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Culture & Civ of India-Newman
Ringling- Quiz #2
31
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 3
11/01/2006

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Cards

Term
Caste System
Definition
A system of social organization composed of closed endogamous groups all of which are ranked in hierarchial order expressed in language of purity and pollution, and most of which perform a traditional occupation.
Term
Endogamy
Definition
Group in which you must marry determined by your birth into that group.
Term
Varna
Definition
(Caste) classical, idealized pan-Indian social order.
Term
Karma
Definition
The reason you are born into a particular varna.
Term
Brahmins
Definition
1st Varna: Perfom rituals, study & teach sacred texts, priests.
Term
Kshatriyas
Definition
2nd Varna: Rulers, warriors, judges, administrators.
Term
Vaishyas
Definition
3rd Varna: Traders, herders, farmers.
Term
Shudras
Definition
4th Varna: Menial workers, artisans, manual laborers: Not twice born like top three Varnas, can't study Veda or attend Vedic ceremonies.
Term
Outcastes
Definition
Literally so low theya re outside the caste system. Also called harijans, dalits, untouchables, scheduled castes and tribes.
Term
Jati
Definition
Literally "birth" subgroups of Varnas. These are the actual endogamous groups. You cannot change these.
Term
Dharma
Definition
Each person's duty, based on their caste (and modified by gender and stage of life), to uphold the order of human society.
Term
Sadhu
Definition
Also known as Snnyasis, reject society and their dharma to pursue attaining moksha full time. Women cant be these.
Term
Ritual purity
Definition
Determines rank of jati (and Varna). Level of pollution/purity determines who can do what with whom under what conditions.
Term
Reserved Seat System
Definition
Affirmitive action program. Indian government's attempt to remediate the past inequities. Applies to schools, colleges, government jobs for the scheduled castes.
Term
Dowry
Definition
Money and goods given by bride's family to groom's family as a gift/payment for taking her into their family.
Term
Dowry Death
Definition
Husbands family demands additional dowry after the wedding and if not paid the bride is murdered or driven to suicide. This is very hard to prosecute even though a separate brandh of judiciary is established to do this.
Term
Chastity
Definition
A woman's sexual purity that protects her husband's health and prosperity.
Term
Sati
Definition
Traditional practice where a woman immolates herself on her husband's funeral pyre. (She doesn't have ot live as a widow. Outlawed even under British colonial rule. Still occasionally occurs.)
Term
Hinduisum
Definition
Sanatana Dharma "eternal religion". Accept Vedic literature as revealed truths.
Term
Karma Marga
Definition
Path of action. Uphold world doing dharma, eventual good rebirth where one can work to get out, caste system.
Term
Jnana Marga
Definition
Path of wisdom of knowledge. Develop wisdom to get out of samsara NOW, become a sadhu to develop wisdom and eliminate ignorance.
Term
Bhakti Marga
Definition
Path of devotion. Devotion to God, synthesis of first two paths; work toward liberation through doing your dharma.
Term
Moksha
Definition
Liberation from samsara. It is attained through knowledge of truth, actual reality.
Term
Ignorance
Definition
Perpetuates continued existence in cycle of transmigration, misunderstanding of ultimate nature of reality.
Term
Upanishads
Definition
Text, last part of Vedic literature, secret teaching: speculative philosophy & explanation of mystical practices to do in order to realize ultimate reality.
Term
Mysticism
Definition
Theory and practices leading to experience of the sacred, and alternate/true vision of reality.
Term
Brahman
Definition
The utlimate reality of the universe, life-breath of the universe and everything in it, can't be described in dualistic language or understood with conceptual thought, more than just a power, not identified with any activity or or quality or material, ultimate ground of all being is without any qualities.
Term
Atman
Definition
Basis of something permanent in the individual, what we really are, the 'soul' pure awareness, lights up the subject as pure perception, perception of neither external nor internal objects, without describable qualities.
Term
Reality
Definition
Your atman is no different than Brahman, it IS Brahman. Direct understanding of the identity of the macrocosm (universe) as one with the microcosm (individual) is the knowledge that liberates you from samsara.
Term
Yoga
Definition
Path of mental control that leads to realizing this knowledge and thus liberation. Involves austerities - difficult mental and physical practices to force the consciousness to withdraw from external stimuli and focus within. Control the senses, control the mind.
Term
Guru
Definition
A spiritual teacher, someone who can guide you through yogic practices.
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