Hinduism Practices Flashcards
Puja
Hindu term for worship meaning ‘to give respect’
Bhakti
The practice of showing love and devotion to Brahman or a deity
Murti
A statue or image of a deity used in worship
Shrine
A sacred space usually at home used for worship
Mandir
Hindu term for temple
Arati ceremony
Religious ritual, part of puja in which light is offered to deities
Havan ceremony
Religious ritual where offerings made to a fire, worship the fire
Darshan
Opportunity to see a holy person or the image of a deity
Japa/mantra
Repeating same mantra over and over until it is part of meditation practice
Guru
Hindu spiritual teacher
Ashram
Hermitage/ monastic community or other place of religious retreat
Sadhu guru
Guru that travels and holds processions
Sannyasin guru
Guru that is nearing the end of life and is passing on knowledge
Swami guru
Guru that teaches scriptures
Pilgrimage
A journey to or around a sacred place or a place of religious importance
Pilgrim
A person who goes on pilgrimage
Circumambulation
Walking around a holy site whilst chanting
Celibacy
To give up sexual activity whilst on pilgrimage
Penance
To do something to make up for something or get rid of your bad karma
Varanasi
Pilgrimage performed on river Ganges on a ghat
Ghat
Ledge that comes out from the river bank where different ceremonies are performed
Kumbh mela
12 year long pilgrimage
Haridwar
1st destination of kumbh mela pilgrimage
Ujjain
2nd place in kumbh mela pilgrimage
Nashik
3rd place for kumbh mela pilgrimage
Prayaga
Joining point of the three sacred river Ganga
Himalayas
Mountain range in Asia
Yoga
Spiritual pathway a person follows through life, chooses to connect with Brahman
Karma yoga
Discipline of selfless action as a way to perfection
Astanga yoga
Spiritual path of meditation, focuses on chants and people
Bhakti yoga
Spiritual practice focused on loving devotion towards any persona, deities
Jnana yoga
Spiritual path of knowledge, separating yourself from the world
Moksha
Being released from the samsara cycle, once your atman has built up enough good karma
Festival
Day or period of celebration, typically for religious reasons
Diwali
Row of lights, festival that symbolises lights victory over the darkness
Rama and sita
Represent goodness and light, avatar of Vishnu and his wife
Dharma
Aspect of truth or reality
Adharma
Disharmony with things
Diwa lamps
Hindus light them as an act of daily worship
Lakshmi
Goddess of wealth
Rangoli patterns
Colourful and pretty designs that are associated with Diwali
Holi
Represents the arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil
Prahlada
Extreme joy/ name of boy in story associated with holi
Narasimha
Man-lion / one of the 10 avatars of Vishnu
Krishna
Meaning black/ dark blue. An avatar of Vishnu
Kama
Desire
Ahimsa
Non violence to all living things
Stewardship
World belongs to god and human have a responsibility to take care of it
Sustainability
Only using natural resources at a rate at which they can be replaced
Banyan tree
Tree that represents eternal life
Langur monkey
Long tailed monkey, sacred because of hanuman
Goshalla
Cow sanctuary
Tree hugging
Form of protest where people link arms around a tree to prevent it being cut down
Social injustice
Ensuring that society is fair for all people
Vrindavan forest project
Restoring ecological order to the region
Inclusion
Ensuring that all people are equally valued and included in society
Dana
Giving = 4 ways to give, to family/to society/to world/to god
Sewa
Selfless service = part of Dana
