Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga

Mithila

Moha

Moksa.

Mrdu.

Mrta •

Mudha

Mudita

Mudra

Mukha

Mukta

Mukti

Mula

Miila-bandha

Muladhara­

chakra

Mundakopanisad...

Nachiketa

Nada

Niidf.

Glossary 5Z5

The capital of the kingdom of Videha, ruled by King

Janaka.

Delusion, infatuation.

Liberation, final emancipation of the soul from

recurring births.

Soft, gentle, mild.

Dead, a corpse.

Perplexed, confounded, foolish, dull, stupid.

Joy, delight.

A seal: a sealing posture.

Face.

Liberated.

Release, liberation, final absolution of the soul from

the chain of birth and death.

The root, base.

A posture where the body from the anus to the navel

is contracted and lifted up and towards the spine.

Nervous plexus situated in the pelvis above the anus

at the base or root of the spine, the main support

of the body.

Name of an Upanishad dealing with the mystic

syllable Awil.

Name of the seeker and one of the principal char­

acters in the Katho.. panisad.. His father Vajasravas

wanted to give away all his possessions so as to

acquire religious merit. Nachiketa felt puzzled and

asked his father again and again: 'To whom will you

give me?' His father said: 'I give you to Yama (the

god of Death).' Nachiketa went down to the realm of

Death and obtained three boons, the last of which

was the knowledge of the secret of life after death.

Yama tried to divert Nachiketa from obtaining his

wish by offering the greatest earthly pleasures, but

Nachiketa was not swayed from his purpose and

ultimately Yama gave him the knowledge desired.

Inner mystical sound.

A tubular organ of the subtle body through which

energy flows. It consists of three layers, one inside

the other, like insulation of an electric wire. The

innermost layer is called the 'sira' and the middle

layer 'daman'i'. The entire organ as well as the outer

layer is called 'na<;ti'.