flows in the human body but is generally burnt up by the inner fire. Hatha yoga seeks to harness this nectar and enter the state of bliss.
AMSA: part
ANADI: beginningless
Anahata Chakra—Cardiac plexus. The heart chakra, ruled by the element air and seat of the emotional body.
ANAHATA: mystic sounds heard by Yogins when the anahata chakra is opened. 'Anahata' means 'unstruck', the sound that has no external source.
Ananda—Bliss; happiness; comfort.
ANANDAGHANA: mass of bliss.
ANANDAMAYA: full of bliss.
ANANTA: infinite.
ANANYA BHAKTI: exclusive devotion (bhakti) to the Lord
ANASAKTA: unattached.
ANATMA: not-Self.

ANITYA: transitory.
ANNAMAYA KOSHA: food sheath, the gross physical body. The crudest of the 5 Koshas that make up the entirety of our beings, ending with the bliss body: anandamaya kosha.
Antahkarana—Fourfold internal organs, viz., Manas, Chitta, Buddhi and Ahankara. Literally means 'internal instrument'.
ANTARGATA: immanent.
ANTARIKA: internal.
ANTAR-INDRIYA: internal sense-organ.
ANTARJYOTIS: inner Light (jyoti).
ANTARMUKHA VRITTI: introspective thought-current, or 'inward facing thought movements'.
ANTARVAHA SARIRA: the subtle body of a Yogi by which he accomplishes entry into the bodies of others. A siddhi.
ANUBHAVA: spiritual realization.Experience.

ANUBHAVA-GURU: preceptor who has had pesonal spiritual realization.
ANUSANDHANA: enquiry into the nature of Brahman.

Anushthana: a resolve to perform mantra sadhana with absolute discipline for a requisite period of time.
ANVAYA: the positive aspect.
APANA: the down-going breath. One of the Vayus which carried energy downwards towards the root.
APANCHIKRITA: non-quintuplicated.
APAS: water. The second of the 5 elements, after earth but before fire.
APAVADA-YUKTI: employment of the logical method of negation
ASABDA: soundless. 'A' is without and 'shabda' is sound.
ASAMPRAJNATA SAMADHI: superconscious state where the mind is totally annihilated. One of the highest levels of consciousness.
ASANA: bodily pose. Literally, it means 'seat'. This is an ancient reference to the pose one assumes to practice the deepest, raja yoga. The meditation pose.

ASANGA: unattached.
ASHRAMA: hermitage or spiritual center. It means 'refuge'. Also refers to the stages of one's life, from child to householder to renunciate.
ASHTA: eight. Most commonly used in reference to Patanjali's Ashtanga yoga, the 8 limbed path.
ASHTAVADHANA: doing eight things at a time.
ASTI-BHATI-PRIYA: same as Satchidananda, the eternal qualities inherent in Brahman.
ASTRA: a missile invoked with a Mantra
ASUBHA: inauspicious.
ASUDDHA MANAS: impure mind. 'Shuddha' means pure. 'Manas' is mind.
ASUDDHA: impure
ASVINI MUDRA: a Hatha Yogic Kriya, the 'horse mudra'. Similar to shoulderstand, the anal region must be squeezed tightly like a horse does.
ATMA(N): the Self, the Soul.
ATMA-DRISHTI: the vision of seeing everything as the Self.
ATMA-JNANA: Knowledge of the Self.
ATMAKARA: pertaining to Atman.
ATMA-SAKSHATKARA: Self-realisation.
ATMA-SAKTI: Soul-power.
AVASTHA: state.
AVICHHINNA: continuous.
AVIDYA: nescience, or ignorance. 'Vidya' implies spiritual knowledge and 'A' means without. Avidya is the general state of mind one has when devoid of the knowledge of the spirit. One of the kleshas.

AVINASI: imperishable.
AVYAKTA: unmanifest.

B

BAHIH—Outward; external.
BAHIRMUKHA VRITTI: the outgoing thought-current.
BAHIR-VRITTI: same as above.
BAHIR-VRITTI-NIGRAHA: restraint of the outgoing thought-current.
BAHYA-VRITTI-NIGRAHA: same as above.
Basti—The purificatory exercise for congested bowels. A kriya.
BHAJANA: devotional singing. Also called 'kirtan'.
BHAKTA: devotee. Practitioner of bhakti yoga.

Bhakti—Devotion. One of the paths of yoga including Hatha, Jnana, Raja and Karma.

Bhasma: sacred ash. Also called 'vibhuti'.
BHASTRIKA PRANAYAMA: a type of breathing exercise where strong breathing stokes the inner fire. Often called 'bellows breath' due to the similarity to stoking a fire with a bellows.
BHAVA(NA): an attitudinal feeling cultivated in yoga.
Bhava—Feeling.
BHAVA-SAMADHI: supeconscious state attained by devotees through intense divine emotion. Part of bhakti yoga.
BHEDA BUDDHI: the intellect which divides.
Bheda—Difference; piercing.
BHOGA: enjoyment. The counter force to yoga is called 'bhoga'. It is the yoga which is done for personal gain or vanity. Bhoga is considered a negative state cultivated by low-minded, selfish people.
BHOKTRITVA: the stage of being an enjoyer.
BHRANTIMATRA: mere illusion.
Bhrumadhya—The space between the eyebrows.
Bhuta Siddhi—Control over elements. A siddhi is a magic power.
BHUTAJAYA: control over the elements.
BHUTA-SAKTI: the power of the element.
BRAHMA LOKA: the world of Brahma, the four-headed Creator.
BRAHMA NADI: same as Sushumna, the central channel which runs up the spine. The pathway of kundalini.
BRAHMACHARI(N): celibate or renunciate of sense-pleasures for their own sake.

BRAHMACHARYA: celibacy. Also defined as 'sense control'. Spiritual seekers do not have to be celibate, but must have desire and lust under control.

BRAHMAKARA VRITTI: thought of Brahman
Brahmamuhurta—The period from 3 to 6 a.m. intended for Yoga—Abhyasa.
BRAHMAN: the Absolute Reality.
BRAHMANA: member belonging to the priestly caste.
BRAHMA-NISHTHA: one who is established in the Knowledge of Brahman.
BRAHMANUBHAVA: Self-realisation.
Brahmarandhra—An aperture in the crown of the head where the soul leaves the body upon death. It is also called the 'sahasrara chakra' or the thousand petaled lotus..
BRAHMIN: Same as Brahmana.
BUDDHI: a part of the consciousness; the highest section of the lower mind. It is in a trinity with ahamkara and manas.

C

CHAITANYA: pure consciousness.
CHAITANYA—Consciousness.
CHAKRA: centre of spiritual energy which runs along the subtle spine. There are 6 major chakras in the spine, from the tailbone to the forehead. 'Chakra' means wheel..

CHANCHALA: wavering.
CHANCHALATA: tossing of the mind.
Chandra-Nadi—Moon-flow; another name for Ida, the left side, lunar nadi.
CHARANAMRITA: water sanctified by the feet of a Deity or of a holy man.
CHATAK: a bird.
CHELA (Hindi): Disciple, a student of a guru.
CHIDGHANA: mass of consciousness.
CHINMAYA: full of consciousness.
CHINTANA: thinking.
CHIRANJIVI: one who has gained eternal life.
Chit—Knowledge.
CHIT-MATRA: consciousness alone.
CHIT-SVARUPA: of the very form of consciousness.
CHITTA: the general category of mind. It is defined differently by different traditions, but generally it is comprised of ahamkara, manas and buddhi.

CHITTA-SUDDHI: purity of mind.

D

DAMA: restraint of the sense-organs.
DAMBHA: hypocrisy.
DANA: charity.
DANA—Charity.
DARPA: vanity.
DARSANA: vision.
Darshana—Interview.
DEHADHYASA: attachment to the body, identification with the body.
Deha—Physical body.
DEHATMA-BUDDHI: the intellect that makes one identify with the body.
DEVA: a celestial being
DEVATA: a Deity, also the Lord
DHAIRYA: courage
DHARANA: concentration
Dharana—Concentration, the 6th limb of Patanjali's Ashtanga yoga system.
DHARMA: righteous conduct; characteristic
Dhauti—The exercise for cleaning the stomach.
DHRITI: spiritual patience

Dhuni: The sacred fire of the Sadhus.
DHYANA YOGA: the Yoga of meditation
DHYANA: meditation
Diksha—Initiation.
DINABANDHU: friend of the poor and the helpless, God
DOSHA: defect
DOSHA-DHRISHTI: the vision that perceives defects
Dosha—Fault; impurity.
DRISHTI: vision
DRISHTI-SRISHTI VADA: the theory that the world exists only so long as it is perceived
Drishti—Vision.
Duhkha— Misery; pain.
DURA-DRISHTI: distant vision
DVAITA: dualism
Dvesha—Hatred; repulsion.
E
EKADASI: the eleventh day of the Hindu lunar fortnight
EKAGRA: one-pointed
EKAGRATA: one-pointedness of mind
G
GANIKA: prostitute
GHRINA: ill-will
Granthi—Knot.
GRIHASTHA—Householder.
Gulma—Chronic gastritis.
GUNA: quality
GURU: preceptor
Guru—Spiritual preceptor.

H
HATHA YOGA: the Yoga of physical perfection
HIRANYAGARBHA: Cosmic mind
HITA: astral tubes near the heart
I
ICCHA—Desire.
IDA NADI: the psychic nerve-current which flows in the left nostril
Ida—The Nadi that runs on the left side of Sushumna.
INDRIYA: sense-organ
Indriyas—Senses.
ISVARA: Lord, God
J
JAALA: jugglery, illusion
Jada Kriya—Physical exercise.
JADA—Insentient; lifeless.
JAGADGURU: world-preceptor
JAGAT: world
JAGRAT: waking state
JALANDHARA BANDHA: a Hatha Yogic exercise
JAPA: repetition of the Name of the Lord
Japa—Repetition of a Mantra.
Jaya—Mastery.
JIVA: the individual soul
Jiva—Individual soul.
JIVANMUKTA: one who is liberated in this life
JIVASRISHTI: creations of the individual soul such as egoism, mine-ness, etc.
JIVATMA(N): the individual soul
JNANA YOGA: the Yoga of knowledge
JNANA YOGI(N): one who practises the Yoga of Knowledge
JNANA: knowledge of the Self
JNANA-BHUMIKA: plane of knowledge
JNANAGNI: fire of spiritual knowledge
JNANA-INDRIYAS: organs of knowledge or perception
Jnana-Indriyas—Five organs or senses of Knowledge. viz., ear, skin, eye, tongue and nose.
JNANI(N): the sage of wisdom
K
KAIVALYA—Isolation.
KALA-SAKTI: Divine Mother manifesting as Time
KALPA: a period of 432,00,00,000 years
KALPANAMATRA: lying only in imagination
KAMA: desire, lust
KAMANA: longing
Kama—Passion, desire.
KANDAMULA: roots and tubers
Kanda—The source of all Nadis.
KARANA SARIRA: the causal body or the seed body
KARIKA: commentary
KARMA YOGI(N): one who practises the Yoga of selfless service
KARMA: action operating through the Law of Cause and Effect
Karma—Action; duty.
KARMA-INDRIYAS: organs of action
Karma-Indriyas—Five organs of action, viz., speech, hands, legs, genitals and anus.
KASHAYA: a subtle influence in the mind produced by enjoyment, hidden Vasana
Kaya—body.
Kaya-Sampat—Perfection of body.
KEVALA ASTI: pure Existence
KIRTAN: singing the Lord.s Name
Krama—Order.
Kripa—Grace.
KRIYA: Hatha Yogic exercise
Kriya—Physical action or exercises.
KRODHA: anger
Krodha—Anger.
KSHAMA: forgiveness
KSHATRIYA: member belonging to the ruling caste
KULA-KUNDALINI: same as Kundalini
KUMBHAKA: retention of breath
Kumbhaka—Retention of breath.
KUNDALINI: the primordial cosmic energy located in the individual
Kundalini—The mysterious power in the body.
KUTASTHA: the rock-seated, unchanging Brahman
L
LAKSHANA: characteristic
LAKSHYA: goal
LAKSHYA—Object of concentration.
LAYA: absorption
Laya—Dissolution.
LILA: divine sport
LILA-VILASA: the splendour of divien sport
LINGA SARIRA: the subtle body, the astral body
LOBHA: covetousness
LOKA-KALYAN(A): good of the world
M
MADA: pride
Mada—Arrogance; pride.
MADHUKARI BHIKSHA: alms collected from door to door like a bee collecting honey from Flowe r to flower
MADHYAMA—Middle; centre.
MAHABHEDA: a Hatha Yogic Kriya
MAHARAJA: emperor
MAHARSHI: great sage
MAHATMA: great soul
MAHAVAKYA: (Lit.) Great sentence; Upanishadic declarations, four in number, expressing the identity between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul
MAHAVAKYANUSANDHANA: enquiry into the truth of the Mahavakyas
MALA-VASANA-RAHITA: free from impurities and subtle desires
Manana—Reflection or concentration.
MANAS: mind
Manas—Mind.
MANDALA: region, sphere
Mandala—Region.
MANIPURA CHAKRA: centre of spiritual energy in the region of the Navel
Manipura—Solar plexus situated at the navel.
MANO-MANDIR: temple of mind
MANONASA: annihilation of the mind
MANTRA SIDDHI: psychic power acquired through repetition of Mantra
MANTRA: incantation
Mantra—Holy words.
MARGA: path
MATRA: unit; alone
MATSARYA: jealousy
Matsarya—Envy; jealousy.
MAUJA (Urdu): sweet will
MAYA: the illusory power of Brahman
Maya—Illusive power; veiling Shakti.
MAYURASANA: the peacock pose
Mitahara—Moderation of diet.
MITHYA-DRISHTI: the vision that the universe is unreal
MITHYATVA-BUDDHI: the intellect that considers this world as unreal
MOHA: delusion
Moha—Attachment; infatuated love.
MOKSHA: liberation
Moksha—Liberation; emancipation.
MOUNA: silence
Mouna—Vow of silence.
Mrityunjaya—Conqueror of death.
MUDRA: a type of exercise in Hatha Yoga
MUKTI: liberation
Mukti—Final beatitude.
MULA AVIDYA: primal ignorance
MULA BANDHA: a Hatha Yogic exercise
MULADHARA CHAKRA: centre of spiritual energy located at the base of the spinal column
Muladhara Chakra—The spiritual centre at the base of the spinal column.
Mula—Origin; root; base.
MUNI: an ascetic

N

~~~~~~~

Nabhi—Navel.
Nada—a mystic sound, the Anahata heart chakra Sound.
Nadi—Astral tube that carries Prana.

Naga: A snake. One of the highest classifications of Sadhus; the most powerful and highest ranking of the Indian ascetics.
NAIYAYIKAS: followers of the Nyaya school of Indian philosophy
NAMA: name, the opposite of rupa, form. The two forms the essence of manifestation. Nama is vibration and rupa is the material manifestation of that vibration.
Nasikagra Drishti—Vision at the tip of the nose.
Nauli—Purificatory exercise of abdominal region, done after mastery of uddiyana bandha.
NAVA RIDDHIS: the nine minor spiritual powers
NETI, NETI: not this, not this. A traditional mantra used to remind the seeker of the transitory nature of existence.
Neti—The exercise for cleaning the nostrils.

Nididhyasana—Profound meditation.
NIRABHIMANATA: free from ego-centred attachment, due to activation of ahamkara, the ego-self.
NIRABHIMANI: one who is devoid of Abhimana
NIRAKARA: formless. Nira means 'without' and kara means 'body'.
NIRAVAYAVA: without limbs
NIRBIJA-SAMADHI: Samadhi wherein the Bija or seeds of Samskaras are fried by Jnana
NIRGUNA BRAHMAN: the impersonal, attributeless Absolute. 'Guna' is the quality of matter: rajas, tamas and sattva.
NIRGUNA: without attributes; formless.

NIRODHA: suppression. Seen most often in Patanjali's Sutras 1.2: Yogas citta vritti nirodah.
NIRVANA: liberation, enlightenment, the highest aspect of consciousness, without any form. Literally means 'extinction'.
NIRVIKALPA: without the modifications of the mind; one of the states of samdhi.
NIRVIKARA: unchanging.
NIRVISHAYA: without object.
NISCHAYATMIKA: with firm conviction.
Nishkama Karma—Disinterested work. Literally means 'without desire' karma.
NISHKAMA: without desire.
NISHKRIYA: without action. Kriya means 'action'.
NISHTHA: meditation, establishment (in a certain state).Fixity; steadiness.

NISSANKALPA: devoid of thought or imagination.
Nivritti Marga—Path of renunciation; or literally 'the path without fluctuation'.

NIYAMA: observances, the second limb in Patanjali's Ashtanga yoga. Internal disciplines such as cleanliness, practice, contentment, surrender to the divine and renunciation.

NYAYA: logic.

O

OJAS— Root Spiritual energy. It comes from the Dhatus (tissues) and helps to form Tejas (fire) and Prana (energy).

OM TAT SAT: a benediction, a solemn invocation of the Divine blessing. It means essentially 'OM, Truth Is'.

OM(KARA): the sacred syllable symbolising Brahman. Om is the sacred sound which vibrates in all things. It is the core vibration of the universe.

P

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

PADMASANA: the lotus pose.

Param: the Highest.
PARAM DHAMA: the Supreme Abode (Brahman)
PARAMAHAMSA: the fourth or the highest class of Sannyasins. Sri Ramakrishna was called a paramahamsa, as was Yogananda.
PARAMANANDA: supreme bliss. 'Param': highest: 'Ananda': bliss.

PARAMATMA(N): the Supreme Soul. Atman is the individual soul which is part of the Paramatman, the universal soul.
PINGALA NADI: the psychic nerve-current which flows in the right nostril. The Nadi that runs on the right side of Sushumna Nadi. It is the heating, solar side of the trinity of lunar, solar and divine.

PITRILOKA: the world of manes. 'Loka' means realm.
Poorna—Full. Often used with yoga asana names such as pari-purna-matsyendrasana.
PRABHU: Lord, used often in reference to Krishna.
PRACHARANA: A Hatha Yogic Kriya (cleansing practice).
PRADAKSHINA: circumambulation. Often a pilgrimmage takes the seeker around a holy mountain or lake or other path. It is symbolic of the inner journey.
PRAJNA: Chaitanya associated with the causal body in the deep sleep state.
PRAJNANAGHANA: mass of consciousness.
PRAJNA-SAKTI: power of consciousness, with the infinite perfection as the source.
PRAKAMYA: unhampered will.
PRAKASA: luminosity, the highest light. 'Akasha' is the higest of the elements, ether. 'Pra' suggests something higher than akasha.
PRAKRITI: Nature, the primitive non-intelligent principle
Prakriti—Nature; undifferentiated matter.
PRAMANA: proof
PRANA: the vital force, the life-current
PRANAVA DHVANI: the cosmic sound of OM
PRANAVA: same as OM
Prana—Vital energy.
PRANAYAMA: control of breath
Pranayama—Regulation of breath.
PRAPANCHA VISHAYA: worldly objects
PRARABDHA: destiny
PRASAD: anything consecrated by being offered to God or to a saint
PRATIPAKSHA BHAVANA: entertaining a counter-idea
PRATISHTA: reputation, fame
PRATYAGATMA: Inner Self, Brahman
PRATYAHARA: abstraction or withdrawal of the senses from their objects
Pratyahara—Withdrawing the senses from objects.
PRATYAKSHA: direct perception
Pratyakshatva—Direct perception.
PRAVAHA: flood-tide
PREMA: affection
Prema—Divine love.
Prerana—Inner goading.
PRITHVI: earth
PUJA: worship
PUNDIT: a learned man
Puraka—Inhalation.
PURITAT NADI: one of the astral tubes or subtle passages in the body
R
RAGA—Attachment.
RAGA-DVESHA: attraction and repulsion, like and dislike, love and hatred
RAGA-RAGINIS: melodic structures in music
RAJA YOGA: the Yoga of meditation
RAJA: king
RAJASIC: passionate, active
Rajasic—Passionate.
Rajas—Passion; motion.
Rechaka—Exhalation.
RIDDHIS: minor spiritual powers
RISHI: a seer of Truth
RUPA: form
Rupa—Form.

S
SABDA BRAHMAN: sound-form of Brahman
SABDA: sound
SABDA-BHEDA: difference in sound
SABDA-JAALA: jugglery of words
SABHA: assembly
SADHAKA: spiritual aspirant
SADHAKA—Spiritual aspirant.
SADHANA: spiritual discipline
Sadhana—Spiritual practice.
SADHU: a righteous man; a Sannyasin
SAGUNA: with attributes
Saguna—With form.
SAHAJA PARAMANANDA: state of absolute bliss that has become natural
SAHAJA: natural
SAHAJANANDA: state of bliss that has become natural
SAHAJAVASTHA: superconscious state that has become natural and continuous
SAHASRARA: centre of spiritual energy at the crown of the head
Sahasrara—The spiritual centre at the head.
Sakshatkara—Direct perception.
SAKSHI: witness
SAKTI: power, potency
SAKTI-CHALANA: a Hatha Yogic Kriya
SAMA: calmness of mind induced by eradication of Vasanas
SAMA-BHAVA: feeling of equality
SAMADHANA: mental balance
SAMADHI: the state of superconsciousness where Absoluteness is experienced
Samadhi—Superconscious state.
SAMA-DRISHTI: equal vision
Sama—Equal; balanced state of mind.
SAMANYA: ordinary
SAMBHAVI MUDRA: a Hatha Yogic Kriya
Samsara Chakra—Wheel of death and birth.
SAMSARA: the wheel of transmigration, cycle of birth and death
SAMSKARA: impression in the subconscious mind
Samskara—Impression.
SAMYAG-DARSANA: unclouded vision
SAMYAG-JNANA: Supreme knowledge
SAMYAMA: concentration, meditation and Samadhi
SAMYAVASTHA: the state of equanimity
SANDHYA: the daily worship of offering oblations to the Sun-God thrice a day.at sunrise, noon and sunset
SANGRAHA BUDDHI: the intellect that wants to accumulate and possess
SANKALPA: thought, imagination
Sankalpa—Formative will; determination.
SANKALPAMATRA: existing in thought only
SANKHYA: system of Indian philosophy founded by Kapila Muni
SANNYASI(N): renunciate, monk
SANTA-SIVA-ADVAITA: peaceful, auspicious, non-dual Brahman
SANTI: peace
SAPTA SVARA: the seven notes of the Indian scale of music
SARA VASTU: true substance, real entity
SARVA: all, everything
SARVANGASANA: a Yogic pose
SARVATMA BHAVA: feeling the one Self in all
SASTRAS: scriptures
SAT SANKALPA: pure will
SATAVADHANA: doing hundred things at a time
SATCHIDANANDA: Existence-Absolute, Knowledge-Absolute, Bliss-Absolute; Brahman
SATGURU: a true preceptor
SATSANGA: company of the wise
Sattva—Purity.
SATTVIC: pure
Sattvic—Pure.
SATYA: truth
Satyam—Truth; Brahman.
SAVIKALPA: with modifications
SAVITARKA SAMADHI: Samadhi with argumentation
SEVA: service
Shakti—Power.
Shat-Karmas—Six purificatory exercises of Hatha Yoga, viz., Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Trataka
SIDDHANTA: established doctrine
SIDDHASANA: a meditative pose
Siddhas—Perfected Yogins.
SIDDHI: major psychic power; perfection
Siddhi—Perfection; psychic power.
Sindur—Vermilion.
SIRSHASANA: the topsy-turvy pose
SIVOHAM: a Vedantic assertion meaning .I am Siva (the Absolute).
SLOKA: verse
SMRITI: memory
SOHAM: a Vedantic assertion meaning .I am He (Brahman).
Sparsha—Touch; feeling.
SPHURANA: vibration. bursting forth
SRAADDHA: an annual ceremony when oblations are offered to the manes
SRADDHA: faith
Sraddha—Faith.
Sravana—Hearing of Srutis.
SRUTI: musical refrain
STHULA AVIDYA: gross ignorance
Sthula—Physical; gross.
STOTRAS: verses of praise
SUBHA: auspicious
SUDDHA MANAS: the pure mind
SUDDHA SANKALPA: pure will
SUDDHA: pure
SUDDHI: purity
SUKHA: happiness
Sukha—Happiness; comfortable.
SUKHASANA: the comfortable pose
SUKSHMA SARIRA: the subtle body, the astral body
SUKSHMA: subtle
Sukshma—Astral; subtle.
Surya Nadi—Another name for Pingala.
SUSHUMNA: the psychic nerve-current that passes through the spinal column and through which the Kundalini is made to rise through the practice of Yoga
SUSHUPTI: the deep sleep state
Sutra—Aphorism.
SUTRADHARA: the wire-puller, God
SVABHAVA: innate nature
SVADHYAYA: reading of scriptures
SVAPNA: dreaming state
Svara Sadhana—Regulation of breath.
SVARA-SADHANA: science of breath
SVARODAYA: same as above
SVARUPA: essential nature
SVARUPA-LAKSHANA: distinguishing marks of the essential nature of Brahman
T
TADANA: a Hatha Yogic Kriya
TAIJASA: Chaitanya associated with the astral body in the dream state
TAMASIC: dull
Tamasic—Dull; lazy.
TAMAS—Inertia; darkness.
TANMATRAS: subtle elements
TAPA: burning
TAPAS: penance
TAPASYA: practice of penance
TARPANA: libation of water for gratifying the manes
TAT TVAM ASI: That Thou Art
TATTVA: principle, Reality
Tattva—Elements; faculty.
TATTVA-JNANA: knowledge of Brahman
those of God
TIRTHA: place of pilgrimage usually containing a bathing place
TIRTHA-YATRA: pilgrimage
TITIKSHA: endurance
Titiksha—Forbearance.
TRATAK(A): steady gazing
Trataka—Gazing at a particular spot.
TRIKALA JNANA: knowledge of the three periods of time
Trikala-Jnani—One who knows the past, present and future.
TRIPHALA: three fruits used in the Ayurvedic system of medicine
Trishna—Craving.
TRIVENI: the place where three holy rivers meet
Triveni—The place where three holy rivers meet.
TUL(A)SI: the Indian holy basil plant
TURIYA: superconscious state
TUSHNIMBHUTA AVASTHA: a neutral state of the mind
Tushti—Satisfaction.

U

UDBODHAKA: stimulus, awakener
UDDIYANA BANDHA: same as above
UDDIYANA: a Hatha Yogic exercise for raising the diaphragm
UDGITHA: sonorous prayer prescribed in the Chhandogya Upanishad to be sung aloud
UNMANI AVASTHA: mindless state of Yogins
UNMANI AVASTHA—Mindless state of Yogins.
up as Ojas Sakti or spiritual energy
UPADHI: limiting adjunct
UPAHITA CHAITANYA: pure consciousness associated with Upadhis, the individual soul
Upanishads
UPASAKA: worshipper
UPASANA: worship
URDHVARETAS: a Yogi in whom the seminal energy flows upwards to the brain. This reproductive energy is converted into Ojas or primordial shakti. It is done first through mula bandha.
UTSAHA: cheerfulness, enthusiasm
Uttama—Qualified person.
V
VAIRA-BHAKTI: constant and intense thought of God induced by hatred and enmity
VAIRAGYA: dispassion
VAIRAGYA—Renunciation; dispassion.
VAISESHIKA: system of Indian philosophy founded by Kanada Rishi
Vajra—Adamantine; firm.
VAK-INDRIYA: the organ of speech
Vak—Speech.
VAKYA: sentence
VARUNA-ASTRA: water-missile
VASANA: latent subtle desire
Vasana—Impression of action that remains in the mind.
VASTU: substance, entity
VAYU: air
VEDA: the revealed scripture of the Hindus containing the Upanishads
VEDANTA: (Lit.) end of the Vedas; the school of thought based primarily on the Vedic
VIBHU: all-pervading
VICHARA: enquiry
VIDEHAMUKTA: one who has attained disembodied Salvation
VIJATIYA-VRITTI-TIRASKARA: casting aside of alien thoughts, i.e., thoughts other than
VIJNANAMAYA KOSHA: the intellectual sheath
VIJNANAVADA: subjective idealism
VIKALPA: fancy
VIKARA: modifications or change
VIKSHEPA: tossing of mind
VIRAT: macrocosm; the Lord in His form as the manifested universe
VIRAT-VISVARUPA-DARSANA: the vision of the Lord.s cosmic form
Virya—Seminal power; energy.
VISESHA: special
VISHAYA: sense-object
VISHAYAKARA-VRITTI: the flow of objective thinking
VISHAYA-VRITTI-PRAVAHA: the continuous thought-current of worldly objects
Vishuddha—Laryngeal plexus at the base of the throat.
VISISHTADVAITA: the doctrine of conditioned non-dualism
VISTARA: expansion
VISVA: Chaitanya associated with the gross body in the waking state
VIVARTA: illusory appearance, apparent variation, superimposition
VIVEKA: discrimination
VRATA: religious vow
VRITTI: a wave of thought, a modification of the mind
Vritti—Mental function.
VYAKARANATMAKA: grammatical
VYANJAKA: indicative, manifesting
VYAPAKA: all-pervading
VYAVAHARA-RAHITA: devoid of worldly activity
VYAVAHARIC: worldly
VYAVASAYATMIKA: with resolution and determination
Y
YAJNA: sacrifice
YAMA: self-restraint
YAMA—The first step in Yoga.
Yatra—Pilgrimage.
YOGA SADHANA: the spiritual discipline of Yoga
YOGA: (Lit.) union; union of the individual soul with the Supreme Soul; any course which makes for such union
YOGABHRASHTA: one who has fallen from the high state of Yoga
YOGAMAYA: the power of divine illusion
Yoga—Superconscious state; union with Paramatma.
YOGI(N): one who practises Yoga; one who is established in Yoga
Yogic—Pertaining to Yoga.
Yogin—One who is devoted to Yoga.
YONI-MUDRA: the Mudra in which one closes the ears, eyes, nose and mouth with the  thumbs and fingers of the hands to enable one to hear the Anahata sounds
Yukti—Common—sense.