Sanskrit Lexicon

Advaita is the non-dual vision that ultimate reality is one without a second, and that apparent separateness is born of ignorance.

Ahamkara is the 'I-maker' function of the mind that creates individual identity and the illusion of separation.

Ahimsa is the profound ethical principle of total non-violence and compassion in thought, word, and action toward all living entities.

Arati is the devotional ceremony in which light is offered to a deity to dispel ignorance and invoke grace.

Asana is the physical posture or seat in Yoga, designed to bring steadiness, health, and lightness to the body.

An ashram is a place of disciplined spiritual effort—both the physical hermitage where seekers practice under a Guru and the Vedic framework of four life-stages through which a person progressively moves toward liberation.

Atman refers to the eternal, unchanging witnessing consciousness within every being, often identified in Vedanta as identical to the ultimate fabric of reality.

Avatara is the divine 'descent' or incarnation of the Supreme Reality into the world to uphold righteousness and guide seekers toward truth.

Avidya is the foundational spiritual ignorance of misidentifying the eternal true Self with the temporary body, mind, and ego.

Bandhas are specific energetic locks or muscular contractions used in Yoga to contain and direct vital life force.

Bhakti is the path of supreme love and devotion to the Divine, serving as a powerful and accessible means to achieve spiritual liberation and union.

Bindu is the infinite, dimensionless point or seed from which all creation emerges and into which it dissolves.

Brahman is the supreme, infinite, formless reality and pure consciousness that constitutes the foundational ground of the entire universe.

Buddhi is the higher intellectual faculty responsible for discrimination, wisdom, and profound existential decisions.

Chakras are the subtle, spinning energy centers along the spine that govern our physical, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing.

Chitta refers to the total landscape of the mind, particularly the deep subconscious storehouse of memories, habits, and impressions.

Darshan means 'vision' or 'auspicious sight'; receiving Darshan implies a direct spiritual exchange of grace through the act of seeing.

Dharana is the rigorous yogic practice of focusing and binding the mind to a single object or point, forming the essential bridge to true meditation.

Dharma is a central concept in Sanatan Dharma, referring to the underlying order in nature and human life, signifying duty, righteousness, and cosmic law.

Dhyana is the state of deep, unbroken meditation and contemplation where the mind completely merges into its point of focus.

Gunas are the three fundamental qualities or forces (Sattva, Rajas, Tamas) that govern the nature of the mind and the physical universe.

A Guru is much more than a teacher; they are a realized spiritual master who dispels the darkness of ignorance and acts as a direct conduit for divine grace.

Ishvara is the personal Lord or governing Divine intelligence, approached in yoga and devotion as a source of grace, order, and surrender.

Japa is the spiritual practice of repeatedly chanting or meditating upon a sacred mantra or divine name.

Jiva is the individual living being or soul as it experiences embodied life under the conditions of karma, mind, and rebirth.

Jnana is the supreme spiritual wisdom and direct realization of the ultimate truth that frees the soul from the cycle of birth and death.

Karma is the universal law of cause and effect in which intentional actions dictate one's future experiences and bind the soul to the cycle of rebirth.

Karma Yoga is the path of selfless action in which work becomes spiritual practice through duty, offering, and non-attachment to results.

Kirtan is the joyous, congregational singing and chanting of divine names, used as a primary practice in Bhakti Yoga.

Kleshas are the deep-seated psychological afflictions and conditionings that generate suffering and tie humans to the cycle of karma.

Koshas are the five concentric subtle sheaths that veil the pure consciousness of the Atman.

Kundalini is the dormant, primal spiritual energy resting at the base of the spine that, when awakened, leads to profound states of realization.

Lila represents the joyous, spontaneous, and dramatic play of the Divine, offering a beautiful perspective that views the creation of the universe as an act of ecstatic cosmic sport rather than necessity.

Manas is the sensory, perceiving, and doubtful aspect of the mind that processes external information.

A Mantra is a potent, sacred sound formula used as an instrument of the mind to focus consciousness, alter subtle energy, and protect against negativity.

Maya is the cosmic veil or creative power that makes the infinite, undivided ultimate reality appear as a universe of separate, finite objects.

Moksha is the ultimate spiritual goal in Sanatan Dharma, representing complete liberation from the cycle of birth and death and the realization of one's true, eternal nature.

Mudras are symbolic gestures or energy seals, often performed with the hands, used to direct Prana and deepen meditation.

Nadis are the subtle energetic channels in the body through which Prana (life force) flows.

Nirvana in the Hindu tradition refers to Brahma-nirvana—the supreme bliss of liberation in which the fires of desire, ignorance, and ego are extinguished and the soul rests in union with Brahman.

Niskama Karma is the practice of performing action wholeheartedly while letting go of selfish desire for the fruits of that action.

Ojas is the subtle essence of vitality and immunity in the body, providing the foundation for physical health and spiritual strength.

Om is the sacred primordial vibration of the universe, representing the absolute reality and the interconnectedness of all existence.

Prajna is the supreme, spontaneous, and direct experiential wisdom of eternal truth that transcends the limitations of the intellectual mind.

Prakriti is the primal, foundational matter of the universe from which all physical forms, biology, and mental phenomena evolve.

Prana is the vital, life-sustaining cosmic energy that flows through the subtle body, intrinsically linked to the breath and the mind.

Pranayama is the yogic science of breath control, designed to expand and regulate the vital life force energy.

Prasad refers to Divine grace or favor, most commonly manifesting as the blessed food distributed after ritual worship.

Puja is the loving ritual worship and offering of reverence to a deity, guru, or divine concept.

Purusha is the ancient Sanskrit term for pure, witnessing consciousness, entirely separate from the changing realm of mind and matter.

Purushartha is the comprehensive Vedic framework for a balanced life, harmonizing material needs, emotional desires, and ethical duties with the ultimate goal of spiritual liberation.

Raja Yoga is the royal path of meditative mastery, training the mind through concentration, meditation, and ultimately Samadhi.

Rta is the ancient Vedic principle of cosmic order, truth, and sacred harmony that underlies later concepts such as Dharma.

Sadhana is the essential, disciplined spiritual practice that bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and direct experience of the Divine.

Samadhi is the pinnacle of the yogic path—a state of ecstatic, non-dual absorption where the illusion of the separate self dissolves into pure consciousness.

Samsara is the continuous cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound, driven by karma and ignorance.

Samskaras are the deep subconscious impressions and habit-patterns formed by our past actions and thoughts, which drive our future behavior.

Sankalpa is a firm spiritual intention, vow, or resolve made to align the mind and energy toward a specific purpose.

Satya represents both the ethical practice of absolute honesty and the philosophical concept of the unchanging, ultimate Reality.

Seva is the profound spiritual practice of entirely selfless service, performed with great love and devotion, to chip away at the ego and see the Divine in all beings.

Shanti is the profound, spiritual peace and tranquility that represents the natural state of the soul when free from worldly agitation.

A sutra is a condensed aphoristic thread of wisdom—the classical Indian format for encoding vast philosophical systems in minimal words, designed to be unpacked through teacher-student transmission and commentarial traditions.

Tantra is a vast tradition of systematic spiritual practice—encompassing mantra, meditation, ritual, and yogic physiology—that weaves together doctrine and technique as a means for expanding consciousness and realizing the non-dual nature of reality.

Tapas is the profound spiritual discipline and 'heat' generated by voluntary austerity, used to burn away egoic impurities and build immense willpower.

Tejas is the subtle element of inner fire and radiance, bestowing clarity, brilliance, and a luminous presence.

Vairagya is the spiritual quality of dispassion and internal non-attachment, allowing for clear discernment and steady focus on the eternal.

Viveka is the spiritual faculty of discrimination, enabling the seeker to distinguish between the eternal reality and the transient appearances of the world.

A Vritti is a thought-wave or fluctuation in the mind. The goal of classical yoga is to quiet these fluctuations.

Yajna originally refers to Vedic fire sacrifices, but philosophically implies any selfless action or duty offered to the Divine.

A Yantra is a sacred geometric diagram used as a visual tool for concentration, representing cosmic forces and deities.

Far beyond physical postures, Yoga is the ancient, comprehensive spiritual science of uniting the individual soul with the ultimate reality.