Hinduism - Vocabulary and Ideas

1. The Indus Valley and Vedic origins of "Hinduism"

2. Content of the Rig Veda

3. Content of the Upanishads

4. Content of the Bhagavad Gita

5. Practices of Hinduism

6. Western adaptations of Hinduism

 

Indus Valley Civilization

Aryan

Brahmin / priest caste

Brahminism

Shudra / low caste

Dalit / untouchables

Yaksha / Yakshi

Loving Couples

The River Ganga (Ganges)

namaste

Rig Veda
   •  Indra
   •  Agni
   •  Soma
   •  sacrifice and The "Cosmic Man"

Upanishads:
   •  Atman = Brahman
   •  OM / mantra

The Law of Manu
   •  Stages of life:
      student, householder, hermit, beggar

Mahabharata
   • Bhagavad Gita
   • Arjuna and Krishna

The "Hindu Trinity"
   •  Brahma (the creator, not Brahman)
   •  Vishnu (the maintainer)
   •  Shiva (the distroyer / creator)

Shiva Lingam

Reincarnation
   • karma
   • samsara
   • dharma
   • moksha
   • "old souls" / mahatma

Yoga
   • Hatha Yoga
   • Bhakti Yoga
   • Raja Yoga

Yoga Sutra: Hindu meditation

Kundalini Yoga
   • Union of Shiva & Shakti
   • Chakra

Sadhu

Tilaka

Bindi