Sanskrit Dictionary

Ways Sanskrit helps us to know a pose:

  • What body part we are using

  • If it is whole body or one-sided

  • Where the attention goes in a posture 

  • The shape of the posture

  • Whether you are lying, standing, or bending to the side

  • Myth or Deity

Here you can find a list of the most common words transliterated from Sanskrit to English

Dictionary of Root Terms



Sanskrit

Adho

Ananda

Anga

Asana

Ardha

Ashta

Baddha

Badha

Bala

Bhuja

Chandra

Chatur

Danda

Dhanura

Dwi

Eka

Goh

Gusta

Hasta

Janu

Karma

Kona

Kurma

Mala

Matsya

Mukha

Nama

Nataraja

Nava

Pachi

Pada

Padma

Paripurna

Parivrtta

Parsva

Prasarita

Prana

Purvo

Raja

Shalabh

Sarva

Sava

Setu

Sirsa

Supta

Surya

Tada

Tan

Tri

Upavista

Urdhva

Usta

Ut

Utana

Utthita

Vira

Virabhadra

Vrksa

English

Down

Bliss

Limb

Posture

Half

Eight

Bound, restricted

Lock

Child

Arm/shoulder

Moon

Four

Staff

Bow

Two, both

One, single

Cow

Big Toe

Hand

Knee

Action

Angle

Turtle

Garland

Fish

Face

Name

Dancing Siva

Boat

Forward

Leg/foot

Lotus

Full

Revolved

To the Side/Flank

Stretched out/Spread out

Breath/life force

East

Royal/King

Moth/Locust

Whole

Corpse

To bind/bring together/bridge

Head

Sleeping

Sun

Mountain

To stretch

Three

Seated

Upward, elevated, raised

Camel

Power/Intense

Cascade

One-Sided

Hero

Mythical Warrior

Tree