Monism
Religious idea that all things exist as one
Brahman
The great “Mon” - the eternal “Oneness” - the only true god, of which we are all a part. like the sea
Atman
illusion of individuality - like a wave
Samsara
The circle or wheel of life - view of existence as a never ending, continually turning wheel - a cycle of reincarnations
Moksha
Release from the wheel cycle of Samsara. To rejoin the great “oneness” of Brahman. The extinction of the soul.
Dharma
“The Way” - or that which is appropriate
The three ways of “oneness”
Karma, Jnana, Bhakti
Combination of all three ways to “oneness”
Raja Yoga
Karma
the way of works
Jnana
the way of knowledge
Bhakti
the way of devotion
Path? Practice?
Marga. Yoga.
Ahimsa
“No harm” - the notion of “doing good” - specifically doing no harm to any type of life, human or animal.
Nirvana
Understanding the “one supreme reality” which leads to Samadhi
“Aum”/”Om”
The sacred syllable (sanskrit)
The four Varna’s
Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaiyishas, Shudras
Hindu Temple
Mandir
Ashram
Temple and School
The three high gods
Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva
Lord Brahma
Creator god of the triad
Depicted sitting on a lotus
Depicted in human-like form
Consort/wife = Saraswati
Saraswati
Consort/wife of Brahma
Dressed in white (purity)
Four hands - playing music and holding scriptures
Lord Vishnu
Preserver god of the world
Depicted in human-like form
Blue skin and four hands
Consort/wife = Lakshmi
The world came into existence when? Our current age will end when?
When Vishnu awoke from sleep. When Vishnu goes back to sleep.
Lakshmi
Consort/wife of Vishnu
Sits upon a lotus flower
Four hands - holding lotus and using emblems of worship
Essence of purity, truth, chastity and generosity
Lord Vishnu’s Avatar’s 7-9
- Rama - a prince
- Krishna - a warrior
- Sidharta Guatama - a prince who became the buddha
Lord Rama
Seventh Avatar of Vishnu. Story of his life and his love for his wife recorded in the Ramayana (scripture)
Lord Krishna
Eighth Avatar of Vishnu. Story of his heroic battle and search for eternal truth is found in the Bhagavad Gita (scripture)
Lord Krishna’s consort/ wife
Radha
Sidharta Guatama
Ninth Avatar of Vishnu. A prince who left the wealthy life of the palace to become a teacher, and became the Buddha
Lord Shiva
Third high god of the Trimurti
Associated with storms, mountains and herbs
Thought of as a destroyer god
Thought of as a god of healing
Lord Shiva 2
Associated with happiness, meditation and dancing
Rides upon Nandi, a bull representing fertility and strength
Lord Shiva 3
Associated with new life
Often depicted with a stylized phallic called Linga or Lingham
Name of this is Shiva-Lingham
Shiva’s wife
Shakti
Four wives/ consorts of Shiva
- Uma - kind and benevolent
- Paravati - also kind
- Durga - fierce and dreadful
- Kali - most fierce and dreadful
Lord Ganesh
Son of Lord Shiva
Depicted as a human with head of an elephant
God of happiness and good fortune/luck
Yoga
religious meditation
Yogi
Practitioner of Yoga
Sadhu
Monastic Hindu
Arati
Religious service
Holi
festival of colors (spring)
Diwali
Festival of lights (fall) “row of lamps”
Hindustan
northern region of India where Hinduism predominates. India.