* Your assessment is very important for improving the workof artificial intelligence, which forms the content of this project
Download Hinduism Glossary for Introduction to Religion
California textbook controversy over Hindu history wikipedia , lookup
Pratyabhijna wikipedia , lookup
Sri Vaishnavism wikipedia , lookup
Tamil mythology wikipedia , lookup
Rajan Zed prayer protest wikipedia , lookup
Vaishnavism wikipedia , lookup
Bhagavata Purana wikipedia , lookup
History of Shaktism wikipedia , lookup
Brahma Sutras wikipedia , lookup
Women in Hinduism wikipedia , lookup
Buddhism and Hinduism wikipedia , lookup
Hinduism in Indonesia wikipedia , lookup
Invading the Sacred wikipedia , lookup
Yoga Sutras of Patanjali wikipedia , lookup
Yoga Yajnavalkya wikipedia , lookup
Dayananda Saraswati wikipedia , lookup
Indra's Net (book) wikipedia , lookup
Hindu views on evolution wikipedia , lookup
Neo-Vedanta wikipedia , lookup
History of Hinduism wikipedia , lookup
Hindu philosophy wikipedia , lookup
Hindu mythology wikipedia , lookup
Hinduism Hinduism is essentially an Indian phenomenon. It is the dominant faith of India, practiced by over 80% of the population. Since religion is a way of life in India, Hinduism forms an integral part of the entire Indian tradition. Here's a brief discussion on the basics of this universal religion. Definition It is not easy to define Hinduism, for it is more than a religion in the Western sense. Uniqueness Hinduism can never be neatly slotted into any particular belief system. Origin According to historians, the origin of Hinduism dates back to 5000 or more years. Basic Tenets Hinduism lacks any unified system of beliefs and ideas. Scriptures Two types of sacred writings constitute the Hindu scriptures: heard (sruti) and memorized (smriti). Gods & Deities Hinduism believes that there is only one supreme Absolute called Brahman, but it does not advocate the worship of one particular deity. The Basics of Hinduism 5 PRINCIPLES 1. God Exists: One Absolute OM. One Trinity: Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara (Shiva) Several divine forms 2. All human beings are divine 3. Unity of existence through love 4. Religious harmony 5. Knowledge of 3 Gs: Ganga (sacred river), Gita (sacred script), Gayatri (sacred mantra) 10 DISCIPLINES 1. Satya (Truth) 2. Ahimsa (Non-violence) 3. Brahmacharya (Celibacy, non-adultery) 4. Asteya (No desire to possess or steal) 5. Aparighara (Non-corrupt) 6. Shaucha (Cleanliness) 7. Santosh (Contentment) 8. Swadhyaya (Reading of scriptures) 9. Tapas (Austerity, perseverance, penance) 10. Ishwarpranidhan (Regular prayers) Hinduism Glossary for Introduction to Religion Atman* An individual's soul or self. The ultimate goal in Hinduism is to achieve moksha through the realization that one's Atman and Brahman are the same thing. This is accomplished through different types of yoga . Avatar* A manifestion of a god in an earthly form, usually that of a human or animal. The god Vishnu has two main avatars: Krishna and Rama. Bhagavad-Gita* The section of the Mahabharata in which Krishna reveals himself to Arjuna and in a long theological discussion describes the main components of karma yoga. Brahma* Brahma is the manifestation of Brahman into the world of maya. In opposition to Brahman as the essence of creation (a spirit), Brahma takes on a form fitting with the natural world. He is often mentioned as an equal with Vishnu and Shiva. Brahman* The power behind and within the cosmos that makes it function and live. Can also be seen as the Ultimate Reality. Sometimes it is thought of as a god. In the early Vedic religion, this was the focus of worship by the Brahmins. In classic and modern Hinduism it is rarely worshipped directly. One of the recurring goals in Hinduism is to understand the link between Brahman-the force behind the cosmos-and the Atman--the soul of each individual human. Caste* The western term for varna. Castes provide the major divisions of Hindu society. Dharma* In Hinduism, Dharma means virtue. In particular, it refers to the duties of a person's caste (varna and jati ) and the idea that it is virtuous always to fulfill those duties willingly and expertly. Guru* A holy teacher. Occasionally, a Brahmin who teaches. Hatha yoga The form of yoga devoted only to bodily control. In the West, it is often seen as the only type of yoga and is simply called "yoga." Ishvara Ishvara literally means "Lord of the Universe." It is used to refer to a god who is seen as the personalization of the Creator, i.e., Brahman. Thus, it can be used of Vishnu or other gods and goddesses when they are seen as representations of the divine Absolute. Karma* The Sanskrit term meaning "action." It refers to a concept in which the results of one's actions accumulate over one's life. Upon death, an individual's karma-this store of the results of actions-determines whether one is reborn in a higher or lower status. karma yoga * A discipline of work or "action." The goal is to achieve moksha through the elimination of one's karma through work, that is, involvement in life and business. Essentially, if a person can work without viewing the results of their efforts as one of their own, then the results cancel part of their karma rather than adding to it. One form of karma yoga works as a version of achieve bhakti yoga, in which a person's actions are seen as a form of love and devotion to a divine being. Another form works as a version of achieve jnana yoga, in which one becomes detached from the work's results as one enters a deeper experience of their Atman. For another explanation go here. Krishna/Krsna* A god who is one of the avatars of Vishnu. He plays a key role in the Mahabharata. In the Mahabharata appears the Bhagavad Gita which is a theological discourse he gives while waiting to go into battle and describes the basics of karma yoga , jnana yoga , and bhakti yoga . Mantra* A sequence of sounds used as a focus of meditation. The most famous mantra is that of "om," which consists of the three sounds "aa", "oo", "mm". For some examples of mantras and their explanation, go here. moksha * Liberation or release from the cyle of death and rebirth, or samsara. om The most famous mantra, used as a meditational device in many forms of yoga. This sound is believed to be an aspect of the creation of the cosmos. Parvati* One of Shiva's wives. She represents erotic and sensual love, the love of courtship and wooing. She is the mother of Ganesha . puja An offering (usually flowers, food, adoration, music, etc.) to a god or goddess. Reincarnation* The cycle of death and rebirth. The transmigration of an individual soul to a new body after death. Sanskrit The language in which the Vedas and other Hindu sacred texts are written. It is an old Indo-European language like Greek and Latin. . Shiva/Siva* One of the two main gods of Hinduism. He is associated with a number of goddesses, the main four are Parvati, Umma, Durga, and Kali. See sakti . Transmigration* This refers to the idea of the transmigration of an individual's soul. It is also called samsara or reincarnation. This is the notion that after death, a person's soul is born-again into another individual (human, animal, etc.). Twice-born* The upper three castes whose males go through a "re-birth" ceremony when they come-of-age at around 12. Umma* One of Shiva's wives. She represents motherhood, nuturing, and family. Vedas* The oldest collection of Hindu sacred texts. They include the Rig-Veda, the Brahmanas, and the Upanishads. They were written between 1500 and 500 bce. Vedic An adjective refering to the Vedas (as in "Vedic Scriptures"), the people who originally created and used the Vedas, the period from 1500 to 500 bce during which they were written, or any form of Hinduism or Hindu teachings that derive from the Vedas. Vishnu* One of two main gods in Hinduism. He is usually worshiped in the form of one of his avatars, Krishna and Rama. yoga * In Sanskrit, it literally means "yoke," as in a yoke used to harness oxen. It refers to an organized form of discipline that leads to a goal. This discipline usually involves practices of meditation, mental concentration, exercises of the body including both ones of control and asceticism. In Hinduism, this goal is usually that of moksha, the release of the soul from cycle of death and rebirth (samsara). For this course, four types of yoga are important: karma, jnana, raja, and bhakti. yogi A person who practices some form of yoga. Male-yogin, female-yogini.