Hinduism

IB World Religions SL

Dharma

This is a person's religious and moral duties, often based on his or her caste (varna and jati).

Samsara

This is the cycle of life, death, and rebirth in Hinduism.

Moksha

This is the liberation of an individual’s atman from samsara.

Karma

This is the belief that one’s actions in life, whether good or bad, will affect your place in a future life.

Atman

This is the incorruptible self, soul, spirit, or essence, of an individual.

Brahman

This is the timeless, incorruptible essence of reality of the universe.

Maya

This is the illusory nature of the observable world.

Mantra

This is commonly repeated word or phrase that often carries spiritual significance.

Caste System

This is the western understanding of the traditional Hindu manner in which people were classified into four distinct spiritual groups (varnas): Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (warriors), Vaishyas (merchants), and Shudras (laborers). It also includes jatis numerous subgroups based on family, community, gender, and more.

Brahmins

priests

Kshatriyas

warriors

Vaishyas

merchants

Shudras

laborers

Vedas

These are ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism. They include four collections: Rig (hymns), Sama (chants and melodies), Yajur (liturgy-that is rituals and sacrifices), and Atharva (magical prescriptions and incantations).

Rig

hymns

Sama

chants and melodies

Yajur

liturgy-that is rituals and sacrifices

Atharva

magical prescriptions and incantations

Upanishads

These are the philosophical section of the Vedas discussing the nuances of Atman and Brahman. They were written between 800 and 300 BCE.

Bhagavad Gita

This is the most important work of Indian sacred literature. It includes a dialogue between the great warrior Arjuna and the god Krishna on dharma.

Rishis

This is a sage, seer, or prophetic figure who received the sacred Sanskrit of the Vedas. He often lived an ascetic lifestyle outside of society.

Shruti

This literally means “that which is heard and refers almost exclusively to the Vedas.

Indra

god of thunder and bringer of welcome rains

Agni

god of fire

Soma

associated with a sacred drink, soma

Varuna

a multifaceted deity in Hinduism, primarily known as the god of oceans, celestial waters, and rivers

Dalit

This is an untouchable member of Hindu society who lives outside of the caste system.

Samhita

The most deep layers of Vedas. Brahmanas (directions about performances of the ritual sacrifices to the deities), Aranyakas (“forest treatises” by sages who went to the forests to meditate as recluses), and Upanishads (teachings from highly realized spiritual masters).

Brahmanas

(directions about performances of the ritual sacrifices to the deities)

Aranyakas

(“forest treatises” by sages who went to the forests to meditate as recluses)

Aryans

Nomadic people from the north who migrated south and spread westward developing European civilizations with linguistic similarities between classical European languages such as Latin and Greek to Sanskrit, and who brought the Vedas to India.

Sanskrit

The language of the Aryans and in which the Vedas are written.

Ramayana

This is one of the great Hindu epics. Written between 500-200 BCE, it traces the adventures of King Rama, his brother Lakshmana, his wife Sita, and the monkey god, Hanuman. It culminates with the defeat of Ravana. About Dharma.

Mahabharata

This is a vast epic chronicling the events leading up to a cataclysmic battle of Kurukshetra between the related kinship groups, the Kauravas and Pandavas, in early India. It includes the Bhagavad-Gita, the most important work of Indian sacred literature. The importance of dharma is quite apparent throughout the story.

Puranas

These are stories about the Hindu gods, often dedicated to a specific god, that became important after the Vedic period. They were first written down as early as the fourth century CE. They emphasize creation, renewal/rebirth (samsara), cosmic ages (manvantaras), avatars, and the genealogies of gods and kings.

Vishnu

sustainer

Shiva

destroyer

Brahma

creator

Axial age

When religions became organized and in addition to ethics morality began to be taught where sacrifices are not the main exercise of the religion around 500 B.C. Religions become more universal in this period.