sensual objects; withdrawal of the mind, mental detachment from the external world
prishta = back
Punakeesar (Punnakeesar) = one of the Siddhars, a guru of Machamuni (also referred to as
Matsyendra)
pungu = Telugu word for “wounded”
purna = complete
purva = eastern
purvottana = intense stretch of the front side of the body
R
raja = king, royal
raja yoga (raja-yoga) = royal yoga; a term generally applied to the three higher limbs of Ashtanga
Yoga, that is dharana, dhyana, and samadhi; the royal road to self-realization through the control
of the mind. The achievement of union with the Supreme Universal Spirit by becoming the ruler of
one’s own mind by defeating its enemies, sighting the soul through a restraint of consciousness
raja-kapota (rajakapota) = king pigeon
Ramayana = literally, Rama’s way; a famous ancient epic (itihasa) authored by Sage Valmiki that
describes the life of Rama, an avatar of Lord Vishnu
Rig Veda = literally “Knowledge of Praise,” it consists of 1,028 hymns and is the oldest known
reference to yoga and possibly the oldest known text in the world
rishi = a Vedic seer, a liberated sage or saint, one who through suspension of the mind can see to the
bottom of his heart
Ruchika (Richika, Ruschika) = name of a Hindu sage, dedicated to the grandfather of an incarnation of
Vishnu
S
sa = with
sahaja = easy, natural
sahasrara chakra = energy center situated at the crown of the head, the thousand-petaled lotus in the
cerebral cavity, the most important seventh chakra which, when uncoiled, brings the seeker to
freedom
St. Brighid = known for establishing numerous monasteries
sakti = power
salamba = with support
sama = same, equal, even, upright
samadhi = “putting together”: the ecstatic or state in which the mediator becomes one with the object
of meditation, forgetting him/herself completely (the Supreme Spirit pervading the universe) where
there is a feeling of unutterable joy and peace, absorption, ecstasy, enlightenment, self-realization;
the state of meditation in which ego disappears and all becomes one; a state of absolute bliss; the
eighth limb or stage of Ashtanga Yoga
samadhi yoga = yoga of absorption
samastiti = a state of balance