GLOSSARY OF SANSKRIT TERMS Ayurvedic Terms Ayurveda Agni Ama science of life digestive fire toxic residue which accumulates in the physiology due to undigested food, emotions or information Dosha Vata Pitta Kapha mind body principle dosha responsible for movement, change dosha responsible for metabolism, transformation dosha responsible for structure, protection Sama Samadosha Prakruti Vrikruti balanced balanced doshas nature or original doshic proportion doshic imbalance Sub-doshas specific dosha function Vata Prana located in brain, head, chest Udana located in throat, lungs Samana located in stomach, intestines Apana located in colon, lower abdomen Vyana located in nervous system, skin, circulatory system Pitta Sadhaka located in heart Alochaka located in eyes Pachaka located in stomach, small intestine Ranjaka located in red blood cells, liver, spleen Bhrajaka located in skin Kapha Tarpaka located in sinus, head, spinal fluid Bodhaka located in tongue Kledaka located in stomach Avalambaka located in heart, chest, lower back Sleshaka located in joints Dhatu bodily tissue Rasa plasma Rakta blood Mamsa muscle, flesh Meda fat Asthi bone Majja bone marrow, nerve tissue Shukra reproductive tissue, semen, ovam 77
Kosha sheath or layer of existence Anna Maya Kosha layer derived from food Prana Maya Kosha layer of biological energy Mano Maya Kosha layer of the mind Buddhi Maya Kosha layer of the intellect Ananda Maya Kosha layer of conditioned bliss Sat Chit Ananda pure consciousness Mahabhutas great elements Akasha space Vayu air, wind Tejas fire Jala water Prithivi earth Mala Marma Nadi body waste product Mutra urine Purisha stool Sweda sweat junction point between consciousness and matter on the body subtle channel through which energy flows Ida Nadi moon channel to the left of the spine Pingala Nadi sun channel to the right of the spine Sushumna Nadi spiritual channel connecting all the chakras Panchakarma purifying therapies Poorva preparatory therapies before panchakarma Rasayanna rejuvenative therapies or tonics Abhyanga oil massage Basti herbal enema Nasya nasal application therapy Rakta-moksha blood letting therapy Snehana oleation Swedana heating therapies, fomentation Vamana induced therapeutic emesis Virechana purgation therapy Prana Ojas life force or vital breath subtlest life essence, which exists at the junction of consciousness and matter, giving strength and vitality 78
Rasa taste Madhura Amla Lavana Tikta Kashya Katu sweet sour salty bitter astringent pungent Srota channel of circulation in the body Tanmatras subtle elements Shabda sound Sparsha touch Rupa sight Rasa taste Gandha smell Triphala Vipaka Virya three fruits post digestive effect potency of food or herbs, which creates a heating or cooling effect Other Terms Ahankara ego Ananda bliss Asana yogic posture (3 rd limb of yoga) Ashram hermitage, retreat center Atman soul, individual expression of pure Spirit Atma Darshan direct experience of the soul, the fourth state of consciousness Avatar direct incarnation of God Bhagavad Gita sacred Sanskrit, epic poem of eighteen verses Brahman Spirit, pure consciousness Chakra center of subtle energy, wheel Muladhara first or root chakra at base of spine Svadhistana second chakra behind the pubic bone Manipura third chakra at the solar plexus Anahata fourth or heart chakra Visuddha fifth or throat chakra Ajna sixth chakra at the third eye Sahaswara seventh chakra on the crown of the head Dharana Dharma Dhyana Darshan concentration, attention and intention (6 th limb of yoga) purpose in life meditation, witnessing awareness (7 th limb of yoga) being in the presence of a holy person 79
Guna Sattva Rajas Tamas fundamental quality or property purity, goodness, subtlety excited, passionate, active inert, heavy, dull Guru Homa Japa Jyotish Karma Kundalini Loka Maha Mala Mantra Maya Moksha Mudras Nada dispeller of darkness, great teacher sacred fire ceremony repetition of a mantra for a specific number of times the system of Vedic astrology action, a record of our previous actions spiritual energy located at the base of the spine world, dimension, location great string of beads or flowers instrument of the mind, used in meditation illusion of the senses liberation positions of the eyes, hands or body sound, vibratory energy Niyamas healthy practices (2 nd limb of yoga) Shoucha purity Santosha contentment Tapas discipline, austerity Svadhyana study, understanding of sacred texts Ishwara-Pranidhana surrender to the Divine Prasad Pratyahara blessed offerings withdrawal of the senses (5 th limb of yoga) Pranayama yogic breathing exercises (4 th limb of yoga) Bhastrika forced inhilation and exhilation through the nose Bhrimari extended exhilation while making a humming sound Kapalabhati passive inhilation and forced exhilation through the nose Nadi Shodhana alternative nostril breathing Sitali inhaling and exhaling through a rolled tongue Ujjayi audable, back of the throat breathing Puja Pundit Rishi Rudraksha Sadhana Sadhu Samsara ritual worship Vedic scholar, priest seer, highly evolved spiritual being beads sacred to Shiva, commonly worn or used for japa regular practice of spiritual disciplines monk who has renounced the material world cycle of birth and death 80
Sanskaras Samadhi Satsang Seva seeds of memory balanced mind and intellect, settled in pure awareness (8 th limb of yoga) gathering of people seeking the Truth selfless service Shakti power or energy Kriya Shakti the energy of spontaneous right action Jnana (Gyana) Shakti the energy of knowledge or wisdom Iccha Shakti the energy of will, desire, intention Ananda Shakti the energy of pure bliss Chitta Shakti the energy of pure awareness Shanti peace Siddhis yogic powers Sri divine, great Surya Namaskar salutation to the sun, set of twelve yogic postures Sutra thread, collection of statements with inner meanings Swami certain order of monks Turiya the fourth state of consciousness Upanishads collection of 108 Vedic texts dealing with higher states of consciousness Vasanas seeds of desire Vedas Vibhuti Vidya Yantra Yagya the four holy books which are the foundation of Vedic and later Hindu traditions Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda sacred ash knowledge geometric shape, visual form of a mantra large, ritual fire ceremony Yamas ethical codes (1 st limb of yoga) Ahimsa non-violence Satya truthfulness Bramacharya governance of creative energy Asteya honesty, non-stealing Aparigraha non-coveting, generosity, simplicity Yoga Yuga union with the Divine Bhakti Yoga the path of devotion Jnana Yoga the path of knowledge Karma Yoga the path of selfless service Raja Yoga the path of meditation period of time, the four main yugas are Sat, Treta, Dvapara and Kali 81