Quiz 1 Flashcards
Indus Valley Civilization
People residing in the Indus Valley region along the Indus river in India, speaking Dravidian languages
Harappa
One of the major city centers of the Indus Valley Civilization
Siva
One of the lead gods of the pantheon from the Indus Valley Civilization
Dravidian
Vernacular language in the Indus Valley
Indo-European
Indo-Aryans who migrated into the Indus Valley region, bringing with them the Sanskritic languages
Sanskrit
A family of languages adopted by the Indo-Aryans
Includes Vedic, led to Classical Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Urdu (not needed)
Prakrit
Language used by the Buddha in his teachings, used to challange the authority of Brahmanism
Vedas
knowledge or wisdom, oldest scriptures of Brahmanism. Focuses on external rituals, including the sacrifice of animals, to worship gods. Considered sruti rather than smrti
Upanisads
texts that reinterpret the Vedas, focus on internal practices like faith, devotion, prayer, meditation and renunciation rather than external sacrifices (impt)
introduces renunciation and asceticism aimed at attaining moksa through yoga (add. info)
idea of rebirth first appeared here (add.info)
Sruti
“What which is heard” - refers to the Vedic hymns being heard from the gods themselves by the sages
smrti
“that which has been remembered” - teachings passed down by sages to their students
mantra
essential to Vedic rituals as they were believed to contain the power to transform reality, even change the identity of something into a god
Agni
“God of fire” acts as a messenger for the gods
soma
the power behind soma, some kind of hallucinogen
Brahman/Brahma
Absolute reality, productive power of speech
Brahmanism
(Vedicism) religion that predates Hinduism, centered around Brahman
Brahma (with special a)
The creator god
Brahmin
The priestly caste
sramana
“one who strives” one who gives up traditional life and devotes themself to religion
rejects authority of the vedas (heterodox school)
samsara
continuous rebirth
rebirth
all beings are born, live, die and are reborn again and again in a variety of different circumstances
karma
Action, law of cause and effect, causality, actions and intentions of the body, speech and mind determine the pleasantries/unpleasantness experienced in the next life
moksa
“liberation” to be freed from rebirth and achieving Nirvana
renunciation
to give up their normal role in life in order to devote themselves to some form of religious or spiritual life