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Definition
-Samhitas: hymns of praise
-Brahmanas: details about ceremonies and rituals. How?
-Aranyakas: symbolic understanding of rituals. Why?
-Upanishads: Philosophical and meditative. Includes Bhagavad Gita. |
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| Absolute reality. Everything is god. Something that can be known, not simply believed in. (Pantheism) |
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| True self. At deepest self, there is no self, only god. The sacred within oneself. |
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| Illusion. Prevents us from realizing Brahman-Atman. The everyday world. |
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| Hindu from "sindhu" (river). British colonials during 19th century census. People of the river. Not one set of beliefs; many variations. |
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-Rig Veda: hymn knowledge. Rituals but not how or why. Oral to written (standardized)
-Yajur and Sama Vedas: updated and explained. Much like Rig, but with more info.
-Atharva Veda: More specific info. Prayers and incantations to ward off daily concerns. |
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| "sacred knowledge." Sacred Hindu text. Written in Sanskrit. Dictated by gods to holy men. Oral then written in Vedic period (2000-500 BCE). |
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Definition
"triple form." Three important gods; together represent samsara.
-Brahma: throne king. Creation. Personal aspect of Brahman; bridge to connect our limited understanding and perfect god. Power and rule.
-Vishnu: preservation and order. Most used for bhakti. Many avatars; Krishna and Kalki (cycle of time)
-Shiva: Destruction or recreation; transformation. Not always bad. Ganesha: elephant-headed son |
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Strong, powerful, and often dominant
-Devi: Great Mother. Creative force often equal to the Trimurti
-Durga: ten arms holding implements to destroy evil. Multiple arms can symbolize multitasking. "awe-inspiring"
-Kali: "dark." Black skin, fiery eyes, necklace of skulls, fangs. Represents fear. "Don't mess with me." Protector of young children |
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Definition
-Darsan: "to see." Practice of seeing and being seen by gods and/or guru. Deity may inhabit an image.
-Puja: temple or home. priest or devotee. Ritual offering to an image. Deity blesses it and in turn you are blessed.
-Cremation after death: soul has transmigrated. Ceremonial disposal of body. Ashes submerged in river. |
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Definition
Dictates occupation and social interaction
-Priests (Brahmin): scripture and religion. Spiritual.
-Warrior noble: administration. Leaders
-Merchant: commercial activity. Economy
-peasant: farming and agriculture
-untouchables: lowest social and economic level |
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Definition
Discipline of method for attaining samodhi, or union with the divine.
-Jnana: gather knowledge for spiritual focus
-Karma: focus on actions. Be purposeful. Spiritual dimensions of your action
-Bhakti: dedicating self to deity. "being religious"
-Dyana: thinking. Thinking and spiritual disciplines affected by physical discipline. Physical actions will result in something greater than self. An ascetic practice of cultivating the spirit. |
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| Five doctrinal ideas in the Bhagavad Gita |
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Definition
-Dharma: duty
-Yoga: physical/mental discipline; code of living
-Karma: neutral action with positive or negative outcome. Affects reincarnation.
-Jnana: knowledge; wisdom or understanding gained or given
-Bhakti: devotion; commitment to a deity or ideal |
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Term
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Definition
-Brahman: absolute reality. Everything is god.
-Atman: true self. At deepest self, there is no self. Only god.
-Maya: illusion. Prevents us from realizing Brahman-Atman
-Karma: Neutral action with positive or negative outcome. Affects reincarnation.
-Samsara: Wheel of rebirth.
-Moksha: enlightenment/liberation. Ultimate goal found by realizing Brahman-Atman
*Maya prevents one from realizing Brahman-Atman and attaining Moksha. Karma keeps one in samsara |
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| "devine song." Part of the Mahabarata, longest epic poem. Arjuna and his advisor, Krishna (Krishna is the avatar of Vishnu. Avatar: god in human form.) |
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