Glossary of Hinduism terms

For list of articles ordered by topic, see Outline of Hinduism.

The following list consists of notable concepts that are derived from Hindu culture and associated cultures’ (Indian, Nepali, Balinese) traditions, which are expressed as words in Sanskrit or other Indic languages and Dravidian languages. The main purpose of this list is to disambiguate multiple spellings, to make note of spellings no longer in use for these concepts, to define the concept in one or two lines, to make it easy for one to find and pin down specific concepts, and to provide a guide to unique concepts of Hinduism all in one place.

Separating concepts in Hinduism from concepts specific to Indian culture, or from the language itself, can be difficult. Many Sanskrit concepts have an Indian secular meaning as well as a Hindu dharmic meaning. One example is the concept of Dharma. Sanskrit, like all languages, contains words whose meanings differ across various contexts.

A

Arti

Hindu ritual for welcoming someone.

Abhisheka

Hindu bathing ritual offered to someone who is worshipped.

Acharya

Hindu religious expert in any field.

Adharma

Something against Dharma.

Advaita

non-dual, such as in Advaita Vedanta Philosophy.

Agastya

Hindu sage.

Agni

Fire god.

Ahamkara

Sanskrit term for "ego".

Ahimsa

A religious principle of non-violence and respect for all life. Ahimsa (अहिंसा ahiṁsā) is Sanskrit for avoidance of himsa, or injury. It is interpreted most often as meaning peace and reverence toward all sentient beings. Ahimsa is the core of Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism. Its first mention in Indian philosophy is found in the Hindu scriptures called the Upanishads, the oldest dating about 800 BC. Those who practice Ahimsa are often vegetarians or vegans.

Akashic Records

(Akasha is a Sanskrit word meaning "sky", "space" or "aether") In the religion of theosophy and the philosophical school called anthroposophy, the Akashic records are a compendium of all universal events, thoughts, words, emotions and intent ever to have occurred in the past, present, or future in terms of all entities and life forms, not just human. They are believed by theosophists to be encoded in a non-physical plane of existence known as the mental plane.

Akshaya Tritiya

Annual spring festival for Hindus and Jains.

Añjanā

Mother of Hanuman.

Antahkarana

Totality of mind.

Antyesti

Last death ritual.

Ashram

Hindu monastery.

Asura

A semi-divine, power-seeking being.

Ashvins

Hindu twin gods for medicine, health and science.

Ashwatthama

The son of Drona.

Aruna

The charioteer of Surya the Sun God.

Aryan

Group of Vedic people.

Astika

Orthodox (of Indian religions/schools of thought).

Atman

Self or spirit.

Aupasana

Yagya performed during Hindu wedding.

Avarna

A person not belonging to any class in Varna system.

Avatar

Material appearance or incarnation of a deity on earth.

Ayurveda

A medical system of Indian subcontinent.

B

Bajrang Bali

Other name of Hanuman.

Bhagavad Gita

A knowledge of the attaining the supreme told to Arjuna by Krishna on the Kurukshetra battlefield.

Bhagavan

Bhagavan is a term used to refer to a god.

Bhagavata

Worship of Bhagavat Vishnu.

Bhagavati

A word for female Hindu deities.

Bhajan

A Hindu devotional song as a spiritual practice.

Bhakti

A Hindu word for faith, devotion or love to god.

Bharat

India, and also used as a male name.

Bharata

Brother of Rama.

Bhargava

The descendants of the great rishi, Bhrigu.

Bhasmasura

Ancient legendary character in Hinduism.

Bhavana

Sense for calling into existence.

Bhumi

Earth goddess

Brahma

The Creator God.

Brahmaloka

The celestial abode of Brahma.

Brahmacharya

The first phase of a person's life where he goes to live with his guru to learn the different studies.

Brahman

The Supreme Transcendental Awareness which pervades and yet transcends the manifest universe. Not to be confused with the god Brahma or the varna Brahmin.

Brahmin

The class or varna of people consisting of priests, teachers, sages, and gurus.

Brahma Sutras

Sanskrit texts attributed by Sage Vyasa.

Brahmastra

Supernatural weapon as per Hindu texts.

Braj

Region associated with Radha and Krishna.

Buddhi

Intelligence or soul.

C

Catur Sloki

Four most important verses among Hindu texts.

Chakra

Focal points in body activated during meditation.

Charu

Pure and spiritual person.

Chyavana

A great Bhargava rishi.

Chiranjivi

One who is immortal.

Chitta

Mind and its fluctuations.

Chintan

A peaceful mantra or smaran.

D

Daitya

A race of Asuras.

Dakini

Female spirit of demon as per Hindu mythology.

Dāna

Virtue of generosity.

Dasharatha

Father of Rama.

Dashavatara

The series of 10 Avatars of Vishnu.

Deva

Term for deity in Hinduism.

Devi

Term for female deity in Hinduism.

Dharma

Following the divine and great path.

Dharmaśāstra

Hindu theological texts in Sanskrit.

Dhritarashtra

Father of Kaurava.

Dhyana

Meditation.

Dhaumya

A great sage who had three disciples – Aruni, Upamanyu and Veda.

Dilīpa

Hindu king of Ikshvaku dynasty.

Dhruva

Ascetic devotee of Vishnu.

Drona

Guru (or teacher) of Kauravas and Pandavas.

Dvaita

A branch of Hindu philosophy, founded by Shri Madhvacharya that advocates dualism and stresses a strict distinction between God and souls.

Dyaus

Rigvedic god of the aether and sky

E

Ekalavya

Young Nishada prince and character in Mahabharata.

Ekayāna

Oneness of god in Hinduism.

Elapatra

A character in the Sarpa Satra.

G

Gandhara

Ancient Indian Mahajanapadas.

Gandhari

Wife of Dhritarashtra and mother of Kaurava.

Gandhari people

Ancient Hindu tribes in Mahabharata.

Gandharva

Rigvedic tribe.

Ganesha

The god of new beginnings, wisdom, and luck, commonly identified for his elephant head.

Ganga

A holy river in Northern India, believed to be a goddess by Hindus (see Ganga in Hinduism).

Gayatri Mantra

A revered mantra in Hinduism, found in the Yajur Veda.

Ghanta

Metal bell used during Hindu worship ritual.

Gita

holy text/song/book, typically Bhagavad-gita, and many including Anugita, Ashtavakra Gita, Avadhuta Gita, Devi Gita, The Ganesha Gita, Gita Dhyanam, Gita Govinda, Guru Gita, Hamsa Gita, Yogi Gita.

Goloka

Spiritual abode of Radha Krishna.

Gopi

Milkmaids of Braj region who are revered as the consorts and devotees of Krishna.

Gotra

Ancestral lineage among Hindus.

Grahana

Eclipse in Hindu mythology.

Grihastha

The second of the four phases (Purushartha) of a man, when a person gets married and settles down in life and begets children.

Guru

A spiritual teacher. In contemporary India, the title and term "Guru" is widely used within the general meaning of "wise man".

H

Hanuman

A vanara who helped Rama, the seventh avatar of Vishnu, in rescuing his wife Sita from the Rakshasa king Ravana.

Hindu scripture

Sacred texts of Hinduism mostly written in Sanskrit. Hindu scripture is divided into two categories: Śruti – that which is heard (i.e. revelation) and Smriti – that which is remembered (i.e. tradition, not revelation).

Hinduism

A worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas and is the direct descendant of the Vedic religion. It encompasses many religious traditions that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies.

I

Indra

The chief deity of the Rigveda, the god of weather and war as well as Lord of Svargaloka in Hinduism.

Ishvara

A Hindu philosophical concept of God referring to the Supreme Being which is the lord and the ruler of everything. Hinduism uses the term Ishvara exclusively to refer to the Supreme God in a monotheistic sense.

J

Japa

A spiritual discipline in which a devotee repeats a mantra or the name of God. The repetition can be aloud, just the movement of lips or in the mind.

Jiva

A living being.

Jivanmukta

A liberated living individual.

Jnana

Knowledge.

Jnana Yoga

Knowledge Yoga.

K

Kailasha

The celestial abode of the destroyer deity, Shiva.

Kali

Kaivalya: Independence (a goal in Yoga Sutra).

Kali

A dark, black aspect of the mother-goddess Devi whose consort is Shiva.

Kali Purusha

The demonic and evil personification of Kali Yuga.

Kali Yuga

Last of four yugas in Hindu cosmology.

Kalki

The tenth avatar of Vishnu who is yet to come and will appear as a man on a horse at the end of Kali Yuga.

Kama

Best understood as aesthetics, the definition of Kama involves sensual gratification, sexual fulfillment, the pleasure of the senses, love, and the ordinary enjoyments of life regarded as one of the four ends of man (purusharthas).

Karma

A Sanskrit term that encompasses the entire cycle of cause and effect.

Karma Yoga

The practise of disciplining action. Karma yoga focuses on the adherence to duty (dharma) while remaining detached from the reward. It states that one can attain Moksha (salvation) by unselfishly doing his duties.

Kartikeya

A god born out of a magical spark created by Shiva, his father. God of war, victory, and knowledge.

Krishna

The eighth avatar of Vishnu, one of the most worshipped by many Hindus. Krishna is famous for his lecture to Arjuna written in the Bhagavad Gita.

Krishna Paksha

15 days after purnima (full moon) day to Amavasya (new moon) day

Kshatriya

The class or varna in Hindu tradition, consisting of the warriors, soldiers, and rulers of society.

Kshira Sagara

The ocean of milk, an abode of Vishnu.

Kubera

One of the gods of wealth and riches.

Kumbha Mela

a huge Hindu religious pilgrimage/gathering/festival every 12 years at the Ganges and other sacred rivers, which many sanyasis (especially sadhus) attend.

Kurma

The second avatar of Vishnu where he took the form of a tortoise.

L

Lakshmi

Goddess of prosperity, wealth and good fortune. She is the consort of Vishnu and an aspect of Devi.

M

Mahabharata

One of the two major ancient Sanskrit epics of India, the other being the Ramayana. The Mahabharata is of religious and philosophical importance in India; in particular, the Bhagavad Gita, which is one of its chapters (Bhishmaparva) and a sacred text of Hinduism.

Maharishi

A great enlightened one or seer including ancient gurus/teachers/writers and speakers/poets/singers of sacred literature, especially the Vedas.

Manas

Root for Indo-European words such as mind

Mandir

Temple.

Manidvipa

Abode of the supreme goddess in Shaktism.

Mantra

A religious syllable or poem, typically from the Sanskrit language. They are primarily used as spiritual conduits, words, and vibrations that instill one-pointed concentration in the devotee. Other purposes have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, avoid danger, or eliminate enemies. Mantras are performed through chanting.

Mātali

The charioteer of Indra.

Matsya

The first avatar of Vishnu, where he came in the form of a fish.

Mitra

One of the Adityas.

Moksha

Refers to liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth. In higher Hindu philosophy, it is seen as a transcendence of phenomenal being, of any sense of consciousness of time, space, and causation (karma).

Mount Meru

A sacred mountain.: Muscular Hinduism: A movement to increase Hindu physical fitness.

N

Naraka

Realm of punishment, the abode of Yama.

Narasimha

The fourth avatar of Vishnu. He is a mixed form of a man and a lion.

Nastika

Unorthodox (such as Dharmas which claim anatman).

Nirvana

Literally "extinction" and/or "extinguishing", is the culmination of the yogi's pursuit of liberation. Hinduism uses the word nirvana to describe the state of moksha, roughly equivalent to heaven.

O

Om

("Om", also Aum, ॐ) is the most sacred syllable in Hinduism, first coming to light in the Vedic Tradition. The syllable is sometimes referred to as the "Udgitha" or "pranava mantra" (primordial mantra); not only because it is considered to be the primal sound, but also because most mantras begin with it.

P

Paramukta

A supremely liberated living individual

Parashurama

The sixth Avatar of Vishnu, where he came in the form of an axe-wielder to kill the corrupt kings at the time.

Parvati

Goddess of power and devotion, the consort of Shiva and mother of Ganesha.

Patala

The netherworld.

Pativrata

The conjugal fidelity of a wife towards her husband.: Phalguna: One of the months of the Hindu calendar.: Pitrs: The spirits of departed ancestors.

Prabhamandala (or Siras-cakra)

The head halo, or aureoles, of a Hindu deity (see also Halo (religious iconography)).

Prabhavali

The full-body halo, or aureoles, of a Hindu deity.

Pralaya

Phenomenon of dissolution.

Purana

Any of many Hindu legend/mythology texts.

Purushartha

The four chief aims of human life. Arranged from lowest to highest, these goals are sensual pleasures (kama), worldly status and security (artha), personal righteousness and social morality (dharma), and liberation from the cycle of reincarnation (moksha).

R

Radha

Hindu goddess of love and devotion. Radha is the chief consort of god Krishna who resides in Goloka. She is also revered as the avatar of Lakshmi.

Rama

The Seventh Avatara of Vishnu. The life and heroic deeds of Rama are written in the Sanskrit epic, The Ramayana.

Ramayana

Part of the Hindu smriti, written by Valmiki. This epic of 24,000 verses in seven kandas (chapters or books) tells of a Raghuvamsa prince, Rama of Ayodhya, whose wife Sita is abducted by the rakshasa Ravana.

Rishi

An enlightened one or seer.

Rudra

A Rigvedic god of the storm, the hunt, death, nature and the wind. Rudra is an early form of Shiva and a name of Shiva in the Shiva sahasranama.

Rukmini

The Hindu goddess of fortune. The chief queen consort of the Hindu deity Krishna, an avatar of Lakshmi.

Ruru

The son of Pramati and grandson of Chyavana. He married Pramadvara, granddaughter of Vaivasvata Manu.

S

Sadhana

Spiritual exercise by a Sadhu or a Sadhaka to attain moksha, which is liberation from the cycle of birth and death (Samsara), or a particular goal such as blessing from a deity.

Samadhi

A term used in yogic meditation. Samadhi is also the Hindi word for a structure commemorating the dead.

Samkhya

A school of philosophy emphasising a dualism between Purusha and Prakrti.

Samsara

Refers to the concept of reincarnation or rebirth in Indian philosophical traditions.

Samudra Manthana

The legend of the churning of the ocean.

Sanatana Dharma

The Eternal Order/Truth/Law (An endonym of Hinduism).

Sannyasa

Hindu ascetic/monastic (monk or nun) such as a Sanyasi, Sadhvine or Sadhu, Swami.

Saraswati

The goddess of education and knowledge, and consort of Brahma.

Shakta

A Hindu denomination which follows the Bhagavati/Devi/Shakti (Goddess).

Shakti

An aspect of Devi and a personification of God as the Divine Mother who represents the active, dynamic principles of feminine power.

Shiva

God of destruction, birth, death, time, and the arts; the Supreme Being/Ultimate Reality in Shaivism. A form of Ishvara or God in Shaivism. Śiva is commonly known as "the destroyer" and is the third god of the Trimurti.

Sīmābandha

(Sanskrit सीमाबन्ध, literally “boundary, edge + bounded”) a restriction in access to a specific area, often for training &/or purification in esoteric Hinduism (and Buddhism).

Sita

The wife of Vishnu's seventh avatar, Rama.

Shudra

The class or varna in Hindu tradition, consisting of farmers, servants, and laborers.

Shukla Paksha

15 days after Amavasya (new moon) day to Purnima (full moon) day

Sloka

A verse of lines in Sanskrit, typically recited as a prayer.

Smarta

A Hindu denomination, which follows Advaita philosophy and considers that all gods are manifestations of Ishvar.

Smriti

A newer/secondary canon of Hindu texts/scriptures including auxiliary Vedic texts, epics, Dharma Sutras & Shastras, Artha Shastras, Puranas, poetry, reviews/commentary, digests.

Śruti

A canon of Hindu scriptures. Shruti is believed to have no author; but rather a divine recording of the "cosmic sounds of truth", heard by rishis.

Sthala purana

A regional account of a temple legend.

Sthala Vriksha

A sacred tree associated with a temple.

Stotra

devotional hymn/song/mantras to a deva/devi.

Śūnyatā

(शून्यता, romanized: śūnyatā), translated most often as "emptiness",[1] "vacuity", and sometimes "voidness",[2] or "nothingness"; a philosophical concept. Within Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and other philosophical strands, the concept has multiple meanings depending on its doctrinal context. It is either an ontological feature of reality, a meditative state, or a phenomenological analysis of experience.

Sutra

Refers to an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a book or text.

Svarga

The celestial abode of the devas.

Svayambhu

The concept of self-birth or self-manifestation.

T

Tantra

The esoteric Hindu traditions of rituals and yoga. Tantra can be summarised as a family of voluntary rituals modeled on those of the Vedas, together with their attendant texts and lineages.

Torana

(Sanskrit: तोरण; [tawr-uh-nuh]) is a free-standing ornamental or arched gateway for ceremonial purposes in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain architecture of the Indian subcontinent. Toranas can also be widely seen in Southeast Asia and parts of East Asia; Chinese Shanmen gateways, Japanese Torii gateways, Korean Iljumun and Hongsalmun gateways, Vietnamese Tam quan gateways, and Thai Sao Ching Cha was derived from the Indian Torana. They are also referred to as vandanamalikas.

U

Upanishad

Part of the Hindu Śruti scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and philosophy, seen as religious instructions by most schools of Hinduism.

V

Vaikuntha

The celestial abode of the preserver deity, Vishnu.

Vaishya

The class or varna in Hindu tradition consisting of merchants, traders, artisans, and landowners.

Vamana

The fifth Avatara of Vishnu. He is the first Avatar of Vishnu which had a completely human form, although it was that of a dwarf brahmin.

Vanaprastha

A person who is living in the forest as a hermit after giving up material desires.

Varaha

The third avatar of Vishnu, who came in the form of a boar.

Varna

Varna, according to Hindu scriptures, refers to the classification of people based on their qualities. The term is derived from the Sanskrit word, vr, which means "to describe," "to classify" or "to cover."

Varuna

A god of the sky, of rain and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the underworld.

Vasu

Group of eight deities associated with fire and light.

Vayu

The god of air and wind who is also father of Bhima and Hanuman.

Veda

Collectively refers to a corpus of ancient Indo-Aryan religious literature that is considered by adherents of Hinduism to be revealed knowledge. Many Hindu believe the Vedas existed since the beginning of creation.

Vedanta

Vedic Philosophy.

Vijnana

Mind or knowing The Divine.

Vishnu

God of Preservation. A form of God, to whom many Hindus pray. For Vaishnavas, He is the only Ultimate Reality or God. In Trimurti belief, He is the second aspect of God in the Trimurti (also called the Hindu Trinity), along with Brahma and Shiva. Known as the Preserver, He is most famously identified with His avatars, especially Krishna and Rama.

Vrata

Fast.

Y

Yajna

A Vedic ritual of sacrifice performed to please the Devas, or sometimes to the Supreme Spirit Brahman. Often it involves a fire, which represents the god Agni, in the center of the stage and items are offered into the fire.

Yajnopavita

Sacred thread worn by Hindus, especially by Brahmin after the rite of Upanayana.

Yama

The lord of death in Hinduism, first recorded in the Vedas.

Yamas

A yama (Sanskrit), literally translates as a "restraint", a rule or code of conduct for living virtuously.

Yantra

A geometric picture, typically holy/religious.

Yoga

Philosophy of spiritual practices performed primarily as a means to Liberation. Traditionally, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Jnana Yoga, and Raja Yoga are considered the four main yogas. In the West, yoga has become associated with the asanas (postures) of Hatha Yoga, popular as fitness exercises.

Yogamaya

A goddess, regarded to be the embodiment of the divine energy of Vishnu.

Yoga Sutra

One of the six darshanas of Hindu or Vedic schools and, alongside the Bhagavad Gita and Hatha Yoga Pradipika, are a milestone in the history of Yoga.

Yuga

In Hindu philosophy (and in the teachings of Surat Shabd Yoga) the cycle of creation is divided into four yugas (ages or eras).

Yuga Dharma

One aspect of Dharma, as understood by Hindus. Yuga dharma is an aspect of dharma that is valid for a Yuga. The other aspect of dharma is Sanatan Dharma, dharma which is valid for eternity.

See also

• Outline of Hinduism
• Index of Hinduism-related articles

References

General and cited sources

• Storm, Rachel (1999). The Encyclopedia of Eastern Mythology. New York: Lorenz Books. ISBN 0-7548-0069-5.
• Flesher, Paul V. M. "Hinduism Glossary for Introduction to Religion". Archived from the original on 2006-06-15. Retrieved 2006-06-24.
• Dallapiccola, Anna L. (2002). Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend. Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-51088-1.