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| the way things are and the way things should be (or right action) |
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| literally “deed” or “act”, universal principles of cause and effect, action and reaction, and governs all consciousness |
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| the eternal cycle of birth, suffering, death, and rebirth |
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| any of the four Hindu castes; Brahmin (scholars, teachers, and fire priests), Kshatriya (kings and soldiers/warriors), Vaishyas (agriculturists and merchants). or Sudra (service providers and artisans) |
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| a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. |
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| god of plants, sacred plant used which was a fundamental offering of the Vedic sacrifices. |
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| A form of ceremonial worship. It may range from brief daily rites in the home to an elaborate temple ritual. A typical puja offers the image of a deity the honors according to a guru. |
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| Fire god. Sacrificial fire used in Hindu rituals is seen as an incarnation of Agni, so he serves as a conduit that carries the sacrifice of a worshipper to the gods or goddesses that are being worshipped. He is also the burning ghee (clarified butter) that is used in devotional offerings. |
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| The king of the gods and ruler of the heavens. Indra is the god of thunder and rain and a great warrior, a symbol of courage and strength. |
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| Lord Vishnu is the preserver of the universe, while two other major Hindu gods, Brahma and Shiva, are considered the creator and destroyer of the universe, respectively. |
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| The eighth incarnation of lord Vishnu and was born in the Dvarpara Yuga as the “dark one”. Lord Krishna is the embodiment of love and divine joy that destroys all pain and sin. He is the protector of sacred utterances and cows. Krishna is an instigator of all forms of knowledge and born to establish the religion of love. |
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| philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion. More than 200 are known, of which the first dozen or so, the oldest and most important, is variously referred to as the principal, main (mukhya) or old Upanishads. |
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| one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the Ramayana. Contains much philosophical and devotional material, such as discussions of four “goals of life”. The latter are enumerated as dharma (right action), artha(purpose), kama (pleasure), and moksha (liberation). Stories that are part of Mahabharata are the Bhagavad Gia, the story of Damayanti, an abbreviated version of Ramayana, and the Rishyasringa, often considered as works in their own right. |
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| literally means Peace, or a thread or line that holds things together. Distinct type of literary composition, based on short statements. This literary form was designed for concision, as the texts were intended to be memorized by students through scriptural study. |
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| belongs to the upper caste society. Brahmins are often priests but can also be scholars or teachers. Known as the custodians of Dharma. They were the ultimate authority over interpretation of Vedic and Puranic spiritual texts like the Vedas, Upanishads, and Bhagavad-Gita |
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| one supreme, universal spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead. |
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| means ‘self’ in the non-material self sense, which never changes. |
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| traditional physical, mental, and spiritual disciplines whose goal is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual inside and tranquility. Major branches: Raja Yoga, Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, and Hatha Yoga. |
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| freedom from the endless cycle of transmigration into a state of bliss (liberation) |
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| A path to achieving salvation through loving devotion to a particular deity, open to all persons irrespective of sex or caste. |
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| literally “cherished divinity”. This is referring to the God, Deity, or even Guru that is worshipped by a Hindu as their representation of God. |
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| a philosophical concept in Hinduism, meaning controller or the Supreme Controller (i.e. God) |
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| One of the principal Hindu deities, worshipped as the destroyer and restorer of worlds and in numerous other forms. Shiva is often conceived as a member of the triad also including Brahma and Vishnu. |
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| Rich collection of mythology. There are 18 major Puranas known as Mahapuranas and a few minor ones known as Upapuranas. They were the guide books for the whole of life and society. They contain the essence of the Vedas. The aim of the Puranas is to impress on the minds of the masses the teachings of the Vedas and to generate in them devotion to God. |
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| a Hindu scripture whose philosophies and insights are intended to reach beyond the scope of religion and to humanity as a whole. It is at times referred to as the “manual for mankind”. Made up of exactly 700 verses. The teacher of the Gita is Lord Krishna. |
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| deals primarily with spiritual practices and ritual forms of worship that aim at liberation from ignorance and rebirth. |
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| a sound, syllable, word or group of words that is considered capable of “creating spiritual transformation”. |
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