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RELS 204 Athabasca University > Hinduism Key Terms > Flashcards

Hinduism Key Terms Flashcards

(70 cards)

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1
Q

Advaita

A

non dualism, Shankara’s school of Vedanta, emphasizing the all-encompassing one ultimate reality Brahman

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2
Q

Agni

A

Vedic god of fire

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3
Q

Aryans

A

people related to the Indi-Europeans, who migrated into India in ancient times

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4
Q

Ashramas

A

The four stages of life for higher-class males in Hinduism: student, householder, forest-sweller, and renouncer; ashrama is also a hermitage or place for meditation

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5
Q

Atman

A

The soul or self, considered eternal

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6
Q

Avatara

A

Descent or incarnation of a god, as Krishna and Rama are avatars of the great God Vishnu

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7
Q

Ayurveda

A

Traditional system of medicine in India

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8
Q

Bhagavad Gita

A

Important scripture from the Mahabharata, containing Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna and summing up the fundamental ideas of Hinduism

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9
Q

Bhakati

A

Devotion, self-surrender to one’s god

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10
Q

Brahma

A

Designation for the creator god in Hindu thought

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11
Q

Brahmanas

A

Part of the Vedas

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12
Q

Brahmans

A

Priestly class

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13
Q

Devi

A

Hindu term for goddess

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14
Q

Brahman

A

Hindu term for ultimate reality; the divine source and pervading essence of the universe.

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15
Q

Dharma

A

the cosmic order, social duty, and proper behavior.

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16
Q

Divali

A

Autumn festival of lights and good fortune in India

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17
Q

Durga

A

great, fierce Hindu goddess, often considered a form of Devi

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18
Q

Gandhi

A

Leader of the Hindu independence movement emphasizing spiritual preparation and nonviolent resistance (1869-1948)

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19
Q

Ganesha

A

son of Shiva, popular elephant-headed Hindu god who overcomes obstacles and brings good fortune

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20
Q

guru

A

spiritual guide and master

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21
Q

Holi

A

popular festival in northern India with a carnival atmosphere

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22
Q

Indra

A

Vedic storm-warrior god

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23
Q

Indus valley civilization

A

urban-agricultural civilization that flourished in the third millennium B.C.E. in the Indus River valley and influence Hinduism

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24
Q

International Society for Krishna Consciousness

A

new Hindu movement, founded by Swami Bhaktivedanta Prabhupad (1896-1977), worshipping Krishna as the supreme manifestation of the divine; known as ISKCON, this movement has drawn many Westerners as devotees

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25
jati
'birth'; one's caste or closed social group as determined by birth in India
26
Kali
goddess of death and destruction in Hinduism, often considered a form of Devi
27
Karma
'action', law that all deeds and thoughts, according to one's intentions, will have set consequences, including rebirth
28
kirtana
devotional group worship through song and dance
29
Krishna
avatar of the great Hindu god Vishnu; hero of the Bhagavad Gita and popular god in Vaishnavite devotional movements
30
Kshatriyas
the warrior class in Hindu society
31
lingam
phallic pillar that symbolizes the great God Shiva
32
Mahabharata
one of the two great epics of Hinduism
33
Mantra
Powerful sacred words, formula, or verse chanted as a focus for meditation and devotion
34
maya
appearance, illusion; term to indicate that which prevents one from seeing truly
35
moksha
liberation from bondage to samsara and karma; the goal of Hindu spiritual practice
36
Path of Action (karma-marga)
Hindu path toward liberation based on acting according to Dharma, without desire for the fruits of action
37
Path of Devotion (bhakti-marga)
Hindu path toawrd liberation based on devotional practices directed toawrd one's god
38
Path of Knowledge (jnana-marga)
Hindu path toward liberation based on knowledge, emphasizing meditation
39
prasad
gift from the deity consecrated in ritual, especially food, shared by the devotee
40
puja
ritual worship of the image of a god by offering food, flowers, music, and prayers
41
Puranas
late Hindu scriptures that developed from popular theistic devotional movements
42
Rama
avatara of Vishnu, divine hero of the Ramayana
43
Ramkrishna
modern Hindu holy man (1836-1886) whose teachings were brought to America by his disciple Vivekananda (1863-1902), who established the Ramakrishna Mission (Vedanta Society)
44
Ramanuja
Hindu philosopher and advocate of the Vaishnavite bhakti tradition (ca. 1017-1137)
45
Ramayana
story of Rama, one of the two great epics of Hinduism
46
rebirth
belief that after the death of its body the soul takes on another body, determined by karma
47
Rig Veda
the earliest and most important collection of Vedic hymns
48
Samhitas
"collections" of early Vedic hymns and verses; there are four collections: Rig-Veda, Yajur-Veda, and Atharva-Veda
49
Samkhya
one of the classical schools of Hindu philosophy stressing an absolute distinction between matter and spirit
50
samnyasin
one who has renounced the cares and concerns of the world; samnyasa is the fourth stage of life in Hinduism
51
samsara
the rebirth cycle of existence
52
samskaras
rituals performed at the critical changes and passages of life
53
sati
self-sacrifice of a widow on her husbands funeral pyre; outlawed in modern times
54
Shakti
divine energy, personified as a goddess; female aspect of a god, especially of Shiva
55
Shankara
great philosopher of Advaita (nondual) Vedanta (788-820 C.E)
56
Shiva
one of the two great Gods, symbolized by the lingam; focus of the Shaivite devotional movement
57
Shruti
"that which is heard", the eternal truth, that is, the Vedas
58
Shudras
classical servant class in Hindu society, the fourth class
59
Smriti
"that which is remembered" the tradition, that is, the scriptural writings after the Vedas
60
Tantrism
movement using initiation, rituals, imagination, and sexual symbolism as spiritual practices leading toward liberation
61
Transcendental Meditation
Hindu meditation movement founded in America by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (b. 1917), emphasizing simple meditation techniques for practical benefits
62
upanayana
initiation of high-class boy into the student stage of life; he is given a sacred cord to wear over his left shoulder and taught the appropriate mantras
63
Upanishads
collection of teachings about the self and ultimate reality that makes up the last part of the Veda (Shruti)
64
Vaishyas
the classical producer-merchant class in Hindu society
65
varna
"color", term for the classes in the system of Hindu society
66
Varuna
Vedic god of heavens
67
Vedanta Societies
Hindu groups in America and Europe following the teaching of Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902_ and Sri Ramakrishna (1836-1886)
68
Vedanta
"end of the Vedas", influential school of philosophy based especially on the Upanishads
69
Vedas
Most important scriptures of Hinduism, the Shruti; they consist of the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, and Upanishads
70
Vishnu
one of the two great Gods, worshiped also in his avatars Rama and Krishna

RELS 204 Athabasca University (13 decks)

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