A Basic Glossary for the Sādhana Exercises
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Homoerotic Tantra is an erotospiritual practice and involves the triad of mind, body and spirit. In
order to derive the whole range of benefits from the practices and rituals, you must suspend any form
of judgement, you must trust your partner completely, you must be willing to be authentic (genuine and
truthful), self-forgetful (leave the ego at the door). You must be willing to surrender to your partner,
and accept your responses and reactions with abandonment and freedom. In our homoerotic Tantra
session we will join other esoteric traditions of erotospiritual practices that are conceived to overcome
the separation of sacred (spiritual) and profane (physical sexual) love.
In Homoerotic Tantra℠ and Mascul-IN-Touch℠ you are entering the world of transformation; we don’t
speak the same language as the profane world. Our words do not mean the same as the words used in the
profane world. Tantra and the tantric scriptures speak in metaphorical terms, in terms of the symbolic; the
language is frequently indirect because we cannot describe the true nature of the rituals, experiences, and
the perceptions of our sādhanā-s, so we have to resort to images. For example, in the glossary below I use
the term gopura (गोऩरु ) for what I refer to as the Lotus Gate, and in plain English, the anus. In
architecture, the gopura is the ornamented gateway into a temple. So we don’t use the anatomical term
but a beautiful architectural term, a term used in temple architecture, because the body is the temple.
Another example to clarify the way the terms are used is to use an indirect term to sanctify what his
meant, for example. I could easily use the term “semen” or “precum”, both of which are unoffensive
scientific terms but do not express the essence of the tantric meaning. I transform the term precum, for
example, to divine nectar, ambrosia, amṛita (अमत
ृ ); semen becomes śukra (शुक्र) or somā (सोम), the elixir
of life, the divine drink of immortality. Arousal to erection becomes “flowering” or “blossoming,”
prasava (प्रसव) which is the Sanskrit for “animation” (coming alive) or “flowering”. Thinking in these
metaphoric or figurative terms lends a special beauty to what we practice.
© 2018. Harold W. Vadney BA, [MA], MDiv. and Dāka Karuṇā (दाक करुणा). Homoerotic Tantra℠ and Mascul-INTouch℠ are service marks of Harold W. Vadney BA, [MA], MDiv. and Dāka Karuṇā (दाक करुणा). Dāka Karuṇā is
an alterego of H.W. Vadney. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited unless
authorized in writing by the author.
Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
Homoerotic Tantra℠ is a transformative process; it is a transcendent journey. Homoerotic Tantra℠ is
paradoxical in that it is culturally conservative while, at the same time, being countercultural in many
respects. Similar to the origins of Indic Tantra (तन्त्र), Homoerotic Tantra℠ is appealing because it
liberates from controlling conditioning, and frees the sādhaka (साधक) to be his authentic self.
The English language is a recent development with unsophisticated roots and intrusions of suppression,
repression, and control at all levels of society; it is an intolerant and impoverished language. Sanskrit, on
the other hand, is not only the mother of all Western languages, it is a language rich in meanings,
symbols, metaphor, and a language that has withstood more than four thousand years of almost
uninterrupted use. It is both a language of communication and a language of preservation; it is the
language of an incredible legacy of culture, literature, music, dance, and science and philosophy.
It is because of the richness of Sanskrit and its symbolism, rhythms, and metaphoric content that I chose
to use it for the technical terminology of Homoerotic Tantra℠ and Mascul-IN-Touch℠. I simply could
not think of a better way to express the concepts, science, philosophy, and spirituality of Homoerotic
Tantra℠ but to use the ancient language of yogic Tantra.
A second consideration was the fact that the few words we have in English to describe eroticism and
sensuality have become vulgar and have assumed a profane character. I simply do not want to put new
wine in old skins; if we are to transform and transcend the fetters of a culture of conditioning and abuse,
we mustn’t carry its baggage into the new land.
Moreover, I think that learning the new vocabulary to describe the beauty, knowledge, and serenity of the
sādhanā-s, practices, exercises, and philosophy of Homoerotic Tantra℠ as incorporated into Mascul-INTouch℠ can be a rewarding and edifying experience, while at the same time being quite a bit of fun if you
choose to view it that way.
Enjoy the experience; ride the wave. It’s an exciting ride. And, as always, I am available for any
questions. Just contact me if you have any comments, suggestions, questions, or concerns.
Dāka Karuṇā
दाक करुणा
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
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Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
Saṃskṛtam (संस्कृतम ्)  English
The table below provides the transliteration of the Sanskrit term (pronunciation is very important, so
please refer to the pronunciation guide when learning these terms). The second column is the Devanagari
script for the term (Devanagari is the alphabet used to write the Sanskrit language Finally, the third
column give my definition, the meaning of the term as used in Homoerotic Tantra℠ and Mascul-INTouch℠. I have bolded the terms that I prefer you to learn very early in your studies and practice.
Saṃskṛtam
abhyaṅga
Devanāgarī
अभ्यङ्ग
amṛita
अमत
ृ
āsana
आसन
aṣṭhīlā
अष्ठीऱा
aupariṣṭaka
औऩररष्टक
bhāga
भग
bīja
बीज
cumbana
चुम्बन
cakṣūrāga
चऺूराग
cakṣūsprītī
चऺुष्रीती
devanāgarī
दे वनागरी
Definition
Massage; traditional Ayurvedic massage
ambrosia, the food of the gods, which makes the partaker
immortal.: ambrosia; precum
a position or posture or pose
a round swelling; a globular or round body (in general);
prostate
oral congress; fellatio; irrumatio; stimulation of the
liṅgam with the mouth, tongue, teeth, and lips.
the male perineum; fig. strength, beauty, desire
seed; also, semen
kiss, kissing; cumbanam (चुम्बनम ्)
eye candy; 'eye-love', love or joy as awakened or
expressed by an exchange of glances
eye candy; 'eye-delight', love or affection as awakened or
expressed by an exchange of glances
the name of the alphabet/character set or script most
commonly used to write Sanskrit
pre-cum
drava
द्रव
dṛṣṭi
दृष्ष्ट
focused gaze, gazing
gārbha
गभभ
the sacred space once liṇga passes through the Lotus
Gate.
sanctum sanctorum; holy of holies; place where the deity
resides
the Lotus Gate; the entrance into the gārbha (गभभ) or
garbhagṛha
gopura
harṣa
jñānendriya
गभभगह
ृ
गोऩरु
हषभ
ऻानेष्रद्रय
kanda
करद
karāḍa
कराड
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
tīrtha (तीथभ); anus, sometimes referred to profanely as the
rosebud or rosette
joy, delight, pleasure, satisfaction, gladness, rapture, glee,
exultation; erection of the penis; lustfulness; ardent desire.
the five knowledge-acquiring senses: the ears, the skin, the
eyes, the tongue and the nostrils. jñānendriyam (ज्ञानेन्द्न्त्ियम ्)
A bulb, swelling; the seat of svādhiṣṭhāna (स्वाधधष्ठान); the
prostate
sudden and intense excitement (of the spirits or system);
orgasm.
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Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
karmendriya
khaḷaṇēṃ
Kṣatriyadharma
कमेष्रद्रय
गऱनम ्
ऺत्रियधमभ
kṣetra
ऺेि
kṣobha
ऺोभ
lalitābhinaya
liṅga
ऱलऱतालभनय
लऱङ्ग
The five working senses or organs of action: the mouth (with
the double function of speaking and eating), the hands, the
legs, the genitalia and the rectum. karmendriyam
(कमेन्द्न्त्ियम ्)
cause to ejaculate; masturbate; fig. rub or pound.
The Warrior Path
sacred spot, a holy precinct or temenos. (cf. kṣetram
(ऺेिम ्).
shaking, moving, tossing; jolting; agitation, disturbance,
excitement, emotion; orgasm
graceful erotic performance
the erect penis; fig. a mark or distinguishing
characteristic; the icon of Lord Śiva; derive. liṅgam
(लऱङ्गम ्)
maithuna
मैथन
ु
praharṣa
रहषभ
Divine Union with the Tantric Lover; ŚivaŚakti union;
usually in the yab-yum āsana
extreme joy, exultation, rapture; erection of the penis
prasava
रसव
stimulation; excitement, animation; flower or blossom
pratihārabhūmi
pūjāgṛha
rāga
रततहारभलू म
ऩज
ू ागह
ृ
राग
randhra
ररर
rēta
रे त
rētaḥpāta
rētaskhalana
sādhanā
saṃskṛtam
samucchrāya
Sanātanadharma
skhalana
sneha
रे तःऩात
रे तःस्खऱन
साधन
संस्कृतम ्
समच्छ्
ु रय
सनातनधमभ
स्खऱन
स्नेह
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
threshold
ritual room; temple
an emotional state referring to a “feeling, affection, desire,
interest, joy or delight”, particularly related to passion, love,
or sympathy
hole, an aperture, a cavity, an opening, a chasm, fissure
semen, elixir of life
emissio seminis, ejaculation, emission of śukra (शुक्र).
emissio seminis, premature or unintended ejaculation,
emission of śukra (शुक्र); failure to retain the śukra (शुक्र);
fig. skhalana (स्खऱन) stumbling, tottering; trickling,
dripping; discharge, emission; failure, disappointment.
a spiritual practice or exercise of any kind
the Sanskrit language
arousal to erection; fig. hill, mountain; increase, growth.
The eternal dharma of all comprises being faithful, not
being covetous, tapas, pity to creatures, control, celibacy,
truth, anukrośa, patience and courage.
premature ejaculation, unintended ejaculation;
stumbling, tottering; trickling, dripping; discharge,
emission; failure, disappointment.
affection, love, kindness, tenderness; oil (as in massage);
any fluid of the body, such as semen
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Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
somā
सोम
sparśa
स्ऩशभ
śukra
शक्र
ु
tantrā
तरि
tīrtha
तीथभ
udgāra
उद्गार
uttāpa
उत्ताऩ
vajra
वज्र
vāṭa
वाट
viṭapa
ववटऩ
vṛṣaṇa
वष
ृ ण
yonī
yuganaddha
yuganaddhāsana
योतन
योग नद्ध
योग नद्ध + आसन
the drink of the gods; the elixir of life; semen; a ritual drink;
the juice extracted from the stalk of certain plants.
touch, contact, the sense of touch; fig. sexual union
the elixir of life; semen.
an intuitional science which stands for the progressive
realization of the Divine.
another term used for gārbha (गर्भ) for the sacred space, but
in the sense as a place of holy pilgrimage or the abode of a
sacred entity, that is, the liṇga and the Sacred Spot.
ejaculation, spitting out, vomiting, giving out, emitting;
excitement, passion; affliction, torment, distress; energy,
ardour; the feeling of approaching orgasm.
the penis, generally; fig. a lightning/thunderbolt, a pillar,
a diamond, a tool for perforating a jewel.
the groin, perineum; a garden, park, orchard, an
enclosure.
perineum or the septum of the scrotum; fig. fig. cluster, clump,
thicket; bush.
the scrotum; testicles
the maithuna (मैथुन) complex of the Lotus Gate, the
gārbha/ tīrtha, the garbhagṛha and the kṣetra; fig. a firepit, sacred space, receptacle.
sexual intercourse
an erotic position for maithuna (मैथुन)
This glossary is a work in progress; new terms may be added as necessary and as the programs
expand. As we explore new avenues of yogic Tantra, we will necessarily have also to expand
our terminology and language base.
Please learn the terminology marked by Dāka (दाक), since those terms will be some of the most
frequently used Sanskrit terms in your sādhanā exercises, practices, and rituals.
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
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Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
English  Saṃskṛtam (संस्कृतम ्)
I am providing an English key-word glossary for the basic terms of our sādhanā exercises. In the first
column you will find the English term. In the second column I provide the Sanskrit term transliterated.
Note that Sanskrit is the language of the scriptures of Tantra and Yoga. The third column is for the really
committed and gives the term in Devanagari script, the alphabet used to write Sanskrit. Finally, in the
fourth column I give my definition, the meaning of the term as used in Homoerotic Tantra℠ and MasculIN-Touch℠.
English
Saṃskṛtam
Devanāgarī
दे वनागरी
Alphabet
devanāgarī
Arousal
prasava
Arousal, erection
samucchrāya
समच्छ्
ु रय
Ejaculation
rētaḥpāta
रे तःऩात
Ejaculation,
premature
rētaskhalana
रसव
रे तःस्खऱन
सोम
Elixir of life
somā
Emission,
premature
skhalana
Emotion
rāga
राग
Erection
praharṣa
रहषभ
Eternal Dhārma
Sanātanadharma
Eye-delight
cakṣūsprītī
चऺुष्रीती
Eye-love
cakṣūrāga
चऺूराग
Fire pit
yonī
योतन
Gateway
gārbha
गभभ
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
स्खऱन
सनातनधमभ
Definition
the name of the alphabet/character set or script
most commonly used to write Sanskrit
stimulation; excitement, animation; flower or
blossom
arousal to erection; fig. hill, mountain;
increase, growth.
emissio seminis, ejaculation, emission of śukra
(शुक्र).
emissio seminis, premature or unintended
ejaculation, emission of śukra (शुक्र); failure to
retain the śukra (शुक्र); fig. skhalana (स्खऱन)
stumbling, tottering; trickling, dripping;
discharge, emission; failure, disappointment.
the drink of the gods; the elixir of life; semen; a
ritual drink; the juice extracted from the stalk of
certain plants.
premature ejaculation, unintended ejaculation;
stumbling, tottering; trickling, dripping;
discharge, emission; failure, disappointment.
an emotional state referring to a “feeling,
affection, desire, interest, joy or delight”,
particularly related to passion, love, or sympathy
extreme joy, exultation, rapture; erection of the
penis
The eternal dharma of all comprises being
faithful, not being covetous, tapas, pity to
creatures, control, celibacy, truth, anukrośa,
patience and courage.
eye candy; 'eye-delight', love or affection as
awakened or expressed by an exchange of
glances
eye candy; 'eye-love', love or joy as awakened
or expressed by an exchange of glances
the maithuna (मैथुन) complex of the Lotus Gate,
the gārbha/ tīrtha, the garbhagṛha and the
kṣetra; fig. a fire-pit, sacred space, receptacle.
the sacred space once liṇga passes through the
Lotus Gate.
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Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
Gazing
dṛṣṭi
दृष्ष्ट
focused gaze, gazing
Groin
vāṭa
वाट
Hole
randhra
ररर
Intercourse
yuganaddha
the groin, perineum; a garden, park, orchard, an
enclosure.
hole, an aperture, a cavity, an opening, a chasm,
fissure
sexual intercourse
Kissing
cumbana
Massage
योग नद्ध
चम्
ु बन
abhyaṅga
अभ्यङ्ग
kiss, kissing; cumbanam (चुम्बनम ्)
Massage; traditional Ayurvedic massage
Masturbate
khaḷaṇēṃ
गऱनम ्
Orgasm
karāḍa
कराड
Orgasm,
approaching
uttāpa
उत्ताऩ
Orgasm, intense
kṣobha
ऺोभ
Penis, erect
liṅga
लऱङ्ग
Penis, generally
vajra
वज्र
Performance,
graceful erotic
Perineum
lalitābhinaya
cause to ejaculate; masturbate; fig. rub or
pound.
sudden and intense excitement (of the spirits or
system); orgasm.
excitement, passion; affliction, torment, distress;
energy, ardour; the feeling of approaching
orgasm.
shaking, moving, tossing; jolting; agitation,
disturbance, excitement, emotion; orgasm
the erect penis; fig. a mark or distinguishing
characteristic; the icon of Lord Śiva; derive.
liṅgam (लऱङ्गम ्)
the penis, generally; fig. a lightning/thunderbolt,
a pillar, a diamond, a tool for perforating a
jewel.
graceful erotic performance
bhāga
भग
the male perineum; fig. strength, beauty, desire
Pleasure
harṣa
हषभ
Position
āsana
आसन
joy, delight, pleasure, satisfaction, gladness,
rapture, glee, exultation; erection of the penis;
lustfulness; ardent desire.
a position or posture or pose
Position,
intercourse
Practice, spiritual
yuganaddhāsana
sādhanā
साधन
a spiritual practice or exercise of any kind
Precum
amṛita
अमत
ृ
Precum
drava
द्रव
ambrosia, the food of the gods, which makes the
partaker immortal.: ambrosia; precum
pre-cum
Prostate
aṣṭhīlā
अष्ठीऱा
Prostate
kanda
करद
Rosebud
gopura
गोऩरु
Sacred spot
kṣetra
ऺेि
ऱलऱतालभनय
योग नद्ध + आसन
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
an erotic position for maithuna (मैथुन)
a round swelling; a globular or round body (in
general); prostate
A bulb, swelling; the seat of svādhiṣṭhāna
(स्वाधधष्ठान); the prostate
the Lotus Gate; the entrance into the gārbha
(गर्भ) or tīrtha (तीथभ); anus, sometimes referred
to profanely as the rosebud or rosette
sacred spot, a holy precinct or temenos. (cf.
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Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
kṣetram (क्षेरम ्).
sanctum sanctorum; holy of holies; place
where the deity resides
the Sanskrit language
Sanctum
garbhagṛha
गभभगह
ृ
Sanskrit
saṃskṛtam
संस्कृतम ्
Scrotum
vṛṣaṇa
Scrotum, septum
viṭapa
ववटऩ
perineum or the septum of the scrotum; fig. fig.
cluster, clump, thicket; bush.
Seed
bīja
बीज
seed; also, semen
Semen
rēta
रे त
semen, elixir of life
Semen
śukra
शक्र
ु
the elixir of life; semen.
Sense organs
karmendriya
कमेष्रद्रय
Senses
jñānendriya
ऻानेष्रद्रय
Space, sacred
tīrtha
Spitting out
udgāra
Stimulation,
mouth
aupariṣṭaka
Tantra
tantrā
Temple
pūjāgṛha
Tenderness
sneha
Threshold
pratihārabhūmi
Touch
sparśa
स्ऩशभ
Union, divine
maithuna
मैथुन
Warrior Path
Kṣatriyadharma
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
वष
ृ ण
तीथभ
उद्गार
औऩररष्टक
तरि
ऩज
ू ागह
ृ
स्नेह
रततहारभलू म
ऺत्रियधमभ
scrotum, testicles
The five working senses or organs of action: the
mouth (with the double function of speaking and
eating), the hands, the legs, the genitalia and the
rectum. karmendriyam (कमेन्द्न्त्ियम ्)
the five knowledge-acquiring senses: the ears,
the skin, the eyes, the tongue and the nostrils.
jñānendriyam (ज्ञानेन्द्न्त्ियम ्)
another term used for gārbha (गर्भ) for the
sacred space, but in the sense as a place of holy
pilgrimage or the abode of a sacred entity, that
is, the liṇga and the Sacred Spot.
ejection, spitting out, vomiting, giving out,
emitting;
oral congress; fellatio; irrumatio; stimulation of
the liṅgam with the mouth, tongue, teeth, and
lips.
an intuitional science which stands for the
progressive realization of the Divine.
ritual room; temple
affection, love, kindness, tenderness; oil (as in
massage); any fluid of the body, such as semen
threshold
touch, contact, the sense of touch; fig. sexual
union
Divine Union with the Tantric Lover; ŚivaŚakti
union; usually in the yab-yum āsana
The Warrior Path
Page 8
Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
Notes
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
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Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
Guide to Pronunciation of
IAST Transliteration Characters
Transliteration Letter
Pronunciation
Description
a
ā
ai
“a” in awe
“a” in car
“ai” in aisle
au
“ou” in loud
b
bh
“b” in bad
“bh” in abhorSoft labialaspirate consonant
“ch” in chose
Short guttural vowel
Long “a” vowel
Long guttural-palatal
diphthong
Long guttural-labial
diphthong
Soft labial consonant
c
ch
d
ḍ
dh
“ch-h” in catch-her Hard
palatal-aspirate consonant
“d” in dog
“d” in dot
“dh” in adhere
ḍh
“dh” in godhead
e
g
gh
“a” in mate
“g” in game
“gh” in doghouse
h
ḥ
i
ī
j
jh
k
kh
“h” in hello
“h” in home
“i” in bit
“ee” in beet
“j” in just
“ge-h” in judge-him Soft
palatal-aspirate consonant
“k” in kick
“kh” in bunkhouse
l
ḷ
m
ṁ
“l” in land
“lry” in jewelry
“m” in make
“ong” in song
n
ṅ
“n” in name
“n” in bang
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
Hard guttural-palatal
consonant
Soft dental consonant
Soft retroflex consonant
Soft dental-aspirate
consonant
Soft retroflex-aspirate
consonant
Long guttural-palatal vowel
Soft guttural consonant
Soft guttural-aspirate
consonant
Soft guttural sonant aspirate
½ length of short vowel
Short palatal vowel
Long “i” vowel
Soft palatal consonant
Hard guttural consonant
Hard guttural-aspirate
consonant
Soft dental semivowel
Short retroflex-dental vowel
Soft labial-nasal consonant
Nasal “m”, ½ length of short
vowel
Soft dental-nasal consonant
Soft guttural-nasal
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Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
ñ
ṇ
“ny” in canyon
“n” in turn
o
“o” in boat
p
ph
“p” in pink
“ph” in uphill
r
ṛ
ṝ
s
ś
ṣ
t
ṭ
th
“r” in rat
“ri” in rip, slightly rolled “r”
“ree” in reef, slightly rolled “r”
“s” in sand
“sh” in cash
“sh” in shall
“t” in tea
“t” in tub
“th” in butthead
ṭh
“th” in pothole
u
ū
v
y
“u” in full
“oo” in root
“w” in wag
“y” in yet
consonant
Soft palatal-nasal consonant
Soft retroflex-nasal
consonant
Long guttural-labial
diphthong
Hard labial consonant
Hard labial-aspirate
consonant
Soft retroflex semivowel
Short retroflex vowel
Long “ṛ” vowel
Hard dental sibilant
Hard palatal sibilant
Hard retroflex sibilant
Hard dental consonant
Hard retroflex consonant
Hard dental-aspirate
consonant
Hard retroflex-aspirate
consonant
Short labial vowel
Long “u” vowel
Soft labial semivowel
Soft palatal semivowel
ORA
Dāka Karuṇā
दाक करुणा
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
Page 11
Basic Glossary for Sādhanā Exercises
Sādhanā Exercises and Homoerotic Tantric Rituals
Basic Sadhana Glossary-Preferred Terms.Docx
Page 12