Hinduism - a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and characterized by a belief in reincarnation and a supreme beingof many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evilsbhakti - (Hinduism) loving devotion to a deity leading to salvation and Nirvana; open to all persons independent of caste or sex mandala - any of various geometric designs (usually circular) symbolizing the universe; used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation asana - (Hinduism) a posture or manner of sitting (as in the practice of Yoga) faith, religion, religious belief - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but not his morality" Darsana - (from the Sanskrit word for `to see') one of six orthodox philosophical systems or viewpoints on the nature of reality and the release from bondage to karma Mimamsa - (from the Sanskrit word for `reflection' or `interpretation') one of six orthodox philosophical systems or viewpoints on ritual traditions rooted in the Vedas and the Brahmanas as opposed to Vedanta which relies mostly on the Upanishads Vedanta - (from the Sanskrit for `end of the Veda') one of six orthodox philosophical systems or viewpoints rooted in the Upanishads as opposed to Mimamsa which relies on the Vedas and Brahmanas Krishnaism - worship of Krishna the 8th avatar of Vishnu Shivaism, Sivaism - worship of Shiva one of the 3 chief gods of the Hindu pantheon yoga - Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility that is achieved through the three paths of actions and knowledge and devotion Vedism - the form of Hinduism that revolves primarily around the mythic version and ritual ideologies in the Vedas Bhagavad-Gita, Bhagavadgita, Gita - (Hinduism) the sacred `song of God' composed about 200 BC and incorporated into the Mahabharata (a Sanskrit epic); contains a discussion between Krishna and the Indian hero Arjuna on human nature and the purpose of life Veda, Vedic literature - (from the Sanskrit word for `knowledge') any of the most ancient sacred writings of Hinduism written in early Sanskrit; traditionallly believed to comprise the Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads Ayurveda - (Sanskrit) an ancient medical treatise summarizing the Hindu art of healing and prolonging life; sometimes regarded as a 5th Veda mantra - (Sanskrit) literally a `sacred utterance' in Vedism; one of a collection of orally transmitted poetic hymns Kamasutra - (Hinduism) an ancient Sanskrit text giving rules for sensuous and sensual pleasure and love and marriage in accordance with Hindu law ahimsa - a Buddhist and Hindu and especially Jainist doctrine holding that all forms of life are sacred and urging the avoidance of violence Sanskrit, Sanskritic language - (Hinduism) an ancient language of India (the language of the Vedas and of Hinduism); an official language of India although it is now used only for religious purposes moksa - (Hinduism) release from the cycle of rebirth karma - (Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation samsara - (Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth caste - (Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity jati - (Hinduism) a Hindu caste or distinctive social group of which there are thousands throughout India; a special characteristic is often the exclusive occupation of its male members (such as barber or potter) varna - (Hinduism) the name for the original social division of Vedic people into four groups (which are subdivided into thousands of jatis) Arjuna - (Hindu mythology) the warrior prince in the Bhagavad-Gita to whom Krishna explains the nature of being and of God and how humans can come to know God Bengali - (Hinduism) a member of a people living in Bangladesh and West Bengal (mainly Hindus) guru - a Hindu or Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher mahatma - (Hinduism) term of respect for a Brahmin sage Nirvana, enlightenment - (Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness |