Glossary of Terms

I

Indriya:

1) Power, force.

2) Sense.  Historically, the senses were divided into pairs of knowledge senses and action senses (jñānendriyas and karmendriyas).  But they originate as non-dual functions of the mind.  There are seven senses, but only five are named.  They are hearing/speaking, seeing/moving, feeling/grasping, tasting/reproducing, and smelling/eliminating (śrotra/vāc, cakṣus/pāda, tvac/pāṇi, jihvā/upastha, and ghrāṇa/pāyu).  The subtle and gross elements (tanmātras and mahābhūtas) are the subtle and gross objects of the senses.  See Tattva.

Indriyaja:

“Born of the senses,” as opposed to “born of union” (yogaja).  See Pratyakṣa.

Iṣṭadevatā:

Chosen deity.

Īśvara:

God, lord, oversoul, as opposed to soul (jīva).  The union of spirit and nature (saṃyoga of puruṣa and prakṛti).  The efficient cause (nimittakāraṇa).  The unified field (saṃyuktakṣetra).  The “light of a thousand suns” (bhā sūryasahasrasya).  The individualized spirit (viśeṣapuruṣa) unaffected by the afflictions (aparāmṛṣṭa by kleśas).  The unsurpassed seed of all knowledge (niratiśaya bīja of sarvajñāna).  Undivided by time (anavaccheda by kāla), it’s the first teacher (ādiguru).  The reciter of om (vācaka of praṇava), which is the first instruction (ādiśāsana).  The second of the ten strings (daśaguṇa).  See Guṇa.

Īśvarapraṇidhāna:

Surrender to the oversoul, which is emulating it (anuvṛtti īśvara).  The fifth of the five observances (niyamas).  See Niyama.

Itaratra:

Otherwise, on the other hand.

Iti:

1) Thus, in this manner.

2) According to.

“Iti Iti”:

“This, that,” as opposed to “not this, not that” (neti neti).  The cataphatic way, or via positiva.  The experience (anubhava) whereby the ten dual states (dvaita avasthās) are progressively integrated, revealing the origin (mūla).  See Avasthā.

Iva:

Like, in the same manner.