Glossary of Terms
From the Talks by Satchidananda
Uruguay, February 2026
Note on This Glossary: This glossary indexes Sanskrit, yogic, and non-obvious terms as they were used across five talks delivered in Uruguay in February 2026. Definitions are drawn from the talks themselves wherever possible; where the speaker elaborated in multiple talks, the richest explanation is used. Citations [1]–[5] link to the original transcripts.
| # | Date | Location | Talk |
|---|---|---|---|
| [1] | Feb 9 | Escuela de Yoga Satyam | The Five Koshas: A Practical Framework for Wholeness |
| [2] | Feb 10 | Clínica Vitola, Yoga Carrasco | Living Fully In Yourself |
| [3] | Feb 11 | MACA Museum | The Levels of the Human Being According to Yoga and Their Dialogue with AI |
| [4] | Feb 23 | Piriápolis | The Koshas: A Map of the Inner World |
| [5] | Feb 18 | SitaRam Darshan, La Paloma | Tantroktam Devi Suktam |
A
Ahamkara — Sanskrit. The ego or sense of individual self; one of the four divisions of the mental body (Manomaya Kosha). In practice, explored by reviewing how one's identity has shifted across the stages of life: "What aspects of you remain? What aspects of you have completely emerged, or fallen away?" 4
Anandamayi — A name of the divine feminine; literally "bliss-permeated." Appears in the kirtan "Bajomana Ma, Anandamayi Ma" sung at the La Paloma talk. Distinct from Anandamaya Kosha (the fifth kosha); Anandamayi is an epithet for the divine mother in the form of boundless joy. 5
Anandamaya Kosha — Sanskrit. The fifth and subtlest kosha; the causal or blissful body. "Sometimes referred to as blissful, but it means undifferentiated." 1 Associated with pure consciousness — the dimension before form: "Before you have any awareness of where you are, before you even recall your name." 3 See also: Kosha, Vijnanamaya Kosha.
Annamaya Kosha — Sanskrit. The first and most tangible kosha; literally "food body." The physical body, constructed from what we eat. "Anna means food in Sanskrit. That part of us which is constructed by the food we eat." 1, 3 Assessed through measures such as flexibility, strength, balance, sleep, and digestion. See also: Kosha.
Apana — Sanskrit. The downward-moving vital force; one of the five sub-pranas of the Pranamaya Kosha. Governs the region from the navel to the pelvic floor. "Feel it move from navel down to pelvic floor. This is the region of Apana." 4 See also: Prana, Pranamaya Kosha.
Ashrama — Sanskrit. A stage of life in the Vedic system. There are four: Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest dweller), Sannyasa (renunciation). "Even though these are talked about in terms of one whole life, we actually go through these stages every single day." 1 Also refers to a residential spiritual community.
Asana — Sanskrit. A physical yoga posture. "Obviously for the physical body, but also for the energetic and mental bodies." 1 Practicing asana in dreams was suggested as an advanced application.
Atma Bhava — Sanskrit. A state of universal feeling; the dissolution of individual ego boundaries to feel what all beings feel. Described as an advanced practice in bhakti yoga: "The intention to actually dissolve the ego in order to more universally feel what everyone is feeling." 4
B
Bhajan — Sanskrit. Devotional songs, typically sung in a group setting alongside kirtan. Mentioned as part of the 24-hour Shivaratri event. 1
Bhakti Yoga — The yoga of devotion; concerned with the cultivation and management of emotions and feelings. "The fourth mastery in this sequence... Emotions. Feelings. On the beach, prevent this wave from crashing onto the shore. That's bhakti yoga." 5 Named alongside Hatha, Karma, and Raja Yoga as the four progressive branches of mastery: body, attitude, mind, and finally emotion. "What is the most powerful thing in everyone's life from childhood to the moment of death? Emotions." 5
Bhavana / Pratipaksha Bhavana — Sanskrit. Bhavana: the deliberate cultivation of an inner feeling or state. Pratipaksha Bhavana: "awakening the opposite feeling to a negative feeling." 5 In Buddhism the related practice is metta/metabhavana — awakening loving compassion. In the context of the Tantroktam Devi Suktam, the chant is used as a vehicle for bhavana: invoking Shakti into a specific quality of consciousness (courage, peace, sleep) and letting that quality arise rather than forcing it. 5
Bhrumadhya — Sanskrit. The eyebrow center; the point between and slightly above the eyebrows. Used as a focal point in many practices. "Even the eyes can turn inward and slightly upward, looking from within." 1 Associated with intuition and the awakening of the Vijnanamaya Kosha.
Bihar School of Yoga — The institution founded by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in Munger, India. Source of many techniques referenced across the talks, including Yoga Nidra, Nadi Shodhana, and the systematic kosha framework. Books such as Prana and Pranayama were recommended for further study. 1
Brahmacharya — Sanskrit. The first ashrama; the student or learning phase of life. Characterized by intake, absorption, and consumption. "The stage of the student or the learner. Childhood." 1 Also used to denote celibacy as a dedicated spiritual practice.
Buddhi — Sanskrit. The intellectual faculty; one of the four divisions of the mental body. Governs discernment, decision-making, and pattern recognition — distinct from raw perception (Manas) or memory (Chitta). Practiced through exercises like geometric visualization. 4
C
Causal body — One of three broad bodies (alongside gross and subtle). Corresponds to the Vijnanamaya and Anandamaya koshas. "I understand it as: from this you get this, and from this you get this." 1 The seed-level template from which experience unfolds. See also: Gross body, Subtle body.
Chakra — Sanskrit. Energy centers within the Vijnanamaya Kosha (intuitive/psychic body), spanning from the base of the spine to the crown of the head. Each center corresponds to a domain of experience — from security at the base to total integration at the crown. 2, 4
Chaya Samadhi — Sanskrit. Literally "Shadow Samadhi"; a practice associated with the Bihar School of Yoga in Munger. Referenced in the context of working with the shadow aspects of consciousness — "something unknown of ourselves." 5 "We have shadow in the physical reality. We have shadow in the psychological domain. If there is a part of ourselves that keeps eluding us, we can invoke her as a shadow." 5
Chidakasha — Sanskrit. The inner mental space; the field of awareness visible behind closed eyes. "Notice if there are any patterns or colors in chidakasha, the space of the mind." 1
Chitta — Sanskrit. The memory faculty; one of the four divisions of the mental body. Stores impressions and past experiences. Practiced through the "Review of the Day" — systematically recalling the day from morning to the present moment. 4 "Be aware at which points there are gaps and which points are vivid." 4
CRISPR — A gene-editing technology referenced in the MACA talk as an example of technology intervening in the physical body (Annamaya Kosha). "The very advanced gene editing program, which continues to evolve and will definitely get to the point where you can design your own body." 3
D
Devi — Sanskrit. "Goddess"; the divine feminine principle. Central figure of the Tantroktam Devi Suktam. "From the Tantric perspective, anything we can experience is her in some form. She creates this reality." 5 She encompasses all polarities: creation and destruction, gentleness and ferocity, light and shadow. "She is not only the positive, good, bright rainbow. She can also be the dark, heavy, unpleasant, destructive." 5
Durga — A fierce form of Devi; goddess of protection and destroyer of obstacles. "To Durga, to the rescuer from difficulties... the doer of all." 5 Described via Swamiji's teaching: "The conditioning which is there has to be changed, altered, destroyed. And to change the existing, we need the power of Durga — and that is our sankalp shakti." 5 See also: Shakti, Satchandi Maha Yajna.
Dharana — Sanskrit. Concentration; the practice of holding sustained attention on a single object or pathway. "Awareness through the frontal passage. It's such a good tool to introduce meditation because you're concentrating on a path, letting the mind move along it." 1
E
Enlightenment — A term examined critically across the talks: "Words in the spiritual traditions like 'enlightenment' are loaded with promise — promise of this moment of glory and emancipation or freedom. My very slow evolution has suggested it may look differently, and that the real work of evolution is turning on the light in many places, in as many places as we can actually find." 1
F
Frontal psychic passage — A visualization technique used in meditation: an imaginary tube or channel running from the navel upward through the sternum to the throat pit (and in some practices, to the eyebrow center). Used to trace the breath through the body and stabilize the mind. 1, 4
G
Grihastha — Sanskrit. The second ashrama; the householder or active-living phase. "First you're learning about life, and now you're living your life." 1 Characterized by full engagement with worldly experience.
Gross body — One of three broad bodies (alongside subtle and causal). Corresponds to the Annamaya Kosha. The tangible, physical body accessible to the five senses. See also: Subtle body, Causal body.
Gunas — Sanskrit. The three fundamental qualities of nature in Vedic philosophy: tamas (heaviness/inertia), rajas (activity/passion), and sattva (clarity/balance). The quality of inputs to each kosha influences its health. "It's the quality of what we bring into our lives as structures." 4 See also: Tamasic.
H
Hari Om Tat Sat — Sanskrit. A mantra and salutation used to open and close every talk and practice. Loosely translated as "The divine truth is what remains." Used consistently as both greeting and benediction across all five talks. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Hatha Yoga — Sanskrit. The yoga of body and breath; brings conscious control over the physical body and autonomic nervous system. "The starting point for many of us. Can you control your body and your breath? Yeah, with a few years' practice we can get pretty good at that." 5 Named alongside Karma, Raja, and Bhakti Yoga as the four progressive branches of mastery. See also: Bhakti Yoga, Raja Yoga.
I
Iccha Shakti — Sanskrit. The power of will or desire; the first of the three Shaktis in the tantric tradition (will, knowledge, action). "In yoga and the tantric tradition, the first Shakti is Iccha. First there was the intention that something comes into being." 1 "Science calls it Big Bang for our current physical reality. The esoteric explanation is an act of Iccha Shakti." 4 Directly related to Sankalpa as its practical expression.
K
Kapalabhati — Sanskrit. A pranayama characterized by rapid, forceful exhalations and passive inhalations. Translated as "skull-shining breath." Referenced in the context of accessing the Vijnanamaya Kosha when combined with Kumbhaka. 1
Karma — Sanskrit. Action and its consequences; accumulated impressions from past actions that continue to shape present experience. "Burn karma through austerity." 4 Also: "joy and fulfillment of karmas." 4
Karma Yoga — Sanskrit. The yoga of selfless action and service. "Reflects how well integrated we are in actual daily life. You might lift weights perfectly in a gym, but if you can't lift boxes between rooms, what's the point?" 1
Kirtan — Sanskrit. Call-and-response devotional singing. The Satyam talk included an invitation to a 24-hour kirtan event during Shivaratri. "If you know how to sing, sing a little bit." 3
Kosha — Sanskrit. Literally "sheath" or "case"; a layer of the human being. The five koshas describe a continuum from the most tangible to the most subtle: physical, energetic, mental, intuitive, and causal. "They come from trying to find our limits of what we can do as a human." 3
Kosha scanning — A daily awareness practice: when asked "how are you?", the invitation is to check in with each of the five bodies in turn. "We want that question to automatically go into a process of checking: How am I feeling? How am I feeling? How am I feeling? How am I feeling? — once for each body." 1
Kumbhaka — Sanskrit. Breath retention in pranayama; holding the breath after inhalation. Mentioned in the context of combining Kapalabhati with Padmasana to access the Vijnanamaya Kosha. 1
M
Manas — Sanskrit. The sensory or lower mind; one of the four divisions of the mental body. Governs perception, cognition, and the processing of sensory input. "The ability to hear my words, to think about what I'm saying, to be aware of the passing of time." 3
Manomaya Kosha — Sanskrit. The third kosha; the mental body. Encompasses four aspects of mind: Manas (perception), Chitta (memory), Buddhi (intellect), and Ahamkara (ego). "At this point we are like robots, very capable, programmed machines." 3 See also: Kosha.
Mantra — Sanskrit. A sacred sound, syllable, or phrase used in meditation and practice. "Requires millions of connections repeatedly to stabilize a connection." 4 Used especially in conjunction with Sankalpa for the causal and psychic bodies.
Meru Dandasana — Sanskrit. A yoga asana in which one balances on the tailbone with legs extended in a V-shape. "I know from experience that can calm my mind even if I'm feeling rage. It has been tested multiple times." 1
Mudra — Sanskrit. A symbolic hand gesture used in yoga and meditation to support specific states of awareness. The most referenced: pranama mudra (palms together) and the basic meditative mudra (thumb touching index finger).
Muladhara chakra — Sanskrit. The root chakra; the first energy center in the Vijnanamaya Kosha, located at the base of the spine. Associated with security and basic needs. 4
N
Nadi Shodhana — Sanskrit. Alternate nostril breathing; a pranayama that balances the left and right energy channels (nadis). "One of the most beneficial and gentle pranayamas for bringing it towards balance." 4 Also practiced mentally as Mental Nadi Shodhana, incorporating physical body awareness and visualization.
Namaste — Sanskrit. A traditional greeting; literally "I bow to you." Used to open several of the talks. 3, 4 Examined in depth at La Paloma: "Words have power in every language... The feelings behind words have even more power. So by learning the meaning, we're not only able to say a word — we're able to send a psychic wave." 5 The refrain namastasye in the Tantroktam Devi Suktam means "salutations to her" — the same root applied to the goddess in her every form.
Navaratri — Sanskrit. Literally "nine nights"; a Hindu festival of Shakti worship. The Tantroktam Devi Suktam is often chanted during Shakti sadhanas like Navaratri. "This chant is often done during Shakti sadhanas like Navaratri." 5
O
Om — Sanskrit. The primary mantra in yoga; described as the fundamental sound of reality. Chanted three times at the beginning and end of every practice. "Requires millions of connections repeatedly to stabilize a connection." 4
P
Padmasana — Sanskrit. Lotus posture; a cross-legged seated position with each foot resting on the opposite thigh. A classical meditation posture referenced for accessing the Vijnanamaya Kosha. 1
Palming — A practice closing many meditation sessions: rubbing the palms briskly together to generate heat, then cupping them over closed eyes. "Share the warmth with the eyes. Be aware of what you see in that dark space." 4
Prakriti — Sanskrit. Primordial nature; the manifested, material dimension of reality. "For hundreds of thousands of years of our evolution, Prakriti has automated that process." 5 In the Tantric framework, Prakriti is the domain of Shakti — the active, creative force — the experienced world as distinct from Purusha (pure unmanifest consciousness). See also: Shakti.
Prana — Sanskrit. Life force or vital energy; the animating force behind all living things. "The life force that has been around far before earth was even here. It's the Shakti or energy that is revealed when matter is exploded." 3 Also the name of the specific upward-moving vital force (one of five sub-pranas). See also: Pranamaya Kosha.
Pranam mudra — Sanskrit. Prayer gesture; palms pressed together in front of the heart or forehead. Used to open and close practices throughout all four talks.
Pranamaya Kosha — Sanskrit. The second kosha; the energetic or pranic body. "The body without this breath is simply a corpse. But as soon as oxygen enters, all of a sudden there is vitality." 3 Subdivided into five pranas: Prana, Apana, Samana, Udana, Vyana. See also: Kosha.
Pranayama — Sanskrit. Yogic breathing practices; literally "expansion of prana." "Obviously benefits the energetic body, but also the mental and intuitive." 1
R
Raja Yoga — Sanskrit. The "royal yoga"; practices for bringing conscious control over the mind and deeply embedded subconscious patterns. "Can you keep the mind focused on one idea for an extended length of time? Can you wake yourself up without an alarm? Can you go to sleep on command? Much harder. Usually decades of practice for people." 5 Named alongside Hatha, Karma, and Bhakti Yoga as the four progressive branches of mastery. See also: Bhakti Yoga, Hatha Yoga.
Review of the Day — A daily practice of systematically recalling the events of the day from waking to the present moment. "One of the most potent practices for recovering short-term memory and developing visualization." 4 Applied to assess and strengthen the Chitta (memory) aspect of the Manomaya Kosha.
Rikhiapeeth — An ashram in Deoghar, Jharkhand, India, associated with the Bihar School of Yoga. The site where Swami Satyananda Saraswati performed his Panchagni Sadhana (five-fire austerity) and attained Samadhi. Referenced in the context of the Satchandi Maha Yajna and Tantroktam Devi Suktam practices. 5 See also: Bihar School of Yoga, Satchandi Maha Yajna.
Rishis — Sanskrit. Seers or sages; spiritual adepts who received or intuited the Vedic and Tantric scriptures. "The rishis and yogis who intuited these verses tried to find ways for us to experience that energy in a real way." 5 "The yogis, the rishis, the munis — they were the parents of society. They were social architects. They had a vision of thousands of years where they saw the challenges and how they could keep us alive for as long as possible." 5
S
Sadhak — Sanskrit. A spiritual practitioner or seeker; one engaged in sadhana. "I am a yoga sadhak, ever more increasingly interested and sincere." 5
Sadhana — Sanskrit. A personal spiritual practice or discipline. "If we only limit that practice to the mat, we're missing the point of why we're teaching it." 1
Samana — Sanskrit. The balancing vital force; one of the five sub-pranas. Governs the region around the navel and the process of digestion and assimilation. "Imagine a side to side movement with each breath — the region of Samana Prana." 4
Samsara — Sanskrit. The cycle of experience and existence; the "ocean of life." "We're all swimming in the samsaric ocean of life. So until we learn to swim really, really well, it can be very helpful to be mindful of our surroundings." 4
Samskara — Sanskrit. A mental impression or conditioning; patterns formed by repeated experience that continue to shape present behavior. "Singing out of joy for 24 hours provides a positive samskara to staying up all night. If you look at all the branches of yoga, they have techniques for providing positive experiences to negative samskaras." 5
Sankalpa — Sanskrit. An intention, resolution, or vow; a deliberate act of will. "It is the vision of what you want to manifest. It doesn't have ideas of maybe I can, maybe I can't." 2 Practiced at the beginning and end of every Satyananda Yoga session, and ideally before every action in life.
Sannyasa — Sanskrit. The fourth ashrama; renunciation and detachment. "What do I need to lead a simple, happy life? That's sannyasa." 1 Described as practical rather than ascetic: a process of letting go of what is no longer essential.
Satchandi Maha Yajna — A five-day ritual of Shakti awareness and worship performed at the Bihar School of Yoga and affiliated ashrams. "Five days of shakti awareness and worship. It includes the daily repetition of some chants that describe wonderful stories about Durga and other forms of the goddess." 5 Includes chanting of the Tantroktam Devi Suktam. "If you or your partner or your children enjoy modern day superhero films, you will absolutely enjoy these stories. They are bloody, they are supernatural, and they are ultra vivid." 5 See also: Durga, Shakti.
Satchidananda — A name in the yogic tradition derived from Sat-Chit-Ananda — Sanskrit for being (sat), consciousness (chit), and bliss (ananda) — the threefold description of pure awareness in Advaita Vedanta. The name of the teacher of these talks, given in the Satyananda tradition. 1, 2, 3, 4
Satyananda Yoga — A comprehensive yoga tradition developed by Swami Satyananda Saraswati; rooted in the Bihar School of Yoga. Emphasizes balanced development across all five koshas and includes practices such as Yoga Nidra, Nadi Shodhana, and structured Sankalpa. 1, 2, 4
Seva — Sanskrit. Selfless service; action offered without attachment to personal benefit. Closely linked to Karma Yoga. 1
Shakti — Sanskrit. Energy, power, or divine force. "The Shakti or energy that is revealed when matter is exploded." 3 In tantra, manifests as three primary powers: Iccha (will), Jnana (knowledge), and Kriya (action). See also: Iccha Shakti.
Shanti Patha / Shantipat — Sanskrit. A peace chant or invocation used to open and close every Satyananda Yoga session. "Almost a perfect sequence of moving through the koshas." 1 "That is a sufficient life teaching — we don't need much more yoga than that." 2
Shatkarma — Sanskrit. The six cleansing practices of Hatha Yoga. Used to purify the physical and pranic bodies. "You cannot flush water out of your body through your anus without wondering what's going on inside your physical body. It will not only help you feel the internal plumbing, but it usually brings immediate change in energy." 1
Shivaratri — Sanskrit. "Night of Shiva"; a Hindu festival marked by fasting, prayer, and all-night vigil. The talks referenced a 24-hour kirtan event associated with this festival as a multi-kosha practice. 1, 3
Subtle body — One of three broad bodies (alongside gross and causal). Encompasses the energetic and mental koshas. "Sometimes in a dream you can feel yourself moving around. Some traditions call it the astral body." 1 The body that moves in dreams; harder to contact than the gross body.
Suktam — Sanskrit. Literally "well-said" or "beautiful hymn"; a type of Vedic hymn of praise. The Tantroktam Devi Suktam is one such hymn, accessible because "almost all the verses follow the same pattern — once you learn the pattern, you are just putting in a few filler words." 5 See also: Tantroktam Devi Suktam.
Svadharma — Sanskrit. One's personal calling or life purpose. "If you haven't yet found the calling that life is calling you toward, your svadharma — pay attention to that pull. That pull may be something worth exploring further." 4
Svara — Sanskrit. The dominance of one nostril over the other in the natural breathing cycle. "By feeling the force coming in and out of each nostril, estimate which one is breathing more strongly. This is called Svara dominance. It tends to fluctuate every sixty to eighty minutes. It is an indicator of which nervous system is more active." 4
SWAN — Acronym: Strengths, Weaknesses, Ambitions, Needs. A self-inquiry tool from the Satyananda tradition, applied to each kosha individually to assess balance and identify areas requiring attention. 4
Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati — Spiritual successor to Swami Satyananda Saraswati and head of the Bihar School of Yoga. Referred to as "Swamiji" in these talks. 1
Swami Satyananda Saraswati — Founder of the Bihar School of Yoga and the Satyananda Yoga tradition. Known for systematizing yoga practices across all five koshas. His visualization and willpower were cited as examples of developed Sankalpa: "He finally saw the temple and said, 'Ah, just as I imagined it.'" 1 See also: Bihar School of Yoga, Satyananda Yoga.
Swami Satyasangananda Saraswati — Senior disciple within the Bihar School of Yoga tradition. 1
Swami Sivananda Saraswati — Founder of the Divine Life Society, Rishikesh; guru of Swami Satyananda Saraswati and a foundational figure in the lineage behind these talks. 1
Swamiji — Respectful and familiar form of address for an initiated swami (from Sanskrit "swami" = master, lord of oneself). In these talks, used specifically to refer to Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati. Also used as a general honorific for any swami in the tradition. 1
T
Table metaphor — A model for understanding kosha balance introduced in the Satyam talk and revisited in Piriápolis: the first four koshas (physical, energetic, mental, intuitive) are imagined as the four legs of a table. Three scenarios describe common imbalance: a missing leg, uneven legs, or legs of the same length but unequal strength. "This is almost the worst situation to be in because it gives a sense of false confidence." 1
Tantra — Sanskrit. A broad spiritual tradition and philosophical system that explores the relationship between consciousness and energy. "Yoga and tantra as a search for universal patterns is not distinct to India, and no one has a claim on it." 4
Tantroktam Devi Suktam — The central chant of the La Paloma talk; a Tantric hymn to Devi in her many forms. Verses 8–26 follow a repeating structure: Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu / [quality] Rupena Samsthita / Namastasye Namastasye Namastasye Namo Namaha — "She who resides in all beings in the form of [quality] — salutations, salutations, salutations to her." 5 The qualities enumerated include: Vishnumaya (cosmic illusion), Buddhi (intelligence), Nidra (sleep), Kshudha (hunger), Chaya (shadow), Shakti (power), Trishna (thirst), Kshanti (patience), Jati (species), Lajja (modesty), Shanti (peace), Shraddha (faith), Kanti (beauty), Lakshmi (prosperity), Vritti (activity), Smriti (memory), Daya (compassion), Tushti (contentment), Matri (mother), Branti (confusion), Indriya (senses). "In the same way that we do body rotation in Yoga Nidra, you can use this rotation for seeing where you feel and experience these modifications of consciousness." 5 See also: Devi, Shakti, Suktam.
Tamasic — Sanskrit. Adjective describing the tamas guna; heavy, dull, inert. "If I'm feeling tamasic or slow and heavy, I'm more likely to go for ice cream and potato chips." 1 See also: Gunas.
U
Udana — Sanskrit. The vital force (prana) associated with the limbs and extremities; also governs the throat and upward expression. One of the five sub-pranas. "Place the awareness through the legs and arms — the area of Udana." 4
V
Vanaprastha — Sanskrit. The third ashrama; literally "forest dweller." The period of gradual withdrawal and simplification. "People in the forest usually have less stuff. Between these two stages there's a lot of filtering and sorting. What do I need? What do I want?" 1
Vidya — Sanskrit. Knowledge or wisdom, especially systematic and experiential knowledge. "Yoga Vidya" = the science and knowledge of yoga. "It's taken me about twenty-five years of exposure to this information to make the vidya accessible in a way that really makes a difference to positivity in my life." 4
Vijnanamaya Kosha — Sanskrit. The fourth kosha; the intuitive or psychic body. "Vijnana means both wisdom or science." 1 "I believe this is the level that actually makes us human, uniquely human." 3 Mapped through the chakra system. Contains what was described as "the seed templates of reality — the entire physics of the world." 4 See also: Kosha.
Vishnu — Hindu deity; referenced as the cosmic symbol of rest between creations. "He's in a state of Yoga Nidra until the idea comes: 'Oh, let's enjoy a creation again.'" 4 Used to illustrate the idea that rest (Anandamaya Kosha) precedes all creative manifestation.
Vishnumaya — Sanskrit. "The illusion of Vishnu" or "Vishnu's maya"; a name of Devi in the Tantroktam Devi Suktam (verse 6–7). "She lives in all beings. And she's an illusion." 5 A reminder that the manifest world — including individual consciousness — is simultaneously real in experience and ultimately illusory in nature. See also: Devi, Tantroktam Devi Suktam.
Vyana — Sanskrit. The pervasive vital force (prana); fills and surrounds the entire body as a reservoir or buffer. "Feel for an energy that pervades the whole body — Vyana Prana. It is the reservoir, or buffer, vital force." 4
Y
Yoga Nidra — Sanskrit. Literally "yogic sleep"; a systematic guided meditation that leads consciousness progressively through all five koshas. "Benefits everything, physical to causal. Can give people experiences of each body in isolation and in unison." 1 Also used cosmologically: the state Vishnu rests in between creations — the rest between manifest and unmanifest.
Yoga Vidya — Sanskrit. The science and knowledge of yoga; yoga understood as a comprehensive, systematic field of study and practice rather than primarily a physical discipline. 2
Generated: February 27, 2026 — Updated: March 5, 2026