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Glossary

You may be in a yoga class and hear the teacher using Sanskrit words for different aspects of body, mind & soul exercises. We thought you might find this list helpful in translating some of the more commonly used terms. Use always the box on the right to navigate our Glossary. Feedback for corrections and additions is welcome: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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P


PARA - the sound in the navel


PARAM - supreme
- PARABHAKTI - the highest stage of devotion
- PARABRAHMA - The Supreme Divine Principle; Brahman
- PARAMAHESHWAR - the Universal Self; Brahman
- PARAMANAND - eternal, the highest bliss
- PARAMATMA - the highest Self
- PARAMHANSA - a quality in the swan symbolising liberated soul; the highest swami title
- PARAMSATYA - the highest truth
- PARAMSHANTI - the highest peace


PARVATI - queen of the mountain Himalaya; the Divine Mother; the aspect of God; divine grace


PASHYANTI - the sound in the throat


PASHU CHAKRAS - animal chakras, in man extend from toes to pelvis


PATANJALI'S SYSTEM OF RAYA YOGA - see "Raja Yoga" 


PINGALA - nadi that runs along the right symphathetic connected to the right nostril


PITRALOKA - the world of ancestors


PIYA - the loved one


PRAJAPATI - The Lord of Creatures; another name for Brahman


PRAKRTI - nature
- PRAKRTI SHAKTI - power of creation


PRARABDHA - the current karma; that part of the karmas of previous lives that are active in this lifetime


PRALAYA - total destruction


PRANA - vitality, cosmic energy, life force

FIVE PRANAS :
- PAN - makes breathing possible
- APAN - regulates exhaling, elimination of urine and feces
- UDAN - sets the muscles of the larynx into motion when you eat
- SAMAN - helps with the digestion and functioning of the system
- VYAN - situated in joints, regulates the movements of all the parts of the body

FIVE UP PRANAS :
- NARGH - regulates belching
- KURMH - opening and closing of the eyelids
- DEVDATH - yawning
- KARKLH - sneezing
- DHANANJAYH - regulates formation of bodily gases permeates and invigorates the whole body and stays in the body even after death


PRANAYAMA - breathing technique:
- PURAK - inhaling
- KUMBHAK - holding the breath
- RECHAK - exhaling


PRANAYAM MUDRA - the position of the hands when doing a certain pranayam techniques


PRASHAD - consecrated food


PRATHYARA - withdrawing of the senses from external objects


PREY - "pleasant", the wish for material things, selfish wish


PURAKA - inhaling


PURANAS - the ancient scriptures, mainly written in form of legends


PURNA - full, complete, consummate


PURUSHA - self, atma
- PURUSHARTHA - effort
- PURUSHOTTAMA - "the highest among people", Divine Self