Yoganidra, Yoga-nidra, Yoganidrā: 16 definitions
Introduction:
Yoganidra means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, Marathi. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
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In Hinduism
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा) refers to the “mystic slumber” and is used to describe the Goddess (Devī), who incarnated as Satī, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.14. Accordingly as Brahmā narrated to Nārada:—“[...] On seeing the mother of the universe born of Vīriṇī, Dakṣa joined his palms in reverence, paid respects to her and eulogised her. [...] I bow to Thee, the bestower of benefits, Thee who art auspicious, calm, great illusion, mystic slumber (yoganidrā) and identical with the universe”.
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा).—Of Viṣṇu on the waters: His primordial form;1 his sleep at Prayāgā;2 left it for churning the ocean.3
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा) refers to “yogic sleep” and represents the particular sign associated with the Fifth Praṇava, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—The “Sūtra of the Five Praṇavas”, which is chapter fifty-four of the Kumārikākhaṇḍa, is concerned solely with aligning the praṇavas with the seats and placing them along the axis of the body. According to this sūtra, each of the Five Praṇavas has its own colour and corresponds to a state of attainment evidenced by signs of possession (āveśa) [i.e., yoganidrā, ‘yogic sleep’]. They are projected into five places along the vertical axis of the body, which, in some cases, correspond to the locations of the inner Wheels implying thereby that they mark stages in the ascent of Kuṇḍalinī through them. [...]
Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.
Yoga (school of philosophy)
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा) refers to the “yogic sleep”, according to the Amanaska Yoga treatise dealing with meditation, absorption, yogic powers and liberation.—Accordingly, as Īśvara says to Vāmadeva: “[...] The Yogin cultivates that state which arises at the end of waking and the beginning of sleep. He is surely liberated [by it]. Just as someone who has suddenly arisen from sleep becomes aware of sense objects, so the yogin wakes up from that [world of sense objects] at the end of his yogic sleep (yoganidrā-akṣaya) [in the no-mind state]. [...]”.
Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
1) Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा) refers to “Viṣṇu’s divine contemplative slumber”, as discussed in the fourteenth chapter of the Īśvarasaṃhitā (printed edition), a Pāñcarātra work in 8200 verses and 24 chapters dealing with topics such as routines of temple worship, major and minor festivals, temple-building and initiation.—Description of the chapter [pavitrotsava-ādi-vidhi]: During the four-month period [cāturmāsya] when Viṣṇu is in His divine Contemplative Slumber [yoganidrā], a “purifying ceremony” [pavitra-ārohaṇa] is done to rectify lapses of worship and morals during the preceding year (1-13). The narrator, Nārada, then states where it is to be done (14-17); [...]
2) Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा) refers to “God’s periodic slumber”, as discussed in chapter 13 (Kriyākāṇḍa) of the Pārameśvarasaṃhitā: an important Pāñcarātra text of 8700 verses followed closely by the Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam—dealing with priestly concerns such as their daily routines, occasional liturgies and expiatory services.—Description of the chapter [svāpa-śayana-utthāpana-utsava]: Sanaka asks to know certain things about God’s “sleep” (1-3). Śāṇḍilya begins by giving the symbolic story of God’s periodic yoganidrā-slumber—when it comes, and how we here on earth commemmorate that period by special observances (4-21). Chief among the things to be done in commemmoration is to observe in the temple the Lord’s slumber by symbolically putting His icon to bed—and here is included a description of the bedstead preferably to be used and the procedure for placing the Lord on it (22-86). It is during such a 4-month period that one may undertake to fulfil certain vows (86-125). At the end of the “rest” period, the Lord is wakened with a special celebration in kārtika-month. [...]
3) Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा) refers to “Viṣṇu’s sleep-like trance”, as discussed in chapter 31 of the Pauṣkarasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra text of almost 5900 verses divided into forty-three chapters presented as a frame-work dialogue between Pauṣkara and Bhagavān dealing with the esoteric meaning of maṇḍala-designs, worship routines and temple-building.—Description of the chapter [lokadharma]: After the pavitrārohaṇa-ceremonies have been taken care of, the small Viṣṇu image is to be allowed to enjoy repose [śayana] for a period of four months. How the Lord is to be attended to by the Ācārya during this period is given (1-23)-along with some injunctions relating to what the ministrants them elves may and may not do during the same period (82 ff.). At the end of two months, after remaining more or less undisturbed in His sleep-like trance [yoganidrā], the deity is gradually attended on more and more as His thoughts return to the world until, finally, He emerges [utthāna] altogether from His withdrawn state (24-28). [...]
4) Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा) refers to the “sleep of the Lord”, as discussed in chapter 1 of the Ādikāṇḍa of the Hayaśīrṣasaṃhitā.—Description of the chapter [śāstrāvatāra]: [...] Bhṛgu then relates how Śiva and Gauri asked Brahmā to tell them about the doctrines revealed to him (Brahmā) by Hayagrīva. Brahmā then tells how, when the Lord was in His yoganidrā-sleep, a beam of tejas-light was emitted from the Lord’s navel and this became a great lotus of 1000 petals. Brahmā tells how he himself appeared on this and how, while he was there chanting Vedas, he exuded sweat; this sweat fell down in two drops upon the Lord's Body. These drops became two Asura-demons who came then and took the Vedas from Brahmā. When the Lord learned of this event, He awoke from His trance and took the form of Hayaśirāḥ [Hayaśiras], and went to the nether world and recovered the Vedas and returned them to Brahmā and other Ṛṣis (5-23).
Pancaratra (पाञ्चरात्र, pāñcarātra) represents a tradition of Hinduism where Narayana is revered and worshipped. Closeley related to Vaishnavism, the Pancaratra literature includes various Agamas and tantras incorporating many Vaishnava philosophies.
In Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा) refers to both Yoga and Sleep, according to the Ciñcinīmatasārasamuccaya.—In the Amanaska, the term yoganidrā is a synonym for the no-mind state. [...] In contrast to the paucity of its occurrences in Yoga texts, yoganidrā is well attested in epic, Tantric and Pauranic literature that predates the Amanaska. [...] In Ratnākaraśānti's commentary (i.e., the Guṇavatī) on the Mahāmāyātantra, he glossed yoganidrā as follows; “Because it resembles sleep inasmuch as it is absolutely free from distraction, the sleep [of Yoganidrā] is like sleep; [thus,] Yoganidrā is both yoga and sleep”
Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.
Languages of India and abroad
Marathi-English dictionary
yōganidrā (योगनिद्रा).—f S The great sleep of Brahma during the period between the annihilation and the reproduction of the universe.
yōganidrā (योगनिद्रा).—f The great sleep of Brahma.
Marathi is an Indo-European language having over 70 million native speakers people in (predominantly) Maharashtra India. Marathi, like many other Indo-Aryan languages, evolved from early forms of Prakrit, which itself is a subset of Sanskrit, one of the most ancient languages of the world.
Sanskrit dictionary
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा).—
1) a state of half contemplation and half sleep, a state between sleep and wakefulness; i. e. light sleep; गर्भे प्रणीते देवक्या रोहिणीं योगनिद्रया (garbhe praṇīte devakyā rohiṇīṃ yoganidrayā) Bhāgavata 1. 2.15; योगनिद्रां गतस्य मम (yoganidrāṃ gatasya mama) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1; H.3.75; ब्रह्मज्ञानाभ्यसन- विधिना योगनिद्रां गतस्य (brahmajñānābhyasana- vidhinā yoganidrāṃ gatasya) Bhartṛhari 3.41.
2) particularly, the sleep of Viṣṇu at the end of a Yuga; R.1.14; 13.6.
3) Name of Durgā.
4) the great sleep of Brahmā during the period between प्रलय (pralaya) and उत्पत्ति (utpatti) of the universe.
Yoganidrā is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms yoga and nidrā (निद्रा).
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा).—f.
(-drā) 1. The sleep of Vishnu during the deluge. 2. A state of half contemplation and half sleep. 3. A goddess, a form of Durga or Vishnu'S sleep personified. E. yoga mystery, nidrā sleep.
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा).—[feminine] contemplative sleep, i.e. a state between sleeping and waking, slumber, [especially] that of Viṣṇu at the end of an age of the world.
1) Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा):—[=yoga-nidrā] [from yoga] f. ‘meditation-sleep’, a state of half med° half sleep (which admits of the full exercise of the mental powers; it is peculiar to devotees), light sleep, ([especially]) the sleep of Viṣṇu at the end of a Yuga, V°’s Sleep personified as a goddess and said to be a form of Durgā, [Mahābhārata; Raghuvaṃśa] etc.
2) [v.s. ...] ([according to] to others) the great sleep of Brahmā during the period between the annihilation and reproduction of the universe, [Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English Dictionary]
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा):—[yoga-nidrā] (drā) 1. f. Sleep of Vishnu after the end of ages; Durgā.
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा):—f. halb Contemplation, halb Schlaf; ein Zustand zwischen Schlaf und Wachen, leichter Schlaf; insbes. Viṣṇu’s Schlaf am Ende eines Yuga (auch personificirt) [Spr. 808. 5080.] seveta sādhvīṃ sukhayoganidrām [KĀM. NĪTIS. 15,44.] [Raghuvaṃśa 10,14.] [Pañcatantra 27,5. 29,24. 125,25.] [Mahābhārata.1,1218.] [Raghuvaṃśa 13,6] [?(Sāhityadarpana 340,21). Viṣṇupurāṇa 498. 500. 502. Bhāgavatapurāṇa.1,3,2.3,9,21. 11,31. 10,2,15. Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 81,49. 52. Oxforder Handschriften 16,b, Nalopākhyāna 4.] — Vgl. nidrāyoga und viṣṇuṃ nidrāmayaṃ yogaṃ praviṣṭam [Harivaṃśa 2834.]
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा):—f. halb Meditation , halb Schlaf ; ein Zustand zwischen Schlaf und Wachen , leichter Schlaf [Vikramāṅkadevacarita 18,105.] Insbes. Viṣṇu’s Schlaf am Ende eines Yuga. Wird auch personificirt.
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Nepali dictionary
Yoganidrā (योगनिद्रा):—n. 1. state between sleep and wakefulness i.e. light sleep; 2. the sleep of Vishnu at the end of a yoga;
Nepali is the primary language of the Nepalese people counting almost 20 million native speakers. The country of Nepal is situated in the Himalaya mountain range to the north of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Starts with: Yoganidralu, Yoganidrasana.
Full-text (+50): Nidrayoga, Yogatalpa, Yoganidrasana, Yogashayin, Sukhayoganidra, Nidra, Sadharmya, Nidrasadharmya, Nirvikshepa, Nirvikshepatva, Samagata, Dalavadem, Buddhayat, Nirnidra, Sambuddha, Shatadrikshakra, Vidyaraja, Mahajnana, Kalashayana, Vateshvara.
Relevant text
Search found 61 books and stories containing Yoganidra, Yoga-nidrā, Yoganidrā, Yōganidrā; (plurals include: Yoganidras, nidrās, Yoganidrās, Yōganidrās). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Brahma Samhita (Jiva Goswami commentary) (by Srila Narayana Maharaja)
Krishna Sandarbha of Jiva Goswami (by Kusakratha Prabhu)
Verse 2.2 < [Anuccheda 2]
Devi Bhagavata Purana (by Swami Vijñanananda)
Chapter 7 - On the praise of the Devī < [Book 1]
Chapter 2 - On Rudras going towards the heavens on the celestial car < [Book 3]
Chapter 22 - On the eulogising of the Devī by the Devas < [Book 5]
Praise of Goddes Yoganidra by Brahma < [Purana, Volume 9, Part 1 (1967)]
Eulogy of the Goddess by the Gods < [Purana, Volume 8, Part 1 (1966)]
The Problem of Interpretation of the Puranas < [Purana, Volume 6, Part 1 (1964)]
Chaitanya Bhagavata (by Bhumipati Dāsa)
Verse 1.12.104 < [Chapter 12 - The Lord’s Wandering Throughout Navadvīpa]
Verse 1.8.148 < [Chapter 8 - The Disappearance of Jagannātha Miśra]
Verse 2.28.44 < [Chapter 28 - The Lord’s Pastime of Accepting Sannyāsa]
Saura-purana (analytical study) (by Priyanku Chakraborty)
Part 2.4 - Vārāha-kalpa and Varāha incarnation of Brahmā < [Chapter 3 - Myths and Legends of the Saura-purāṇa]
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