history - unit 1 hinduism

caste

a rigid and hereditary social class

brahmin

the highest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of priests

kshatriya

the second of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of warriors and administrators

vaishya

member of the third-highest Indian caste grouping, made up of landowners, bankers, and merchants

shudra

the lowest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of servants and laborers

moksha

Becoming liberated for the cycle of reincarnation in Hinduism.

karma

the effects that good or bad actions have on a person's soul

brahman

The term for The Univeral Soul in Hinduism.

samsara

the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth

dharma

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

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism.

Upanishads

A major book in Hinduism that is often in the form of dialogues that explored the Vedas and the religious issues that they raised.

womb chamber

where they kept form of deity to which the temple was dedicated

Mt. Mehru

where this Hindu gods came from

Aryans

immigrants who arrived at the Ganges river valley by the year 1000 BC