Kundalini Yoga, an ancient practice designed to awaken the dormant spiritual energy within, encompasses a variety of terms and concepts that are crucial for understanding its depth and practice. Here's a comprehensive glossary to guide your journey.
ABHYASA—Spiritual practice.
Abhyasin—Practitioner.
Acharya—Preceptor; Teacher.
Adhara—Foundation; base which supports.
Adhikarin—Qualified person.
Adhyatmic—Pertaining to Atman.
Agni—Fire.
Ahankara—Egoism.
Ajna Chakra—Spiritual centre at the eyebrows.
Ajnana—Ignorance.
Akasa—Ether.
Akhanda—Unbroken.
Anahata Chakra—Cardiac plexus.
Ananda—Bliss; happiness; comfort.
Antahkarana—Fourfold internal organs, viz., Manas, Chitta, Buddhi and Ahankara.
Anubhava—Experience.
Asana—Seat; posture.
Avidya—Ignorance.
BAHIH—Outward; external.
Basti—The purificatory exercise for congested bowels.
Bhakta—Devotee.
Bhakti—Devotion.
Bhava—Feeling.
Bheda—Difference; piercing.
Bhrumadhya—The space between the eyebrows.
Bhuta Siddhi—Control over elements.
Brahmachari—Celibate.
Brahmacharya—Celibacy.
Brahmamuhurta—The period from 3 to 6 a.m. intended for Yoga—Abhyasa.
Brahmarandhra—An aperture in the crown of the head.
CHAITANYA—Consciousness.
Chakras—Spiritual centres in Sushumna Nadi.
Chandra-Nadi—Moon-flow; another name for Ida.
Chit—Knowledge.
Chitta—Consciousness.
DANA—Charity.
Darshana—Interview.
Deha—Physical body.
Dharana—Concentration.
Dhauti—The exercise for cleaning the stomach.
Diksha—Initiation.
Dosha—Fault; impurity.
Drishti—Vision.
Duhkha—Misery; pain.
Dvesha—Hatred; repulsion.
GRIHASTHA—Householder.
Granthi—Knot.
Gulma—Chronic gastritis.
Guru—Spiritual preceptor.
ICCHA—Desire.
Ida—The Nadi that runs on the left side of Sushumna.
Indriyas—Senses.
JADA—Insentient; lifeless.
Jada Kriya—Physical exercise.
Japa—Repetition of a Mantra.
Jaya—Mastery.
Jiva—Individual soul.
Jnana-Indriyas—Five organs or senses of Knowledge, viz., ear, skin, eye, tongue and nose.
KAIVALYA—Isolation.
Kama—Passion, desire.
Kanda—The source of all Nadis.
Karma-Indriyas—Five organs of action, viz., speech, hands, legs, genitals and anus.
Karma—Action; duty.
Kaya—Body.
Kaya-Sampat—Perfection of body.
Krama—Order.
Kripa—Grace.
Kriya—Physical action or exercises.
Krodha—Anger.
Kumbhaka—Retention of breath.
Kundalini—The mysterious power in the body.
LAKSHYA—Object of concentration.
Laya—Dissolution.
MADHYAMA—Middle; centre.
Manana—Reflection or concentration.
Manas—Mind.
Mandala—Region.
Manipura—Solar plexus situated at the navel.
Mantra—Holy words.
Matsarya—Envy; jealousy.
Maya—Illusive power; veiling Shakti.
Mada—Arrogance; pride.
Mitahara—Moderation of diet.
Moha—Attachment; infatuated love.
Moksha—Liberation; emancipation.
Mouna—Vow of silence.
Mrityunjaya—Conqueror of death.
Mukti—Final beatitude.
Mula—Origin; root; base.
Muladhara Chakra—The spiritual centre at the base of the spinal column.
NABHI—Navel.
Nada—Anahata Sound.
Nadi—Astral tube that carries Prana.
Nasikagra Drishti—Vision at the tip of the nose.
Nauli—Purificatory exercise of abdominal region.
Neti—The exercise for cleaning the nostrils.
Nididhyasana—Profound meditation.
Nirguna—Formless; without attributes.
Nishkama Karma—Disinterested work.
Nishtha—Fixity; steadiness.
Nivritti Marga—Path of renunciation.
Niyama—Religious rules; second step in Yoga.
OJAS—Spiritual energy.
Oordhvareto-Yogi—The Yogi in whom the seminal energy flows upwards.
PADMA—Lotus; Chakra; a name for the plexus.
Parama—Supreme.
Pingala—The Nadi that runs on the right side of Sushumna Nadi.
Poorna—Full.
Prakriti—Nature; undifferentiated matter.
Prana—Vital energy.
Pranayama—Regulation of breath.
Pratyahara—Withdrawing the senses from objects.
Pratyakshatva—Direct perception.
Prema—Divine love.
Prerana—Inner goading.
Puraka—Inhalation.
RAGA—Attachment.
Rajas—Passion; motion.
Rajasic—Passionate.
Rechaka—Exhalation.
Rupa—Form.
SADHAKA—Spiritual aspirant.
Sadhana—Spiritual practice.
Saguna—With form.
Sahasrara—The spiritual centre at the head.
Sakshatkara—Direct perception.
Sama—Equal; balanced state of mind.
Samadhi—Superconscious state.
Samsara Chakra—Wheel of death and birth.
Samskara—Impression.
Sankalpa—Formative will; determination.
Sattva—Purity.
Sattvic—Pure.
Satyam—Truth; Brahman.
Shakti—Power.
Shat-Karmas—Six purificatory exercises of Hatha Yoga, viz., Dhauti, Basti, Neti, Nauli, Trataka and Kapalabhati.
Siddhas—Perfected Yogins.
Siddhi—Perfection; psychic power.
Sindur—Vermilion.
Sparsha—Touch; feeling.
Sraddha—Faith.
Sravana—Hearing of Srutis.
Sthula—Physical; gross.
Sukha—Happiness; comfortable.
Sukshma—Astral; subtle.
Surya Nadi—Another name for Pingala.
Sutra—Aphorism.
Svara Sadhana—Regulation of breath.
TAMAS—Inertia; darkness.
Tamasic—Dull; lazy.
Tattva—Elements; faculty.
Titiksha—Forbearance.
Trataka—Gazing at a particular spot.
Trikala-Jnani—One who knows the past, present and future.
Trishna—Craving.
Triveni—The place where three holy rivers meet.
Tushti—Satisfaction.
UNMANI AVASTHA—Mindless state of Yogins.
Uttama—Qualified person.
VAIRAGYA—Renunciation; dispassion.
Vajra—Adamantine; firm.
Vak—Speech.
Vasana—Impression of action that remains in the mind.
Virya—Seminal power; energy.
Vishuddha—Laryngeal plexus at the base of the throat.
Vritti—Mental function.
YAMA—The first step in Yoga.
Yatra—Pilgrimage.
Yoga—Superconscious state; union with Paramatma.
Yogic—Pertaining to Yoga.
Yogin—One who is devoted to Yoga.
Yukti—Common-sense.
Key Concepts
- Kundalini: The dormant spiritual energy that lies coiled at the base of the spine.
- Chakras: Spiritual energy centers located along the spine, each associated with different aspects of consciousness and health.
- Pranayama: The practice of breath control to influence the flow of prana (vital energy) within the body.
- Asanas: Physical postures that prepare the body for meditation and facilitate the flow of energy.
- Meditation: Techniques to focus and calm the mind, leading to heightened awareness and connection with the self.
Understanding these terms can significantly deepen your practice and appreciation of Kundalini Yoga, guiding you towards greater spiritual awareness and inner peace.