Hinduism Flashcards
Vedas
meaning “knowledge,” are the oldest texts of Hinduism
Upanishads
The last of the Vedic literature -emphasizes inner meditation over outward performance
Sanskrit
The language of Aryans-considered to be the language of the gods by Hindus the Vedas are written in Sanskrit
Aryan people
Migrating groups of Eastern Europeans who settled in India 2000-1500BCE
Dravidian people Maya
lead their civilization in the southern part of India that includes Sri Lanka. The main relation between Mayan and Dravidans were their body color
Brahman without attributes
Nirguna Brahman is beyond time and space. It is the idea that Brahman has no particular form and is present within all living beings and everywhere
Brahman with attributes
Saguna has a form, identity and purpose, which may vary over time - universal soul
Brahma
The creator god and number one god in the Hindu pantheon
Vishnu
The hindu god that preserves has many avatars
Shiva
The 3rd god of the big 3 Hindu gods depicted with 4 arms, the destroyer god a source of both good and evil
Karma
The moral law of the universe
Jnana
Wisdom/Knowledge
Atman
The real self which is linked to Brahman
Vidya
right knowledge, clarity and inner wisdom
Avidya
Incorrect knowledge, ignorance
Mantra
A word or hymn usually in a Sanskrit language, which practitioners of Hindu meditation say over and over again to conjure up the gods
Ram
the SeventhAvatarofVishnu. He was a king of ancient India , weapon: bow and arrow
Caste
The system of social hierarchy among the Hindus in India :brahmin, kastriya, vaisya, and sudra
Brahmin
priestly caste which the highest caste in Hinduism
Ksatriya
Second highest cast, warriors and rulers
Vaisya
The third cast, merchants and artist
Sudra
Lowest cast- slaves
Varna
Rules of the caste system developed by brahmins
Dalit
former name for any member of a wide range of low-caste Hindu groups and any person outside thecastesystem
Kapla
refers to the period of time between the creation and dissolution/recreation of the universe.
Creation myth
universe was created byBrahma, the creator who made the universe out of himself
The three aims
Religious merit-dharma:wealth-artha:pleasure-kama
Dharma
Hindu laws that explain the true ways of the gods can also referred to religious obligations or individual virtue
Moksha
The freedom one experiences when the atman unites with a Brahman
Yoga
Physical or mental means to achieve unity with the universal soul, can lead to moksha
Yamaha, niyama, asana, ptanayama, pratyahara, dharana, shayna, samadhi, raja
Hatha yoga
attempts to balance mind and body via physical postures and exercises (asanas), controlled breathing, and the calming of the mind through relaxation and meditation