The Yogic Encyclopedia

The sixth chakra or highest spinal center. The center of consciousness of enlightened beings.

The fourth chakra or heart center. Expresses as love, for either the divine or the material world.

Spirit or soul. The Supreme Self that is immortal and ever-changeless.

Aum (ॐ) is the vibration by which the Supreme Spirit brings all things into manifestation. It is the Holy Ghost of the Christian Trinity. Paramhansa Yogananda has explained that everything — all matter, all energy, all thoughts — exists in Aum. All major religions recognize this creative vibration, though they call it by different names. For example, the Bible calls … Read More

The fifth chakra or throat center. Controls the voice and speech, and allows one to break through the veils of delusion.

The student stage of life. The first of four ashrams or stages of life in Hindu philosophy.

A person who knows God; a priest. One of the four Hindu castes.

Intellect; discernment. One of the four aspects of consciousness.

System of four true castes or “races” of man. Based not on birth but on man’s natural capacities and goals of life.

Literally means “wheel”. Refers to centers of energy in the astral spine.

The blessing which flows from the mere sight of a saint.

A period of one kalpa or a thousand mahayugas during which creation is manifested.

One-pointed concentration, fixing one’ s full attention on one place, object, or idea at a time. It is the sixth limb, or requirement, to attain full Self-realization as outlined in the Yoga Sutras attributed to the sage Patanjali.

Absorption; union. It is the seventh limb, or requirement, to attain full Self-realization as outlined in the Yoga Sutras attributed to the sage Patanjali, who says that it is “concentration on higher aspects of reality.”

The householder stage of life. The second of four ashrams or stages of life in Hindu philosophy.

Union with the Divine through wisdom or knowledge of the Divine. It is also sometimes referred to as the path of discrimination.

On either side of the (astral or energetic, not physical) spine there is an energetic nerve channel, or nadi : ida on the left and pingala on the right. Energy automatically moves up the ida nadi, and down the pingala nadi, along with the breath. When prana, or energy, travels upward through the ida nadi, the breath is automatically drawn … Read More

One who is inwardly free while living in this world.

A 2,400-year age of darkness during which consciousness is limited to gross matter.

Sheath. That which encloses the pure consciousness of Spirit in its material manifestations.

A person who surrenders his ego consciousness to God; a warrior or nobleman. One of the four Hindu castes.

Energy at the base of the spine. Can be awakened for true spiritual unfoldment in aspirants.

Spiritually, the force of God to attract and Satan to repel.

The perceiving mind. One of the four aspects of consciousness. Also known as mon.

The third chakra or lumbar center. Expresses as anger or fiery self-control.

Potent vibratory chant. The literal translation of Sanskrit mantra is “instrument of thought,” signifying the ideal, inaudible sounds which represent one aspect of creation; when vocalized as syllables, a mantra constitutes a universal terminology. The infinite powers of sound derive from AUM, the “Word” or creative hum of the Cosmic Motor.

Complete silence; the spiritual practice of perpetual silence.

The perceiving mind, which shows us an image as it appears to us through the senses; the mind alone, however, cannot qualify or define that image. Centered at the top of the head.

The first chakra or coccyx center. Supports an attitude of either perseverance or stubbornness.

A period of one kalpa or a thousand mahayugas during which creation is unmanifested.

Action without desire for the fruits of action that allows one to gradually and ultimately free oneself from the bondage of karma.

A supremely free soul that has been liberated from the actions committed by his soul in delusion during all incarnations.

Taken by one who wishes to make a greater commitment to God.

On either side of the (astral or energetic, not physical) spine there is an energetic nerve channel, or nadi : ida on the left and pingala on the right. Energy automatically moves up the ida nadi, and down the pingala nadi, along with the breath. When apana, or downward-moving energy, travels down through the pingala nadi, its movement is related … Read More

Pranayama definition: Pranayama (prana = energy + yama = control) is a type of meditation technique that involves various ways of controlling the breathing, with the goal being to withdraw ones senses from the outside world. This helps one to raise one’s prana (or Kundalini energy in this case) up the deep spine to the spiritual eye or sixth chakra, … Read More

Pratyahara is the withdrawing of the mind and senses from the objects of the senses. It is the fifth limb, or requirement, to attain full Self-realization as outlined in the Yoga Sutras attributed to the sage Patanjali.

The positive principle of the universe.

The activating element of nature. That which represents movement between the two opposing sides of duality.

A holy man; one who is deeply devoted to the spiritual search.

The seventh chakra or crown center. The center at which one attains liberation.

Perfect union of the individualized soul with infinite spirit. A state of oneness; complete absorption.

The outward play of maya or delusion. The world of delusion in which we all live.

Association, especially of spiritual practitioners.

The stage of complete renunciation. One of the four ashrams or stages of life in Hindu philosophy.

Wholesome and uplifting company. Good company, especially on the spiritual path.

The elevating quality of nature. That which lifts the soul toward divinity.

A monastic order in relation to Ananda communities. Membership is comprised of single people as well as householders.

The feminine aspect of nature known as Cosmic Vibration.

A perfected being who has worked out all past karma and freed himself from entanglement in the world of maya.

In its root form smriti means “memory” or “remembrance.” In spiritual terms, it is the or memory of our soul nature — thus it also means “divine memory.” Smriti is referred to in the Bible, which says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring … Read More

A person at the lowest stage of consciousness; a peasant. Sudra is one of the four Hindu castes.

Heightened awareness; true wisdom.

The deep (astral or energetic, not physical) spine, through which Kundalini energy rises as a person advances spiritually. Generally, energy is not rising in the sushumna, but going outward through the senses. However, when one redirects this energy through pranayama techniques, it rises us through the sushumna to the spiritual eye, giving enlightenment. Kriya Yoga, a technique made popular by … Read More

The second chakra or sacral center. Controls sexual energy and creativity.

The darkening quality of nature. That which obscures the underlying unity of life.

The state beyond deep, dreamless sleep, in which the superconscious becomes overtly active.

A person characterized by cleverness, creativity, and selfish motivations; a merchant. One of the four Hindu castes.

The stage of partial retirement from worldly life. The third of four ashrams or stages of life in Hindu philosophy.

One of the three main systems of Indian thought, which describes the nature of Brahman or divine consciousness.

The preserving aspect of the cosmic vibration AUM. Also the personification of this aspect.

Vortex, eddy, whirlpool. Cyclical movements of energy in the spine.

A sacrificial rite or performance of duty. It should be offered with devotion, without any desire for personal gain, and with firm belief in its rightness. Traditional yagas in Vedic culture were offerings of food, money, or cows for milk. They also were performed according to instructions written in Vedic scriptures. They were accompanied by other rituals such as prayers, … Read More