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Hinduism Flashcards

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1
Q

acharya

A

the leading teacher of a sect or the head of a monestary

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2
Q

advaita

A

shankara’s school of philosophy, which holds that there is only one ultimate reality, the indescribable Brahman, with which the Atman or self is identical

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3
Q

Alvars

A

12 devotional poets whose works are central to the South Indian Bhakti tradition

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4
Q

artha

A

prosperity; one of the three classical aims in life

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5
Q

ashramas

A

4 stages in life of an upper-class male; student, householder, forest-dweller, and ascetic

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6
Q

Atman

A

the individual self, human soul, held by Upanishadic and Vedantic thought to be identical with Brahman, the world-soul

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7
Q

avatara

A

a “descent” or incarnation of a diety in earthly form

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8
Q

Ayurveda

A

A system of traditional medicine, understood as a teaching transmitted from the sages

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9
Q

Bhagavad Gita

A

A section of the Mahabaharata epic recounting a conversation between Krishna and the warrior Arjuna, in which Krishna explains dharma with taking up arms against the family. He teaches devotion to krishna and importance of selfless action. Schoolchildren memorize this part of the Mahabarta, recited at hindu festivals. Educated arjuna about ways of warrior, nature and purpose of life, reincarnation, liberation

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10
Q

Bhakti

A

loving devotion to a deity seen as a gracious being who enters the world for the benefit of humans

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11
Q

Brahma

A

the creator god, (not brahman)

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12
Q

Brahamanas

A

Texts regarding ritual

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13
Q

brahmin

A

a member of the priestly cast

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14
Q

darshana

A

seeing and being seen by the deity (in the temple) or by a holy teacher; the experience of behold with faith

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15
Q

Deepavali (Diwali)

A

Festival of light in October-November, when lamps are lit

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16
Q

devanagari

A

the alphabet used to write Sanskrit and northern Indian vernacular languages such as Hindi and Bengali

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17
Q

dharma

A

Religious and social duty. Includes boths righteousness and faith, based on caste

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18
Q

guru

A

a spiritual leader

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19
Q

Holi

A

spring festival celebrated by throwing brightly coloured water or powder

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20
Q

jnana

A

knowledge; along with action and devotion, one of the three avenues to liberation explained in the Bhagavad Gita

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21
Q

kama

A

sensual (not merely sexual) pleasure; one of the three classical aims of life

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22
Q

karma

A

action, good and bad, as it is believed to determine the quality of rebirth in future lives

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23
Q

kshatriya

A

a member of the warrior class in ancient hindu society

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24
Q

linga

Study These Flashcards
A

a conical or cylindrical stone column, symbolizing the creative energies of the god Shiva

25
Mahabharata
a very long epic poem, one section of which is the Bhagavad Gita. About 2 clashing families: Pandavas and Kharavas. The kharavas are an evil family that the warrior Arjuna (moral exemplar) is fighting against. In the Bhagvad Gita: Krishna (incarnation of Vishnu) has a famous conversation with Arjuna where he asks if it is good dharma to take up arms against family. First try peaceful methods, if they fail then take up arms. Teaches devotion to krishna and importance of selfless action.
26
Mantra
an expression of one or more syllables, chanted repeatedly as a focus of concentration in devotion
27
moksha
liberation from the cycle of birth and death; one of the three classical aims in life
28
murti
a form or personification in which divinity is manifested
29
Navaratri
"nine nights" an autumn festival honouring the Goddess
30
om
a syllable chanted in meditation, interpreted as representing ultimate reality, or the universe, or the relationship of the devotee to the deity
31
prasada
a gift from the deity, especially food that has been presented to the god's temple image, blessed, and returned to the devotee
32
puja
ritual household worship of the deity, commonly involving oil lamps, incense, prayers, and food offerings
33
puranas
"old tales," stories about deities that became important after the vedic period
34
Ramayana
an epic recounting of the life of Lord Rama, an incarnation of the god vishnu. Rama was a prince who was kicked out of his kingdom and had to go into the forest with his brother and wife, Sita. His father died of grief after he had to leave the kingdom. While in the forest, Sita is kidnapped by the demon god Ravana. The monkey God Hanuman helps Rama rescue Sita. There is an epic battle between Rama and Ravana that Rama wins. They return to the kingdom and Rama is coronated King
35
rishi
a seer, the composers of the ancient vedic hymns are considered rishis
36
sadhu
a holy man
37
samnyasin
a religious ascetic; one who has reached the last of the 4 stages of life for a hindu male (see ashramas)
38
samsara
the continuing cycle of rebirths that you want to escape
39
sati
the self-sacrifice of a widow who throws herself onto her deceased husband's funeral pyre
40
shruti
"what is heard,"; the sacred literature of the vedic and upanishadic periods, recited orally by the brahmin priests for man centuries before it was written down
41
shudra
a member of the lowest of the 4 major classes, usually translated as "servant," though some groups within the shudra class coul be quite prosperous
42
smrti
"What is remembered" a body of ancient Hindu literature, including the epics, Puranas, and law codes, formed after the shruti and passed down in written form
43
tantra
an esoteric school outside the Vedic and brahminical tradition, which emerged around the 5th century and centered on a number of controversial ritual practices, some of them sexual
44
upanayana
the inituation of a young brahmin boy into ritual responsibility, in which he is given a cord to wear over his left shoulder and a mantra to recite and is sent to beg for food for the day
45
Upanishads
At the end of each Veda: Philosophical texts in the form of reported conversations on the theory of the Vedic ritual and the nature of knowlegde, composed around the 6th century BCE
46
vaishya
a member of the third or mercantile class in the ancient fourfold class structure
47
Vedas
composed between 1500-600 BCE the four collection of hymns and ritual texts that constitute the oldest and most highly respected Hindu sacred literature Rig Veda establishes caste system
48
yoga
a practice and discipline that may involve a philosophical system and mental concentration as well as physical postures and exercises
49
Brahman
supreme being infuses all of creation: divine infused in all aspects of life Hinduism considered monotheistic as Brahman is the main God and the other Gods are manifestations of Brahman
50
3 ways of liberation
in Bhagavad Gita. (1) Way of action (karma yoga). Ating in world with righteousness without desire for reward (2) Jhana-yoga--scholarship (3) Bhakti-yoga (devotion) doing devotions to krishna, performing rituals, participating in celebration
51
Vishnu
"all pervasive one" takes on earthly forms-avataras, to try to rid earth of evil and establish dharma. Manu--archetypal man
52
Shiva
appears in paradoxical roles (creator and destroyer). Husband of The Goddess
53
The Goddess
Pervarti. Not really as powerful as Vishnu and Shiva, sometimes represented as fierce, takes on multiple forms
54
Sarasvati
consort of Brahman, goddess of knowledge/learning. Depicted with 4 hands. Beads: counting and devotion, musical instruments, manuscript
55
Ganesha
elephant god. son of shiva+goddess. Symbolic of removal of obstacles and hindrances. Ability to progress and succeed
56
Hindu Trinity
Vishnu=preserver Shiva=destroyer Brahma=creator Result of colonists trying to find something similar in hindu culture
57
kaliyoga
steady decline of morality, happiness and human disaster. 430,000 years left Time seen in circular way
58
caste
``` system of class hierarchy+discrimination. 1.Brahmins 2.Kshatriyas 3.Vaishyas 4.Shudras 5. Outcaste Jhati=birth group ```
59
dharmashastra
text about moral duties, laws of Manu set out roles and duties for the 4 main classes

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