Glossary

Sprinkling or pouring of water, milk etc. Often used in religious, yogic or ceremonial contexts, particularly in tantric rituals. A ritual of empowerment also used to denote initiation in general.

The first or fetal; primordial or embryonic, the beginning.

Lit. command wheel. The sixth of seven major energy centers of the human body. Physically, located between the eyebrows, it is also known as the  ‘third eye’.  Derives its name from the fact that it is an able receiver of  the Guru. Hence, it is also called ‘Guru-chakra’.    

Vedic ritual using the elemet of fire.

Lit. sister – a respectful way of addressing a woman, in the Tamil language. Here, it refers to a saint popularly known as Akka Mahadevi – a 12th century queen in Karnataka, who renounced everything to go in search of Shiva, her celestial husband. Akka is known for her spiritual couplets, which are revered even today as classic poetry. 

The new moon – the darkest night of the month. The planetary positions of the earth and moon have long been made use of by spiritual seekers in India to enhance their spiritual practices.   

Mother – a reverential way of addressing a woman.

Refers to temples which have feminine deities, a place of worship of Kali or Shakthi. Often used in occult practices.

The fourth chakra, known as the ‘lotus of the heart’ or the ‘heart chakra’, it has been recognized as a special locus of the sacred within the human body. Celebrated as the seat of the Divine, the center is related to emotion and love.

Bliss, unconditional joy.

Gautama’s elder cousin, who eventually became a disciple

The  innermost body or the bliss body.

Lit. the soul-less one.

A limb, or aspect of yoga

'Mardhana' means to kill – ‘anga mardhana’ means killing of the limbs of the body – the means to experience bodiless-ness.

Food-formed sheath or the gross body (sthula sharira), made up of the five gross elements or bhoothas  – earth, wind, water,  fire, ether – which are resolved again into their initial states after death

Another manifestation of Shiva, beyond duality, in the form of half man and half woman.

Hero of the great epic Mahabharatha, to whom Krishna imparted the Divine message of the Bhagavad Gita.

Lit. seat.  Generally referring to yogic postures, or postures that lead one’s energies to liberation.  One of the eight limbs of yoga.

Sacred dwelling of spiritual seekers under the guidance of a Guru, or spiritual Master.

The eight limbs, or disciplines, of yoga:  yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, and samadhi, as described by sage Patanjali.    

One with eight deformities. An ancient spiritual master par excellence. 

Indian state in the northeast region of the country.

Last of the four Vedas, that expounds the technology of using physical energy to one’s advantage.