Glossary Flashcards
Key word: Brahman
The universal spirit behind all things
Key word: Atman
The soul passed in the Samsara cycle from Brahman to Moksha (where it is reunited with Brahman)
Key word: Brahma
The creator (part of Trimurti) Consort = Saraswati Vehicle = Swan (wisdom)
Key word: Vishnu
The sustainer (part of Trimurti) Consort = Lakshmi Vehicle = Cobra (infinity)
Key word: Shiva
The destroyer (part of the Trimurti) Consort = Parvati Vehicle = Bull
Key word: Brahmin
Highest varna (caste) - priests, scholars, preserving teachings
Key word: Samsara
Cycle of life, death, rebirth & liberation
Controlled by karma
Key word: Maya
Goal to leave pleasure & pain behind to reach a state of bliss
Key word: Varna
Caste: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas & Shudras
Key word: Ashrama
Stages of life: students, householder, retired, renunciation
Key word: Dharma
Duties: spiritual (Sanatanadharma) or personal (Varnashramadharma)
Key word: Puja
Worship - paying respects in homage to God for His blessing, as an individual act of devotion
Key word: Arti
Worship using lights (lamp is lit & rotated)
Key word: Mandir
Hindu Temple - place of worship
Key word: Kumkum
Red powder found in the shrine room/ Mandir, put on statue & own forehead
Key word: Kumbh Mela
World’s largest pilgrimage - bathe in Ganges & Sangam, talk with holy people & procession
Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik & Allahabad (biggest)
Key word: Ahimsa
Non-violence to all living things
Key word: Prashaad
Food offered to & blessed by God
Key word: Lingam
Shiva’s phallus - cosmic pillar reaching from the bowels of earth to the heavens
Signifies his energy to (re)generate life
Key word: Avatar
An embodiment/incarnation of a God (V/S/B)
Key word: Trimurti
Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva - they have avatars, partners, children & helpers
Embodiment of Brahman
Key word: Moksha
Liberation of the Atman (joins Brahman) through Samsara cycle, reached by Karma, Bhakti & Mukti
Key word: Deva
God
Key word: Guru
Teacher
Key word: Mahabharata
World’s longest poem (by Vyasa) - argument between Kauravas and Pandavas
Contains Bhagavad Gita
Key word: Ramayana
Epic poem - Rama & Sita story - duties, faiths & relationships
Sins washed away if read
Key word: Vedas
Priest teachings - 4 main parts including Upanishads (‘knowledge’)
Key word: Karma yoga
Unselfish action - daily work/duties selflessly, without desire for rewards
Key word: Jnana yoga
Knowledge & understanding - self realisation, deep meditation & oneness with God
Key word: Raja yoga
Self control over senses & mind, deep contemplation & freed from lust/anger/sadness etc
Highest form of yoga
Key word: Bhakti yoga
Devotion to God - loving relationship with deity, praising, chanting & singing
Key word: Bhajans
Hymns/songs
Key word: Seva
Selfless service to others
Key word: Yajna
Hindu rituals include an aspect of sacrifice
Key word: Shakti
Goddess female energy, which gives life or actuates the male God
Key word: Darshan
‘Viewing’ - paying respects to image & receiving blessing
Key word: Havan
Sacred fire, blessed by priest, with Goddess Agni & used in worship
Key word: Rangoli
Special powders made from coloured patters & displayed on ground
Key word: Antarala
The bit between the main shrine & the Mandap (steps)
Key word: Garbagriha
‘Womb house’ - centre focus, inner sanctum where Murti (image) of Deity is
Key word: Mandap
A hall where people sit, in the Mandir
Key word: Vahana
Vehicle
Key word: Diwali
Festival of lights, celebrates return of Rama & Sita from exile
Key word: Holi
Festival of colours
Key word: Varanasi
City of Shiva - his temple = Vishwanath
Key word: Ganga
Holy river
Key word: Ghats
Funeral pyres/site
Key word: Allahabad/Haridwar/Ujjain/Nashik
Kumbh Mela - Demi Gods hid pot of nectar from Demons there
H/U/N: every 4 years
A: every 12 years
Key word: Samskaras
16 rituals that mark a new stage of life
Key word: Jatakarma
Whispering name to baby & placing honey on its tongue (welcomes it)
Key word: Harijans
‘Children of God’ (Ghandi said) - 5th Varna, below all others
Key word: Smriti
Teachings interpreted for use of ordinary people
Key word: Shruti
Hymns & teachings widely used by priests
Key word: Aum
Sacred syllable which represents God
Key word: Vivaha
Marriage ceremony
Key word: Antyeshti
Funeral ceremony
Key word: Pindas
Rice balls
Key word: Shraddha
Service of mourning
Blessed food is offered to departed ancestors
Key word: Karma
‘Action’ - cause & effect - every action has a consequence
Key word: Hindu (origin of the word)
People of the Indus valley
