hinduism reading

rig veda

• oldest and most sacred hindu text

ultimate goal of hindus

moksha (release from cycle of rebirth)

brahman

eternal, infinite, impersonal divine reality that underlies all existence

upanishads

commentries

atman

eternal soul in each person identical to brahman

how many gods and goddesses

over 330M

what major questions does one begin w 

what is the nature that sustains everything 

how does hinduism chart time

cyclical

samsara

ongoing life, death, rebirth until moksha

bhagavad gita

sacred text that records conversation between krishna and arjuna

which have the status to affect karma

humans

what question do hindus have an easy answer to

why do people suffer

dharma

ethical duty

varnas

social classes

caste system

• brahmin: priests and teachers

• kshatriya: warriors and rulers

• vaishya: farmers,merchants, producers

• shudra: servants and laborers

what is used to justify caste system

karma and dharma

kharma determines ___ whihc determines ____

caste, dharma

karma marga

path of works

jhana marga

most practical for brahmin class

vedanta

all reality is brahman and separate world is illusion

basic monism

brahman in atman

maya

illusion that prevents us from seeing true reality of brahman

what prevents us from seeing truth

caused my maya, ignorance and ones pride and attachment to worldly things

eternal atman

real self

how do selves get bound to world of samsara

ignorance, attachment, accumulation of karma

objective of yoga

spritual purity to be with brahman

bhakti marga

path of devotion

brahma, vishnu, shiva

creator, preserver, destroyer

avatar

incarnation of deity sent to earth for a mission

krishna

avatar of vishnu in bhagavad gita

typical bhakti marga house contain

shrine

cow

life, gentleness, and sacredness of all creation

gurus

spiritual teachers 

mahatma

great soul

what major dev was later forbidden

practice of untouchability

where do most hindus live

india