Sanskrit Glossary

bhagavad gītā

Literally 'The Song of God.' A 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic Mahabharata, consisting of a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and his …

cakra

Literally 'wheel.' Energy centers in the subtle body according to yoga and tantra traditions. Seven major chakras run along the spine from the base to …

kuṇḍalinī

Literally 'coiled one.' The dormant spiritual energy believed to reside at the base of the spine. Through yoga practice, kundalini rises through the chakras toward …

mantra

A sacred utterance, syllable, word, or group of words believed to have spiritual power. The syllable Om is considered the most fundamental mantra, representing the …

nirvāṇa

Literally 'blowing out' or extinction of desire. In the Gita, used to describe the state of liberation (brahma-nirvana). Also a key concept in Buddhism for …

prāṇa

Vital life force or breath. In yoga philosophy, prana flows through subtle channels (nadis) in the body. Pranayama (breath control) is one of the eight …

samādhi

The highest state of meditation and the eighth limb of Patanjali's yoga. A state of complete absorption where the meditator, the act of meditation, and …

sūtra

Literally 'thread.' A concise aphoristic text that distills essential teachings into brief, memorable statements. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras contain 196 sutras on yoga philosophy and practice.

upaniṣad

Philosophical texts forming the concluding part of each Veda, also called Vedanta ('end of the Vedas'). Over 200 Upanishads exist, with 10 considered principal (mukhya).

veda

The oldest and most authoritative Hindu scriptures, composed in Vedic Sanskrit. Four Vedas: Rig Veda (hymns), Yajur Veda (rituals), Sama Veda (melodies), and Atharva Veda …