Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga

Asmitii
Asta ..
A�fiinga Yoga
Astiivakra ..

Asteya

Asva

Asvin'i-mudrii

• 
  
  
  
  • A tmii or A tman
    Atma Satkam
  
  
  
  

Atm'iyatii

Aum

Avasthii

Avatiira

Avidyii

Avirati

Ayiima

Baddha

Bahiranga

Siidhanii

Biihya

Kumbhaka

Baka

Bali

Bandha

Glossary 5 I 5

'

Egotism.

Eight.

The eight limbs of Yoga described by Patatijali.

One whose body was crooked in eig�t places. Name

of a sage, who, though born physically deformed,

became the spiritual preceptor of King Janaka of

Mithila.

Non-stealing.

A horse.

The contraction of the anal sphincter muscles. It is

so called because it brings to the mind the image of a

horse excreting.

The Supreme Soul or Brahman. '

A group of six verses written by Sankaracharya

describing the soul in the state of Samadhi.

The feeling of oneness, as a mother's feeling for her

children.

Like the Latin word 'Omne', the Sanskrit word

'Auril' means 'all' and conveys concepts of 'Omni­

science', 'Omnipresence' and 'Omnipotence'.

State or condition of the mind.

Descent, advent or incarnation of God. There are ten

avataras of Visnu :.. Matsya (the Fish); Kiirma (the

Tortoise) ; Varaha (the Boar); Narasirilha (the Man-

lion); Vamana (the Dwarf); Parasurama; Rama (hero

of the epic Ramayat::ta) ; Krishna (hero of the epic

Mahabharata who related the Bhagavad Gi'ta);

Balarama and Kalki.

Ignorance.

Sensuality.

Length, expansion, extension. It also conveys the

idea of restraint, control and stopping.

Bound, caught, restrained, firm.

The outward quest of the soul for its Maker. The

�rst three stages of Yoga, namely, Yama, Niyama and

Asana, are the outward quest and keep the seeker in

harmony with his fellow men and nature.

Suspension of breath after full exhalation when the

lungs are completely empty.

A crane, a wading bird.

N arne of a demon king.

Bondage or fetter. It means a posture where certain