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Mati

Last updated: December 21, 2023

What Does Mati Mean?

Mati is a Sanskrit word that means “intelligence,” “understanding,” “mindful,” “intuition” and “perception.” In the context of yoga and Hindu philosophy, mati describes a spiritual intelligence that is associated with a state of awareness.

Mati is also sometimes described as willpower, but it is a spiritual willpower of acquiring knowledge and understanding — the Self harnessing intelligence to grow spiritually. Once this state of mati is achieved, the yogi has the higher knowledge that eliminates the need for worldly pleasures and attachments.

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Yogapedia Explains Mati

In some traditions, mati is one of the niyamas, or moral observances, that comprise the second limb of the eight-limbed path of yoga. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras lists just five niyamas, but other texts — including the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and Shandilya and Varuha Upanishads — list 10. Mati is included in the longer lists. The other niyamas are:

  • Santosa (contentment/acceptance of circumstances)
  • Svadhyaya (self-study)
  • Tapa (penance, perseverance or austerity)
  • Astikya (faith in the higher Self, or God)
  • Dana (generosity or charity)
  • Isvarap pujana (worship of the Supreme Being)
  • Siddantasravana (listening to the scriptures/doctrines)
  • Japa (incantation or reciting mantras)
  • Hri (shame, remorse, modesty or humility)

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