Sanskrit Glossary of Yogic Terms

This Sanskrit glossary of yogic terms is designed to help yoga practitioners and students who are studying yoga, along with its allied philosophies and texts, without formal knowledge of Sanskrit. Such students may slowly acquire a functional vocabulary, but this needs to be continually expanding, not only in the number of words known, but in appreciation of the subtle ranges of meaning and interconnectedness between the words. This glossary is intended to help achieve this understanding.

How to find a word: In this edition, therefore, the alphabetical order is the one used in English (Roman script) rather than that of Sanskrit (Devanagari) script), so it is easier for English speakers to find a word. However, to show connections between words, they are arranged in family groups. A parent word may have several derivatives indented (alphabetically) underneath it before the major alphabetical listing resumes. This grouping is followed except where the families are too big (the ‘Pra’ family, for example) or the relationship ambivalent or ambiguous; in such cases the family grouping has been dropped.