Glossary of Sanskrit Terms

Ama: Toxins produced by undigested food. It manifests as a coating on the tongue. Ama is not eliminated in the normal digestive process and remains in the system. Over time it becomes a thick slimy substance which gets trapped in the joints lines the arteries where there is inflammation as cholesterol and forms plaques on the brain interfering with near transmission. Anuloma Viloma: Alternate nostril breathing. There is a thin membrane between the base of the brain and the nasal passage, therefore anuloma viloma is effective in bringing prana (Air) to the brain. The right nos-tril is heating (sun) brings prana to the left brain. The left nostril is cooling (Moon) brings prana to the right brain. There are many different ways to practice but the most common to breath in to a count of four and exhale to a count of eight. Twelve rounds are the most common.

Anuloma Viloma: Alternate nostril breathing. There is a thin membrane between the base of the brain and the nasal passage, therefore anuloma viloma is effective in bringing prana (Air) to the brain. The right nos-tril is heating (sun) brings prana to the left brain. The left nostril is cooling (Moon) brings prana to the right brain. There are many different ways to practice but the most common to breath in to a count of four and exhale to a count of eight. Twelve rounds are the most common.

Aparigraha (Yamas):
Non-stealing. This goes beyond the meaning of taking what doesn't belong to you; it means not to take what others give out to you. Often people will insult you or say things which hurt you.
Asana: Seat because originally there was only one posture. There are 176 postures described by Iyengar. Originally yoga was practiced in the form of a dance. Asanas yogic postures prepare the body and mind for long periods of meditation. There are many benefits of asana both physical and mental. Asana helps diges-tion and circulation; it balances hormones and strengthens the nervous system. It is beneficial for all ages especially in aging populations or where movement is impaired for any reason. Benefits of a complete practice done regularly are mentally and physically far reaching.
Ashtanga: Eight ashtangha Yoga is the eight limbs of yoga systemized by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras.
Bhramari Pranayama: In this practice the thumbs are placed on the tragus of the ears, little fingers on the marma points at the base of the nose at the sides of the nostrils. With the tongue to the top of the mouth a humming sound is made which creates a vibration in the head. This technique is effective for clearing Ama and stimulating the brain. Over time there is an improvement in memory, cognitive powers, clarity of thought and improvement in sleep. Moral Intelligence -ability to distinguish between right and • wrong.

Buddhi
Social Intelligence -ability to understand people around us. • Emotional Intelligence -skill which helps us to harmonize • and manage our emotions.
Spiritual Intelligence -ability to find meaning in life's experi-• ences.
Environmental Intelligence -awareness of nature • Brahmacharya (Yamas): Control of sexual energy. Literally means to move to bigger things. In other words, not to think of I am man, I am woman which can add up to illicit relationships, but to think beyond the physical to the Divine.

Chitta:
Can be compared to the hard disc of the computer, it is the bridge between the mind and soul. Chit-ta is where all life's experiences and images are kept but we are unaware of it constantly taking in and stor-ing our experiences. Kapha Dosha: one of the three dosha with the energies of the elements Earth and Water. It has the quali-ties of heaviness, cold, unctuous (Oily), stable (Stagnant), wet.
Karma: literally means action. Whatever actions we take there will be an equal and opposite re-action. "What goes around comes around" This refers in our personal lives and collectively as society.
Mahat: Cosmic Intelligence divine principle 3rd principle of evolution Manas: The sensate mind. English word "Man" comes from this word. It is the semi-conscious mind or cognitive intelligence. It is the "Outgoing mind" and its job is to get information from the outside world through the senses and to coordinate their activities with the sense organs. Manas are the general capacity for thought and the ability to consider things coming in through the senses. It is an instinctive level of mind, unable to process information only to observe it. It only explores desires such as avoiding pain and seeking pleasure at the level of the senses. As long as we operate at this level we are merely sensate creatures of habit without values; our energy and thoughts will be directed outward.
Marma therapy: Treatment which can be compared to acupressure in Chinese medicine. Marma points are where the nadis are close to the surface and can be influenced by pressure. Similar to meridians in as Chinese medicine Nadi Shodhana pranayama: There is a thin membrane between the base of the brain and the nasal pas-sage nadi shodhana is very effective in bringing prana (Air) to the brain. The right nostril is heating (Sun) brings prana to the left brain. The left nostril is cooling (moon) brings prana to the right brain. There are many different ways to practice but the most common is to breathe in to a count of four and exhale to a count of eight. Twelve rounds are the most common.
Nasya: A Sprocedure in pancha karma to clear kapha from the nasal passages including the sinuses. It can be done daily using a nettie pot and water with a small amount of salt and then nourish the tissues with oil or ghee.

Ohm:
The primordial sound of creation and a powerful mantra. The sound is in three phases, "Ahh" in the lower chest "Uhh" in the upper chest and "Mmm" in the nasal cavity. The sound lasts through the breath. Sanskrit is the language of mantra and evolved from sounds of the universe and of nature. They are effec-tive because they appeal to our spiritual self. It may be construed that other languages can be substituted but they will only appeal to the mind and not to the true self.

Ojas:
The pure essence of our being and represents our immunity, stamina, feeling of well-being and vitali-ty. In digestion, food nourishes seven layers of tissues. At each level of digestion, there is a waste product until it nourishes the seventh layer, reproductive tissue where the product is "Ojas" There is said to be eight drops in the heart and death occurs when all are used by the body. When Ojas are depleted, we feel run-down, exhausted lacking in energy and depressed.
Pancha Karma (PK): Literally means five actions which are enema (Vasti) for Vata pacification, purga-tion (Verechena) for Pitta and vomiting (Vamana) for Kapha. Nasya is clearing of the nasal passages mainly kappa and bloodletting (Rakta Moksha) Bloodletting. PK is a systematic, ayurvedic detoxification procedure. It is a long, involved process to be done correctly and is prescribed according to the condition of the patient. Therefore, diagnosis is critical. The goal in PK is to detoxify all of the tissues and bring all cells to a normal functioning state.

Pancha Mahubutas:
The five elements of ether (Space) air, fire, water and earth.
Patanjali: A spiritual leader of 1000 BCE who wrote the yoga sutras or threads to enlightenment he de-vised the eight limbs of yoga.
Pitta: one of the three dosha and is the energy of fire and water. It has the qualities of hot, dry, mobile and gross Prajnaparadha: Literally means "Failure of wisdom" or misuse of intelligence. It is the misuse of buddhi. Prajnaparadha is the root cause of all disease, this is when we only use the outward function of buddhi misusing the body and senses for our own selfish desires.
Prakriti: Literally means "true nature". In the cosmos it is the base substance of the Universe. In the body it is the true characteristic of the body and is in two states. One never changes and is what we are born with and comes from the prakriti of our parents. The other changes throughout life, throughout the day and in the seasons. It can be aggravated by diet and lifestyle.
Prana: Life force coming into the body through the breath it is the energy which makes us gasp for air when we hold the breath Pranayama: Increases prana in the body and mind. It balances the doshas in a positive manner, increases the digestive fire and helps to remove toxins. On a mental level it increases sattva and reduces rajas and tamas. As we get older and less able to do yogic practices and are generally less active, pranayama be-comes more important as it doesn't require a particular space; it can be done in a chair, anywhere and at any time.
Pratyahara: withdrawal of the senses, daily practice of silence except for sounds of nature. Listening to the silence within brings us inner peace and joy. Withdrawal of the senses is probably the most difficult practice of the eight limbs and is the first of inner yoga. In today's world there is "Sensory overload" Tele-phones, short bites of information, an emphasis on the physical and sexual aspects of our being and con-stant barrage of visual images. Everything which comes into the mind is food and has a positive or nega-tive effect. The mind is constantly stimulated, is it any wonder that one of the biggest health issues today is dementia, mental illness, depression and Alzheimer's.
Pritvi: Earth element. It is Heavy Stable, Hard, Tough.

Purusha: Source of consciousness.
Raktamoksha: Bloodletting is a process in pancha karma where there is vitiated blood usually from infec-tion. Leaches are often used especially in India or by making a small incision and draining the blood from the site.
Rajas: Quality of action in the mind.

Sadhana: Daily spiritual practises.
Samadhi: Samadhi does not mean a difficult state and very few are able to achieve it. We may get a taste of it when we are completely absorbed in music or in a piece of art. Maybe we get a glimpse of it once or twice in a lifetime when it happens when we least expect it. When we are in that place of bliss there is no mistaking it that is when we realize, there is more to us than just the physical and mental self.

Samskara:
Deep-seated memories, emotions, habits attachments and impressions are all stored in the sub-conscious. Impressions on Chitta are called "Samskaras" The word scar must come from this word. Every experience leaves Samskaras on the Chitta and not all experiences are positive ones, these impressions will affect a person throughout life.

Santosha -(Niyama) contentment:
Be happy with what you have and where you are in the moment and not to complain. Complaining breeds negativity.
Sattva: Quality of purity and balance in the mind.

Satya (Yamas):
Truthfulness. Because we do not lie to ourselves, why should we lie to others.

Senses:
Hearing, related to ether or space element: Touch, related to air element: Sight, related to fire ele-ment: Taste, related to water element: Smell, related to earth element.

Shaucha(Niyamas):
Purity and refers to the cleansing of ama in ayurveda not just of the body but of the mind. Shirodhara: Shiro meaning oil dharma meaning pouring the practice of pouring oil over the head, mainly aimed at the third eye, which affects AGYA the 6th chakra Shiro Vasti: A method of immersing the skull in medicated oil daily for a period of time for several days.
Shitali Pranayama: Is when the teeth are clenched together and a deep breath is pulled in through the teeth. Alternatively, the tongue is rolled and air sucked in. This is called a cooling breath and useful to re-member when heat rises in the body. Svadhyaya (Niyama): Self-study, observe the mind and how it behaves.
Svedena: Steam bath used in pant karma to promote sweating and release of toxins through the skin.