Lecture #6: Hinduism Flashcards

Origins of Hinduism

Hinduism is not a founded religion and has no single founder.

Vedic period

The period from 1200-200 BCE characterized by the collection of early Hindu religious scriptures known as the Vedas.

Shruti

The divinely inspired and fully authoritative scriptures of Hinduism, considered to be "heard" by the sages.

Smurti

The scriptures of Hinduism that are products of the minds of the great Hindu sages, interpreting and making the shruti meaningful to followers.

Upanishads

A collection of teachings about the self and ultimate reality, considered the last part of Hindu scriptures.

Bhagavad Gita

The most cherished document in Hinduism, summarizing the fundamental beliefs of Hinduism, including Ultimate Reality, Brahman, atman, moksha, duties of life, and living according to the laws of dharma.

Brahman

The divine reality at the heart of all things, the energy that sustains the universe, and the creator, preserver, and transformer of everything.

Atman

The divine reality at the heart of all things as experienced within oneself, which is identical to Brahman.

Maya

The belief that the world, as we know it, is an illusion and that true reality is the understanding that all things are one because Brahman and atman are identical.

Trimurti

The concept of the Hindu Trinity, representing the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction of life, consisting of Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (transformer/destroyer).

Karma

The sum of a person's actions, thoughts, desires, and intentions in all lifetimes, which determines the direction of rebirth and the consequences in this life and future lives.

Moksha

The liberation from the cycle of rebirth, the ultimate goal of human life in Hinduism.

Varna

The caste system, a hereditary division of Indian society, which is central to the ideas of samsara, reincarnation, and karma.

Dharma

The rules of order and appropriate living in Hinduism, fulfilling the moral, social, and religious duties of one's station in life.

Goals/Purposes of Life

The primary goals in Hinduism are fulfilling the moral, social, and religious duties of one's station in life (dharma), attaining financial and worldly success (artha), seeking pleasure in moderation (kama), and ultimately achieving liberation from rebirth (moksha).

Stages of Life

The four stages of life in Hinduism are Brahmacharin (student stage), Grihasta (householder stage), Vanaprastha (retiree stage), and Sannyasin (renunciate stage).