(better reli) Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism: Key Deities, Concepts, and Texts

Agni

A Vedic deity, the god of fire, who acts as a messenger between humans and the gods.

Indra

The king of the gods in the Vedic pantheon, associated with storms, thunder, and war.

Śiva (Shiva)

A major deity in Hinduism, part of the Trimurti (three main gods). He is known as the Destroyer and is often depicted as an ascetic.

Vişnu (Vishnu)

A principal deity in Hinduism and part of the Trimurti, considered the Preserver or Sustainer of the universe.

Avatāra

The descent or incarnation of a deity on Earth, most commonly referring to the incarnations of Vishnu, such as Rama and Krishna.

Dualists

Followers of a philosophical school that believes in two separate realities: a material world and a spiritual world.

Monists

Followers of a philosophical school that believes there is only one ultimate reality, often seeing the individual soul as identical to the supreme cosmic reality.

Atman

The eternal, unchanging self or soul of an individual. (hinduism)

Brahman

The ultimate reality, the divine ground of all existence. In some philosophical schools, Atman and this term are seen as one and the same.

Mokşa

The ultimate goal in Hinduism; liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth (Samsāra). It's the release from suffering and the realization of one's true self.

Samsāra

The endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It's a fundamental concept in several Indian religions.

Karman (Karma)

The universal principle of cause and effect. Every action, thought, or word has consequences that will affect the person's future.

Veda

The most ancient and sacred texts of Hinduism, considered to be divinely revealed.

Upanishads

Philosophical and spiritual texts that form the basis of Hinduism's core philosophical concepts. They are often seen as the culmination of the Vedas.

Epics

Refers to the major narrative poems of ancient India, such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, which are central to Hindu culture and ethics.

Purāņa

A vast genre of Indian literature, containing myths, legends, and genealogies of gods, goddesses, and heroes.

Sacrificial Rituals

A central part of early Vedic religion, these rituals were performed by priests to appease gods and maintain cosmic order.

Yoga

A group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines that originated in ancient India. It's a path to liberation (Mokşa).

Temple Hinduism

A form of worship focused on devotion to deities through idols or images in a temple setting.

Indus Valley Civilization

One of the world's oldest urban civilizations, located in what is now Pakistan and northwest India. Its religious practices are a subject of debate but are thought to have influenced later Hinduism.

Theories of Vedic Origins

The various scholarly theories about the origins of the Vedic culture and the Indo-Aryan people who composed the Vedas.

Jina

A Jain term for a 'conqueror'—someone who has conquered their inner enemies like anger and pride and attained enlightenment.

Jīva

The eternal soul or life force in Jainism, which is pure and has infinite knowledge.

Ajīva

The non-living, non-soul, or material part of the universe.

Asceticism

A lifestyle characterized by abstaining from worldly pleasures for the purpose of spiritual goals. It's a central practice in Jainism to purify the soul from karma.

Buddha

'The Awakened One.' Refers to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, who attained enlightenment.

Dharma

In Buddhism, this refers to the teachings of the Buddha.

Anātman

The Buddhist concept of 'no-self' or 'no-soul.' It's the belief that there is no permanent, unchanging self or soul.

Codependent Origination

A core Buddhist doctrine explaining that all phenomena arise in dependence upon other phenomena. Nothing exists independently.

The Middle Way

The path of moderation between the extremes of sensual indulgence and self-mortification. This is the path to Nirvana as taught by the Buddha.

Nirvāņa

The ultimate goal in Buddhism. It is the state of being free from suffering and the cycle of rebirth (Samsāra).

The Three Jewels

The three things that Buddhists take refuge in to find their path to enlightenment: the Buddha (the awakened one), the Dharma (the teachings), and the Sangha (the community of monks, nuns, and followers).

King Ashoka

An Indian emperor of the Maurya Dynasty who converted to Buddhism after a bloody war and promoted the religion throughout his empire, leading to its spread.

Brāhmaņas

Genre of texts written immediately after the first corpus of the vedas, originally not written and orally spoken

brāhmaņas (brahmin)

One of the 4 classes, Priests