Nirbija

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A Sanskrit term meaning "without seed". In Pantanjali's Yoga Sutras it is said, "But these three [ Samyama ] are only external means compared to the samadhi 'without seed' " [Book 3, 8th Sutra]. It is a term commonly used to indicate a spontaneously arrived at state of meditation or Dhyana. It is considered a likely, though unforeseeable, outcome of regularly and properly conducted meditation with object or seed (bija). In contemporary yoga, the mental state accompanying Nirbija Samadhi, one of heightened energy and prescient awareness, is generally referred to as the activation of Kundalini, and is seen as a kind of spiritual reward for the yogic practice of Yamas or Niyamas. Actually, in its psychological co-effect, it is similar to, if not the same as Samadhi. Pantanjali seems to indicate that mastery of this state is the supreme end of Yoga. The superficial effect may be the body's reaction to freedom from habitual mentation.

Yogic thinkers consider both attachment to, and avoidance of this state a very real danger to further advancement; although at the same time, it is a first and absolutely necessary step toward spiritual liberation. The condition may be arrived at as well without any kind of yogic training. As such it can be viewed as deriving from a temporary release from habitual thought patterns.

The term Nirvikalpa Samadhi refers to this "seedless meditation".

The term "Bija" carries the specific meaning of a syllable that is used as a Mantra or otherwise as the object of meditation; it can also mean any object of meditation.

The Sanskrit prefix nir- means without.

Synonymic Sanskrit transliterations in contemporary use are "Savija" or "Saviija" for "With seed", and "Nibija" "Nirvija" or "Nirviija" for "With no seed".