The Ayurvedic texts are in the Sanskrit, the language of the Veda

Abhyanga: Full body oil massage that has numerous health benefits. As part of Panchakarma treatment abhyanga is carried out by two therapists in a synchronous manner. For information on home to do Abhyanga ask for our Home Abhyanga information sheet.

Agni: Digestive fire, digestive power. Subdivided into 13 different metabolic actions jataragni, seven dhatu agnis and five bhutagnis.  The seven dhatu agnis are each responsible for converting a precursor material into one of the bodily tissues (dhatus).

Ama: Metabolic waste products and toxins that have accumulated in body and mind and which obstruct the healthy functioning of mind and body.

Asanas: see yoga asanas

Asthi Dhatu: bone tissue

Ayurveda: The science of long and healthy life from Ayus* – life span and Veda – knowledge. Ayurveda is a prevention oriented natural system of health care that is the most ancient and most complete in the world. It is the laws of nature as they affect health; therefore properly speaking anything that promotes health is Ayurveda. The goal of Ayurveda is perfect health (q.v.) defined as completely balanced mind and body and blissful awareness. Ayurvedamritanam = Ayurveda is for immortality. (*Ayu can also be defined as the state where the physical body, senses, mind, and soul are integrated).

Ayurvedic herbs: those herbs that are specifically mentioned in the Ayurvedic texts. In reality all herbs are Ayurvedic because Ayurveda is the system of using the herbs and minerals rather than the ingredients themselves.

Ayurvedic texts: In Maharishi Ayurveda the core Ayurvedic texts are Charaka Samhita, Sushrut Samhita, Vaghbata Samhita, Sharngadhar Samhita, Madava Nidan, Bhavaprakash Samhita.

Bhasma: A mineral ingredient of Ayurvedic preparations prepared in an often lengthy processes of repeated heating with herbs.

Dal or Dhal: a small, yellow, easily digested pulse from hulled and split green mung (moong) beans.

Dhatu: one of the seven body tissues – chyle (rasa), blood (rakta), muscle (mamsa), fat (meda), bone (asthi), bone marrow (majja), reproductive tissue (shukra).

Dhi: intelligence; that part of mental function that captures information.

Dhriti: that part of mental function that retains information.

Dosha: fundamental principle of nature. There are three doshas – Vata, Pitta & Kapha. Vata governs movement, Pitta transformation and Kapha fluid balance and structure. The doshas are found in all aspects of nature as well as our own mind and body in different proportions. When we maintain our own individual balance of the doshas we are healthy.

Garshan: Dry massage using silk gloves. Especially recommended for pacifying Kapha dosha and losing weight.

Ghee: Butter clarified by gentle heating to remove all moisture and milk solids including lactose. Ayurveda considers ghee to be one of the most health promoting of all foods. Used in moderation Ghee is said to balance all three doshas and support mental functioning and longevity.

Kapha: one of the three doshas (q.v.) Kapha dosha governs the principle of structure and cohesion and consists of the earth and water elements (mahabhutas).

Kalash: Vessel. Amrit Kalash means “the vessel that contains the nectar of life”. The logo of Maharishi Ayurveda is a kalash. See also Maharishi Amrit Kalash.

Kapha: One of the three doshas (q.v.) Kapha is heavy, sweet, steady, soft and slow.  It governs cohesion and fluid balance and is formed of the earth and water elements (mahabhutas (q.v.)). It can be subdivided into five subdoshas: Kledaka, Avalambaka, Bhodaka, Tarpaka and Shleshaka.

Lassi: A drink highly recommended by Ayurveda for digestive health. It is prepared by blending one part fresh yoghurt with three parts water. Various flavourings (salt, spices, sugar etc.) can be added for different effects.

Mahabhutas: the five basic elements of creation that can be approximately translated as Akasa (space), Vayu (air), Tejas (fire), Jala (water), Prithvi (earth) and may be equated to the five spin types of matter – spin 0 gravitons, spin 1/2 gravitinos, spin 1 force fields, spin 1 ½ matter fields, spin 2 Higgs particles.

Maharishi: “Maha” – great, “Rishi” – Seer. One of refined awareness who both perceives and applies the Veda. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi is a Vedic master, founder of the Transcendental Meditation programme and Maharishi Ayurveda.

Maharishi Amrit Kalash: The most important food supplement that enlivens the production of ojas (q.v.) and supports higher consciousness and perfect health.

Maharishi Ayurveda: Ayurveda revived in its completeness including the development of consciousness, by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (putting the Veda back in Ayurveda); complete Ayurveda.

Maharishi Gandharva Veda: the classical India music, the music that brings the listener into harmony with the universal rhythms of Nature.

Maharishi’s Vedic Approach to Health: includes all aspects of Maharishi’s Vedic science (q.v.) as they apply to health of which Maharishi Ayurveda is a major element.

Maharishi’s Vedic Science: Maharishi Mahesh Yogi has organised the Vedic literature into an orderly structure of 40 aspects. Dr Tony Nader showed that these 40 aspects are reflected in 40 aspects of the human physiology.

Maharaja Nader Raam: Dr Tony Nader MD, PhD discovered a precise structural and functional relationship between the 40 aspects of the Vedic literature and 40 aspects of the human physiology. Maharishi declared this to be the greatest scientific achievement ever and awarded Dr Nader his weight in gold. He was later crowned Raja Nader Raam, the first ruler of the Global Country of World Peace.

Mala: waste products of the body

Meda: Meda is fatty tissue – one of the seven dhatus (q.v.). Meda dhatu.

Meditation: A term widely used for a variety of practices. One simple, natural, widely practiced, very well researched and unique technique is the Transcendental Meditation programme (q.v.).

Natural Law: All the laws of Nature, particularly at their most unified level – the Unified field.

Nidra: Night time or sleep time.

Ojas: The most refined product of the digestive process, created only when digestion is perfect and which supports the highest quality of human awareness and perfect health.

Panchakarma: literally “the five actions”. Panchakarma therapy is the subtle purificatory procedures of Ayurveda that dissolve metabolic waste products and environmental toxins from the body's tissues in a gentle and effective way and eliminate them from the physiology and enliven the body’s self-healing mechanisms and rejuvenating the mind and body.

Perfect health: Sushrut Samhita 15.38 says - “Samadoshah samagnish ca samadhatumalakriyah prasannatmendriyamanah svastha ity abhidhiyate”. “He whose doshas are in balance, whose appetite is good, whose dhatus are functioning normally, whose malas are in balance, and whose Self, mind, and senses remain full of bliss, is called a healthy person.”  Perfect health is the physical correlate of the highest state of consciousness.

Pitta: One of the three doshas (q.v.) Pitta is hot, sharp, moist and sour smelling. It governs the metabolic processes and all transformation and is formed of the fire and water elements (mahabhutas). Can be subdivided into five subdoshas: Pachaka, Ranjaka, Sadhaka, Alochaka and Bhrajaka.

Prana: One of the five subdoshas of Vata. It is the essence of life and governs activity of the nerves.

Raga: individual piece of music in Maharishi Gandharva Veda (q.v.).

Rasayana: Special Ayurvedic preparation that enlivens (ayana) the essence (rasa) or innermost intelligence of the mind and body.

Sanskrit: the language of the Vedic civilisation that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi describes as the language of Nature – the language with the closest relation between name and form.

Sattva: Purity, balance, contentment.

Shirodhara: one of the treatments used in Panchakarma (q.v.). An exceptionally soothing procedure in which warm oil is poured on the forehead.

Smriti: Memory; that part of mental function that utilises retained information.

Soma: the product of the metabolism of the sound of the Veda, it allows or contributes to the experience of pure bliss. When the human physiology is in perfect balance Soma emerges from every experience and creates bliss and wholeness of awareness. (Human Physiology: Expression of Veda and Vedic Literature. Nader. p82.)

Sthapatya Veda: the Vedic science of building and town planning in accord with Natural Law (q.v.) so as to bring maximum health and happiness.

Subdosha: each dosha (q.v.) is subdivided into five subdoshas that govern different aspects of the doshas activity.

Transcendental Meditation™: Founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Transcendental Meditation is a programme for the Development of Consciousness. It in involves a simple, natural, effortless mental technique that allows mind and body to experience very deep rest and revitalisation of all functions. The benefits of TM have been extensively researched – see Collected Papers in our books catalogue.

Vaidya: usually refers to a qualified expert in Ayurveda who has undergone formal professional training for 4-6 years.

Vata: One of the three doshas (q.v.) Vata is dry, cold, mobile, quick, and rough. It governs movement and is formed of the space and air elements (mahabhutas (q.v.)). It can be subdivided into five subdoshas: Prana, Udana, Samana, Apana and Vyana.

Veda: Knowledge of the universal origin of all order in Nature; the fabric of consciousness; knowledge of the structuring dynamics and mechanics of transformation that maintain the infinite variety of the universe in perfect order. Veda is totality – total silence and total dynamism, complete, infinite knowledge.

For further information about and to order the products mentioned above see How to Order or call 01695 51015 and for information about the Maharishi Ayurveda Health Centre see www.MaharishiAyurveda.co.uk or call 01695 51008.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this document is presented for the sole purpose of imparting education on Maharishi Ayurveda and neither the information nor the products are intended to diagnose, treat, mitigate, cure or prevent any disease. If you have a medical condition, or are pregnant or lactating, please consult a health professional and it is recommended that you speak with your physician before making significant changes to your diet or routine.