| A | B |
|---|
| Brahman | What all the universe is made of |
| Atman | part of god that is in a person, similar to the concept of a soul |
| Dharma | Rules of life that all are to follow; duty; the right way to live |
| Karma | How well your actions follow the rules of life; may determine next life |
| Samsara | The cycle of life death and rebirth |
| Moksha | The escape from samsara you become one with the universe |
| Monotheistic | One god applies to Hinduism in the idea all gods are faces of the one god |
| Puja | daily prayer usually done at home in the morning |
| Om | Sacred symbol used in Meditation |
| Polytheistic | Belief in many gods |
| Swastika | Lucky sacred symbol |
| Vishnu | Protector god has been to Earth 9 times |
| Shiva | Destroyer god |
| Ganesh | Remover of obstacles and god of new beginnings |
| Lakshimi | Goddess of Wealth and prosperity |
| Brahma | Creator god |
| Durga devi | Warrior mother goddess who fights to restore dharma or moral order |
| Kali | Goddess of good over evil death of the body not soul |
| Saraswarti | Goddess of the arts & ancient river mentioned in the Vedas |
| Caste system/jati/Varnas | System used to divide the population based on birth; outlined in the Vedas |
| Brahmin | Highest Caste Scholars and Priests |
| Sudras | Lowest main caste servants; "The Feet" |
| Untouchables | Caste outside the main system lowest of the low |
| Holi | Holiday in Spring thrown colored powder and water on each other. |
| Diwali | Holiday in September Festival of lights |
| Ganges | Sacred river in the north of India |
| Warrior caste | protectors and administrators; "the arms" according to the Vedas |
| The Thighs | Merchant class Farmers and business men |
| Mouth | body part that represents the Brahmin caste |
| Vedas | Religious text hymns and prayers to the gods |
| Avatar | human form or representation of the gods on Earth |
| maya | illusion that prevents people from following dharma & reaching moksha |
| Hindu Trinity | Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva |
| namaste | Hindu greeting or gesture which is an acknowledgment of the soul in one by the soul in another. |
| namakarana | Hindu rite of passage in which the baby is named & horoscope is set |
| Ramayana | sacred text that tells the story of Rama and Sita; moral=live in accordance with dharma, and you will be rewarded |
| Reincarnation | samsara; endless cycle of life, death and rebirth |
| samskaras | rituals & celebrations that mark important phases of the the life of a Hindu |
| sanskrit | language the Vedas is written in |
| yoga | ritual used by hindus to help them meditate and reach moksha |
| Sutras | Hindu literary work |
| Ascetics | people who keep a more individual relationship with the universe |
| Upanishads | holy text that discusses a more individual (ascetics) method to reach moksha |
| lotus | symbol of the birth of the universe; many deities are seen siting on it |
| cow | holy animal in hinduism; offspring of a celestial animal created by Lord Krisha from his own body |
| guru | Hindu teacher; expert in Hindu sacred text |
| Aryans | nomadic tribe that moved into India around 1500 BC; their culture + Indus culture made Hinduism |
| ashramas | 4 stages of life - student, family man, recluse & holy man |
| puja | worship; usually done in a shrine in the home |
