World Religions: Hinduism

Vishnu

God whose job is to keep the world in balance and rid the world of evil and establish dharma or righteousness. Began to be more worshipped in the post- Upanishadic era. He comes to earth through many different avataras, and has ten incarnations in the present cycle of creation.

Moksha

Liberation from the cycle of samsara and can only be achieved through experiential wisdom.

Dana

Being generous and thoughtful about those in need.

Harappa

Civilization located in the Indus Valley that began around 2700 BCE and ended around 1750 BCE. Many scholars believe this is where Hinduism's origins begin, as there is evidence of early forms of deities and the recurrence of the pipal tree on seals, which has been a part of Hindu tradition for at least 2500 years.

Aryans

Civilization that began around 1750 BCE and ended around 500 BCE. Responsible for the Hindu language Sanskrit, the writing of the Vedas and the Upanishads, and the development of the caste system.

Ahimsa

Code of non- violence, which says that one should not harm any living being and should practice kindness and compassion towards others.

Samsara

Cycle of life and death.

Shiva

Expresses the manifold aspects of his power by appearing simultaneously in paradoxical roles, such as a creator and destroyer or exuberant dancer and austere yogi. Like Vishnu, he emerged as a great god in the post- Upanishadic era.

Ramayana

A famous epic that has been sung, danced, recited and memorized for 2500 years. This is the story of a prince named Rama and his wife Sita who go into the forest. While in the forest, Sita is captured by Ravana, so Rama goes to battle to regain his wife and succeeds. Rama is regarded as the ideal son and husband, but Sita is praised as well for her own qualities and relationship with her husband.

Karma

Action- based system of rewards and punishments based on what one does in their former life.

Trimurti

Also referred to as the Hindu trinity. In symbolism, the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are represented as equal and into a single form with three faces. Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the preserver, and Shiva is the destroyer. However, it is important to understand that this doesn't express Hinduism as a polytheistic religion.

Darshana

An experience during a pilgrimage in which a follower sees and is seen by a particular deity or guru.

Linga

An upright shaft placed in a receptacle called a yoni, which represents a womb. Serves as the reference point to the spiritual potential in all of creation, and specifically to the creative energies of Shiva. The union between the linga and the yoni is meant to remind followers that male and female forces are united in generating the universe.

Daya

Feeling empathy or compassion towards others.

Shakti

Female divine force often seen in the Vedas.

Puja

Form of worship in which Hindus express their devotion to a deity or a spiritual teacher through rituals performed in the home. At- home worship involves simple acts such as lighting oil lamps, reciting prayers, or offering food to the deity.

Bhakti

Personal devotion to the gods and goddesses. This is a form of yoga which can lead a devotee to achieving moksha.

Yogas

Physical and mental discipline through which practitioners "yoke" their spirit to the divine. Refers to any path that leads to final emancipation from the cycle of samsara.

Tirtha

Place where the separation between the human and the divine is lesser and there is an easier connection. Place for religious pilgrimage (ex: The Ganges River).

Ahimsa

Principle of non- violence emphasized by Gandhi.

Caste System

Refers to the thousands of social and occupational divisions that have developed from the original fourfold structure of priests (brahmin) at the top; rulers and the military(kshatriyas) next; then merchants and producers (vaishyas); and last servants (shudras). There is also a fifth category of the lowest people, called dalits, or the untouchables. System is based on how close to achieving moksha one is.

Bhagavad Gita

Religious text extracted from the Mahabharata that describes three ways to achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death. This is through the way of action (karma), the way of knowledge (jñana), and the way of devotion (bhakti).

Vedas

Ritual texts that represent eternal sound and words passed on through generations without change. Considered faultless and the perfect source of knowledge, these serve as the manuals of ritual for all strands of Hindu traditions.

Diaspora

Spreading and movement of Hinduism around the world. The first brahmins moved to Cambodia and Indonesia in first millennium CE. Second major wave came in the nineteenth century to Britain. The third wave was in the second half of the 20th century to the United States.

Epics

Stories that are smrti and are referred to as "sacred books". Most famous are the Ramayana and the Mahabharata (aka the Bhagavad Gita).

Prasada

Literally means "clarity" but meaning "divine favor" is a gift from the deities. This is the food that the priest first presents to the deity and then gives back some of the blessed offerings (such as fruit, flowers, or coconuts) to the devotees. Eaten after taking part in an archana, or formal worship, in which the priest praises the deity by reciting his or her names. Sometimes it is bought, or it is given at no charge and already paid for through endowments made by past patrons.

Sanatana Dharma

Meaning "eternal faith", this is an alternative term designating a comprehensive tradition, as most Hindus refer to their particular caste, community, or linguistic group when asked about their religious identity.

Shruti

Meaning "that which is heard", this refers to writings that are believed to be divinely revealed by the gods.

Smrti

Meaning "that which is remembered", this is literature composed after the Vedas and recognized to be of human origin. Three types are the epics (ithihasas), ancient stories (Puranas) and codes of righteous action and ethics (dharmashastras).

Deepavali/ Divali/ Diwali

Means "necklace of lights". It is celebrated at the time of the new moon between October 15 and November 14. Hindus decorate their houses with lights, set off firecrackers, and wear new clothes. In some parts of India, this holiday marks the beginning of the new year, although the significance of the festival varies from region to region.

Navarati

Means "nine nights". It begins on the new moon between mid- September and mid- October. It is celebrated all over India, but in different ways and for different reasons, such as for a celebration of womanhood; commemorating the goddess Durga's killing of the buffalo- demon Mahisa; or as a time for fresh starts, such as beginning new ventures and acquire new knowledge. Focuses on the Goddess.

Holi

North Indian festival celebrated in March or April with bonfires to enact the destruction of evil, and exuberant throwing of colored powder to symbolize the vibrant colors of spring. This holiday commemorates Vishnu's fourth incarnation, in which he took the form of a man- lion to save the life of a devotee.

Yajna

One of the dominant features of Vedic religious life, this means ritual sacrifice. Typically performed using fire, and are conducted by ritual specialists and priests who supervise the making of alters, sacrifices of animals, and the recitation of hymns. Also involve the making, offering, and drinking of the soma elixir.

Kali

Is a form of the great Goddess. She is described as fierce and wild, a dark, disheveled figure who wears a garland of skulls. However, her devotees call her "mother".

Pilgrimage

Journey to a place of great religious importance in order to gain knowledge and wisdom.

Kumbh Mela

Happens on the Ganges River every 12 years. Goal is to emerge oneself in the river in order to experience the divine. Takes place at Varanasi.

Ganges

India's holy river, this is one of India's main tirthas, or places of pilgrimage. Hindus believe the river flows from the toe of Vishnu (or Shiva's hair in other stories). Also seen as the river of death.

Atman

The core self.

Brahman

The divine self which is only achieved through moksha.

Avataras

The incarnations of gods and goddesses on Earth in the form of creatures such as humans or animals.

Om

The most sacred sound in the Hindu religion. The word has three sounds, which are a-u-m. The a stands for the world when we are awake; the u stands for the dream world; and the m stands for the sleep world. There is also a fourth, unspoken syllable which stands for the state of liberation. Despite multiple interpretations, the sound as a whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Murtis

Translated to mean idols, icons, forms, or objects to be worshipped. Are found in temples and used in temple worship. They are given ritual baths, adorned, carried in procession, and honored with marks of hospitality including canopies to provide shelter, fans to cool them, and music and dance to entertain them.

Upanishads

Written at the end of each Veda, these rethink and reformulate the Vedas by interpreting some rituals allegorically and analyzing the symbolic structures of the sacrifices in some detail.