World Religions: Hinduism

Rig Veda

a collection of 1,017 Sanskrit hymns composed about 1500 BC or earlier; Hinduism's oldest sacred text.

Moksha

'liberation' or release of the individual self, atman, from the bondage to samsara

Monism

doctrine that reality is made up of only one essence

Brahman

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

Samsara

the wheel of rebirth or reincarnation

Dharma

ethical duty based on the divine order of reality; one of the four goals in life

Karma

the moral law of cause and effect of actions; determines the nature of one's reincarnation

Bhagavad Gita

A short section of the epic poem Mahabharata in which the god Krishna teaches the great warrior Arjuna about Bhakti marga and other ways to god; this is Hinduisms most popular sacred text.

Upanishads

a collection of over 200 texts composed between 900 and 200 BC that provide philosophical commentaty on the vedas

Atman

the eternal self

Caste System

A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life

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

Brahmin

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

Kshatriya

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

Vaishya

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

Shudra

the lowest of the four classes of the caste system 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

Karma Marga

path of works; one of three paths to salvation emphasizing right actions according to dharma; for the active

Jnana Marga

"The Path of Knowledge" one of three paths to salvation emphasizing knowing the true nature of reality; for those who are talented in philosophical reflection

Yoga

a system of Hindu philosophy and one approach within jnana marga, the path of knowledge, seeking to free the eternal self from the bondage of personhood, culminating in samadhi

Maya

cosmic illusion brought about by divine creative power

Bhakti Marga

The most popular of the three paths of devotion; emphasizing loving devotion to one's chosen gods or goddesses; for the emotional

Avatars

The incarnations or living embodiment of a deity, usually Vishnu, sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose; Krishna and Rama are the most popular avatars

Trimurti

the three divine manifestations of Brahman—Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu.

Brahma

Creator

Vishnu

The preserver

Shiva

The destroyer

Dalit

"the untouchables" Had to do lowest tasks like cleaning the streets, etc. So ritually impure that standing in one's shadow was considered impure.

Krishna

one of the most popular gods, the eighth and most important avatar or incarnation of Vishnu.

Ganges river

the holiest river to Hindus. They believe bathing in this river will wash away their sins

Murti

Murti is a general term for an image, statue or idol of a deity or mortal in Hindu culture. In Hindu temples, it is a symbolic icon. A murti is itself not a god in Hinduism, but it is a shape, embodiment or manifestation of a deity.

Aarti

A prayerful ceremony in order to please the Divine Lord. Ceremonial worship (part of puja) involves lighting wicks in ghee (clarified butter)

Puja

Hindu devotional worship of deities at home or in a temple practiced in

Shruti

term denoting the category of Vedic literature accepted by orthodox Hindus as revealed truth

Smriti

term denoting the vast category of Hindu sacred texts that is not shruti, that which is remembered