Hinduism Flashcards
acharya
the leading teacher of a sect or the head of a monestary
advaita
shankara’s school of philosophy, which holds that there is only one ultimate reality, the indescribable Brahman, with which the Atman or self is identical
Alvars
12 devotional poets whose works are central to the South Indian Bhakti tradition
artha
prosperity; one of the three classical aims in life
ashramas
4 stages in life of an upper-class male; student, householder, forest-dweller, and ascetic
Atman
the individual self, human soul, held by Upanishadic and Vedantic thought to be identical with Brahman, the world-soul
avatara
a “descent” or incarnation of a diety in earthly form
Ayurveda
A system of traditional medicine, understood as a teaching transmitted from the sages
Bhagavad Gita
A section of the Mahabaharata epic recounting a conversation between Krishna and the warrior Arjuna, in which Krishna explains dharma with taking up arms against the family. He teaches devotion to krishna and importance of selfless action. Schoolchildren memorize this part of the Mahabarta, recited at hindu festivals. Educated arjuna about ways of warrior, nature and purpose of life, reincarnation, liberation
Bhakti
loving devotion to a deity seen as a gracious being who enters the world for the benefit of humans
Brahma
the creator god, (not brahman)
Brahamanas
Texts regarding ritual
brahmin
a member of the priestly cast
darshana
seeing and being seen by the deity (in the temple) or by a holy teacher; the experience of behold with faith
Deepavali (Diwali)
Festival of light in October-November, when lamps are lit
devanagari
the alphabet used to write Sanskrit and northern Indian vernacular languages such as Hindi and Bengali
dharma
Religious and social duty. Includes boths righteousness and faith, based on caste
guru
a spiritual leader
Holi
spring festival celebrated by throwing brightly coloured water or powder
jnana
knowledge; along with action and devotion, one of the three avenues to liberation explained in the Bhagavad Gita
kama
sensual (not merely sexual) pleasure; one of the three classical aims of life
karma
action, good and bad, as it is believed to determine the quality of rebirth in future lives
kshatriya
a member of the warrior class in ancient hindu society
linga
a conical or cylindrical stone column, symbolizing the creative energies of the god Shiva
Mahabharata
a very long epic poem, one section of which is the Bhagavad Gita. About 2 clashing families: Pandavas and Kharavas. The kharavas are an evil family that the warrior Arjuna (moral exemplar) is fighting against. In the Bhagvad Gita: Krishna (incarnation of Vishnu) has a famous conversation with Arjuna where he asks if it is good dharma to take up arms against family. First try peaceful methods, if they fail then take up arms. Teaches devotion to krishna and importance of selfless action.
Mantra
an expression of one or more syllables, chanted repeatedly as a focus of concentration in devotion
moksha
liberation from the cycle of birth and death; one of the three classical aims in life
murti
a form or personification in which divinity is manifested
Navaratri
“nine nights” an autumn festival honouring the Goddess
om
a syllable chanted in meditation, interpreted as representing ultimate reality, or the universe, or the relationship of the devotee to the deity
prasada
a gift from the deity, especially food that has been presented to the god’s temple image, blessed, and returned to the devotee
puja
ritual household worship of the deity, commonly involving oil lamps, incense, prayers, and food offerings
puranas
“old tales,” stories about deities that became important after the vedic period
Ramayana
an epic recounting of the life of Lord Rama, an incarnation of the god vishnu. Rama was a prince who was kicked out of his kingdom and had to go into the forest with his brother and wife, Sita. His father died of grief after he had to leave the kingdom. While in the forest, Sita is kidnapped by the demon god Ravana. The monkey God Hanuman helps Rama rescue Sita. There is an epic battle between Rama and Ravana that Rama wins. They return to the kingdom and Rama is coronated King
rishi
a seer, the composers of the ancient vedic hymns are considered rishis
sadhu
a holy man
samnyasin
a religious ascetic; one who has reached the last of the 4 stages of life for a hindu male (see ashramas)
samsara
the continuing cycle of rebirths that you want to escape
sati
the self-sacrifice of a widow who throws herself onto her deceased husband’s funeral pyre
shruti
“what is heard,”; the sacred literature of the vedic and upanishadic periods, recited orally by the brahmin priests for man centuries before it was written down
shudra
a member of the lowest of the 4 major classes, usually translated as “servant,” though some groups within the shudra class coul be quite prosperous
smrti
“What is remembered” a body of ancient Hindu literature, including the epics, Puranas, and law codes, formed after the shruti and passed down in written form
tantra
an esoteric school outside the Vedic and brahminical tradition, which emerged around the 5th century and centered on a number of controversial ritual practices, some of them sexual
upanayana
the inituation of a young brahmin boy into ritual responsibility, in which he is given a cord to wear over his left shoulder and a mantra to recite and is sent to beg for food for the day
Upanishads
At the end of each Veda: Philosophical texts in the form of reported conversations on the theory of the Vedic ritual and the nature of knowlegde, composed around the 6th century BCE
vaishya
a member of the third or mercantile class in the ancient fourfold class structure
Vedas
composed between 1500-600 BCE
the four collection of hymns and ritual texts that constitute the oldest and most highly respected Hindu sacred literature
Rig Veda establishes caste system
yoga
a practice and discipline that may involve a philosophical system and mental concentration as well as physical postures and exercises
Brahman
supreme being
infuses all of creation: divine infused in all aspects of life
Hinduism considered monotheistic as Brahman is the main God and the other Gods are manifestations of Brahman
3 ways of liberation
in Bhagavad Gita. (1) Way of action (karma yoga). Ating in world with righteousness without desire for reward (2) Jhana-yoga–scholarship (3) Bhakti-yoga (devotion) doing devotions to krishna, performing rituals, participating in celebration
Vishnu
“all pervasive one” takes on earthly forms-avataras, to try to rid earth of evil and establish dharma. Manu–archetypal man
Shiva
appears in paradoxical roles (creator and destroyer). Husband of The Goddess
The Goddess
Pervarti. Not really as powerful as Vishnu and Shiva, sometimes represented as fierce, takes on multiple forms
Sarasvati
consort of Brahman, goddess of knowledge/learning. Depicted with 4 hands. Beads: counting and devotion, musical instruments, manuscript
Ganesha
elephant god. son of shiva+goddess. Symbolic of removal of obstacles and hindrances. Ability to progress and succeed
Hindu Trinity
Vishnu=preserver
Shiva=destroyer
Brahma=creator
Result of colonists trying to find something similar in hindu culture
kaliyoga
steady decline of morality, happiness and human disaster. 430,000 years left
Time seen in circular way
caste
system of class hierarchy+discrimination. 1.Brahmins 2.Kshatriyas 3.Vaishyas 4.Shudras 5. Outcaste Jhati=birth group
dharmashastra
text about moral duties, laws of Manu set out roles and duties for the 4 main classes
