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Writer's pictureYoga

Asana Yoga Sanskrit Glossary

Updated: Apr 10, 2023

Challenge yourself to practice memorizing the basic sanskrit words to easier follow along (or teach) a yoga sequence. This glossary is a collection based on the most commonly used asanas in flows in Ashtanga yoga, Hatha yoga, Vinyasa yoga, Yin Yoga and is applicable on all other yoga forms.


How to count in Sanskrit?


1 - Ekam

2 - Dvi

3 - Trini

4 - Catuari

5 - Pancha

6 - Sat

7 - Sapta

8 - Asta

9 - Nava

10 - Dasa

11 - Ekadasa

12 - Dvadasa

13 - Trayodasa

14 - Caturdasa

15 - Panchadasa

16 - Sodasa

17 - Saptadasa





A

Adho - Downward Asana - Seat or posture


Astau - Eight

Angustha - Big toe


Arhda - Half


Anjani - Refers to Lord Hanuman's Mother


Anga - Limbs, parts of the body Ananda - Happy


Anata - Without


Agni - Fire

B


Baddha - Bound Baka - Crane


Bala - Child


Bharadvaja - Refers to Sage Bharadvaja


Bheka - Frog


Bhujanga - Snake Buddha - Bound


Bodhi - enlightenment

C


Caturari - Four


Citta - The mind, the consciousness of the mind


Chandra - Moon


D


Danda - Stick Dhyana - Meditation


Dhanua - Bow


Dwi or Dvi - Two


E


Eka or Ekam - One




G


Garuna - Eagle


Garbha - Fetus, Womb


Go - Cow

H


Hasta - Hand


Hala - Plow


J

Janu - Knee


K

Karna - Ear Kaka - Crow Kapota - Pigeon


Kronucha - Heron


Kukkuta - Rooster


Kurma - Tortoise Kona - Angle


Koundinya - Refers to Sage Koundinya


Karna - Ear

L


Lola - Dangle

M


Makara - Crocodile Matsya - Fish


Mala - Garland


Marichi - Refers to Sage Marichi Mayura - Peacock Mukha - Face


Mukta - Free

N


Namaskar - Salutation Nava - Boat or Nine


Niralamba - Unsupported


P


Pada - Foot Pasa - Snare Padma - Lotus


Padanghusta - Big toe


Parivrtta - Revolved Parigha - Gate


Parsva - Side


Pancha - Five


Pavan - Wind


Prasarita - Stretched out, wide angle


Pida - Pressure



R


Raja - King

S


Sat - Six


Sama - Equal


Sava - Corpse


Sapta - Seven Salabha - Grasshopper


Salamba - Supported


Sasanga - Rabbit


Setu - Bridge


Sthiti - Standing pose


Stambha - Statue


Sarvanga - Whole body


Sirsa - Head


Sukha - Comfortable


Surya - Sun


Supta - Reclined, sleeping Svana - Dog

T


Tada - Mountain Trikon - Triangle


Trini - Three


Titthiba - Firefly


Tola - Scale

U


Upahvista - Seated


Uttana - Intense


Utkata - Fierce


Utthita - Extended, stretched


Ustra - Camel

V


Vatyana - Horse

Vira - Hero

Viparita - Inverted, reversed Vrksa - Tree


Vrschik - Scorpion


Vyagra - Tiger






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