Chapter 3 Hinduism Exam Study Guide

These flashcards cover key concepts, terms, and definitions from the Hinduism study guide to aid in exam preparation.

Brahman

The Eternal essence and the source of the universe; it is the ultimate reality that is not perceptible by humans.

Atman

The individual soul or self; Hindu doctrine teaches that "Atman is Brahman and Brahman is Atman."

Monism

The philosophical doctrine that all reality is ultimately one. This is famously expressed in the passage "that art thou."

Karma

The principle of cause and effect. It does not reward good behavior or punish bad behavior; it is simply the way things are.

Dharma

Hinduism's closest equivalent to the Western term "religion." It refers to ethical duty based on gender, class, and stage of life, and is similar to the Christian principle of unconditional love where responsibilities are not situational.

Samsara

The continuous cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Hindus believe a person may live and die multiple times before attaining release.

Moksha

Liberation or release from the cycle of rebirth (samsara). Hinduism identifies three paths to Moksha that do not have to be practiced one at a time.

Samadhi

A state of intense meditative consciousness in which the knower becomes one with that which is known.

The Hindu Trinity (Trimurti)

Consists of three gods:

• Brahma: The creator (not widely worshiped).
• Vishnu: The preserver.
• Shiva: The god of destruction.

Avatars

Incarnations of a deity on earth. Krishna and Rama are both well-known avatars of Vishnu.

The Bhagavad Gita

A sacred Hindu text that is actually a small section of the much larger epic poem, the Mahabharata.

Reincarnation

The process of the soul being reborn. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna compares reincarnation to getting undressed at night and putting on new clothes in the morning.

Hindu Worship

Includes a variety of practices such as household rituals, pilgrimages to holy sites, and cow worship or veneration.

The Ganges River

A river considered by Hindus to be sacred enough to purify even the most serious sins.

Number of Deities

Hinduism is known for having a vast pantheon, with tradition often citing as many as 330 million deities.

Historical Events (1948)

The year Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated and the Indian government officially outlawed discrimination against outcasts (Untouchables).

Shri Ramakrishna

A 19th-century holy man who famously became a Muslim and a Christian to find God, yet remained a Hindu throughout his entire life.

Vivekananda

A follower of Ramakrishna who became the first Hindu missionary to successfully bring Hindu philosophy to the Western world.

The Four Goals of Life

1. Kama: Pleasure and sensual love.
2. Artha: Material success and social power.
3. Dharma: Ethical duty and harmony.
4. Moksha: The final goal of liberation.

Abrahamic Influence

Hinduism has had minimal, if any, influence on the religious traditions of the Abrahamic faiths, particularly Islam.

Sannyasin

A wandering ascetic who has advanced to the fourth and highest stage of life in the Hindu system.

Karma Marga

The "Path of Works"; one of the three paths to liberation, emphasizing selfless action and service.

Jnana Marga

The "Path of Knowledge"; one of the three paths to liberation, emphasizing wisdom and the true nature of reality through meditation.

Bhakti Marga

The "Path of Devotion"; the most popular path to liberation, emphasizing loving devotion to a personal god or goddess.

Vedanta

A school of Hindu philosophy based on the Upanishads that focuses on the monistic relationship between Atman and Brahman.

Yoga

A school of Hindu philosophy and a set of practices designed to lead to the union of the individual self with the divine.

Sankhya

An ancient school of Hindu philosophy that posits a dualistic reality consisting of matter and an infinite number of eternal selves.

Rig Veda

Hinduism's oldest sacred text, consisting of a collection of hymns addressed to various gods.

Upanishads

A collection of ancient philosophical texts that provide the conceptual foundation for many Hindu doctrines like Brahman and Atman.

Brahmin

The highest caste in the traditional Hindu social structure, historically composed of priests and teachers.

Shudra

The lowest of the four traditional castes, traditionally made up of servants and laborers.

The Untouchables

A group of people outside the traditional caste system who have historically faced severe marginalization and discrimination.

Maya

A term referring to the cosmic illusion that prevents people from seeing the true nature of reality.

Sati

The now-outlawed traditional practice of a widow self-immolating on her husband's funeral pyre.