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Dictionary
| S.No. | Word - U | Sound | Description | Key Word |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | uccvasa | Exhalation | Ucchvāsa is composed of the prefix ‘ud-‘ denoting upwards and śvāsa meaning breath. It refers to exhalation. In the context of yoga, the word appears in prāṇāyāma where instructions related to control of breath are given. | u |
| 2 | udana | Udāna (one of the vāyus); breathing upwards | The general meaning of udāna is breathing upwards (‘ud-‘ meaning upwards and ‘āna’ meaning breathing). However, it refers to one of the five principal vāyus used across various texts in Indian literature, the others being prāṇa, apāna, vyāna and samāna. Texts differ regarding its location, however a connection with the throat and perhaps the navel is also suggested commonly in several texts. Its tasks include lifting things up, speaking and singing. It is one of the main reasons for the strength of the body. | u |
| 3 | udara | Stomach; interior; udara (disease) | The basic meaning of ‘udara’ is ‘stomach’. It is sometimes opposed with nābhi and guhya. In such situations, udara refers to the upper stomach beginning with the chest, nābhi refers to the middle region, which surrounds the navel and guhya refers to the portion below the navel. In a metaphorical sense, it can be used to denote the interior of something. It is also the name given to a certain disease (also called mahodara) where the stomach swells up due to various reasons (refer Aṣṭāṅgahṛdaya Nidānasthāna Chapter 12). | u |
| 4 | udavarta | Udāvarta (disease). | This occurs due to the upward motion of vāyu, which is accompanied, in some cases, by excretory products or by-products of metabolism (as defined in Āyurveda). Symptoms include: swelling of the stomach, severe pains in the lower stomach, chest pain, headache, breathing difficulties, chronic hiccups, cough, stiffness in neck, etc. (refer: Suśrutasaṃhitā Uttaratantra Chapter 55) | u |
| 5 | uddiyanam | A type of Bandha. | Uḍḍiyāna is composed of the prefix ‘ud-‘ meaning ‘upwards’ and the root ‘ḍī’ meaning ‘fly’. This refers to the upward motion of prāṇa into the Suṣumnā which is caused by practice of this bandha. According to the Haṭhayoga Pradīpikā (3.57), the stomach must be pulled backwards in the region above the navel and held. It prevents death and old age. | u |
| 6 | udgara | Belching | Belching is a common symptom used to identify the state of the body (hunger, disease, completed digestion, etc.) in several cases, in conjunction with other symptoms. In Ayurvedic treatises (which follow the five vāyu system), this is caused by the vāyu named prāṇa. In some treatises on Haṭhayoga (which follow the ten vāyu system), it is caused by the vāyu named nāga. | u |
| 7 | udghata | Blow; raising; commencement; round (of prāṇāyāma) | In general parlance, udghāta has the meaning of ‘blow’ or ‘wound’, of ‘raising’ or ‘elevation’, or of ‘commencement’. In the context of yoga, 12 mātrās of prāṇāyāma are defined as one udghāta or round. Short length prāṇāyāma (see uttama) is composed of one udghāta, moderate length of two udghātas and long prāṇāyāma of three udghāta. | u |
| 8 | ugra | According | Ugra has several connotations as indicated above. Something that induces fear or awe may be, in general, called ‘ugra’. It is also an epithet of Śiva and the name of an āsana. | u |
| 9 | ujjāyī | A type of Pr¡³¡y¡ma. | to Haṭhayoga Pradīpikā (2.51-53), to perform the Ujjāyī, the person must first cover the mouth and breathe through both nostrils. When the breath binds to the passage between the throat and heart and creates noise, kumbhaka must be practiced. After this, the breath is released through the left nostril. Ujjāyī removes kapha from the throat and strengthens jaṭharāgni, removes diseases from the nāḍīs, dhātus and the stomach, as well as issues that may have arisen from excess water consumption. This technique can be done when moving or standing as well. Differences in procedure can be seen in the respective texts. | u |
| 10 | ukara | The sound ‘u’. | ‘U’ is the second component of the sound ‘Om’ (composed of A-U-M). It is associated with Lord Viṣṇu. It may also be associated with Lord Śiva. | u |
| 11 | upadanam | Taking for oneself; employment; use; material cause | ‘Taking for oneself’, ‘employment’ and ‘use’ are general meanings and rarely used in philosophy. Upādāna is one of the types of causes that create an object (see kāraṇa). | u |
| 12 | upadhi | Substitute; peculiarity; attribute; limitation; supposition | Upādhi as meaning ‘substitute’ is common in stories. ‘Peculiarity’, ‘attribute’, ‘limitation’ (i.e. characterizing feature) and ‘supposition’ (i.e. hypothesis) are common in philosophical works. A hypothesis may be true or false. In yoga, it is often false notions that are called upādhis. These prevent attainment of samādhi. | u |
| 13 | upalabdhi | Obtaining; acquisition; attainment; observation; perception | Upalabdhi is used in several places to specify ‘obtaining’ or ‘acquiring’ various things. Different philosophical schools give it technical meaning of ‘acquiring’ something specific. Upalabdhi also refers to ‘perception’ or ‘observation’. This is also a technical word in some philosophical schools. In yoga, it is used to specify the attainment of a state (such as samādhi). | u |
| 14 | upamsu | In secret; whispering | Upāṃśu is used in the context of japa (q.v.) | u |
| 15 | uparaga | Colouring; eclipse; affliction; misbehaviour; influence. | Uparāga refers to colouring in general. The meaning is extended in two ways: it can refer to an eclipse of the sun or moon, or a mental affliction, such as anger, misbehaviour, or any influence. Uparāga is used when referring to the clear mind (achieved through yoga) taking on the qualities of the object it is placed on. | u |
| 16 | uparakta | Undergoing uparāga (q.v.) | Undergoing uparāga (q.v.) | u |
| 17 | uparama | Cessation; stopping; death; giving up (esp. worldly pleasures) | In yoga, uparama is used in the context of giving up worldly pleasures. It may also be used in the general meaning of ‘cessation’. | u |
| 18 | upasarga | Misfortune; evil omen; sickness; obstruction; hurdle | The meanings of ‘misfortune’, ‘evil omen’ and ‘sickness’ are commonly seen in general texts. In yoga, upasarga is a hurdle, specifically one that prevents a person from reaching the state of samādhi. Siddhis are branded as useful in the outside world (day-to-day living) but are obstacles to the attainment of samādhi since they divert the mind. | u |
| 19 | upastambha | Support; encouragement; base | The meaning of ‘support’ is the most common, with ‘encouragement’ and ‘base’ also occurring. In the context of Sāṅkhya, there is a special usage: the guṇas, sattva and tamas, do not act on their own. With support or encouragement from rajas, they are able to function. This support is called upaṣṭambha. | u |
| 20 | upastha | Urethra; genitals | This is one of the five karmendriyas in philosophical texts. | u |
| 21 | upaya | Means; stratagem | Upāya refers to the means to attain one’s goals. It is used in compounds in various places as “the means for” something. It is also used with pratyaya to denote the method of upāya-pratyaya (see pratyaya). | u |
| 22 | upeksa | The goal of yoga is to calm the mind. | The goal of yoga is to calm the mind. However, so long as the yogī continues to live, he interacts with the world outside, including the people in it. So as to retain calmness and continue in the path of yoga while interacting with people, the Yogasūtra (1.33) suggests strategies. With people who regularly engage in evil acts, one must practice upekṣā, i.e. indifference or disregard. Through this, the mind attains calmness and becomes one-pointed. (See maitrī for further explanation) | u |
| 23 | upeksakha | Indifferent; negligent (person) | This word is used in Sāṅkhya. When a person (puruṣa) realizes that the prakṛti is separate from puruṣa, a sense of indifference arises in that person. That person is called upekṣaka. | u |
| 24 | urdhvakuncanam | Pulling upwards; Mūlabandha (a bandha) | See mūlabandha | u |
| 25 | ustrah | Camel (the camel posture) | Uṣṭrāsana is composed of uṣṭra meaning ‘camel’ and āsana meaning ‘posture’. To accomplish this āsana, the practitioner must lie on the ground with the face downwards. He must turn up the legs and place them in the direction of his back, catching them with his hands. He should then contract his mouth and stomach. | u |
| 26 | ustranidadanha | A particular posture | Uṣṭraniṣadana is composed of uṣṭra meaning ‘camel’ and niṣadana meaning ‘sitting’ and refers to a particular kind of posture referred to in the Vyāsabhāṣya. It is only named and no description is given. Other books do not mention this posture but do mention uṣṭrāsana, also meaning ‘camel posture’ (See uṣṭra). | u |
| 27 | utkata | Excess; large; superior; abounding in; drunk; intoxication; mad; utkaṭāsana | Utkaṭa has three principal meanings in general usage. The first is ‘excess’, ‘large’ or ‘superior’. The second one is ‘abounding in’. The third is ‘drunk’, ‘intoxication’ or ‘mad’. It is the name of an āsana. According to the Haṭhayoga Pradīpikā (2.27) and Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā (2.27), the toes are placed on the ground and the heels are lifted into the air. The heels are placed near the anus by sitting. | u |
| 28 | utkranti | Stepping up; going out; dying; ascension (yoga) | Utkrānti, in general, refers to the acts of ‘stepping up’, ‘going out’ or ‘dying’. In the context of yoga, it refers to the fact that, at the time of death, the person is able to go through the arcirādi path, i.e. the path leading out of saṃsāra. Alternatively, utkrānti is also interpreted as ‘levitation’, the ability to rise up in the air. In case of both interpretations, it is achieved by conquering udāna (q.v.). | u |
| 29 | utpatti | Arising; coming into existence; birth | The existence of all objects is divided into three stages: utpatti (where it comes into existence), sthiti (its existence) and pralaya (where it is destroyed). Though utpatti can be used for ‘birth’, its meaning is more abstract and ‘coming into existence’ is a better translation. Anything that comes into existence must be destroyed at some time or another – a philosophical principle that is seen across several texts. | u |
| 30 | utpattikaranam | Cause of coming into existence | Utpatti is ‘coming into existence’ and kāraṇa is ‘cause’ (q.v.). | u |
| 31 | utsaha | Enthusiasm; power; strength; inclination; effort | Utsāha has the above shades of meaning and is used in a positive sense. In Haṭhayoga Pradīpikā (1.16), it is mentioned as one of the six qualities that aid the practice of yoga. | u |
| 32 | utsarga | Abandoning; excretion; general rule | Utsarga is ‘abandoning’ or ‘giving up’. It also means ‘excretion’, the task of the karmendriya known as pāyu (anus). A different meaning is used in certain places. Utsarga refers to a general rule which contrasts with apavāda which is an exception to that rule. | u |
| 33 | uttama | Best; excellent; highest; chief; greatest; longest (prāṇāyāma) | While the general senses of ‘best’ or ‘highest’ are used in yoga, when connected with prāṇāyāma, it refers to the prāṇāyāma of highest length. Three lengths – short, moderate and long – are stated for prāṇāyāma in most texts. Their lengths are usually given as 12, 24 and 36 mātrās respectively. Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā states that their lengths are 12, 16 and 20 mātrās respectively. The longest prāṇāyāma causes levitation when practiced for a long duration . | u |
| 34 | uttanakurma | Name of an āsana. | Uttāna-kūrmāsana is the posture of a tortoise that lies on its back. Taking the kukkuṭāsana, the practitioner must place the hands around the neck and lie on the back like an upside-down tortoise. | u |
| 35 | uttanamanduka | A particular type of āsana. | Uttānamaṇḍūka is an upright frog. The āsana is taken in the following way: after taking the maṇḍūkāsana (frog posture), the head must be held with the elbows and the practitioner must stand up like a frog. | u |
| 36 | uttara | Upper; higher; northern; later; subsequent | The general meaning of uttara is three-fold: (1) ‘upper’ or ‘higher’, (2) ‘northern’ and (3) ‘later’ or ‘subsequent’. In the context of Tāraka-yoga, an esoteric doctrine, practice of Tāraka is divided into two: Pūrva-tāraka and Uttara-tāraka (also called Amanaska). In Uttara-tāraka, dhyāna is performed on the light that is said to be located above the hard palate. This leads to siddhis such as aṇimā, etc.. | u |
| 37 | uttarayanam | Northern motion of the Sun; a particular movement of prāṇa | The northern motion of the sun occurs between 21 December and 21 June each year. The cause for this phenomenon is astronomical: Over the course of the year, the Earth revolves around the Sun. From the point of view of a person standing on Earth, the Sun will appear to move in the sky, completing one circle in a year. This can be observed with respect to the background stars. The Earth also rotates around its own axis. However, an observer located on Earth will see the whole sky moving like a sphere. This sphere has two stationary poles and an equator (called celestial equator) in the middle (with maximum apparent movement). The circle that the Sun follows in the sky (called the ecliptic) is inclined to celestial equator. The effect of this is that over the course of a year, the Sun appears to move northwards and southwards from the middle (which corresponds to the celestial equator). An observer can see this at the time of sunrise. The sun will rise a little more to the north each day until one day when it stops and goes southwards every day after that. It again slows and stops in the south on one particular day and then moves northwards. The days of stopping are called solstices and occur on 21 December (in the southern end) and 21 June (in the northern end) (valid only for current era). The movement towards the north occurring between 21 December and 21 June is called uttarāyaṇa. In the context of yoga, another meaning is also used: when prāṇa moves from the piṅgalā to iḍā, it is called uttarāyaṇa. | u |