1. advaita

non-dualism

2. Agni

god of fire. transports sacrificial offerings to other gods. (Vedic deitites are mainly male and are personified powers of nature.

3. ahimsa

non-violence

4. ananda

bliss

5. arati

flame

6. Arjuna

The greatest Pandava warrior is Arjuna, without whose prowess they would lose.

Arjuna has an existential crisis on the eve of the war, and will not fight. (he realized that he would be fighting his cousins and other family members.)
Krishna, his friend and charioteer, counsels him.
this conversation is known as the Bhagavad- Gita (Song of the Lord)
Krishna teaches Arjuna three yogas (pathways to moksha)
Arjuna fights, and the Pandavas defeat the Kauravas.

7. artha

skill/know-how/money; develop one's professional abilities.
during the stage of householder, husband and wife pursue this goal.

8. Aryans

noble ones
nomadic Aryans enterned the Indian subcontinent during the Aryan Migration (1200 BCE)
had the war chariot and hard metal weapons.
brought with them The Vedas, their religious texts (originally oral).
language was sanksrit (cultured/perfected)
intermingled with the Dravidians, and a class/caste system emerged.

9. Atman

the self beyond all illusory ego formulations.
our true self

10. avatara

periodical incarnates

11. Bhakti Yoga

liberation through loving devotion (bhakti)
bhakti is first developed in the Bhagavad-Gita
bhakti launches devotionalism (most common Hindu religious practice)
requires one to offer thought, word, and deed to a personal god (theism)
there is a huge range of personal deities found in the Hindu tradition.

12. Brahma

Vedic creator god; depicted with four heads; the Creator (not supreme)
often seated on a lotus which grows out of Vishnu's navel.

13. Brahman

Absolute Reality
the way things really are
Brahman (absolute reality) cannot be described/explained. it is the source of explanations.
but when conceptualized, Brahman is: Sat (being/existence itself); Cit (awareness); and Anada (Bliss).

14. Brahmanas

the sacrificial ritual texts
describe Vedic sacrifice known as yajña

15. brahmin

the priestly class
were skilled in Vedic hymn and ritual

16. cit

consciousness itself
awareness
Brahman (absolute reality) cannot be described/explained. it is the source of explanations.
but when conceptualized, Brahman is: Sat (being/existence itself); Cit (awareness); and Anada (Bliss).

17. darshana

going to a temple for an audience (to see or be seen by) with a deity.
some Hindu temples are small shrines, while others are enormous institutions.
the inner sanctum of a temple often holds an image of the deity.
temples are regarded as abodes, home, or palaces of deities.

18. Devi/goddess

Durga the Great Goddess in Hinduism is sometimes called Devi (Goddess) or Ma (Mother)

19. Dharma

duty, righteousness, behavior alligned with cosmic order.

20. Dharma Shastras

large treaties on what is dharmic behavior
there are many such texts; they belong to the smriti (traditional/remembered) category
a famous one is The Laws of Manu
generally describe orthodox dharmic principles for the four classes.
include descriptions of : cosmogony (creation of the cosmos); the duties of the classes; the four stages/goals of life; daily rituals, rights of passages, purity and pollution; and rules concerning the lives of women
only followed rigorously by the most orthodox of Hindus.

21. dhyana

meditation

22. Divali/Diwali

festival of lights

Lakshmi (Lady Luck) is celebrated during this festival

23. Dravidian

southerner/southern civilization

24. Durga/Devi

the Great Goddess in Hinduism
sometimes just called Devi (goddess), or Ma (mother)
depicted with many arms each wielding a weapon of the gods.
multiple arms symbolically represents a deity's many powers/attributes
in a renowned myth, she destroys a buffalo demon.
she is also Shakti, the power that animates the entire cosmos
all goddesses are considered to be merely aspects of Devi (Durga)

25. Dyaus-pitri

sky god.
pitri means father

26. forest-dweller

third Stage of Life
retirement from work and householder's life
prescribed for grandparents; wealth is transferred to children
one begins to read scripture and think about the meaning of life
most Hindus do not retire to the forest.

27. Ganesha

chubby, elephant-headed son of Shiva (a Great God)
presides over obstacles; propitiated (worshiped) before and undertakings

28. Ganga/Ganges

the river goddess
depicted flowing down the hair of Shiva

29. Guru

teaches students

30. Hanuman

monkey that helps Rama
worshiped as a deity
a model of the ideal devotee, serving Rama loyally

31. Harappa

major city centre of Hinduism in the Indus Valley Civilization

32. henotheism

each god when worshiped is elevated to the highest position.
no clearly defined hierarchy among the deities.

33. Hindu

individuals who practice Hinduism
practice generally reflects their family tradition
majority of Hindus live on the Indian subcontinent (c. 800 million)
tolerant of diversity in ideas about the nature of God/the Absolute
also tolerant of diverse practices and pathways to the Divine
dissolved tensions among theism, bhakti, renunciation, and liberation
Hindus worship a huge assortment of deities in various ways and for various ends
they may worship these deities regularly, henotheistically - especially during the deity's festival period.

34. Hinduism

is the name for an assortment of beliefs and practices
doesn't have a founder
an umbrella term for a wide range of religious beliefs and practices.
influences may cause an individual's beliefs and practices to change.

35. householder

second stage of life
marked by the marriage ceremony and beginning of work
marriage is the most important rite of passage for men and women
for women, it functions like their sacred thread ceremony
marriages are generally arranged; should be within one's class/caste group (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras, or Untouchable)
during this stage, husband and wife pursue the next two goals (Kama [love/pleasure] and Artha [skill/know-how])

36. Indra

god of thunder and lightning
similar to Zeus and Thor

37. Indus Valley Civilization

Early Beginnings
2500-1500 BCE
widespread culture, major city centres at Mohenjo-darm and Harappa
archaeological evidence of "Hindu-like" practice.
IVC probably trasnformed into Dravidian (southerner) civilization

38. jnaña yoga

realization/liberation through transcendental knowledge
regarded as a difficult path (suited to the intellectual temperament)
some Vedanta philosophies promote this type of yoga (eg. Shankara's Non-dualism)

39. Kali

black, naked goddess, with matted hair
often regarded as a female counterpart of Shiva (in his destructive aspect)
has a lolling tongue dripping blood
wields a sword and severed human head
often depicted standing atop Shiva (below her like a lifeless corpse)
Kali is the dark side of things - not a negative darkness however
symbolic of the power (eg. Time) which destroys all, even the cosmos

40. kalki

tenth avatar of Vishnu
still to come

41. kama

second goal of life
love/pleasure (erotic, sensual); spouse, in-laws; children
love in many dimensions

42. karma

a moral principle of "cause and effect"
it is not presided over by a deity, but exists independently
karma determines our present and future circumstances
class, appearance, dispositions, and experiences are all caused by karma
each thought, word, deed plants a seed for future karma
each thought word, deed is the fruit of a karmic seed planted earlier
good seeds lead to good karmic effects; bad seeds lead to bad karma
karmic seeds may be dormant for long periods, fruiting after many lifetimes
ignorance of the nature of ourselves and reality leads us to karmic error
we are stuck in samsaric (constant rebirths), ruled by karma, prone to suffering

43. karma yoga

liberation through action (karma)
traditionally karmic action meant doing one's caste duties, doing rituals, etc.
original objective of action was a good rebirth on earth or heaven (not moksha)
the Bhagavad-Gita shifted emphasis and outcome to moksha (self-realization)
it teaches that moksha is possible through ritual dharmic action
this supported priestly orthodoxy
but karmic action could also mean, doing any of life's regular activities
the key is "non-attachment to the fruits (or outcomes) of action"
renunciation was an attitude to action, not necessarily the rejection of life
one could be a student, house-holder, or forest-dweller and be a renouncer

44. Kauravas

the evil cousins to the Pandava princes
denied the Pandava princes their 1/2 of the kingdom after a 13 yr. exile
this leads to a terrible war between the two
the Pandava's win the war, thanks to Arjuna

45. Krishna

Arjuna's friend and charioteer
counsels Arjuna when he has his existential crisis
most widely worshiped of Vishnu's avataras
well-known as the teacher of Arjuna in the Bhagavad-Gita
but also known for myths of his earlier life-story
an irresistible flute-playing cowherd, who charms the village milkmaids (gopi)
the gopis are symbols of the soul's yearning for the Divine
worshiped on Holi, a spring festival of color; class distinctions are erased.

46. kshatriya

kings, nobility, landlords

47. Kumbha Mela

world's largest pilgrimage

48. Lakshmi

beautiful goddess clad in a red sari; consort of Vishnu (Great God)
known as Lady Luck
depicted atop a lotus flower; often with gold coins streaming from her hands
symbold of fortune, luck, wealth, fertility
ancient goddess
worshiped during Divali (festival of lights)
lamps invite Lakshmi into homes; firecrackers frighten away demons
worshiped by all, especially the business community

49. linga

an erect phallus

50. Mahatma Gandhi

modern Indian leader
exemplified a powerful interpretation
inspired by the Gita, to fight (like Arjuna) against oppression
Gandhi fought for India's independence from British colonial rule
his approach was active, but non-violent (ahisma) resistance against oppression
"do the right thing, without a psychological fixation on the outcome"
this kind of action (karma) liberates you from bondage to all egotistical illusions
Karma Yoga is also understood as "selfless action"
includes charity, social work, voluntary service, etc. (eg. Mother Theresa)

51. mantra

sacred sound or phrase used during concentration during yoga

52. marriage rite

most important rite of passage for men and women
during the second stage of life (householder)

53. maya

a power of illusion (dependent on Brahman (absolute reality)) which keeps us deluded
because of Maya, we don't know Brahman nor our true natures
our ideas about the world are illusions (heavens, gods, etc.)
our ego shapes our ideas about our selves (also illusion)
our true self is the Atman (the self beyond all illusory ego formulation)
to discover Atman is to attain moksha (liberation)

54. Mohenjo-daro

major city centre of Hinduism during the Indus Valley Civilization (2500-1500 BCE)

55. moksha

spiritual liberation or self-realization
only discovering our true nature will grant us freedom/liberation (from karma and samsara [which gow tiresome and painful]; this freedom, which comes from self-realization, is known as moksha)
self-realization (moksha) doesn't come from faith, dharma (righteous behavior), or even good karma (it is the result of freedom from all illusions about the selfand reality; such illusions may include beliefs in gods, rituals, rebirth, heaven, hell, etc.)
different ideas about the nature of the true self, and Absolute Reality (Brahman) developed
so did prescriptions about how to free oneself from illusion and gain liberation

56. non-dualism/monism

Brahman proposed by Hindu philosopher Shakara/Sankara

57. Pandavas

five brothers who are princes. fight with their cousins, the Kauravas (denied the Pandavas their 1/2 of the kingdom after 13 years of exile)

Pandavas defeated the Kauravas in battle. Their tale is told in The Mahabharata

58. polytheism

belief in a divine world of many gods and spiritual forces

59. Prithivi

Earth goddess

60. puja

Hindu devotional worship of deities at home or in a temple
offerings of flowers, incense, a flame (arati), food, a prayer
food offerings are regarded as bless
while the outcome of yajña rituals is assured, puja is based on hope
bhakti suggests a certain helplessness; it encourages selflessness
deities are not obliged to respond

61. raja yoga

Royal Yoga: an influential ancietn example of the path of knowledge.
objective is to silence utterly the mind and attain self-realization (moksha)

62. Rama

The (Epic) Ramayana is about the tale of Rama, a prince, sent into exile with his wife Sita
Sita is kidnapped by the demon Ravana who tries for a year to seduce her
Rama is helped by the monkey Hanuman, and eventually kills Ravana
Rama (incarnation of Vishnu) is worshiped as a deity.

63. Ravana

demon who kidnaps Sita and tries to seduce her for a year
is killed by Rama

64. rishi

seers; semi divine sages
Vedic scripture is composed by rishi

65. sacred-thread ceremony

marks the beginning of the four stages of life for a Hindu

66. samadhi

highest states of meditative absorption
in the highest samadhi one is said to attain oneness with the true Self
there is renunciation of attachment to any movement of thought

67. samnyasin/sannyasin

fourth stage of life
renouncer - prescribed, but not a common stage
in this stage, one has one's death rituals performed.
puts on a saffron coloured robe, takes a staff and begging bowl
becomes a wandering seeker, renouncing all social ties and obligations
seeks to attain the final and highest goal: moksha (release/liberation)

68. samsara

worldy existence and the almost ceaseless rebirths within the cosmos
the circumstances of worldly life and rebirth are controlled by karma

69. Sanksrit

cultured/perfected" Aryans language was Sanskrit

70. Sarasvati

Brahma's (Vedic creator god) wife/consort/female counterpart
goddess of creativity (the arts and learning)
depicted with four arms, holding prayer beads, the Vedas, and lute
particularly worships by students and educators

71. sat

being/existence itself
when conceptualized, Brahman (Absolute Reality) is: Sat (being/existence itself); City (Counsciousnesss itself/awareness); and Anada (bliss).

72. Shakti

the power that animates the entire cosmos
Durga/Devi - the Great Goddess

73. Shankara

influential Hindu philosopher of radical non-dualism (advaita)
also developed a formal monastic system or samnyasins (renouncers)
renouncers belonging to formal systems are called swamis

To Shankara, meditation ripens transcendental knowledge (jñana)

74. Shiva

one of the two Great Gods in Hinduism
often depicted as a renouncer or a great yogi
also associated with the destruction of social order
possesses a third eye (wisdom eye) in the middle of his forehead
the river goddess, Ganga (the Ganges), flows down his hair
worshiped in the form of an erect phallus (linga)
destroys the cosmos at the end of each cosmic cycle; the Destroyer
has a bull as his mount/vehicle (vahana)

75. shruti

divinely heard; revealed
Vedic scripture is regarded as shruti

76. shudra

the fourth class of Hindu Society
servants, menial workers

77. Sita

Rama's wife
kidnapped by Ravana, who tries for a year to seduce her
remained chaste and faithful
is a model of the ideal Hindu wife
worshiped as a deity

78. smriti

traditional, remembered
all other Hindu scripture (other than Vedic scripture) is regarded as smriti

79. Soma

sacred (hallucinogenic) plant

80. student

first stage of life
formal "boarding school" education [12-24 yrs] with a guru
the student begins to purse the first goal of life (Dharma [righteousness])
expected to refrain from sex
girls traditionally learned at home from their mothers
nowadays, most boys and girls go to public school

81. Surya

the Sun
chariot is pulled by 7 horses (one for each day of the week)

82. Swami Vivekanandra

significant in introducing Hinduism to the West
was a disciple of the eccentric Hindu saint, Sri Ramakrishna
the Vedanta Society that Vivekananda started was very influential

83. the Bhagavad-Gita

Song of the Lord
conversation Krishna had with Arjuna

84. The Laws of Manu

a famous Dharma Shastras
belongs in the smriti

85. The Hahabharata

the tale of five brothers, the Pandava princes

86. The Ramayana

The tale of prince Rama, sent into exile with his wife Sita

87. The Rig Vita

the oldest collection (has over 1000 hymns)
the Vedas - four collections of eloquent hymns addressed to Vedic detities

88. twice-born

upper three classes are known as twice-born
(Brahmins, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas)

89. untouchables

fifth class of Hindu Society
barbarians/foreginers, offspring of mixed classes
performed the most "ritually polluting" jobs (eg. cremating the dead)
ritual poolution is believed to pass from impure to pure
thus it made them "untouchable" to the purest Brahmins (first class of society - priestly, educated)
"untouchable" = Dalits --> down trodden --> what they prefer to be called

90. Upanishads

the philosophical text in Vedic scriputre are the Upanishads
the Upanishads form the last portion (anta) of Vedic scripture
philosophical speculations on Absolute Reality (Dharma) and the individual
schools of philosophy based on the Upanishads are known as Vedanta

91. vahana

mount/vehicle

92. vaishya

third class of Hindu society
commoners, merchants, artisans

93. Vedanta

latter part of the Vedas.

94. Vedas

religious texts

95. Vishnu

the other Gread god, besides Shiva; often depicted blue like the sky
periodically incarnates (avatara) to preserve the cosmic balance; the Preserver
has incarnated as a fish, a turtle, a boar, etc.
the seventh avatara was Rama; the eighth was Krishna; the tenth is Kalki, still to come

96. yajña

vedic sacrifice

97. yoga

pathway to moksha (self-realization)
union, to yoke
liberation philosophies, often with body-mind practices
it describes various "limbs" or aspects which need to be delvelped
first, there is a moral basis (do's and don'ts). includes non-violence (ahimsa), non-stealing, truthfulness, self-study
then, there are practices of posture and breath control. posture work is often highlighted in Western yoga studios. here in the spiritual objective, it is mostly ignored in favor of the physical ends
finally, one moves to practices of concentration and meditation (dhyana). concentration may be on a sacred sound or phrase (mantra).
the highest states of meditative absorption are known as samadhi. in the highest samadhi, one is said to attain oneness with the true Self. there is renunciation of attachment to any movement of thought
both the path and the goal are sometimes known as Yoga.

	Created by sara.ketchmark over 10 years ago

RELS 1000 Note on Hinduism, created by sara.ketchmark on 14/11/2013.