Hinduism Vocab Flashcards
Yoga
Discipline
Rita
Right (A right makes a rite)
Karma Yoga
Discipline of action (originally fire sacrifices)
Vedas
Knowledge, seeing
-technical manuals instructing priests in proper performance of rituals.
-maintain rite
Om
The most powerful mantra
-beginning and end of many prayers and rituals
-creates union with divine
Upanishads
Writings on wisdom of wondering sages; teachings of masters to disciples
“sitting down near” between master and disciple
Samsara
“wondering”; cycle of death, rebirth, redeath
Moksha
Release; spiritual liberation from Samsara
Jhana Yoga
Discipline of wisdom; liberation through insight
Atman
Self or soul
Brahman
Essence of divinity
Bhakti Yoga
Discipline of devotion
Puja
Ritual worship of a God or Goddess
Trimurti
Three forms (trinity)
-Vishnu
-Shiva
-Brahma (Creator)
Mahadevi
“The Great Goddess” more important than Brahma to many Hindus
Feminine energy animating all divinities
-all-encompassing female deity that compliments and all-encompassing male deity
Vishnu
Sustainer/Preserver
10 Avatars
-Rama: hero of the epic Ramayana
-Krishna: hero of the epic Mahabharata
Krishna
Avatar of Vishnu; famous for his adventures with the gopis (cowherd girls)
Shiva
The Destroyer
contradictory; wrathful and loving
inside cycle of Samsara
Ganesha
Elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati
-God of good luck
Bhagavad Gita
Sacred song; serves as Hindu New Testament
-Krishna lays the path to Moksha (Karma yoga, Jhana yoga, Bhakti yoga)
Hindutva
“Hindu-ness” rise of Hindu consciousness
Laws of Manu
Written by Brahma and son Manu; Treatise on dharma
Dharma
Duty, righteousness, right conduct, morality
Manu
First man, progenitor of humankind
