Hinduism Flashcards
perhaps the most sacred syllable or utterance (mantra) in Hinduism. It embodies absolute reality and is the sound that encapsulates all sound. it is chanted in meditation and precedes most Vedic prayers
Om/Aum
symbol of fecundity and prosperity, venerated by Hindus, who will not kill or eat it. Linked to Krishna
the Cow
Hinduism abounds with images (murti) of deities whose extraordinary appearance immediately conveys their transhuman nature. Multiple arms, wielding weapons or other items symbolizing the deity’s powers, while specific postures and gestures (mudra) coney messages about the deity’s nature, mythological acts, or teachings.
Divine Images
Cylindrical stone effigy of the male reproductive organ and symbol of Shiva
Linga
Stone receptacle into which a linga is often placed. Effigy of the female procreative organ and sybol of the Devi, it is regarded as the source from which creation emerges.
Yoni
An ancient symbol of well being (svasti) and auspiciousness; often used to decorate entrances of homes and temples, and inscribed on sacred objects
Svastika
Location
Indus River
Primary texts
Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyaka, and Upanshads. Most popular Bhagavad Gita
Main idea
Karma
Life cycle
four stages of life student; householder; retired (hermit) and renouncer (wandering)
Major sects
Vishnu Shiva, Devi
Subgroups
four main classes Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vashya, and Shudra,
The priestly class. Retain and closely guard their authority to learn and teach the Vedas
Brahmin
The ruling class kings, warriors, and landlords
Kshatriya
the mercantile class, entitled to study the Vedas, not teach. Farmers and traders
Vaishya
The servant class not allowed to study the Vedas
Shudra
The classless group many of whom prefer to call themselves Dalits
Untouchables
an ancient city located on the river Ganga and renowned as a center of Vedic learning. It contains temples to many deities but is regarded as particularly dedicated to the god Shiva
Varanasi (Banaras)
One of the four pilgrimage sites at a source of the river Ganga, and the location of a temple dedicated to Vishnu
Badrinath
A city on the river Ganga, where millions of Hindu pilgrims gather for a purifying bath during the Kumbha Mela
Prayag (Allahabad)
One of the most influential monastic centers of Hindu orthodoxy, reputedly established by Shankara
Kanchipuram
Birthplace and capital city of the mythic god-king Rama
Ayodhya
One of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus. It lies at the foothills of the Himalays, where the Ganga descends to the plains. About thirty miles upstream lies the Rishikesh, anotherer city popular for its many yoga and meditation retreat centers
Hardwar
meditation retreat centers are called
ashrams
Great south Indian temple complex dedicated to Vishnu, it is a center of qualified nondualistic Vedanta philosophy
Shrirangam
The most revered literature in Hinduism, possessing the status of shruti (divine)
Vedas
the four sets of Vedic texts
Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas
The last portion of each set of Vedic texts.
Upanishads
The two great epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata
the Epics
The Ramayana recount
the eploits of Prince Rama, Vishnu’s seventh incarnation
The Mahabaharata recounts
the Pandavas, five heroic brothers
“The Song of the Lord” A portion of the Mahabharata, consisting of conversation about the purpose of existence between Krishna, a human incarnation of Vishnu, and the warrior Arjuna
The Bhagavad Gita
Large often sectarian, pseudohistorical compediums, containing mythological accounts of the creation, favorite post-Vedic deities, royal dynasties, and holy places
The Puranas
A vast assortment of texts, often written as teachings by deity’s
Tantras
In early theology, identified witht he destructive principle of the cosmos. To devotees he is the supreme deity who reconciles the seeming polarities of creation and destruction worshiped in the form of an erect linga
Shiva
All pervading and often depicted blue like the sky, through his incarnations preserves righteousness when forces of chaos and unrighteousness threaten the cosmic order. cosmic kind, resting on an endless serpent
Vashnu
The great Godess, also called Durga, the soucrce and summation of all femal deities, and the power of Shakti that animates the entire cosmos
Devi
Popular, elephant-headed, potbellied deity; leader of Shiv’s forces
Ganesha
Eighth incarnation of Vishu
Krishna
The goddess of prosperity and good fortune, often linked w her consort Vishnu; also known as Shri depicted as a beautiful women seated on a lotus
Lakshmi
Kark, fierce goddess who symbolizes time and destruction depicted naked, with disheveled hair and a garland of skulls
Kali
The monkey god, protector
Hanuman
four goals or aims
dharama, kama, artha, moksha
an understanding of the meaning of duty or righteousness and its application in one’s life
dharma
knowledge of love, sexual and sensual pleasure, joy and happiness
kama
the pursuit of wealth power, and attainments through the development of one’s potential
Artha
Liberation through self-realization from the bondage to wordly existence and the cycles of reincarnation
Moksha
South indian renouncer, known for his Vedanta philosophy of radical nondualism. Brahman which has no attributes is regarded as the absolute and only reality
Shankara
Proponent of Qualified Nondualistic Vendanta, in which Brahman is the only reality but possesses attributes such as compassion and grace
Ramanuja
taught a dualistic Vendanta, in which Brahman is different from human souls and the creation
Madhva
Bengali saint who popularized public dance and chanting as a form of devotion
Chaitanya
founder of the Brahmo Samaj, an organization that emphasized rationalism, humanism and social reform, taught against widow burning
Ram Mohan Roy
founder of the Ramakrshna movement; influenced the West’s knowledge of Hinduism
Swami Vivekananda
Proponent of active but nonviolent resistance to oppression, used in the struggle for Indian independence from British rule
Mahatma Gandi
A path of selfless action described in the Bhagavad Gita. Emphasizes detachment from the outcome of all actions, which should be performed in a spirit of sacrifice to the divine
Karma Yoga
A path that centers on the intellect and is regarded as dificult
Jnana Yoga
an approach introduced in the Bhagavad Gita, calling for loving devotion to a deity
Bhakti Yoga
Royal Yoga, which centers on stopping the turnings of thoughts
Raja Yoga
The yoga of the coiled energy, envisioned as a dormant serpent. awakened energy
Kundalini Yoga
four stages of life
student, householder, forest-dweller, renouncer
originally a period of formal Vedic education with a spiritual mentor
student
married life during which one is expected to conduct the household rituals contributed to society, and raise children
householder
option prescribed for grandparents or the elderly retiring to the forest
forest-dweller
highly esteemed option. It requires conducting one’s own death rituals, abandoning spouse and society, and living entirely off the alms given by others
Renouncer
ONe who presides over the performance of religious rituals
Priest
One’s teaher, generally used to designate the most important guid and mentor in one’s spiritual development
Guru
A person who is wholly committed to the discipline of yoga
Yogi
A title bestowed on those who have become renouncers
swami
A generic term used to designate any HIndu holy man.
Sadhu
Males of the twice born classes, particularly Brahmins between eight and thirteen are given a sacred utterance to repeat and a loop of
sacred thread
generally arranged by parents
marriage
regarded as the final sacrifice in a person’s life
Death
an optional rite of passage prescribed for people in their old age
renunciation
A festival of lights celebrated on the new moon between mid October and mid November.
Divali
a nine night festival beginning on the new moon between mid September and mid October dedicated to Devi
Navaratra
celebrated in feb and march commemorates the defeat of the demoness Holika color festival
Holi
celebrated in honor of Shiva
Mahashivaratri
a pilgrimage to a specific part of a sacred river
Kumbha Mela
divinely heard orthodox hindus
shruti
remembered, Hindu sacred writings not just shruti includes the epics
smriti
numerous Sanskrit terms are used to describe one’s inner spirit or soul
Self
Several Hindu words derive from the Sanskrit veral root brih to expand. allencopassing absolute reality
Brahman
