| Nachiketa |
Name
of the seeker and one of the principal characters in the
Kathopanisad. His father Vajasravas wanted to give away all his
possessions so as to acquire religious merit. Nachiketa felt puzzled
and asked his father again and again, To whom will you give
me? His father said, I give you to Yama (the God of
Death). Nachiketa went down to the realm of Death and obtained
three boons, the last of which was the knowledge of the secret of
life after death. Yama tried to divert Nachiketa from
obtaining his wish by offering the greatest earthly pleasures, but
Nachiketa was not swayed from his purpose and ultimately Yama gave
him the knowledge desired.
|
| Nada |
Inner mystical sound. |
| Nadi |
A tubular organ of the subtle body through which energy
flows. It consists of three layers, one inside the other, like
insulation of an electric wire. The innermost layer is called the
‘Sira’ and the middle layer ‘Damani’. The entire organ as
well as the outer layer is called ‘Nadi’. |
| Nadi
Sodhana |
The purification or cleaning of the Nadis. |
| Naga |
One of the subsidiary vital airs which relieves abdominal
pressure, causing one to bleach. |
| Nava |
A boat. |
| Neti
Neti |
‘Not
This! Not this!’ The experience of Samadhi is not like other
experiences, which can be described in words. About it the sages say
‘It is not this! It is not this!’, for speech fails to convey
the feeling of joy and peace experienced in that state. |
| Niralamba |
Without support. |
| Niranjana |
Unstained; free from falsehood, pure. |
| Nirodha |
Restraint, suppression. |
| Niruddha |
Restrained,
checked, controlled. |
| Niyama |
Self purification by discipline. The second stage of Yoga
mentioned by Patanjalli. |
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