terms - hinduism Flashcards
varna
“color.” Large groupings of castes arranged in a hierarchical sequence for social organization defined and codified in Dharma sastra literature.
1. Brahmana (brahmin) - educated/scholars of the highest level
2. Ksatriya (kings, warriors, politicians)
3. Vaisya (merchants “middle class” )
4. sudra (servant labourers also lowest
asrama
“stages of life.” demarcate a Hindu person’s journey through life with a complex system that incorporated variations based on gender and socio-economic conditions. 1; Brahmacarya (student) 2. grhastha (householder) 3.vanaprastha (forest walker/dweller) 4. samnyasa (renunciate)
- seen in the vasnaasramadharma
purusartha *
“goals of man” represent 4 orientations of life, linked to asramas.
1. dharma (righteousness)
2. arhta (wealth)
3. kama (desire)
4. moksa (liberation)
- seen in the epics of Ramayana
Upanisads *
(7th, 8th century) - explores the nature of reality and the person. stressed renunciation and acetism. The idea is that physicality, and desires, should be conquered. and the real self should be differentiated from the embodied self. atman vs jiva.
ca. 2400-600 BCE, early philosophical Vedic texts based on speculation. focuses on the interiorization of the Vedic rituals.
- there are only 108 accepted Upanishads
dharma
Dharma comes from the root (DHR) which means “to support or uphold” it appeared in the earliest texts of Dharma sutras ( around 600 BCE-400 CE). It denoted the way things are and the way one should act to uphold cosmic order. It is not homogenous but encompasses ethics, religion, and moral behaviour dependent on context.
karma
From root (kr) “to do or act.” Hindu idea that denotes that one’s actions have consequences - in this lifetime and future ones. Karma can influence someone’s path in the afterlife. The more accumulation of good acts of karma means more favourable rebirth.
Vedanta
“end of the Veda”. Last Vedic collection of sruti Vedic texts was around (2400 - 600 BCE). Formed basic texts of the philosophical school vendata. Explores concepts of atman and brahman to understand reality with ideas that reflect the Upanisads.
Vedas
Early Vedic texts (2400-600 BCE). there are 4 vedas
1. RGVEDA (saravasti culture info)
2. Yajurveda (ritual texts)
3. samaveda (sung hymns)
4. atharvaveda (mixed content)
Contain information and hymns used for fire ceremonies, rituals, sacrifices.
Atman
“self.” concept of the soul in Hinduism. It is an essential and permanent aspect of embodiment. the idea can vary across different schools of Vedanta. atman can get confused for jiva but remains unchangeable.
Srauta and Grhya
Fire rituals. Mentioned in the RG Vedic hymns. The grhya is a domestic fire ritual, performed for household rites. the srauta was a public fire ritual sponsored by an individual who sacrificed something to the gods to receive something in return.
emic/etic
- The emic perspective is the outsider’s attempt to produce as faithfully as possible–in a word, to reproduce–the informant’s own descriptions or production of sounds, behaviour, beliefs, etc.
- The etic perspective is the observer’s subsequent attempt to take the descriptive information they have already gathered and to organize, systematize, compare– redescribe–that information in terms of a system of their own making.
maya
“illusions” - fundamental concept to advaita (non-dualist school of vendanta.) is ignorance and delusion that gives false perception of reality. one must free themselves from Maya because it confuses our true identity when atman gets confused for the jiva.
Sruti and Smrti
Smrti - encompasses sutras and sastras. “that which is remembered.” (ca. 600 BCE - 400 CE) remembered and traditional. includes epics, puranas, and shows a theological shift in forming Hinduism.
Sruti - “that which is heard.” (ca. 2400-600 BCE). Encompasses the Vedic texts.
Bhagavad- Gita
The Gita is embedded within the Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. It is in the form of a
dialogue between the god Krishna and his friend, Arjuna. Through their conversation,
key philosophical and devotional ideas are expressed, such as the importance of
performing one’s rightful duties (dharma), the nature of karma, and the three paths to
liberation (knowledge, devotion, and karma).
Indus valley
(3600-2000 BCE). A civilization known for Sindhu culture in the Northwest of the Indian subcontinent. Developed around the floodplains of the Indus River valley. Theory that culture and religion from this civilization was passed down to Hinduism.
