An approach to Sanskrit — the “devanāgarī”, the writing of the gods — is fundamental for anyone studying Indian culture and yoga. Yoga and Āyurveda use Sanskrit terms, and every posture is named in it.
The prefixes of the postures
Often a prefix indicates a variation, a direction or a meaning:
- Ardha: half, lateral
- Adho: downward
- Baddha: bound
- Parivṛtta: revolved, in a twist
- Supta: reclining
- Ūrdhva: upward
- Utthita: extended
Knowing the pronunciation and meaning of a word helps to understand the symbolism and the spiritual concepts. Sanskrit is not only a sacred language: it is also vibration and force.
“Sanskrit possesses a transcendent power of its own; as such, it is the technical instrument of the rite that accomplishes the presence and action of God.”
Pierre-Sylvain Filliozat
“Faced with the wild growth of contemporary yoga, it is good to trace safe paths through the jungle of words and images. The use of Sanskrit remains the key to transmission… not a rigid return to tradition, but a firm footing to serve wisdom.”
Micheline Flak
Further reading
Le Sanskrit, souffle et lumière (Colette Poggi, Almora); Le sanskrit (P.-S. Filliozat, “Que sais-je?”, PUF).
