Short Glossary of Sanskrit Terms

This Short Glossary of Sanskrit Terms is not using Standard
Sanskrit-English Transliteration, which we hope will be implemented
in the future.

A

abhyasa...............persistent practice
ahimsa.................nonviolence
ajapa...................automatic repetition
ajna.....................chakra located between the eyebrows
anahata................chakra located at the heart
apana vayu...........vital air between naval and feet
aparigraha............non-possessiveness
arati.....................worship by light
asana...................posture, seat
ashtanga..............eight-limbed
asteya..................non-stealing

B

bandha................body luck
bhakti..................devotion
bindu...................center
brahmacharya......continence
Brahmarandhra....lit. "hole of God"

C

chakra.................subtle energy center

D

dharana..............concentration
dhyana...............meditation

G

granthi...............knot
guna..................essential quality. There are three Gunas of which everythings in the universe is composed: Rajas Guna is creative, active, emotional energy; Tamas Guna is resistant, inert, or desturctive energy; Sattva Guna is the energy of pure balance.

I

ida nadi..............subtle energy channel that exits through the left nostril
Ishvarapranidhana...surrender to God

J

jala...................water
japa..................mental repetition
Jalandhara Bandha...throat lock used in Pranayama practices

Glossary Part II