gesture of fearlessness

fear of death

perineal mudra

16 bases which support the body

not fulfilling one's natural role in life

non-dual experience; unity of the individual soul

fiire

'zone of fire'; visualizing entire body in the form of agni

practice of emptying the lungs and pumping the stomach to strengthen the diaphragm and lower stomach region

beyond sensory perception

another name for nasikagra drishti

vedic mantra

ego

absence of violence from within; non-violence

continuous

'third eye'; command center

ajna chakra symbol at the eyebrow center

ongoing

form

space; ether

ether element

awareness of the inner space; practice of the external stage of dharana; gazing into space with the head tilted back

auto-urine procedure; drinking of one's own urine in order to detoxify the body and develop stamina and vitality

endless

unheard

heart chakra or emotional center

trigger point of anahata chakra

everlasting bliss

fourth state of samadhi; blissful absorption

sheath or body of bliss

sheath or body of matter

inner

inner instrument; experienced or manifest mind which includes the four aspects of manas

internal breathe retention

internal aim to be aspired for in dharana

inner silence; meditative technique

four internal stages of raja yoga

inference

discovery

water

sub-prana

non-possessiveness

form of Shiva

one of the five Pandava back brothers; he to whom Lord Krishna addressed the Bhagavad Gita

material need; wealth

transitional stage of samadhi where the traces of the mind become active according to their intensity

'not coming into contact'

a physical posture in which one is at ease and in harmony with oneself

faith

four stages of life

eightfold path of yoga

contraction of anal sphincter

state where the ego and the sense of individuality are completely transcended and there is only pure awareness

feeling of 'I' identified with an action

fifth state of samadhi; dissolution of ego; merging of body

honesty

bone found in the body tissues

knowledge of false identity; inability to link name with form

individual soul; spirit

primordial sound; mantra

subconscious

ignorance; lack of conscious awareness; mistaking the non-eternal for the eternal; confined cognition

unmanifest; unseen

descending passage to the subtle body; spinal passage

vedic system of medical diagnosis and treatment

external

external breath retention

external aim to focus on in order to achieve concentration

four external stages of raja yoga

audible sound produced by striking two objects

psychic lock that concentrates the flow of energy in the body at one point or plexus; postural contraction of the body

excretory cleansing technique for the intestines and colon

'seed'

gentleman's pose

Lord Krishna's discourse to Arjuna delivered on the battlefield of Kurukshetra during the great Mahabharata war

ode to Shakti by Adi Shankaracharya

devotion

forehead bellows

'bellows' breathing technique

to shine

absorption' in meditation due to emotional cause

to pass through

practice of the external stage of dharana; gazing into space after focusing on the finger nail of the hand held in front of the face

element

eyebrow center

eyebrow center gazing

center or source of individual creation from where the psychic vibrations first emanate

Lord of creation; manifest force of life and creation; potentiality of mooladhara chakra

meditation on the concept of Brahma

perineal knot or psychic block

subtle pranic flow within sushumna nadi through which kundalini ascends

one who lives in higher consciousness; sexual control; redirection of sexual energy towards spiritual or meditational practices

first stage of life up to 25 years

absolute reality; 'ever-expanding consciousness'

the enlightened one

discerning

eternal flame of spirit

psychic center in the subtle body; circle

wheel pose

breathing technique that pierces and purifies the ida nadi

another name for ajna mandala

one of the six darshana or systems of Indian thought; philosophy which accepts only the perceivable phenomena as valid

four months of the rainy season

consciousness; unmanifest aspect of consciousness and energy

space of consciousness experienced in the head region

technique of meditation involving awareness of the chidakasha

attitude of chitta or consciousness; upward hand position with thumb and first finger touching

eternal consciousness

mental force governing the

individual consciousness

mental modification

lower or deep space; encompassing mooladhara

concentration on the symbols of chakra and tattwa within the lower space

another name for pingala nadi

method of cleaning the teeth

to glimpse; to see; to have a vision

for a long period of time

body stillness

place

first tattwa: the divine element

minor prana

deity

female deity; goddess

minor prana

stream

holding or binding of the mind to one point; concentration

the natural role we have to play in life; ethical law; duty

layers of tissue in the body

cleansing practices for the stomach region involving gentle washing with air

meditation

divine

plane of divine or transcendental experience

divine feeling

humors of the physical body

seer

solid foundation

vision

stillness of vision

teacher of the Pandava and Kaurava princes from the Mahabharata epic

devi; goddess; representing energy

repulsion

womb Ida

vedic mantra of 24 matras or syllabes

traditional yogic text by Rishi Gherand

cow face pose

psychic knots

second stage of life from 25-50 years; householder

attribute

one of the five mental spaces of vyoma panchaka; attributeless space

runs from the knees along the inside of the thighs into the perineum

one who dispels darkness

a pre-pranayama exercise

yoga of attaining physical and mental purity

yogic text

anything which disrupts the natural flow of human perception and consciousness

'golden'

golden womb; golden egg

beeja mantra

space of the heart

vedic meditative process involving concentration on the heart space

major pranic channel in the body; passive aspect of prana manifesting as mental force

king of the vedic gods

sensory organs

higher reality; non-decaying principle of Samkhya philosophy; unmanifest existence; being; non-changing principle or quality

cultivation of faith in the higher reality

`through' or 'thus'

wakefulness

water

nasal cleansing using warm and saline water

chin lock; technique that frees ' the blockages of rudra granthi; controls the network of nadis

wheel of life

yoga of mantra repetition

victory

individual identity

intuitive knowledge

path of knowledge

hand position that joins fingers and thumb; gesture of intuitive knowledge

yoga of knowledge and wisdom attained through spontaneous self-analysis and investigation of abstract or speculative ideas

five sensory organs

temple of light

tip

state of consciousness beyond duality

time

plane that comes under the influence of time and its secondary aspect

emotional need or fulfillment

frontal brain bellowing technique used to raise the pranic energy of the body and center it at ajna chakra

variation of kapalbhati

phlegm

cause

that which produces

action; law of cause and effect

path of ritual

deep layers of consciousness where the karma are stored in the form of impressions

yoga of action; action performed with meditative awareness; yoga of dynamic meditation

five physical organs of action (feet

ways to clean the ears

tongue lock

singing of God's name

beeja mantra

tortoise

tortoise pose

sheath or body

incarnation of Vishnu

action or motion

practices of kundalini yoga

cockerel pose

a pot

internal or external retention of breath

'serpent power'; spiritual energy; evolutionary potential

path of yoga

cleansing the stomach by voluntary vomiting using warm saline water

opponents of the Pandava princes in the Mahabharata epic

'short form'

aim; stage

minor chakra at the back of the throat

beeja mantra of mooladhara chakra

to dissolve

yoga of conscious dissolution of individuality

seven planes of consciousness

intermediate

intermediate stage

great

great piercing attitude

a long universal mantra

great attitude

final liberation experienced on the departure of the spirit from the body

great lock

great epic of ancient India

one of the five mental spaces of vyoma panchaka; bright like the middle of the sun

prana in its cosmic

greater mind

nerves found in the body tissues

garland

bondage of mind

mind

mental

zone; area; pictorial representation

frog

frog attitude

one of the major Upanishads

psychic center behind the navel

mental sheath or body Mantra? 

path of yogawhich liberates the mind through sound vibration

force of vibration

illusion; partial understanding; wrong or false notions about self-identity

peacock pose

fat found in the body tissues

plexus of the pranic body; nadi plexus located just a few centimeters below the nave

balanced diet

liberation; freedom

`root'

perineal lock; technique for locating and awakening mooladhara chakra; used to release brahma granthi

discovery of mooladhara chakra

root chakra

practice involving visualization of mooladhara chakra and sensing the vortex of energy at this point

silence

decay able element; manifest aspect of tattwa

psychic gesture; psycho-physiological posture

liberation

muscle found in the body tissues

desire for liberation

another name for khechari mudra

psychic or internal sound

yoga of internal sound

prana flow or channel

purification of nadis

practice of alternate nostril breathing by which the pranic channels are purified

one of the five minor pranas

continuously without a break

decaying principle

decaying principle described in Samkhya philosophy; manifest existence; becoming; changeable

nose

nose tip gazing

minor chakra at the nose tip

dance mudras that express different attitudes or moods

practice of rotation of the abdominal muscles

cleansing practice for the head; nasal cleaning

deep sleep

control

final state of samadhi where there is absorption without seed; total dissolution

meditation without gunas or qualities

transitional stage of samadhi; absorption without reflection

meditation without special attributes

transitional stage of samadhi involving purification of memory which gives rise to true knowledge of the object of perception

inner discipline

one of the six darshana or systems of Indian philosophy; `logic'; recognition of the real spiritual experience by the omniscient mind

Shiva mantra; `I salute Shiva (consciousness)'

Krishna mantra; `I salute Krishna (consciousness)'

Narayan or Vishnu mantra; 'I salute Narayan (consciousness)'

lotus pose

five afflictions (ignorance

five

the five brothers in the Mahabharata epic

transcendental sound

supreme

one of the five mental spaces of vyoma panchaka; 'deep

collection

instinctive personality

mental

ancient rishi who codified the meditative stages and states into the system of raja yoga

series of wind releasing postures; preliminary asana series

major pranic channel in the body which conducts the dynamic force manifesting as prana shakti

bile

inhalation

full

full bow pose

one of the six darshana or systems of Indian philosophy in the form of answers; contains theory of karma kanda or ritual

knowledge with awareness; the seer who observes the state of nidra; the all knowing; what is known; represents the 'M' of AUM; awareness of the 'one without a second'

light

white light at the center of ajna chakra

individual nature

direct knowledge; knowledge based on direct experience

vital energy; inherent vital force pervading every dimension of matter

a technique of raising the prana

control of prana

dynamic solar force governing the dimension of matter

third element representing the vital or life giving force

knowledge and control of prana

energy sheath or body

mantra Aum; primal sound vibration

meditation on the mantra Aum

expansion of the range of vital energy

'to believe in'

awakening of the pranas in the different chakras

awareness of identity

withdrawal of the mind from the senses

seeds or impressions in the field of consciousness

four instincts; (i) desire for food

earth or matter

totality of consciousness

four efforts which man must make in order to fulfill his individual existence: (i) artha (wealth)

attraction

without

yoga of awkening the psychic awareness and faculties through meditation

one of the three gunas; dynamism; state of activity and the creativity combined with full ego involvement

blood found in the body tissues

serum found in the body tissues

exhalation

seer; realized sage; one who contemplates or meditates on the Self

the changing principle

the cry

form

to cry

howling energy

psychic knot or block between ajna and sahasrara chakras

absorption with seed where the form of awareness remains

spiritual aspirant

spiritual practice

meditation to develop awareness of the ttranscendental qualities

with

spontaneous; easy

spontaneous meditative experience where the mind is totally withdrawn from the external world

contraction and release of the urinary passage in the female body to stimulate Swadhisthana chakra and promote brahmacharya

abode of Shiva or superconsciousness; 'the thousand petalled lotus'; highest chakra or psychic center

'combined with something'

ego-inspired actions

witness; drashta aspect

perfect

culmination of meditation; state of unity with the object of meditation and the universal consciousness

one of the five sub-pranas; situated between the navel and diaphragm

complete absorption; samadhi

one of the six darshana or systems of Indian philosophy; associated with yoga; based on the division of existence into purusha

first sate of samadhi; transcendental state where there is knowledge with awareness

unconscious memories; impressions that do not fit into the known categories of our present personality

stillness

harmonious control; culmination of pratyahara

eternal

resolve

renunciation; dedication

fourth stage of life from 75 years onwards; total renunciation

`language of the gods": original vedic language

contentment

seven

awareness of seven things simultaneously

goddess of learning

true

three divine attribrates of truth

with faith

gathering in which the ideals and principles of truth are discussed

one of the three gunas; pure

pertaining to sattwa

truth

the unchanging principle

attention; alert

third state of samadhi where the mind alternates between time

meditation with special qualities: awareness of the concept of Shakti as a powerful force equal to that of Brahman

second state of samadhi where there is alternating association of the consciousness between word

one who worships Shiva as the supreme reality

practice of worshipping Shiva

one who worships the various manifestations of Shakti in the form of Kali

primal energy; manifest consciousness

practice of worshiping Shakti as the supreme reality

name for Parvati

eyebrow center gazing

name for Shiva

cleaning the conch; shatkarma that uses saline water to clean the small and large intestines

conch Mudra

closing the seven gates

six

group of six purificatory techniques of hatha yoga

cleanliness of the body

'cooling breath'; breathing principle technique where the breath is drawn in through the folded tongue

'hissing breath'; practice of object drawing the breath in through clenched teeth

pure consciousness

purification

nothingness; void

pure in nature

virtue; purity

to purify

reproductive tissues in the body

perfected being

female version of siddhasana

accomplished pose

paranormal or supernormal accomplishment

lion pose

cremation ground

memory; memory field

mantra of the breath; used in the practice of ajapa japa

condition

gross

'simple preliminary practice'

easy pose

subtle dimension

mountain; tassle on mala

sun

pranayama that pierces and purifies the pingala nadi

image of the sun visualized at the eyebrow center

'salute to the sun'; series of 12 asanas for revitalizing prana

path of realization through visualization and evocation of the vital energy within the sun

another name for surya tantra

one of the five mental spaces of vyoma panchaka; luminous space of the sun or the soul

central nadi in the spine

threads of thought which outline the ancient spiritual texts

nasal cleansing using a catheter

acceptance of one's own duty in life

'one's own abode'; second chakra associated with the sacral plexus

self study

master of the self

dream state

science of the breathing cycle

auspicious pose

Indian drums

knowledge of true identity; linking of name with form

one of the three gunas; state of inertia or ignorance

pertaining to tamas

nature

ancient

austerity; heat; process of burning impurities

process of understanding through discussion and analysis

'that'

element

one of the five mental spaces of vyoma panchaka; elemental space of perfect stillness

'Thou Art That'; vedic mantra

holy places of India

luminosity; golden light or flame; the seer who observes the state of swapna

to gaze steadily; dharana practice of gazing steadily at one point to focus the mind

freed

meditation on the three aspects of personality: sattwa

fourth dimension of consciousness; super consciousness; simultaneous awareness of all three states of consciousness

renunciation or gradual dissociation of the mind from worldly objects and from the seed of desire

one of the five sub-pranas; energy located in the extremities of the body arms

'to raise up'

lock applied to the abdomen which causes the diaphragm to rise into the chest

psychic breathing performed by contracting the epiglottis

five minor pranas responsible for such actions as sneezing

vedantic texts conveyed by ancient sages and seers containing their experiences and teachings on the ultimate reality

whispered sound

ritual of worship

drinking water through the nose; traditional form of cold water neti

one of the six darshana or systems of Indian philosophy which deals with the knowledge of ritual in the form of questions

'swinging while standing pose'; a pre-pranayama exercise

speech

non-attachment

a treatise on the subtle

one who worships Vishnu in the form of Rama

sect of Vishnu

manifest universe

seer who observes the manifest universe or the

thunderbolt pose

contraction and release of the urinary passage in the male body to stimulate swadhisthana chakra and promote brahmacharya

method of cleaning the stomach by voluntary vomiting; includes kunjal kriya and vyaghra Kriya

third stage of life from 50-75 years; retirement from worldly life in order to practise sadhana in relative seclusion

balancing asana invented by Sage Vashishta

cleansing of the stomach and esophagus

wind

nadi running along the back of the neck and head into the brain; controls gas formation and elimination

form of stomach cleansing performed by drinking air through the mouth and belching

wind

one of the six darshana or systems of Indian philosophy; 'the end of perceivable knowledge'; the mind experiencing its own limits and going beyond them; gaining realization and understanding of that exploration

ancient spiritual texts of the Sanatan Dharma

warrior personality

warrior pose (also known as the philosopher's pose or the thinker's pose)

reflection

knowledge

visualization of lightning within the white light of prakash mandala

intuitive ability of mind; higher understanding

higher mental sheath or body

fancy; unfounded belief; imagination

dissipation

inverted

inverted psychic attitude

wrong knowledge

object

psychic knot or block between manipura

psychic center located at the level of the throat; center of purification

eternal

reasoning

right knowledge or understanding

scorpion pose

circular movement of consciousness; mental and modifications described in raja yoga

cleansing the stomach by voluntary vomiting using warm saline water (performed on a full stomach)

manifest; seen

manifest life force

one of the sub-pranas; reserve of pranic energy pervading the whole body

space

the five subtle spaces

beeja mantra of anahata chakra

self-restraint

visual form of mantra used for concentration and meditation

parts or aspects of yoga

psychic union pose

gestures

technique of yogic or psychic sleep which induces deep relaxation

ancient authorative text on raja yoga by Patanjali

womb

attitude by which the primal energy inherent in the womb