Agni

The Hindu god of fire.

ahimsa
In Sanskrit, literally, "noninjury." It is the principle that a person should do no harm. In
Jainism, this restriction includes all living creatures because they all contain a jiva .
ajiva
All the material, non-spiritual aspects of the cosmos. The opposite of jiva . A term
Hinduism borrowed from Jainism.
Ashram
(1) A place where devotees live, often the house of a guru. (2) It can also refer to the four
stages of Hindu life: student, householder, retired person, and sannyasin .
Artha*
Artha literally means "success." It is one of the four main religious goals of Hinduism.
The idea is that in addition to following dharma (virture) and kama (pleasure), Hindus
should also strive to be successful in the the activities of their lives. It should be seen in
contrast to the goal of moksha, which is to strive for liberation from samsara. For a more
complete explanation, go here.
Aryans*
A group of people who emigrated from the west into the upper Indus Valley and the
nearby territory around 1500 bce. They conquered the Dravidians and established what is
now termed the Vedic culture.
Ascetic*
A general term for a person who denies themselves some of the necessities of life, such as
food, clothing, and shelter. Often such a person goes to the extreme of rejecting all social
norms and expectations. A general term that includes the Hindu categories of sadhu and
sannyasin.
Atman*
An individual's soul or self. The ultimate goal in Hinduism is to achieve moksha through
the realization that one's Atman and Brahman are the same thing. This is accomplished
through different types of yoga .
aum
See om .
Avatar*
A manifestion of a god in an earthly form, usually that of a human or animal. The god
Vishnu has two main avatars: Krishna and Rama, and eight others.
Avidya
Avidya literally means "ignorance," and is the opposite of Vidya. It can refer to ignorance
of proper social and religious behavior. In Sankara's thought (preserved in Advaita
Vedanta), it became more than that. Avidya is the delusion of both the intellect and the
spirit. This delusion prevents one from seeing beyond the duality of this world (i.e.,
matter) into the true unity of everything.

Bhagavad-Gita*
 The section of the Mahabharata in which Krishna reveals himself to Arjuna and in a long
theological discussion describes the main components of karma yoga.
bhakta
A worshipper. One who shows devotion to a god or goddess.
bhakti *
Practices of worship or devotion to a Hindu god or goddess. See also puja.
bhakti yoga *
A type of yoga in which a person worships a god or goddess. The idea is to approach the
divine being by showing one's love through by worship and by subordinating oneself. A
modern version of bhakti yoga in the West is the International Society for Krishna
Consciousness, popularly known as the "Hare Krishnas." For a fuller explanation, go
here.
Brahma*
Brahma is the manifestation of Brahman into the world of maya. In opposition to
Brahman as the essence of creation (a spirit), Brahma takes on a form fitting with the
natural world. He is often mentioned as an equal with Vishnu and Shiva.
Brahman*
The power behind and within the cosmos that makes it function and live. Can also be
seen as the Ultimate Reality. Sometimes it is thought of as a god. In the early Vedic
religion, this was the focus of worship by the Brahmins. In classic and modern Hinduism
it is rarely worshipped directly. One of the recurring goals in Hinduism is to understand
the link between Brahman-the force behind the cosmos-and the Atman--the soul of each
individual human.
Brahmanas
Early, Vedic commentaries about Hindu ritual.
Brahmin*
The highest of the four main Hindu castes or Varnas. It is the priestly caste.

Caste*
The western term for varna. Castes provide the major divisions of Hindu society.

deva, devi *
Hindu terms for god and goddess.
Dharma*
In Hinduism, Dharma means virtue. In particular, it refers to the duties of a person's caste
(varna and jati ) and the idea that it is virtuous always to fulfill those duties willingly and
expertly.
Dravidians
The oldest known inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. Archaeological remains of their
have been found in the Indus River Valley that date to 2700 bce. In some areas, the
Dravidians were conquered by the Aryans when they migrated from the west around
1500 bce.
Durga*
One of the wives of Shiva. She is the goddess of retribution and justice. She is both
beautiful and fierce, and usually appears with her weapons and riding upon a tiger or a
lion.

Ganesha/ Ganesa*
The god of good fortune. He takes away obstacles and brings success. This is the
elephant-headed son of Shiva and Parvati. He is sometimes called Ganapati.
gopi *
A milk-maid or the daughter or wife of a cowherder. Krishna shows his virility as a
young man by wooing a number of gopi s.
Guru*
A holy teacher. Occasionally, a Brahmin who teaches.

Hatha yoga
The form of yoga devoted only to bodily control. In the West, it is often seen as the only
type of yoga and is simply called "yoga."
Householder*
The second of the four stages of human life. This is when one takes on the responsibilities
of adult life. It is the time for marriage, raising children, being involved in business and
one's community. It is followed by retirement.

Ishvara
Ishvara literally means "Lord of the Universe." It is used to refer to a god who is seen as
the personalization of the Creator, i.e., Brahman. Thus, it can be used of Vishnu or other
gods and goddesses when they are seen as representations of the divine Absolute.

japam
A form of worship or meditation in which the name of a deity or a mantra is repeated.
jati*
The Hindu term for sub-caste. A varna is made up of many jatis.
jiva *
The soul of a person, essentially the same as Atman. It is made of spiritual or divine
matter. It is a concept borrowed from Jainism, and is usually contrasted to ajiva .
jnana *
The Sanskrit term for "knowledge."
jnana yoga *
 The discipline in which one learns the true nature of the cosmos and then uses that
knowledge to connect oneself with the Atman--the true nature of Brahman. In this way, a
person can attain moksha. For a fuller explanation go here.

Kali*
A goddess who is one of the wives of Shiva. She represents the wild, destructive
character. She is often linked to death, wearing a necklace of human skulls, a skirt of
human limbs, and with blood dripping from her weapons. At times, she can even
overcome her husband.
Kama*
Pleasure, one of the four encouraged goals of life in Hinduism. Kama refers primarily to
aesthetic pleasure, such as the enjoyment of music, drama, dance, painting, sculpture, and
so on. It can also refer to sexual pleasure. Indeed one of the best-known Hindu books in
the West is the Kama Sutra, a manual for sexual activity. For more information
concerning the goals of life, go here.
Karma*
The Sanskrit term meaning "action." It refers to a concept in which the results of one's
actions accumulate over one's life. Upon death, an individual's karma-this store of the
results of actions-determines whether one is reborn in a higher or lower status.
karma yoga *
A discipline of work or "action." The goal is to achieve moksha through the elimination
of one's karma through work, that is, involvement in life and business. Essentially, if a
person can work without viewing the results of their efforts as one of their own, then the
results cancel part of their karma rather than adding to it. One form of karma yoga works
as a version of achieve bhakti yoga, in which a person's actions are seen as a form of love
and devotion to a divine being. Another form works as a version of achieve jnana yoga,
in which one becomes detached from the work's results as one enters a deeper experience
of their Atman. For another explanation go here.
Krishna/Krsna*
A god who is one of the avatars of Vishnu. He plays a key role in the Mahabharata. In the
Mahabharata appears the Bhagavad Gita which is a theological discourse he gives while
waiting to go into battle and describes the basics of karma yoga , jnana yoga , and bhakti
yoga .
kshatriya *
The second of the four main Hindu castes, or Varnas. This is the caste of warriors,
leaders, and administrators.

Lakshmi *
The goddess of prosperity. She and her consort Vishnu are discussed further in the
discussion of the Cosmos.
lila
 The Hindu term for play, drama, and sport. The Rama lila is the fall festival that honors
Rama, while the Ras lila is the spring festival in honor of Krishna.
linga/m *
An oblong, upright stone that serves as a symbol of Shiva. It usually appears in the
central location of temples to Shiva.

Mahabharata*
The second-century bce epic about Krishna and the five royal Pandu brothers who must
battle their Kuru cousins. It contains the famous Bhagavad Gita.
Mantra
A sequence of sounds used as a focus of meditation. The most famous mantra is that of
"om," which consists of the three sounds "aa", "oo", "mm". For some examples of
mantras and their explanation, go here.
maya *
The true nature of the cosmos we can see. In Sanskrit, the word means "illusion," but that
does not just mean that it is imaginary. Instead, since it is what we can see, we must deal
with it and live within it.
moksha *
Liberation or release from the cyle of death and rebirth, or samsara.

Noninjury
See ahimsa.

om
The most famous mantra, used as a meditational device in many forms of yoga. This
sound is believed to be an aspect of the creation of the cosmos.

Parvati*
One of Shiva's wives. She represents erotic and sensual love, the love of courtship and
wooing. She is the mother of Ganesha .
puja *
An offering (usually flowers, food, adoration, music, etc.) to a god or goddess.
Puranas
A group of writings about the adventures and activities of Hinduism's gods and
goddesses. Most were composed during the classical period of Hinduism, with some
being written later.
raja yoga *
A disipline that uses psycho-physical means--i.e., meditation--to achieve moksha. A
person learns to control the functions and activity of their own body and the mind so that
they can use the mind to concentrate exclusively on the Ultimate Reality.
Rama*
A popular hero god who is an avatar of Vishnu. His wife is Sita.
Ramayana*
The long epic that tells the story of Rama and his love for Sita, her capture, the long
series of battles and quests Rama carries out to free her, and the aftermath.
Reincarnation*
The cycle of death and rebirth. The transmigration of an individual soul to a new body
after death. This is samsara.
Retirement*
This is the third of the four stages of human life; it is followed by that of sannyasin.
During this time, a retiree, also known as a "forest dweller," contemplates their life and
attempts to formulate an understanding of "what it's all about."

Sadhu*
This is essentially the same as a sannyasin. This is a person who renounces life and
everything that goes with it (religion, caste, family, etc.) and essentially becomes a
wandering hermit seeking moksha. The Fourth "life stage" of Hinduism.
sakti/shakti *
Literally, "power." Usually, the worship of the goddesses, who all represent some form of
power. Parvati represents the power of sensual and sexual attraction and love. Umma
represents the powers that surround birth (the creation of life) and motherhood. Some
goddesses represent violent power as well. Durga is a demon-slayer and often symbolizes
retribution and justice. Kali is also a demon-slayer, but whereas Durga's power is
controlled, Kali is strongest when her power is out of control. The active shakti power is
often illustrated in symbolic in union with the passive male power. Thus Parvati is often
shown having intercourse with Shiva and Kali is shown triumphant standing on a prone
Shiva.
samadhi
The eighth and final stage of meditation in raja yoga in which a person's mind realizes
the Ultimate Reality.
samsara *
The cycle of death and rebirth in both Hinduism and Buddhism. Reincarnation.
Sanatana Dharma *
What Hindus call Hinduism.
sannyasin
The fourth stage of the Hindu understanding of the human life cycle. In description, this
usually follows the stage of retirement. In life, however, it can be entered at anytime and
gives the individual the opportunity to become an ascetic. For a fuller discussion, go here.
Sanskrit
 The language in which the Vedas and other Hindu sacred texts are written. It is an old
Indo-European language like Greek and Latin. .
Shaivism
The worship of Shiva, including beliefs and rituals.
Shiva/Siva*
One of the two main gods of Hinduism. He is associated with a number of goddesses, the
main four are Parvati, Umma, Durga, and Kali. See sakti .
shudra *
The fourth and lowest Hindu caste. It literally means "slave." Historically, the members
of this varna were servants to those of the higher-castes. They are the only caste that is
not twice-born.
Sita*
The wife of Rama. Often seen as the epitome of faithfulness. In the Ramayana, she is
captured by a the king of the demons, Ravanna, and her husband must rescue her.
Student*
The first of the four stages of human life. This is the time from adolescence to about age
20 when one learns and studies. It is followed by the stage of householder.

Transmigration*
This refers to the idea of the transmigration of an individual's soul. It is also called
samsara or reincarnation. This is the notion that after death, a person's soul is born-again
into another individual (human, animal, etc.).
Twice-born*
The upper three castes whose males go through a "re-birth" ceremony when they come-
of-age at around 12.

Umma
One of Shiva's wives. She represents motherhood, nuturing, and family.
Untouchables*
The Untouchables are the fifth caste, or more precisely, they are the people who are
below the fourth varna and indeed outside the caste system altogether. They are outcaste.
Westerners would be put into this caste.
Upanishads *
The latest of the writings to be considered part of the Vedic period, written between the
eighth and third centuries BCE. These are collections of stories, discussions, and
instructions addressing issues of the relationship between the human and the ultimate
realms.

vaishya *
The third Hindu caste, that of the merchants, traders, farmers and craftsmen.
Vaishnavism
The worship of Vishnu, often in the form of one of his avatars, Rama and Krishna. This is
given its classic form in the Bhagavad Gita.
varna *
The Hindu term for caste, a social division into which a person is born. There are four
major castes in Hindu society: Brahmin, kshatriya, vaishya, and shudra. The first three
castes are considered "twice-born." Each Varna can be divided into a number of jatis.
Below these four varnas are the untouchables.
Vedas*
The oldest collection of Hindu sacred texts. They include the best-known Rig-Veda. They
were written between 1500 and 1000 bce.
Vedic
An adjective refering to the Vedas (as in "Vedic Scriptures"), the people who originally
created and used the Vedas, the period from 1500 to 500 bce during which they were
written, or any form of Hinduism or Hindu teachings that derive from the Vedas.
Vidya
It literally means "learning, knowledge," and is used in reference both to intellectual
knowledge acquired through study and to spiritual knowledge acquired through spiritual
activity and leading to enlightenment. Its opposite is Avidya.
Vishnu*
One of two main gods in Hinduism. He is usually worshiped in the form of one of his
avatars, Krishna and Rama.

yoga *
In Sanskrit, it literally means "yoke," as in a yoke used to harness oxen. It refers to an
organized form of discipline that leads to a goal. This discipline usually involves
practices of meditation, mental concentration, exercises of the body including both ones
of control and asceticism. In Hinduism, this goal is usually that of moksha, the release of
the soul from cycle of death and rebirth (samsara). For this course, four types of yoga are
important: karma, jnana, raja, and bhakti.
yogi
A person who practices some form of yoga. Male-yogin, female-yogini.