RELI EXTENED WUIZ

Sanatana Dharma

A Sanskrit designation meaning "Eternal Law" or timeless truth, used by many practitioners to describe their religious and cultural tradition.

Theological diversity in Hinduism

A pluralistic structure characterized by a wide variety of philosophical schools, devotional traditions, rituals, and deities rather than a single unified creed.

Organizational leadership in Hinduism

A decentralized framework that lacks a single historical founder, authoritative central institution, or single living leader.

Geographic center of Hinduism

India, where the vast majority of the world's Hindu population lives.

Purusharthas (Four Aims of Life)

The legitimate goals of human existence: pleasure (kama), wealth and power (artha), moral duty (dharma), and spiritual liberation (moksha).

Samsara

The continuing cycle of birth, life, death, and redeath that binds all beings.

View of samsara as a trap

The perspective that recurring existence inevitably subjects an individual to repeated physical illness, aging, suffering, and death.

Moksha

The ultimate spiritual goal consisting of liberation and release from the cycle of rebirth and death.

Three classical paths to liberation (Yogas)

Jnana yoga (knowledge and wisdom), bhakti yoga (devotional surrender), and karma yoga (selfless action).

Jnana yoga

The path to spiritual liberation pursued through study, contemplation, and philosophical discernment.

Bhakti yoga

The path to spiritual liberation centered on heartfelt love, worship, and devotion directed toward a personal deity.

Karma yoga

The path of selfless service and fulfilling one's moral duty without attachment to personal reward or results.

Mahatma Gandhi's spiritual practice

A modern exemplar of selfless action and ethical service aligned with karma yoga.

Diversity of spiritual aims among Hindus

The recognition that while some pursue liberation, many focus on moral living, prosperity, pleasure, or attaining an auspicious rebirth.

Trimurti

The triad of divine functions personified by three major deities: Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.

Brahma

The deity in the divine triad who is responsible for the creation of the universe.

Vishnu

The deity in the divine triad who preserves, sustains, and protects the cosmic order.

Shiva

The deity in the divine triad associated with destruction, dissolution, transformation, and regeneration.

Avatar

A bodily descent of a deity onto earth in human or animal form to suppress evil and restore cosmic balance.

Prominent avatars of Vishnu

Divine earthly incarnations including Rama, Krishna, and the Buddha.

Rama

A heroic earthly incarnation of Vishnu who serves as the central figure of a celebrated epic and an exemplar of righteous duty.

Ramayana

An ancient epic narrative detailing an exiled prince's journey to rescue his wife, illustrating loyalty, righteous duty, and the triumph of good over evil.

Sita

The wife of an avatar of Vishnu, revered in epic tradition as an ideal model of fidelity, moral courage, and spiritual devotion.

Moral themes of the Ramayana

The centrality of fulfilling moral obligations (dharma), mutual loyalty, devotion, and the inevitable victory of righteousness over demonic chaos.

Varanasi

An ancient sacred pilgrimage city situated on the banks of a holy river, visited for ritual purification, worship, and attaining liberation at death.

Ganges River (Ganga)

A revered waterway personified as a divine mother, believed to wash away ritual impurities and bestow spiritual merit upon bathers.

Pilgrimage activities in Varanasi

Bathing in the holy river, performing ritual worship at temples, receiving spiritual teachings, and earning karmic merit.

Vedas

The most ancient authoritative scriptures in Hinduism, containing collections of hymns, chants, prayers, and ritual instructions.

Yajna (Vedic fire sacrifice)

The primary ritual practice of the early ancient tradition, used to uphold cosmic order and secure blessings from deities through sacred offerings.

Om (Aum)

A sacred cosmic syllable representing ultimate reality, the essence of the divine, and the fundamental sound of existence.

Mantra

A sacred syllable, word, or phrase uttered or chanted during worship and meditation to channel spiritual energy.

Brahmins

The traditional social class of priests and scholars responsible for performing sacred rites and teaching religious texts.

Four traditional Varnas

The classical social categories: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors), Vaishyas (merchants and agriculturists), and Shudras (servants and laborers).

Dalit

A modern self-applied term meaning "broken" or "oppressed," identifying communities historically excluded from the traditional fourfold social hierarchy.

Ganesha

The elephant-headed deity invoked as the remover of obstacles, patron of intellect, and god of auspicious beginnings.

Kali

A goddess depicted in fierce imagery who destroys evil forces, cuts through ego, and champions divine justice for her worshippers.

Yoga

A holistic spiritual discipline and contemplative methodology directed toward achieving self-realization and liberation.

Sannyasin

A renunciant who renounces worldly status, family bonds, and material possessions to pursue complete spiritual release.

Atman

The true immortal self or innermost soul within each sentient being, distinct from the physical body and personality.

Brahman

The supreme, infinite, and formless spiritual reality that underpins and pervades all creation.

Puja

A ceremonial act of devotional worship featuring the presentation of offerings such as flowers, light, water, and food before an image of a deity.

Lingam

An abstract, cylindrical emblem representing divine regenerative energy, cosmic potential, and formless divinity.

Dharma

The cosmic principle of moral order, righteousness, social responsibility, and appropriate ethical conduct.

Karma

The universal law of moral causation in which intentional actions yield consequences that influence future circumstances and rebirths.