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Fall 2023 Courses > Rels 204 Hinduism Key Terms > Flashcards

Rels 204 Hinduism Key Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Advaita

A

nondualism, 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

peoples related to the Indo-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-dweller, 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 avataras 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

Bhakti

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

Brahman

A

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

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12
Q

Brahmanas

A

ritual commentaries, part of the Vedas

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13
Q

Brahmans

A

highest-ranked, priestly class in Hindu society

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14
Q

darshana

A

in Hinduism, the ritual act of being granted the “seeing” of a sacred image, person, or place; also, the six “viewpoints” or traditional schools of philosophy.

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15
Q

Devi

A

Hindu term for goddess, sometimes meaning the great Goddess, often under many other names.

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16
Q

Dharma

A

the cosmic order, social duty, and proper behaviour.

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17
Q

Divali

A

autumn festival of lights and good fortune in India

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18
Q

Durga

A

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

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19
Q

Gandhi

A

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

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20
Q

Ganesha

A

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

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21
Q

guru

A

spiritual guide and master

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22
Q

Holi

A

popular festival in northern India with a carnival atmosphere

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23
Q

Indra

A

Vedic storm-warrior god

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24
Q

Indus valley civilization

A

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

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25
Q

International Society for Krishna Consiousness

A

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

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26
Q

jati

A

“birth”; one’s caste or closed social group as determined by birth in India.

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27
Q

Kali

A

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

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28
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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29
Q

kirtana

A

devotional group worship through song and dance

30
Q

Krishna

A

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

31
Q

Kshatriyas

A

the warrior class in Hindu society

32
Q

lingam

A

phallic pillar that symbolizes the great God Shiva

33
Q

Mahabharata

A

one of the two great epics of Hinduism, takes place in the third mythical age, dvapara-yuga.

34
Q

mantra

A

powerful sacred words, formula, or verse chanted and focus for meditation and devotion.

35
Q

maya

A

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

36
Q

moksha

A

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

37
Q

Path of Action (karma-marga)

A

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

38
Q

Path of Devotion (bhakti-marga)

A

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

39
Q

Path of knowledge (jnana-marga)

A

Hindu path toward liberation based on knowledge, emphasizing meditation.

40
Q

prasad

A

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

41
Q

puja

A

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

42
Q

Puranas

A

(ancient stories) late Hindu scriptures that developed from popular theistic devotional movements

43
Q

Rama

A

avatara of Vishnu, divine hero of the Ramayana

44
Q

Ramakrishna

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)

45
Q

Ramanuja

A

Hindu philosopher and advocate of the Vaishnavite bhakti tradition (ca. 1017-1137). Rejects Shankara’s idea of lower and higher truths, brough bhakti back to center stage.

46
Q

Ramayana

A

story of Rama, one of the two great epics of Hinduism. Its about a great battle between the great God Vishnu and the demonic forces of evil, and is particularly important because it sets a paradigm for human conduct according to the notion of Dharma. Takes place in the second mythological age, the treta-yuga, several hundreds of thousands of years ago. Main hero is Rama, an avatara of Vishnu, fighting against the demon king Ravana. Other key figures include the god of the monkeys Hanuman who helps Rama, and Sita, Rama’s wife.

47
Q

rebirth

A

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

48
Q

Rig Veda

A

the earliest and most important collection of Vedic hymns

49
Q

Samhitas

A

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

50
Q

Samkhya

A

one of the classical schools of Hindu philosophy stressing an absolute distinction between pure matter (prakriti) and pure spirit (purusha)

51
Q

samnyasin

A

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

52
Q

samsara

A

the rebirth cycle of existence

53
Q

samskaras

A

rituals performed at the critical changes and passages of life

54
Q

sati

A

self-sacrifice of a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre; outlawed in modern times

55
Q

Shakti

A

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

56
Q

Shankara

A

great philosopher of Advaita (nondual) Vedanta (788-820 C.E.). Became a samnyasin as a boy and died at an early age - wrote important commentaries on the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita. Taught of different levels of truth corresponding to one’s spiritual development (lower levels, bhakti is a valid path, highest knowledge that there is only one Brahman, transcending gods, rituals, Dharma, and scriptures).

57
Q

Shiva

A

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

58
Q

Shruti

A

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

59
Q

Shudras

A

classical servant class in Hindu society, the fourth class

60
Q

Smriti

A

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

61
Q

Tantrism

A

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

62
Q

Transcendental Meditation

A

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

63
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

64
Q

Upanishads

A

(Sanskrit for “sitting down near”) refers to a collection of holy texts in Hinduism written ca. 800-200 B.C.E. The Upanishads complete the Vedas and stem from the Brahmanas (commentaries on the Vedas) but are more philosophical and abstract in nature. They are significant as they form the foundation of the Hindu conception of reality, including the concepts of death and rebirth (the cycle of samsara), karma, and the conception of the soul (atman).

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

65
Q

Vaishyas

A

the classical producer-merchant class in Hindu society

66
Q

varna

A

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

67
Q

Varuna

A

Vedic god of the heavens

68
Q

Vedanta Societies

A

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

69
Q

Vedanta

A

“end of the Vedas”; influential school of philosophy based especially on the Upanishads - key emphasis on correct knowledge (jnana) of Brahman and the atman is of primary importance for liberation. See Shankara (788-820) as key thinker in this school.

70
Q

Vedas

A

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

71
Q

Vishnu

A

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

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