Glossary of Sanskrit Terms

Sanskrit Pronunciation Guide

abhasa [pronunciation: aabhaas]: reflection of consciousness

abhijna [ubhij^na]: direct perception
abhimana [ubhimaan]: attachment
abhyasa [ubhyaas]: practice
abhyasi [ubhyaasi]: one who practices
achala [uchul]: unmoving; hill or mountain
achit [uchit]: not sentient
acharya [uchurya]: scholar, learned man; a term of respect
adhama [ ]: lowest grade
adhara [aadhaar]: support
adhishtana [udhishthaan]: substratum
adhridha [udhr^dh]: weak; not firm
adhyaropa [udhyaarop]: superimposition
adhyasika [udhyaasik]: superimposed
advaita [udvait]: non-duality; incorrectly termed monism; a system of thought and a vedantist sect found
advaitin [ ]: non-dualist
adya [aadyaa]: primordial; original
adyatmika sakti [aadyaatmik sh^akti]: power of the Self
agami (a. karma) [aagaami karm]: actions of the present life expected to bear fruit in future births
agni [ ]: fire
aham [uhum]: embodied self; soul; the ego; the sense of "I"
aham Brahmasmi [uhum bruhmaasmi]: I am Brahman
aham sphurana [uhum sphurun]: the throb of Self-bliss in the heart
aham svarupa [uhum svuroop]: one's true nature
aham vritti [vr^tti]: the 'I'-thought
ahankara [uhunkaar]: 'I' sense; ego-self; 'the doer'
ahimsa [uhimsaa]: nonviolence
ajna [aaj^naa]: direction; injunction
ajnana [uj^naan]: ignorance; knowledge of diversity
ajnani [uj^naani]: one who has not realized the Self; unenlightened; ignorant of the Self
akara [aakaar]: form or shape
akasa (akasha) [aakaash^]: ether; space
akritopasaka [ukritopaasuk]: one who has not done upasana or meditation
alayavijnana [ ]: pure, self-existent consciousness
amrita [umrit]: immortal
amritanadi [umritunaadi]: the channel for the flow of consciousness from the Heart (Source) to the mind
anadi [unaadi]: without beginning
ananda [aanund]: bliss; happiness; joy; Transcendence attained primarily through the affections manifest
anandatman [aanundutmun]: self in the state of bliss
ananta [ununt]: endless; infinite
anartha [unurtha]: evil; worthless
anatman [unaatmun]: non-Self

anava [aanuv]: limitation

anichcha [unichchh; conjunct 'ch' and 'chh', pronounced without any vowel between; good luck!]: involu
anitya [unitya]: transitory
antah (antar) [untuH (untur)]: internal
antah karanam (antahkarana) [untuH kurun(uM)]: means of perception; the mind; the ego; the thinking
antah pranayama [untuH praanaayaam]: internal breath-regulation
antardhana [unturdhaan]: disappearance from sight
antarmukha drishti [unturmukh dr^shti]: inward vision
antarmukti manas [unturmukti munus]: inward-turned mind; mind retained in the Heart
anu [unu]: atom
anubhava [unubhuv]: experience; realization
anushthana [unushthaan]: practice; attainment of knowledge
anuttara samyak sambodhi [unuttur sumyuk sumbodhi]: see samyak sambodhi
ap [aap]: water
apana [upaan]: the life-force that goes down
apara [upur]: the lower; inferior
aparoksha [upurok^sh]: direct; immediate; direct experience (as opposed to sensory experience)
apavada [upuvaad]: removal
aprana [upraan]: beyond manifest life; devoid of life
arati [ ]: divine service performed in the early morning or at dusk
archis [ ]: see amritanadi
artha [urtha]: money
arudha [aarudh]: attainment
aruna [urun]: red
arupa [uroop]: formless; timeless being
asamsakti [usumsh^ukti]: non-attachment; one of the seven stages of enlightenment
asamskrta [usunskr^t]: not pertaining to the impermanent; Chinese wu wei
asana [aasun]: yogic posture
asat [usut]: unreal
asesha sakshi [ush^esh saak^shi]: witness of all
ashram [ ]: hermitage
ashtanga Yoga [ushtaang yog]: Yoga consisting of eight stages of discipline
asrama [aash^rum]: one of the four life-stages of a spiritual seeker; the dwelling of a sage and his follow
asraya [ ]: ground of Reality (as opposed to movement)
asthira [usthira]: unsteady
asuddha [ush^uddh]: bliss
asukavi [usukuvi]: one who can versify impromptu
asura [usur]: demon; similar to a Titan or fallen angel
ati jagrat [uti jaagrut]: beyond waking
ati sunya [uti sh^oonya]: beyond the void
atiasrama (atyasrama) [utiaash^rum]: above the four stages of life
atita [uteet]: beyond
atma (atman) [aatm(un)]: the Self; principle of life and sensation; I AM; subjective moment of conscious
atma dhyana [aatma dhyaan]: contemplation on the Self
atma jnani [aatma j^naani]: one who has realized the Self
atma nishta [aatma nisht]: abiding in the Self
atma prajna [aatma pruj^naa]: innate Self-consciousness
atma prema [aatma prem]: Self-love
atma sakti [aatma sh^ukti]: power of the Self
atma siddhi [aatma siddhi]: Self-realization
atma vichara [aatma vichaar]: inquiry into the Self
atma vidya [aatma vidya]: knowledge of the Self

atmasakshatkara [ ]: Self-realization; enlightenment

atmanusandhana [aatmunusundhun]: thinking constantly of the Self
atyanta vairagyam [utyunt vairugyum]: total dispassion
avarana [aavurun]: covering
avastha traya [uvusthaa truya]: the three states of consciousness, namely waking, dream and sleep
avatar [uvutaar]: incarnation of God
avidya [uvidyaa]: nescience; ignorance of our true nature; all consciousness or knowledge, so long as it is
avritta chakshus [aavr^tt chuk^shus]: introverted look
ayatana [aayutun]: repository

bahir pranayamam [buhir praanaayaam]: external breath regulation

bahir mukha drishti [buhir mukh dr^shti]: outward turned consciousness
bahir mukhi manas [buhir mukh munus]: letting the mind go out of the Heart; externalization
bahudaka [buhooduk]: a sannyasin who wanders about
bahya [baahya]: external
bala [baal]: child
bandha [bundh]: bondage
bandha hetu [bundh hetu]: cause of bondage
beeja [beej]: seed (see bija)
Bhagavad-gita [bhuguvud geet]: Hindu religious scripture, "almost wholly in the form of a dialogue betw
most important manuals that point the Way to Cosmic Consciousness." (Franklin Merrell-Wolff)
bhagavan [bhuguvun]: God; the Lord; one who has realized his identity with the Self
bhagwan (see bhagavan)
bhajan (bhajana) [bhujun]: worship (of the Lord); singing God's praises, esp. in chorus
bhakta [bhukt]: devotee
bhakti [bhukti]: devotion; love (of God)
bhakti marga [bhukti maarg]: path of devotion
bharata [bhurut]: shining soul
bhashyakara [bhaashyukur]: commentator
bhavana [bhaavun]: contemplation of a personified deity with great emotion
bheda [bhed]: difference; differentiation
bhikshu [bhik^shu]: Buddhist monk, literally beggar
bhoga [bhog]: enjoyment
bhogya vasta [ ]: child
bhogyam [bhogyuM]: that which is enjoyed
bhokta [bhokt]: enjoyer
bhuma [bhoomaa]: all-comprehensive; the Absolute
bhumika [bhoomikaa]: stage
bhutatathata [ ]: the Absolute viewed as the universal womb [see Tung-shan]
bija [beej]: seed; source
bija-mantra [beej muntra]: a one-word seed-mantra or exclamation of power
bodha [bodh]: knowledge; Truth
bodhi [bodhi]: enlightenment; full illumination; the opposite of avidya
bodhisattva [bodhisuttva]: destined for enlightenment but wants to take all beings along
bodhikaya [bodhikaaya]: the body of the Absolute viewed as the fruit of enlightenment
Brahma [bruhm]: Lord of Creation; God as the Creator; "I am present"
brahmachari [bruhmuchaari]: a celibate; student stage of life
brahmacharya [bruhmuchurya]: celibacy
Brahmaivaham [bruhmaivaahuM]: Brahman am I

Brahmajnana [bruhmuj^naan]: realization of one's absolute being

Brahmajnani [bruhmuj^naani]: one who has realized the Self
brahmakaravritti [bruhmaakaaruvr^tti]: concept in the form of Brahman
Brahman [bruhmun]: the Universal Self; the Absolute
Brahmanishta [bruhmaanishtha]: one who is established in Brahman
Brahmarandhra [ ]: Brahma-aperature; opening in the crown of the head; fontanelle; "the tiniest of apera
Brahmavid [bruhmuvid]: one who has realized Brahman
Buddha [buddh]: one who is aware; a synonym for the Buddhakaya or Absolute state, where the Real Se
buddhi [same]: intellect; one of the four aspects of the internal organ; the determinative faculty controllin

chaitanya [chaitunya]: consciousness

chakra [chukra]: wheel; subtle center of energy in the body
chakshus [chuk^shus]: eye
chanchala [chunchula]: changing, fickle
chandrayana [ ]: particular method of expiatory fasting
chela [ ]: student; disicple
chidabhasa [chidaabhaas]: reflected consciousness
chidakash [ ]: consciousness
chidananda [chidaanund]: bliss of the Self
chidvyoman (chitt vyoman) [chidvyomun]: expanse of consciousness
chinmaya [chinmuya]: full of consciousness
chinta [chintaa]: thought, idea
chintamani [chintaamuni]: wish-fulfilling gem
chit [same]: Absolute Intelligence, universal consciousness
chitakasa [ ]: Mental ether (all-pervading)
chit jada granthi [chit jud grunthi]: the knot between pure consciousness and the insentient body; the ego
chitta [chitt]: memory aspect of mind; the mental mode turned towards objects
chitta nirodha [chitt nirodh]: control of mind
chitta suddhi [chitt sh^uddhi]: purity of mind
chitta vilasa [chitt vilaas]: play of mind
chittaikograta [chittaikogrutaa]: one-pointedness of mind

dahara vidya [duhuraa vidyaa]: contemplation of the deity in the heart

dana [daan]: gift; alms; relinquishment
darsan(a), darshan [dursh^un]: seeing; vision
dasi [daasee]: courtesan
deha(m) [deha(M)]: body; existence
'deham, naham, koham, soham' I am the body; I am not the body; who am I? I am He.
dehatma buddhi [dehaatma buddhi]: I-am-the-body
dehavasana [dehuvaasunaa]: attachment to the body
deva [devaaH]: a god or celestial being
devakanya [ ]: a class of minor female divinity
devata [devutaa]: a goddess
Devi [same]: the Divine Mother; a goddess
dharana [dhaarunaa]: concentration of mind; one of the eight stages of Raja Yoga
dharma [dhurmuH]: teaching of Buddha; universal law; way or path; an entity of any sort - thing, idea, c
dharmakaya [dhurmukaayaa]: the Dharma-Body or the Absolute, viewed as the Ultimate Reality with w

dharma dhatu [dhurm dhaatu]: the Absolute, i.e. the Dharma-Realm

Dharma Raja [dhurm raaj]: the Buddha
dharma sastri [dhurm sh^aastri]: one well-versed in the scriptures relating to dharma
dhatu(s) [dhaatu]: humors; constituent elements of the body
dhriti [dhr^tiM]: steadfastness
dhyana [dhyaan]: meditation; contemplation; the seventh rung in the eightfold ladder of yoga
dhyana siddhi [dhyaan siddhi]: successful meditation
dikpalas [dikpulus]: gods who protect the various quarters
diksha [dik^sh]: spiritual initiation
divya chakshus [divya chuk^shus]: divine eye
drashta [drushtaa]: seer
dridha [dr^dh]: firm
drik [dr^k]: he who sees; the subject
drishti [dr^shti]: look; seeing
drishti srishti [dr^shti sr^shti]: simultaneous creation
drisya [dr^sh^ya]: that which is seen; the object
drisya vilaya [dr^sh^ya viluya]: disappearance of the objective world
drisyanuviddha [dr^sh^yaanuviddh]: associated with something seen
dukha [dukh]: misery; frustration
dvaita [dvait]: duality
dvandva [dvundv]: pair of opposites
dvividha (dwividha) [dvividh]: two-fold

eka [ek]: one

ekagrata [ekaagrutaa]: concentration
ekanta vasa [ekaant vaas]: free from mental concepts; "dwelling in mental solitude"

Ganapati [gunuputi]: the elder son of Siva, the remover of obstacles; same as Ganesha, the chief of Siva'
ganapati [gunuputi]: consciousness
ganesan [ ]: darkness
ganja [gunj]: a narcotic; hashish
gate [guta]: gone
gatha [ ]: a verse, usually of a sacred kind
Gayatri [gaayutri]: a sacred Vedic mantra
gita [geet]: song
gnana [j^naan]: see jnana
gnani [j^naani]: see jnani
gopuram [same]: temple tower
granthi [grunthi]: knot
granthi nasam [grunthi naash^um]: destruction of the knot (of ignorance)
grihastha [gr^husthaaH]: householder
grihini [gr^hini]: housewife
guna(s) [gun]: the three fundamental qualities, tendencies or stresses that underlie all manifestations: satt
gunatita [gunaateet]: one who has transcended the gunas
guru [same]: a spiritual master
guru kripa [guru kr^puH]: guru's grace

hamsa [hums]: advanced sannyasi

Hanuman [ ]: a powerful deity, son of the Wind god; great devotee of Sri Rama; famous monkey who he
hasta [hust]: hand
hatha yoga [hutha yog]: a form of yoga involving body postures, and for gaining control over Prana
hetu [same]: cause, reason
hinayana [heenuyaan]: one of the two major divisions of Buddhism; prevalent in Southeast Asia
hiranyagarbha [hirunyugurbh]: universal consciousness; cosmic mind; cosmic egg; the Unmanifested m
homa [hom]: sacrifice in fire
hridaya(m) [hr^duya(M)]: heart; spiritual center of the body
hridaya granthi [hr^duya grunthi]: knot of the heart; the idea that one is one's body
hrit [hr^t]: heart
hrit pundarika [hr^t pundureek]: the heart lotus

ichcha [ichchh; conjunct 'ch' and 'chh', pronounced without any vowel between]: desire; will
idam [idum]: this
Indra [indraa]: Lord of the devas; first student of Brahma vidya
indriya(s) [indriyuH]: senses
Isa [eesh^]: Supreme Lord
ishta devata [isht devutaa]: the god one likes to worship
Isvara (Iswara) [eesh^vur]: God; the Supreme Being in His aspect of Lord of the worlds
Isvara anugraha [eesh^vur unugruha]: God's grace
Isvara drishti [eesh^vur dr^shti]: seeing everything as God
Isvara prasada [eesh^vur prusaad]: God's grace
Isvara svarupa [eesh^vur svuroop]: the true form of God

jada [jud]: insentient

jaganmaya [jugunmaaya]: the mystery of the world
jagat [jugut]: world; changing
jagrat [jaagrut]: waking state
jagrat sushupti [jaagrut sushuptiH]: aware or awake while asleep; being aware but not concerned
jai [same]: victory
jala [jula]: water
janma [junma]: birth
japa [jup]: repetition of a sacred word or syllable or name of God
japa karta [jup kurtaa]: one who does japa
jirna [jeern]: decayed
jiva [jeev]: individual soul or ego
jivanmukta [jeevunmukt]: realized soul
jivanmukti [jeevunmukti]: liberation while alive
jivatman [jeevaatmun]: the individual self
jnana(m) [j^naan(aM)]: knowledge of the Absolute; enlightenment; Supreme Knowledge; Self-realizatio
jnana bhumika(s) [j^naan bhoomikaa]: stages of knowledge (seven)
jnana chakshus [j^naan chuk^shus]: eye of wisdom
jnana drishti [j^naan dr^shti]: wisdom-insight

jnana grantha [j^naan gruntha]: Vedantic works

jnana lakshana [j^naan luk^shun]: sign of wisdom
jnana marga [j^naan maarg]: path of knowledge
jnana vichara [j^naan vichaar]: inquiry regarding knowledge
jnana yoga [j^naan yog]: the method of realizing the Absolute through knowledge
jnanagni [j^naanaagni]: fire of wisdom
jnanameva chakshus [ ]: All-seeing eyes
jnanendriya [j^nunendriya]: sense organ
jnani [j^naani]: sage; one who has realized the Self
jothi (jyoti) [jyotiH]: light; effulgence

Kailas [kailaas]: a mountain in the Himalayas reputed to be the home of Siva

kaivalya [kaivulya]: Absolute Oneness; final emancipation
kali yuga [kuli yug]: the last of the four ages of the world
kalpana [kulpunaa]: idea; imagination of the mind; creation
kama [kaam]: desire; physical love; lust
kantha [kuntha]: throat
kanthabharana [kunthaabhurun]: neck ornament
kanya [kunyaa]: virgin
kara [ ]: a combining form meaning achieved or achievement
karana [kaarun]: cause
karana sarira [kaarun sh^ureer]: causal body
karma [kurm]: action; work; deeds; also the result of action
karma marga [kurm maarg]: path of ritual, religious duties, and action
karma samya [kurm saamya]: good and bad actions in equal proportions
karma traya [kurm truya]: the three kinds of karma, namely sanchita, agami and prarabdha
karma yoga [kurm yog]: the spiritual path of action
karmendriya [kurmendriya]: organ of action
karpura arati [kurpoor aaruti]: the waving of lighted camphor during puja
karta [kurtaa]: he who does an act; doer
kartrtva [kurtr^tva]: doership
kartrtva buddhi [kurtr^tva buddhi]: sense of being the doer
kashaya [kushaaya]: latent impurity
kashaya [kaashaaya]: ochre-colored garment
kayakalpa [kaayukulp]: medicinal preparation for prolonging life
kayasiddhi [kaayusiddhi]: making the body proof against injury
kendra [ ]: center; heart
kevala kumbhaka [kevul kumbhuk]: retention of breath leading to stilling of the mind
kevala nirvikalpa [kevul nirvikulp]: the state of remaining without concepts; bliss of vijnana
kevala samadhi [kevul sumaadhi]: samadhi in which activities of body and mind are only merged
khanda [khund]: division
khyati [khyaati]: theory
klesa [klesh^]: a defilement, passion etc.
kousalam [koush^ulum]: skill
kosa [ ]: sheath
krama mukti [krum mukti]: liberation by degrees
krama srishti [krum sr^shti]: gradual creation
krida [kr^d]: play; pastime
kritopasaka [kritopaasuk]: one who has done upasana or meditation

kriya [ ]: physical action

krodha [krodh]: anger
kshanti [k^shunti]: forebearance
kshetra [k^shetra]: temple; in Yoga, field of the body
Kshetrajna [k^shetruj^na]: the conscious principle (Knower) in the field of the body; the absolute witnes
kshipta [k^shipt]: active
kumbha [kumbh]: pot used for keeping water
kumbhaka [kumbhuk]: retention of breath
kumkuma [same]: vermilion powder applied to the forehead
kundalini [kundulini]: primordial cosmic energy located in the individual; mystic circle of three and a ha
kutichaka [kuteechuk]: a sannyasin who lives permanently in a hut
kuvasana [kuvaasun]: bad tendency

laghu [lughu]: light; easy

lakshana [luk^shun]: sign; definition
lakshya [luk^shya]: aim; target; goal; attention
lakshyartha [luk^shyaartha]: implied meaning
laya [luya]: dissolution; merging; in Yoga, absorption of breath and mind in the heart
lila (leela) [leela]: play or sport
linga [ling]: symbol
linga sarira [ling sh^ureer]: subtle body
loka [lok]: world; that which is seen
loukika [loukik]: worldly

madhya [mudhya]: center; mixed; middling

madhyama [mudhyum]: a stage in uttering sounds; middle grade
mahadakash [ ]: the entire universe; world of action
maha [ ]: great
maharshi (Maha Rishi) [muhur^shi]: great rishi or sage
mahaparinirvana [muhaapurinirvaan?]: ultimate Nirvana (Nirvana can be achieved in this lifetime; ultim
mahasunya [muhaash^oonya]: great void
mahat [muhut]: intellectual principle as source of ahankara
mahat tattva (mahattava) [muhaat tuttva]: essential principle of being; the great principle (from the Abso
mahatma [muhaatmaa]: lofty soul; highly spiritual person
mahavakya(s) [muhaavaakyaa]: the four main sentences proclaiming the truth of Brahman, one from eac
mahayana [muhaayaan]: one of the two major divisions of Buddhism, prevalent in the more northerly co
Mahesvara [muhesh^vuraH]: one of the five aspects of Siva, as veiling the Truth from souls till their kar
malaparipaka [mulupuripaak]: complete removal of impurity
malina [mulin]: impure
manana [munan]: constant thinking over what has been heard; reflection; meditation; the second of the t
manas [munus]: mind, reason, mentality; also used for the aggregate of chitta, buddhi, manas and ahanka
mani [muni]: jewel
manolaya [munoluya]: (temporary) subsidence of the mind; dissolution of the mind into its cause
manomaya kosa [munomaaya kosh^]: sheath of mind
manonasa [munonaash^]: extinction of the mind
manonigraha [munonigruha]: rendering the mind quiescent
manta [muntaa]: thinker

mantra (mantram) [muntra(M)]: sacred syllable(s) used in meditation

mantra japa [muntra jap]: repetition of a mantra
marana [muruN]: causing death through supernatural powers
marga [maarg]: path
maru marichika [muru mureechikaa]: mirage seen in a desert
math (mutt) [ ]: meeting place; abode of Sadhus
mati [muti]: thinking power
mauna [same]: see mouna
maya [maayaa]: illusion; the power of Brahman by which it manifests the world; the veiling and projectin
maya vada [maayaa vaad]: the doctrine of maya
mayavadi [ ]: one who says the world is an illusion
mayasakti [maayaash^ukti]: the power of maya
medha [medhaa]: intellect
mitha [ ]: non-existent
mithya [mithyaa]: the false; unreal
moda [mod]: joy which is higher than priya
moksha [mok^sh]: Liberation; freedom from transmigration
moodha [moodh]: dull
moola [mool]: root; source
mooladhara [moolaadhaar]: one of the yogic centers of the body
mouna (mauna) [same]: Silence; the Truth of Brahman, expressed by the Brahman-knower by his mere
mouna diksha [ ]: initiation by silence
mriga trishna [mr^g tr^shn]: water of a mirage
mudra [mudraa]: hand pose in worship and dance
mukta [same]: one who is liberated
mukti [same]: Liberation
mula [ ]: origin; root; base
mulavidya [moolaavidyaa]: primal ignorance
mumukshu [mumuk^shu]: one who aspires to Liberation; the first stage, when the seeker feels that there
mumukshutva [mumuk^shutva]: desire for Liberation
muni [same]: sage; austere person
murti [same]: idol