Hinduism Vocab Quiz Flashcards
Ahimsa
non-violence
Asceticism
the ideas, beliefs and lifestyle one who shuns the pleasure of the world in an effort to pursue spiritual goals
Atman
the self or soul, sometimes seen as identical with Brahman
Avatar
an incarnation of a god or God
Brahman
ultimate reality - a Hindu expression of monism
Darshan
the state of seeing and being seen by the deity
Dharma
religious or moral duty
Gunas
the qualities of the created world
Guru
a teacher, particularly in Sikhism
Karma
the law of actions
Mahabharata
a great Indian epic about the Pandava brothers, contained within it is the Bhagavad-Gita
Mantra
sound, phrase or idea that focuses the mind
Maya
the illusory forms of the created world
Monism
the understanding of the one Absolute as the origin of various manifestations and the universe
Moksha
liberation - the freedom from the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth
Murti
the manifestation of the deity in a particular form
Om
common mantra used to focus meditation
Pap
sin
Prakriti
nature/natural order
Puja
daily prayer or offering
Punya
holiness/spiritual excellence
Ramayana
Indian epic about Ram and his allies rescuing Sita from the clutches of Ravana
Samsara
the cycle of life, death and rebirth
Shakti
diving feminine creative power
Sutra
religious text
The Trimurti
Bhrahma - the deity responsible for creation
Shiva - the deity responsible for destruction
Vishnu the deity responsible for the preservation of creation
Varna system
system of social groups based on the Vedas the Hindus are born in to; caste system
Varnashramadharma
a person’s responsibility regarding class and the stage of life
Vedas
one of a few sacred Hindu texts composed of four books
Yoga
the paths to moksha:
Bhakti Yoga - the path of devotion
Jhana Yoga - the path of knowledge
Karma Yoga - the path of ethical actions
6 schools/systems (Darshans)
- Samkhya
- Yoga
- Nyaya
- Vaisheshika
- Mimamsa
- Vedanta
