Sanskrit 101: The Most Frequent Sanskrit Phrases And Their Meanings

Sanskrit 101: The Most Frequent Sanskrit Phrases And Their Meanings

Whether or not or not or not or not you attend yoga classes at a studio or observe on-line, you’ve higher than probably encountered some phrases that don’t sound English. It is on account of an historic Indian language generally called Sanskrit was traditionally used contained within the observe of yoga, and some of those phrases are nonetheless used as we converse.

Everytime you’ve fallen in love with yoga and its unbelievable benefits, finding out some Sanskrit phrases will help you greater understand what you is likely to be doing in your mat and why. Don’t concern; you don’t need to be taught a model new language to get most actually perhaps most likely probably the most out of your observe. Listed below are most actually a extremely extremely efficient yoga phrases every yogi ought to know.

The Historic Language Of Sanskrit

Sanskrit is an historic language that originates contained within the Indian subcontinent among the many many many many Hindu custom-made. It is the oldest of all of the Indo-European languages and has influenced many additional moderen Indian languages. Some people take into accounts that Sanskrit was the first language of the universe on account of it was the language used contained within the earliest accepted scriptures of the human race; the Vedas.

Sanskrit was the predominant language in India until all by way of the thirteenth century. Within the interim, it is primarily utilized in Hindu prayers, rituals, and Buddhist chants. 

The Hyperlink Between Sanskrit And Yoga

Sanskrit 101: The Most Frequent Sanskrit Phrases And Their Meanings

Sanskrit appears in yoga as the same old yogic texts, paying homage to Pantajali’s Yoga Sutras, had been written on this language. Although these texts have now been translated into English, using yoga’s Sanskrit roots is an integral part of preserving the same old observe of yoga.

Moreover, along with staying true to yoga’s roots, it is believed that Sanskrit phrases have potent religious vitality and can stimulate the vitality suppliers inside us (generally called the chakras). It is on account of each letter of the Sanskrit alphabet carries extreme vibrational sound top quality and each Sanskrit phrase has its private inherent sound and therapeutic properties. As a consequence of this reality, by the utilization of Sanskrit terminology, we’ll advance alongside the path of yoga whereas staying true to its roots.

8 Sanskrit Phrases Every Yogi Desires To Know

Let’s start with among the many many many commonest Sanskrit phrases you will have most undoubtedly already heard.

Yoga

On account of yoga is now a worldwide phenomenon, many people do not launch that yoga is a Sanskrit phrase. The phrase yoga interprets as “to yoke” nonetheless is finest described as “to unite” or “to hitch.” This union refers as soon as extra to the turning proper right into a member of of the ideas, physique, and spirit the observe evokes.

Yoga moreover refers as soon as extra to the union between the precise particular person self and the divine. By the use of yoga, we uncover that we aren’t separate individuals nonetheless part of the frequent vitality. As a consequence of this reality, this well-known Sanskrit phrase represents the frequent connection between individuals, nature, and god.

Asana

Asana is one situation you do quite a few events in a yoga class. The Sanskrit phrase Asana means posture or yoga pose, nonetheless the literal translation is “seat.” That’s why a great deal of the Sanskrit names of many yoga poses end in asana, paying homage to Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold), Utkatasana (Chair Pose), and Dhanurasana (Bow Pose).

AsanaAsana

Hatha

Everytime you take a look on the schedule of any yoga studio, you’ll seemingly see a bunch of Sanskrit phrases for the class names. It is on account of the observe of yoga has totally totally utterly completely different lineages, which is likely to be what all people is conscious of as we converse as yoga varieties.

Hatha yoga is probably going thought of one among many oldest and most acknowledged yoga varieties. The Sanskrit phrase Hatha means {photograph} voltaic and moon (Ha: {photograph} voltaic, Tha: moon). Thus, the goal of Hatha Yoga is to steadiness the opposing forces (energies) contained within the physique to hold you into full harmony.

Vinyasa

Vinyasa is a technique of yoga categorized as flowing from one posture to the next and can counsel the transition between asanas. The English translation of vinyasa is “in a specific methodology,” which in vinyasa yoga refers as soon as extra to the place of the poses.

Vinyasa means to hyperlink yoga poses collectively in a specific methodology. That’s with the breath, as you typically inhale into one pose, then exhale into the next.

Ashtanga

The yoga type and lineage Ashtanga means “the eightfold path.” To interrupt the Sanskrit phrase down: Ashta means eight, and Anga means organ or physique half. Nonetheless, it is not about using eight totally totally utterly completely different physique parts like in Muay Thai’s “art work work of eight limbs.” Instead, the eightfold path in Ashtanga yoga refers as soon as extra to the eight selections of yoga observe, along with asana, meditation, and respiratory methods.

Shanti

Shanti is a broadly recognized Sanskrit chant, usually chanted 3 occasions after the phrase Om. Shanti means peace, and chanting this Sanskrit phrase invokes peace and the most effective of struggling for all dwelling elements.

ShantiShanti

Chakra

The Sanskrit phrase Chakra interprets to “wheel” nonetheless refers as soon as extra to the energetic suppliers in our delicate our our our our bodies, which spin clockwise like wheels. We cannot see this vitality, nonetheless after we observe yoga, we work to open and cleanse the seven chakras so that we will experience the constructive qualities of each one and alter alongside our religious path.

Prana

Prana means “life stress,” much like the Chinese language language language language phrase Chi (moreover spelled qi). The literal translation is “life wind,” referring to the air we breathe. With out air, there is not a life, so prana refers as soon as extra to the vital act of respiratory that sustains life and the vitality that flows by the use of every dwelling drawback.

PranaPrana

12 Sanskrit Phrases To Improve Your Yoga Apply

By understanding the which suggests behind these Sanskrit phrases, you’ll be able to take your yoga observe to a a whole lot deeper stage.

Bandha

The Sanskrit phrase Bandha means “bond” or “bind” and refers to three energetic locks utilized in yoga to lock vital vitality. The three bandhas are the Jalandhara bandha, which happens when you tuck the chin to the chest, the Uddiyana bandha, which occurs when you contract the abdomen into the rib cage, and the Mula Bandha (contraction of the perineum).

Drishti

Drishti refers to imaginative and prescient and sight and is the principle goal in a yoga pose. Each asana has a specific Drishti; that is maybe to lookup, down, straight ahead, or to a specific physique half. As an example, in standing balances, your Drishti must be straight ahead on some extent that isn’t transferring.

Drishti is more likely to be utilized in meditation, usually on the tip of your nostril or between the eyebrows. In yoga and meditation, Drishti helps you widespread your ideas and focus.

Mudra

Mudra means “seal” and is the Sanskrit phrase for a symbolic hand gesture used for channeling vitality motion. Each mudra has a specific intention and distinctive qualities. Principally perhaps most likely probably the most acknowledged mudra in yoga is the Gyan mudra, the place you be a part of the index finger to the thumb.

mudramudra

Mantra

A mantra is a chant of a specific Sanskrit phrase or group of phrases. Whilst you chant sacred phrases or phrases, you experience their terribly atmosphere pleasant vibration. Chanting mantras moreover helps to clear your ideas and focus your vitality ahead of yoga or meditation observe. Some mantras require a specific rhythm or repetition to evoke the religious vitality it holds.

Pranayama

Pranayama comes from the inspiration phrase prana, which we talked about earlier. As prana means “life stress,” pranayama is about controlling that life stress, or in less complicated phrases, breath administration. All of us breathe repeatedly all by the day, nonetheless this is not what pranayama is. Instead, pranayama is conscious administration and route of the breath.

We’re capable of administration our breath in some methods, and each approach has a specific intention. As an example, some pranayamas are calming whereas others are energizing.

Dhyana

Dhyana is the Sanskrit phrase for meditation and is the seventh limb of the eight-limbed union taught in Ashtanga yoga and the yoga sutras. Dhyana refers as soon as extra to the union of the ideas, physique, and soul you experience with inside peace and self-awareness.

DhyanaDhyana

Tantra

Tantra is probably going perhaps most likely probably the most misinterpreted phrases in Sanskrit. The Sanskrit phrase Tantra interprets to “loom” or “weave” and is a metaphorical time interval for a approach quite a few yogic teachings are woven into one self-discipline. It moreover refers to a specific tutorial textual content material materials supplies launched as a dialogue between a god and a goddess.

Kundalini

Kundalini means “coiled vitality” or “coil of vitality”. The kundalini yoga lineage believes that every one of us have serpent vitality (the sort of a coil) sitting dormant on the underside of our spine (the Muladhara chakra). The practices of kundalini yoga help awaken that stress and produce it up by the use of the spine to the crown of the head, the place one will attain enlightenment.

Kriya

The commonest translation for the Sanskrit phrase Kriya is “completed movement,” nonetheless it’d even be described as a deed or effort. The muse “Kri” means to create; thus, Kriya refers as soon as extra to the very best outcomes of that creation or movement.

In kundalini yoga, a kriya is a specific cleansing approach, paying homage to a sort of breathwork. The outcomes of a Kundalini kriya is to spice up consciousness and advance alongside your religious journey.

KriyaKriya

Nadi

Nadi means “energetic channel” or a tube the place vitality runs by the use of the physique. In yogic teachings, there are three Nadis inside us; the Ida Nadi (left channel), the Sushumna Nadi (central channel), and the Pingala Nadi (applicable channel).

Agni

All by way of the Sanskrit language, Agni means fireside, coming from the fireside god in Hindu mythology. This Hindu god is alleged to be the fireside of the {photograph} voltaic, lightning, and the house and sacrificial hearth.

In yoga and Ayurveda, Agni refers as soon as extra to the fragile pranic stress of the fireside aspect now now we’ve got now inside ourselves. Particular yoga postures, respiratory methods, and meals can dampen or improve the Agni inside us.

Samadhi

Samadhi is the Sanskrit phrase for religious enlightenment and the final phrase of the eight limbs of yoga. As shortly as we pay cash for Samadhi, we attain a state of full union and, thus, pay cash for the objective of yoga. It is a state of transcendence, ecstasy, and bliss.

SamadhiSamadhi

8 Sanskrit Phrases To Deepen Your Yoga Data Further

Have you ever ever ever ever been educating yoga for a while and are intrigued about what’s earlier the poses? In that case, these Sanskrit phrases will improve your yogic information significantly.

Dharma

Dharma is a stupendous Sanskrit phrase for objective. The phrase’s root means “to hold or to help” and is fastidiously linked to the thought of obligation. Thus, dharma refers to our distinctive objective in life and the exact lifestyle we should at all times at all times regulate to.

Karma

Karma is a extensively acknowledged phrase to clarify the implications of our actions. It represents the religious regulation of set off and have an effect on and the best way through which whereby we’re solely answerable for what happens to us. According to the regulation of Karma, what happens to a person happens as a consequence of their earlier actions.

Maya

Maya is the elemental Hindu thought of illusion. It refers as soon as extra to the formless god’s vitality (AKA the ideas) to make individuals take into accounts in what’s merely not actual and implies that the world we perceive by the use of our senses is inaccurate. It is on account of the human ideas constructs a subjective experience of the world, which is not the final phrase actuality.

MayaMaya

Ananda

The Sanskrit phrase Ananda means bliss, which in keeping with yogic and Hindu philosophy, is among the many biggest state of being. All by way of the historic Indian textual content material materials supplies, the Upanishads, Ananda is an attribute of Brahman’s supreme being. This state is expert when you attain the final word phrase objective of yoga, enlightenment, and the most effective of the rebirth cycle.

Bhakti

The English translation of Bhakti is unfaltering devotion. It means loyalty or faith that is absolute and with out question. Bhakti yoga is the yoga of devotion, one among many oldest forms of yoga. In Bhakti yoga, the objective of reaching enlightenment is through worship and entails chanting and devotional singing.

Jnana

The Sanskrit phrase Jnana comes from one utterly completely different of the oldest yoga varieties. Jnana means religious information, knowledge, or deep understanding. In Jnana yoga, it is believed that you just merely pay cash for union with the divine by gaining information inseparable out of your full experience of actuality.

JnanaJnana

Svadhyaya

Svadhyaya is probably going thought of one among many 5 Niyamas acknowledged contained within the yoga sutras by Indian sage Patanjali. Svadhyaya refers to self-study and gaining self-awareness. In modern-day events, Svadhyaya is the interior work and personal development we do to larger understand ourselves, break free from our limiting beliefs, and launch the constraints of the ego.

Tapas

Everytime you envision small plates of delicious Mediterranean meals when you hear Tapas, you’ll be shocked to take heed to that moreover it’s a Sanskrit phrase. Tapas means self-discipline and is one utterly completely different of the 5 Niyamas. Tapas is the interval of heat attained by the use of exercising self-discipline. This vitality can then be used to know religious vitality or purification.

Sanskrit Wall Decors To Hold In Your Home

You perhaps can faucet into the terribly atmosphere pleasant qualities of Sanskrit phrases by speaking, chanting, or displaying them in your own home as wall art work work. Listed below are three engaging Sanskrit phrases and mantras which may add a contact of spirituality to your dwelling space.

Om Lotus Wall ArtOm Lotus Wall Art

12” Om Lotus Wall Work | 12” Diameter – 1/8” Thick | Wooden Wall Work, Crystal Grid, Chakras,…

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Om (or Aum) is more likely to be perhaps most likely probably the most usually chanted Sanskrit phrase. It is typically chanted firstly or end of a yoga class. There’s no such issue as a such situation as a direct English translation for this phrase as Om, nonetheless it primarily means “the distinctive sound,” on account of it’s believed Om was the first sound to be created contained within the universe and the one from which all totally utterly completely different sounds come.

So why can we chant it whereas educating yoga? On account of historic yogis believed that chanting om creates a sturdy vibration that helps you faucet into frequent vitality. Hanging this Om wall decor in your own home will remind you of your connection to the divine.

NamasteNamaste

Zen Decor, Namaste Wall Decor, Buddha Wall Work – 8×10 Poster Print for Yoga Meditation Room, Spa…

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You solely should attend various yoga classes to take heed to the well-known Sanskrit phrase Namaste. Many yoga lecturers end their packages by bringing their palms into the prayer place and saying Namaste to their school school school college students. Nonetheless what does Namaste counsel?

The literal translation of Namaste is “I bow to you.” Breaking down this Sanskrit phrase, Nama means bow, As means I, and Te means you. Nonetheless, one amongst Namaste’s hottest and good interpretations is “The divine in me honors the divine in you.” As a consequence of this reality, it’s more likely to be a greeting, a farewell, or solely a approach of exhibiting love and respect.

Namaste comes from the inspiration phrase Namaskar, the usual Indian gesture of respect, accompanied by palms in a prayer place and a slight bow. This Namaste wall poster alternatives all the interpretation of this terribly atmosphere pleasant phrase and a stupendous Hamsa Hand Mandala design.

Gayatri Mantra PlaqueGayatri Mantra Plaque

ExclusiveLane Terracotta Gayatri Mantra Wall Décor for Home | Spiritual/Spiritual Wall/Door Hanging…

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The Gayatri Mantra is probably going thought of one among many oldest and most potent Sanskrit mantras. It is believed that chanting this mantra will enhance finding out vitality and focus and brings prosperity. By hanging this terracotta Gayatri Mantra plaque in your wall, you perhaps will pay cash for the qualities of this mantra all day prolonged.

The mantra interprets to “O Divine mother, may your pure divine delicate illuminate all realms (bodily, psychological, and non secular) of our being. Please expel any darkness from our hearts and bestow upon us the true information.”

Remaining Concepts On Sanskrit Phrases

By finding out these Sanskrit phrases, you’ll not solely know what your yoga coach is saying all through class, nonetheless you’ll moreover understand the observe on a deeper stage.

Do it’s a must to want to boost your Sanskrit information additional, you perhaps can search a non secular coach who’s well-rehearsed in Sanskrit which can current you discover ways to be taught the becoming pronunciation. I moreover advocate finding out The Cambridge Introduction to Sanskrit, a complete nonetheless accessible Sanskrit information for all ranges.

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