artha
material success, one of four goals of life
Atman
the Self," soul of an individual that is reincarnated from one body to the next
avatar
incarnation or living embodiment of a deity, usually Vishnu, Krishna & Rama are the most popular avartars
Bhagavad-Gita
Hindus most popular text, closely associated with Bhakti marga
bhakti marga
the path of devotion," emphasizing loving devotion to one's chosen god or goddess
Brahman
eternal essence of reality and the source of the universe which is beyond human perception and thought
caste system
traditional divisions in Hindu Society originally based on varn(color)
dharma
ethica duty based on the divine reality of the universe, one of four goals of life
jnana marga
the path of knowledge," emphasizing knowing the truth through meditation and/or yoga
karma
moral law of cause and effect, determines the nature of one's reincarnations
kama
pleasure of sensual love, one of four goals of life
karma marga
the path of good works," empahsizing performing right actions for others
kshatriya
second of four classes of caste system, warriors & administrators
maya
cosmic illusion
moksha
liberation or release of Atman from bondage of samsara
monism
doctrine that reality is ultimately made up of only one essence
Rig Veda
Hinduism's oldest sacred text
samadhi
trancelike state that one achieves through yoga
samara
wheel of rebirth" or reincarnation
sannyasin
a wandering ascetic, fourth stage of life
student
stage of life when a Hindu boy is inititated to study the Vedas
householder
stage of life in which Hindu nem & women marry and raise a family
forest dweller
stage of Hindu life where Hindu men, at the birth of their first grandchild, retreat from life's concerns and begins a spiritual quest
sati
the traditional practice of burning a widow on her husband's funeral pyre; outlawed in 1829 though it rarely occurs
shudra
lowest of four classes of caste system; servants and laborers
Upanishads
sitting near a teacher," Hindu sacred texts that comment on Vedas
vaishya
third of four classes of caste system, famers, merchants and artisans
Yoga
Hindu philosophy and spiritual practice to free the Atman from the bondage of personhood - samadhi is its aim
Brahma
creator god
Shiva
oldest god and god of destruction
Vishnu
god that maintains and sustains creation
Khrishna
playfull cowherd; most popular avatar of Vishnu
Ganesha
god with the elephant head, son of Parvati and Shiva
Outcaste/Untouchables
Indian government outlawed discrimination against these people in 1948
Mahatma Gandhi
led a non-violent revolution in India which led to India's freedom from British colonial rule in 1948
Pakistan
In 1947 this was created as the Muslim homeland & Muslims were forced to leave India and live here
cyclical
this term describes Hindu cosmology; the universe undergoes long periods of creation and destruction
cow
sacred animal of Hinduism
Ganges River
once in a lifetime pilgrimage to this river for the forgiveness of sin
Puja
household and village rituals
divine revelation, sacred tradition, conscience, examples of wise people
four sources of dharma
caste, gender and age
three things that determine one's dharma in life
independently
Hindu gods & goddesses function in relation to one's karma
Hindu Trinity
Brahma, Shiva & Vishnu
Unconditional Love
dharma, acting in concern for others, has much in common with this Christian ethical principle