Term
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Definition
| Non-stealing. The vow not to steal in Jainism. |
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Term
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Definition
| fire or the fire god. Believed to carry the sacrificial offerings to the heavenly world |
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Term
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Definition
| "noninjury, nonviolence. The vow not to kill or harm other sentient beings in Jainism." |
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Term
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Definition
| Important concept in Jainism. All existing things in Jainism are considered to be jiva or ajiva. Ajiva is best translated as Ònonliving substance.Ó |
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Term
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Definition
| Non-possession or Non-attachment. The vow to renounce property in Jainism. |
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Term
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Definition
| "(lit. Òforest booksÓ); a division of Vedic scriptures, precursors to the Upanishads" |
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Term
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Definition
| a member of one of the three twice-born classes (the upper three classes or varnas); often used in the sense of ÒnobleÓ |
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Term
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Definition
| a spiritual community; hermitage |
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Term
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Definition
| "stage of life of which there are four (brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha, and samnyasa)" |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| "the last of the four Vedas, containing many magic spells" |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| "(lit. ÒdescentÓ) an incarnation, usually of the god Vishnu. Rama and Krishna are two most important of the ten avataras of Vishnu" |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| father; name affectionately given to Gandhi |
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Term
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Definition
| "jati or caste from which Gandhi came found chiefly in northern and western India; more generally, a moneylender and trader" |
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Term
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Definition
| the ÔSong of the LordÕ; an important Hindu scripture that is part of the Mahabharata |
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Term
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Definition
| loving devotion to a supreme god such as Rama or Krishna |
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Term
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Definition
| the Hindu god associated with creation |
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Term
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Definition
| "the first stage of life (ashrama) of being a student, characterized by the study of the Vedas and continence or chastity. The vow to be chaste in Jainism." |
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Term
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Definition
| a student of the Veda who practices brahmacarya |
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Term
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Definition
| "ultimate reality; the eternal, unchanging, and creative essence or principle that underlies all things; substratum and substance of existence. Originally meant the power of the ritual in the Brahmanas" |
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Term
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Definition
| a division of Vedic scriptures dealing with ritual surrounding Vedic sacrifice |
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Term
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Definition
| "the priestly class or varna, the highest and purest varna" |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| principals governing eating: what and with whom one can eat or receive food from |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. Òoppressed onesÓ or Òthose ground downÓ) thepreferred name for those denoted as untouchable |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| "duty, law, teaching, order, sometimes ÔreligionÕ. Metaphysically based system of laws, " |
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Term
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Definition
| a class of prescriptive texts dealing with dharma. See also the Manusmriti. |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. Ôsky-cladÕ) One of the two major sects in Jainism |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| ritual rebirth or initiation through the ritual called upanayana. Only the top three varnasor classes go through this ritual |
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Term
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Definition
| the British trading company that dominated India in the 18th century. |
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Term
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Definition
| "the practice of marrying within a social group. Cultures who practice endogamy require marriage between specified social groups, classes, or ethnicities." |
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Term
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Definition
| the second stage of life (ashrama) of being a householder |
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Term
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Definition
| "Vedic domestic ritual, in which the householder offers modest oblations into the sacred household fire" |
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Term
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Definition
| "Any elder person commanding respect, especially a teacher" |
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Term
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Definition
| "ÔChild of GodÕ, a term given by Gandhi to the Untouchables" |
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Term
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Definition
| Cessation of work and closure of shops as a mark of protest |
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Term
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Definition
| "The concept that there exist a multiplicity of gods and goddesses, but whatever god you are addressing or worshipping at the time becomes supreme. A synthesis of polytheism and monotheism" |
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Term
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Definition
| "(lit. Ôof another opinionÕ) Not in accordance with established doctrines or opinions, or those generally recognized as right or ÔorthodoxÕ" |
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Term
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Definition
| "(lit. Ôincorrect in practiceÕ) Incorrect in action (as distinct from thought or belief). Orthopraxis is the opposite, Òdoing rightÓ" |
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Term
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Definition
| "An organization of well-educated Indians, founded in 1885, that pushed for Indian Independence" |
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Term
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Definition
| "chief of the gods in the Vedic pantheon, also called _akra" |
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Term
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Definition
| An indigenous Indian religion dating back to the 6th century B.C.E. which place a heavy emphasis on asceticism in order to achieve liberation. |
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Term
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Definition
| "Caste. A closed social group in which one is born and within which one must marry. There are rules associated with kinship, occupation, and diet. Jatis, like varnas, are ranked according to purity. There are also dietary restrictions associated with jati. Usually one may only accept food prepared by oneÕs own caste or one considered higher and purer" |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. ÒVictorÓ or ÒConquerorÓ) one who achieves liberation in Jainism |
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Term
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Definition
| Important concept in Jainism. All existing things in Jainism are considered to be jiva or ajiva. It is often translated as ÔsoulÕ but is better translated as Ôsentient essenceÕ. Jivas are infinite in number and eternal. Freed of all karmic residue they ascend to Abode of Liberated Souls. See ajiva for comparison. In Hinduism it is the life source of an individual. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| The Discipline of Knowledge in the Bhagavad-gita |
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Term
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Definition
| A bhakti Sant. Traditionally 1398-1518 C.E. |
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Term
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Definition
| "(lit. ÒactionÓ or ÒdeedÓ) In early Vedic religion, only referred to ritual action, but later it became ethicized and referred to all actions." |
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Term
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Definition
| The Discipline of Action in the Bhagavad-gita. Disciplined action whereby one acts without desiring the fruits of oneÕs actions |
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Term
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Definition
| the highest form of knowledge that a soul can attain in Jainism. Such a person is known as a Jina |
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Term
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Definition
| Native or homespun cloth; a symbol of economic independence from British during the indian independence movement |
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Term
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Definition
| "a popular deity, depicted as a baby, cow herder and charioteer; avatara of Vishnu" |
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Term
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Definition
| goddess of fortune and wealth. Wife of Vishnu. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a popular epic text and source of many stories about dharma |
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Term
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Definition
| ÒGreat SoulÓ; title given to Gandhi |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. ÒGreat HeroÓ) Historical founder of Jainism. 599-527 B.C.E |
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Term
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Definition
| a verbal formula or sound which is full of power; a sacred formula or verse |
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Term
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Definition
| ÒThe Laws of ManuÓ; a religious-legal text describing social and religious duties (dharma) of men and women and of different classes or varnas |
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Term
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Definition
| Release from bondage to karma and samsara. The putative goal of most strands of Hinduism. |
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Term
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Definition
| A member of the monotheistic religion Islam. Muslims have long been the largest religious minority in India |
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Term
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Definition
| "Having no qualities, a term often used to characterize Brahman" |
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Term
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Definition
| A form of bhakti best exemplified by Kabir |
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Term
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Definition
| "(lit. ÒmaleÓ) In yoga and later Hinduism the spiritual essence of an individual, which is eternal and unchanging" |
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Term
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Definition
| human sacrifice in the Vedas |
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Term
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Definition
| "government or rule, especially used to describe the British regime in India" |
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Term
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Definition
| "ÔRule of RamÕ, Hindu vision of idealized or ancient India when Rama ruled according to the dharma" |
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Term
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Definition
| a popular deity beloved as prince and then king of Ayodhya; an avatara of Vishnu |
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Term
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Definition
| "the popular epic telling the story of Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana, of which there are many versions. A romance of the exile of Rama, the abduction of his wife by a demon, Ravana, and her recovery by battle." |
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Term
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Definition
| "the earliest Vedic text, containing hymns to the Vedic gods" |
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Term
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Definition
| "Having qualities; a lesser or lower form of the divine according to Shankara; a personalized form of the divine as opposed to nirguna Brahman, unqualified divinity." |
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Term
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Definition
| bhakti or devotion towards a personal god or goddess with definite attributes |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. Ôscouring outÕ) fasting onto death in Jainism. |
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Term
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Definition
| third of the four Vedas consisting of s_mans or melodies to _g Vedic verses that were chanted at the fire sacrifice |
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Term
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Definition
| "the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth or the transmigration of the soul; the world or the realm of individual existence generally" |
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Term
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Definition
| "renunciation; the final stage of life (ashrama) of being a renouncer; also sannyasi, one who has renounced the world" |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. Òone who knows the truthÓ) a bhakti saint in Hinduism |
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Term
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Definition
| truth. The vow not to lie in Jainism |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. Òseizing the truthÓ or Òthe struggle for truthÓ) Truth-force. The term used by Gandhi to describe his method of nonviolent opposition to social and political injustices. |
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Term
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Definition
| One who is adept in the methods and philosophy of satyagraha |
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Term
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Definition
| reemergence in South Asia on the Gangetic Plain of towns and cities at c. 600 B.C.E. |
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Term
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Definition
| "revealed; those early scriptures held to be revealed to rishis or sages. A class of Sanskrit texts, especially Vedic, which are regarded as self-authenicating revelation" |
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Term
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Definition
| servant or artisan class or varna. The lowest of the four classes. |
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Term
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Definition
| "the wife of Rama, who was abducted by Ravana. Often described as the perfect wife" |
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Term
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Definition
| remembered; those scriptures held to be remembered and handed down by tradition |
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Term
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Definition
| the pressed-out juice of a plant imbibed at the fire sacrifice. Also a Vedic god. |
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Term
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Definition
| "solemn, public Vedic sacrifices. More complex than grihya rituals" |
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Term
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Definition
| wandering ascetics or monks in Indian religions. Used to refer to monks in Buddhism and Janism |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| goods made in oneÕs own country; indigenous products or ideas |
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Term
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Definition
| Ôself-ruleÕ or freedom in the political sense; for Gandhi it also meant having control over oneself |
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Term
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Definition
| heaven. One of the three worlds in the Vedas. The other two are the earth and the atmosphere. |
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Term
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Definition
| son of the famous teacher Udd_la Aru_i in the Upanishads |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. Ôwhite-cladÕ) one of the two major sects in Jainism |
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Term
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Definition
| "religious and social duties of a good woman, usually as a wife" |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| "(lit. ÔheatÕ) the ascetic self-restraint and self-mortification to which one voluntarily subjects oneself in order to gain uncommon powers. Examples include fasting, chastity, meditation and self-mortification" |
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Term
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Definition
| path of devotion to gods or goddesses |
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Term
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Definition
| a visible (but not necessarily material) manifestation or appearance of a deity in a visible form to a human. Examples are Krishna to Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita and God as a burning bush to Moses. |
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Term
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Definition
| famous teacher in the Upanishads |
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Term
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Definition
| "Members of the lowest castes or jatis, whose traditional occupations are believed to be highly polluting by the higher castes. See also Dalit." |
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Term
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Definition
| sitting near a teacher; secret doctrine; the latest division of Vedic scriptures in which sages enquired about the nature of ultimate reality (Brahman) and the self (Atman) |
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Term
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Definition
| sacred thread ceremony for the top three varnas or classes (dvijas) |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| "the merchant, artisan, and agriculturalist class. The third varna." |
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Term
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Definition
| c. 400 B.C.E. composer of the epic R_m_ya_a |
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Term
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Definition
| the third stage of life (ashrama) of being a forest hermit |
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Term
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Definition
| "social class of which they are traditionally four in Hinduism (see brahmin, kshatriya, vaisya, shudra)" |
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Term
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Definition
| "duties according to oneÕs social position, gender, and stage of life" |
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Term
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Definition
| "knowledge; earliest Hindu scriptures, associated with the Aryans. Collectively or any one of the four Vedas, the _g, Yajur, S_ma, and Atharva." |
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Term
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Definition
| "Latin for ""Negative WayÓ, also known as negative theology. Theology that attempts to describe God by negation, to speak of God only in terms of what may not be said about God. In brief, the attempt is to gain and express knowledge of God by describing what God is not , rather than by describing what God is." |
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Term
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Definition
| the British-appointed ruler of India |
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Term
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Definition
| lit. Òone who pervades everythingÓ; a major god who preserves or maintains everything; source of avataras |
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Term
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Definition
| patron of the sacrifice in the Vedas |
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Term
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Definition
| "sacrifice; Vedic ritual practice in which offerings usually are made in a fire to deities such as Agni, Indra, or Soma" |
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Term
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Definition
| second of the four Vedas containing brief sacrificial formulae (yajus) |
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Term
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Definition
| (lit. yoking) focusing or concentrating; discipline. It is also a system for attaining liberation. This system consists of physical and mental exercises that aim at disentangling the adept from the bonds of material existence. Productive of magical and mystical powers. |
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