Hindu Terms

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ashramas

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Four stages in life of an upper-class male: student (with guru, learn to live life of dharma), householder (duties to family and society), forest-dweller (retired life, withdrawals from the world, shares wisdom with others, gets ready for complete renunciation), ascetic (completely withdrawn, completely dedicated to spiritual pursuits, seek moksha).

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samnyasin

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A religious ascetic. One in their fourth stage of life (after student, householder, forestdweller).

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guru

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A spiritual teacher. Krishna is Arjuna’s guru on battlefield in Bhagavad Gita. Often lives in an ashram together with disciples.

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sadhu

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A holy man. An ascetic who has given up dharma, artha and kama to pursue moksha through meditation and contemplation of god. Often wears ochre clothing to symbolize renunciation.

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acharya

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The leading teacher of a sect or the head of a monestary.

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rishi

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A seer. The composers of the ancient Vedic hymns. Similar to sages or saints.

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ksatriya

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Member of the second class. Warrior class. Usually ruling or military class.

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vaisya

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Member of third class. Merchant class.

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shudra

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Lowest class. Servant/labourers.

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Vedas

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Oldest and most highly respected Hindu sacred literature. Called Shruti (what is heard) because it was directly “heard” from supreme being.

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Upanishads

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Spiritual contemplation on the Vedas. Known as Vedantas. In form of reported conversations. Composed around 6th c B.C.E. Emphasizes pantheism and monism.

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Puranas

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“Old tales”. Stories about the deities that became important after the Vedic period. Ex. Vishnu’s childhood. Like epics, speaks to common people – no elitism. Each stresses devotion to a specific god

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Mahabharata

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Very long epic poem, part of it is Bhagavad Gita. Discusses human goals: moksha, dharma, artha, kama.

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smrti

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“What is remembered”. Body of ancient Hindu literature, including the epics.

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avatara

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An incarnation of a deity in earthly form

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bhakti

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Means devotion in Sanskrit. Loving devotion to a diety, seen as gracious being who enters the world for the benefit of humans.

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murti

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Personification in which the divine is manifested. Key in bhakti (devotional) purposes.

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Brahma

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A creator god (not Brahman). One of trimurti (with Vishnu and Shiva). According to Puranas, born out of lotus flower, which grew out of navel of Vishnu at beginning of universe. Far less temple devoted to him than others in trimurti.

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darshana

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Seeing and being seen by the deity in the temple / or guru. Being in the presence of the divine. The touching of feet is a sign of darshana.

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prasada

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A gift from the deity, especially food that has been presented to the god’s temple image, blessed and returned to the devotee.

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Term:

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Definition:

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ayurveda

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A system of traditional medicine. Understood that teachings come from the sages. Ayu = life, Veda = knowledge. One of few traditional systems with a complex system of surgery. Still relevant to millions of people today.

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Brahmanas

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Manuals for rituals. Priests do rituals to participate and help maintain universe. Fire is primary medium for sacrifice. Transforming something, making it rise, its intangible. Highly detailed and complex. Exclusive access to Brahmins. Correct pronunciation and timing more important than meaning.

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om

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Syllable chanted in meditation. Representing ultimate reality/universe/relationship of devotee to diety. Usually beginning and end of most sacred texts/mantra. Now a modern sign of Hinduism. Mentioned in all the Upanishads. Consists of three sounds: a-u-m.

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puja

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Ritual household worship to diety. Usually involving, lamps, incense, prayers, food offerings. Most perform puja once or twice a day. After a shower or bath, before meals.

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tantra

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An esoteric school, against the Vedic and brahminical tradition. Some controversial rituals, some sexual. Uses things in everyday life and turns them into religious rituals (sex). Left-handed tantra is more radical (drug use), right-handed is more conservative and accepted.

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tilaka

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Forehead dot/mark made with coloured powder. Daily basis or special occasions. Beauty mark or identifying mark. Also called “bindi”. Dye along hair part indicates marriage.

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yoga

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Practice or discipline that may involve a philosophical system and mental concentration as well as physical postures and exercises.

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Atman

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The individual self. Upanishadic and Vedantic thought says it is identical with Brahman/world soul. Beyond identification with reality of world existence. Similar to idea of soul but less individualistic.

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Brahman

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The world-soul. Unchanging, infinite, impersonal. Upanisads say one who has liberated the soul has aligned/realized Brahman with true self/Atman.

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karma

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Causation. Action, good or bad. Determines quality of rebirth. Cause and effect. Not fate. According to Veda’s if we sow goodness, we reap goodness.

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samsara

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The continuing cycle of rebirths. Idea of time as cyclical. Human is high on ladder, animals/plants are low. Men are higher to attaining moksha. Ceaseless.

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linga

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A cyclindrical stone column, sometimes phallic, symbolic of god Shiva. Dates back to Harappan times in Indus Valley.

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artha

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Wealth and power/ worldly status. One of the three classical aims in life. Considered a moral goal as long as it follows the dictates of Vedic morality. Ladder goes: Moksha (salvation), Dharma (righteousness), Artha (material prosperity), Kama (physical/emotional pleasure).