Yoga Sanskrit glossary: How well do you know?

My parents have monthly subscriptions of few magazines; some well known and some popular among the locals there. Reader Digests is one of the most well-known magazines in the world. I believe, my parents have subscribed this magazine for more than 30+ years.

A reader of Reader Digest is generally aware of a section called,Word Power:: A Quiz to test your vocabulary. The challenge level for a voracious reader is mild. During my graduation days, when I used to be immersed in novels, I used to score good. However, even a low score in this challenge, will encourage you to strengthen your vocab.

An example : http://www.rd.com/culture/word-power-art/

I have never encountered any Yoga vocab quiz in Word Power.May be it is there but I have never seen it.At present the Sanskrit terminologies used during practice of yoga or any conversation of Yoga, have become quite common. In-spite of having Sanskrit(basic) in our school curriculum, even a simple word can leave me wondering.So, here’s what I thought of making a small Sanskrit glossary of Yoga words which are commonly used.

The Sanskrit glossary has all words of all sorts from easy to tough. Hope you enjoy this.

Sanskrit glossary

Sanskrit Glossary

1. Abhyasa : Practice. Abhyāsa, in Hinduism, is a spiritual practice which is regularly and constantly practised over a long period of time. It has been prescribed by the great sage Patanjali Maharishi in his Yoga Sutras, and by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as an essential means to control the mind, together with Vairāgya. Source.
2. Advaita : One Reality, Non duality.A Vedantic doctrine that identifies the individual self (atman) with the ground of reality (brahman).
3. Ahmkara : I, the ego. Ahaṃkāra (अहंकार) is a Sanskrit term that is related to the ego and egoism – that is, the identification or attachment of one’s ego.Source
4. Ahimsa : Non Violence .Ahimsa (अहिंसा) is a term meaning ‘not to injure’ and ‘compassion’.The word is derived from the Sanskrit root hiṃs – to strike; hiṃsā is injury or harm, a-hiṃsā is the opposite of this, i.e. cause no injury, do no harm. Source
5. Asthanga Yoga : It means “eight-limbed yoga”as outlined by the sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.
   
6. Atman : Soul or Inner Self.
7. Avadhuta : He who has shed everything. It generally refers to a saint who is beyond worldly concern.
8. Ayurveda :  Ayur means Life and Veda means Science. It is an ancient medical science developed in India thousands of year back.
9. Avidya : Without Vidya (Knowledge), Ignorance, Misconception
10. Bindu : A point or a dot.
11. Bodhi : An awakened person, an enlightened person. In Buddhism, it is the understanding posses by Buddha.
12. Brahma : Creator of Universe.
13. Chakra : Centers of energy point or spiritual power in our body.
14. Chin-Mudra : Chin means consciousness. Mudra means seal. Here the tips of the thumb and the forefinger are made to touch each other, forming a circle. The others fingers are kept open.
15. Citta : Refers to Mind.
16. Dhyana : Meditation
17. Drishti : View/Sight.
18. Dhrama : Behavior according to the order that makes life possible. In Buddhism Dharma means “Cosmic law and order”.
19. Japa : Repetition of a mantra or a divine name.
20. Jnana  :  Knowledge or Wisdom.
    

    Sanskrit Glossary

21. Kosha : Seath or Covering . One of the five envelopes of Atman or the soul.
22. Kshiti : Earth.
23. Kundali : The primordial cosmic energy located in the individual; it lies coiled up like a serpent with three and a half coils, with head downwards at the basal Muladharachakra. With practice of Yoga,it rises up to sushumna nadi.
24. Manas : Mind, Intellect.
25. Mantra : A sacred utterance, sound, syllable.
26. Matsyavatara : According to Hindu mythology, the fish incarnation of God.
27. Mauna: Silence
28. Nadi : Conduit,Nerve; channel; psychic current.
29. Neti-neti : “Not this, not this”.The analytical process of progressively negating all names and forms in order to arrive at the eternal underlying Truth.Source
30. Nidra: Sleep
31. Nirodha : Restriction, restrain
32. Niyama : Observances
33. Sadhana : Disciplined and dedicated practice especially in religion and in music.
34. Sahaja : Natural, native
35. Samadhi : A stage of intense concentration achieved through meditation
36. Shakti : Power; energy; force
37. Shiva : One of the major Hindu deities
38. Tantra : A manual of or a particular path of Sadhana laying great stress upon Japa of a Mantra and other esoteric Upasanas. Source
39. Tapas : Penance, Mortification.
40. Yoga : Union; Union with the Supreme Being.

Hope, you must be the star performer, sailing smoothly with each word. If, you can think of some more words, add in the comment. It will be fun to test my own vocabulary.