Hinduism and Jainism

murtis

pictures of the god

mantra

prayers or symbolic chants

samsara

refers to the process of reincarnation, a continuous cycle through which the atman is reborn over and over (goal is to escape from the cycle)

moksha

release of the atman from the vessel and the conditions that prevent it from reaching Brahma

monsoons

seasonal winds (that bring life) summer monsoons bring wet air and rain from the South, and winter monsoons bring dry and hot air from the North

sanskrit

the ancient language of India

maya

the belief that there are many pathways to God

rita

the cosmic order and balance of the universe

paramparas

the different Hindu denominations for Brahma

atman

the eternal self, spirit, or soul (a small amount of brahman that was put into a living organism, that is not a plant, and wants to rejoin brahma)

purushartha

the goals for a person; each person has different purposes and desires, and that is alright

ahimsa

the moral principle of respect for life (non-violence or non-injury)

dharma

the power which upholds the universe and society; duty, virtue, and morality

guru

the teacher or master of a tradition(s)

brahman

transcendent power beyond the universe which upholds and supports everything

sadhu

usually refers to a shramana who is in the third stage of life

Dalit (untouchables)

This technically not a caste, as the dalits are also referred to as the "out of caste" and the "untouchables." These people are so spiritually impure that they are not even part of the caste system, and touching them would contaminate your own atman. They are given jobs that no one else wants to do, such as cleaning latrines, dealing with dead bodies, and cremation.

Shiva

The version of Vishnu for when he destroys, he will supposedly destroy the universe so that it will return to nothingness.

Sudra

The workers in the system. They take the lower jobs, maybe being construction workers or farmers.

Kshatriya

These are the warriors, or soldiers. Their job is to defend the other castes and the country when needed.

the Vedas

The first of the sacred texts in the Hindu religion. It is written in sanskrit and was essentially a book of instructions on how to properly worship God.

om

"om" is thought to be the sound that all things in the universe make

Mahavira

A Hindu King who renounced his throne and other worldly possessions in order to become an ascetic. It is said that he achieved complete freedom after 12 years of austere practice. His teaching have become the foundation for Jainism today.

Shramanas

A Hindu person, usually a man, who seeks for the inner atman through meditation rather than ritual sacrifices. Instead of following their dharma and going up the jatis, a shramana may feel a stronger spiritual calling and renounce their current life in order to pursue a more spiritual path.

Ganges River

A major river on the eastern side of the Indian subcontinent. It has its sources from the Western Himalayas and it empties into the Bay of Bengal. Not only is it considered the most sacred river to Hindus, but it also gives life to those who live on its banks. (Some Hindus worship the river as the goddess Ganga.)

Indus River

A major river on the western side of the Indian subcontinent. Most of the water in the Indus Valley comes from the Tibetan Plateau in China, and flows all the way to its mouth into the Arabian Sea. The Indus River valley basin was the home of the Indus Valley Civilization, and most historians agree that the country of India's name comes from the name of the river.

Bhagavad Gita

A small part of the Mahabharata that depicts the conversation between Arjuna (a great Hindu warrior and hero) and Krishna (the charioteer, an incarnation of god).

Indo-Aryan migration

Between 2500BCE and 2000BCE, Indo-Aryans migrated all over Eurasia, many of them down into the subcontinent of India.

Brahma

He is the version of Vishnu that creates. Supposedly, he created the heavens, sky, and earth from the petals of the flower from which he was born.

Vishnu

He was sleeping when there was only nothingness, but he was awoken by the sound "om" as it washed away the nothingness. From his navel sprung Brahma.

puja

Hindu worship as a whole, usually an individual activity

Three Paths to Liberation

Hinduism has thee path of liberation of the soul: The Path of Action- the path of ritual actions and duties, following ones dharma so as to collect good karma The Path of Knowledge- purification of the body through the gathering of jnana and from asceticism The Path of Devotion- love towards one god or bhakti

Four Stages of Life

Hindus believe that life has four stages: 1. Brahmachari (student) 2. Grihasta (householder) 3. Vanaprasta (forest dweller/hermit) 4. Sannyasi (retirement) Most Hindus only focus on the first two stages of life.

Significance of Cows

In Hinduism, the cow is thought to be sacred and are deeply respected. One reason has to do with the cow's agricultural uses, strength, and gentle nature. Hindus rely heavily on cows for dairy products, for tilling fields, and its dung is commonly used as a source of fuel or fertilizer.

Ancient City of Mohenjo-Daro

Mohenjo-Daro was discovered in 1922. It is believed to be the largest city that was a part of the Indus Valley Civilization, with a population of over 5,000,000 at its highest. Although we have been unable to decipher the language, it is believed that there was communication between Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, and the people of Mohenjo-Daro traded with the Persians.

Ramayana

One of the two great Sanskrit epics, depicting discussions about human goals, karma, and moksha.

Mahabharata

One of the two great Sanskrit epics, depicting the duties and relationships of humans.

Perusha

Persuha is often associated with the caste system: the head represents the Brahmin caste, the arms represent the Kshatriyas, the legs the Vaishyas, and the feet represent the Sudras.

Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization extending from what is now northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India. It was the most widespread of the three early civilizations, the others being Egypt and Mesopotamia. It flourished in the basins of the Indus River, with extensive public work systems, such as sewage and water. The civilization started to decline at around 1800BCE, as more and more cities were abandoned and people started moving East. Researchers are still unsure of exactly why this was, but it is most likely because of climate change, causing the life-giving river to shift course or dry up.

Four States of the Soul

The Mandukya Upaniṣhad enumerates four states of consciousness or of the soul: wakeful, dream, deep sleep and the state of ekatma (being one with Self, the oneness of Self). These four are A + U + M + "without an element" respectively.

Upanishads

The Upanishads are a collection of texts that contain many of the central philosophical concepts of Hinduism, some of which are shared with Buddhism and Jainism. The Upanishads describe the nature of ultimate reality and describing the path to moksha. More than 200 Upanishads are known, of which the first dozen or so are the oldest and most important and were, for centuries, memorized by each generation and passed down orally.

Ancient City of Harappa

The city of Harappa was discovered in 1921. It is believed to have been established 5000 years ago, with its height at 2000BCE and over 200,000 people. There is also evidence that the people of Harappa traded with the Persians.

Viasya

The merchants and traders, or the better off workers. They could be doctors, teachers, and other jobs that require more than basic education.

caste

The social class or group that defines one's spiritual purity, future occupation, and the social expectations. The caste system is rigid (no social mobility), the caste that you are born into is the caste that you will stay in for the rest of your life.

Brahmins

The spiritual leaders of the community, as they are priests and spiritual philosophers. They are considered to be the most spiritually pure, and are at the top of the caste chain. They are the "gatekeepers" to the Vedic rituals and perform the ceremonies.

asceticism

acts of self-discipline, self deprivation, and self-denial as a way of purifying oneself

varna

class or social status (brahmins > kshtriya > vaishyas > shudras)

jnana

knowledge (understanding and eternalization)

karma

literally means "action", meaning that every action has an equal consequence

jati

a level within a caste (hundreds of jatis in a caste)

yoga

a practice that helps connect one with one's atman

pluralistic religion

a religion where there is only one God, but there are different versions of that God

polytheistic religion

a religion where there or multiple gods/goddesses ex. Greek, Roman