Pingala: One of the three major nadis, representing the male or solar energy. Related to the Yamuna river, its color is red.
Prakrti: Primal material nature, both active and passive. The basic stuff of which manifestation is made, the female counterpart to purusa.
Prana: The breath of life, first unit, the five life winds (the pranas), the moving force of the universe.
Pranayama: The practice of controlling or exercising the breath for the purposes of purification and spiritual illumination.
Puja: Worship in the form of homage or ritual offering to a deity.
Purusa: The male principle, creative, active, mental. It is the consciousness that is counterpart to Prakrti. The two together create the world.
Rajas: The guna associated with raw energy, the mover, the changer, the fiery guna.
Rakini: The form of Shakti in the Svadhisthana (second) chakra.
Ram: The seed sound in the Manipura (third) chakra.
Rudra: Alternate name of Shiva, one of the darker fire gods, associated with thunder and lightning, storms, cattle, and fertility.
Sahasrara: Literally, thousandfold, the name for the seventh or crown chakra.
Sakti (also Shakti): Divine power or energy, female goddess, counterpart to Shiva. She is the active principle in all things, constantly changing. She is represented in many forms and by many names: in the lower chakras-Dakini, Rakini, Lakini, Kakini.
Samadhi: A state of enlightenment or bliss.
Samsara: The flow and cycle of birth and death.
Sarasvati: Literally, river goddess; the patroness of all the sixty-four arts, the mother of speech and writing, the epitome of purity, and the consort of Brahma.
Sattvas: The lightest of the gunas, associated with thought, spirit, and balance.
Siddhis: Magical powers believed attainable at certain stages of yoga practice and/or Kundalini awakening.
Siva (also Shiva): One of the main Indian male gods, associated with the abstract and formless aspects of thought and spirit. The name means "auspicious." He is thought of as a burning white light, as a lightning bolt, as a lingam, as the Lord of Sleep, as the Destroyer (for he destroys form and attachments), as consort to Shakti and to Kali.
Sushumna: The central vertical nadi that connects all the chakras. To have a full Kundalini awakening, the energy must travel up the sushumna.
Svidhisthina: The name for the second chakra, located in the lower abdomen and genital area. Early on the name meant "to drink in sweetness," from the root svadha, to relish, or sweeten. Later interpretations ascribe it to the root svad, meaning one's own, giving this chakra the name of "one's own place." Both are pertinent to describing the second chakra.
Tamas: The guna that represents matter, inertia at rest, resistance to opposing forces. It is the heaviest, most limited of the three gunas.
Tantra: (1) Literally weaving or loom. (2) refers to a large body of teachings woven from many threads of Indian philosophy that became popular around C.E. 600 to 700. (2) the practice of attaining liberation through the senses and through union with another.
Tantras: Doctrines referring to Tantric philosophy and practice.
Tapas: A heat force believed to be generated by ascetic practice, considered as a measure of personal power and advanced spirituality.
Tejas: Fiery energy, vital power, majesty authority. With tejas from the sun, Visnu's chakra was made. (p. 302, Stutley)
Trikona: Triangle that appears in several of the chakras and in other yantras. Pointing downward, it represents Shakti, pointing upward, Siva. In the heart chakra they are interlaced, representing sacred marriage.
Upanishads: A set of teaching doctrines that followed the Vedas, believed to be written between 700 and 300 B.C.E.
Vaikhari: audible sound.
Vam: The seed sound of the Svadhisthana (second) chakra.
Varuna: One of the earliest Vedic sky gods, father of many of the later gods, associated with law and divine order; he is associated with the stallion (from the early sacrifices) and the makara, as ruler of the primordial waters.
Vayu: (1) Wind, and god of the wind, believed to have purifying powers. (2) Refers to one of five pranic currents in the body: udana, prana, smana, apana, and vyana.
Vedas: Literally, "knowledges," the earliest set of written doctrines, mostly sacred hymns and descriptions of rituals, originally coveted by the Aryan priestly class.
Vedanta: A post-Vedic philosophy accenting the sense of divinity within the self. "Thou art that."
Visnu: Major Indian male deity, one of the major triad (Brahma, Visnu, Shiva), known as the Pervader and partner to Lakshmi.
Vissuddha: Literally, purification; the name for the fifth chakra, located at the throat.
Yam: The seed sound of the anahata (fourth) chakra.
Yama: God of death.
Yantra: Similar to mandala, a design used for meditation. (A yantra need not always be round.) Also a system of yoga based on meditation on visual symbols.
Yoga: Literally, yoke; a system of philosophy and techniques designed to link mind and body, and individual self to universal or godself. There are many forms and practices of yoga; see Bhakti, Hatha, Jnana, Karma, Tantra, Mantra, Yantra, Pranayama.
Yoni: Female genitalia; sometimes depicted or worshiped in the form of a chalice; counterpart to lingam worship.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Acharya, Pundit. Breath, Sleep, the Heart and Life. Clearlake, CA: Dawn Horse Press, 1975. A pleasant book about the benefits of taking life a little easier.
Assagioli, Roberto, M.D. The Act of Will. New York: Penguin Books, 1974. Great for third chakra development of will.
Avalon, Arthur. The Serpent Power. New York: Dover Publications, 1974. A standard classic on the chakras, translates major tantric texts; scholarly with much Sanskrit-a wealth of information.
Babbitt, Edward D. The Principles of Light and Color. 1878. Reprint, New York: Citadel Press, 1980. Lots of interesting information written in semi-archaic style.
Baker, Dr. Douglas. Anthropogeny, Vol. VI of The Seven Pillars of Ancient Wisdom "Little Elephant" Essendon, England, 1975. Theosophical treatise on the seven rays and evolution.
. The Opening of the Third Eye. York Beach, ME: Weiser, 1977. Theosophical approach to clairvoyance.
Ballentine, Rudolph, M.D. Diet and Nutrition. Honesdale, PA: Himalayan International Institute, 1978.
Bandler, Richard and John Grinder. Tranceformations. Moab, UT: Real People Press, 1981. Neuro-linguistic programming.
Barrie and Rockliffe. The Sufi Message, Vol 2., London, 1972.
Bentov, Itzhak. Stalking the Wild Pendulum. New York: Bantam Edition, 1979. A delightfully written book on the mechanics of consciousness.
Blair, Lawrence. Rhythms of Vision. New York: Schocken Books, 1976. A fascinating journey through physics and metaphysics.
Blawyn and Jones, Chakra Workout for Body, Mind, and Spirit. St. Paul: Llewellyn, 1996. A comprehensive series of exercises for rejuvenating subtle energies. Not particularly linked to the chakras, however.
Blofeld, John. Mantras: Sacred Words of Power. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1977. Mantras by a Buddhist scholar.
Bloomfield, et al. Transcendental Meditation. Discovering Inner Awareness and Overcoming Stress. New York: Delacorte Press, 1975. A good introduction to meditation and its benefits.
Buck, William, trans. Mahabharata. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1973, One of the classic myths of Hindu mythology.
Burton, Sir Richard F., trans. The Kama Sutra of Vatsyayana. New York: E.P. Dutton, 1962. The detailed text of Tantric sexual rituals.
Brughjoy, William, M.D. Joy's Way. Los Angeles, CA: J.P. Tarcher, 1979. A doctor's story of developing spiritual sensitivity and healing capacity and his discovery and description of the chakras.
Bruyere, Rosalyn. Wheels of Light: Chakras, Auras, and the Healing Energy of the Body. Vol I. Arcadia, CA: Bon Productions, 1994. Interesting smorgasbord of scientific and philosophical inform
ation on the chakras.
Capra, Fritjof. The Tao of Physics. New York: Bantam Books, 1975. A classic on physics and Eastern metaphysics.
Carlyn, Richard. A Guide to the Gods. New York: Quill, 1982. A nice reference book to the pantheons of different cultures.
Cecil. Textbook of Medicine. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1979.
Clark, Linda. The Ancient Art of Color Therapy. New York: Pocket Books, 1975. One of the standards on color therapy.
Collier's Encyclopedia. New York: MacMillan, 1981.
Crenshaw, Theresa L., M.D. The Alchemy of Love and Lust. New York: Pocket Books, 1996. An excellent and entertaining look at the hormone soup that runs our lives and our sexuality.
Crowley, Aleister. The Book of the Law. O. T. O. Grand Lodge, 1978.
Eight Lectures on Yoga. York Beach, ME: Weiser, 1974.
. Magick in Theory and Practice. New York: Dover Publications, 1976.
Magick Without Tears. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1976. I refrain from too much comment on Crowley. Most people either like him or they don't. If you like him, there's much to learn.
Cunningham, Scott. Crystal, Gem, and Metal Magic. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1987.
. Incense, Oils, and Brews. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1997.
. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn, 1985. Scott's books have been invaluable in coordinating herbs and stones to the elements and chakras.
Danielou, Alain. The Gods of India. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 1985. An informative book on the Hindu pantheon, though rather short on goddesses.
Davis, Mikol and Earle Lane. Rainbows of Life. New York: Harper Colophon Books, 1978. A book on Kirlian photography and the aura of living things.
Dass, Ram. The Only Dance There Is. New York: Anchor Press, 1974. The first book I read with the word chakra. The book that got me started on all this.
DeBono, Edward. Lateral Thinking. Harper and Row, 1970. A great how-to book on unlocking creativity by changing the way you think.
Delangre, Jacques. Do-in: The Ancient Art of Rejuvenation Through Self Massage. Magalia, CA: Happiness Press, 1970. A simple way to care for your body.
Douglas, Nik and Penny Slinger. Sexual Secrets. New York: Destiny Books, 1979. A beautifully written and illustrated introduction to tantra practices for Westerners.
Dychtwald, Ken. BodyMind. New York: Jove Publications, 1977. A wellwritten book coordinating body and mind with good sections on the chakras.
Embree, Ainslie T. The Hindu Tradition. New York: Vintage Books, 1972. Informative and scholarly, well-written.
Evans, John. Mind, Body and Electromagnetism. Shaftesbury, Dorset: Element Books, 1986. Psychophysiology of human aura, energy concepts, consciousness, vibration, morphogenetic fields, etc.
Evola, Julius. The Yoga of Power: Tantra, Shakti, and the Secret Way, U.S. ed. Rochester, VT: Inner Traditions, 1992. Scholarly look at esoteric Tantric philosophy and practices.
Ferguson, Marilyn. The Aquarian Conspiracy. Los Angeles, CA: J. P. Tarcher, 1980. An excellent book for its time on changing trends in cultural thinking.
Feuerstein, Georg. Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy. Boston, MA: Shambhala, 1998. A well-written guide to Hindu Tantric philosophy.
. The Shambhala Encylopedia of Yoga. Boston: Shambhala, 1997. A good source book for yoga terms and ideas.
Fortune, Dion. The Cosmic Doctrine. York Beach, ME: Weiser Publications, 1976. Thick with wisdom and metaphysical philosophy, much food for thought.
. The Mystical Qabalah. 1935. Reprint, New York: Alta Gaia Books, 1979. A readable presentation of the Qabalah.
Frawley, David. Tantra Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses. Salt Lake City: Passage Press, 1994. Traditional and modern Tantra focusing especially on the Hindu Goddesses.
Gach, Michael Reed. Acu-Yoga. Briarcliff Manor, NY: Japan Publications, 1981. A book of exercises designed to stimulate the chakras and acupuncture meridians for greater health.
Gardner, Joy. Color and Crystals: A Journey through the Chakras. Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press, 1988. For those into working with crystals, a handy guidebook.
Gawain, Shakti. Creative Visualization. San Rafael, CA: Whatever Publishing, 1978. A classic on the use of visualization for creating what you want.
Gerber, Richard, M.D. Vibrational Medicine: New Choices for Healing Ourselves. Santa Fe, NM: Bear and Co., 1988. A look at the subtle body and and how to use subtle vibrational energies to heal.
Greenwell, Bonnie, Ph.D. Energies of Transformation: A Guide to the Kundalini Process. Saratoga, CA: Shakti River Press, 1990. A commonsense guide to understanding kundalini awakenings. Highly recommended for those with spontaneous awakening and for therapists who may work with such.
Goldberg, B.Z. The Sacred Fire. New York: Citadel Press, 1974. A wellwritten documentary on the history of sex in ritual, religion, and human behavior (now out of print).
Guyton, Arthur C., M.D. Textbook of Medical Physiology. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1971.
Halpern, Steven. Tuning the Human Instrument. Belmont, CA: Spectrum Research Institute, 1978. An exploration of music and consciousness.
Hamel, Michael Peter. Through Music to the Self Boston, MA: Shambhala 1976. More on music and consciousness, more scholarly than Halpern's Tuning.
Hampden-Turner, Charles. Maps of the Mind. New York: Collier Books, 1981. A delightful book with short essays and illustrations of the many models for the way the mind works.
Hills, Christopher. Energy, Matter, and Form. Boulder Creek, CA: University of the Trees Press, 1977. An exploration of some of the physical counterparts of psychic phenomenon.
Nuclear Evolution. Boulder Creek, CA: University of the Trees Press, 1977. A lengthy but worthwhile book on Hills' theory of chakras, evolution, and metaphysics.
Hubbard, Barbara Marx. The Evolutionary Journey. San Francisco, CA: Evolutionary Press, 1982. An early book from a delightfully inspired futurist.
Hunt, Roland. The Seven Keys to Color Healing. London: C. W. Daniel Company, Ltd., London, 1971. A good introduction to color healing.
Jahn, Robert: "Foundation for Mind-Being Research Newsletter," Reporter, August 1982. Cupertino, CA.
Jarow, Rick. Creating the Work You Love: Courage, Commitment and Career. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 1995. Career counseling from a chakra perspective, or how to be happy in each chakra in your work.
Jenny, Hans. Cymatics. New York: Schocken Books, 1975. Now out of print, however the following video features Dr. Jenny's work: Cymatics: The Healing Nature of Sound. Jeff Volk, series producer. MACROmedia, P.O. Box 279, Epping, NH 03042.1986.
Johnston, Charles. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. Albuquerque: Brotherhood of Life, 1983. A standard classic on yoga doctrine.
Judith, Anodea. Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System as a Path to the Self. Berkeley, CA: Celestial Arts, 1996. Western psychology and chakra philosophy.
and Selene Vega. The Sevenfold Journey: Reclaiming Mind, Body, and Spirit through the Chakras. Freedom, CA: The Crossing Press, 1993. The workbook of exercises, rituals, and practices for opening the chakras taken from their Nine Month Chakra Intensive.
Jung, Carl Gustav. The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga. Sonu Shamdasani, ed. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1996. Jung's lectures on Western psychology and the chakras.
Kahn, Sufi Inayat. The Development of Spiritual Healing. Geneva, Switzerland: Sufi Publishing Company, 1961. A nice little book on the essence behind healing.
Keyes, Ken. Handbook to Higher Consciousness. Mary, KY: Living Love Center, 1975. An extremely simplified, but relatively accurate view of the chakra levels of consciousness.
Keyes, Laurel Elizabeth. Toning: The Creative Power of the Voice. Marina del Rey, CA: Devorss and Company, 1978. The spiritual benefits of singing and chanting.
Khalsa, Dharma Singh, M.D. Brain Longevity. New York: Warner Books, 1997. A look at the chemicals that affect our brain and how to preserve it.
King, Frances. Tantra f
or Westerners. Rochester, VT: Destiny Books, 1986. A zippy little book on Tantra that combines Eastern practice with Western magical traditions.
Kramer, Joel and Diana Alstad. The Guru Papers: Masks of Authoritarian Power. Berkeley, CA: Frog, Ltd., 1993.
Krishna, Gopi. Kundalini, The Evolutionary Energy in Man. Boston: Shambhala, 1971. A classic on a yogi's struggle with the challenges and rewards of Kundalini awakening.
Leadbeater, C.W. The Chakras. 1927. Reprint, Wheaton, IL: Quest, 1974. The standard Western classic on chakras. For a long time this was the only Western book on the subject.
. Man, Visible and Invisible. Wheaton, IL: Quest, 1971. A book about the human aura.
Leonard, George. The Silent Pulse. New York: E. P. Dutton, 1978. A wonderful book on resonance and fifth chakra theory.
Lewis, Alan E. and Dallas Clouatre. Melatonin and the Biological Clock. New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, Inc., 1996.
Love, Jeff. The Quantum Gods. York Beach, ME: Weiser, 1976. A very nice and original presentation of the Qabalah.
Lowen, Alexander, M.D. The Betrayal of the Body. New York: Collier Books, 1967. A good book on the relationship of mind and body, especially regarding natural pleasurable gratification.
. Bioenergetics. New York: Penguin Books, 1975. A good introduction to bioenergetic therapy.
and Leslie. The Way to Vibrant Health. New York: Harper Colophon, 1977. A layman's manual to bioenergetic exercises. Recommended for those who want to work on the lower chakras, though it doesn't speak of chakras as such (now out of print).
MacDonnell, Arthur Anthony. A Practical Sanskrit Dictionary. New York: Oxford University Press, 1954.
Macy, Joanna Rogers. Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age. Philadelphia: New Society Publishers, 1983. Well-written with numerous exercises and meditations for groups and for individuals relating to our current world situation.
McLuhan, Marshall. Understanding Media. New York: Mentor Book, 1964. A classic in its time.
Merrill-Wolfe, Franklin. The Philosphy of Consciousness Without an Object. New York: Julian Press, 1973. The title says it all. The pages are superfluous.
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