Hinduism

Rig Veda

A collection of 1017 Sanskrit hymns; Hinduism’s oldest sacred text.

Moksha

Liberation or release of the individual self, atman, from the bondage of samsara; salvation; one of the four goals of life.

Brahman

The eternal essence of reality and the source of the universe, beyond the reach of human perception and thought.

Upanishads

A collection of over two hundred texts that provide philosophical commentary on the Vedas.

Atman

The eternal Self, which the Upanishads identify with Brahman.

Samsara

The wheel of rebirth or reincarnation

Bhagavad-Gita

A short section of the epic poem Mahabharata

Dharma

Ethical duty based on the divine order of reality, one of the four goals of life.

Caste System

Traditional division of Hindu society into various categories.

Brahmin

The highest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of priests

Kshatriya

The second of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of warriors and administrators.

Vaishya

The third of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of producers, such as farmers, merchants, and artisans.

Shudra

The lowest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of servants and laborers.

Sannyasin

A wandering ascetic who has advanced to the fourth and highest stage of life.

Ascetic

One who renounces physical pleasures and worldly attachments for the sake of spiritual advancement.

Kama

Pleasure, especially of sensual love, one of the four goals of life

Artha

Material success and social prestige, one of the four goals of life.

Karma marga

One of three Hindu paths to salvation, emphasizing performing right actions according to dharma.

jnana marga

One of three Hindu paths to salvation, emphasizing the true nature of reality through learning and meditation.

Vedanta

A system of Hindu philosophy holding that all reality is essentially Brahman.

Maya

Cosmic illusion brought by divine creative power.

Sankhya

A system of Hindu philosophy asserting that reality comprises two distinct categories, matter and eternal selves.

Yoga

A system of Hindu philosophy seeking to free the eternal self from the bondage of personhood.

Samadhi

A trancelike state in which self consciousness is lost.

Bhakti marga

One of the three Hindu paths to salvation, emphasizing loving devotion to one’s chosen god or goddess.

Puja

Worship in general, often specially involving offering of incense, food, or flowers, before an image of a deity.

Avatar

An incarnation of a deity who is sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose.