Hinduism

Question 1

arati

Answer 1

Worship with light, involving the waving of a lamp in front of the deity

Question 2

atman

Answer 2

The eternal self or soul that is successively reincarnated until released from samsara through moksha

Question 3

avatar

Answer 3

A “descent” of God (usually Vishnu) to earth in a physical form with the specific goal of aiding the world

Question 4

bhakti marga

Answer 4

the path of devotion

Question 5

Brahman

Answer 5

“Expanse” For monistic Hinduism, the supreme, unitary reality, the ground of all beings; for dualistic Hinduism, Brahman can refer to the supreme God

Question 6

brahmin

Answer 6

A member of the priestly class of the varna or caste system

Question 7

dalit

Answer 7

“Oppressed” Self-designation of people who had traditionally been classified as untouchables or outcast

Question 8

darshan

Answer 8

“to see” : Worship through simultaneously seeing and being seen by a deity in the presence of its image

Question 9

dharma

Answer 9

duty, righteousness, “religion;” basis for living in a way that upholds the cosmic and social order

Question 10

hindutva

Answer 10

“Hindu-ness” : A modern term that encompasses the ideology of Hindu nationalism

Question 11

jati

Answer 11

“Birth group” : One of thousands of endogamous groups or subcastes, each equal in social and ritual status

Question 12

jnana marga

Answer 12

The path of knowledge

Question 13

Karma

Answer 13

Action; also the consequences of action

Question 14

karma marga

Answer 14

The path of ethical and ritual works, or “action”

Question 15

Kshatriya

Answer 15

A member of the warrior and Administrator class

Question 16

mantra

Answer 16

“sacred utterance” : A ritual formula recited to produce a spiritual effect

Question 17

Maya

Answer 17

“Magic” or “Illusion” : In the Vedas, the magical power the gods used to create this world; in Vedanta philosophy, illusion that veils the mind

Question 18

Moksha

Answer 18

“release” : Liberation, the final release from samsara

Question 19

OM

Answer 19

A-U-M : The primordial sound through which the universe is manifested

Question 20

puja

Answer 20

“Worship” - Generally, worship; usually the offering before an image of the deity of fruit, incense, or flowers

Question 21

Purana

Answer 21

“ancient” : a compendium of myth, usually with a sectarian emphasis

Question 22

Samsara

Answer 22

The continuing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; also the this-worldly realm in which the cycle recurs

Question 23

Sannyasi

Answer 23

renouncer in the fourth stage (Ashrama) of life

Question 24

Shaiva

Answer 24

A devotee of Shiva

Question 25

Shakta

Answer 25

A devotee of the great goddess Devi

Question 26

Shruti

Answer 26

"That which is heard" : term denoting the category of Vedic literature accepted by orthodox Hindus as revealed truth

Question 27

Shudra

Answer 27

A member of the servant class of the varna or caste system

Question 28

smriti

Answer 28

"tradition" : term denoting the vast category of Hindu sacred texts that is not shruti

Question 29

Tantra

Answer 29

"loom" : System of ideas and practices that potentiate sudden liberation from samsara; also a form of sacred text detailing the ideas and practices

Question 30

Upanishad

Answer 30

"sitting down near[a teacher]" a philosophical text from the later period of Vedic literature, also called Vedanta (End of the Vedas)

Question 31

Vaishnava

Answer 31

A devotee of Vishnu and his avatars

Question 32

vaishya

Answer 32

A member of the producer (farmer and merchant) class of the varna or caste system

Question 33

varna

Answer 33

Caste or class; the four main classes form the basis of the traditional hierarchical organization of Hindu society

Question 34

Vedanta

Answer 34

"end of the vedas" : Synonym for Upanishads

Question 35

Vedas

Answer 35

"Knowlege" : Broadly, all Vedic literature; narrowly, four ancient collections (samhitas) of hymns and other religious material

Question 36

Yoga

Answer 36

"Yoking" or "uniting" : Generally, uniting of the self with God; sometimes used as an alternative to marga when referring to the three main paths to liberation; also one of the six philosophical schools, focussing on moral, physical, and spiritual practices leading to leberation