Glossary

a-bandhaka bondage free ābhā-maṇḍala aura
a-bhāsī devoid of speech
abhaya-anuprekṣā contemplation of fearlessness abhaya-mudrā gesture of fearlessness
a-bhedī un-piercable
a-bhogī free from sensual enjoyment
a-cala immovable
ācārya leader of ascetic group; spiritual leader
a-chedī un-breakable
a-dharmāstikāya medium of rest
adhyātma-vijñāna-anuprekṣā contemplation of spirituality and science
adhyavasāya a subtle level of consciousness, at which its interaction takes place with the karmic body
a-gama inaccessible
āgama scripture, canonical text
agraṇī leader of a group of mendicants
a-guru-laghu one type of the generic quality of a substance which is responsible for keeping intact the existence of the substance
āhāra-śuddhi purity of food ahiṃsā non-violence a-jara immutable a-kala entire
a-kaṃpa un-shakeable a-karma without karma
ākāśa space
a-kaṣāyī free of passion a-khaya imperishable a-khedī devoid of sorrow alakha invisible, formless
ālambana image or form used as focus of meditation
ālambana support / aid
a-lesī beyond psychic colouring
a-loka supracosmic space
a-mala spotless
a-mara immortal
an-abhī nameless
an-ādi beginning-less
anāhārī the soul which does not do the intake of the alimental materials
anākāra formless
anālambana concentrating on abstract attributes for focus of meditation
anāmikā ring finger
a-naṅta infinite
ānāpānasatī specific meditative technique of Buddhist meditative system vipassanā
anāsakti-anuprekṣā contemplation of non-attachment
anāśrava devoid of karmic influx
anāśrita independent
anātmā non-soul
anaudaya unrising state of karma
aneṅdrīya liberated one who is beyond senses
aṅga limb; inner corpus of the Jaina canon
aṅguṣṭha thumb
animeṣa-prekṣā open eye gazing
a-nitya transitory
antara-dṛṣṭi interior perspective, intuition
antar-ātmā interior self
āntarika-kṣamatā inherent capacities
antar-mauna inner silence
antar-yātrā internal journey
anubhaga-bandha intensity of fruition of karma
anuprekṣā contemplation
anyatva un-connectedness
a-para alone
aparampara successionless
a-pāya state of mind when it thinks deeply on the causes of suffering in the world
a-pramāda vigilance
apramāda-kendra centre of vigilance
aprāṇī devoid of vital force
ārā epoch
arahant worthy one, an epithet of one who has attained absolute spiritual enlightenment
arhat enlightened being
a-rogī free from disease
ārtta-dhyāna afflicted meditation
arūpī formless
a-saṃsārī liberated soul
āsana posture
asaṅgī without attachments
aśaraṇa without refuge
aśoka without sorrow
āśrava inflow
asthi bone
aśubha-yoga inauspicious activity
aśuci dirt and disease
ātāpanā ascetic heat: a meditative practice under the scorching sun
atindriya jñāna intuition consciousness
ātman soul; self
ātmānuśāsan contemplation of self-discipline
audārika sarīra gross body
avāṅgamukha-śayana lying on front posture
avasarpiṇī descending time cycle
āvaśyaka essential or obligatory duty
āvaśyaka obligatory ritual
avedī devoid of sexual feelings
avedya-saṃvedya thinking what should not be thought
avirata non-abstinence
aviruddha not bound
avyābādha free from bondage
avyāpī non-pervasive
ayoga state devoid of mental, physical and vocal activity
ayogī free from three-fold activities of mind, body and speech
ayogi-kevala omniscient without activity
ayonī free from birth
āyuṣya-karma life-span determining karma
bāhīra external
bahirātmā exterior self
bandha yogic practice of bodily locks
bandha binding of karmic matter
bhaṇḍāra treasure house: Jaina manuscript archive
bhāva subtle dispositions of the self/mental attitude
bhāvanā reflection
bhāva-pūjā veneration without using material items
bheda-vijñāna knowledge of the distinction between the material body and soul
bhrū-madha concentration on the area between the eyebrows
bindu dot
bodhi-durlabha rare occasion, rarity in obtaining correct teachings
buddhi intellect
caitanya-kendra-prekṣā perception of psychic centres
cakra wheel
cakravartī universal sovereign
cāritra proper conduct
cāturmāsa rainy season sojourn
caturvidha four-fold
caubīsī twenty-four tīrthaṅkaras
cetanā Consciousness
chadamastha person in state of bondage
cikitsā Therapy
cintāmaṇi wish fulfilling magical thought-gem
citta mind, psyche
dakṣiṇa-pārśva-śayana posture of lying on right side of the body
darśana seeing (the image of the Jina, etc.)
darśana-kendra centre of intuition
deśavirata partial abstinence
dhairya-anuprekṣā contemplation of patience
dhāraṇā fixation of thought
dhāraṇā concentration, retention
dharma-dhyāna virtuous meditation
dharma-dhyāna religious or righteous meditation
dharmāstikāya medium of motion
dharmya reality
dhātu physical constituent
dhvani sound
dhyāna meditation
dhyānāsana posture of meditation
dhyātā meditator
dhyātās meditator
dhyeya-sūtra aphorism of aim
dīkṣā-guru initiator of a monk
dohā verse-form
dveṣa aversion
ekāgratā focussed concentration
ekāntara alternate days
ekatva solitude
gaṇadhara ford-maker’s core disciple
granthītantra endocrine or glandular system
guhya-vidyā hidden sciences
guṇa-sankramaṇa transference of qualities
guṇa-sthāna fourteen stages of Jaina spiritual advancement
gupti control
hasita-mudrā laughing gesture
haṭha-yoga system of yoga described   India
hiṃsā injurious acts
jala water
japa repetition
jina spiritual victor; a synonym for tīrthaṅkara
jina-kalpa solitary mendicant life
jina-mudrā meditative posture of Jina
jñāna knowledge
jñāna-yoga internal spiritual activity or yoga through knowledge
jyoti-kendra centre of enlightenment
kālacakra time cycle
kāma-dhenu wish fulfilling / heavenly cow
kamala lotus
kaniṣṭhā little finger
kāntā a state of 'pleasant' meditation where there is a higher concentration for the sake of compassion toward others
kaṇṭha-kūpa pit of the throat
karma-bhūmi realm of action
kārmaṇa-śarīra karmic body
karma-vipāka result of action
karma-yoga spiritual activity or yoga through effort or action
kartavyaniṣṭhā-anuprekṣā contemplation of dutifulness
karuṇā compassion
kāya-śuddhi purity of body
kāya-vipassanā meditative techniques that are applied to various parts of the body
kāya-yoga bodily activity
kāyotsarga abandonment of the body, total relaxation with self awareness
kāyotsarga-mudrā standing meditative posture
kevala-jñāna omniscient knowledge
kevalin one who has achieved omniscient knowledge; a synonym for arahant
kohum who am I
kuṇḍalinī coiled power, mystical centre of psychic energy
labdhi miraculous/yogic power
laukika-vidhi social performance of rites
leśyā psychic colours
loka world
lokālokajñāyaka knower of cosmic and super cosmic space
mādhyastha equanimity,
mahābhūtas elementary substances
mahāmantra great mantra
mahāsramaṇī great nun
maitrī friendship
māna pride
manas mind
mānasika mental states
mānasika-saṃtulana-anuprekṣā contemplation of mental equilibrium
mānavīya-ektā-anuprekṣā contemplation of the unity of mankind
mana-yoga activity of the mind
matiṣkīya taraṅga brain waves
māyā deceit
meda fat
moha delusion
mokṣa liberation
mokṣa-mārga path to liberation
mṛdutā-anuprekṣā contemplation of gentleness
mṛṣā lying
muhūrta 48 minutes
mūla-sūtra root canon, a group of texts belonging to the subsidiary Jaina canons which are considered as root texts to study for the ascetics
nāḍī channels or veins of the subtle body
namaskāra salutation
nandanvana heavenly garden
netivāda dialectic negation
nidāna fulfilment of desire
nigoda single body possessing an infinite number of souls of vegetable life
nirgrantha unattached, without possessions
nirjarā shedding (of karma)
niryukti Prakrit verse commentary
niyantraṇa achieve control
pacevaḍī cloth covering of ascetics
padastha meditation on mantra or syllable
padmāsana lotus posture
pañcama-kāla fifth epoch of time cycle
Paramātmā Pauṣadha
piṇḍastha meditation on corporal body
prabhā radiant
prahara quarter part of the day and night
prakīrṇaka miscellaneous (texts); group of later Jaina canonical texts
prakṛti nature of karma
prāmāṇikaṭā-anuprekṣā contemplation of honesty
pramatta-saṃyata self-restraint with laxity
pramoda appreciation
prāṇa-kendra centre of vital energy (breath)
prāṇa-śakti vital energy
prāṇa-vidyā knowledge of breath
prāṇāyāma yogic control of breath
prātibha-jñāna intuitive knowledge
pratikramaṇa ritual of repentance, ritualized confession
pratilekhanā ritual of inspection
pratimā stages of renunciation for Jaina layman
pratyāhāra withdrawal (of senses)
prāyaścitta penance
prekṣā–dhyāna perception (in the text) meditation
pṛthavī earth
purva a group of fourteen Jaina canonical texts (now extinct)
rāga attachment
rahasya-vidyā mystic knowledge
rakta red, blood
raudra-dhyāna wrathful meditation, meditation on distress
ṛjutā-anuprekṣā contemplation of simplicity
rūpastha-dhyāna meditation on forms of arhat
rūpātīta-dhyāna meditation on the pure formless self
sādhaka aspirant, practitioner
sādhvī-pramukhā head-nun
saha-astitva-anuprekṣā contemplation of co-existence
sahasrāra-cakra centre of the thousand-petal lotus
sahiṣṇutā-anuprekṣā contemplation of tolerance
śakti energy
sālambana with support
samādhi absolute or highest meditation
samāharaṇā withdrawal of mind, body and speech from outer objects and concentration on one point
samarpaṇa dedication to the guru
samavasaraṇa commonly used for the assembly where the tīrthaṅkara delivers his sermon
sāmāyika practice/state of equanimity
samīkṣaṇa introspection
saṃlekhanā the religious death through fasting
saṃrakṣaṇa protection of possessions
saṃsāra cycle of birth and death
samudghāta expansion of the soul to the limits of the Jaina universe
samvara stoppage of influx of karma
sandhi those parts of the soul, where the karmic veil is shallow or absent; also known as 'psychic centres’
saṅgha community, congregation
saṅkalpa resolution
śānti-kendra centre of peace
śarīra-prekṣā perception of body
śarīrāsana posture of body
sarvārtha siddha ultimate heavens
sattvāsana another name for padmāsana
satya-anuprekṣā contemplation of truth
śayanāsthāna lying down posture
sayogi-kevala omniscience with activity
śivira camp
smṛti memory
so’ham I am that / my nature is that
sparśa touch
śramaṇa non-Vedic mendicant usually Jaina or Buddhist; one who strives
sthāna correct position, station
sthiti-bandha duration of bondage of karmic matter
stuti hymn of Praise
śubha-yoga auspicious activity
sudha pure or 'white' meditation
sukha bliss
śukla-dhyāna pure or 'white' meditation
śukra semen
sūkṣma-śarīra subtle body
sūtra aphorism, mnemonic text, canonical scripture
svādhyāya self-study (of the scriptures)
śvāsa-prekṣā perception of breathing
svāsthya-kendra centre of health
svataḥ cālita nāḍītantra autonomous nervous system
svāvalambana-anuprekṣā contemplation of self-reliance
svayaṃṅ-buddha self-awakened spiritually
svayaṃ-sambuddha self-awakened
śvetāmbara white-clad (name of Jaina mendicants who wear white garments
tādātmya contemplation on one’s own nature being similar to that of the siddhas - a kind of meditation upon sameness
taijasa-śakti fiery physical energy
taijasa-śarīra fiery body
tantra system or doctrine used by Tantrics which was an inter-religious movement that arose in medieval India
tapa austerity
tarjanī index finger
Terāpanth path of the thirteen; name of a sub-sect
tīrthaṅkara ford-maker
trāṭaka unblinking, fixed gaze meditation
trika ten triads
tripadī three steps
tyāga-pratyākhāna vow of renunciation
ukaḍu squatting posture
upāṅga sub-limbs; outer corpus of Jaina literature
upāsaka lay follower
upayoga active consciousness
urdhva-kāyotsarga standing meditation
ūrṇa correct pronunciation
utsarpiṇī ascending time cycle
uttāna-śayana posture of lying on the back
vacanaśuddhi purity of speech
vacanātiśaya verbal superhuman magnificence
vacana-yoga vocal activity
vāma-pārśva-śayana posture of lying on left side of the body
vāyu air
vedanā experience
vicāra thought
vicaya particular state of the mind
vicaya-dhyāna analytical meditation
vidhi procedure
vidyā-guru mentor
vidyālaya school
vipāka fruition of karma
vipassanā Buddhist insight meditation viśiṣṭa-aṅga special limbs
viśuddhi-mārga Buddhist path of purification
vitarāgatā a state devoid of attachment and aversion
vrata vow
vrata-dūṣaṇa non-violation of vows
yama restraint
yoga-nidrā yogic sleep
yoga-nirodha cessation of all activities (of body, mind and speech
yogānubhuti yogic experience yukta engaged in yoga