HINDUISM: beliefs and teachings/practices Flashcards
Brahman
the Hindu name for God or Supreme being
Nirguna Brahman
God/the supreme being as spiritual presence only
Saguna Brahman
God/the supreme being shown in form
Bhagavan
the supreme being existing in the world of spirits and deities
Om or Aum
the sound and symbol of Brahman
Antrayami
the Supreme being existing within the heart of all living beings
Vaikuntha
the perfect world; the spiritual realm
Brahma
the Hindu deity responsible for creative power
Vishnu
the Hindu deity responsible for preserving and sustaining the universe
Shiva
one of the tri-murti the destroyer aspect of Brahman
tri-murti
the three main hindu deities or aspects of God
Vedas
the earliest Hindu scriptures
mala
a string of beads used to help chanted mantras during meditation
Saraswati
the consort of Brahma, goddess of knowledge the arts wisdom and knowledge
consort
the wife of a god
Avatars
the ten animal or human forms in which Vishnu appears on earth
Lakshmi
the consort of Vishnu goddess of wealth and good fortune prosperity and love
Vaishnavas
followers of Vishnu
Shaivites
followers of Shiva
Parvati
Shiva’s consort also know as Shakti, Durga or Kali
ascetics
people who live austere and simple lives
polytheists
believers in many different Gods
monotheists
believers in only one God
reincarnation
being born again into a new body
Rama
the seventh avatar of Vishnu
Krishna
the eighth avatar of Vishnu
Ganesha
the elephant headed deity son of Parvati and shiva
Hanuman
the money warrior, important in story of Rama and Sita
Cosmology
ideas about the universe
Spirit
spiritual reality in Hinduism the essence of a human being which can’t be seen
matter
material reality that from which things are made and which can be seen in Hinduism called Prakriti
Cycle of four ages
the four yugas divisions within the cycle of time
enlightenment
the gaining of true knowledge about God usually through meditation and self discipline in Hindu and Buddhist traditions gaining freedom from the cycle of rebirth
illusion
everything in the world which seems real but is not: in hinduism called maya
tri-guna
the three qualities or gunas- goodness, passion and ignorance
atman
a persons inner self soul or spirit the living force in all of nature
samsara
a continuos cycle of birth, death and rebirth
transmigration
the movement of the atman from one body to another
moksha
the ultimate goal of human life liberation from the cycle of rebirth, salvation
karma
destiny; consequences of one’s actions fate the total of good and bad actions and reactions
dharma
duty or path in life
meditate
to pray by being still and focusing the mind in God
selflessness
to act for others without thinking about what you will get out of it
moral responsibility
having a duty to do things rather than bad things in the world of spirits
artha
trying to gain more wealth through lawful means
kama
delight of the senses
sanatana dharma
eternal truth doing what is right hindu religion / way of life
Upanishads
part of the oldest hindu scriptures; the shruti containing details about Brahman
shrine
a sacred space in the home temple or outdoors where a deity is worshipped
mandir
a hindu temple
space of the heart
a concept known as antaryami meaning God is within the hearts of all living beings
murti
an image of a deity used as a focus of worship and offerings
bhakti
loving devotion to God
puja
paying respect to a deity, as an honoured guest, ways to worship in the home or temple
arati
an offering if light to the deity through a murti
darshan
viewing with respect a holy image and receiving a divine blessing
mantras/ japa
chants or prayers to God, repeating holy sounds or words
havan
a fire sacrifice offered to the fire God angi in the temple
diwali
the festival of lights at the beginning of the Hindu new year
Holi
the festival of colours celebrated in the spring
guru
a wise teacher of spirituality and religion
sadhu
a wondering holy man
sannyasin
a religious hermit who has reached the last stage of life
swami
means ‘master of the senses’ a hindi holy teacher of scripture
ashram
a holy house where a guru teaches his followers
karma yoga
the path of unselfish action
jnana yoga
the path of knowledge and understanding requiring a learned teacher
bhakti yoga
the path of devotion to God
astanga yoga
the path of meditation
celibate
giving up sexual relations
circumambulate
walk around a temple or image saying prayers
varanasi
the most famous site of pilgrimage in india
ghats
stairs or platforms beside a river especially the ganges used for cremation
Kumbh Mela
site of the worlds largest pilgrimage kumbh means jar, mela means fair or gathering
ahimsa
not killing;respecting for life: never being violent or hurting another
sustainability
only using natural resources at a rate at which they can be replaced
goshallas
cow sanctuary
tree-hugging
when people link arms round tress to stop them being cut down
ISKCON
Interaction society for Krishna Consciousness
Chipko movement
a tree-hugging project by women in a india in the 1970’s
dana
giving
sewa
selfless service, Sewa is also the name of an international charity
