Hinduism terms
Dharma
religious or moral law, that which upholds the universe, Hinduism being the sanatana (eternal or universal) dharma.
mantra
a syllable or series of words recited for its effect in meditation; a sacred sound.
Rishis
ancient sages and visionaries; hearers and transmitters of divine revelation that became the corpus of texts called the Vedas.
Yajna
sacrifice, the key ritual of early Vedic Hinduism (also spelled yagya).
deva
“shining one,” the word signifying the gods in Vedic Hinduism.
brahmin
a member of the priestly class or caste.
brahman
a neuter noun referring to the non- gendered, abstract absolute, the Divine that per- vades the universe.
karma
literally “action”; the law of cause and effect.
atman
the self, usually referring to the spiritual essence of a person, “soul” or spirit. In Sanskrit, the term is a ̄ tman.
moksha
liberation from the cycle of rebirth and from a state of ignorance about the nature of self and reality; the ultimate goal of Hindus (synonymous with mukti).
guru
a spiritual teacher, who may be non-Brahmin, male or female.
asana
a specific physical posture described in yoga literature.
samsara
the socially constructed world; the wheel of life, death, and rebirth
artha
“goal,” referring to one of the four aims or goals of life according to the dharma shastras, that of material prosperity; also relates to statecraft.
kama
aesthetics.
sannyasin
a person who has renounced the world in pursuit of spiritual liberation; an ascetic.
jati
literally “birth,” and often translated as “caste” or “sub-caste” when associated with varna (“colour”; the four major social classes). Jati is the hereditary social group within which most Hindus seek their marriage partners; each such group typically has an ascribed rank within the social hierarchy.
sattva
: the quality of purity, lightness.
pativrata
a woman who is vowed to her husband/ lord ( pati); the ideal of the perfect wife
jnana
knowledge; the path of knowledge as a religious discipline; wisdom that brings spiritual liberation.
bhakti
the path of fervent, selfless devotion to God as a religious discipline and means of spiritual liberation.
avatara
“descent” of God (often Vishnu) in an earthly form such as Krishna or Rama to restore dharma.
sampradaya
“sect” (or sub-sect) that usually follows a lineage begun by a founding guru.
vahana
a “vehicle” or mount of the gods, usually a particular animal associated with each deity.
shakti
power or energy associated with the goddess (devi).
bhajan
devotional song sung in communal context, often accompanied by a harmonium.
puja
worship; ritual and prayer offered to the deity in the home or temple (another term is archana).
arati
: the ritual of circling a flame (dipa) in front of the deity, usually at the end of puja.
murti
: image; the embodiment of a deity in the form of an icon used in worship.
darshana
the sacred sight or viewing of a deity or holy person and the reciprocal blessing thus received.
prasada
“favour,” referring to food that has been offered to the deity in puja or to a holy person, blessed, and then redistributed to worshippers.
vrat
an optional ritual vow involving fasting, puja, and other rituals, primarily undertaken by Hindu women and usually calendar-based.
samskara
a rite of passage; a sacramental ritual that marks a life-cycle transition, creating the cul- tured Hindu person.
bindi
the red dot or mark worn on the forehead by Hindu women, traditionally indicating the auspicious state of being married.
pandit
a religious scholar or teacher of the oral tra- dition who transmits the Veda and other religious literature.
mandir
a Hindu temple.
pranam
a gesture of respect, often with the hands pressed together in front of the body.
satsang
a religious gathering for singing hymns, meditation, and holding spiritual discussions.