Hinduism
Glossary of Key Terms
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Hinduism Glossary
Ahimsa
Non-injury to living things
Arti
Form of Hindu worship/prayer in which burning lamps are waved before the
statues of the gods to invoke their presence.
Ashramas
The four stages of life
Atman
the individual self or soul
Avatar
The incarnation of a deity, sometime in human form; most commonly used is
Vishnu – the Preserver God
Bhakta
Love and devotion (to a personal God)
Bhagavadgita
The Hindu holy book; the “Song of the Lord”
Bindis
A red sport or mark worn on the forehead of Hindus. Usually the mark is
placed on worshippers forehead after a Puja service
Brahma
The Creator God – one of the members of the Trimurti
Brahman
Supreme power in the Universe; ultimate reality; God
Brahmin
The priestly caste
Burfi
Milk sweets often give out during worship
Castes
Social divisions of Hindu society
Diety
A god or goddess
Diwali
Hindu festival of Lights (sometimes Divali or Deepavali)
Diva
A small lamp
Dharma
Religious and moral conduct appropriate to a person’s status in Hindu society
Guru
A religious teacher and spiritual guide
Ganesha
The elephant-headed God; god of good beginnings; symbol of luck
Gayatri Mantra
A very important verse from the Vedas which is said each day in particular by
the Brahmins (Priests)
Ghee
Clarified Butter
Hanuman
The monkey God; Hero of the Ramayana, God of strength
Holi
Festival of Colours; also of Fire and Water
Ishtadev
A personally chosen God
Janamashtami
Birthday of Krishna
Janen
Sacred thread worn by Hindus studying under the guru
Jati
Birth or Caste
Karma
Literally “actions” which determine the nature of future rebirth, ie good
actions bring a good rebirth, bad actions a bad rebirth. A cumulative influence
on the cycle of life and death
Krishna
An avatar of Vishnu which is worshipped widely
Lakshmi
The goddess of prosperity and wife of Vishnu – the Preserver God. Popular at
the time of Diwali when lamps are put in windows to attract her attention
Mahabharata
One of the two epic poems of India which includes the Bhagavad Gita
Mahashivratri
The Great Shiva Night. Shiva, one of the most important gods in Hinduism, has
the power to create and to destroy. This is a time of fasting.
Mandir
A Hindu temple or shrine
Mantra
A sacred verse from the ancient scriptures which is repeated before and
during worship; usually written in Sanskrit
Moksha
Freedom from the cycle of death and rebirth; liberation; ultimate union with
God
Murti
The image or statue of a God/Goddess
Namasti
A greeting, usually said with hands clasped in front of the body; literally “I bow
to God as you”
Om
A sacred syllable; said to be the first word ever lettered; the most sacred
mantra (sometimes Aum)
Prashad
Food offered to the gods and shared with the congregation
Puja
Prayer/worship of the gods; offerings
Puja Tray
A special tray used during worship which carries several symbolic items used
within worship, eg small bell, water pot, diva lamp and incense burner
Puranaa
Ancient books containing stories do the gods/sages
Rama Krishna
A world famous Hindu teacher much influenced by other faiths
Ramayana
One of the two great epics of India which tells the story of Rama
Ravana
The demon king who depicts “evil” in the Ramayan
Rig Veda
The oldest of the Hindu scriptures, literally “royal knowledge”
Rishis
Hindu holy man
Samsara
The constant change of the world through a process of dying and being reborn
– reincarnation
Samskara
Ceremonies which are rites of passage
Sanskrit
Language of the ancient scriptures
Saraswati
The goddess of music, art and learning and wife of the god Brahma.
Worshipped on the last three days of Navaratri
Satsang
A gathering for devotional singing/worship
Shiva
The most ancient Hindu deity, the Destroyer God – a member of the Trimurti
Sita
Wife of Rama and found in the story of the Ramayan which is told at the time
of Diwali
Trimurti
The three major aspects of the Brahman, the Absolute Bing; Brahma the
Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer
Upanishads
Hindu scriptures; final section of the Vedic scriptures
Upanayana
Sacred thread ceremony
Varna
One of the four main groups in traditional Hindu society
Vedas
The oldest Hindu scriptures which reveal knowledge
Vishnu
The Preserver God – member of the Trimurti
Yoga
a discipline or path by which a person seeks union with god; the path to
salvation