Etymology of Names

Here is a fine etymology of names -

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Metaphorical Meaning of Some Sanskrit Terms -

Abhimanyu: other name for Saubhadra. Abhimanyu comes from abhi, which means to destroy, and manyu, which means all evil and vicious qualities in human beings.

Aditi: a (no) + diti (duality).

Adityas : divine illumination arising from unity with the indwelling Self.

ahamkara: ego. The scriptures define ahamkara as abhimanatmika

ahamkara—"This egoistic faculty claims that `I am the doer, I am, I am.'" It is the third of the antah-karan chatustaya, the four internal instruments.

Airaavat (Indra's elephant): extreme attachment to sense of touch; mind

Anant (Vishnu's snake): divine light in pituitary; white (milk), gold (anant) and blue (Vishnu); vayu

anjali: comes from anj, to get illumination.

antah-karan chatustaya: the four internal instruments:

anushaasan which means the directive or the discipline or teachings. The realized master teaches the disciples to discipline the mind and senses and directs them in the path of perception of the inner reality.
anuraag: means "extreme desire".

aaratee: a means all-pervading God and rati, means devotion towards the Lord.

argal: wooden bar used to lock doors from the inside in ancient India. Metaphorically, to go inside the body-house (as in argal stotra, 23 verses from the Maarkandeya Puraan by Vyaas, extolling the Divine Mother as the destroyer of demons. Customarily recited before the Caòæi Saptashatee.

Arjun: a—"no," rajju—"rope," the symbol of bondage, and na—"no." Although he is free, he thinks he is in bondage. Also from arj, "to earn".

arth: arth (money) and Paramaarth (God) are both necessary for a man in the world. But without Paramaarth there is no life. With the same effort used to earn money you should pursue God realization.

Aashutosh (another name of Shiv) meaning, "Who is quickly satisfied".

ashvattha: ashwattha comes from a (not) + shwa (for tomorrow) + ttha (to remain): the human body.

Ashwatthaamaa is an immortal soldier and the son of the fickle person Dronacharya. Ashwatthaamaa
means to have a disposition of being constantly on the go, or relentless like a machine that is constantly running. One desire after another comes from an endless chain without real satisfaction being obtained.

Asit: a (no) + sit (in bondage)

Asti, eldest wife of King Kans. Her name means "existence", i.e. the power of God is within.

ath: the word ath has six meanings: mangal (auspiciousness), prashn (question), kaarya aarambh (initiation), anatara (thereafter), adhikaar (qualification/ right), pratigyaa (promise), relating to the six chakras from the Moolaadhaar (bottom center) to the agya (soul-center). (b) buddhi (intellect)

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Bakasura was a giant bird that would swallow young children in Vrindaa Van. Shri Krishn tore off its bills when he was but three years old.

Bhaarat: bhaa (divine illumination) + rata(engrossed). India; one name of Arjun, or Dhritraashtra.

bhaaryanee: is usually translated as "wife", but its real metaphorical meaning is "breath." In Sanskrit it is said bhaarayeti iti bhaaryaa — "the wife, i.e. breath, is maintaining the whole body."

Bheem: means "ferocious and powerful." Bheem is the son of Vaayu (air, wind). The breath in each human being is the son of air.

Bheeshm: means firm determination of mind. He promised not to marry and never to enjoy sexual pleasure. It is good, but due to his extreme pride, he committed some mistakes.

Bhrigu: Bhrigu comes from bhraj, to roast (i.e. the sanskaar through meditation).

Bhoorishravaa: son of Somdatt. Bhoorishravaa means hesitation and is derived from bhoori and shravaa. Bhoori means many, and shravaa means to hear. Bhoorishravaa was a great warrior on the side of Kaurav, but he was fickle-minded.

Brahmchaaree: comes from brahmani charati iti brahmachari, which means that "he who revels in Brahman is a brahmachaaree."

brahmhaaree: from brahm vicáraòa, to be in God-consciousness.

Brahmacáriòi is the second name of Durga in the Nav Durgaa.

brahmana: one who always remains merged in kutastha.

Brihaspati: Brihaspati comes from brihati (speech) + pati (Lord): Lord of speech, or air.

buddhi: intellect. The scriptures define buddhi as nischayatmika buddhi—"the intellect (buddhi) is the deciding faculty of man." Buddhi discriminates between what is good and what is bad, and decides what should be done. It is the second of the antah-karana chatustaya, the four internal instruments. (c) ahankaar (ego).

chandra: in the Purush Sookt, a Vedic hymn, it is said chandramaa maanaso jaataa: the moon is born
from the cosmic mind of God.

Chandraghantaa: chandra (moon) and ghantaa (bell). Third name of Durga in the Nav Durgaa.

Chekitaan: a spiritual warrior on the side of Paandav. Chekitaan comes from Chekit, which means within a short time and is also the name of a small cricket-like insect, and tan, which means the divine sound and the various melodies which are the inaudible talk of God.

Chitrarath: Chitrarath comes from chitra (colorful) + rath (chariot), name of the king of the Gandharv: in the body-chariot, one perceives divine colors and sounds.

chitta: memory. The Scriptures say that chitta is anusandhanatmika or smaranatmika— "The investigating faculty or the faculty of memory is chitta". This chitta is born out of human experience through the mind and the mind becomes activated from memory or chitta. Chitta is the computerized memory of the brain. Chitta can be compared to the ocean, and the mind is compared to the waves. It is the fourth of the antah-karan chatustaya, the four internal instruments.

chor kotharee: "the secret chamber". If the mind is always fixed on the divine sound constantly and enjoy being in the secret chamber. d) chitta (mind stuff/memory).

daitya: demon; inner propensities, thoughts.

Daksha: one who is adept, efficient. Daksh symbolizes the mind.

damayatám (rulers) and daòæa (power, restraint) both come from dam (to control, restrain)

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Daamodara, a nickname given by Yashoda to Shri Krishna, which means "very big belly".

Dasharath: Dasharath comes from dasha (ten doors) + rath (chariot): human body.

deha: body. It is derived from dahyati, "that which is constantly burning". The body is constantly
burning with desires and attachments.

Devadatt. Cousin of Buddha. His name literally means, `the gift of God'.

Devala: (a.k.a. Ashtavakra): deva (vacuum) + lam (bija of earth)
devarshi: devaräi comes from deva (he who roams in vacuum) + ^äi (man
of right vision)
Dhanamjaya: dhanam (wealth, i.e. delusion) + jaya (victory). Dhana: 6
negative qualities: fear
of birth, death, happiness, sorrow, hunger and thirst)
Dharma: explained as dhárayati yáà sáà dharma, "that which supports
is dharma". Religion,
righteousness. True meaning: breath.
Dharmakshetra: another name for the battlefield of Kurukshetra. It
comes from dharma, which
means spirituality, and kshetra, field.
Dhrishtadyumn: he is the brother of Draupadi and the son of Drupada. Dh^äóa means "obstinacy, restlessness" , and dyumna means the power to control the obstinacy which comes from the external world.

Dhrishtaketu: a great warrior on the side of Pandava. Dhrishtaketu comes from dh^äóan ketava yaà saà. Dhrishtan means without head, having only a body, while ketu is a dragon's tail. So Dhristhaketu is always seeking his head.

Dhritarashtra: dh^ta, "to hold, to control" and raätra, "the kingdom". Dhritam raätra yena sa dhritaraätra: "The one who wants to rule the kingdom is Dhritarashtra."

Dronacharya comes from the word druban, which means something that rolls this way and that, like water on the leaf of a lotus. It is restlessness.

Drupada is a king, as well as the father-in-law of the Pandavas, father of Draupadi, Dhrishtadyumn, and Shikhandee. His name is short for druta pada, which means you are to walk quickly and to finish your duty. A more specific meaning is that you should meditate and complete your technique to realize the super consciousness within you without wasting time.

Duhshasana. Prefix duà means "with difficulty", the root verb äas, "to control, to discipline, to administrate" , and the suffix anat "one". Thus Duàäasana symbolizes anger. He is dominant in the eyes (red, blood-shot eyes).

Durgaa: durge durgati náçinyai namah: one who relieves you from all difficulties (Durgati)

Duryodhan: Yodh: "to fight", with prefix duà: "difficult" and suffix anat: "one who". In the Geetaa it is said yahi shatru mahabaho kama-rupa dura sadam: "O mighty-armed, fight with your greatest enemy, rupa (desire)". Thus Duryodhana is the symbol of kama, desire, passion.

Dwiti-Krishna: dwiti means "second." Arjuna was thus known as the
second Krishna.
dyuta (dice): illumination
Garuda: Garuæa is the king of eagles, and Viäòu's mount. He is one
who can digest even poison.
ghanta (bell) represents the náda or divine primordial sound,
dírghapraòavaná da, anáhata náda.
gomamse traditionally is translated as "beef". But metaphorically it
breaks down into go + mam
+ sa. Go means "the whole universe", mam "to me", and sa means He,
the Supreme
Almighty Lord. Hence gomamse means "He, who is abiding in the whole
universe, is
taking me to God."

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Gopis: gopis in their bodies in Brindavan are always waiting for the
manifestation of prana
krishna (Krishna as the self).
Govinda: go means "universe", vin means "joy, energy", and da
means "to give". Hence
Govinda is "One who gives joy in the whole universe." A name of
Krishna.
Gudakesha: Guæákeça is another name of Arjuna, derived from guæáka
("sloth, idleness,
sleep"), and íça ("controller, master"): conqueror of sleep; constant
alertness. Arjuna
never sleeps.
guru: gu is derived from guhyat guhayatar satta—the formless, hidden
and invisible power of
God, and ru is derived from tat rupam prakasayati iti—the visible
beauty and luster of
any living being. 49 types of breaths are ru, for material enjoyment,
and one type is gu,
for extreme calmness. When you attain the breathless stage of
nirvikalpa samadhi, you
have killed the guru—you are beyond the 50 types of breath, you have
entered into
heaven.
Hari: ha + ra + i. Hakara pingala varna: "the syllable ha means that
there is no sense of the
body." Further it is said that sarva varna varottamam "It (ha) is the
supreme letter."
Rakara teja varna sat: "The syllable ra is the power of God in the
body." Ikara shakti
dayaka: "The letter i is the life of God given in you". So ha + ra +
i is Hari, who is
inhaling your breath. Hari comes from harati avidyam iti harià, "he
who dispels darkness
of ignorance". According to Lahiri Mahasaya, Hari means "one who
steals". When the
jiva stage is stolen from you, the resulting stillness is Hari.
himálayá: hima (cold) and álaya (house, place): from the midpoint of
the eyebrows to the
fontanel, i.e. the north of the body.
Hrishikesha: one of Krishna's 108 names. H^äikeça is derived from
h^äika, which means the
senses in the body, and íça, which means soul, Lord, Master.
i: it is çakti dáyaka—that which gives life, energy: the breath
(praòa) in the body (see Shiva).
Janardana: Janárdana, a name of Krishna, is both the creator
(janayati iti) and the destroyer
(ardati iti).
Jayadratha: derived from jaya, which means win, and drath, which
means to bluff with
eloquent words. Jayadratha is the brother-in-law of Duryodhana. He
was always bluffing
many persons with his falsehoods, and people were convinced by his
exaggerations.
jiva: paça baddha bhavet jiva paçamukta sadáçiváà—one who is in
bondage is jiva and one who
is free from bondage is Shiva. See Shiva.
K^äòa comes from the meanings of krishi and na. Krishi means
cultivated land, (each human
body is a cultivated land) and na, the power of God, soul, our
invisible body. According
to Lahiri Mahasaya, Krishna comes from the root krish - meaning "to
cultivate" and na
means "to negate". The union of the two results in still breath -
prana krishna. Those who
practice it are Gopis and prana Krishna manifests in them.
K^pa was the brother-in-law of Drona, the guru of both the Pandavas
and Kauravas. Kripa means
kindness and affection with attachment to something bad.
k^pa, the guru's grace is derived from two words: kri, which
means "to do", and pa meaning "to
get" or "to achieve". This kripa is of three kinds:
käatriya: one who works without expecting results.
kálarátrí: kála means time, limitation or death; rátrí means night.
Seventh name of Durga in the
nava durga.

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Kálí: the Divine Mother who helps to overcome the fear of kála (time,
limitation or death.)
Kamadhenu (wish-fulfilling cow): soul in the body.
Kamalapattrákä a: Kamalapattrákä a comes from kamala, which is made of
káma (desire) + ala
(to decorate). Literally, "Desire–fulfilling- eyed", "Lotus petal-
eyed", i.e. Krishna
Kapila: copper color (meditator perceives copper color)
Karna means "ears". Famous for his generosity. Ears are always eager
to receive, to hear. Two
things we always want to hear: praise of self, and blame of others.
Kartikeya: Kártikeya is the six-faced god, fruit of çiva-párvati
viváha (union of Shiva and
Parvati), representing the äadripu (six inner enemies) to conquer. He
is also known as
kumara, skanda, subrahmanya, äanmukha. Worshipped as devasenápati
(commander in
chief of the gods), the one who killed tárakásura.
Kashiraja: a great spiritual king as well as a great warrior.
Kashiraja is derived from kashyate,
which means illuminate, and rajyam, which means divine light.
Katyáyani: ka (head) + ati (extreme) + áyani (movement). If one keep
the mind upward, you are
katyáyani . She was worshipped by the gopis (milkmaids) in Vrindavan
to realize
Krishna. Sixth name of Durga in the nava durga.
Kaurava: kuru rava: creating desires. Kuru means "to do", and rava is
the cry or the disposition
for the delusion of human beings.
Keshava: Keçava comes from ka (Brahma) + íça (Shiva) + va (Vishnu) :
total aspect of God.
Also ka (in the head) + íça (lord) + va (abode).
kiriti: kiríóí comes from kiríóa: gold diadem, crown (i.e. who has
come to fontanel)
Kúämanda: Ka is head, uäa is warmth, and anda egg. Human head is like
an egg—warmth is
energy of the Mother. Fourth name of Durga in the nava durga.
Kunti: "to call," "to invite," "to invoke" or "to pray." Kunti
means "One who prays and loves God."
Kuntibhoja: comes from kunti, which means pinpointed attention in the soul, and bhoj, which
means enjoying divine bliss.
Kurukshetra: contains kuru and käetra. Kuru means "to do"—to do work.
Käetra means field.
Every human being is a work field. But the dweller of the body field
is the soul, Krishna.
Kurupravira: kuru (action, kriya) + pravira (perfect, efficient, best)
Kurushreshtha: Kuruçreäóha comes from kuru (action) + çreäóha (the best) : one who does the best action (Arjuna)
Maadree: Mad means "vanity" or "ego."
Mahaagauree: Mahaa (great) and Gauree (mountain-born, light). Eighth name of Durgaa in the Nava Durgaa.

Makara (alligator): ma (time) + kara (act): to do right act at right time.

Maanas: the mind, the doubting faculty in man. The scriptures say: samsayatmika manah—"the mind always doubts." The mind loves confusion and the mind lives in confusion. The mind cannot decide what is good and what is bad. It is the first of the Antah Karan Chatustaya, the four internal instruments.

Mantra: mana trayati iti mantra, "the mind that makes you free from the world, that is mantra".
Maargsheersh: Maargsheersh comes from Maarg (passage) + Sheersh (climax of spiritual evolution): Sahasraar.
Mareechi: light of the person by which ego is destroyed; feeble breath.

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Mayadeví, mother of Buddha. Her name literally means `the Lady of
maya and illusion'.
Mendhasura, meaning ???, is the name of the demon killed by Shri
Krishna when he was five
years old, by allowing to be swallowed by the demon and then bursting
out of its
stomach. This is commemorated to this day by the Dola Purnima
(Purnima means full
moon day) celebration, also known as Holi (the festival of color), in
March, one day
before the full-moon day. Mendhasura is a demonic power still remains
in every human
being.
Meru: me (to project) + ru (brilliance)
mouna (silence): control over the tongue
naga (snake): udan vayu
nakshatra: nakäatra is that which is beyond destruction, i.e. the
light of the stars. Comes from na
(no) + käi (decaying) + atra (here)
Nakula: comes from na—"no" and kula—"bank of river" or "shore."
Nakula means "Boundless
or endless flow of water."
Narada: naram dadáti iti – one who gives knowledge and bliss. Nara:
bliss state + da: to give.
Narada moves in the vacuum.
Narayana: Kutastha is nara or water. Ayana is to reside. Purusha in
kutastha is purushottama.
When one goes through the door of kutastha he realizes purushottama.
navadurga: worship of the nine names of Mother Durga, to purify the
navadvára (nine doors of
the body-house) and nullify the negative influence of the navagrahá
(nine planets). Nava
means nine, but also new.
nirodhah: made of the prefix ni (completely) and rudh (to close).
Nirodha means confinement,
locking up, enclosing, covering up, restraint, check, suppression,
control or elimination.
nirvana means liberation. Its derivation is from the prefix nir which
means, `nothing, devoid of,
free', and vana which means `arrow', `waves', and `breath'. Nirvana
is the end of the
battle. It means to have no need for arrows.
niti: níti means mortality, self-regulated life
Ordinarily, people believe that the word atha means to remember God,
who brings all
auspiciousness in the beginning of any work. So, it is invocation to
God. But this
auspiciousness is really associated with the muladhara (root) chakra.
Through the
practice of yoga, one should bring auspiciousness into life.
pañca koçi parikrama: to go around the five sheathed body by Kriya is
pañca koçi parikrama.
Pandu: Páòæu comes from páòæa: asti yasya sa páòæu. Panda means
knowledge. Pandu is
divine knowledge
Paramtapa: Paramtapa comes from parám tápayati ití paramtapaà, "one
who destroys all
enemies is called Paramtapa"
Partha: Pártha means son of P^thá, which comes from p^th: to
distinguish
Pavaka (a.k.a. Anala, one of the eight Vasus): purifying fire
Pitri: pita (ancestor). Comes from "pa": one who maintains (i.e.
breath). In the Upanishads it is
said: pita ha vai pranaà: the vital breath is the ancestors.
Prahlada: pra (perfect) + hlada (joy) : paravastha
prana vishnu: pranaà viäòuà means the vital breath present in every
cell is Vishnu
pranipata: "humble reverence" to God, guru and scriptures. Humility
is the only way to
eliminate ego.
práòáyáma: práòa and ayáma (movement, restraint, control)

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Prapti, youngest wife of king Kamsa, whose name means "one who has
immense desire for
worldly things".
Purodhas (a.k.a. Purohita): "who always wants good for creation" i.e.
a priest.
Purujit: a great king. Purujit is derived from puran and jayati.
Puran means whole body sense
and intellectual sense, and jayati means one who can conquer
everything.
purusha: puryam shete iti: "The one who is resting in the house."
Putana: a demoness employed by Kamsa to try to kill Shri Krishna. Her
name comes from puta,
which means "purity", and na, which means "no".
Rahula, son of Buddha, meaning "bondage".
Rasapurnima, from rasa "nectar, transformation" and purnima, "full
moon", is a festival
occurring on the full-moon day in the month of August-September,
commemorating the
transformation of Radha into Krishna in the forest of Vrindavan.
Ravi: ram (fire, illumination) + vam (vacuum) + ing (shakti): divine
illumination in vacuum or
inner sky
Rudra: práòa. The yogic Scriptures say, ye rudraà te khalu
práòaà, "the rudras are none but the
pranas"
Sahadeva: saha means "with," deva means "vacuum."
Sama Veda : sa (white illumination) + ama (black): perceiving black
and white light – balance
and harmony.
samadhi: sama is derived from samahita,
meaning "balanced", "complete", "pure", or even
"dissolved". Dhi refers to intellect, memory and inner reasoning.
Samadhi is a state of
inner calmness which is born out of sincere practice.
samdhya: samyak ("completely" or "perfectly") + dhyana ("meditation" ):
the time when day
turns into night, i.e. evening is the perfect time for meditation.
Samjaya: king Dhritarashtra' s minister and messenger. His name is
short for samyak jaya, which
means "thorough control".
samprajñata: made of sam (derived from samyak, "completely"
or "perfectly") ; pra ("clearly");
and jña ("to know"). Thus the meaning is: knowing clearly and
completely.
sananda samadhi: sa means "with", ananda means joy, bliss. The
sublimated mind is more
absorbed in the intellect. One experiences bodylessness and joy. Here
the mind itself is
the object of meditation. Sananda samadhi, the third level of the
four samadhis described
in the Yoga Sutra 1:17, is experiencing bliss alone.
sasmita samadhi: sa means "with", asmita means pure ego. When
meditation is more
concentrated and ripe, then one experiences the state of "I am, I
am…" i.e. aham asmi,
which is known as asmita, pure ego's existence. Sasmita samadhi, the
fourth level of the
four samadhis described in the Yoga Sutra 1:17, is to go beyond body
and all
experiences, the state of subtle ego.
sati: sat (truth) and i (energy)—one who directs all energy towards
Truth. The spiritual urge for
perfection in every human being.
Saubhadra: the son of Arjuna and Subhadra (Krishna's sister), i.e.
Krishna's nephew. See also
Abhimanyu.
savicara: sa means "with", vicara means reflection, deliberation,
investigation and
discrimination. Vicarana means "to roam". The mind and thought is
absorbed in the
source of the knowledge. Savicara samadhi, the second level of the
four samadhis
described in the Yoga Sutra 1:17, is analyzing what you saw,
undaunted by maya. When

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the mind is free from any vicara or discrimination, it is nirvicara
samadhi (as explained
in Sutra 44).
savija: sa means "with", vija means "cause". Corresponds to the last
two stages of samadhi
(sananda and sasmita) described in the Yoga Sutra 1:17.
savitarka: sa means "with", vitarka means "reasoning" or "inference
through questioning" .
Tarka is the logical reasoning to keep the mind always in a balanced
state. Savitarka
samadhi, the first level of the four samadhis described in the Yoga
Sutra 1:17, is that
which you experience. The state of independence of reasoning is known
as nirvitarka
which is explained in Sutras 42 and 43.
savyasácin: ambidextrous; control over ida and pingala; well
established in jñana and karma
Shailaputri: çila (stone) and putri (daughter): first name of Durga
in the nava durga, as
daughter of Parvatha, the Himalayan mountains.
Shaivya: a great spiritual warrior on the side of Pandava. Shaivya
means one who is just like
Shiva.
Shankara: çankara comes from çam (auspiciousness) + kara (bestower)
Shiva: paça baddha bhavet jiva paçamukta sadáçiváà—one who is in
bondage is jiva and one
who is free from bondage is Shiva. If the i is removed from çiva, it
becomes çava
(corpse). See jiva.
Shuddhodana, father of Buddha. His name literally means `one who
lives on pure food'.
shudra: one who serves the three other varnas (classes or castes):
the brahmanas, käatriyas, and
vaiçyas. He is çudra who deviated away from Kriya.
Siddhi dhátri: Siddhi dhatri comes from siddhi (success, perfection)
+ dátri (giver). Ninth (and
last) name of Durga in the nava durga.
Skandamata: Skandamáta means the mother of Skanda. Fifth name of
Durga in the nava durga.
sthavaranam himalaya: sthavaranam himálaya comes from stha
(establishment) + vara (best) :
best establishment. Hima (cold) + alaya (house): cranium
Sukracharya: Sukrácharya (a.k.a. Uçaná) comes from sukra (semen,
vitality, strength) + acarya
(teacher).
Suyodhana, the name by which Yudhisthira called his evil cousin
Duryodhana, which means
"completely good," because Yudhisthira always saw good in every one.
Tarakasura: táraka (stars) and asura (demon). The millions of desires
and thoughts and
propensities are like the millions of stars in the cosmos. If you
have no control over them,
you are a tárakásura.
The fifth meaning of atha is "qualification" . When one crosses the
propensities of the
heart centers and reaches the neck center and transcends above, one
is in the state of a
qualified spiritual aspirant; to perceive, conceive and realize yoga.
The fourth meaning of atha is "thereafter" . When one crosses the
nabhi chakra and
comes to the heart center with purity and love, then he wants to know
atha kim. What is
after this? This is the state of self-enquiry.
The second meaning of atha is "question". The general explanation of
this "atha" starts
with the question, "What is yoga?" The entire book explains the yoga
in its every aspect.
Here, atha is also used in the second chakra, svadhisthana, with a
question: "Do people
really want God-consciousness in daily life or not?
The sixth meaning of atha is "promise" or pratijna. When one really
goes to the sixth
center he enjoys peace, bliss and joy, calmness and love and promises
not to be deviated
from this state.

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The third meaning of atha is karyarambha, i.e. "initiation of
effort". By this, the
explanation of yoga is started from the first aphorism. The real
meaning is that the navel
center is the center of energy, which is called nabhi chakra.
Spiritual practice starts from
this center.
triputi: "triple phenomena" – like the seer, the seen and seeing.
Uchchaihshravas: Indra's horse. Uccaiàçravas represents udan vayu.
upanayana: comes from upa, "near", and nayan, "to take", literally to
take the child near the
guru.
uttishtha: uttiäóha comes from ut (above) + tiäóha (to be established)
vaiçya: one who does work with expectation of results.
vajra (thunderbolt) : breath; strong determination and will power
Varuna: Varuòa represents the rasa tattva (water principle)
Vasava : vasa + ava: one who lives in vacuum i.e. the king of the
gods, Indra.
vasu: illumination.
Vasudeva: According to Lahiri Mahasaya, Vasudeva = vasu (vasana; i.e.
desires or tendencies) +
deva (Lord). Give up vasanas (tendencies) and you will be Vasudeva
(God).
Vásudeva: comes from vasu (hidden jewel) + deva (brilliance) : all-
perceiving consciousness,
Krishna. Son of Vasudeva.
Vasuki: vasu (jewel) + ka (head) : one who sees self-effulgent light
in head.
vicara: reflection, deliberation, investigation and discrimination.
Vicarana means "to roam". The
mind and thought is absorbed in the source of the knowledge. See
savicara.
Vikarna: a soldier of the Kaurava army. Vikarna means one who is a
strong believer, is
malicious, and is addicted to improper works. This disbelief,
resulting from the biological
force, is the main hindrance to obtaining purity and truth.
Vinita: Vinitá was the father of Garuæa: humility
Virata: a great warrior and king on the side of Pandava, who hosted
the Pandavas incognito for
one year in his palace. Virata comes from vigata and rata. Vigata
means that which is
completely free and rata means the kingdom (body)—one who is free
from body sense,
free from everything.
Vishnu: comes from viäòati praviçyati iti, "he who penetrates and
manifests everywhere".
vitarka: means "reasoning" or "inference through questioning" . Tarka
is the logical reasoning to
keep the mind always in a balanced state. (See savitarka).
Vittesha: Vitteäa comes from vitta (wealth) + íça (lord): another
name of Kubera.
Vrindavan: the place where Shri Krishna lived until the age of ten
years eight months. Vri comes
from vrajadham, which means to perceive Krishna in the whole body and
to merge with
the Divinity.
Vrishni: V^äòi comes from v^ä, "desire": one who has control; to
radiate illumination.
vritti: wave, flow. Chitta vritti is the flow of thought, one wave
after the other, the play of
memory. Vritti nirodha means restraint and control of vritti. Vritti
laya means complete
dissolution of vritti. In vritti-laya, there is no rise of vritti.
Vritti-vilaya, or complete
dissolution of vritti, is possible only at the time of death.
Yajña: yajña (fire ceremony) means prana yajña. By prana yajña the
fickle prana is oblated into
the still prana by prana karma (Kriya Yoga).
Yama: self-discipline, restraint (earth center)
Yashodhara, surrogate mother of Krishna. Yaçodhara literally
means `in the river of fame'.

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Yog: widely used in various subjects like spiritual practice, physical exercise, mathematics, astrology, astronomy, Aayurveda. "Yoga" also means an opportunity. It has up to 31 different meanings. But the spiritual meaning can be correlated with the word "yoke": to unite or to be in the state of union: union of body and soul, of the individual self with the supreme Self.

Yudhaamanyu: a spiritual and powerful warrior on the side of Pandava. Yudhamanyu is derived from Yudh, which means to fight constantly and to subdue; and Manyu, which means sin, evil, malice and all other evil qualities which keep human beings far from God-realization.

Yudhishthir: Yudhi, "in the battle", and Sthira, "calm, undisturbed".

Yuyudhaan: relative and disciple of Krishn, also known as Saatyaki. Yuyudhaan means one who has the greatest desire for soul culture and deepest regard for God and Guru.