Yogi, Yogī, Yogin: 34 definitions
Introduction:
Yogi means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, the history of ancient India, Marathi, Hindi. 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.
Images (photo gallery)
In Hinduism
Vaishnavism (Vaishava dharma)
One of the 108 names of Krishna; Meaning: "The Supreme Master"
Yogī (योगी).—A transcendentalist who practices one of the many authorized forms of yoga, or processes of spiritual purification; those who practice the eight-fold mystic yoga process to gain mystic siddhis or Paramātmā realization.
Yogī (योगी) refers to “(1) One whose heart remains connected with Śrī Bhagavān (2) One who endeavours for spiritual perfection”. (cf. Glossary page from Śrīmad-Bhagavad-Gītā).
Yogī (योगी) refers to:—One who practises the yoga system with the goal of realisation of the Supersoul or of merging into the Lord’s personal body. (cf. Glossary page from Bhajana-Rahasya).
Vaishnava (वैष्णव, vaiṣṇava) or vaishnavism (vaiṣṇavism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshipping Vishnu as the supreme Lord. Similar to the Shaktism and Shaivism traditions, Vaishnavism also developed as an individual movement, famous for its exposition of the dashavatara (‘ten avatars of Vishnu’).
Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)
Yogis are capable of taking any type of bodies due to their yogic power. A Yogi, the one who has conquered his senses establishes a link between the subject and the object during his experience, thereby knowing both the object and the subject simultaneously. An enlightened yogi continues to know the experiencer in the three lower levels of consciousness. For him, the link between the object and the subject is established by circumventing the mind, as the mind causes impressions. A yogi does not get satisfied with the intriguing bliss hence, he progresses further and further to know the One who causes this bliss. Bliss is nothing but the entry point into Rudra’s expanded cosmic energy.
Yogin (योगिन्) refers to one of the Six Āśramas, according to the Kubjikā-Nityāhnikatilaka: a 10th century text drawing from Tantras and other sources such as the Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā.—The system of the four Brahmanical Āśramas also survived practically intact during the time of the Tantric and non-Tantric manifestations of Śaivism and Vaiṣṇavism. Furthermore, the Nityāhnikatilaka (NGMPP 3384, A 41/11, fols 2r–3r), a post-tenth-century text of the Kubjikā tradition, teaches Six Āśramas mostly intended for Yogins .
Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Yogī (योगी) or Yogin represents an epithet of Śiva, according to the Śivapurāṇa 2.2.10. Accordingly as Viṣṇu said to Brahmā:—“[...] He rests and relaxes in His own soul. He is free from the pair of opposites, such as happiness and unhappiness. He is subservient to His devotees in a fine physical body. He is a Yogin [Yogī] devoted always to the practice of Yogas. He is guide to the path of Yoga”.
Yogi (योगि).—(Siddha) he who has practised brahmacarya, ahiṃsa, satya, non-stealing, and a parigraha and cultivated a sense of detachment;1 is superior to all for he performs tapas for a hundred years standing on one foot and living on air;2 dharmaśāsanam of: ahiṃsaka; walking on good roads, drinking clean and filtered water and speaking truthful words; after serving his guru for a year goes about begging alms;3 gets the dhāraṇa and tries to avoid the upasargas; must understand the seven sūkṣmas; mahisūkṣma, āpa, tejas, vāyu, vyoma, manas and buddhi sūkṣma, and the condition of these before these elements attain the sthūlabhāva; all of them inter-dependent;4 always intent on prāṇāyāma becomes one with the great being;5 the best to be fed on the occasion of the Śrāddha; superior to the feeding of a thousand householders, a hundred vānaprasthas and a thousand Brahmacārins.6
- 1) Vāyu-purāṇa 76. 28; Viṣṇu-purāṇa VI. 7. 36.
- 2) Vāyu-purāṇa 71. 73.
- 3) Ib. 16. 8-17.
- 4) Ib. 12. 9, 17.
- 5) Ib. 10. 94.
- 6) Matsya-purāṇa 13. 5; 16. 10; Vāyu-purāṇa 71. 67; Viṣṇu-purāṇa III. 15. 2 and 24.
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)
Yogin (योगिन्) or Yogibheda refers to the “modality of Yogin” and represents one of the six modalities (ṣaṭprakāra) of Kula, according to the Kularatnoddyota verse 1.30-35ab.—Accordingly, “[...] And that also, O fair lady, consisting of six authorities, is two-fold, divided into prior and subsequent. O most excellent daughter of the mountains, this Kula has six modalities, namely, Ānanda, Āvali, Prabhu and Yogin [e.g., yogin-bheda], in due order, (along with) Atīta, and the one called Pāda. Such is the Kula tradition characterized by supreme non-duality”.
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.
Pancaratra (worship of Nārāyaṇa)
Yogin (योगिन्) refers to a classification of Vaiṣṇavas (classified according to their inner spiritual quest), as discussed in the twenty-second chapter of the Jayākhyasaṃhitā: a Pāñcarātra Āgama text composed of 4500 verses in 33 chapters dealing with topics such as mantra (formulas), japa (repetitions), dhyāna (meditations), mudrā (gesticulations), nyāsa (concentrations) etc.—Description of the chapter [vaiṣṇava-ācāra]:—[...] Nārada wants to know about the attitude toward Vaiṣṇavas who become sannyāsins or yatis (1-2). [...] Other groups (presumably those who are classified not according to any external sign but rather in terms of their inner spiritual quest) are [e.g., yogins (39-41)], [...]. The Lord asks Nārada to honor all these kinds of persons. All of them, He says, are eligible to do yāgas as well as pūjās. Even their mere glance can wash away the sins of those less fortunate and endowed (57-64a).
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.
General definition (in Hinduism)
Yogi (योगि): One who practices yoga, These designations are mostly reserved for advanced practitioners. The word "yoga" itself—from the Sanskrit root yuj ("to yoke") --is generally translated as "union" or "integration" and may be understood as union with the Divine, or integration of body, mind, and spirit.
In Buddhism
Theravada (major branch of Buddhism)
M (The one who trains into the development of concentration). Person who practices satipatthana or meditation.
Theravāda is a major branch of Buddhism having the the Pali canon (tipitaka) as their canonical literature, which includes the vinaya-pitaka (monastic rules), the sutta-pitaka (Buddhist sermons) and the abhidhamma-pitaka (philosophy and psychology).
Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)
Yogin (योगिन्) refers to a group of deities summoned by the Yamāntaka-mantra and mentioned as attending the teachings in the 6th century Mañjuśrīmūlakalpa: one of the largest Kriyā Tantras devoted to Mañjuśrī (the Bodhisattva of wisdom) representing an encyclopedia of knowledge primarily concerned with ritualistic elements in Buddhism. The teachings in this text originate from Mañjuśrī and were taught to and by Buddha Śākyamuni in the presence of a large audience (including Yogin).
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.
India history and geography
Yogi (योगि) or Yogipā is another name for Jogīpā: one of the eighty-four Siddhas (Siddhācāryas) of the Sahajayāna school, according to sources such as the Varṇaratnākara of Jyotirīśvara (i.e., the Varna-Ratnakara by Jyotirishwar Thakur).—The Sahaja-Yana is a philosophical and esoteric movement of Tantric Buddhism which had enormous influence in the Indian subcontinent and the Himalayas.—Many of these Mahāsiddhas [e.g., Yogi-pā] were historical figures whose lives and mystical powers were the subject of legends. They are often associated with teachings belonging to Hinduism, Buddhism, Ajivikism and Jainism such as the Nath Tradition.
Yogin.—cf. yogīndra (SII 1) a [Jain] ascetic. Note: yogin is defined in the “Indian epigraphical glossary” as it can be found on ancient inscriptions commonly written in Sanskrit, Prakrit or Dravidian languages.
The history of India traces the identification of countries, villages, towns and other regions of India, as well as mythology, zoology, royal dynasties, rulers, tribes, local festivities and traditions and regional languages. Ancient India enjoyed religious freedom and encourages the path of Dharma, a concept common to Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
Languages of India and abroad
Pali-English dictionary
yogī : (m.) one who practices spiritual exercise.
Yogin, (adj. -n.) (fr. yoga, cp. Class. Sk. yogin) 1. (-°) applying oneself (to), working (by means of), using Vism. 70 (hattha° & patta° using the hand or the bowl; but translation p. 80: “hand-ascetic” & “bowl-ascetic”). ‹-› 2. one who devotes himself to spiritual things, an earnest student, one who shows effort (in contemplation), a philosopher, wise man. The word does not occur in the four Nikāyas. In the older verses it is nearly synonymous with muni. The oldest ref. is Th. 1, 947 (pubbake yogī “Saints of other days” Mrs. Rh. D.). frequent in Miln, e.g. pp. 2, 356 (yogi-jana); at pp. 366, 393, 404, 417, 418 in old verses. combined with yogâvacara Miln. 366, 404.—Further passages are Nett 3, 10, 61; Vism. 2, 14, 66, 71 (in verse), 150, 320, 373, 509, 620, 651, 696; DhsA. 195, 327. (Page 559)
Pali is the language of the Tipiṭaka, which is the sacred canon of Theravāda Buddhism and contains much of the Buddha’s speech. Closeley related to Sanskrit, both languages are used interchangeably between religions.
Marathi-English dictionary
yōgī (योगी).—m (S) A performer of the abstract meditation called yōga. 2 An ascetic or a devotee in general.
yōgī (योगी).—m An ascetic or a devotee.
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
Yogin (योगिन्).—a. [yuj ghinuṇ, yoga-ini vā]
1) Connected or endowed with.
2) Possessed of magical powers.
3) Endowed or provided with, possessing.
4) Practising Yoga. -m.
1) A contemplative saint, a devotee, an ascetic; आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन । सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः (ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yo'rjuna | sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ sa yogī paramo mataḥ) || Bhagavadgītā (Bombay) 6.32; see the sixth adhyāya inter alia; सेवाधर्मः परमगहनो योगिनामप्यगम्यः (sevādharmaḥ paramagahano yogināmapyagamyaḥ) Pañcatantra (Bombay) 1.285; बभूव योगी किल कार्तवीर्यः (babhūva yogī kila kārtavīryaḥ) R.6.38.
2) A magician, sorcerer.
3) A follower of the Yoga system of philosophy.
4) Name of Yājñavalkya.
5) Of Arjuna.
6) Of Viṣṇu.
7) Of Śiva.
8) Name of a mixed caste.
-nī 1 A female magician, witch, sorceress, fairy.
2) A female devotee.
3) Name of a class of female attendants on Śiva or Durgā; बलीनदात् योगिनीभ्यो दिक्पालेभ्योऽप्यनेकधा (balīnadāt yoginībhyo dikpālebhyo'pyanekadhā) Śiva B. 6.51; (they are usually said to be eight). -4 Name of Durgā.
Yogin (योगिन्).—mfn. (-gī-ginī-gi) 1. Who or what joins, or effects junction or connection, &c. 2. Possessed of superhuman powers. m. (-gī) 1. A devotee, an ascetic in general. 2. The religious or devout man, who performs worldly actions and ceremonies without regard to their results, and keeps his mind fixed upon Brahma or God alone. 3. The performer of the particular act of meditation called Yoga. 4. A magician, a conjuror, one supposed to have obtained supernatural powers. f. (-nī) Name of the eight female fiend or spirit attendant on, and created by Durga; E. yoga as above, ini aff.; or yuj to join, aff. ghinuṇ .
Yogin (योगिन्).—i. e. yoga + in, I. adj., f. nī. 1. Being united, or endowed with, Bhāṣāp. 27. 2. Who or what joins. 3. Possessed of superhuman power. Ii. m. 1. A performer of the religious meditation called Yoga, [Bhagavadgītā, (ed. Schlegel.)] 6, 10. 2. An ascetic, [Pañcatantra] i. [distich] 333. 3. One who has acquired supernatural power, [Hitopadeśa] ii. [distich] 26. 4. A magician, [Pañcatantra] 240, 12; [Lassen, Anthologia Sanskritica.] 4, 9. Iii. f. nī, A female fiend.
Yogin (योगिन्).—[adjective] united or connected with, relating to (—°); [masculine] a Yogin, a follower of the Yoga system ([feminine] nī), a devotee or ascetic i.[grammar]; [feminine] nī also a kind of witch or female demon.
Yogin (योगिन्) as mentioned in Aufrecht’s Catalogus Catalogorum:—a title of Yājñavalkya. Oxf. 266^b.
1) Yogi (योगि):—[from yoga] 1. yogi (mc.) = yogin (only in [genitive case] [plural] yogīnām).
2) [v.s. ...] 2. yogi in [compound] for yogin.
1) Yogin (योगिन्):—[from yoga] mfn. joined or connected with, relating to, accompanied by, possessed of ([compound]), [Kātyāyana-śrauta-sūtra; Mahābhārata; Harivaṃśa]
2) [v.s. ...] being in conjunction with (e.g. candra-y), [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
3) [v.s. ...] possessed of superhuman powers, [Horace H. Wilson]
4) [v.s. ...] m. a follower of the Yoga system, a Yogin (usually called Yogī) or contemplative saint, devotee, ascetic, [Maitrī-upaniṣad; Bhagavad-gītā] etc. (cf. [Religious Thought and Life in India 87])
5) [v.s. ...] a magician, conjurer, [Horace H. Wilson]
6) [v.s. ...] a [particular] mixed caste, [Catalogue(s)] ([varia lectio] yuṅgin)
7) [v.s. ...] an orange tree, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
8) [v.s. ...] natron, alkali, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) [v.s. ...] Name of Yājñavalkya, [Catalogue(s)]
10) [v.s. ...] of Arjuna, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
11) [v.s. ...] of Viṣṇu, [Mahābhārata]
12) [v.s. ...] of Śiva, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
13) [v.s. ...] of a Buddha, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
Yogin (योगिन्):—[(gī-ginī-gi)] 1. m. 3. f. Yogī, a devotee who attends to abstract meditation. f. A fairy.
Yogi (योगि):—, gen. pl. yogīnām aus metrischen Rücksichten st. yoginām [Mahābhārata 13,916.] [Mārkāṇḍeyapurāṇa 111,2.] [Oxforder Handschriften 236,a, No. 567] (hier hätte auch yoginām gepasst).
Yogi (योगि):—im Gen. Pl. yogīnām metrisch und ungrammatisch st. yoginām.
Yogin (योगिन्):——
1) Adj. — a) am Ende eines Comp.) — α) verbunden mit. — β) in Conjunction stehend. mit. — γ) zusammenhängend mit , in Beziehung stehend zu. — b) dem Yoga obliegend Frau. —
2) m. a) Bez. — α) Yājñavalkya's. — β) Arjuna's. — γ) Viṣṇu’s — δ) Śiva's. — ε) eines Buddha. — b) eine best. Mischlingskaste. —
3) f. nī — a) ein best. mit Zauberkraft ausgestattetes weibliches Wesen , Fee , Hexe (im Gefolge Śiva’s und der Durgā) Es werden deren 64 angenommen , ihre Namen [Hemādri’s Caturvargacintāmaṇi 2,a,93.fgg.] — b) Beiname der Durgā. — c) eine best. Śakti bei den Tāntrika. — d) bei den Buddhisten ein Frauenzimmer , welches die von Jmd verehrte Göttin darstellt.
Yogin (योगिन्) in the Sanskrit language is related to the Prakrit word: Joi.
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.
Hindi dictionary
Yogī (योगी):—(nm) one who practises [yoga], an ascetic; hence [yogīnī] feminine form.
...
Kannada-English dictionary
Yōgi (ಯೋಗಿ):—
1) [noun] a follower of the Yoga system.
2) [noun] a contemplative saint, ascetic.
3) [noun] a Śaiva mendicant.
4) [noun] a man who practices sorcery, black magic; a sorcerer.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
Nepali dictionary
1) Yogī (योगी):—adj. combined; joined;
2) Yogī (योगी):—n. 1. a saint; a devotee; an ascetic; 2. male who practices some form of yoga; a follower of the yoga system of philosophy;
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)
Partial matches (+0): The, The, Yogi, Te.
Starts with (+12): Path of yoga, Yogibhatta, Yogibheda, Yogic, Yogic achievement, Yogic posture, Yogic practice, Yogic sleep, Yogicitta, Yogidanda, Yogihridaya, Yogimarga, Yogimatri, Yoginidra, Yogipa, Yogipada, Yogipatni, Yogipratyaksha, Yogiraj, Yogirupa.
Full-text (+3094): Shivayogin, Upayogin, Yogishvara, Ayogin, Yogayogin, Pratiyogi, Yogita, Yogiraj, Karmayogin, Kuyogin, Yoginidra, Layayogi, Sarvayogin, Mahayogin, Yogitva, Rajayogi, Yogasana, Padmasana, Pattayogi, Candrayogin.
Relevant text
Search found 357 books and stories containing Yogi, The yogin, The yogi, Yogī, Yōgī, Yōgi, Yogins; (plurals include: Yogis, The yogins, The yogis, Yogīs, Yōgīs, Yōgis, Yoginses). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Markandeya Purana (Study) (by Chandamita Bhattacharya)
2. Various Processes of Yoga Practice < [Chapter 4]
7. The Sacred Syllable ‘OM’ < [Chapter 4]
Rules and restrictions of Śrāddha < [Chapter 3]
The concept of Yoga in Yoga Upanishads (by Philomina T.L)
14. The Nature and Characteristics of Yoga < [Chapter 4 - The contents of the Yogopaniṣads]
4.4. The Concepts of Jīvanmukta and Videhamukta < [Chapter 5 - Textual Analysis]
3. The Classifications of Yoga < [Chapter 4 - The contents of the Yogopaniṣads]
Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja’s Rajamartanda) (by Rajendralala Mitra)
Sūtra 2.46 < [Second Chapter (Sadhana Pada)]
Sūtra 3.51 < [Third Chapter (Vibhuti Pada)]
Bhagavata Purana (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 15 - The Super-normal Powers Attained by Yoga < [Book 11 - Eleventh Skandha]
Chapter 2 - Liberation by the Yogic Path: Instantaneous and Gradual Liberation < [Book 2 - Second Skandha]
Chapter 6 - Ṛṣabha quits His body < [Book 5 - Fifth Skandha]
Narada Purana (English translation) (by G. V. Tagare)
Chapter 47 - Exposition of the way to realize the soul < [Part 2 - Pūrva-bhāga: Dvitīya-pāda]
Chapter 44 - A Discourse on Meditation (dhyāna) < [Part 2 - Pūrva-bhāga: Dvitīya-pāda]
Chapter 33 - A Discourse on Yoga < [Part 1 - Pūrva-bhāga: Prathama-pāda]
Yogatattva Upanishad (translation and study) (by Sujata Jena)
Chapter 2b - English translation of the Yogatattva Upanishad
Part 2 - Practice of Mudra (spiritual gestures) < [Chapter 4 - Ashtanga-yoga and Practice in Yogatattva Upanishad]