India Vocab

Subcontinent

A large landmass that juts out from a continent

Monsoon

A strong, seasonal wind that blows across East Asia

Karma

An action, work, or deed and it’s effect or consequences

Caste

A division of society based on differences of wealth, inherited rank, profession, occupation or race

Varna

One of the four traditional social classes

Brahman

A single spiritual power that, according to Hinduism, lives in everything

Avatar

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

Reincarnation

The rebirth of the soul in the body of another living being

Dharma

The religious and mortal deities of Hindus

Ahimsa

The Hindu idea of non violence

Meditate

The focus the mind inward in order to find spiritual awareness or relaxation

Nirvana

The lasting peace hat Buddhists seek by giving up selfish desires

Missionary

A person who spreads their religious beliefs to others

Convert

To change one’s beliefs; in particular, to change one religion to another

Tolerance

A fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward opinions, beliefs, and practices hat differ from one’s own

Yoga

The physical, spiritual, or mental practices used to attain a state of permanent peace