Glossary of Terms

Y

Yad:

Which.

Yama:

The practice of restraints, which includes non-harming, non-lying, non-stealing, non-wasting, and non-possessiveness (ahiṃsā, satya, asteya, brahmacarya, and aparigraha).  The first of the eight limbs (aṣṭāṅga).  See Aṣṭāṅga.

Yathā:

As.

Yatna:

Effort, exertion.

Yoga:

1) Union, as opposed to separation (viyoga).

2) One of six orthodox philosophies of Hinduism (āstika darśanas).  The practical portion of Sāṃkhya.  See Darśana.

3) The union of spirit and nature (saṃyoga of puruṣa and prakṛti).  See Īśvara.

4) The union state (avasthā), corresponding to the oversoul (īśvara).  The second of the ten states.  See Avasthā.

5) One of the seven yogas (yoga saptaka).  They are action, devotion, knowledge, intellectual, concentration, meditation, and absorption yoga (karmayoga, bhaktiyoga, jñānayoga, buddhiyoga, dhāraṇāyoga, dhyānayoga, and samādhiyoga).  Each being the union (saṃyoga) of a spiritual sheath and a material body (pauruṣa kośa and prākṛta śarīra).  They are principles (tattvas) to be fulfilled through practice (sādhya through sādhana).  See Tattva.

6) One of the three classical yogas (yoga traya).  They are knowledge, devotion, and action yoga (jñānayoga, bhaktiyoga, and karmayoga).

7) A grouping of the eight limbs (aṣṭāṅga).  This includes performance, restraint, and royal yoga (kriyāyoga, saṃyamayoga, and rājayoga).  See Aṣṭāṅga.

Yoga Saptaka:

The seven yogas.  See above.

Yoga Sūtras:

A collection of one hundred ninety-five aphorisms on Yoga (sūtras).  Attributed to Patañjali.

Yoga Traya:

The three classical yogas.  See Yoga.

Yoga Upaniṣad:

One of twenty Upaniṣads that discuss the Yoga philosophy (darśana).  See Upaniṣad.

Yogaja:

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

Yogyatā:

Fitness, suitability.