Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga

(Steven Felgate) #1

Brahmacharya
Brahman


Brahmiinda­
priir;a
Brahmarsf
Buddhi


Chakra

Chakra-bandha

Chandra
Chatur
Chidambaram

Chitta

Glossary 5 I 7


One who is constantly moving ( charin) in Brahman
(the Supreme Spirit); one who sees divinity in all.
A life of celibacy, religious study and self-restraint.
The Supreme Being, the cause of the universe, the
all-pervading spirit of the universe.
The cosmic breath.

A Brahmin sage.
Intellect, reason, discrimination, judgement.

Literally, a wheel or circle. Energy (praJ:?a) is said to
flow in the human body through three main channels
(nad'is), • namely, Susumna, • • Pingala and Ida. Susumna • •
is situated inside the spinal column. Pingala and Ida
start respectively from the right and left nostrils,
move up to the crown of the head and course down­
wards to the base of the spine. These two nac;lls
intersect with each other and also the Susumna...
These junctions of the nac;t'is are known as chakras or
the fly-wheels which regulate the body mechanism.
The important chakras are: (a) Miiladhara (miila=
root, source; adhara =support, vital part) situated in
the pelvis above the anus; (b) Svadhi��ana (sva=
vital force, soul; adhighana=seat or abode) situ­
ated above the organs of generation; (c) MaJ:?ipiiraka
(manipiira=navel) situated in the navel; (d) Manas
(mind) and (e) Siirya (the Sun), which are situated in
the region between the navel and the heart; (f)
Anahata ( _unbeaten) situated in the cardiac area;
(g) Visuddha (=pure) situated in the pharyngeal re­
gion; (h) Ajiia (= command) situated between the eye­
brows; (i) Sahasrara (= thousand), which is call�d the
thousand-petalled lotus in the cerebral cavity; and (j)
Lala�a (= forehead) which is atthe top of the forehead.
The binding or sealing posture where all the chakras
are exercised.
The moon.
The number four.
A place of pilgrimage in South India. (Chit= con­
sciousness, ambara=atmosphere or dress.) A name
of God, who covers all with His consciousness.
The mind in its total or collective sense, being com­
posedofthree categories: (a) Mind, having the faculty
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