Download hindu glossary 2010

Hindu Glossary
A–
Aryan—Tribal people who conquered India 1500-2000 B.C.E.
Asceticism-- the doctrine that a person can attain a high spiritual and moral state by
practicing self-denial of pleasure, physical gratification and material goods.
Atman-- The individual soul or essence
-BBrahman --The holy or sacred power that is the source and sustainer of the universe. The
single absolute being pervading the universe and found within the individual; atman.
Brahmins— the highest of the four varnas or castes: the priestly category
Buddhism—religious system and teaching founded by the Buddha or enlightened
one
-CCosmology-- the branch of philosophy dealing with the origin and general structure of
the universe, with its parts, elements, and laws, and esp. with such of its characteristics as
space, time, causality, and freedom.
D-Dravidian-Early occupants of India who founded Harappan Civilization
and were conquered by the Aryans.
-Dalit or untouchable-- A member of the class that is excluded from and
considered unclean and defiling by the four Hindu castes.
1.
Dharma
Hinduism & Buddhism.
a. The principle or law that orders the universe.
b. Individual conduct in conformity with this principle.
c. The essential function or nature of a thing.
2. Hinduism. Individual obligation with respect to caste, social custom, civil law,
and sacred law.
3. Buddhism.
a. The body of teachings expounded by the Buddha.
b. Knowledge of or duty to undertake conduct set forth by the Buddha as a
way to enlightenment.
c. One of the basic, minute elements from which all things are made.
-H–
Hedonism-- devotion to pleasure as a way of life
Hinduism-- A diverse body of religion, philosophy, and cultural practice native
to and predominant in India, characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a
supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are
aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils
-JJainism— religious sect founded in the 6th century BC as a revolt against
Hinduism; emphasizes asceticism, non-violence and immortality and
transmigration of the soul; denies existence of a perfect or supreme being
-KKarma--The total effect of a person's actions and conduct during the successive
phases of the person's existence, regarded as determining the person's destiny and
fate for future lives.
Kshatriya— A member of the second highest of the four castes of traditional
Indian society, responsible for upholding justice and social harmony, and
including people in governing and military positions.
-MMaya—the temporary appearance of the sensible world, which hides the
undifferentiated spiritual reality from which it originates
Moksha-- liberation and bliss (nirvana) from the cycle of rebirth (samsara); also
called mukti
-NNirvana-- Emancipation from ignorance and the extinction of all attachment.
An ideal condition of rest, harmony, stability, or joy.
-P- Pali- Ancient Indian language spoken by the Buddha
-RRama--seventh avatar of Vishnu
Ramayana--epic story of Rama
Rig Veda--oldest Hindu scripture;
-S-Samsara-the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth
Sanskrit-- An ancient Indic language that is the language of Hinduism and the
Vedas and is the classical literary language of India.
Shudra-- member of the lowest or worker Hindu caste [syn: Shudra, Sudra] 2: the
lowest of the four varnas: the servants and workers of low status
-UUpanisads-- A group of philosophical treatises contributing to the theology of
ancient Hinduism, elaborating on the earlier Vedas.
-VVaishyas-- A member of the second-lowest of the four major castes of traditional
Indian society, comprising farmers, herders, merchants, and businessmen.
Varna--Social class or caste
Vedas--Any of the oldest and most authoritative Hindu sacred texts, composed in
Sanskrit and gathered into four collections.