Sacred Texts
Vedas
The oldest Hindu scriptures, collections of hymns, prayers, and rituals.
Karma
The belief that all actions in this life affect one’s fate in the next life.
Caste
Rigid social groups people are born into, which determine jobs, roles, and status.
Vishnu
The preserver of the universe.
Avatar
The earthly form or incarnation of a god/spirit, often taken to restore balance in the world.
Upanishads
Philosophical texts attached to the Vedas, focusing on spiritual knowledge, meditation, and ultimate reality.
Dharma
A person’s religious and moral duties.
Jati
Subgroups within castes, often linked to specific occupations or local communities.
Shiva
God of destruction, liberation, and transformation.
Aryans
Indo-European people who migrated into India around 1500 BCE; their traditions and hymns formed the basis of the Vedic religion, which later evolved into Hinduism.
Bhagavad Gita
A sacred dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Krishna about duty (dharma), devotion, and the nature of life.
Maya
The illusion that what we perceive with our senses is reality; distracts us from our true spiritual essence.
Ashrama
The four stages of life in Hinduism: student, householder, forest-dweller, renunciate (sannyasi)
Krishna
A popular avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu; central figure in the Bhagavad Gita.
Reincarnation (Samsara)
The endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that souls go through.
Ramayana
Epic poem of Rama; mixes mythology, adventure, religion, and lessons about virtue.
Ahimsa
Principle of nonviolence; all beings are aspects of Brahman and should be respected.
Varna
The four broad social classes in Hindu society
Brahmins – priests
Kshatriyas – warriors
Vaishyas – merchants/farmers
Shudras – laborers
Rama
Hero king of the Ramayana, embodies virtue and loyalty; also an avatar of Vishnu.
Difference between Atman and Brahman
Atamn is the individual soul, a small piece of Brahman (the universal spirit), while Brahman is the eternal, and the ultimate reality that everything comes from.
Mahabharata
India’s greatest epic, tells of a huge war between rival Aryan tribes; includes the Bhagavad Gita.
Moksha
Liberation from the cycle of reincarnation; achieved by realizing one’s unity with Brahman.
Trimurti
The three main gods of Hinduism: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer).
Ancient Hindu legal text; outlines social order, moral conduct, and duties.