Sanscrit Glossary: m

The ‘great’ Bandha.

The ‘great’ Mudra.

The ‘great’ void.

The ritual embracing of unconditional, emotional, mental, physical and spiritual union through lingam, yoni and heart.

Friendliness. A cultivation of the feeling of (selfless) love for all beings.

‘Mind’ referring to the lower or instinctive mind. Faculty of doubt and volition. Seat of desire and governor of sensory and motor organs. Also termed as the undisciplined, empirical mind. One of the four parts that make up the human ‘mind’ itself (Manas, Chitta, Ahamkara and Buddhi).

A visual device used for aiding meditation.

‘City of jewels’ Chakra. Center in the diaphragm region; element of fire.

Deep state of meditation.

One of the five inner layers or sheaths corresponding to the mind.

Incantation; psychic sound. A special phrase repeated silently or out loud as an aid to meditation. Also the ideal inaudible sounds that make up one aspect of the universe.

Drinking of wine; symbolises the ‘flow of nectar from the moon’.

Regarded as the founder of Hatha Yoga, and mythologically said to have been transformed from a fish having overheard and memorized every word of Shiva’s teachings on Yoga to his consort Parvati.

The delusive projections of the human mind, which distort and obscure direct perception of reality.

The mountain supporting the world; symbolises Sushumna.

Liberation from delusion and suffering.

Root.

A most important technique of Hatha Yoga, Kundalini Yoga and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, by which the anatomical body is stabilised, the nervous system is balanced, the pranic body is harmonised and the Kundalini is awakened.

The base Chakra deep inside the pelvis, stimulated by Moolabandha, which is the seat of the mystical, esoteric, spiritual force of Kundalini; element of earth.

A gesture, used to recirculate energy and focus the mind.