Key Concepts of Hinduism
Deities
Brahman
The universal soul and Supreme Being; the eternal spirit from which all things originate and to which they return.
Brahma
A deity considered the creator of the universe; part of the Hindu Trinity.
Vishnu
A deity considered the preserver of the universe; part of the Hindu Trinity.
Shiva
A deity considered the destroyer and restorer of the universe; part of the Hindu Trinity.
Krishna
The eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu.
Rama
The seventh incarnation of God Vishnu; the hero in the Hindu epic the Ramayana.
Agni
The god of fire; the link between gods and humans.
Parvati
A mother goddess who represents female energy.
Shakti
The generic name for all manifestations of female energy, which may be represented as gentle or fierce.
Avatar
An incarnation, or manifestation, of a deity in earthly form.
Concepts
Ahimsa
The doctrine of non-violence toward all living creatures.
Hindu Trinity
A concept that unites the gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva into one entity.
Dharma
Religious or moral duty.
Karma
The totality of one’s actions; the accumulation of good or bad karma determines one’s birth in his or her next life.
Samsara
The endless cycle of rebirths.
Moksha
Liberation of the soul from the endless cycle of rebirths; attained by uniting the atman with the Brahman. It is the ultimate goal of Hindus.
Atman
The human soul; part of our innermost self that is identical to Brahman, the universal soul.
Maya
A word used to refer to the temporary and imperfect nature of the physical world.
Bhakti
Intense devotion to a particular deity; often expressed through music.
Mantra
A sacred word or phrase that is chanted during worship or meditation.
Om
A sacred syllable that invokes the essence of Brahman when chanted. It is believed to be the sound of all reality.
Yoga
A practice or discipline combining philosophy with physical exercises and meditation; union with God.
Meditation
Deep contemplation that leads to a trance-like state in which the individual tries to become one with Brahman.
Guru
A spiritual teacher who can help one achieve moksha, or salvation.
Yogi
A spiritually evolved individual who practices meditation.
Homa
A ritual that involves the burning of offerings in a fire that has been blessed by a priest.
Puja
A common thanksgiving ritual that involves offerings of flowers, food, and other articles to the deities.
Prasad
A practice that involves redistributing to devotees food that has been offered to the deities.
Texts and Movements
Vedas
Hinduism’s earliest sacred writings, composed around 1500 BCE.
Shruti
Knowledge that is revealed to, or “discovered” by, the wise men of Hinduism, e.g., the content of the Vedas.
Smriti
Human-made literature, or knowledge that is “remembered,” e.g., the content of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana.
Mahabharata
Hindu epic poem comprising about 100,000 verses, probably compiled between 400 BCE and 400 CE. It tells the story of the struggle between two forces—the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
Ramayana
A Hindu epic of about 24,000 verses, composed around 200 BCE.
Arya Samaj Movement
A reformed version of Hinduism that rejects the worship of images and the caste system; founded in 1875 by Swami Dayanand Saraswati.
Social Structure
Caste System
The organization of Hindu people into four groups, each with its own expectations.
Brahmin
A member of the highest Hindu caste.
Kshatriya
A member of the military caste.
Sudra
A member of the lowest Hindu caste.
Swami
The holy men of Hinduism.
Sects
Vaishnavism
A sect of Hinduism whose followers worship the god Vishnu. It is practiced predominantly in northern India.
Shivism
A sect of Hinduism whose followers worship the god Shiva. It is practiced predominantly in southern India.
Festivals
Diwali
The Hindu festival of lights that takes place at the end of October or beginning of November; celebrates the triumph of good over evil.