Unit 2 Hinduism Vocabulary

Vishnu

A Hindu god considered the preserver of the world

Shiva

A Hindu god considered the destroyer of the world

Brahma

A Hindu god considered the creator of the world

Atman

The individual soul

Avatar

A representation of a Hindu god or goddess in human or animal form

Brahman

A single spiritual power that Hindu believe lives in everything

Monism

The belief that all reality is one

Deity

a god or goddess

Moksha

The Hindu concept of the spirit’s ’liberation’ from the endless cycle of rebirths.

Karma

The belief that actions in this life, whether good or bad, will decide your place in the next life.

Dharma

In Hindu belief, a person’s religious and moral duties

Polytheism

Belief in many gods

Caste System

A social structure in which classes are determined by heredity

Dalit

Lowest class of people in the caste system of Hinduism, do all the dirty work of society, formerly known as untouchables.

Holi

A Hindu spring festival celebrated in February of March in honor of Krishna

Puja

Hindu devotional worship of deities at home or in a temple

Ganges

Located in India, this river is considered sacred to Hindus and is used for spiritual cleansing, funeral rites, and other Hindu rituals.

Samsara

The endless cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth

Bhakti Yoga

The spiritual discipline of devotion to a deity

Jhana Yoga

Path of knowledge

Karma Yoga

The spiritual discipline of selfless action

Raja Yoga

Path of Discipline

Trimurti

“Three forms” of the divine; the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and shiva.