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RELS 204 Athabasca University > Hinduism Key Terms > Flashcards

Hinduism Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Advaita

A

non dualism, Shankara’s school of Vedanta, emphasizing the all-encompassing one ultimate reality Brahman

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2
Q

Agni

A

Vedic god of fire

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3
Q

Aryans

A

people related to the Indi-Europeans, who migrated into India in ancient times

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4
Q

Ashramas

A

The four stages of life for higher-class males in Hinduism: student, householder, forest-sweller, and renouncer; ashrama is also a hermitage or place for meditation

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5
Q

Atman

A

The soul or self, considered eternal

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6
Q

Avatara

A

Descent or incarnation of a god, as Krishna and Rama are avatars of the great God Vishnu

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7
Q

Ayurveda

A

Traditional system of medicine in India

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8
Q

Bhagavad Gita

A

Important scripture from the Mahabharata, containing Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna and summing up the fundamental ideas of Hinduism

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9
Q

Bhakati

A

Devotion, self-surrender to one’s god

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10
Q

Brahma

A

Designation for the creator god in Hindu thought

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11
Q

Brahmanas

A

Part of the Vedas

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12
Q

Brahmans

A

Priestly class

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13
Q

Devi

A

Hindu term for goddess

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14
Q

Brahman

A

Hindu term for ultimate reality; the divine source and pervading essence of the universe.

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15
Q

Dharma

A

the cosmic order, social duty, and proper behavior.

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16
Q

Divali

A

Autumn festival of lights and good fortune in India

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17
Q

Durga

A

great, fierce Hindu goddess, often considered a form of Devi

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18
Q

Gandhi

A

Leader of the Hindu independence movement emphasizing spiritual preparation and nonviolent resistance (1869-1948)

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19
Q

Ganesha

A

son of Shiva, popular elephant-headed Hindu god who overcomes obstacles and brings good fortune

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20
Q

guru

A

spiritual guide and master

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21
Q

Holi

A

popular festival in northern India with a carnival atmosphere

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22
Q

Indra

A

Vedic storm-warrior god

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23
Q

Indus valley civilization

A

urban-agricultural civilization that flourished in the third millennium B.C.E. in the Indus River valley and influence Hinduism

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24
Q

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

A

new Hindu movement, founded by Swami Bhaktivedanta Prabhupad (1896-1977), worshipping Krishna as the supreme manifestation of the divine; known as ISKCON, this movement has drawn many Westerners as devotees

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25
Q

jati

A

‘birth’; one’s caste or closed social group as determined by birth in India

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26
Q

Kali

A

goddess of death and destruction in Hinduism, often considered a form of Devi

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27
Q

Karma

A

‘action’, law that all deeds and thoughts, according to one’s intentions, will have set consequences, including rebirth

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28
Q

kirtana

A

devotional group worship through song and dance

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29
Q

Krishna

A

avatar of the great Hindu god Vishnu; hero of the Bhagavad Gita and popular god in Vaishnavite devotional movements

30
Q

Kshatriyas

A

the warrior class in Hindu society

31
Q

lingam

A

phallic pillar that symbolizes the great God Shiva

32
Q

Mahabharata

A

one of the two great epics of Hinduism

33
Q

Mantra

A

Powerful sacred words, formula, or verse chanted as a focus for meditation and devotion

34
Q

maya

A

appearance, illusion; term to indicate that which prevents one from seeing truly

35
Q

moksha

A

liberation from bondage to samsara and karma; the goal of Hindu spiritual practice

36
Q

Path of Action (karma-marga)

A

Hindu path toward liberation based on acting according to Dharma, without desire for the fruits of action

37
Q

Path of Devotion (bhakti-marga)

A

Hindu path toawrd liberation based on devotional practices directed toawrd one’s god

38
Q

Path of Knowledge (jnana-marga)

A

Hindu path toward liberation based on knowledge, emphasizing meditation

39
Q

prasad

A

gift from the deity consecrated in ritual, especially food, shared by the devotee

40
Q

puja

A

ritual worship of the image of a god by offering food, flowers, music, and prayers

41
Q

Puranas

A

late Hindu scriptures that developed from popular theistic devotional movements

42
Q

Rama

A

avatara of Vishnu, divine hero of the Ramayana

43
Q

Ramkrishna

A

modern Hindu holy man (1836-1886) whose teachings were brought to America by his disciple Vivekananda (1863-1902), who established the Ramakrishna Mission (Vedanta Society)

44
Q

Ramanuja

A

Hindu philosopher and advocate of the Vaishnavite bhakti tradition (ca. 1017-1137)

45
Q

Ramayana

A

story of Rama, one of the two great epics of Hinduism

46
Q

rebirth

A

belief that after the death of its body the soul takes on another body, determined by karma

47
Q

Rig Veda

A

the earliest and most important collection of Vedic hymns

48
Q

Samhitas

A

“collections” of early Vedic hymns and verses; there are four collections: Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and Atharva-Veda

49
Q

Samkhya

A

one of the classical schools of Hindu philosophy stressing an absolute distinction between matter and spirit

50
Q

samnyasin

A

one who has renounced the cares and concerns of the world; samnyasa is the fourth stage of life in Hinduism

51
Q

samsara

A

the rebirth cycle of existence

52
Q

samskaras

A

rituals performed at the critical changes and passages of life

53
Q

sati

A

self-sacrifice of a widow on her husbands funeral pyre; outlawed in modern times

54
Q

Shakti

A

divine energy, personified as a goddess; female aspect of a god, especially of Shiva

55
Q

Shankara

A

great philosopher of Advaita (nondual) Vedanta (788-820 C.E)

56
Q

Shiva

A

one of the two great Gods, symbolized by the lingam; focus of the Shaivite devotional movement

57
Q

Shruti

A

“that which is heard”, the eternal truth, that is, the Vedas

58
Q

Shudras

A

classical servant class in Hindu society, the fourth class

59
Q

Smriti

A

“that which is remembered” the tradition, that is, the scriptural writings after the Vedas

60
Q

Tantrism

A

movement using initiation, rituals, imagination, and sexual symbolism as spiritual practices leading toward liberation

61
Q

Transcendental Meditation

A

Hindu meditation movement founded in America by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (b. 1917), emphasizing simple meditation techniques for practical benefits

62
Q

upanayana

A

initiation of high-class boy into the student stage of life; he is given a sacred cord to wear over his left shoulder and taught the appropriate mantras

63
Q

Upanishads

A

collection of teachings about the self and ultimate reality that makes up the last part of the Veda (Shruti)

64
Q

Vaishyas

A

the classical producer-merchant class in Hindu society

65
Q

varna

A

“color”, term for the classes in the system of Hindu society

66
Q

Varuna

A

Vedic god of heavens

67
Q

Vedanta Societies

A

Hindu groups in America and Europe following the teaching of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902_ and Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886)

68
Q

Vedanta

A

“end of the Vedas”, influential school of philosophy based especially on the Upanishads

69
Q

Vedas

A

Most important scriptures of Hinduism, the Shruti; they consist of the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads

70
Q

Vishnu

A

one of the two great Gods, worshiped also in his avatars Rama and Krishna

RELS 204 Athabasca University (13 decks)

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