| A | B |
|---|
| Hinduism | The main religion of India that stresses the belief in the Vedas |
| Dharma | Stands for law, obligation, and duty. To follow one's dharma means to perform one's duties and so to live as one should. |
| Brahman | is the Hindu name for a supreme power, or a divine foce, that is greater than all other deities. To Hindus, only Brahman exists forever. Creator. |
| Shiva | Goddess who destroys |
| Vishnu | God who preserves |
| Deities | Gods and goddesses |
| Karma | Law that governs what happens in this life will affect your other reincarnated lives |
| Samsara | Continuous cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. |
| Vedas | Collection of sacred texts, including verses, hymns, prayers, and teachings composed in Sanskrit. Means "Books of Knowledge" |
| Sanskrit | An ancient language of India |
| Brahmanism | An ancient Indian religion in which the Brahmins (priests and religious scholars) are the dominant class |
| Caste | A class, or group, in Hindu society |
| Varna | Each class and its duties |
| Brahmins | Priests and religious scholars |
| Kshatriyas | Rulers and warriors |
| Vasishyas | Herders and merchants |
| Shudras | Servants |
| Untouchables | "Outcasts" Did jobs considered "dirty" like handling garbage or dead animals |
| Reincarnation | The belief that a person's soul is reborn into a new body after death |
| Atman | One's individual soul |
| Moksha | Freedom from one's spiritual existence or becoming free of "earthy" concerns. (Similar to Nirvana in Buddhism) |
| Puja | The worship of gods and goddesses. (can be rituals or ceremonies) |
| Ahimsa | Being non-violent |
| Guru | A spiritual teacher |
| Mantra | A word of phrase to be repeated while meditating to a quiet mind. |
