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Vairagya
Dispassion; detachment.
Vaisheshika
One of the six systems of Indian thought or ‘Darshanams’ belonging to the ‘Astik’ schools, accepting the authority of the Vedas, contrary to the three ‘Nastik’ schools. Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, Vedanta, Yoga and Samkhya forming the ‘Astik’ schools, while Buddhism, Jainism and Charvak form the ‘Nastik’ schools.
Vajroli
A subtle, tantric technique for transforming sexual energy. One of the ten Mudras in which the semen is controlled and reabsorbed into the body.
Vasishtha
Great Rishi (seer of the Vedas) and teacher of Yoga.
Vayu
Lit. Wind; organic Prana which circulates in the human body and regulates the body functions. (Prana Vayu, Apana Vayu, Samana Vayu, Udana Vayu and Vyana Vayu).
Vedas
The four most ancient sacred revered scriptures originating in ancient India. The oldest scriptural texts of Hinduism, also known as Sanatan Dharma (‘eternal law’). The Vedas are known as Shruti (‘what is heard’) not being composed by humans, but supposed to have been directly revealed to the Rishis, Saints and Sages of old times. A large corpus of texts believed to contain the entire wisdom of the universe.
Vicara
Reflection; deliberation. Also good (rational) thinking, ideas and notions.
Videha Mukti
Lit. ‘liberation without the body’. Liberation attained by a person after death; disembodied Yogi.
Vidya
Ultimate wisdom.
Vijnana Bikshu
Another commentator of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras who wrote the Yogasara Sangraha.
Vikalpa
Fancy; imagination.
Vikshepa
Fickleness; tossing or distraction of the mind.
Vinyasa
Setting out and returning again, the principle of connectivity, fluidity.
Viparyaya
Wrong or false knowledge; misconception.
Vishnaivaites
Worshippers of Lord Vishnu.
Vishnu
The lord of continuity, stability. The unconquerable preserver. The second god of the Hindu trinity.
Vishnu Granthi
One of the three knots (of ignorance) that Kundalini must pierce on the way up from Mooladhara to Sahasrara Chakra. These knots also help to prevent a premature ascent of the Kundalini Shakti – when we are in no way ready for certain insights or higher truths.
Vishudda Chakra
The throat center. Element of space or ether. 5th main Chakra.
Vitarka
Reasoning; argumentation; cogitation. Also (without reasoning or rationality) evil thinking, thoughts and notions.
Vivekakhyati
Discriminative knowledge or awareness.
Vritti
Derived from the verb root ‘Vrt’, which means to behave and also ‘to revolve in a circular motion’; pattern or circular patterns of consciousness; functional modifications.
Vyadhi
Disease.
Vyana Vayu
One of the five internal ‘winds’ (Vayus), currents or organic Prana inside our body, that regulate the body’s energies and bodily functions.
Vyasa
One of the best known commentators of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras who wrote the Yogabhasya.