By
Sri Swami Sivananda

A DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY PUBLICATION
Website: http://www.divinelifesociety.org/

--- A ---

Adhikari-Fit aspirant
(Uttama: Good; Madhyama: medium; Adhama: inferior)
Abhas -reflection
Abheda-without difference
Abhimana-ego-centred attachment
Abhyasa-spiritual practice
Acharya-preceptor
Adambhitva-unpretentiousness
Adhama-Uddharaka-uplifter of the downtrodden
Adhibhautic-elemental
Adhidaivic-celestial
Adhiyatmic-spiritual
Advaita-non duality
Advaita Nishtha-establishment in the state of non-duality
Agni-Fire
Agni Astra-fire-missile
Agnihotra-a fire offering
Aham-"I" or the ego
Aham Brahma Asmi-I am Brahman
Ahangraha Upsana- meditation in which the aspirant
identifies himself with Brahman.
Ahamkara-Ego
Aisvarya-Material or spiritual wealth
Ajna Chakra-Cavernous plexus
Akasa-Ether, space, sky
Alasya-Lethargy, inertia
Anahata-Cardiac plexus
Anga-Subordinate step, limb
Anima-Subtlety, reducing body in size
Antahkarana- Internal psychic organ, mind
Apana-Vital energy functioning in excretion
Apas-Water
Arambha-A state reached in Pranayama
Asana-Bodily position, posture
Ashtanga-Eight limbs (of Patanjali's Raja Yoga)
Astika-Believer of God or the Vedas
Asura-Demon, evil tendency in man
Asuri-Devilish
Atman-Divine soul in man, the Supreme Self
Avadhani-Attentive, concentrated
Avastha-State

--- B ---

BANDHA-A lock in Yogic posture
Bandhu-Relative, one connected by relation
Bhakta-Devotee
Bhakti-Devotion
Bhastrika-Bellows (a kind of Pranayama)
Bhati-To shine
Bhava-(Devotional) attitude
Bheda-Difference, splitting
Bija-Seed, source
Bijakshara-Seed-letter containing latent power of Mantra
Brahmachari-Celibate, student of scriptures
Brahmanda-Macrocosm, Brahma's egg
Brahmarandhra-Head fontanelle at the top of head
Buddhi-Intellect, understanding, reason

--- C --- D ---

CHAKRA-Wheel, plexus
Charu-Boiled milk and rice
Chit-Consciousness
Chitta-Mind-stuff, subconscious mind

DAIVI-Divine
Dama-Control of outer senses
Deva(ta)-Deity
Dhairya-Heroism, valour
Dharma-Duty, virtue, righteous way of living
Dhyana-Deep meditation
Dridhata-Firmness

--- G --- H ---

GAYATRI-A very sacred Mantra in the Vedas
Ghata-A state reached in Pranayama
Granthi-Knot (of nerves or psychic energy)
Grihastha-Householder

HAMSA-Swan, Divine Self
Hiranyagarbha-Cosmic intelligence, cosmic mind, Brahma

--- I --- J ---

IDA-Psychic nerve-current flowing through nostril; lunar
Indriya-Sense of perception whether physical (Karma Indriya) or internal
current (Jnana Indriya)
Ishta-Object of desire, chosen ideal

JAPA-Repetition of a Mantra
Jivanmukti-Liberation while still in body, the state of Jnana or
Knowledge, Wisdom of Brahman
Jivatman-Individual soul

--- K --- L ---

KALA-Ray, part, aspect
Kapala-Skull
Kamala-Lotus
Karma-Action (Sanchita: accumulated; Prarabdha: to be worked out in this
life; Agami: being freshly formed)
Karuna-Mercy
Kevala Kumbhaka-Cessation of breath spontaneously
Khechari Mudra-Applying elongated tongue to the posterior palate in
Hatha Yoga
Kriya-Action
Kumbhaka-Period between in-and-outgoing breath
Kundalini-Serpent-power coiled up at the Muladhara Chakra
Kutir-Living quarters (of a Sadhaka)

LINGA SARIRA-Subtle body

--- M --- N ---

MADHYAMA-Pranayama with 32 Matras
Mahima-Siddhi of making oneself huge
Manas-Mind
Matra-A second, time-measure
Mitahara-Moderate diet
Moksha-Liberation, release
Mudra-Symbolic hand-position
Mumukshutva-Intense longing for liberation

NADI-Astral tube carrying Prana
Nauli-Abdominal churning exercise
Nirvikalpa-Without modification of the mind
Nishkama-Selfless, unselfish
Nishpatti-Consummation, ratio

--- P ---

PADMA-Lotus
Para-Super, higher, (highest)
Paramahamsa-The highest class of Sannyasins
Parichaya-A state reached in Pranayama
Pindanda-Microcosm
Pingala-Psychic nerve-current in right nostril, solar
Pralaya-Dissolution of the cosmos
Prana-Vital energy, life-breath, life-force
Pranava-The mystic syllable 'OM'
Pranavadin-One who advocates the theory of Prana
Pranayama-Breath-control
Prasvasa-Expiration of Breath
Pratyahara-Abstraction of senses
Prithvi-Element of earth with density and fragrance characteristic to it
Puja-Worship, adoration
Puraka-Inhalation

--- S ---

SADHAKA-Spiritual aspirant
Sadhana-Spiritual practice
Sahaja-Natural, true, native
Sahasrara-1000 petalled lotus at the crown of head
Sakti-Power
Sama-Control of mind, tranquillity
Samadhi-State of superconsciousness, perfect absorption of mind in Yoga
Sambhavi-A Yogic technique of concentration
Sampat-Quality, wealth
Samsara-Life through repeated births and deaths, process of worldly life
Samskara-Impression, prenatal tendency
Sandhya-Junction (of sunrise and sunset)
Sannyasa-Renunciation of social ties, 4th state in Hindu life
Santi-Peace, quietness
Sastra-Scripture, word of authority
Satavadhani-One who does 100 things at the same time
Shatchakras-The six Chakras or nerve-plexuses
Sraddha-Faith
Sthula-Gross
Suddhi-Purity
Sukshma-Fine, subtle, indivisible
Surya-Sun
Sushumna-Nerve-current in spinal canal from Muladhara to crown of head
Svaha-Word uttered while offering an oblation, offering to God,
exclamation used in offerings

--- T --- U ---

TAMAS-Darkness, inertia, dullness
Tandri-Drowsiness

UDANA-Vital force near the throat
Upanishad-Vedantic scriptures, end of Vedas
Urdhvareto-Yogi-A Yogi whose energies have been sublimated into
spiritual power
Utsaha-Cheerfulness, enthusiasm

--- V --- Y ---

VAIRAGYA-Indifference, disgust for worldly things and enjoyments
Vajra-Firmness, thunderbolt
Vak-Speech
Vasana-Subtle desire
Vayu-Wind, vital air, Prana
Vichara-Enquiry into nature of Self or Truth
Virya-Seminal fluid
Visuddha-Laryngeal plexus
Viveka-Discrimination
Vritti-Thought-wave, mental whirlpool
Vyana-All-pervading Prana
Vyavahara-Worldly activity, phenomenal, relative world

YAAMA-A period of three hours
Yajna-Sacrifice
Yatra-Pilgrimage
Yoga-Union with God