| A | B |
|---|
| subcontinent | a large landmass that is smaller than a continent |
| monsoon | seasonal wind, especially in the Indian Ocean and Southern Asia |
| plateau | a broad flat area of high land |
| language family | a group of similar languages |
| abandon | to leave and not return |
| guru | a teacher |
| raja | an Indian prince |
| Sanskrit | the first written language of India |
| Vedas | ancient sacred writings of India |
| Hinduism | a major religion that developed in ancient India |
| Brahman | the universal spirit worshipped by Hindus |
| reincarnation | the rebirth of the soul |
| karma | a force that decides the form that people will be reborn into in their next lives |
| dharma | a person's personal duty, based on the individual's place in society |
| Buddhism | a religion founded in ancient India by the religious teacher the Buddha |
| nirvana | a state of perfect happiness and peace |
| Jainism | a religion of ancient India that does not believe in a supreme being and practices nonviolence |
| stupa | a Buddhist shrine, usually dome-shaped |
| Bhagavad Gita | a section of the Indian epic the Mahabharata |
| pilgrim | a person who travels to holy sites |
