atman
essential self
brahman
essential cosmic spirit; ultimate reality
dharma
duty, law
karma
moral law of cause and effect; what determines rebirth
maya
illusion
moksha
liberation; release from samsara
sadhu
holy man; renunciant
samsara
cycle of death and rebirth
sat, chit, ananada
character of ultimate reality; "being, consciousness, bliss
caste
traditional social divisions
brahmin
priestly caste
kshatriya
warrior/administrative caste
vaishya
merchant caste
shudra
laborer caste
divali
festival of lights
puja
offerings to the gods
yoga
discipline; path to god
jnana yoga
way of knowledge
bhakti yoga
way of devotion, love
karma yoga
way of selfless action
raga yoga
way of religious practice; meditation
Ganesha
god of good fortune; guarder of thresholds
Krishna
incarnation of Vishnu
Mahadevi
collective goddesses; Durga, Kali, Parvati
Shiva
the destroyer god
Vishnu
the preserver god
guru
teacher
Bhagavad Gita
story of Krishna and Arjuna; "Song of the Lord
Mahabharata
family feud of Bharata clan
Ramayana
family drama of Rama and Sita
Upanishads
philosophical scriptures
Vedas
central scriptures of Hinduism; hymns and lore of the Aryans