Shiva Gautama Christ Chan, the one true god

Aranyakas

"Forest Books," a genre of Vedic literature

Brahma

A Hindu god considered the creator of the world.

Shiva

A Hindu god considered the destroyer of the world.

Vishnu

A Hindu god considered the preserver of the world

Kali

A form of Devi; a goddess associated with destruction and rebirth

Rama

A god and mythical king; a form of Vishnu

Upanishads

A major book in Hinduism that is often in the form of dialogues that explored the Vedas and the religious issues that they raised.

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings

Krishna

Avatar of Vishnu

Mariamma

Disease healer / rain goddess

Rig Veda

Hinduism's oldest sacred text

Dharma

In Hindu belief, a person's religious and moral duties

Brahmanas

Texts dealing with the ritual application of the Vedas

Moksha

The Hindu concept of the spirit's 'liberation' from the endless cycle of rebirths.

Mahabharata

a great Indian epic poem, reflecting the struggles of the Aryans as they moved south into India

Maya

cosmic illusion brought about by divine creative power

Atman

in Hindu belief, a person's essential self

Ramayana

one of two classical Hindu epics telling of the banishment of Rama from his kingdom

Samsara

the cycle of life and rebirth in Hinduism

Karma

the effects that good or bad actions have on a person's soul