anālambana

 Anālambana (अनालम्बन) in Sanskrit broadly means “without support” or “unsupported,” and can also refer to a mind or state that is free from attachment or object, with applications in Buddhism, Hindu philosophy, and yogic practices

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Linguistic and Literal Definition

The term “anālambana” is composed of the prefix an- (meaning 

“without”) and ālambana (meaning “support, base, or object of 

attachment”) 

Sanskrit Dictionary+1

. Literally, it translates to

“unsupported” or “without something to rely upon.” In Sanskrit 

dictionaries, it is defined as:

1. Without stay or support; unsupported
2. Despondent or heart-broken
3. Denoting a state or mind that does not cling to or depend upon any object

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Philosophical and Religious Contexts

In Hinduism and Yoga

• Ālambana refers to support, base, or the object of perception,
• often used in meditation and yogic practices as the focus of 
• attention or mental support. Anālambana, therefore, can signify
• the absence of such external supports or objects of reference,
• indicating a mind that is internally self-reliant or detached. This is
• particularly mentioned in yogic texts where a yogin may meditate
• in empty space or on the concept of the self without assigning a
• physical object as support 

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Connection with Ālambana

• While ālambana is the object of perception, support, or prop, 
• anālambana negates this, emphasizing detachment, object-less 
• meditation, or complete non-reliance, which has both philosophical 
• and experiential importance in meditative and contemplative 
• disciplines 

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Summary

Anālambana in Sanskrit essentially conveys the idea of 

“without support” or “unsupported,” but depending on context, 

it encompasses:

• A literal sense of being unsupported or despondent
• A philosophical sense of non-attachment and freedom from mental
• objects (in Buddhism and Yoga)
• A reflection on internal mental stability without reliance on external 
• aids or perceptual supports

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This term is used across Sanskrit literature and yogic manuals, 

highlighting its versatility in both linguistic and spiritual contexts.