Advaita (uhd·vuh·yee·tuh) - ‘not two’ and connotes a non-dualistic approach to understanding oneself and the nature of reality

 

Antahkarana (uhn·tuh·kuh·ruh·nuh) - ‘internal organ’ or function of the mind

• Manas (maa·nuhs) - ‘thought’ or sense consciousness

• Chitta (chit·tuh) - ‘memory’

• Ahamkara (uh·hum·kaa·ruh) - ‘to do with self’ or ego

• Buddhi (buhd·hee) - ‘perception’ or intellect

 

Ashramas (aash·ruh·muhs) - ‘stages of life’ in Hinduism

• Brahmacharya (bruh·muh·chaar·yuh) - student

• Grihastha (gree·huh·sthuh) - householder

• Vanaprastha (vaa·nuh·pruhs·thuh) - retiree

• Sannyasa (suhn·yaa·suh) - renunciate

 

Ashtanga - (ush·taang·guh) - ‘8 limbs’ and refers to a sequential system of 8 steps

 

Atman (uht·muhn) - the ‘self’ and a name for the unchanging reality

 

Avatar (uh·vuh·taar) - ‘descend’ and used to reference the incarnation of a deity or Self·realized being on Earth

 

Avidya (uh·vi·dyaa) - ‘ignorance’

 

Ayurveda (eye·oor·vay·duh) - ‘science of life’ and India’s traditional medical system and sister school of yoga

 

Bandha (buhn·dhuh) - ‘bind’ and references energetic locks in one’s body

 

Bhagavad Gita (bhu·guh·vuhd gee·taa) - the ‘Lord’s Song’ is part of the Hindu epic the Mahabharata, is the most read spiritual text in India, and has more commentaries on it than any other writing in the world 

 

Bhakti (buhk·tee) - yoga path that focuses on both spiritual devotion and universal love

 

Bindu (bin·doo) - ‘dot’ or ‘point’ and represents the mystical seed of the universe and is often cosmetically applied on the forehead

 

Brahman (bruh·muhn) - the ‘immensity’ and a name for the unchanging reality

 

Brahmaviharas (bruh·muh·vee·haa·ruhs) - ‘abodes of the divine’ or ‘sublime attitudes’ that have the power to transform the practitioner

• Metta (meh·tuh) - loving-kindness

• Karuna (kuh·roo·naa) - compassion

• Mudita (moo·dhee·tuh) - empathic joy

• Upeksha (oo·pay·kshuh) - equanimity

 

Chakra (chuh·kruh) - ‘wheel’ and references the major intersections of energy in the subtle body

• Muladhara (moo·laa·dhaa·ruh) - ‘root’ associated with the coccyx, pelvic floor and earth element

• Svadhisthana (svuhd·hish·thaa·nuh) - ​​‘sweetness’ associated with the sacrum, pubic region and water element

• Manipura (muh·nee·poo·ruh) - ‘lustrous gem’ associated with the lumbar spine, navel or solar plexus and fire element

• Anahata (uh·naa·huh·thu) - ‘unstruck’ associated with the thoracic spine, heart and air element

• Vishuddha (vi·shoo·dhuh) - ‘purification’ associated with the cervical spine, throat and air element

• Ajna (aag·nyuh) - ‘to perceive’ associated with the 3rd eye and space or ether

• Bindu (bin·doo) - ‘point’ or ‘drop’ associated with the cowlick and considered the place where universal and individual consciousness differentiate

• Sahasrara (suh·huss·raa·ruh) - ‘thousandfold’ associated with the crown and considered beyond the elements

 

Darshana (duhr·shuh·nuh) - ‘viewing’ and references being blessed by the presence or image of a deity, revered person or sacred object

 

Devanagari (day·vuh·naa·guh·ree) - ’(script of the) divine city’ and alphabet used for Sanskrit and other South Asian languages

 

Dharma (dhur·muh) - ‘to hold’ and references one’s worldly duty and spiritual path

 

Doshas (do·shuhs) - three ‘bodily humors’ in Indian medicine

 

Drishti (drish·tee) - ‘sight’ or ‘view’ and is the practice of maintaining an external gaze or focus point to develop internal concentration and awareness

 

Granthis (graan·thees) - three ‘psychic knots’ in the physical body that create blockages in the central energy channel on the path of awakening

• Brahma (bruh·muh) - ‘creator’

• Vishnu (vish·noo) - ‘all pervasive’

• Rudra (roo·druh) - ‘who eradicates problems from their roots’ and associated with Shiva

 

Gunas (goo·nuhs) - three ‘fundamental principles’ of nature in Hindu philosophy

• Tamas (tuh·mus) - ‘darkness’

• Rajas (ruh·juhs) - ‘passion’

• Sattva (suht·vuh) - ‘goodness’ 

 

Guru (goo·roo) - ‘heavy with wisdom’ or ‘knowledge’ and references a Self·realized teacher who offers guidance, dispels darkness and bestows Divine grace to their students and devotees

 

Hasta (huh·stuh) - ‘hand’ 

 

Hatha (huh·thuh) - ‘force’ or ‘effort’ and uses the body as the vehicle for the exploration of consciousness

 

Hatha Yoga Pradipika (huh·thuh yo·guh pruh·di·pee·kuh) - post-classical yoga text and is the oldest surviving and most translated on hatha yoga, as well as the most influential text for yoga practice in the west

 

Japa (juh·puh) - ‘to utter’ or ‘repeat’ and employs the meditative repetition of a sacred sound, name, word or phrase

 

Jnana (gnyuh·nuh) - yoga path of Self-realization which focuses on knowledge through intellectual understanding as well as conscious awareness of the nature of reality

 

Jyotish (jyo·tish) - ‘science of light’ and is India’s traditional astrological system

 

Karma (kuhr·muh) - ‘to act’ and refers to both a yoga path that focuses on service and action as well as the relationship of cause and effect

 

Kirtan (keer·tuhn) - ‘to repeat’ and is a style of call-and-response chanting that gives participants a chance to listen and recite

 

Kleshas (clay·shuhs) - five ‘poisons’ that represent the obstacles of liberation

• Asmita (uhs·mee·taa) - “I am-ness’ or egoism 

• Raga (raa·guh) - ‘passion’ or attachment

• Dvesha (dvay·shuh) - ‘hate’ or aversion

• Avidya (uh·vi·dyaa) - ‘ignorance’

• Abhinivesha (ub·hee·nee·vay·shuh) - ‘instinct to cling’ to life or fear of death

 

Kosha (koh·shuh) - ‘sheath’ that covers the Self

• Annamaya (uh·nuh·maa·yuh) - ‘food sheath’ or physical body

• Pranamaya (praa·nuh·maa·yuh) - ‘life force sheath’ or energetic body

• Manomaya (muh·no·maa·yuh) - ‘mind sheath’ or mental body

• Vijnanamaya (vig·nuh·maa·yuh) - ‘intellect sheath’ or wisdom body

• Anandamaya (aa·nuhn·duh·maa·yuh) - ‘bliss sheath’ or bliss body

 

Krama (kruh·muh) - ‘succession’ and denotes a series of sequential steps

 

Kumbhaka (koom·bhuh·kuh) - ‘retention’ of the breath 

 

Kundalini (koon·duh·lee·nee) - ‘circular’ and references the life force symbolized as a sleeping serpent coiled at the base of the spine

 

Lila (lee·luh) - ‘play’ or ‘drama’ and references the dance of the Divine, creative play of the cosmos

 

Mala (muh·luh) - ‘garland’ or ‘impurity’ refers to a string of beads, usually consisting of 108, used to count mantras

 

Mandala (muhn·duh·luh) - a ‘circle’ and symbolic diagram used for meditation, spiritual practice, focus and insight 

 

Mantra (muhn·truh) - ‘mind tool’ that employs the use of a sound, word or phrase to generate transformation in meditation and devotional practices

 

Maya (maa·yaa) - ‘illusion’ and the phenomenal world of perceived duality

 

Moksha (mok·shuh) - ‘liberation’ or release from the cycle of rebirth 

 

Mudra (moo·draa) - energetic ‘seal’ or a spiritual gesture that can be made with one’s hands or entire body

 

Nada (naa·duh) - ancient Indian philosophy and practice known as the yoga of ‘sound’ that acknowledges all existence as consisting of vibration and works with external and internal sound as a method for liberation

 

Nadis (naa·dees) - ‘channels’ in which energy flows through the subtle body

• Ida (ee·daa) - left channel associated with the moon

• Pingala (pin·guh·laa) - right channel associated with the sun

• Sushumna (soo·shoom·naa) - central channel

 

Namaste (nuh·muh·stay) - ‘I bow to you’ and used in India as a greeting

 

Nidra (nih·druh) - yogic ‘sleep’ and the practice of conscious deep relaxation known

 

Pada (paa·duh) - ‘foot’

 

Prajna (praaj·nuh) - ‘wisdom’ or ‘understanding’ gained from insight, reasoning, inference and discernment 

 

Prakriti (pruh·kree·tee) - ‘nature’ and encompasses the basic intelligence and function of the phenomenal universe 

 

Prana (praa·nuh) - ‘life force’ or ‘vital principle’ and references all energy in the cosmos including the primordial creative power

 

Puja (poo·juh) - ‘worship’ ritual 

 

Purusha (poo·roo·shuh) - ‘spirit’ and a name for the unchanging reality

 

Purusharthas (poo·roo·shaar·thuhs) - ‘objectives of man’ in Hindu philosophy

• Artha (aar·thuh) - wealth and power

• Karma (kuhr·muh) - work and action

• Dharma (dhur·muh) - duty

• Moksha (mok·shuh) - liberation

 

Raja (raa·jaa) - ‘king’ and path of meditation considered both a method and the aim of yoga

 

Sadhana (saa·duh·nuh) - ‘realization’ and spiritual practice 

 

Samkhya (suhm·khyuh) - a dualistic philosophy of purusha and riti that provided the basis for Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra

 

Samsara (suhm·saa·ruh) - ‘world’ or cycle of death and rebirth 

 

Samskara (suhm·skaa·ruh) - ‘mental impressions’ or ‘imprints’ that refers to karmic tendencies and psychological dispositions that

impact one’s memory, perception and behavior

 

Sanskrit (suhn·skrit) - ‘perfected’ sacred language of Hinduism and classical Hindu philosophy using the Devanagari alphabet

 

Satsang (suht·suhng) - ‘true assembly’ and references one’s spiritual community

 

Seva (say·vuh) - ‘service’ and relates to work and worship through selfless action

 

Shakti (shuhk·tee) - ‘ability’ or ‘strength’ and represents the feminine principle of primordial, sacred and universal Divine energy

 

Shanti (shaan·tee) - ‘peace’ or ‘inner peace’

 

Tantra (tuhn·truh) - ‘weaving together’ and references ritual, esoteric practices such as postures, meditation, chanting and visualization to integrate the spiritual and material realm

 

Upanishad (oo·puh·nee·shuhd) - ‘to sit near or listen’ and references a series of sacred Hindu texts expounding the Vedas and presenting an interconnected universe with a single, unifying principle

 

Vayu (vaa·yoo) - ‘internal currents’ of energy flowing through the body

• Prana (praa·nuh)

• Apana (uh·paa·nuh)

• Samana (suh·maa·nuh)

• Udana (oo·daa·nuh)

• Vyana (vyaa·nuh)
   

Vedanta (vay·daan·tuh) - references the Upanishads as the ‘end’ of the Vedas and is one of the six classical schools of Indian philosophy

​

Vedas (vay·duhs) ‘knowledge’ and references the four oldest Hindu texts containing philosophy, hymns and rituals that were initially preserved by oral tradition before being written in Sanskrit with the Devanagari alphabet 

• Rig (rig) - ‘knowledge of brightness’ and is the oldest text in the world, containing a collection of ceremonial prayers and hymns about the mythology of Hindu deities

• Yajur (yuh·joor) - ‘knowledge of sacrifice’ and contains instructions for religious rituals

• Sama (saa·muh) - ‘knowledge of chants’ and contains hymns about religious rituals

• Atharva (uh·thuhr·vuh) - ‘knowledge of the fire priest’ and contains spells, prayers and hymns 
   

Vinyasa (vin·yaa·suh) - ‘to place’ or ‘in a special way’ and connotes intentional movement coordinated with breath

 

Viveka (vi·vay·kuh) - ‘discrimination knowledge’ or right understanding

 

Yantra (yuhn·truh) a ‘support’, mystical diagram and type of mandala used for meditation, worship and powers 

 

Yoga (yo·guh) - ‘to yoke’ or unite and references practices intended to support in attaining Moksha 

 

Yoga Sutra (yo·guh soo·truh) - a classical yoga text rooted in samkhya philosophy that is a collection of aphorisms on the practices and aims of yoga codified by Patanjali

 

Yugas (yoo·ghus) four ‘ages of the world’ in Hindu cosmology

• Satya (saught·yuh) or Krita (kri·tuh) - ‘age of truth’ or ‘golden age’

• Treta (tray·tuh) - ‘age of three’ 

• Dvapara (daah·pah·ruh) - ‘age of two’ 

• Kali (kaa·lee) - ‘age of Kali’ or ‘darkness’ 

 

 

8 Limbs of classical yoga: 

• Yama (yuh·muh) - ‘restraints’ that teach moral disciplines as guidelines for proper conduct

  • Ahimsa (uh·him·saa) - ‘non-injury’ or ‘non-violence’, encourages respect for all living things

  • Satya (suht·yaa) - ‘truthfulness’ and encourages honesty, sincerity and authenticity

  • Asteya (uh·stay·yuh) - ‘non·stealing’ and guides us to not take from others, ourselves, the Earth or our future

  • Brahmacharya (bruh·muh·chaar·yuh) - ‘flowing’ or ‘walking with God’ and focuses on moderation and appropriate use of one’s vital energies

  • Aparigraha (uh·puh·ree·gruh·huh) - ‘non·covetousness’ or ‘non·possessiveness’ and seeks to liberate practitioners from greed and grasping

​

• Niyama (nee·yuh·muh) -  ‘observances’ that describe personal guidelines for one’s self care

  • Saucha (shau·chuh) - ‘cleanliness’ or ‘purity’ and is the practice of detoxifying, organizing and creating good space in our bodies, relationships and environments

  • Santosha (suhn·to·shuh) - ‘contentment’ and encourages us to take refuge in the present moment by loving what is

  • Tapas (tuh·puhs) - ‘to heat’ or ‘to burn’ and encourages an internal fire through sustained practice and a passion for spiritual discipline

  • Svadhyaya (svaa·dhyaa·yuh) - ‘self study’ and utilizes contemplation, analysis and reflection to aid in witnessing one’s mind

  • Ishvara Pranidhana (eesh·vuh·ruh pruh·ni·dhaa·nuh) - ‘devotion’ or ‘surrender’ to one’s higher power and encourages one to offer the fruits of their actions to the object of one’s devotion
     

• Asana (aa·suh·nuh) - ‘seat’ and focuses on the physical practice of postures for one’s health and ability to effectively meditate with an upright, neutral spine
   

• Pranayama (praa·naa·yaa·muh) -  ‘breath control’ and explores how to extend one’s life force and influence the layers of one’s body through breathing practices
   

• Pratyahara (pruh·tyaa·haa·uh) - 'withdraw' or 'draw in the senses' - the practice of turning one’s attention inward.  This limb translates as ‘bringing together’ and is the practice of drawing in one’s senses and turning attention inward
   

• Dharana (dhaa·ruh·nuh) - ‘holding’ and is related to a state of uninterrupted concentration between one’s self and the object of one’s focus
   

• Dhyana (dhyaa·nuh) -  ‘meditation’ and utilizes the process of attention, reflection and contemplation in exploring the communication between one’s
   

• Samadhi (suh·maa·dhee) - ‘established’ or ‘to make firm’ and relates to a state of union with the object of one’s uninterrupted focus and the transcendence of the individual self or absorption into Source

 

 

Deities: 

 

• Trimurti (tree·mhur·tee) - Hindu trinity of ‘three forms’ or ‘embodiments’ of the unchanging reality

  • Brahma (bruh·muh) - the creator and grandsire of humanity

  • Vishnu (vish·noo) - ‘all pervasive’ blue skinned deity known for being the preserver, maintainer and protector

    • Rama (raa·muh) - 7th incarnation of Vishnu is the king and primary character in a great Hindu epic where he battles a demon king to reclaim his wife

    • Krishna (krish·nuh) - 8th incarnation of Vishnu whose name means both ‘all attractive’ and ‘dark one’, who grew up as a cowherd and is the charioteer and guru of the hero in the Mahabharata

    • Buddha (boo·duh) - 9th incarnation of Vishnu whose name means ‘awakened one’ and who denied the authority of the Vedas and the legitimacy of the caste system, while teaching a path to end suffering

  • Shiva (shi·vuh) - ‘auspicious one’ who represents divine consciousness known as the destroyer, transformer and Lord of Yoga

    • Hanuman (haa·noo·maan) - the monkey god of strength and devotion, son of Vayu and incarnation of Shiva, as well as a primary character in the Ramayana as a loyal friend and devotee of Rama

 

• Tridevi (tree·dai·vee) - ‘three goddesses’ 

  • Saraswati (suh·ruh·svuh·tee) - ‘possessor of water’ and goddess of knowledge, music and the arts, who was initially the consort of Brahma

  • Lakshmi (luhk·shmee) - ‘she who leads to one’s goal’ and goddess of material and spiritual prosperity, generosity and courage who is the consort of Vishnu

    • Sita (see·tuh) - incarnation of Lakshmi and queen and consort of Rama in the Ramayana is known for her purity, dedication and self·sacrifice

    • Radha (raad·huh) - incarnation of Lakshmi known for her love, compassion and devotion is the chief of the milkmaids and consort of Krishna in the Mahabharata

  • Parvati (paar·vuh·tee) - ‘daughter of the mountain’ and goddess of love, fertility, harmony and power who is the consort of Shiva

    • Durga (door·guh) - ‘invincible’ incarnation of Parvati celebrated as the fearless warrior who killed the buffalo demon

    • Kali (kaa·lee) - the goddess of time and change whose name means ‘black’ and is a terrifying incarnation of Parvati

 

• Agni (uhg·nee) - the god of fire who protects the home, aids in digestion and purification, and carries offerings to other deities
   

• Chandra (chuhn·druh) - the lunar deity who rides his chariot across the night sky and is the lord of the moon and vegetation
   

• Ganesha (guh·nay·shuh) - the god of wisdom, understanding and success, as well as the elephant-headed eldest son of Shiva often evoked in new endeavors
   

• Garuda (guh·roo·duh) - the half-bird, half-man ‘king of birds’ that soars the skies with Vishnu on his back and eats only snakes as a symbol for destroying the ego
   

• Indra (in·druh) - the god of rain, lightning and war that carries the thunderbolt as his weapon and creates rainbows with his bow
   

• Surya (soor·yuh) - solar deity is honored by facing east during yoga practice and worshiped at dawn by many Hindus
   

• Vayu (vaa·yoo) - the god of air and wind that has the ability to purify and create change by blowing with his huge lung capacity
   

• Yama (yuh·muh) - the god of death, justice and the underworld who helps maintain order and harmony