Glossary
Abhyanga
Massage
Amla
Acidic, sour tasting
Akasha
Ether
Akaasheeya
Predominant in space.
Agni
Biological fire governing metabolisms, cosmic force of transformation.
Agni dipana
Substances that increase agni, digestive fire.
Asthi

Bone

Ama
Toxins, undigested food or uneliminated waste materials
Ama paachana
Substances that promote digestion or digestion of ama
Angamarda
Bodyache
Anupana
Vehicle, substance that serves as medium for herbs to be taken with.
Apya
Predominant in water
Basti
Medicated enema, urinary bladder.
Bhasma
An incinerated metal or mineral
Brmhaniya
bulk promoting
Bhakti yoga
Devotion
Brahma
Absolute or pure consciousness
Daha
Burning sensation
Decoction A decoction is made by taking 1 part of crude powder to 4 parts water. Boil until the quantity is reduced to [?] of original quantity, then filter.
Dhamani
Channels for communication by way of an impulse
Dhatus
Vital components
Dravya
Diet/ drug
Deepana
Promoting digestive fire
Doshas
Metabolic Components 3 basic types of biological humours, which determine individual constitution
Guna
Attribute, quality
Guru
Heavy slowly digested
Jnana yoga
Intellectual way
Nirlekhanam
Tongue scraping
Jala
Water
Kapha
Bodily water humour
Kashaya
Astringent taste, decoction
Katu
Pungent taste
Ksheena
Dosha decreased one below the limit
Karma yoga
Path of action
Laghu
Salty taste
Malas
End products of elimination
Mamsa
Flesh
Meda
Fat
Majja
Bone marrow
Madhura
Sweet taste
Mutra
Urine
Nidaana
Specific causes for individual disease
Nasya
Nasal administration of medicines
Ojas
The subtle essence of all vital fluids, responsible for health, harmony and spiritual growth
Panchakarma
Five types of purification procedures or detoxification therapy
Parthiva
Predominant in earth
Prakrithi
Nature, natural form
urusha
Man
Prithvi
Earth
Pitta Bile
Pancha Mmaha bhutas five great elements - earth, water, fire , air, ether
Pragya
Aparadh - mistake of the intellect
Pitta
Bodily fire humour
Prabhava
Special potency of herb
Purisha
Faeces
Purusha
Man, principle of sentinence
Prakupita
Dosha, the aggravated dosha
Rajas
Principle of energy, activity, emotion and turbulence
Rasa
Nutrition pool, taste

Raja Yoga

Mastering the mind by mental concentration
Rakta
Blood
Rasa
Essence
Rasayana
Rejuvenative therapy, which generates mind & body, prevents decay, postpones ageing
Ruksha Dry
Seasonal routine
Rutucharya
Common quality
Samanya
Sequence of pathogenesis
Samprapthi
Mother's milk
Sharira
Body
Snigdha
Unctuousness
Siro virechan
Cleansing nasal therapy
Sira
Artery, veins, nerves and lymphatics
Shukra
Semen
Srotas
Bodily channel, system
Thaila
Oil
Tamas
Principle of inertia, dullness, darkness
Tejas
Fire
Tikta
Bitter
Tikshna
Acute, irritant, sharp
Tridosa
Three body humours
Tvacha
Skin
Ushna
Hot, heating
Upanishads
Holy books
Vamana
Vomiting, emesis
Vishesha
Difference, special
Vikriti
Unnatural form, sickness
Varnya
Beneficial to complexion
Vajikara
Substances that improve sexual vitality and functioning
Vasa
Muscle fat
Vata
Bodily humour, Wind
Vayu
Air
Vedas
Ancient Scriptures of India
Vipaka
Post digestive effect
Virechana
Purgation
Vrishya
Potency, the energy of a substance as heating and cooling
Visa
Poison
Yoga A methodology of the practical and coordinated application of knowledge: spiritually, the science of self-realization
   

FURTHER READING

  • Charaka Samhita - Vol I-II Editor-Translator Prof. Priyavrat Sharma (Chaukhambha Orientalia, Varanasi, India, 1985)
  • Astanga Hrdayam - Vol 1. Translated by Prof. K R Sri Kantha Murthy (Krishnada Acadamy, Varanasi, India, 1991)
  • Ayurveda: The Science of Self-Healing - Dr Vasant Lad (Lotus Press, Santa Fè, 1984)
    Prakruti: Your Ayurvedic Constitution - Dr Robert Svoboda (Geocom, Albuquerque, 1989)
  • Ayurveda: Life Health and Longevity - Dr Robert Svoboda (Arkana, London, 1992)
  • The Yoga of Herbs: - Dr David Frawley and Dr Vasant Lad (Lotus Press, Santa Fè, 1986)
  • Ayurvedic Cooking for Self-Healing - Usha Lad and Dr Vasant Lad (The Ayurvedic Press, Albuquerque, 1994)
  • The Ayurvedic Cookbook - Amadea Morningstar (Lotus Press, Santa Fè, 1990)
    Natural Healing Through Ayurveda - Prof. Dr Subhash Ranade (Passage Press, Salt Lake City, 1989)
  • Ayurvedic Healing: A Comprehensive Guide - Dr David Frawley (Passage Press, Salt Lake City, 1989)
  • The Tibetan Book of the Living and Dying - Sogyal Rinpoche
  • Kundalini - Dr Robert Svoboda (Brotherhood of Life, Albuquerque, 1993)
  • Ayurveda for Life: Nutrition, Sexual Energy and Healing - MLBD, Delhi: Vinod Verma
    Kamasutra for Women: Penguin-India - Vinod Verma
  • The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: - A Scientific Exposition, Clarion Books, New Delhi - Vinod Verma
  • Yoga for Integral Health: - Hind Pocket Books, New Delhi: Vinod Verma
  • Stress-Free Work with Yoga and Ayurveda: - New Age Books, New Delhi : Vinod Verma
  • Patanjali and Ayurvedic Yoga: - MLBD, Delhi: Vinod Verma
  • Caraka Samhita - Prof. Priya Vrat Sharma
  • The Rebirth of Nature: The Greening of Science and God - Rupert Sheldrake (London: Century, 1990)