Home/Glossary
Sanskrit and Vraj philosophical terms used across the Vachanamrut, Shikshapatri, and Bhaktachintamani, sourced verbatim from Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Bhuj-Kutch's own published Vachanamrut glossary appendix — not written by us.
28 resultsfor “yog” · clear
- abhishek
- The pujã performed by bathing Bhagvãn with five items: milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey, and sugar.
- ãsan
- 1) Seat. A sitting posture in yog. 2) Third step of ashtãng-yog, which involves physical exercises of postures to promote concentration.
- ashtakon
- An octagon. A chihn on Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn’s right foot. Performing dhyãn on this chihn grants a bhakta the fruits of ashtãng-yog. He also attains Akshardhãm, which is beyond the eight barriers.
- ashtãng-yog
- The practice of focusing and quieting the fluctuations of the mind through various physical and mental practices, and ultimately aiming for the yog, the union with Bhagvãn. The eight progressive steps of ashtãng-yog are: yam (restraint), niyam (observance), ãsan (seat or
- chakra
- 1) A razor-bladed disc. One of Bhagvãn’s weapons. Also called sudarshan chakra. 2) Wheel. According to yogic practices, chakras are centres of spiritual power and consciousness located within the inner body. The six chakras are: ãgnã, vishuddh, anãhat, manipur, svãdhisthãn, ãdhãr. Each chakra has its corresponding location and dev.
- dhãrnã
- Concentration. The sixth step of ashtãng-yog, which involves focusing the mind to guide the flow of consciousness.
- dhyãn
- Meditation. The seventh step of ashtãng-yog, which involves sustaining a concentrated state where the mind is clear and calm.
- Gopãl Yogi
- A yogi Nilkanth Brahmachari met performing tap under a banyan tree during His forest wanderings (van vicharan). He stayed with Gopal Yogi for twelve months and learned the practice of ashtang-yog from him.
- gorakh-ãsan
- An ãsan to protect the indriyas. Specific yogic ãsan or sitting posture where a person sits with both heels tucked into the groin, the toes folded under the buttocks, and the large toes held by the hands from behind the back. Considered to help in preventing the ejaculation of semen, and therefore helping in the observance of brahm-chãrya. Also known as goraksh-ãsan or bhadrãsan.
- jal-basti
- Flushing with water. A strict yogic practice to help cleanse the inner parts of the body, which in turn helps in the observance of brahm-chãrya. The practice involves standing in waist-high water and drawing in water through the anus, swirling the water around the stomach, and then discharging it again through the anus. Another version of the practice involves drawing in water through
- karma-yogi
- A person is striving for karma-yog (yog through activities). Term used for a grahastha bhakta who has not renounced his/her worldly duties completely – as opposed to a sãnkhya-yogi – but is nevertheless sincerely striving for yog or kalyãn. Refers to the many grahasthas in the time of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn who chose to totally commit and dedicate their lives to satsang.
- kunjar-kriyã
- Elephant act. A strict yogic practice to help cleanse the inner parts of the body - which in turn helps in the observance of brahm-chãrya. The practice involves drinking a considerable amount of water, swirling it around the stomach, and then discharging it out again through the mouth.
- nirãvaran drashti
- The ability to see everywhere, like a siddh or yogi.
- nirvikalp samãdhi
- 1) Highest state of realisation, in which a person sees only Bhagvãn – no doubts or distinctions remain. [Gadhadã I – 39]. 2) The eighth and final stage of ashtãng-yog.
- niyam
- 1) Moral and spiritual disciplines and religious codes of conduct prescribed by Bhagvãn or the shãstras, to protect a bhakta on the path to Bhagvãn. Niyams may relate to either dharma or bhakti. Niyams keep the bhakta fit to travel closer to Bhagvãn and ultimately earn the grace of Bhagvãn. Disobeying niyams causes the bhakta to fall from the path of Bhagvãn. Basic niyams for bhaktas are outlined in the Shikshãpatri. 2) The second step of ashtãng-yog, which involves the observance of religious practices and code of dharma for the control and refinement of the mind.
- panch-amrut
- Nectar of five. A mixture of five items, used in pujãs and abhishek.: milk, yoghurt, ghee, honey, and sugar.
- prãnãyãm
- Controlling the prãns. Fourth step of ashtãng-yog, which involves controlling of prãns through breathing exercises leading to the calming of the chitt in preparation for concentration.
- pratyãhãr
- Withdrawal of sensory inputs into the physical body, that enters through the five sense organs. The fifth step of ashtãng-yog.
- samãdhi
- 1) Trance. A spiritual experience, usually of Bhagvãn or His dhãm, in which consciousness of the body and surroundings is lost. 2) Eighth and final step of ashtãng-yog. Spiritual experience of union with Bhagvãn, which is the highest level of yog.
- sãnkhya-yogi
- A yogi who has abandoned activities. Term used for a bhakta who has abandoned his/her worldly duties – as opposed to a karma-yogi – and is sincerely striving for kalyãn. Refers to a tyãgi who is totally dedicated and committed to satsang. In the time of Swãminãrãyan Bhagvãn, many widows and widowers chose to become sãnkhya-yogis after their spouse passed away. They dedicated their lives to Bhagvãn rather than any other family members. Often refers to female tyãgis.
- Siddh
- A yogi.
- siddh-dashã
- Elevated state. No differentiation is made between objects and pleasant and unpleasant vishays. Attained by those who have become yogis. A person with siddh-dashã has the ability to see for thousands of miles while remaining in one place, and hear talks from thousands of miles away, and he has the ability to obtain any object with his own hands, even from other loks.
- yam
- Restraint. First step of ashtãng-yog, which involves moral living for purity of mind and unobstructed concentration.
- yog
- The philosophy of focusing and quieting the fluctuations
- yog-samãdhi
- Samãdhi attained as a result of perform yog.
- yog-yagna
- When a person performs a sãttvik yagna by withdrawing the ten indriyas and the mind (the eleventh indriya) from whichever vishays they have become attached to, and then offers them into the brahm-agni. By continuously making these offerings, Bhagvãn incarnates Himself with the brahm-svarup self of the person who performs a yoga- yagna, just as Bhagvãn grants darshan to the performer of a yagna. This is the reward of the yog-yagna.
- yogi
- 1) A person who has mastered the art of yog. 2) A person who has attained siddh-dashã and other extraordinary powers.
- yogic
- That which is of a yog or yogi. [Vadtãl – 4].