Chapter 2 - Ancient India Flashcards
Kshatriya
The warrior class
Maharajas
Kings
Dharma
Set of laws that set behavioral standards for everyone
Varna
“Color,” Indian class system
Brahmins
Priestly class, believed to be at the top
Brahman
Supreme God of Hindu religion
Vaisya
Third class of society, the commoners
Twice-born
A ceremony for males initiated into adulthood after reaching puberty
Sudras
Below the three classes, the bulk of the population, peasants or artisans
Pariahs
Untouchables, generally slaves, prisoners or war, minorities, criminals, non-members of Indian society
Jati
Kinship group, basic social organization
Guru
Teacher of Vedic studies
Sati
Ritual where the wife throws herself on her dead husband while he’s burning
Brahmanism
Early Aryan religious beliefs
Hinduism
Religion that emerged from early tradition
Yoga
“Union,” body training
Reincarnation
Soul is reborn after death, progresses through wheel of life before reaching its final destination
Karma
Actions, how one’s afterlife is decided based on how they acted in the world
Atman
Individual soul
Buddhism
Religion formed around 6th century BCE by a man named Siddharta
Nirvana
Metaphysical reality, everyone strives to reach it
Bodhi
Wisdom
Middle Path
Concept of Buddhism, advocates avoiding extremes of both materialism and asceticism (Eightfold Way)
Stupas
Stone towers housing relics of Buddha
Sanskrit
Language of the Vedas
Prakit
Replaced Sanskrit in northern India; simpler in tongue
4 Noble Truths
- Life is suffering
- Suffering is caused by desire
- The way to end suffering is to end desire
- The way to end desire is to avoid all extremes (materialism and asceticism)
Raja
Chieftan or prince
