Invitation to World Religions

Glossary  153

Brahman  (brah’muhn; Sanskrit, “expansive”) For monistic Hinduism, the supreme, unitary real- ity, the ground of all being; for dualistic Hindu- ism, Brahman can refer to the supreme God (e.g., Vishnu). brahmin  (brah’min; Sanskrit) A member of the priest- ly class of the varna or caste system. dalit  (dah’lit; Sanskrit, “oppressed”; Marathi, “broken”) Self-designation of people who had traditionally been classified as untouchables or outcastes. darshan  (duhr’shuhn; from Sanskrit darshana , “to see”) Worship through simultaneously seeing and being seen by a deity in the presence of its image. dharma  (dahr’muh; Sanskrit) Duty, righteousness, “religion”; basis for living in a way that upholds the cosmic and social order. hindutva  (hin-doot’vuh; Sanskrit, “Hindu-ness”) A modern term that encompasses the ideology of Hin- du nationalism. jati  (jah’tee; Sanskrit, “birth group”) One of thousands of endogamous groups or subcastes, each equal in social and ritual status. jnana marga  (juh-nah’nuh mahr’guh) The path of knowledge. karma  (kahr’muh; Sanskrit, “action”) Action; also the consequences of action. karma marga  (kahr’muh mahr’guh) The path of ethi- cal and ritual works, or “action.” kshatriya  (ksha’-tree-uh; Sanskrit) A member of the warrior and administrator class of the varna or caste system. mantra  (mahn’truh; Sanskrit, “sacred utterance”) A ritual formula recited to produce a spiritual effect. maya  (mah’yah; Sanskrit, “magic” or “illusion”) In the Vedas, the magical power the gods used to create this world; in Vedanta philosophy, illusion that veils the mind. moksha  (mohk’shuh; Sanskrit, “release”) Liberation, the final release from samsara.

OM  (ohm; from three Sanskrit letters: A - U - M ) The primordial sound through which the universe is manifested. puja  (pooh’jah; Sanskrit, “worship”) Generally, wor- ship; usually the offering before an image of the de- ity of fruit, incense, or flowers. Purana  (poo-rah’nuh; Sanskrit, “ancient”) A compen- dium of myth, usually with a sectarian emphasis. samsara  (sahm-sah’ruh; Sanskrit) The continuing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; also the this- worldly realm in which the cycle recurs. sannyasi  (suhn-yah’see; Sanskrit) Renouncer in the fourth stage (ashrama) of life. Shaiva  (shai’vuh; Sanskrit) A devotee of Shiva. Shakta  (shahk’-tah ; Sanskrit) A devotee of the Great Goddess, Devi. shruti  (shroo’tee; Sanskrit, “that which is heard”) Term denoting the category of Vedic literature ac- cepted by orthodox Hindus as revealed truth. shudra  (shooh’druh; Sanskrit) A member of the ser- vant class of the varna or caste system. smriti  (smree’tee; Sanskrit, “tradition”) Term denoting the vast category of Hindu sacred texts that is not shruti. Tantra  (tuhn’truh; Sanskrit, “loom”) System of ideas and practices that potentiate sudden liberation from samsara; also a form of sacred text detailing the ideas and practices. Upanishad  (oo-pah’nee-shuhd; Sanskrit, “sitting down near [a teacher]”) A philosophical text from the later period of Vedic literature, also called Vedanta (“end of the Vedas”). Vaishnava  (vaish’nuh-vuh; Sanskrit) A devotee of Vishnu and his avatars. vaishya  (vaish’yuh; Sanskrit) A member of the pro- ducer (farmer and merchant) class of the varna or caste system.

varna  (vahr’nuh; Sanskrit, “color”) Caste or class; the four main classes form the basis of the traditional hierarchical organization of Hindu society. PROPERTY OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS