क्रिया
Kriyā
kri-YAA (kri as in 'creek', yaa as in 'yard')
Level 2Etymology
Root: From the Sanskrit root √kṛ (to do, to make, to perform) with the suffix -yā, forming a feminine action noun. Related to the verbal stem karo-ti (he/she does).
Literal meaning: Action, deed, performance, or the act of doing. Literally 'that which is done' or 'the process of doing.'
Definition
Kriyā refers to any deliberate action, activity, or practice undertaken with purpose and awareness. In everyday usage, it encompasses rituals, ceremonies, and structured practices such as cleansing techniques, breathing exercises, and devotional acts. It is the disciplined doing that transforms routine activity into meaningful engagement.
In the spiritual context, Kriyā denotes purificatory and transformative practices designed to prepare the body and mind for higher realization. In Yoga, it refers to specific internal actions—such as the Ṣaṭkarma (six purifications) of Haṭha Yoga or the inner techniques of Kriyā Yoga—that purify the nāḍīs, awaken kuṇḍalinī, and accelerate spiritual evolution.
At the transcendent level, Kriyā is the dynamic Śakti of consciousness itself—the self-luminous activity by which Brahman manifests, sustains, and withdraws the universe. In Śaiva Siddhānta, Kriyā Śakti is one of the five powers of Śiva, representing the divine impulse from which all creation arises. The realized being perceives all action as the spontaneous play of this ultimate Kriyā, beyond doership.
Appears In
Common Misconception
Many assume Kriyā refers exclusively to the specific meditation technique popularized by Paramahaṃsa Yogānanda as 'Kriya Yoga.' While Kriyā Yoga is an important lineage practice, the term Kriyā itself is far broader in Sanskrit tradition—it encompasses all purposeful action, from Vedic ritual acts (karmakriyā) to yogic purifications (śodhana kriyā) to the cosmic creative activity of the Divine. Patañjali's Kriyā Yoga (tapas, svādhyāya, Īśvara-praṇidhāna) predates any modern lineage by millennia.
Modern Application
Kriyā reminds us that intentional, disciplined action is the bridge between aspiration and transformation. In modern life, this principle applies whenever we move from passive consumption to active practice—whether through a structured morning routine, a committed breathwork or meditation practice, or the deliberate cultivation of a skill. The concept teaches that transformation is not accidental; it requires consistent, conscious doing. Modern wellness, mindfulness programs, and even cognitive-behavioral therapies echo this ancient insight: purposeful, repeated action reshapes both body and mind, turning abstract goals into lived reality.
Quick Quiz
In Patañjali's Yoga Sūtras, what three components define Kriyā Yoga?