Hinduism MAP TERMS

Bengal

State of India in which British first established their colonial presence and where worship of the Goddess (esp. Kali) is especially popular; capital of this state is Kolkata (Calcutta)

Bangladesh

Formerly East Pakistan, after a brief war brought on by cultural, linguistic and political differences with West Pakistan, this country became an independent nation in 1971

Tamil Nadu

Southern-most state of India from which the Āḷvārs (early Vaishnava bhakti saints) come from

Sri Lanka

Formerly known as Ceylon, this country had 26-year civil war (1983–2009) between Sinhalese Buddhists and Tamil separatists; associated with mythical home of demon king Rāvana in Rāmāyaṇa

Pakistan

Islamic republic created from the Partition of India in 1947

Indus (Sindh) River

River on which South Asia’s (and one of the world’s) most ancient civilizations flourished

Nepal

Mountainous nation of Hindus & Buddhists bordering India; capital of this country is Kathmandu

China

Major geopolitical power; this country has 2nd largest population in world (after India)

Amritsar

Sacred center & holiest pilgrimage site of the Sikh religion; site of the Golden Temple

Delhi

Capital city of Insia

Mumbai

India’s largest city and financial capital

Vrindavan

Site of the child and adolescent Krishna’s adventures

Yamuna (Jumna) River

River on which many of the young Krishna’s exploits occurred

Ganges (Ganga) River

Holiest river in India; said to have come to the earth only after falling upon Shiva’s head and trickling down his matted locks of hair

Ayodhya

Home of Rāma; site of the destruction of the Babri Mosque in 1992

Benaras (Varanasi)

Probably the most important Hindu pilgrimage site; it is believed that those who die at this riverside city are instantly liberated

Himalayas

Massive mountain range stretching across northern part of South Asia

Rajasthan

State from which saint Mīrābāī comes; geographically largest (largely sandy & arid) Indian state

Maharashtra

State in India that was the “crucible of Hindu nationalism”; its capital is Mumbai

Ajmer

Site of the tomb (dargah) of Moinuddin Chishti, the most famous Sufi saint in India

Bodhgaya

Site where the Buddha attained enlightment

Harappa

Site (in modern-day Pakistan) of an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civilization

Mohenjo-daro

Site of the other (more southern) major city of the Indus Valley Civilization