Sanskrit glossary of terms (A-Z)

Please note that Sanskrit terms can be loaded with richness and many-layered meanings, making it often difficult to fully convey everything that may be implied in the term. Entire books have been written about the concept of Dharma, on the subject of Karma, on Manas etc, How then to give them due respect in a few words or lines? So keep this in mind. No definition can be entirely complete or total, as various Sampradaya or lineages have their own way of reckoning with terms; context also plays a great deal in laying shades on a meaning; and then there`s the developmental stage of the student that will determine the depth to which a word or subject matter will be penetrated.

These definitions are meant to assist readers of articles on yoga and related subjects tackle some often unfamiliar ground. Some words may seem particularly mystical and no excuse is made for that as yoga is a science involving study of the known and the unknown, the seen and the unseen. It is a lifelong study which reveals much depth and richness with continued effort, patience and a willingness to explore. There is no substitute for the Teacher. Enjoy the journey. Don’t fear unfamiliar ground and words – they`re there to enrich your world. Richard Clark..

Abhyasa – Earnest dedicated practice sustained over a long period of time without pause. One of the two basic principles of spiritual life, the other being dispassion or vairagya.

Ardha – Half.

Abhinivesha – One of the kleshas (see kleshas) or `afflictions` described by Patanjali, involving an instinctive clinging to life and fear of death arising from the assertion that the true Self perishes with the dissolution of the body at death.

Abhaya - Fearlessness. Also a sacred mudra or hand gesture displayed in the iconography of India and Tibet and offered by yogic adepts to dispel fear in devotees, for at the heart of existence there is only love.

Acharya – A teacher or preceptor, but not just any teacher; one who has been formally acknowledged as a spiritual educator.

Adharma – The absence of dharma (see dharma)

Agni – Fire. One of the five elements or Pancha Bhuta. Also personified as a Vedic deity invoked in the fire ceremony.

Ahimsa – Non-harming. One of the five Yamas described by sage Patanjali.

Ahamkara – Literally the ‘I’ maker, the ego principle.

Adho – downwards.

Amrita – Immortality. Also a divine nectar and food of the gods, meaning one who drank of this consumed the life-giving waters of spiritual knowledge.

Ananda – Supreme bliss, ecstasy.

Apana – One of the 5 subtypes of Prana in the body, residing the in the pelvic cavity and responsible for guiding all eliminative processes therein, for example, urination, menstruation and defecation.

Aparigraha – One of the Yamas (see yamas) involving the virtue of greedlessness and non-hoarding. Non acceptance of gifts.

Asteya – Non-stealing. Not taking of that which has not been freely given. A yogic `Yama` listed by sage Patanjali, to be practiced at all levels at all times.

Arogya – Health.

Asana – Posture, derived from the root `as` meaning `to sit`. The third limb or `anga` in ashtanga yoga as described by sage Patanjali. Asana is a practice common to Hatha Yoga systems, not a goal in itself but a tool toward higher awareness.

Asmita – One of the kleshas (see kleshas) arising from primal nescience or `avidya` (ignorance of the true Self).Through asmita we limit ourselves by defining our identity around our roles, gender, ethnicity and body concept instead of acknowledging our true spiritual nature as sat-chit-ananda or truth, consciousness and bliss.

Ashtanga – Literally `eight-limbs`. The Maharishi Patanjali, compiler of the Yogasutras elucidates the eight limbs of yoga as yama ( ethical guidelines ), niyama ( positive practices that enable one to manifest the Self ), asana (posture ), pranayama ( regulation of the breath ), pratyahara ( control of the senses ), dharana ( concentration of the mind ), dhyana ( meditation ) and samadhi ( the unified state ).

Ashrama – A dwelling place. A spiritual hermitage where yogic aspirants live, practising sadhana. Also refers to the ancient vedic stations of life through which the individual evolves from student through family life to sannyasi (see sannyasin) or renunciate.

Atman – The inner spiritual Self.

Anga – Limb.

Aum – A sacred mono-syllable symbolising Brahman (see Brahman) or the Absolute. Also spelt Om.

Avadhuta – That rare adept who has shaken off all things worldy and purified their samskaras (see samskaras)

Avatara – Literally, `One who has descended`. A divine Incarnation.

Avidya – The first of the five kleshas described by Patanjali (see Patanjali). A false notion of the nature of reality into which all humans are born. Often translated as ignorance but here as Patanjali defines it, not simply intellectual ignorance but mistaking the impermanent for the Permanent, the impure for the pure, the painful for the pleasant and the not-self for the Self.

Avyakta - In Sankhya (see Sankhya) philosophy, the great unmanifest state out of which creation of the phenomenal world occurred.

Ayurveda - The Science of Life. A sister science of Yoga teaching how balance may be achieved on all levels. Ayurveda is a highly regarded wholistic medical system acknowledged by W.H.O requiring 6 years full time study in India, Shorter programs of 1 to 3 years training for Ayurvedic Consultants and Practitioners are becoming more accessible in the West.

Brahman – The `Absolute`, Ultimate Reality or Supreme Divine Truth, the Source of everything. From the Sanskrit root `brh` meaning that which expands.

Bhagavad Gita – The `Lords Celestial Song`; a beautiful spiritual teaching of 700 stanzas from the epic Mahabharata. The supreme yogi Lord Krishna instructs the warrior prince Arjuna (who represents the inner self) on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

Bhakti – devotion, unconditional love for the Divine.

Bhakti Yoga – The yogic path of love, involving devotional practices, meditation, chanting and singing in order to awaken love in the heart and open to the flow of divine grace.

Buddha – lit. `The Awakened One`. Refers to someone who has become self-realised or enlightened.Most commonly refers to the Shakya clan prince, Siddhartha Gautama, who renounced the world and attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree.

Bodhi – a state of being awakened.Also the name given to the pipal or fig tree under which Gautama Buddha became enlightened.

Bandha – literally `to bind or lock` referring to muscular locks used as energy seals (to act on the life force or prana) in asana and pranayama exercises.

Buddhi – the mental faculty of reason, discrimination and intellect.

Brahmacharya – meaning variously : 1. The practice of continence; 2.the first stage in the four stages of vedic life, where one pours ones energy into learning; 3.the life of `walking with` that leads to Brahman (see Brahman). One of the 5 yamas (see yamas) described by sage Patanjali.

Bhajan – A spiritual song.

Bhoga – enjoyment, consumption.

Brahmin – a learned person of the first of the four Varnas ( now commonly referred to as castes) responsible for preserving sacred lore, Vedic teachings and the performance of rites.

Baddha – Bound.

Chakra - `wheel` or `disc`. In yoga metaphysics refers to energy centres located in the subtle body, of which the most commonly referred to are 1) Muladhara – at the base of the spine, 2) Svadishthana - at the sacral level, 3) Manipura – at the solar plexus level , 4) Anahata – at the heart centre, 5) Vishuddha – at the throat level, 6) Ajna – at the `third eye` and 7) Sahasrara – at the crown of the head , each one representing a stage of consciousness.

Chandra – the Moon; also a subtle energy channel terminating at the left nostril and affected by pranayama exercises.

Chit – pure consciousness/awareness.

Chitta – at the personal level, that aspect of consciousness where memories are recorded.

Chitta Vritti – mental fluctuations or `whirlings`, which yoga aims to bring under ones control.

Dharma – truth, righteous conduct.

Devi – the goddess. Divinity in its female aspect.

Darshana – a vision or view. A `point of view` as in the six Orthodox Darshana or philosophical systems of India ( Samkhya, Yoga, Mimamsa, Vedanta, Nyaya, Vaisheshika ) each of which sheds a different light on the nature of life. Also refers to the sight – inner or outer , of a holy person, spirtual Master or enlightened Being, with reverence and concentration.

Deva – the illumined. A celestial Being.

Dharana – keeping the mind collected. A practice of intense and steady concentration toward a chosen object. The sixth limb or `anga` of ashtanga yoga as described in the Yogasutras of Patanjali.

Dhyana – Meditation, spiritual contemplation. The seventh limb or anga of ashtanga yoga as described by Sage Patanjali.

Dhatu – a structural tissue of the body. Ayurveda describes seven primary tissues or dhatus of the body, including plasma, blood, muscle tissue, adipose tissue or fat, bone or osseous tissue, nerve tissue and reproductive tissue. Literally means `that which supports or upholds`.

Diksha – initiation. Diksha prepares the way for the transmission of spiritual teachings through established lineages.

Duhkha – a negative state, implying suffering and unsatisfactoriness. The enlightened Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama declared that all life involves suffering, as the First Noble Truth of Buddhism ( the fourth Noble Truth states the remedy to end all suffering ). In the Bhagavad Gita, yoga is defined as the disunion with Duhkha or suffering - ``duhkha samyoga viyoga``.

Devanagari – literally `city of the gods`, referring to the script used for the written language of sacred Sanskrit.

Dvesha – aversion, hatred. One of the five afflictions or `kleshas` affecting humans, described by sage Patanjali.

Ekam – One, single.

Ekagrata – One pointedness of the mind. A more advanced state in the practice of quelling the fluctuations (vrittis) of the mind.

Elements – The bhutas or elements are the building blocks of the material world. They are five in number – space, air, fire, water and earth.

Four Noble Truths – a central teaching in Buddha dharma, that 1) life involves suffering, 2) suffering is caused by desire, 3) suffering can be ended and 4) the method or way to terminate suffering is the noble Eight-Fold Path.

Four Goals – (see Purushartha)

Gayatri mantra – a famous and sacred vedic mantra. Also known as the Savitri mantra, being addressed to Savitri, the Sun, as Creator, Vivifier and source of illumination.

Guru – Teacher. One who sheds light where there is darkness.

Guru Parampara – the lineage of Gurus, or succession of teachers and disciples.

Ghee – a food product made from clarified butter. Widely used as food and as a medicine in Ayurveda.

Guna – literally `quality`. The three fundamental qualities inherent in nature, Sattva (purity and harmony), Rajas (passion, dynamism), and Tamas (inertia, stasis)

Gandharva – a class of Celestial Beings with expertise in the Arts, Music and Dance.

Gandharva Veda – a field of therapeutic music in Ayurveda (see Ayurveda) the compositions of which are recommended to be played at specific times, during certain illnesses and to create a positive atmosphere.

Hara – literally `the One who takes away`. A name of Shiva.

Hari – a name of Vishnu.

Hatha Yoga – lit. `the forceful yoga` - a generic term for a range of practices including yoga postures, breathing exercises, mudras, cleansing exercises and ethical codes which prepare the aspirant for meditation.

Hamsa – (also seen as Hansa)

Indriya – the sense organs. Any one of the five organs of cognition ( which relate to the sensory apparatus pertaining to sight, smell, hearing, touch and taste ) or the five organs of action (the tongue, hands, feet, excretory organs and organs of generation through which we interact with the world).

Ishta Devata – ones chosen deity.

Ishvara – Lord. Patanjalis Yogasutras introduce Ishvara, the Lord, as a special kind of Purusha untouched or unaffected by sufferring, action or karmas. Ishvara is denoted by the symbol Om. Other Darshanas (see Darshana ) or philosophical systems postulate the Lord as the cause of right knowledge, creation and destruction)

Ishvara Pranidhana – devotedness and surrender to the supreme Lord. One of the yogic niyamas descried by sage Patanjali in his Yogasutras. Surrender to a higher power necessitates the relinquishing of ego, control and self-centered living, Also a practice in the Prem Marg or Bhakti Yoga.

Indra – a great Vedic deity who transmitted the teachings of Ayurveda to the sage Bharadvaja.

Jai - `Glory to`, `Victory!`

Jagat – the `world` as a series of flowing, endlessly changing happenings.

Japa – repetition, recitation. The practice of concentrating on and repeating of a sacred mantra.

Jnana – knowledge. The knowledge achieved through yoga.

Jnana yoga – the Yogic path of knowledge. Philosophical yoga.

Jyoti – Light.

Jyotisha – from Jyoti (the light). The science of the Light or Stars. Vedic Astrology

Jiva – the in-dwelling spiritual Self or Atman. From the verb root `jiv` to live.

Jivan Mukta - One who has realised the Self, while living in this body. A state of spiritual freedom attained while living in the body.

Ji – an honourific term indicating respect and endearment attached like a suffix to a person or teachers name.

Jataka – birth tales. Stories of the past lives of the historical Buddha, many hundreds of which are included in the Pali Canon.

Jati – birth, genus.

Kosha – sheath. Five layers or sheaths through which the spiritual Self or Atman gains experience of the world process. The Koshas range from the gross `layer` of the physical body, to the more subtle Pranic body, to the lower and higher minds, to the `Bliss body` known as the Ananda maya kosha.

Kriya – action. May be used in a general sense or specifically applied to certain rites and ceremonies.

Kriya Yoga – considered to be Patanjalis contribution to Yoga, although he is more commonly credited with the ashtanga yoga teaching. Patanjali says in his Yogasutras that samskaras are obliterated through Kriya Yoga – being, Tapas, Svadhyaya and Ishvara pranidhana (austerities, study of the Self and devotion to the Lord ). The term has also been used to represent the practices within the tradition made popular through the Master Paramahansa Yogananda.

Kripa – grace.

Kaivalya – aloneness. The ultimate aim of yoga practice. A state of neither pain nor pleasure, but spiritual freedom.

Kapha – One of the three `humours` or Doshas described in Ayurvedic (see Ayurveda ) texts. Kapha dosha governs key functions related to the water and earth elements in the body, such as tissue development or anabolism, immunity, lubrication of tissues, memory, and endurance.

Kirtana – Praising. A term for devotional singing.

Klesha - `affliction`, distress. From the verb root `klish` - to suffer. Sage Patanjali lists five Kleshas in his Yogasutras, which are descriptive of the human experience : ignorance, egoism, attraction, aversion and tenacity toward worldly experience.

Kundalini – literally `spiral`. A mystical power in humans only fully awakened in advanced Yogis. This energy is represented symbolically as a snake laying coiled at the base of the spine. When fully aroused by spiritual practices this energy is said to rise up serpent-like through the Sushumna nadi (see Sushumna) piercing the Chakras. Kundalini yoga is at the same time warned against by many authorities who state that , if mismanaged, prematurely `aroused` or self taught may lead to intractable health problems, mental disorders and even death.

Karma – action. A central concept in yoga philosophy is that all actions carry effects which bear fruit or return to the doer, hence `The law of cause and effect`.

Karma Yoga – The yogic path of action through selfless service, without attachment to the fruit of actions.

Kama – desire, lust. Also the god of desire who fires quivering arrows of desire into the heart.

Karuna – compassion. One of the `four remedies` suggested by sage Patanjali to relieve suffering. One of the Buddhist virtues embodied by Avalokiteshvara, an archetypal Bodhisattva.

Kala – Time.

Kona – Angle.

Lila – Play. The Divine cosmic drama of creation, preservation and dissolution.

Loka – a vast space, a world.

Linga – a sign or marking. The phallic symbol of Shiva.

Mahabhutas – the five elements – space, air, fire, water and earth, which are the primary building blocks of Nature.

Manas – the mind

Maha – great.

Marga – Spiritual path.

Moksha – Liberation. The final aim of human life ( see Purusharthas ). Spiritual freedom and release from Samsara.

Maya – Illusion. That which limits us, obscuring our perception of Reality or Truth. Also the name given to Prakriti and Shakti, Mother Nature.

Mandala – a circle. Commonly referring to sacred symbols similar to Yantras utilised as a basis for meditation, visualisation and ritual practices.

Mantra – a sacred word or formula from spiritual scriptures, used in chanting and meditation practices.

Mudra – `Seal`. A group of mystical hand gestures expressive of inner energies. Used in visualisation practices, Ritual worship, Yoga and Dance.

Mahabharata – One of the two great epics of India ( the other being the Ramayana ). More than eight times the size of Homers` Odyssey and Illiad put together. A great dharma teaching. Contains the Bhagavad Gita.

Maitri – loving kindness, friendliness. One of the `four-fold remedies` suggested by sage Patanjali.

Mudita – joy in the success of others. One of the four-fold remedies suggested by sage Patanjali.

Mukha – Face.

Nadi – a subtle channel through which energy flows. Yogic texts mention 72,000 nadis in the human body located in the pranic body. The three principle nadis are the Sushumna nadi, Ida (or chandra nadi) and pingala (or surya nadi).

Nada – Sound vibration. A mystic sound or shabda heard internally by advanced yogis in deep meditation, when the nadis or subtle channels have become purified.

Namaste – a traditional spoken greeting with hands together at the heart, often interpreted as ``the divine in me greets the divine in you``.

Niyama – Five yogic observances described by sage Patanjali as the second `anga` or limb of ashtanga yoga. These five restraints – shaucha (purity), santosha (contentment), tapas (practice of austerities), svadhyaya (self-study), and ishvara pranidhana (devotion to the Lord) serve to direct the mind toward the inner-Self.

Nirvana – the perfect calm of enlightenment. A compound word drawn from the preposition `nir` - out, and `vana` - blown. Generally used in Buddhist terminology but also mentioned by yogic adepts. The final perfection wherein the lower tendencies have been blown- out or extinguished and there is freedom from Samsara (see Samsara).

Om – the sacred mono-syllable, symbolic of Brahman (see Brahman); said to be the primal sound from which creation emerged. Also spelt Aum and known as the `Pranava`, Om contains hidden esoteric significance. The seed ( or bija ) of all mantras.

Ojas – Vital Essence. The essence of the seven dhatus (see dhatu) or primary tissues of the body, which confers immunity, strength, radiance and vitality to the body/mind complex.

Parshva – Sideways.

Parivritta – Revolved, turned around.

Pasha – Noose.

Padma – Lotus

Prana – the life-giving force . In the personal sense referring to the `life-breath` of the body, but in the universal sense also refers to the animating force of the entire Cosmos.

Pranayama – Breath control or Breath expansion. A range of breathing practices in Hatha Yoga and the fourth limb of ashtanga yoga as described by Patanjali.

Pratyahara – `withdrawal`. The withdrawing of sensory activity away from objects as a means of turning the awareness inwards. The fifth of the angas or limbs of ashtanga yoga.

Purushartha – Human wealth or purpose. The four aims or goals of human life : dharma (righteous conduct), artha (abundance), kama (satisfaction of legitimate desires) and moksha (liberation from samsara).

Paramatma – Supreme Soul, The Absolute Reality.

Purusha – The indwelling spiritual Self.

Pitta – One of the three `humours` or Doshas described in Ayurvedic (see Ayurveda) texts. Pitta Dosha governs key functions related to the fire element in the body, including digestion, metabolism, and regulation of body temperature.

Patanjali – wise yogic Sage , credited with the compilation of the `YogaSutras`. Patanjalis` Yogasutras is the primary text of the Yoga Darshana or yogic branch of Indian Philosophy.

Pranava – see Om .

Prakriti – Nature. In Yoga and Samkhya philosophy Prakriti is insentient matter. Only purusha is sentient. Prakriti in Ayurveda refers to your `first nature` or constitutional `body type` with which you were born.

Prajna – wisdom.

Puraka – inhalation.

Prem - love.

Prem Marg – the path of love. Synonymous with Bhakti yoga.

Parvati – Mother Divine. Consort of Lord Shiva.

Pada – Foot, support.

Rajas – One of the three gunas or attributes, the impulse to action, passion, dynamism, and heat. (see Gunas).

Roga – illness or disease.

Raga – attachment. In Patanjalis` Yogasutras one of the five causes of human affliction (see kleshas).

Rishi – Seer. A term for the enlightened Sage. The knower.

Ramayana – One of the two great epics of India. The Ramayana chronicles events in the life of Rama, the ideal King, warrior, and the embodiment of Dharma (see Dharma ) and his wife Sita, daughter of mother earth, a resplendent woman living the ideals of selfless love, devotion and integrity. Each character, name and event in the story carries metaphysical significance.

Rechaka - exhalation

Shanti – Peace.

Sanskrit – the sacred language of India, meaning polished or perfected. A divine language capable of expressing the highest Truth. The language medium used in the Sacred Texts of India.

Shakti – Power, energy. The creative energy or active power pervading all existence personified as the female consort of Shiva. Shakti is the divine mother, Shiva being powerless without her. Also felt by devotees as the blissful energy exuding from a holy person.

Samskara – impressions left in the subconscious mind from our behaviours and actions (present and past) which act to shape further developments and behaviours.

Sadhu – a virtuous holy person, often of no fixed abode, travelling from place to place, dedicated to Self-realisation.

Svadhyaya – Self-study, study of sacred scriptures. The fourth of the niyamas (see niyamas) described by Patanjali.

Sushumna – the central nadi or energy channel running through the spinal cord, and located in the `pranic body`. It connects the muladhara chakra (see chakra) at the base of the spine to the sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head.

Surya – the Sun. Also a subtle energy channel terminating at the right nostril and affected by pranayama exercises.

Sukha – pleasant, easeful. A quality ascribed by the sage Patanjali to be developed in the practice of asana.

Shaucha – Purity of mind and body. The first of the niyamas described by Patanjali.

Shirsha – Head.

Samadhi – the final limb of ashtanga yoga as described by Patanjali. A state of consciousness in which the outer world is transcended. The true state of yoga. Enlightenment. From Sanskrit roots meaning to direct together, to unite - hence the `unified state`.

Santosha – contenment. The second of the yogic niyamas listed by sage Patanjali.

Satya – Truth, honesty. One of the yogic yamas described by sage Patanjali.

Sadhana – Spiritual practice. The effective means of attainment.

Sampradaya – the lineage or living tradition of spiritual knowledge.

Seva – service.

Sannyasin - one who has renounced all worldly desires, devoting ones life to higher spiritual culture. The final `ashrama` or stage of life in Vedic culture.

Shloka – a verse, phrase or proverb.

Sutra – literally `thread`. Sutras as threads or aphorisms are concise statements and a technical format in which spiritual teachings have been laid out, for purposes of brevity and to allow teachers of various sampradayas throughout the ages to deliver their own commentaries on. Eg. The Yogasutras of Patanjali, The Bhaktisutras of Narada.

Siddhi – Attainment. Also certain psychic abilities of some yogis.(note that these are often considered as barriers on the yogic path, since they have the potential to instigate egocentric behaviour).

Samsara - the constant flow or flux of the world process. The realm of karma and re-birth.

Shri – blessed, holy, venerable. A term of respect used as a pre-fix before a persons name. Also the name of the consort of Vishnu.

Satsangha – The company of the wise.

Siddha – a perfected Being.

Svapna – the dream state.

Sushupti – the state of dreamless sleep.

Sattoguna – see Sattva.

Sattva – one of the three Gunas ( see Guna ) or qualities inherent in Nature. The quality of purity, harmony, clarity and balance.

Supta – Reclined, supine.

Tamas – the Guna (see Guna) or attribute corresponding to inertia and darkness.

Tapas – heat, energy. Spiritual practices which serve to `heat` in order to purify. One of the yogic niyamas described by Patanjali. Also relates to practices involving austerities.

Tantra – a synonym for the `Agamic` teachings, spiritual teachings revealing meditation, ritual procedures, the history of the world, stories of deities and the many ways of worship, in the form of a dialogue between Shiva and his spouse. For the following reasons Tantra has had much popularity: Tantric practices demonstrate the sacredness inherent in all situations and events; Tantric teachings are accessible to all, independent of caste; Shakta tantrism places emphasis on the worship of the feminine force Shakti; Tantra has had much impact on the evolution of hatha yoga practises. At the same time, superficiality, commercialism, and disproportionate interest on Tantras acceptance of sexuality has also led to a certain disrepute in the west.

Tilak – a marking on the forehead with ash, sandalwood paste or clay indicating affiliation with a particular sectarian group.

Tamoguna – see Tamas.

Upanishads – mystical texts and teachings given by ancient rishis, attached to the Vedas (see Vedas).

Upaya – literally`skillful means`. Buddhist practitioners aspire to use skillful means in all situations.

Upeksha – non-attachment, indifference, equanimity. Part of the `four-fold remedy` given by Patanjali (see Patanjali) to alleviate suffering and engender happiness.

Urdhva – Upwards.

Utthita – Extended, raised.

Vairagya – detachment, dispassion. To be accompanied by practise, as recommended by the yogic Sage Patanjali.A state of mind not to be confused with asceticism.

Vyadhi – a term for `disease` used in Ayurveda and Yoga.

Vata – One of the three humours or `Doshas` described in Ayurvedic (see Ayurveda) texts. Vata Dosha governs key functions related to the air and space elements in the body, including transmission of nervous impulses, thoughts, breathing, heartbeat and excretory functions.

Vidya – knowledge, science, as opposed to avidya or ignorance.

Vedanta – the most influential school of philosophy in India. One of the six Darshanas or orthodox systems of philosophy.

Viveka – discernment, discrimination – between the Real and the Unreal.

Vibhuti – `manifestation`, `supernormal` power exhibited by certain yogis. Also the Holy Ash smeared across the brow of worshippers of Shiva.

Vritti – a whirling, fluctuation or revolving. mental fluctuations, thought waves.

Virya – energy, strength.

Vaidyas – Ayurvedic physicians. lit. those who have knowledge.

Viparita – Inverted.

Vira – Hero.

Yoga – Union. From the Sanskrit root `yuj` - to yoke or unite. The philosophy, path, processes and practices (sadhana) leading to the merging of individual and divine consciousness.

Yogi – one who practises yoga.

Yogini – a female practitioner of yoga.

Yamas – the yogic `restraints` - from the Sanskrit verb root `yam` to hold or check. Sage Patanjali presents five ethical observances for yogis – ahimsa (non-harming), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (chastity), aparigraha (greedlessness). There are other important Yamas listed in traditional texts, such as patience, compassion, forgiveness, giving, steadfastness and moderation in diet. The late Yogi and scholar Dr. Rammurti Mishra M.D. described Yama is follows : the will to investigate mental nature by following specific resolutions to lead life in the light of Truth.

Yantra - mystical geometric diagrams representing divine energies, popular in Tantric visualisation practices.