Glossary of Sanskrit Terms
written by Luke Roberts
NB Unfortunately it is difficult to represent vowel marks in pure ASCII text, so I suggest you refer to a Sanskrit dictionary if you require the accurate pronunciation of a word.
A
a - non
abhaya - freedom from fear
abhinivesa - possessiveness
abhyasa - steady effort
acharya - a religious teacher
adhah - down
adhara - a support
adharma - breach of duty
adhibhuta - the principle of objective existence
adhidaiva - the principle of subjective existence
adhikari - competent candidate
adhimatra - superior
adhimatratama - the highest, the supreme one
adhisthana - seat, abode
adhiyajna - the principle of sacrifice, incarnation
adho-mukha - face downwards
adho mukha svanasana - the dog stretch posture
adhyasa - a case of mistaken identity
adhyatma - the principle of self
adrishta - the unseen (e.g. actions of invisible entities)
adisvara - the primeval lord, a name of Shiva
aditi - the mother of the gods
aditya - son of aditi
advaita - non-duality of the universal spirit
advasana - the prone posture
agama - proof of the trustworthiness of a source of knowledge
aham - I
ahamkara - tendency to identify oneself with external phenomena, 'the I-maker'
ahimsa - non-violence
aishvarya - desire for power
ajapa - involuntary repetition (as with a mantra)
ajna - command
akarna - towards the ear
akarna dhanurasana - the shooting bow posture
akasha - ether
akrodha - freedom from anger
alabhdha-bhumikatva - the feeling that it is impossible to see reality
alamba - support
alasya - idleness
amanaska - the mind free from desire
amrita - the elixir of immortality
anahata - unbeaten
ananda - bliss
Ananta - infinite, a name of Vishnu
anantasana - Ananta's posture
anga - a limb, or body part
angamejayatva - unsteadiness of the body
angula - a finger
angushtha - the big toe
Anjana - the name of the mother of Hanuman
anjaneyasana - the splits
antahkarana - the mind
antara - within
antaranga - the practices of pranayama and pratyahara
antaratma - the inner self, residing in the heart
anuloma - with the grain, naturally
anumana - an inference
apana - one of the vital airs, controls the elimination of bodily wastes
apara - lower
aparigraha - abstention from greed, non-possessiveness
apunya - vice
arama - pleasure garden
ardha - half
ardha-baddha padmottanasana - the half-lotus forward bend posture
ardha-chandrasana - the half-moon posture
ardha-matsyendrasana - the half spinal-twist posture
ardhanarishvara - Shiva and his Shakti united as one
ardha-navasana - the half-boat posture
ardha-padmasana - the half-lotus posture
ardha-salabhasana - the half-locust posture
ardha-sarvangasana - the half-shoulderstand posture
ardha-sirsasana - the half headstand posture
Arjuna - a disciple of Krishna, hero of the Mahabharata
asamprajnata - unconscious samadhi
asana - seat, posture
ashcharyavat - wonderful
ashram - a yoga centre or school
ashta - eight
Ashtavakra - name of a deformed sage
ashva - a horse
ashvini - a mudra: contraction of the anal sphincter muscles
asmita - egotism
asteya - non-stealing
atman - the self, supreme soul
atmiyata - the feeling of oneness
aum - all, the absolute
avarana - a veil
avastha - a state of the mind
avatara - a divine incarnation, e.g. Buddha. The ten avataras of Vishnu are: Matsya(the fish), Kurma(the tortoise), Varaha(the boar), Narasimha(the man- lion), Vamana(the dwarf), Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Balarama, and Kalki.
avidya - metaphysical ignorance
avirati - sensuality
ayama - length, extension, restraint
B
baddha - caught
baddhahasta sirsasana - the bound hands headstand posture
bandha - binding, a muscular lock
bandha padmasana - the bound lotus posture
baka - a wading bird, the crane
Bali - a demon king
basti - method for cleaning the intestines
bhadrasana - the auspicious posture
bhagavad gita - the dialogues between Krishna and Arjuna
bhagavan - holy
Bhairava - terrible, one of the forms of Shiva
bhajana - a hymn
bhakti - devotion, worship
bhastrika - the bellows breath
bhati - light
bhavana - concentration
bhaya - fear
bheda - a division
bhedana - breaking through, piercing
bheka - a frog
bherunda - terrible
bherundasana - the formidable posture
bhoga - enjoyment
bhoktir - one who enjoys
bhramara - a large bee
bhramari - the bee breath
bhranti-darshana - a delusion
bhu - land
bhudana - the donation of land
bhuja - arm or shoulder
bhujanga - snake
bhujangasana - the cobra posture
bhujasana - the arm posture
bhumi - the object of meditation
bhumikatva - firm ground
bhuta - a ghost, an element
bija - seed
bindu - drop or point
bodhi - supreme knowledge
Brahma - the creator
Brahmins - the highest, priestly caste
brahmacharya - control of sexual impulses
brahmacharyasana - the posterior stretch posture
brahmadvara - the door where kundalini enters the spine
brahmanda-prana - cosmic breath
Buddha - Buddha
buddhi - wisdom, reason
C
chakra - a wheel or vortex
chakra-bandha - the binding which seals all of the chakras
chakrasana - the wheel posture
chandra - the moon
chatur - four
chela - a pupil
chit - pure consciousness
chitrini - a fine cord within the spine
chitta - mind-stuff, the lower parts of mind - such as memory
chitta-vikshepa - confusion, distraction
chitta-vritti - a mode of behaviour
crore - ten million
D
Dadhicha - a sage who gave his bones to the gods, from which was fashioned the thunderbolt which slew Vrita
Daitya - a demon son of Diti
dakini - the goddess in muladhara
Daksa - a lord of created beings
daksina - the right side
dama - control of the body and senses
damani - a layer within a nadi allowing for the passage of energy
dana - giving
Danava - a demon
danda - a staff
dandasana - the staff posture
darbha - a sweet-smelling dried grass
darshama - a visit to a great person, viewpoint or vision
daurmanasya - despair
dehi - the self
deva - a divine being
devadatta - one of the vital airs, which causes yawning
devata - a divine being similar to an angel
deva-dasi - a temple prostitute
devi - a goddess
dhanu - a bow
dhanurasana - the bow posture
dharana - concentration
dharma - the law, duty, way of life
dhasanjaya - a vital air that stays in the body after death, sometimes bloating the corpse
dhenu - a cow
dhirata - strength
dhwani - a resonant sound
dhyana - contemplation
dirgha - long
Diti - mother of the daityas demons
dradhasana - the side relaxation posture
drashta - consciousness, the 'witness'
dridhata - strength
duhkha - pain, grief
dvesha - hatred
dvi - two, both
dvi-pada - two feet
E
eka - one, single
eka pada hastasana - the one leg posture
eka pada kakasana - the one leg crow posture
eka pada sirsasana - the leg-behind-head posture
ekgara - one-pointed
ekamevadvitiyam - one without a second
G
gana - Shiva's attendants
Ganapati - god of luck and wisdom
ganda - the cheek
garbha-pinda - an embryo
garbhasana - the foetus posture
garuda - an eagle
garudasana - the eagle posture
ghata - a pot, the body
ghi - clarified butter
go - a cow
gomukha - musical instrument resembling a cow's face
gomukhasana - the cow-faced posture
gorakshasana - the cowherd posture
gotra - family, race
granthi - a knot, obstruction in the chitrini
gu - darkness
gulma - the spleen
guna - a quality of nature
gup - guard, hide
guptasana - the hidden posture
guru - a spiritual teacher, heavy, important
H
ha - the sun
Hakini - the goddess in ajna
hala - a plough
halasana - the plough posture
hamasana - the altered peacock posture
hamsa - a swan
Hanuman - a monkey chief, son of Anjana and Vayu
hanumanasana - the splits
hasta - the hand
hasta padangusthasana - the hand-to-big-toe posture
hatha - force, against one's will
hatha-yoga - union with the supreme via discipline
himsa - violence
Hiranya-kashipu - a demon king, killed by Vishnu
I
ichchha - the will
ida - the channel on the left of the spine
indriya - organ of sense or action
indriya-jaya - mastery of the senses by controlling the desires
Isha - a form of Shiva
ishvara - a supreme being, god
ishvara-pranidhana - attentiveness to god
J
jagrata-avastha - complete awareness of the state of the mind
jalandhara - bandha where the chin rests in the notch between the collar bones
janma - birth, incarnation
janu - the knee
janu sirsasana - the head-knee posture
japa - repetition of a mantra
jathara - the stomach
jathara parivartanasana - the belly-turning posture
jati - circumstances of life to which one is born
jaya - victory
jiva - a creature
jivana - life
jivatma - the individual soul
jnana - knowledge, especially spiritual knowledge
jnanendriya - an organ of knowledge, i.e. the five senses
jyotir dhyana - luminous contemplation
jyotis - inner light
K
kailasa - a Himalayan mountain, home of Shiva
kaivalya - spiritual independence and freedom
kakasana - the crow posture
Kakini - the goddess in anahata
kalabhairavasana - Lord Kalabhairava's posture
kali-yuga - the current, pleasure-loving age
Kama - desire for material pleasures, the god of passion
kama-dhenu - the heavenly cow
kanda - a knot, the place where the three main nadis join
kandasana - the upward ankle-twist posture
kapala - the skull
kapalabhati - a process to clear the sinuses
kapota - a dove
kapotasana - the dove posture
karma - work, action, the law of cause and effect
karmaphala - the result of an action
karma-yoga - unselfish actions
karmendriya - an action organ, e.g. the hands or feet
karnapidasana - the ear-press posture
Kartikeya - the god of war, was reared by the Pleiades
karuna - pity, tenderness
kathanta - howness
katikasana - the front-stretching posture
kaustubha - one of Vishnu's jewels
kaya - the body
kayika - pertaining to the body
kevala - whole, pure
khandapitasana - the ankle-twist posture
khechari - mudra where the tongue is inserted in the upper cavity
khyati - an outlook of knowledge
kleshas - the five sources of trouble and suffering
kona - an angle
koshas - bodies or sheaths
krauncha - a heron
krikara - one of the vital airs, causes coughing and sneezing
Krishna - the eighth incarnation of vishnu
krishnasana - the Krishna posture
kriya - cleaning
krounchasana - the heron posture
Krttikas - the Pleiades
kshatriyas - the caste of princes and warriors
kshipta - neglected or distracted
kukutasana - the cockerel posture
kumbha - a pot
kumbhaka - holding the breath
kunda - starting place of kundalini
kundala - coil of rope
kundalini - a coiled female snake, the latent energy at the base of the spine
kurma - a tortoise, one of the vital airs - controls blinking
kurmasana - the tortoise (leg-lock) posture
kutichaka - the hut-builder
L
lac 100,000
laghava - lightness
laghu - handsome, small
Lakini - the goddess in manipuraka
Lakshmi - goddess of beauty and luck
lalata - the forehead
Lanka - the kingdon of Ravana, Ceylon
lauliki - a movement of the abdominal muscles and organs
laya - absorption of the mind
laya-yoga - yoga using the latent power of kundalini
lingam - the phallus
lobha - greed
loka - a habitat
lola - swinging
lolasana - the swing posture
loma - hair
M
madhyama - average
maha - mighty
mahabandha/mahamudra - types of mudra
Mahadeva - the great god - Shiva
mahat - cosmic consciousness
maitri - friendliness
maithuna - sacramental intercourse
makara - a crocodile
makarasana - the crocodile posture
mala - a wreath
malasana - the garland posture
man - to think
manana - pondering
manas - the reasoning ability of the mind
manasika - of the mind
mandala - circle
Mandara - mountain used by the gods to stir the cosmic ocean
manduka - a frog
mandukasana - the frog posture
mani - a jewel
manipura - navel
manomani - samadhi
mantra - a prayer or sacred thought
Manu - father of the human race
marga - a path
matsya - a fish
matsyasana - the fish posture
matsyendrasana - the posture of Matsyendra
maya - illusion
mayura - a peacock
mayurasana - the peacock posture
meru-danda - the spinal column
mimansa - one of the schools of Indian philosophy
mirdu - soft, gentle
mirta - a corpse
mirtasana - the corpse posture
moha - infatuation or delusion
moksha - emancipation of the soul from rebirth
mudha - foolish, stupid
mudra - a seal
mudita - delight
mudras - muscular contractions that include the bandhas
mukha - the mouth
mukta - liberated
muktasana - the liberated posture
mukta hasta sirsasana - the freehand headstand posture
mula - root
mulabandhasana - the ankle-twist posture
mulashodhana - cleansing the rectum
murcha - mind-fainting
N
nabhipedasana - the upward ankle-twist posture
nada - an internal sound
nadi - a channel within the subtle body
nadi-shodhana - the purification of the nadis
naga - the vital air that causes burping
naishkaramya karma - actionless action
nakra - a crocodile
namah - a salute
nara - a man
Narasimha - the man-lion, fourth incarnation of Vishnu
Narayana - the supporter of life - Vishnu
Nataraja - Lord of the dancers, a name of Shiva
natarajasana - the Lord of the Dance posture
nauli - an abdominal exercise (lauliki)
nava - a boat
navasana - the boat posture
neti - not so
neti-yoga - cleansing of the nostrils
niddhyasana - meditation and contemplation
nilimpa - a pictured one: a god
niralamba - unsupported
niralamba sarvangasana - the balancing shoulderstand posture
niranjana - pure, free from falsehood
nirlipta - unstainedness
nirodha - control or restraint
nirvana - freedom of the personal soul from the physical world
nirvichara - non-investigational meditation
nirvitarka - non-inspectional meditation
niyama - self-purification through discipline
nyaya - one of the schools of Indian philosophy
O
ojas - concentrated psychic power
omkarasana - the OM posture
P
pada - part of a book, the foot
padahastasana - the balancing forward bend posture
padangushtha - the big toe
padasana - the foot above posture
padma - a lotus
Padmanabha - a name of Vishnu
padmasana - the lotus posture
palmyrasana - the palm tree posture
para - beyond, higher
paramatma - the supreme spirit
parangmukhi - facing inwards
Parashurama - sixth incarnation of Vishnu
parigha - a bolt for shutting a gate
parighasana - the locked gate posture
parigraha - hoarding
paripurna - complete, whole
parivartana - revolving
parivrajaka - wanderer
parivritta parshvakonasana - the revolved lateral angle posture
parivritta paschimottanasana - the twisting back-stretching posture
parivritta sirsasana - the twisting head-knee posture
parivritta trikonasana - the revolved triangle posture
parshva - the side
parshva dhanurasana - the sideways bow posture
parshva halasana - the lateral plough posture
parshva sarvangasana - the sideways shoulderstand posture
parshva sirsasana - the headstand posture
parshvakakasana - the sideways crow posture
parvatasana - the mountain posture
paryanka - a bed
pasasana - the noose posture
pasha - a trap, noose
pashchima - west, the back of the body
pashchimottoanasana - the back-stretching posture
Patanjali - author of the Yoga Sutras
pavanmuktasana - the knee squeeze posture
pida - pain
pincha - the chin, feather
pinda - an embryo
pingala - the channel on the right of the spine
pliha - the spleen
Prahlada - a devotee of Vishnu
Prajapati - Lord of created beings
prajna - wisdom
prakasha - shining, clear
prakriti - eternal nature
pramada - indifference
pramana - authority, an ideal
prana - breath, energy, life
pranava - another name for aum
prana-vayu - a vital air that moves in the chest
pranayama - control of the breath
pranidhana - dedication
prasarita - stretched out
prasarita padottanasana - the spread legs posture
prashvasa - expiration
pratiloma - going against the grain
pratyahara - control of the senses
pratyaksha - direct evidence
punarjanman - rebirth
punya - virtue, merit, good
purakha - inhalation
purnata - perfection
purusha - the spirit or soul
purvottana - the front of the body
purvottanasana - the front-stretching posture
R
raga - anger, passion
raja - a ruler, king
raja-yoga - the yoga of mastery over the mind
rajas - mobility
Rakini - the goddess in svadhishthana
Rama - the seventh incarnation of Vishnu
rambha - plantain
Ravana - a demon king from Lanka who abducted the wife of Rama
rechaka - outbreathing
retus - semen
ru - light
Rudra - a form of Shiva
rupa - a form or body
S
Sadashiva - a form of Shiva
sadhaka - an aspirant, seeker
sadhana - practice, a quest
sah - he, that
sahaja - the karma to which one is born
sahasrara - the thousand-petalled lotus within the cerebral cavity
sakshatkara - the spirit
sakthi chalini - the nerve-power posture
salabhasana - the locust posture
salamba - supported
salamba sarvangasana - the supported shoulderstand posture
sama - equal, upright
samakonasana - the sideways leg-splits posture
sama-sthiti - standing still
sama-vritti - pranayama where inhalation, exhalation and suspension of breath are of same length
samadhi - state where the aspirant is one with the object of his meditation
samana - one of the vital airs, which aids digestion
samasthiti - the upright-sitting posture
sambhava - birth
samkatasana - the dangerous posture
samkhya - one of the schools of Indian philosophy
samkhya yoga - the yoga of science
samshaya - doubt
samskaras - memories
samyama - dharana, dhyana and samadhi taken together
sannyasi - one who has renounced the world
sanjivani - a life-restoring elixir or herb
sansara - the wheel of reincarnation
santosha - contentment
sara - essence
Sarasvati - goddess of speech and learning
sarva - whole
sarvanga - the whole body
sarvangasana - the shoulderstand posture
sat - reality
sat chit ananda - bliss consciousness
Sati - mother of Kartikeya and Ganapati
sattva - orderliness, the quality of goodness in everything natural
satya - honesty
savasana - the corpse posture
savichara - investigational meditation
savitarka - inspectional meditation
sayanasana - the repose posture
setu - a bridge
setu bandhasana - the bridge posture
shabda - sound, the creative principle
Shakini - the goddess in vishuddha
shakti - female creative power, goddess
shaktichalani - one of the mudras, involves contracting the rectum
shalabha - a locust
shalabhasana - the locust posture
shama - calming the mind
shambhavi - related to Shiva
shambhavi mudra - gazing between ones eyes
Shambhu - a name of Shiva
shan - six
Shanmukha - with six mouths, a name of Kartikeya
shantih - peace
sharira - a body
shaucha - mental and bodily cleanliness
shava - a corpse
shavasana - the corpse posture
shayana - a bed
shesha - the serpent of eternity, having one thousand heads
shirsha - the head
shirshasana - the head-stand posture
shishya - the pupil of a guru
Shita - cold
Shiva - the destroyer
shmrti - memory
shodana - purification
shoka - anguish
shraddha - faith and trust
shravana - the act of listening to the doctrines
shrivatsa - the curl on Vishnu's breast
shuddha - clean, pure
shvana - a dog
shvasa - inspiration
svasa-prashvasa - heaving and sighing
siddha - a prophet or adept
siddhasana - the adept's posture
siddhi - a psychic (or occult) power
simha - a lion
simhasana - the lion posture
sirsangusthasana - the deep lunge posture
sirsasana - the headstand posture
Sita - the wife of Rama
Skanda - a name of Kartikeya, god of war
sodhana - purification
steya - robbery
sthirata - steadiness
sthiti - stability
sthula-sharira - the dense body
styana - sloth
sudras - the caste of servants and labourers
sukha - happiness
sukhasana - the easy posture
sukshma-sharira - the astral body
sumanasya - benevolence
supta - sleeping
supta baddha padmasana - the supine bound lotus posture
supta janu sirsasana - the supine head-knee posture
supta padangusthasana - the supine big toe posture
supta paschimottanasana - the supine back-stretching posture
supta vajrasana - the supine thunderbolt posture
surya - the sun
surya namaskar - the homage to the sun posture
sushumna - the spinal cord
sushupti-avastha - the state of the mind in dreamless sleep
sutra - a thread
sva - vital force, soul
svadhyaya - education through the study of the divine texts
svapnavastha - the state of the mind in a dream
svarga - heaven
svarupa - one's true nature
svasamvedana - the understanding of oneself
svastikasana - the prosperous posture
T
tada - a mountain
tamas - darkness, inertia, ignorance
tan - to stretch
tandava - violent dance of Shiva
tanmatras - the five potentials or senses
tantras - treatises on ritual, meditation, discipline, etc.
tap - to burn, shine, suffer
tapas - austerity, purification
tara - crossing over
Taraka - a demon slain by Kartikeya
tat - that
tattva - an element, the twenty-four categories of thatness
tejas - radiant energy, majesty
tirieng - horizontal
tittibha - a firefly
tittibhasana - the firefly posture
tola - a balance
tolangulasana - the balance posture
tolasana - the scales posture
trataka - an exercise to clear the vision
tri - three
trikona - a triangle
trikonasana - the triangle posture
trishna - thirst, desire
Trivikrama - fifth incarnation of Vishnu, who filled the earth, heaven and hell with his three steps (krama)
U
ubhaya - both
ubhaya padangusthasana - the buttocks balance posture
udana - the vital air controlling the intake of food and air
uddiyana - a fetter or binding involving the raising of the diaphragm
ugra - powerful, noble
ugrasana - the posterior stretch posture
ullola - a large wave
Uma - Shiva's wife, Parvati
unmani - samadhi
Upanishads - the philosophical parts of the Vedas. 'upa' (near) 'ni' (down) sad (to sit) - the act of sitting down by one's Guru to receive instruction.
upavishtha - seated
upeksha - disregard
urdhra prasarita ekapadasana - balancing forward posture
urdhva - raised
urdhva hastattanasana - the up-stretched arms posture
urdhva-mukha - face upwards
urdhva-retus - a celibate
ushtra - a camel
ushtrasana - the camel posture
utkata - fierce
utkatasana - the the hunkering posture
uttana - an intense stretch
utthita - stretched
utthita eka pada sirsasana - the balancing leg-behind-head posture
utthita kurmasana - the balancing tortoise posture
utthita lingamasana - the balancing on the phallus posture
utthita padangusthasana - the balancing big toe posture
utthita parsvakonasana - the stretched lateral angle posture
utthita paschimottanasana - the balancing back-stretching posture
V
vacha - speech
vaikuntha - Vishnu
vairagya - uncolouredness, not desiring physical objects
vaisesika - one of the schools of Indian philosophy
vaisyas - the caste of merchants and professionals
vajra - one of the channels in the spine, a thunderbolt, diamond
vajrasana - the thunderbolt posture
vajroli - the thunderbolt contraction
vakra - bent
vakrasana - the curved posture
valakhilya - a class of tiny entities, about the size of a thumb
vama - the left side
vamadevasana - Vamadeva's posture
Vamana - Vishnu's fifth incarnation
vamaprakasha - lovely shiningness
vasana - longing
Vasnata - the deity of Spring
vasti - internal cleansing
Vasuki - a name of Shesha
vatayana - a horse
vatayanasana - the horseface posture
vayus - the vital airs
veda - the sacred scriptures of the Hindus
vedana - feelings
vedanta - one of the schools of Indian philosophy
vedas - the sacred scriptures of the Hindus
vibhuti - divine power
vichara - continued thought
vidya - knowledge, science
vijnana - comprehension
vikalpa - imagination, fancy
vikshepa - confusion
vikshipta - mental aggitation
viloma - against the natural order of things
vipakas - the distressing results of karmas
viparita - reversed, inverted
viparitakarani - the upside-down posture
viparyaya - a mistaken view
vira - brave, a hero
virabhadrasana - the arrow posture
Virancha - name of Brahma
virasana - the hero posture
Virochana - a demon prince
virya - vitality, enthusiasm
vishama-vritti - uneven or strained movement whilst breathing
vishesha - particular
Vishnu - the preserver of life
vishudda - pure
vitarka - discernment
viveka - discrimination
vriksha - a tree
vrikshasana - the tree posture
vrishchika - a scorpion
vrishchikasana - the scorpion posture
vrit - to turn
vritti - a vortex, an idea, behaviour
vyadhi - illness
vyana - one of the vital airs, circulates energy all over the body
Y
yajna - a sacrifice
Yama - the god of death
yamas - the five moral commandments
yantra - a design used in meditation
yastikasana - the stick posture
yoga - union, from 'yuj' - to join
yogadandasana - the yogin's staff posture
yogasana - the anchor posture
yoga-nidra - the sleep of yoga, where the body is resting but the mind is awake
yogi/yogin - one who practices yoga
yoni - vagina, womb, or source
yuga - an age
yuj - to yoke, join, concentrate on
yukta - joined with, one who has attained the communion with the supreme spirit
Luke Roberts
