Sanskrit is the sacred ancient language of yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.
It is one of the oldest languages in the world, and like Latin, it is now regarded as a ‘dead language’ because although it is still used, there are no native speakers who use Sanskrit as their first language (or mother tongue).
Many of the traditional texts related to yoga, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism are written in Sanskrit, so you’ll still find Sanskrit in use today within these religious and spiritual communities.
In one way or another, many modern languages in Asia were also heavily influenced by Sanskrit.
Scholars commonly use and educate on Sanskrit as they continue to share the wisdom of the sacred scriptures and translate the ancient texts to this day.
As practitioners of yoga, it is important to honour and use the classical language of Sanskrit.
Its preservation relies on modern practitioners’ understanding its importance, and committing to maintaining it as part of the modern-day yoga practice.
In this article, you’ll learn about some of the more common Sanskrit words that you’ll come across in the study of yoga, combined with some brief explanations of what they most commonly refer to.
This is a brief synopsis for the ease of modern yoga practitioners, but it’s important to note that it’s not exhaustive, and much like English, Sanskrit words often have multiple meanings.
Table of Contents
A-Z Sanskrit Glossary For Yoga Practitioners
Abhyasa | Abhyāśa [Practice]
Abhyasa (abhyāśa in Sanskrit) refers to ‘practice’, more specifically the practice that helps to still streams of consciousness (vrittis) to achieve tranquillity and harmony in the mind (chitta).
Patanjali refers to abhyasa in Patanjalis Yoga Sutras in Chapter 1, Verses 12-16. He explains that we can influence the peace of the mind through consistent practice and detachment.
Adho [Down]
Adho refers to the direction or position of ‘under’ or ‘below’. But it’s most commonly used to describe ‘down’ in yoga postures (asanas) such as downward dog, or adho mukha svanasana.
Advaita + Dvaita [Non-Dual + Dual]
The word dvaita means duality (or dualism) in Sanskrit. And advaita means non-dual.
Advaita and dvaita are most commonly used to refer to two schools of yogic philosophy; advaita vedanta and dvaita vedanta.
In dvaita vedanta, it is thought that God or Universal Consciousness is separate and independent from the individual soul. For example, an external being who presides over everything else, including independent souls.
Whereas advaita vedanta teaches that there is no separation between the individual soul (atman) and God or Supreme Consciousness (Brahman).
Agni [Fire]
Agni can either refer to the Hindu God of Fire, or the element of fire as part of the five elements (pancha bhuta).
The element of fire is associated with manipura chakra, the solar plexus chakra.
Agni, also known as Agnish, the God of Fire is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 10, Verse 23.
And the element of fire is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 9, Verse 16.
Digestive fire and the associated kriya are mentioned in the Gheranda Samhita in Chapter 1, Verses 19-20.
Digestive fire is also mentioned in the Shiva Samhita, Chapter 2, Verses 32-34.
It is said that the viparīta inversion helps to build digestive fire and protect against illnesses.
Ahamkara | Ahaṃkāra [Self-Identification]
Ahamkara (ahaṃkāra in Sanskrit) refers to individuality and the human ego, along with the mistaken self-identification with the ego (or other impermanent objects and materials such as ‘nature’).
Ahamkara is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita in Chapter 3, Verse 27 and again in Chapter 7, Verse 4.
Ahimsa | Ahiṃsā [Non-Harming]
Ahiṃsā is the principle of respect and non-violence towards all living beings and things. The concept of ahimsa is commonly seen throughout yogic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain philosophy.
It forms part of the ‘yamas’ and ‘niyamas’ which are yogic moral codes and ethics to live by, also known as yōgadharma.
Ahimsa is known as the first yama.
The concepts of ahimsa and the five yamas are mentioned in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Chapter 2, Verse 30.
And in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Chapter 1, Verse 17, ahimsa is also mentioned as part of the ten yamas.
The principle of ahimsa can be translated and applied in multiple different ways, from refraining from harming other beings to refraining from self-harm.
Ajna Chakra | Ājñā Cakra [Third Eye Chakra]
The Sanskrit word ‘ajna’ is often translated to mean “command” or “perceive”.
But in the modern-day context, when referring to ‘ajna’ most people are referring to ajna chakra, or the third eye chakra.
Ajna chakra is known as the sixth chakra in kundalini yoga, tantra yoga, and hatha yoga traditions.
Located in the middle of the forehead, in between the eyebrows, ajna chakra is responsible for Divine insight, intuition, wisdom, psychic abilities and mystical powers.
You can learn more about ajna chakra in my article here about the third eye.
Akasha | Ākāśa [Space/Aether/Sky]
Akasha is one of the five elements (pancha bhuta), and can mean space, aether, atmosphere or sky depending on the context of its use.
The element of aether/space is associated with vishuddha chakra, the throat chakra.
Akasha in relation to ‘sky’ is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 13, Verse 33.
Akasha in relation to ‘space’ and ‘aether’ is mentioned in the Patanjali Yoga Sutras Chapter 3, Verse 43.
Akrodha | Akrōdha [Restraint From Anger]
Adrodha means ‘to be free from anger’ or to restrain from the temptation of anger. It is regarded as one of the moral and ethical duties of yogis and ascetics.
Akrodha refers to the ability to stay calm, constructive, and free from anger, even when faced with challenges and circumstances in which anger can commonly arise.
Cosmic harmony (dharma) relies on akrodha and the ability to create an environment of peace and harmony through love, compassion, forgiveness, and empathy.
Amrita | Amṛta [Immortal Nectar]
Amrita has multiple different meanings in Asian spiritual and religious philosophy, and can be used to represent different things depending on the context and lineage of philosophy.
In modern yoga, amrita is often used to describe fluids and ‘nectars’ that are said to be sacred and provide immortality.
For example, you may hear yoga teachers referring to menstrual blood, female ejaculation fluids, semen, and other types of bodily fluids as ‘amrita’.
Aside from bodily fluids, amrita is also often regarded as a food or drink that provides immortality, and in this context is likened to the ancient Greek concept of ambrosia.¹
You’ll also find that Amṛtā is the name of Goddesses and various characters from some of the classical Indian texts.²
Amrita is mentioned in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, Chapter 4, Verse 53.
Anahata Chakra | Anāhata Cakra [Heart Chakra]
The Sanskrit word ‘anahata’ is roughly translated to mean “unhurt”, “unstruck”, or “unbeaten”.
But in the modern-day context, when referring to ‘anahata’ most people are referring to anahata chakra, or the heart chakra.
Anahata chakra is known as the fourth chakra in tantra yoga, kundalini yoga, and hatha yoga traditions.
Located along the spine, close to the area of the heart organ, anahata chakra is responsible for unconditional love, spiritual healing, compassion, forgiveness, harmony, balance, serenity and peace.
You can learn more about anahata chakra in my article here about the heart chakra.
Ananda | Ānanda [Happiness]
Ānanda translates to joy, happiness, or bliss and is mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, Vedas, and Upanishads.
Ananda refers to the everlasting and eternal bliss that accompanies the cessation of the cycle of rebirth (saṃsāra).
Anutapa | Anutāpa [Regret]
Anutapa is one of the types of mental disturbances (vrittis) that can arise to disrupt the stillness of the mind (chitta).
Anutapa can be translated to mean regret, sorrow, repentance, or remorse.
Aparigraha [Non-Possessiveness]
Aparigraha is the principle of non-possessiveness. It can also be translated to non-grasping and non-covetousness.
Aparigraha is the fifth yama, which is part of the ‘yamas’ and ‘niyamas’. The yamas and niyamas are yogic ethics and moral guidelines to live by, also known as yōgadharma.
Aparigraha is an aspect of the principle of detachment, and such concepts are common in yogic, Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain philosophy.
The concepts of aparigraha and the five yamas are mentioned in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Chapter 2, Verse 30.
The principle of aparigraha teaches that living with a sense of detachment from material things, not taking more than you need, and not over-striving to accumulate things—whether that’s knowledge, possessions, or experiences—leads to reduced suffering.
Aparigraha highlights that the consequences of greed, hoarding, and over-acquisition are emotional bonds and energetic binds that cause energetic disturbances and mental suffering.
The concept of non-possessiveness teaches us the benefits of living with simplicity, minimalism, and detachment for peace of mind.
So that we can move through the world with what we need, nothing more, and nothing less, and without attachment to the material world and its various manifestations.
Apas | Āpas [Water]
Apas (āpas in Sanskrit) is one of the five elements (pancha bhuta), and refers to the element of water. However, in the modern-day context, you’ll most likely hear water referred to as ‘jal’.
The element of water is associated with svadhisthana chakra, the sacral chakra.
Aside from the element of water, Apas is also associated with Deva Varuna, the God of the oceans and waters.
Apishuna | Apiśuna [Integrity]
Apishuna (apiśuna in Sanskrit) refers to honesty and integrity, and is regarded as one of the yogic moral codes and ethics to live by, also known as yōgadharma.³
Apishuna is also mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 16, Verses 1-3.
Archana | Arcana [Worship]
Archana (arcana in Sanskrit) is one of the nine forms, or limbs, of Bhakti yoga. Archana is translated to mean worship, devotion, praise and reverence in relation to the worship of God (or the True Self) and deities.
Archana also refers to the ritual worship of the Divine and the purification of the heart through love and devotion.
Ardha [Half]
Ardha means half and you’ll commonly find it in the name of yoga poses such as ardha matsyendrasana (half Lord of the fishes pose).
Artha [Wealth]
Artha means wealth and in some other contexts can mean purpose or aim. In the context of wealth, material gain and economic development, it is the second purushartha (purpose of life) alongside dharma, karma, and moksha.
Arti | Āratī [Devotional Ceremony]
Arti (āratī in Sanskrit) is also commonly spelt aarti. Arti is a devotional ceremony that often involves light such as diyā (puja lamps) representing illumination and offerings of incense, flowers, and elements of sound such as ghanti (handbells) and bhajans (devotional songs and chants).
Asana | Āsana [Posture]
An āsana is a yoga posture.
Each yoga posture is designed to work on the physical, mental, emotional, and energetic subtle bodies in order to allow meditation to arise (and spiritual development to occur).
Patanjali describes the ‘perfect’ asana in Chapter 2, Verse 46, of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras; “sthira sukham āsanam”.
It roughly translates to meaning that the yoga posture should be steady, stable, and comfortable.
It also means that the ‘perfect’ asana should be both firm and relaxed.
Therefore, each yoga asana should be tailored to the practitioner’s ability and personal constitution so that it is steady, stable, and comfortable for the individual practicing.
In Chapter 2, Verse 29 of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, he mentions that asana is the third limb of ashtanga yoga, also known as the eight limbs of yoga.
The eight limbs of yoga, by Patanjali, provide a framework for spiritual awakening for the yogi to model.
Final Thoughts…
This A-Z Sanskrit Glossary for modern yogis and yoga teachers is a work in progress, and over the coming year, over 200+ Sanskrit words and definitions will be added to it.
If you’re keen to learn more about yogic philosophy, but don’t know where to start, this article will provide a good foundation for common Sanskrit terminology and popular yogic concepts.
Be sure to check back in soon to learn more.
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