• Image 1
    Good Health, for all !
    Ayurveda is the world’s oldest known medical science
    more...
  • Image 1
    Ayurveda for all ages !
    we work for your health !
    more...
  • Image 1
    THE BEST HEALTH CAN BE !
    YOURS FOREVER !
    more...

Ayurveda Glossary

A - Glossary

Abhyanga : to smear, anoint, and oil massage.
Acara : good conduct, an established rule of conduct.
Agada tantra: toxicology; a branch of Ayurveda dealing with poisons
Agantuka: external, stranger.
Agni: fire, light, heat.
Ahamkara: conception of one’s individuality; egotism; pride; haughtiness.
Ahara: food, that which goes in.
Ahara rasa: the juice of food, essence of food, nutrient plasma.
Ajasrika: activities that promote positive health.
Ajirna: indigestion, weak digestion.
Akasa: free open space, ether, sky, atmosphere.
Akriti: physical appearance, external shape.
Alabu: a vessel made of dried gourd.
Alocaka (Pitta): a type of Pitta governing vision, causing to see.
Ama: uncooked, raw, undigested, a toxic material produced from undigested food.
Amala (Amalaki): an Ayurvedic herb, Emblica officinalis (Emblica myrobalan).
Amavata: a disease caused by ama and vata, comparable to arthritis in modern medicine.
Amla: sour taste.
Anjana: black pigment applied in eyes and eyelashes.
Anna-vaha srotas: the channels transporting grains or food, the digestive system, alimentary canal.

B - Glossary

Basti : medicated enema.
Bheda : division, variety, and distinction.
Basti: medicated enema.
Bheda: division, variety, and distinction.
Bhrajaka (Pitta): a type of Pitta that gives color or shining to the skin.
Bhuta-vidya: the science dealing with microorganisms and evil spirits, demonology.
Bodhaka (Pitta): one of the five types of kapha that helps to determine various tastes, to know.
Brahma: study about Vedas, study of spirit, and the absolute, self-realized soul.
Brahmacharya: a state of continence followed during student life, routine followed while studying Vedas.
Brahma-muhurta: time period (two hours) preceding sunrise.
Brahmi: an herb popularly used for enhancing memory: Latin name: Centella asiatica.
Buddhi: intelligence, intellect.

C - Glossary

Caksu: eye.
Caraka (Charaka): A famous personality in the history of Ayurveda who wrote Caraka Samhita.
Carya: routine, practice.
Cikitsa: treatment, a therapy to retain balance, practice or science of medicine.
Citraka: name of an herb, Latin Name: Plumbago zeylanica.
Citraka- mula: the root of the herb citrak (Plumbago zeylanica). Its root is good for increasing the strength of the digestive power.
Citrakadi vati: an Ayurvedic medicine made using citrak as the main ingredient.

D - Glossary

Danti mula: root of the herb “danti” (Latin Name: Baliospermum montanum).
Desa: region, country, area, and kingdom.
Dharana: concentration of mind combined with controlled breathing.
Dhatri: a synonym of Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)
Dhatu: tissue element that sustains the body, layer, and stratum.
Dhatu-agni: The fire (enzyme) that converts juice of the food into tissue.
Dhyana: meditation.
Dinacharya: daily routine.
Dosa: fault, deficiency, that which contaminates.
Drava: liquid.
Dusya: that which is contaminated or adulterated, seat of disease manifestation in the body.

E - Glossary

Eczema: Acute or chronic skin inflammation

Emetic: Medicine that produces vomiting

Expectorant: A substance that promotes the ejection of mucus.

F - Glossary

Flora: Healthful bacteria which are present in various parts of the body, list of plants of a particular place

Fomentation: Treatment by warm and moist application to skin

G - Glossary

Ghrta (Ghee): Ghruta ia a sanskrit word meaning ghee. It is the clarified butter made by heating unsalted butter. The ghee may be stored without refrigeration and can be used for most of the preparations that need oil or butter as the basic ingredient.

Guna: All material entities including the mind are the composites of the three gunas, namely the sattva, rajjas and tamas. These are the attributes whose imbalance leads to creation.

Gandharva: Celestial musicians, Heavenly singers.

Gridhrasi: Sciatica , It is vattaj roga. The aggravated vata and kapha invades the hip region leading to stiffness, pain and pricking sensation in the waist, back , thigh, knee and calf region.

Goksur: Medicinal herb - Puncture vine, Latin name: Tribulus terrestris.

Guduci: Name of an herb: Latin name: Tinospora cordifolia.

Guggulu: A gum from the herb called Indian bedellium, Latin name: Commiphora mukul.

H - Glossary

Haritaki: Chebulic myrofalan, Latin name: Terminalia chebula.

Harsh: Deligh, pleasant.

Hina yoga: Insufficient, deficient.

I - Glossary

Indrya: Faculty of sense, organ of sense.

Isabgol: An herb commonly used as laxative. Latin Name: Plantago ovata.

Iccha: It is a Sanskrit word meaning "the will".

Isvara: Means the God or the Lord who is exists forever, free and where the Lordship reaches extremity God exists

J - Glossary

Jiva: It is the empirical self, individual soul or the living being.

Jala: Water, fluid.

Jalauka: Leech.

Jathara: belly or abdomen.

Jatharagni: Fire located in stomach, digestive fire, gastric juices, digestive enzymes.

Jati: Jasmine.

K - Glossary

Kala: Time period, season.

Kalka: Paste The herbs to be used for medicinal purposes are taken and are kneaded along with juice or herbal waters to convert into lumps. This form is called kalka.

Kamya: Desirable, amiable, performed for desiring an object.

Kama: It is a sexual desire apart from the other two i.e. the dharma and artha which are mostly desired by men and are the three things from which a yogi, the saint must keep himself away from besides greed, fear, sleep and wrath.

Kanthya: It is the natural substances that improve the hoarseness of voice and are good for throat, speech and voice.

Kapha: It is one of the three doshas i.e. the water humor, the intracellular fluid and the extra cellular fluid that plays significant role in the nutrition and existence of body cells and tissues.

Karma: Action; work; a complex concept, the word originally denoted a religious act or rite and gradually assumed other shades of meaning, as in, action, work, past actions as producing good or evil results; the accumulated effect of deeds in lives, past and present.

Kama: It refers to the healthy and spiritual use of senses. In ayurveda it is believed that the remedy of the disease is to be found in the the cause itself so the senses have a vital role to play in curing the ailment.

Karna: It is a Sanskrit word meaning ear.

Keshyam: These are the natural herbs and substances that strengthen hair and the hair root.

Khumbhaka: In yoga it is a breathing exercise in which the breath is retained in a state of suspense when the mind is relaxed. This exercise re vitalizes the nervous system.

Kichadi: It is meal that is prepared with basmati rice and split mungdal. Sometimes few other legumes and vegetables are also used.

Kledaka [kapha]: It is one of the five subtypes of kapha. It has the vital function of moistening the food and liquefying the digested contents in the stomach.

Kosha: It refers to the subtle bodies, the sheaths. Human body has five sheaths in all, namely the sheath of knowledge, the sheath of bliss, the sheath of prana, the sheath of mind and the sheath of food.

Kundalini: Meaning the spiritual life force, Shakti kundalini is the residue that remains after material consciousness is dissolved.

Karana: Doing, making, effecting, causing.

Karanja: Indian beech, Latin name: Pongamia pinnata.

Karavira: Indian oleander, Latin name: Nerium indicum.

Karmendriya: An organ of action, the working sense.

Kashaya: Astringent taste or flavor.

Kathina: Hard, firm, stiff, harsh, inflexible, cruel.

Katu: Pungent taste or flavor.

Katuka: An herb, Latin name: Picrorhiza kurroa.

Kaumarabhrtya: The branch of Ayurveda that deals with child- care ( pediatrics ).

Kaya: Body, habitation.

Kay-cikitsa: Treatment of body diseases, Internal Medicine.

Kedari kulya nyaya: Irrigation canal analogy, a theory described in Ayurveda to explain the formation of tissues.

Khale kapota nyaya: The grain pigeon analogy, a theory described in Ayurveda to explain the formation of tissues.

Kledaka: Wet, moist or phlegm in stomach.

Ksharas: alkali preparations Their properties depend mainly on the herbs from which they are made. In general they are sharp, hot, light, unctuous, softening and stimulative. For e.g. tavak-kshara.

Kriya: Action, practice, applying a remedy.

Kriyakala: Duration of an action.

Ksira Dadhi nyaya: A theory described in Ayurveda to explain the formation of tissues.

Kubera: The God of riches and treasure.

Kuti: Cottage or hut.

Kutipravesika rasayana

Entering or living in a cottage for the purpose of rejuvenation (Rasayana chikitsa).

L - Glossary

Laghu: light, small, minute.
Lassi: buttermilk, drink made by mixing water in yogurt and churning it.
Lavana: salty taste of flavor.
Lavana-bhaskara: an Ayurvedic powder popularly used to enhance digestion.

M - Glossary

Madakari: that which causes intoxication.
Madanaphala : emetic nut, Latin name: Randia spinosa.
Madatya: effect or disorder resulting from intoxication.
Madya: Any intoxicating drink or substance.
Madhura: sweet taste of flavor, pleasant, charming, delightful.
Mahabhuta: big elements, gross elements, being great.
Mahad tattva: intellect, great principle.
Mahendra: a great king or leader, the great Indra. Indra is the king of demigods.
Majja: bone marrow.
Majja-vaha srotas: channels transporting bone marrow.
Mala: impurity, dirt, filth, wastes excreted out of body.
Malinikarana: the act making impure, staining.
Mamsa: muscles, flesh, meat, fleshy part (pulp) of a fruit.
Mamsa-vaha srotas: channels transporting muscles.
Manas: Mind.
Manda: slow.
Mandagni: weakened state of digestive fire.
Mantra: Vedic hymn, sacred or mystical verse, a prayer.
Matasya: fish.
Meda: fatty tissue.

N - Glossary

Nadi: pulse, any tubular organ such as vein or artery
Naimittika: a cause to achieve a specific result.
Nanatmaja: a result (disease) caused by single factor (dosa).
Nasya: administering a remedy through nose.
Neem: Margosa tree, Latin name: Azadirachta indica.
Netra: eye.
Nidana: cause of disease and investigating it.
Nidra: sleep.
Nija: innate, one’s own, internal.
Niruha (Basti): an enema not of an oily kind.
Niyama: restrain, regulate, to fix upon, control, check.

O - Glossary

Odana: boiled rice Boiling the rice and then draining the water. The solid with or without fluid portion is called odana. It is very easily digestible.

Ojas: Vigor, strength and vitality that is the essence of all tissues (dhatus). It means the life sap or the essence of immune system and spiritual energy. Ojas is a protoplasmic substance called the albumin and globulin that is formed during the biosynthesis of bodily tissues and strengthens the tissues.

As ghee is the pure essence of milk, in the same way this protoplasmic biological substance is the pure essence of biological tissue. In the churning process to make ghee, agni is created, electricity is created, which ionizes and separates the molecules of butter from buttermilk. In the same way, the end product of digested food plus agni(fire or warmth, body heat) creates the nutritional precursor called ahar rasa. Rasa dhatu agni transfers the immature ahar rasa into mature sthay rasa. Asthayi means mobile, unstable, unprocessed, and immature. Sthay means stable, permanent, and mature. In that transformation, dhatu waste products, dhatu by products and ojas is created

P - Glossary

Pacaka (pitta): that which helps in digestion, cooking, roasting and baking.
Paisacika: demonical, related to ghosts or evil spirits.
Pancha: five.
Panchakarma: five types of elimination actions or therapies or procedures.
Panir: a type of fresh cheese made by curdling milk.
Para-ojas: high quality or superior vital fluid located in the heart.
Pariksa: examination, inspection, investigation.
Parinama: result, consequence, transformation.
Pasava: animal type, belonging to cattle or animal family.
Pascata karma: post action, therapies induced after the main action (therapy).
Peya: rice gruel or any drink mixed with a small quantity of boiled rice.
Pichila: slimy, lubricous, slippery, smeary.
Pippali: long pepper, Latin name: Piper longum.
Pitta: fire, bile, one of the three main biological energy in the body.
Prabhava: effect, prominent, peculiar or special action of an herb.
Prajna: wisdom, intelligence, knowledge.
Prajnaparadha: not using intellect, offending the wisdom.
Prakopa: vitiation, aggravation.
Prakriti: nature, constitution, natural form, and original nature.
Prana: the breath of life, life air or life force, energy, power.

Q - Glossary

Data not Available

R - Glossary

Rajas: passion, action.
Rajasic: passionate, active, sharp.
Rakshasa: demon, an evil, infested by demons, demonical.
Rakta: blood.
Rakta-moksana: blood letting, letting the blood flow out.
Rakta-vaha srotas: channels carrying blood, circulatory system.
Ranjaka: coloring, dyeing, one of the five types of pitta.
Rasa: juice, taste, flavor, essence, liquid, fluid.
Rasa-vaha srotas: channels carrying plasma or lymph.
Rasayana: things (herbs, foods, activities) that prevent aging and promote longevity.
Rasi: quantity, a measure for quantity, a heap, a pile, mass.
Ratricarya: routine to be followed in night or evening, night regime.
Ritucarya: seasonal regimes, routine to be followed in various seasons
Ruksa: dry, arid, not greasy, emaciated, thin.
Rupa: sign, symptoms, mark (of diseases).

S - Glossary

Sabda: sound, tone, voice.
Sada: six.
Sadavidha: six types.
Sadhaka (Pitta): energizing, effective, accomplishing, one of the five types of pitta.
Sakuna: relating to birds, having the nature of a bird, bird catcher.
Salakya tantra: Science using probes or cylindrical sticks for investigation and treatments, branch dealing with eyes, ears, nose and throat.
Salya tantra: splinter (extraction) science, surgery.
Sama: balanced, equal, even.
Samadhi: profound or abstract meditation, intense contemplation of any particular object.
Samagni: balanced state of digestive fire.
Samana (Vata): like, equal, identical, similar, one of the five types of vata.
Samanya: similar, identical, like.
Samanyaja: a result (disease) caused my many factors (two or all three dosas).
Samhita: methodically arranged collection of verses, texts.
Samprapti: pathogenesis, the complete route of manifestation of disease.
Samsarjana (karma): diets and activities practiced after a treatment to get back to normal routine and food.
Samyaka: accurate, proper, correct.
Samyoga: combination, connection, conjunction.
Sancaya: accumulation, collection, gathering.
Sandra: dense, thick, solid, compact.

T - Glossary

Takra: buttermilk, a drink made by mixing water in yogurt and churning it
Tamaka svasa: a kind of asthma.
Tamas: ignorance, darkness, illusion.
Tamasic: ignorant, lazy, dark, stale.
Tanmatra: un-manifested form of the five elements, seeds for element.
Tarpaka: satisfying, fulfilling.
Tejas: fire, light, clearness of eyes, glow, glare, top of a flame.  
Tiksagni: strong digestive fire, increased activity of digestive fire.
Tiksna: sharp, hot, fiery, pungent.
Tikta: bitter taste or flavor.
Tri: three.
Tridosa: the three dosas.
Tridoshic: relating to tridoshas (see tridosha above).
Triguna: the three qualities of Nature.
Triphala: an Ayurvedic recipe made by mixing equal quantities of fruits of three particular herbs.
Trivrita: an herb (Indian jalap) used for purgation, Latin name: Operculina turpethum.
Tulasi: Holy Basil. Latin Name: Ocimum sanctum.

U Glossary

Udaka-vaha srotas: Channels transporting water or watery liquids in the body.

Upa-dhatu: Not a main tissue, a secondary tissue that supports the main tissue.

Upashaya: The allaying (of disease) by suitable remedies, advantageous medicine, diagnosis by the effect of medicines or food items.

Upastambha: Supporting pillars, sub- pillars.

Upyoga-samstha: using method, user manual, and instructions to use or practice a technique.

Upbhokta: User

Usna: Hot, warm, passionate, sharp.

Uttanapadasana: A Yoga posture (asana).

Udana vata: It is located in the umbilical region, chest and the neck and is the five subtypes of vata. The function of udana is to govern enthusiasm, responsibility of various vocal functions and the upward movement of aprana.

Uttama anga: The word is a combination of two words i.e. uttama meaning noble, great and anga that means part of the body.

Urdhwa-jatrugat: Part of the body above sholder.

V - Glossary

Vagabhatta: A famous personality in the history of Ayurveda wrote Astanga Sangraha and Astanga Hrdya.
Vaidya: Ayurvedic doctor
Vajikarana: the science of aphrodisiac, producing virility.
Vamana: the act of vomiting, emesis.
Vanaspatya: a tree, shrub or plant.
Varuna: God of waters, sea, rivers.
Vata: wind or air as one of the three main biological energy of the body.
Vata-tapika: exposed to air and heat (sun), outdoor.
Vayu: air, wind, one of the five elements.
Veda: ancient books of knowledge, sacred knowledge.
Vibhitaka: Belliric myrobalan, Latin name: Terminalia bellirica.
Vidahi: heat, burning, inflammation, acid.
Vikrti: sickness, alteration, change, imbalance, agitation
Vipaka: ripe, mature, state of food after digestion.
Virecana: purgation.
Virya: potency, power, vigor, semen.
Visada: clear, pure, spotless, shining.
Visesa: opposite, different, not similar.
Vismagni: irregular digestive fire, unstable digestive fire.
Visravana: to let flow, to let spread.

W - Glossary

Data not Available

X - Glossary

Data not Available

Y - Glossary

Yantra: It is a visual concentration for each chakra used to channel psychic force.

Yoga Nidra: It means yoga sleep or conscious sleep.

Yama: Rules, instructions, guidelines.

Yamya: One, who takes initiative, is courageous and has leadership qualities.

Yastimadhu: Licorice, Latin name: Glycyrrhiza glabra.

Yoga: The word Yoga is derived from Sanskrit word "yug" which means to unite, to combine or to integrate. It is a state of union of parmaatma (Devine or supreme soul) with the Jeevatma (individual soul or consciousness).

Yusa: Soup generally made from various kinds of pulses.

Z - Glossary

Data not Available