Key_Concepts_Flashcards.docx

Indus River Valley ================== Region where Hinduism began The Ganges River ================ Holiest river to Hindus. They believe bathing in this river will wash away their sins Hinduism ======== There is a vast plurality of traditions and practices within Hinduism Hindu Pantheon =====...

Indus River Valley ================== Region where Hinduism began The Ganges River ================ Holiest river to Hindus. They believe bathing in this river will wash away their sins Hinduism ======== There is a vast plurality of traditions and practices within Hinduism Hindu Pantheon ============== Made of many devas and devis who are manifestations of Brahman The Trimurti ============ \'Three forms\' of the divine; the three gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva 3rd Largest Religion ==================== Atman ===== The immortal and transmigratory human essence Brahman ======= The absolute, ultimate reality (truth) which pervades all places and beings Samsara ======= The cycle of life and rebirth in Hinduism Moksha ====== The Hindu concept of the spirit\'s \'liberation\' from the endless cycle of rebirths Karma ===== Action; also the consequences of action Margas ====== Major path to moksha - jhana, bhakti, karma Varnas ====== Social classes in the Caste system that ranked people from high to low Brahmin ======= The highest of the four classes of the caste system, traditionally made up of priests Kshatriyas ========== The warrior and aristocrat varna of the caste system Vaishyas ======== The artisan and merchant varna of the caste system Shudras ======= Laborers/ servants Dalits ====== Members of India\'s \'lowest\' caste; literally, \'broken people.\' Also called \'Untouchables.\' The Vedas ========= Early Indian sacred \'knowledge\'- long preserved and communicated orally by Brahmin priests Vedic Religion ============== This form of proto-Hindu religion emphasized priestly authority The Rig Veda ============ Oldest Vedic text containing multiple creation myths Sannyasins (Renouncers) ======================= The Bhagavad Gita ================= Beloved story of Arjuna and Krishna Bhakti Tradition ================ Offers a path to moksha through devotion to a personal god Raj === British rule after India came under the British crown during Queen Victoria\'s reign Om == Sacred symbol Murti ===== Image of a deity Darshan ======= A sacred journey undertaken for karmic merit Diwali ====== Festival of lights, major Hindu holiday Lingram ======= Cylindrical object, the most common temple representation of Shiva Holi ==== Festival of colors - represents Radha and Krishna Cows ==== Associated with Krishna, protected Hindutva ======== Fundamentalist Hindu movement advocating a distinct Hindu identity Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948) ========================== Hindu religious and political leader Partition of India ================== Division of British India into the Hindu majority India and Muslim majority Pakistan Ethnocentrism ============= Evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in one\'s own culture Essentialism ============ The belief that things in the world reflect unchanging forms Perennialism ============ One religion underlying what appears to be multiple religions Theism ====== Belief in a god or gods Atheism ======= Belief that there is no god Agnosticism =========== The belief that God\'s existence cannot be known Religious Syncretism ==================== The blending of features of two or more religions Spiritual but not religious =========================== An identity signaling a negative view of organized religion and a positive view of individual spiritual practices Animism ======= Belief that objects or natural events have a spirit and conscious life Vesak ===== Most widely celebrated Buddhist holiday, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and death of Buddha Dalai Lama ========== The spiritual leader of Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism Recitation ========== In Buddhism, the rhythmic rendering or chanting of a holy text Bodhisattva =========== An \'enlightened being\' who vows to remain in the world to help others achieve enlightenment Arhat ===== An exemplar in Theravada Buddhism, destined to reach Nirvana upon death Meditation ========== Aimed at improving mindfulness and concentration Theravada Buddhism ================== \'Mainstream\' Buddhism, popular in Southeast Asia Mahayana Buddhism ================= \'Great Vehicle\' branch of Buddhism, largest branch of Buddhism