| A |
Negative particle meaning
‘Non’, as in Non-violence. |
| Abhaya |
Freedom from fear. |
| Abhinivesa |
Instinctive
clinging to life and the fear that one may be cut off from all by
death. |
| Abhyasa |
Constant
and determined study or practice. |
| Adhah |
Down,
lower. |
| Adhara |
A
support. |
| Adhimatra |
Beyond
measure, superior. |
| Adhimatratama |
The
supreme one, the highest. |
| Adho-mukha |
Face
downwards. |
| Adisvara |
The
primeval Lord; an epithet of Siva. |
| Advaita |
Non-duality
of the Universal Spirit with the individual soul. |
| Agama |
Testimony
or proof of an acceptable authority when the source of knowledge has
been checked and found trustworthy. |
| Ahamkara |
Ego
or egotism; literally ‘the I-Maker’, the state that ascertains
‘I know’. |
| Ahimsa |
Non-violence.
The word has not merely the negative and restrictive meaning of
‘non-killing or non-violence’, but the positive and
comprehensive meaning of ‘love embracing all creation’. |
| Ajapa-mantra |
Unconscious
repetitive prayer. Every living creature unconsciously
breathes the prayer ‘So-ham’ with each inward breath, and
with each outgoing breath prays ‘Hamsah’. |
| Akrodha |
Freedom
from anger. |
| Alabhdha-bhumikatva |
Failure to attain firm ground or continuity in practice,
feeling that it is not possible to see reality. |
| Alamba |
Support. |
| Alasya |
Idleness,
sloth, apathy. |
| Amanaska |
The
mind which is free from thoughts and desires. |
| Ananta |
Infinite;
a name of Visnu as also of Visnu’s
couch, the serpent Sesa |
| Anavasthitattva |
Instability to continue the
practices feeling that it is not necessary to continue as he thinks
that he has reached the highest state of Samadhi |
| Anga |
A part of the body; ex. A limb or A leg. |
| Angamejaytva |
Unsteadiness
or tremor of the body. |
| Angula |
A
finger; the thumb. |
| Angustha |
The
big toe. |
| Antara |
Within;
interior. |
| Antara
Kumbhaka |
Suspension of breath after full inhalation. |
| Antaranga
Sadhana |
The inward quest of the soul by Pranayama and Pratyahara whereby the mind is brought under control and the
senses are emancipated from the thraldom of objects of desire. |
| Antaratma |
The
Supreme Soul residing in the heart of man. |
| Antaratma
Sadhani |
The
innermost quest of the soul by means of Dharana (concentration),
Dhyana(meditation) & Samadhi. |
| Anumana |
An
inference. |
| Apana |
One
of the vital airs which move in the sphere of the lower abdomen and
control the function of elimination of Urine and Faeces. |
| Aparigraha |
Freedom
from hoarding or collecting. |
| Apunya |
Vice
or demerit. |
| Ardha |
Half. |
| Ariuna |
A
Pandava prince, the
mighty bowman and hero of the epic Mahabharata.
|
| Asana |
Posture.
The third stage of yoga.
|
| Asmita |
Egotism. |
| Asta |
Eight. |
| Astanga
Yoga |
The
eight limbs of Yoga described by Patanjali. |
| Asteya |
Non-stealing. |
| Atma
or Atman |
The
Supreme Soul or Brahman. |
| Atma
Satkam |
A
group of six verses written by Sankaracharya describing the soul in
the state of Samadhi. |
| Atmiyata |
The
feeling of oneness, as a mother’s feeling for her children. |
| Aum |
Like
the Latin word ‘Omne’, the Sanskrit word ‘Aum’ means
‘all’ and conveys concepts of ‘Omniscience’,
‘Omnipresence’ and ‘Omnipotence’. |
| Avastha |
State
or condition of the mind. |
| Avatara |
Descent,
advent or incarnation of God. There are ten avataras of Vishnu:
Matsya (the Fish); Kurma (the Tortoise); Varaha (the Boar),
Narassmha (the Man-lion); Vamana (the Dwarf); Parasurama; Rama (hero
of the epic Ramayana); Krishna (hero of the epic Mahabharata who
related the Bhagavad Gita); Balarama and Kalki. |
| Avidya |
Ignorance. |
| Avirali |
Sensuality. |
| Ayama |
Length,
expansion, extension. It also conveys the idea of restraint, control
and stopping. |
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