- Advaita: The philosophy of oneness or non-dualism
- Agnichayana: The construction of a fire altar and performance of sacrifice. The fire alter represented the body of Prajapati, the creator, and symbolized the universe.
- Aham Brahmasmi: I am Brahman. This phrase is used in advaita to indicate the identity of the Atman with the Brahman.
- Ahimsa: The principle of non violence. The Manu Smriti states that one who does not injure any living being, but desires the good of all, obtains endless bliss.
- Ananda: Internal happiness or bliss which can be reached through contact with the higher Self.
- Antaryamin: Means ‘inner controller’ and refers to Atman or God-within
- Anugraha: Kindness, favor or conferring blessings. In the philosophical context it is translated as the grace of God.
- Asanas: The physical positions that form part of the system of yoga, particularly Hatha Yoga.
- Ashram: The word literally means ‘resting place’ or refuge. It refers to the hermitage of a rishi or sage, usually in a serene surrounding.
- Atman: The self or soul that is imperishable, beyond time and eternal
- Avyakta: Means the unmanifested. Avyakta contains all the deities in their undifferentiated form, as well as all beings.
- Bhakti: Devotion, faith and union of God through love.
- Bindu: A point, particle or drop. In Shaiva Siddhanta philosophy, the bindu represents Shiva from whom everything emerges. At the time of dissolution or Pralaya, the whole of creation is absorbed in the Bindu.
- Brahman: The essence of the world from which everything originates. Brahman is the underlying reality of the world
- Chakras: Refer to mystical energy centers within the body.
- Chitta: Indicates the conscious mind.
- Dharana : ConcentrationDharma: It is generally interpreted as duty, right conduct, or truth.
- Gunas: In Samkhya philosophy, it refers to the basic qualities or characteristics according to which people can be classified. The three gunas are Sattva or serenity, rajas or energetic activity and tamas or dullness.
- Jiva: Signifies a living being and the individual soul.
- Jnana: Knowledge, both worldly knowledge and divine knowledge
- Kala: Time and also the time which destroys all things.
- Kalpa: A period of cosmic time
- Kalpa virksha: Wish fulfilling tree.
- Karma: Indicates the results of action and is used as a synonym for fate and destiny
- Kundalini: A hidden source of energy within the human body
- Mantra: A sacred sound, word or verse.
- Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
- Nada: Sound or tone
- Nadi: Hidden channels of energy within the body
- Nirguna: Refers to the formless deity
- Nirvana: The blissful state of liberation from rebirth and the cycle of lives, achieved through transening desires and passions.
- Prakriti: Nature and matter, the active principle of creation.
- Pralaya: Dissolution or ending of objects.
- Prana: The lifeforce or breath
- Pratyabhijna: A philosophical concept of Shaivism implying recognition of the world as a manifestation of Shiva.
- Purusha: Represents the passive or fixed aspect of creation.
- Rasa: The essence of anything.
- Sahaja: Easy, simple, natural
- Samadhi: Union with the divine, in a state of deep meditation.
- Samskara: Tendencies and qualities that accumulate around an individual and influence his fate.
- Sanatana: Eternal
- Sat-chit-ananda: True being, consciousness, bliss – a description of the Brahma
- Shakti: The principle of female energy.
- Shunya: The void, symbolizes the Brahman
- Spanda: Vibration, motion, movement. It refers to the essential nature of Shiva that leads to creation.
- Svayambhu- Self existing, that which was not created.
- Tapas: Heat which generates power.
- Tattva: True or real state, truth or reality.
- Turiya: The fourth state of consciousness, beyond the first three states
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