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Perfect Health
Sanskrit Glossary Terms - PH Enrichment Program
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Agni | Digestive fire; our ability to take in food and experience in all its forms, break it down, use what is needed, and eliminate what is not useful |
| Ahankara | The “I maker”; refers to the ego, individuality, and the awareness of “I” and “mine” |
| Ama | Toxic residue that can accumulate in the mind-body physiology and interfere with our natural state of health |
| Asthi | Bones and cartilage |
| Buddhi | An aspect of consciousness that gives us the power to discern between what is true and false, real and unreal, transient and eternal |
| Chakra | An energy center in our subtle body; chakras govern the transformation of the subtle energy of consciousness into physical energy |
| Dhatus | Tissues |
| Gandha | Smell |
| Garbha Utpadana | Reproduction |
| Kosha | Sheath or layer of existence |
| Majja | Bone marrow and nerve tissue |
| Malas | Waste Products |
| Mamsa | Muscles |
| Manas | The mind that receives and coordinates sensory impressions from the outside world |
| Medas | Fat or adipose tissue |
| Mutra | Urine |
| Nadi | A subtle channel through which energy flows |
| Nirama | A state in which agni is strong and the body is free of ama |
| Ojas | Subtlest life essence, which exists at the junction of consciousness and matter, giving strength and vitality; the healthiest byproduct of the digestion of food and sensory experiences |
| Prana | Vital life force |
| Rakta | Red blood cells |
| Rasa | Plasma and lymph; the flavor of an experience |
| Rupa | Sight |
| Shukra | Reproductive tissue (both male and female); Sanskrit name for the planet Venus |
| Sparsha | Touch |
| Srota | Channel of circulation in the body |
| Sthula Sharira | The outer body, which encompasses the physical structures of the organs, organ systems, bones, muscles, tissues, tendons, and ligaments |
| Sveda | Sweat |
| Sukshma Sharira | The subtle body that is just below the physical body and includes the mind, emotions, and sensory organs; the subtle body governs the way we assimilate our experiences |
| Tanmatras | The five subtle sensory potentials that are the basis for the five senses, the five corresponding sensory organs, the five organs of action, and the five elements |
| Alochaka Pitta | One of the five subdoshas of Pitta. Located in the eyes; governs sense of sight and perception; also governs inner vision , outlook, and ability to experience light, clarity, and understanding |
| Chakshur Vaisheshika | Form of alochaka pitta. Governs visual perception |
| Buddhir Vaisheshika | Form of alochaka pitta. Allows us to interpret and remember what we see |
| Apana Vayu | One of the five subdoshas of Vata. Located in the colon, pelvic cavity, and pelvic organs; governs elimination of wastes, menstruation, and sexual function |
| Avalambhaka Kapha | One of the five subdoshas of Kapha. Located in the thoracic area, including the heart, lungs, respiratory tract, spine, and lower back; strengthens the chest, heart, lungs, and back; lubricates the lungs as well as heart and throat |
| Bhrajaka Pitta | One of the five subdoshas of Pitta. Located in the skin; regulates absorption of heat, sunlight, and everything else that our skin comes in contact with; also maintains blood flow, body temperature and controls sweat glands, allowing dispersion of heat |
| Bodhaka Kapha | One of the five subdoshas of Kapha. Located in the mouth, tongue, and salivary glands; keeps the oral cavity moist; allows us to perceive taste; liquefies food for digestion; protects the mouth against acidity, inflammation, and dental cavities |
| Dosha | Mind-body principle that governs our physical, emotional, and mental characteristics |
| Vata | Dosha responsible for movement and change (elements: space and air) |
| Pitta | Dosha responsible for transformation and metabolism (elements: fire and water) |
| Kapha | Dosha responsible for protection, structure (elements: earth and water) |
| Kledaka Kapha | One of the five subdoshas of Kapha; located in the stomach, stomach lining, and small intestine; keeps the stomach lining (mucus membrane) moist and supple; responsible for moistening food so that it can move easily through the digestive tract |
| Pachaka Pitta | One of the five subdoshas of Pitta; located in the small intestine and lower part of stomach; regulates digestive heat; responsible for digesting food and separating nutrients from waste products; secretes digestive enzymes |
| Prakruti | Essential nature or mind-body type; in Sankhya, prakruti is the intrinsic impulse to create or shape the universe; also called pradhana |
| Prana Vayu | One of the five subdoshas of Vata; located in brain, lungs, heart, throat, tongue, nose, and ears; enables inhalation; governs the ingestion of impressions through the five senses; and is responsible for our ability to think, reason, and feel |
| Ranjaka Pitta | One of the five subdoshas of Pitta; located in the liver, spleen, and red blood cells; governs the production of red blood cells; balances blood chemistry; distributes nutrients throughout the body via the bloodstream; helps detoxify the body |
| Sadhaka Pitta | One of the five subdoshas of Pitta; located in the brain and heart; responsible for the digestion of ideas, sensory impressions, and thoughts; governs memory, learning, understanding, discernment, and the heart’s emotional qualities |
| Samana Vayu | One of the five Vata subdoshas; located in the stomach, large/small intestines, liver, pancreas, spleen; kindles agni and governs digestion, secretes digestive enzymes, controls the rhythm of peristalsis, converts intelligence of food into consciousness |
| Sleshaka Kapha | One of five Kapha subdoshas; located in every joint in the body as synovial fluid, allowing for ease of movement, strength, and stability; nourishes the bones, ligaments, cartilage, and skin |
| Subdosha | Secondary regulating energy; resides in different locations throughout the body and governs specific physical, mental, and emotional functions |
| Tarpaka Kapha | One of the five subdoshas of Kapha; located in the brain, spinal cord,heart; protects the brain, spinal cord, nervous system; nourishes the nerve tissues; lubricates the nose, mouth, eyes, brain cells; nourishes and maintains the spinal fluid |
| Tridoshic | A person who has equal amounts of all three doshas |
| Udana Vayu | One of the five Vata subdoshas; located in the throat, diaphragm, and lungs; enables exhalation, which allows the release of toxins and stress while energizing and strengthening the bodymind; governs speech and memory, recall, and the movement of thought |
| Vikruti | Current state of doshic balance or imbalance in our body-mind |
| Vyana Vayu | One of the five subdoshas of Vata; centered in the heart and distributed throughout the body via the nervous system, skin, circulatory system; governs circulatory system, heart rhythm, peripheral circulation, is the seat of consciousness and love |
| Akasha | Space; one of the five mahabhutas |
| Bhuta | Element |
| Jala | Water; one of the five mahabhutas |
| Mahabhutas | The five great elements or building blocks that make up everything in the physical universe: space, air, fire, water, and earth. The mahabhutas are also the five qualities of nature. |
| Pancha Mahabhutas | The five elements |
| Prithivi | Earth; one of the five mahabhutas |
| Tejas | Fire; one of the five mahabhutas |
| Vayu | “Winds” or air; one of the five mahabhutas |
| Ajwan | Oregano; herb that balances Samana Vayu and Apana Vayu; strengthens Pachaka Pitta |
| Amalaki | Commonly known as Indian gooseberry or amla, amalaki is considered one of the most powerful rejuvenating herbs in Ayurveda and is one of the richest natural sources of potent antioxidants; reduces Pachaka Pitta |
| Amla | Herb that reduces Pachaka Pitta |
| Arjuna | Herb that balances Vyana Vayu |
| Ashtak | Herb that balances Samana Vayu |
| Bibhitaki | Herb that balances Avalambaka Kapha |
| Brahmi | Herb that balances Prana Vayu and Tarpaka Kapha; also known as gotu kola |
| Brahmi Vacha | Calamus; herb that balances Tarpaka Kapha |
| Cardamom | Herb that strengthens Bodhaka Kapha |
| Chandana | Herb that balances Bhrajaka Pitta |
| Chilies | Fruit that strengthens Pachaka Pitta |
| Chitrak | Herb that strengthens Pachaka Pitta |
| Cinnamon | Spice that balances Avalambaka Kapha |
| Coriander | Herb that balances Samana Vayu and Kledaka |
| Cumin | Herb that balances Samana Vayu and Kledaka |
| Fennel | Herb that balances Kledaka Kapha |
| Garlic | Herb that strengthens Pachaka Pitta |
| Ginger | herb that strengthens Pachaka Pitta and Bodhaka Kapha; balances Avalambaka Kapha and Kledaka Kapha |
| Ginger Powder | herb that balances Tarpaka Kapha and reduces Sleshaka Kapha |
| Gokshura | Herb that balances Vyana Vayu; also known as tribulus terrestris |
| Guduchi | Herb that reduces Pachaka Pitta |
| Guggulu | Herb that reduces Sleshaka Kapha |
| Haritaki | Herb that balances Apana Vayu |
| Hing | Herb that balances Samana Vayu |
| Jatamansi | Nervine tonic that balances Tarpaka Kapha |
| Licorice | Balances Udana Vayu and Avalambaka Kapha; reduces Pachaka Pitta and Bodhaka Kapha; increases Sleshaka Kapha |
| Manjishta | Herb that balances Bhrajaka Pitta |
| Pippali | Herb that balances Kledaka Kapha |
| Punarnava | Herb that reduces Sleshaka Kapha |
| Rasanjana | Herb that balances Alochaka Pitta |
| Red sandalwood | Herb that balances Bhrajaka Pitta |
| Sandalwood oil | Essential oil that balances Sadhaka Pitta |
| Shankha bhasma | Seashell powder; reduces Pachaka Pitta |
| Soma | Special herbal healing mixtures of the early Vedic era |
| Trikatu | Herb that strengthens Pachaka Pitta |
| Triphala | Ayurvedic herbal formula consisting of three fruits (amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki) used to enhance energy, digestion, immunity, and vitality; a potent antioxidant; balances Apana Vayu and Alochaka Pitta |
| Tulsi | Herb that balances Prana Vayu; also known as holy basil |
| Turmeric | Herb that balances Bhrajaka Pitta, Ranjaka Pitta, and Kledaka Kapha |
| Abhyanga | Ayurvedic oil massage |
| Anulom vilom | An alternate-nostril breathing technique that balances the branches of the autonomic nervous system and the two hemispheres of the brain |
| Asana | Physical postures of yoga |
| Gandharva Veda | Vedic science of using sound, music, and melodies to cultivate physical and emotional well-being |
| Hatha yoga | Traditionally refers to the practice of physical yoga postures; hatha is now commonly used to describe gentle, basic classes in which the focus is on individual poses rather than on flowing from pose to pose with breath-based movements |
| Kitchari | A cleansing and detoxifying meal traditionally made with split mung beans and basmati rice |
| Nadi shodhana | A pranayama practice that purifies the channels of the body |
| Nasya | Herbal nasal medication |
| Neti pot | Container used to cleanse the nose with warm, salty water |
| Panchakarma | Purifying therapies |
| Pranayama | Breathing exercises; breathing consciously to expand awareness and restore balance in the mind-body system |
| Rasayana | “Rebuilding the body.” In a detox program, rasayana is the rejuvenation phase that takes place after the active cleanse, in which we use various herbs and practices to rebuild the bodily tissues and facilitate the body’s self-repair mechanisms. |
| Aham | Sanskrit term that means “I am” |
| Amritanam | Immortality |
| Atharva Veda | The main source of information about Ayurveda. The Atharva Veda provides supplementary mantras for a variety of purposes, including health and psychological well-being |
| Atman Brahman | The universal ground state of being |
| Avyakta | Consciousness, the silent field of pure potentiality, also known as purusha |
| Ayurveda | One of the world’s oldest systems of natural medicine, originating in the region of India thousands of years ago. Ayurveda means “the science of life” (ayur = life, veda = science or knowledge). |
| Dhanvantari | In the Vedic tradition, Lord Dhanvantari is considered to be the god or divine founder of Ayurveda |
| Dharana | Control of the mind; mastery and expression of attention and intention |
| Dhyana | Meditation; the development of witnessing awareness |
| Eight limbs of yoga | In the Yoga Sutras, the sage Patanjali describes the eight limbs or branches of yoga, which are a roadmap for moving from ordinary states of awareness to higher consciousness. |
| Yamas | One of the eight limbs of yoga; rules of conduct; spontaneous evolutionary behavior of conscious beings |
| Niyamas | One of the eight limbs of yoga; rules of personal behavior; the internal dialogue of conscious beings |
| Asana | One of the eight limbs of yoga; physical postures; mind-body integration |
| Pranayama | One of the eight limbs of yoga; breathing exercises; breathing consciously to expand awareness and restore balance in the mind-body system |
| Pratyahara | One of the eight limbs of yoga; control of the senses; tuning into our subtle sensory experiences |
| Dharana | One of the eight limbs of yoga; control of the mind; mastery and expression of attention and intention |
| Dhyana | One of the eight limbs of yoga; meditation; the development of witnessing awareness |
| Samadhi | One of the eight limbs of yoga; absorption; the state of being settled in pure, unbounded awareness |
| Jiva | The individual ground state of being |
| Jyotish | A Sanskrit term that means “science of light,” Jyotish is a profound and mathematically sophisticated form of astrology originating in the ancient Vedic traditions |
| Karana Sharira | The innermost body or the non-changing self, sometimes known as Atman |
| Mahat | The organizing intelligence of the universe |
| Mantra | A sound or vibration that we can repeat silently to ourselves in meditation to experience inner quiet and expanded awareness |
| Niyama | Rules of personal behavior; the internal dialogue of conscious beings |
| Om | The primordial, universal sound |
| Pradhana | Prakruti, also called “primal matter” or “first substance” |
| Pratyahara | Control of the senses; tuning into our subtle sensory experiences |
| Puja | An act of honoring an aspect of the divine through invocations, prayers, songs, and other rituals |
| Purusha | Consciousness, the silent field of pure potentiality, or avyakta |
| Rig Veda | A collection of sacred hymns and essential mantras that is one of the four sacred texts comprising the Vedas |
| Samadhi | Absorption; the state of being settled in pure, unbounded awareness |
| Sama Veda | A collection of Vedic chants used to heal and harmonize the bodymind; also known as “the book of song” |
| Sankhya | Vedic philosophy that posits 24 elemental principles or building blocks of existence; the Sanskrit term sankhya means “number” or “numerical” |
| Sanskrit | One of the world’s oldest Indo-European languages. The language of Ayurveda includes many Sanskrit terms |
| Sat Chit Ananda | Existence, awareness, and being |
| So Hum | Ancient mantra used in meditation that is often translated to “I am that” |
| Sthapatya | Vedic science of designing homes and other buildings in a way that promotes a sense of inner happiness and harmony |
| Tantra | A spiritual approach focusing on awakening to the divine nature of all existence |
| Upanishads | Sacred Hindu texts, dealing with the knowledge of the true self, or pure consciousness |
| Vedas | A collection of ancient Sanskrit texts that includes the Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda. The Vedas contain knowledge about how the universe functions and practical information on how to live our lives. |
| Vedanta | One of six Hindu schools of philosophy; the Sanskrit term means “the end of the Vedas” |
| Vedic | Relating to the Vedas |
| Vyakarana | A Sanskrit term that means “analysis” or “explanation”; vyakarana refers to the Vedic field of language analysis, including grammar and linguistic conventions |
| Yagya | In the Vedic tradition, an offering or ritual that usually includes prayers, chanting mantras, and lighting a fire for purification |
| Yajur Veda | "Science of action”; develops the insights of the rishis into rituals or transformative actions, such as the practice of yoga and the support of health and longevity |
| Yama | Rules of conduct; spontaneous evolutionary behavior of conscious beings |
| Yantra | A symbolic representation of the creative forces of the universe; used as meditative tool |
| Yoga | The union of the mind, body, and spirit as one continuum of consciousness |
| Ashtanga Hridaya | A renowned text by Vagbhatta of Sindh that takes the teachings of Charaka and Sushruta and puts them into a concise form for easy learning |
| Bhagavad Gita | Hindu epic depicting the story of a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna that takes place on a battlefield |
| Charaka Samhita | One of the oldest authentic texts on Ayurveda, covering a range of topics in Ayurvedic internal medicine, including physiology, disease, herbal formulations, detoxification, panchakarma, and rejuvenation therapies |
| Hatha Yoga Pradipika | A fifteenth-century Sanskrit manual on hatha yoga whose title means Light on Hatha Yoga; written by the yogic sage, Svatmarama |
| Madhava Nidana | A classic Ayurvedic text written by the great sage Madhava |
| Sankhya Karika | The central Sankhya text, compiled by Ishvara Krishna sometime around 200 CE |
| Sushruta Samhita | Ayurvedic text that focuses on disease prevention and the theory and practice of surgery, including surgical procedures, cleaning and disinfecting surgical instruments, and anesthesia |
| Yoga Sutras | A handbook for enlightenment attributed to Patanjali, a Vedic sage said to have lived somewhere between 400 BCE and 300 CE |
| Agada Tantra | The branch of Ayurveda that deals with toxicology |
| Bhrajaka | To shine or to create radiance |
| Bhutavidya | Ayurvedic psychology |
| Drava | Liquid, fluid |
| Guna | Attribute or quality; Sanskrit word meaning “that which binds” |
| Guru | Heavy |
| Jivaka | The Buddha’s personal physician |
| Jivana | Joy in living |
| Kapila | Sage who founded, Sankhya, one of six classical schools of Indian philosophy in the sixth or seventh century BCE |
| Kathina | Hard |
| Kaumara Bhritya | Pediatrics branch of Ayurveda |
| Kaya Chikitsa | Internal medicine branch of Ayurveda |
| Khara | Rough |
| Laghu | Light |
| Maha | Great |
| Manda | Dull |
| Mridu | Soft |
| Nagarjuna | Great sage, siddha, and Buddhist Ayurvedic figure who became known as the “Medicine Buddha” (c. 150–250 CE) |
| Namaste | Derives from the Sanskrit language and means “I bow to you”; more commonly translates to “the divine light in me honors the divine light in you,” the recognition that we are all equal and share a common divinity |
| Neti, Neti | Sanskrit expression that means “neither this nor that”; the practice of letting go of attachment to temporary identities (titles, possessions, or relationships) so that we can experience our true self, which is pure, unbounded consciousness |
| Pachaka | To cook; to digest; to transform |
| Pancha | Five |
| Picchila | Cloudy, slimy, sticky |
| Prasama Hum | Mantra that means “My essential nature is calmness, ease, and tranquility” |
| Prinana | Pleasure |
| Purna | Fullness and contentment |
| Rajas | The guna, or principle, of maintenance and action |
| Ranja | To color; to dye |
| Rishi | India’s ancient sages |
| Ruksha | Dry |
| Samanya | The Ayurvedic principle of “like increases like” |
| Sandra | Dense, solid |
| Sara | Mobile |
| Sattva | The guna, or principle, of creativity and intelligence |
| Shabda | Sound |
| Shalakya Tantra | The branch of Ayurveda that addresses head and neck diseases |
| Shalya | The surgical branch of Ayurveda |
| Sheetah | Cold |
| Shlakshna | Smooth |
| Sneha | Oily |
| Snigdha | Oily |
| Sthira | Stable, slow |
| Sthula | Gross |
| Sukshma | Subtle |
| Sushruta | The surgical field of Ayurveda |
| Tamas | The principle of dissolution and destruction |
| Tattvas | 24 cosmic principles |
| Tikshna | Sharp, penetrating |
| Ushna | Hot |
| Vajikarana | The branch of Ayurveda that addresses fertility issues |
| Vishada | Clear |
| Vishesha | The principle that opposites decrease each other |
| Purisha | Stool |
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