If you want to delve into the philosophy of yoga with the study of Sanskrit, below is a list with the meaning of 25 terms of this language. By understanding what these words mean and understanding the beauty and meaning behind them, you have the potential to transform your practice and make it deeper and more complete.
Ahimsa: No damage. Himsa means injustice or cruelty. ahimsa it is the absence of violence and also implies being aware, considerate and loving with yourself and with others.
Ananda: Bliss. It is when you express and share your joy.
Asana: Seat. Literally, it means «place to sit». In the field of yoga it is defined as the comfortable posture, maintained for a while with minimal effort and with concentration on infinity.
Avidya: Ignorance. vidya means knowledge and avidya it is the absence of it. Essentially, it is the ignorance of who you are, and in yoga it usually refers to the original cause of human suffering.
Ayurveda: Science of life. This is how one of the traditional systems of medicine in India is called.
Bhakti: Love and devotion. comes from the word bhajwhich means to adore or worship God. Bhakti it is love towards the divine or the guru, as a manifestation of the divine.
Quote: Mind. It refers to consciousness.
Guru: It is the way spiritual teachers are called.
Japan: Murmur. The recitation of a word or phrase, that is, of a mantra.
Jnana: Knowledge. It refers to both mundane knowledge and transcendental wisdom.
Kosha: Box or wrap. It refers to any of the five «sheaths» that surround the transcendental being and can block his light: anna-maya-kosha (sheath made of food and refers to the physical body), prana-maya-kosha (sheath made of life force), mano-maya-kosha (sheath made up of mind), vijnana-maya-kosha (sheath made up of consciousness) and ananda-maya-kosha (sheath made up of bliss).
Kundalini shakti: The power of the serpent of spiritual energy. According to tantra and hatha yoga, the serpent’s spiritual energy is found in the Muladhara chakra, or root chakra, located at the base of the spine.
Mantra: Instrument of the mind. It is a sacred sound or phrase, which has a transforming effect on the mind of the one who recites it. Some examples of mantra are: om, hum and om namah shivaya.
Mandala: Circle. It is a circular design that includes geometric lines and symbolizes the cosmos; some are dedicated specifically to a deity.
Mudra: Seal. They are gestures that are performed mainly with the hands, although some also involve other parts of the body or the whole body. They are considered sacred and create an energetic vibration that benefits whoever practices them.
Namaste: I bow down to you. nama means to tilt, ace means me, and tea means you. Hindus use the word as a greeting and farewell, but it is also used to give thanks, ask permission and offer respect.
Oh: sounds of the universe It is the original mantra, the sound from which all other sounds emerge, and great spiritual and creative power is attributed to it. It symbolizes the union of the physical and the spiritual of each being, as a whole.
Prajna: Wisdom. It is the opposite of spiritual ignorance, avidya.
Prakriti: Nature. It is the essential nature, the unique combination of elements (doshas) with which a person is born.
Prana: Vital energy. It is an active principle that animates living things, allows movement and action, and determines vital processes. It is the sum of the forces of nature. It is in light, heat, magnetism, electricity. It is the flow of energy that is in the air, in the energy of the Sun, in food, in water.
Samadhi: Union. It is a state of consciousness of meditation, contemplation or recollection in which unity with the divine is achieved. The main goal of the meditative practice of yoga is to achieve samadhi.
Satya: Veracity, honesty or virtuosity. It consists of being honest with others and with yourself, not deceiving or deceiving yourself and telling the truth when it is good for you and others.
Shakti: Can. It is a Hindu term that refers to both the divine feminine energy and a goddess.
Tantric: Tissue. Tantra combines physical, verbal, and mental expressions of each practice and weaves them together to create a holistic path of development.
Yama: Moderation. It is a moral discipline oriented to your behavior in public, and allows you to live in harmony with others. They are the rules of morality (abstention from all evil) for society and the individual, under the premise of the five principles of yama: kindness, honesty, abundance, containment and self-sufficiency.
Do you know other Sanskrit words whose meaning inspires you? Share them in the comments.