Hinduism Terms - Jan 2010

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yuga

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age; successive ages designated respectively as golden, silver, copper and iron.

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dharma

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law, duty, truth

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kali yuga

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current age; dark age (kali yuga) marked by cruelty, hypocrisy, materialism and so on

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The Indus Valley Civilisation

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Before 2000 BCE

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The Vedic Period

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1500–500 BCE

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The Epic, Puranic and Classical Age

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500 BCE–500 CE:

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Medieval Period

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500 CE–1500 CE:

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Pre-Modern Period

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1500–1757 CE:

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British Period

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1757–1947 CE:

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Independent India

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1947 CE–the present:

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Mohenjo-Daro

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an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civ

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Harappa

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an ancient city of the Indus Valley Civ

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religion of Indus Valley Civ

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Religion in the Indus valley seems to have involved temple rituals and ritual bathing in the 'great bath' found at Mohenjo-Daro. There is some evidence of animal sacrifice at Kalibangan. A number of terracotta figurines have been found, perhaps goddess images, and a seal depicting a seated figure surrounded by animals that some scholars thought to be a prototype of the god Shiva. Others have disputed this, pointing out that it bears a close resemblance to Elamite seals depicting seated bulls. One image, carved on soapstone (steatite), depicts a figure battling with lions which is reminiscent of the Mesopotamian Gilgamesh myth.

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Aryans

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noble ones; according to the migration theory, Hinduism, on this view, derives from their religion recorded in the Veda along with elements of the indigenous traditions they encountered.

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sanskrit

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Indo-european language of vedic culture

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Vedic religion

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If we take 'Vedic Period' to refer to the period when the Vedas were composed, we can say that early vedic religion centred around the sacrifice and sharing the sacrificial meal with each other and with the many gods (devas).

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devas

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gods

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homa

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sacrifice; yanja - any offering into the sacred fire

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yanja

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sacrifice; homa -any offering into the sacred fire

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vedic sacrifice

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Sacrifice was offered to different vedic gods (devas) who lived in different realms of a hierarchical universe divided into three broad realms: earth, atmosphere and sky.

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Vedic Earth Gods

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Soma, Agni, Brhaspati

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Soma

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plant god

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Agni

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fire god

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Brhaspati

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god of priestly power

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Vedic Atmosphere Gods

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Indra, Vayu, Maruts, Rudra

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Indra

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warrior god

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Vayu

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wind god

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Marut

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storm god

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Rudra

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terrible storm god

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Vedic Sky Gods

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Dyaus, Varuna, Mitra, Pushan, Vishnu

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Dyaus

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sky god (same root as Zeus)

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Varuna

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lord of cosmic law

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Mitra

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god of night

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Pushan

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nourisher god

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Vishnu

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pervader god

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Buddha

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died 400BCE

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Texts of the The Epic, Puranic and Classical Age

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Dharma Sutras and Shastras, the two Epics, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, and subsequently the Puranas, containing many of the stories still popular today

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Dharma Sutras

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recognize three sources of dharma, law, truth: revelation (i.e. the Veda), tradition (smrti), and good custom. The Laws of Manu adds 'what is pleasing to oneself'.

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puja

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devotional worship; in Classical Age puja to images of deities superceeded vedic fire ritual

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Gupta Empire (320-500 CE)

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saw the development of the great traditions of Vaishnavism (focussed on Vishnu), Shaivism (focussed on Shiva) and Shaktism (focussed on Devi).

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Vaishnavism

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tradition focused on Vishnu

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Shaivism

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tradition focused on Shiva

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Shaktism

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tradition focused on Devi

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Vishnu

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preserver and protector of the universe. His role is to return to the earth in troubled times and restore the balance of good and evil. So far, he has been incarnated nine times, but Hindus believe that he will be reincarnated one last time close to the end of this world. second god in the Hindu triumvirate (orTrimurti). The triumvirate consists of three gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world. The other two gods are Brahma and Shiva.

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Shiva

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third god in the Hindu triumvirate. The triumvirate consists of three gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world. The other two gods are Brahma and Vishnu Shiva's role is to destroy the universe in order to re-create it.

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Brahma

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Brahma is the first god in the Hindu triumvirate, or trimurti. The triumvirate consists of three gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world. The other two gods are Vishnu and Shiva. Brahma's job was creation of the world and all creatures. His name should not be confused with Brahman, who is the supreme God force present within all things.

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Parvati

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Shiva's wife who brings Shiva balance through their union;

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Shiva's third eye

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The extra eye represents the wisdom and insight that Shiva has. It is also believed to be the source of his untamed energy. On one occasion, when Shiva was distracted in the midst of worship by the love god, Kama, Shiva opened his third eye in anger. Kama was consumed by the fire that poured forth, and only returned to life when Parvati intervened.

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Shiva's cobra necklace

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signifies Shiva's power over the most dangerous creatures in the world. Some traditions also say that the snake represents Shiva's power of destruction and recreation. The snake sheds its skin to make way for new, smooth skin.

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Shiva's vibhuti

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vibhuti are three lines drawn horizontally across the forehead in white ash. They represent Shiva's all-pervading nature, his superhuman power and wealth. Also, they cover up his powerful third eye. Members of Shaivism often draw vibhuti lines across their forehead.

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Shiva's trident

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three-pronged trident represents the three functions of the Hindu triumvirate.

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Devi

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the mother goddess; Devi has taken on many forms in the past, including Kali, the goddess of death, and Sati, the goddess of marital felicity. Her best known incarnation is Parvati, Shiva's eternal wife.

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bhakti

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devotion; emerges in Classical Age

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Medieval Period (500 CE–1500 CE)

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period of bhakti to deities, particularly Vishnu, Shiva and Devi; development of great temples; religious works in vernacular like Tamil

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the twelve Vaishnava Alvars (6th–9th centuries)

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poet-saints of the Medieval Period

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Andal

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famous female poet-saint, one of the Vaishnava Alvars

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sixty-three Shaiva Nayanars (8th–10th centuries)

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poet-saints of the Medieval Period