Hinduism- Beliefs And Teachings Glossary Flashcards
Indus Civilization
One of the earliest urban civilizations in South Asia, where Hinduism’s roots may have begun.
River Ganges
A sacred river in India, considered holy in Hinduism.
Shruti Texts
Hindu scriptures believed to be divinely revealed, like the Vedas
Smriti texts
Hindu scriptures that are remembered and passed down, like the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Brahman
The ultimate reality or supreme cosmic power in Hinduism.
Aum symbol
A sacred sound and spiritual icon in Hinduism, representing the universe
Monotheism
The belief in one God, which some Hindu traditions emphasize.
Nirguna Brahman
The idea of Brahman as formless and beyond human understanding
Saguna Brahman
The idea of Brahman with form and attributes, often represented as gods.
Deities
Hindu gods and goddesses who represent different aspects of the divine.
Bhagavan
A term for God or the supreme being in Hinduism.
Antaryami
The inner guide or divine presence within all beings.
Ganesha
The elephant-headed god of wisdom, success, and new beginnings.
Hanuman
A monkey god known for his strength and devotion to Lord Rama
Parvati
A goddess associated with love, fertility, and devotion; wife of Shiva.
Saraswati
The goddess of wisdom, learning, and the arts.
Lakshmi
The goddess of wealth, prosperity, and good fortune.
The Trimurti
The three main gods of Hinduism: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).
Brahma
The god of creation in Hinduism.
Shiva
The god of destruction and transformation in Hinduism.
Maya
The illusion or deceptive nature of the material world.
Ascetic
A person who renounces worldly pleasures for spiritual growth.
Shaivism
A major Hindu tradition that worships Shiva as the supreme deity.
Vishnu
A major Hindu god, known as the preserver of the universe.
Vaishnavism
A Hindu tradition that worships Vishnu as the supreme deity.
Avatar
A divine being or god taking a physical form on Earth, like Rama or Krishna.
Dharma
A person’s duty or righteousness based on their role in society.
Adharma
Opposite of dharma; actions that go against righteousness.
Rama
An avatar of Vishnu and the hero of the Ramayana.
The Ramayana
A Hindu epic about Prince Rama’s quest to rescue his wife, Sita.
Ravana
The ten-headed demon king who kidnaps Sita in the Ramayana
Sita
The wife of Rama, known for her devotion and virtue.
Krishna
An avatar of Vishnu, known for his role in the Mahabharata and as a divine teacher.
The Kurukshetra War
A great battle in the Mahabharata between two rival families.
Artha
The pursuit of wealth and success in a righteous way.
Kama
The pursuit of pleasure and love in life.
Moksha
Liberation from the cycle of rebirth and union with the divine.
Sanatana dharma
The eternal and universal duties in Hinduism.
Varnashrama Dharma
Duties based on a person’s caste (varna) and stage of life (ashrama).
Varna
The four social classes in Hinduism: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras.
Free will
The ability to make choices in life, influencing one’s karma.
The 6 personal virtues
Important qualities in Hinduism, such as patience, self-control, and honesty.
Ahimsa
The principle of non-violence towards all living beings.
Atman
The eternal soul or true self in Hinduism.
Transmigration
The movement of the soul from one body to another after death (reincarnation).
Samsara cycle
The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth in Hinduism.
The law of karma
The belief that a person’s actions affect their future lives.
Reincarnation/rebirth
The process of the soul being born into a new body after death.
Punya
Good karma earned through righteous actions.
Papa
Bad karma resulting from negative actions.
Prakriti
The material world and nature in Hindu philosophy.
Purusa
The eternal and unchanging spirit or consciousness
Jive
An individual soul that goes through the cycle of rebirth.
Maya
The illusion that the physical world is the ultimate reality.
Cosmology
The Hindu understanding of the universe’s creation and structure.
The cycle of 4 ages
The belief that time moves in repeating cycles of four ages.
Yuga
A time period in the Hindu cycle of ages.
Golden yuga (Satya Yuga)
The first and most virtuous age, full of truth and righteousness.
Silver yuga (Treta Yuga)
The second age, where virtue begins to decline.
Copper yuga (Dvapara Yuga)
The third age, where people become more selfish.
Iron yuga (Kali Yuga)
The current and final age, marked by corruption and ignorance.
Kalki
The prophesied future avatar of Vishnu, who will restore righteousness.
Tri-guna
The three qualities of nature: Sattva (goodness), Rajas (passion), and Tamas (ignorance).
