| The ABC's
of Sanskrit
Sanskrit is the language used by
the ancient sages who first developed the yoga tradition thousands of
years ago in India. The word Sanskrit literally means
"perfected" or "polished". It is a sophisticated language of remarkable power and precision.
The Sanskrit names of yoga
postures describe their shape or function, express some part of nature
including animals and birds, or recall Indian gods and sages.
To understand and use the Sanskrit
terms, helps you to experience the deeper meaning of the postures, provides
a common language for clearer communication, and gives a sense of
connection with those who practice yoga.
Pronunciation Guide
| a .... organ |
au .... how
|
t
.... tart*
. |
b .... bird
|
|
-
a .... father |
k .... come
|
th
.... light-heart*
. |
bh .... rub-hard
|
|
i .... bit
|
kh .... echkart
|
d
.... dub*
. |
m .... mumps
|
|
-
i .... beet |
g .... gum
|
dh
.... red-head*
. |
y .... yet
|
|
u .... put
|
gh .... dig-hard
|
n
.... nut*
. |
r .... run
|
|
-
u .... pool
|
.
n…..sing
|
t .... tub**
|
l .... lug
|
|
r .... written
. |
c .... chair
|
th .... light-heart**
|
v .... love
|
|
-
r .... wr-r-ritten
. |
ch
... staunch-heart |
d .... dub**
|
'
s .... shove
|
|
e .... they
|
j .... jug
|
dh .... red-head**
|
s
.... shine
. |
|
ai .... isle
|
jh .... hedge
|
n .... nut
|
s .... sun
|
|
o .... go
|
~
n .... onion
|
p .... purr
|
h .... hug
|
* with tongue against roof of
mouth
** with tip of tongue against back of upper teeth
Information obtained from material
offered by Ramamand Patel and Beatrice Briggs
|
