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World Religions- Hinduism
Hinduism
78
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 3
02/10/2010

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Term
Dravidian
Definition
Dark skinned Indians who lives in the Indus Valley before Aryan invaders arrived.
Term
Aryan
Definition
Unvaded India around 1200 BCE
Term
Vedas
Definition
Ritual materials of the Aryans. Rigveda, Artharvaveda, Yajurveda, and Samaveda
Term
Rigveda
Definition
Main Veda text. Concentrates on nature gods and their characteristics: such as Varuna (creator), Agni (fire), Indra (Warrior) Soma (plant) Rudra (storm), Purusha (the sacrificial being).
Term
Artharvaveda
Definition
The veda book that focuses on charms and spells that allow people to make their lives better
Term
Yajurveda
Definition
The veda that focuses on hymns and prose of praise to the gods
Term
Samaveda
Definition
rituals and chants for the priests to use during the sacrificial offering of Soma.
Term
Varuna
Definition
Rajveda god, creator
Term
Agni
Definition
Rajveda God of fire- sacrifice
Term
Indra
Definition
Rajveda warrior god who combats evil
Term
Soma
Definition
Rajveda god, plant/ sleep. Used in sacrifice
Term
Rudra
Definition
Rajveda storm God
Term
Shruti
Definition
Ancient Hindu texts meaning "What is heard" -most sacred texts: such as the Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads
Term
Smriti
Definition
"What is remembered" Ancient texts- not as sacred as the shruti- Laws of Manu, Itihasa Purana, Mahabharata, Ramayana
Term
Purusha
Definition
Primordial being in the Vedas that was used as a sacrifice to create the world
Term
Brahmanas
Definition
Shruti text: manual for priests, an explanation of sacrifices
Term
Aranyakas
Definition
Forest books- a Shruti text
Term
Upanishads
Definition
a shruti text. Ideology beyond the vedas. Focus on individual salvation. Atman, Brahman, Karma, Moksha, Varna, Ashram
Term
Atman
Definition
Brahman inside the individual. Understanding that Atman and Brahman are one=salvation
Term
Brahman:
Definition
Ultimate reality, the main god. Atman=Brahman
Term
Saguna Brahman:
Definition
Brahman with person like attributes
Term
nirguna Brahman
Definition
Brahman without person like attributes. Beyond attributes
Term
Karma
Definition
"Actions" that determine present and future. Affects reincarnation
Term
Moksha
Definition
release from reincarnation. Liberation from suffering and continual rebirth.
Term
Varna
Definition
caste/ class. Brahmins: priests, Kshatriyas: nobles/ warrios, Vaishyas: business men, producers, Shudras: laborers, Untouchables
Term
Brahmins
Definition
priest. top of caste
Term
kshatriyas
Definition
2nd in caste, warriors/ nobles
Term
Vaishyas
Definition
3rd in caste- producers, artisans, business people
Term
Shudras
Definition
4th in caste: laborers
Term
Untouchables
Definition
Lowest of caste system. Dirty jobs within society
Term
Ashram
Definition
Stage of life: 1. student, 2. household owner, 3. retirement or alternative path 4. Sannyasa: houseless wanderer. Freedom from karma/ renunciant of life and duty.
Term
Bhagavagita:
Definition
Epic poem from Mahabharata. Dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna. Teaches how to live best.
1. Karma yoga, 2. jnana yoga, 3. bhakti yoga.
Term
Karma yoga
Definition
Yoga= discipline. Karma yoga= devotion to the gods by fulfilling one's duty within their varna/ caste system, and Ashram/ their current duty in life
Term
jnana yoga
Definition
devotion to the gods through meditation= better karma= good actions
Term
Bhakti yoga
Definition
Worship to the gods through success. Not for personal gain but as an offering to the gods
Term
Puja
Definition
Hindu rite of devotion by offering food to the god/s
Term
Yogasutra
Definition
8 stages developed by patanjali. yama. niyama, asana, paranayama, pratyahara, darana, dhyana, samadhi
Term
yama
Definition
stage 1 of yogasutra. Restraint
Term
niyama
Definition
stage 2 of yogasutra = spiritual discipline
Term
asana
Definition
stage 3 of yogasutra = physical control
Term
pranayama
Definition
stage 4 of yogasutra = beathing control
Term
pratyahara
Definition
stage 5 of yogasutra = withdrawal from senses
Term
dasana
Definition
6th stage in yogasutra = mental concentration
Term
dhyana
Definition
7th stage in yogasutra = absorption
Term
Samadhi
Definition
8th and final stage in yogasutra = oneness with Brahman
Term
Shankara
Definition
Philosopher who revives Upanishads= Atman=Brahman. Understanding of this truth = enlightenment.
Term
Puranas
Definition
Mythical texts. Emphasis on the three major gods: Brahman: creator, Vishnu: sustainer, and Shiva: destroyer
Term
Brahma
Definition
creator of the world
Term
Vishnu
Definition
sustainer of the world. Avator: animals, Rama and Krishna. Kind and compassionate. Consort: Lakshmi/ Sita.
Term
Lakshmi/ Sita
Definition
Consort of Vishnu. Sita/ incarnation of Lakshmi, wife of Rama
Term
Vaishnavites:
Definition
Followers of Vishnu. Paint U or V on forehead.
Term
Shiva
Definition
destroyer of the world paired with female power (shakti). Shiva consorts: Sati (beautiful lover), Uma (also Parvati- ideal housewife) and Kali- destructive goddess.
Term
Parvati and Ganesh
Definition
wife of parvati and son with elephant head- moves obstacles
Term
Shaivites
Definition
followers of Shiva. 3 lines across the forehead.
Term
Kali
Definition
Consort of Shiva- frightening. Destroys evil.
Term
Shaktri
Definition
female creative power
Term
Tantra
Definition
worship of Shakti
Term
Yoni
Definition
conch shell, depiction of female power
Term
Linga
Definition
phallus shaped, representation of male power
Term
Mantra
Definition
sound, word or phrase used in meditation. ex: om
Term
yantra
Definition
visual diagram used in meditation
Term
Mandala
Definition
symmetrical arrangement of gods
Term
Rammohan Roy
Definition
blended eastern and western thought. monotheistic hinduism. services modeled after christianity. criticized the caste system, championed women's rights
Term
Dayananda Saraswati
Definition
Back to the Vedas revivalist- hindu fundamentalist. Against Christianity and Jesus.
Term
Ramakrishna
Definition
follower of Kali- guru. Believed all religions are different manifestations of one god. Absorbtion in devotion to the gods
Term
Vivekananda
Definition
follower of ramakrishna. Missionary to the west. believed every religion worshipped manifestations of one god
Term
B.G. Tilak:
Definition
Militant Hindu nationalist- used Ghagavagita as basis for violence
Term
Mohandas Gandi
Definition
Nationalist leader, used non violence to overthrow the english government in India. Nonviolence (Ahimas_
Term
Clifford Geertz
Definition
Anthropologist. 5 steps to explain how symbols are used religiously within different cultures.
Term
Karl Marx
Definition
Religion explained economically. Religion is the opium for the oppressed.
Term
Mircea Eliade
Definition
Reilgion not a byproduct of humanity or other sciences, but stands on its own. The element of the sacred
Term
Sigmund Freud
Definition
Religion can be explained psychologically. Life is too hard, filled with insecurities and fragility, so humanity turns to religion.
Term
Emile Durkheim
Definition
Explains religion sociologically: Used to create a social structure.
Term
Itihasa- Purana
Definition
Ancient mythology texts which include Mahabharata (bhagavagita) Ramayana and 18 puranas honoring Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu
Term
Mahabharata
Definition
Epic poem about a household at war. The sons and nephews of a king and Krishna's involvement. Included the Bhagavagita
Term
Ramayana
Definition
An epic about the ideal man: rama (vishnu) and Sita (Lakshmi) the ideal woman. Demonstrated love in a marriage and love toward a deity.
Term
Samsara
Definition
the hindu concept of the wheel of rebirth that turns forever. Souls are reborn until attaining perfection
Term
Laws of Manu
Definition
A Hindu code of conduct compiled from 200 BCE- 200 CE
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