Hinduism Terms

Front 1

Vedas

Back 1

4 of the oldest, basic sacred books of Hinduism.

Hint 1

Developed when the Aryans moved into India and mixed their religions. 2000 - 1500 BCE

Front 2

Rig-Veda

Back 2

First and most important book in Veda series.

Hint 2

A collection of over 1000 hymns to the Aryan gods containing the basic mythology of these gods.

Front 3

"veda"

Back 3

"knowledge/sacred lore"

Hint 3

Can refer to ancient Aryan texts, or general sacred literature that includes the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads.

Front 4

Yajur-Veda

Back 4

Second book in Veda series. "Knowledge of rites"

Hint 4

Collection of materials to be recited during sacrifice to the gods.

Front 5

Sama-Veda

Back 5

Third book in Veda series. "Knowledge of the chants."

Hint 5

Collection of of verses from the basic hymns recited by priests at sacrifices.

Front 6

Atharva-Veda

Back 6

Fourth book in Veda series, second in importance. "Knowledge given by the sage Atharva."

Hint 6

Rituals to be used in home and prayer to the gods, along with spells to ward off evil.

Front 7

"mantras"

Back 7

"hymns"

Hint 7

Each Veda book is made up of four subsections with mantras to the gods

Front 8

Brahmanas

Back 8

A section of ritual materials found in each vedic book

Hint 8

Instructions in the proper way to perform rituals and sacrifices. Considered to be later than the mantras sections.

Front 9

Aranyakas

Back 9

Forest Treatises/Books.

Hint 9

Materials for hermits in their religious pursuits. Philosophical speculation.

Front 10

"vanaprasthas"

Back 10

People who went to live in the wilderness to better gain spiritual knowledge.

Front 11

Upanishads

Back 11

Fourth section of Vedic texts. "Sitting near" the person passing on the hymns, or implying that you are closer to an enlightened one. 200 hymns.

Hint 11

Passed down orally. "Brahma-knowledge by which ignorance is destroyed." Give us spiritual vision and philosophical argument.

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"karma"

Back 12

"action"

Front 13

"samara"

Back 13

"reincarnation" "to wander across" Cycle of suffering.

Hint 13

Cycle of life that we are stuck in and strive to free ourselves from.

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"moksha"

Back 14

"nirvana"

Hint 14

Liberation of the soul from the effects of karma and from bodily existence; freedom from the burden/curse of life.

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"guru"

Back 15

"spiritual teacher"

Front 16

"ashrams"

Back 16

"hermitages"

Hint 16

A place or community of religious retreat

Front 17

"atman"

Back 17

"soul, self"

Hint 17

Your ego

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"Brahman"

Back 18

"God"

Hint 18

Brahman is everyone and everything.

Front 19

"neti-neti"

Back 19

Doctrine taught by Yajnavalkya

Hint 19

Truth can be found only through the negation of all thoughts about it.

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Agni

Back 20

God of fire

Hint 20

The god of the priests and the priest of the gods. Leads gods in proper sacrifice and brings burnt sacrifices to the gods.

Front 21

Varuna

Back 21

God who presides over the order of the universe and the god who forgives those who have sinned.

Front 22

Shiva

Back 22

God of death and destruction

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Yama

Back 23

God of the dead

Hint 23

First man to die, according to the Vedas

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"maya"

Back 24

"false knowledge"

Hint 24

Falsa knowledge that this life is real.

Front 25

"avidya"

Back 25

"ignorance"

Hint 25

When people realize their own ignorance they will find the truth.

Front 26

The Law of Manu

Back 26

"Manusmṛti." Laws that governed the day to day social and religious activities of Indians.

Hint 26

Varna Caste system. After a great flood from melting glaciers during the end of the ice age, rishi "seers" approached Manu for advise and he advised them on how to live an organized life to prevent future calamities.

Front 27

"sannyasi"

Back 27

"wandering beggers"

Hint 27

Men who have moved from the householder stage to hermit stage

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"rsi"

Back 28

"seers"

Hint 28

priests

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"varna"

Back 29

"caste." Social Class/standing. 4 classes

Hint 29

To free yourself from samara, you must move do your karma to progress to a higher caste and eventually be free from avidya.

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Saraswati

Back 30

Goddess of art

Front 31

"mahatma"

Back 31

"one who renounces."

Hint 31

Person who gives up everything to devote themselves to faith.

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Brahmin

Back 32

Religious priest, highest social class. Twice born.

Hint 32

Priestly men must go through 4 stages.

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Brahmin Stage 1

Back 33

Initiation.

Hint 33

Boys age 7-13. Taught prayer, gets head shaved. Leave home and join guru to learn scriptures.

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Brahmin Stage 2

Back 34

Get married

Hint 34

Be a householder. Responsible for land and family, get to enjoy whatever material pleasures he has.

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Brahmin Stage 3

Back 35

Withdrawal

Hint 35

Devote more time to religious and spiritual matters.

Front 36

Brahmin Stage 4

Back 36

Renunciation

Hint 36

Renounce family, name, identity, caste, etc.

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Ksatriya

Back 37

Second caste group. Business men, warriors. Twice born.

Hint 37

Uphold justice and social harmony

Front 38

Vaisya

Back 38

Third caste in Vedic-Hindu social structure. Twice born.

Hint 38

Merchants, farmers, cattle herders.

Front 39

Sudra

Back 39

"untouchables." Lowest caste.

Hint 39

Responsible for filthy jobs and working under the other three varnas.

Front 40

Purusha Sukta

Back 40

Section in the Rig Veda which constitutes society into 4 varnas

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"sruti"

Back 41

"traditions" "What is heard" Revelation, not of human origin.

Hint 41

Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanisads

Front 42

"smrti"

Back 42

"scriptures" "What is remembered"

Hint 42

Vedas, Laws of Manu

Front 43

Neo-Hinduism

Back 43

No discrimination based on caste, race, or gender. Advocate religious tolerance.

Hint 43

Nonviolent resistance

Front 44

Secular Hinduism

Back 44

India has no one stated religion. anyone can practice any religion they'd like without interference from the state.

Hint 44

Nondenominational Hindis

Front 45

Bhakti/Devotional Hinduism

Back 45

Actively worshipping

Hint 45

Meditation, bhakti yoga

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"vedanta"

Back 46

classic Hindu philosophy

Front 47

"tantra"

Back 47

"esoteric philosophy"

Front 48

karma-marga

Back 48

The way to self-realization throughselfless action.

Hint 48

Services of mankind

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"yoga"

Back 49

"to yoke"

Hint 49

Using the body to yoke the mind.

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Hatha Yoga

Back 50

"Force"

Hint 50

Clearing channels in your body that energy flows through.

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"nadis"

Back 51

channels that energy flows through

Hint 51

Our body is made up of nadis

Front 52

"pranas"

Back 52

life-sustaining force/energy

Front 53

"asanas"

Back 53

manifestations of energy, help unclog energy channels

Hint 53

yoga poses

Front 54

Raja Yoga

Back 54

Royal/Classical Yoga.

Hint 54

Yoga Sutras. 2nd Century BCE
Includes rules for moral and social behavior

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"dhyana"

Back 55

Profound meditation that is the penultimate stage of yoga.

Front 56

Karma Yoga

Back 56

"Action/Activity Yoga"

Hint 56

Deliberate action. Working in a soup kitchen, buying your friend a coke.... being selfless. Foundational to Hindu moral code.

Front 57

Jnana Yoga

Back 57

"Knowledge/Wisdom"

Hint 57

Incite into the truth of Brahman

Front 58

Bhakti Yoga

Back 58

"Yoga of Love/Devotion"

Hint 58

Bhaj = love. Deity love.

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"puja"

Back 59

"ritual"

Front 60

"deva puja"

Back 60

"spiritual rituals"

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Trinity

Back 61

Brahma, Shiva, Visnu.

Front 62

Ganesh

Back 62

Remover of obstacles, God of success.