- ahimsa and Ghandi: Developed to include thoughts,attitudes and telling the truth. He encouraged peaceful meand of protest to address injustices. He never retaliated with violence and so gained much support. He mixed with different castes including the untouchables and broke down barriers. 'An eye for an eye and the world will soon be blind'
- ahimsa in a persons life: Hindus priority is to follow their Dharma, but they also have respect all living things. Violence is only used to protect the vunerable and only when neccessary.
- ahimsa meanings: Non violence. No killing. No harm/hurt. No physical abuse. No bad thoughts or intentions.
- ahimsa origins: Brahman is in all living things. This idea was formed as not to harm Brahman.
- atman: a soul - the true self
- avatars: Visnu-10 avatars. Avatar = 'Come Down'. Most popular: Rama and Krisna
- Bhagavad Gita: 'Song of the lord' The story encourages Hindus to do good actions and to do their duties. It helps them to see right from wrong and be strong in what they need to do.
- Bhakti Yoga: Moksha - devotion to God
- Brahma: The Generator / Creator.
- Brahman: God - The supreme spirit, but known in many different ways. each attribute of god has its own image,name,vehicle, symbol and story. He is in all living things. Respect. Love. Kindness. No harm to living cretures. Considerate. Hindus will not eat meat, hunt or slaughter.
- Brahmins: Priests and teachers.
- Buddha: Teacher of non-violence (avatar)
- caste or jati: The little sets that are related to the main social groups.
- Devas: 'Shining one' - govern the three regions of heaven, air, and earth, assisting humankind with their beneficent powers
- dharma: A special duty that hindus are given. (partly to do with their caste). it means 'Holy law'. Hindus with certain skills have a duty to use them well. The parents occupation and the varna they belong to, confirms what dharma they are.
- helping others: An extra pathway to moksha involving good deeds.
- Hinduism origins: 1. Oldest living religion. 2. Date back 3500 years ago. 3. Originated in North India, Nr River Indus. 4. SANATANA DHARMA
- Jnana yoga: Moksha - knowledge and understanding
- Kalki: slayer who will bring this age to an end and destroy all that is evil (avatar)
- karma: Results of your actions. These can be either good or bad. It is is what decides if your soul is reborn into a better life or a worse life.
- Karma Yoga: Moksha - Unselfish acts
- Krishna: The cowherd, loved by humans and animals for his beauty, love and gaiety. (avatar)
- Krsna: An avatar of Visnu. A cow-herder, often naughty, playing practical jokes. Also very beautiful and kind. Loved by all(especially the girls/Gopis). Often shown by playing the flute, a symbol of heavenly music.His blue skin is a symbol of cosmic power. The spiritual stories about his life each have a moral about how to behave towards each other and to God.
- Kshatriyas: Rulers and fighters.
- Kuma (the tortoise): Helped the gods become immortal (avatar )
- Mandirs appearance: It has colourful sculptures of Gods image within the building. to feel that god has come down to earth.
- Mandirs function: A house for the Murtis. Also a place where people and God (or Brahman) are able to meet. It has a social, cultural and religious purpose. Their maybe a community centre built alongside to embrace the community and provide a venue fo activities and events.
- Matsya: The fish saved creatures of the world from being drowned in a great flood (avatar)
- meditation: An extra pathway to moksha involving concentration and quiet.
- moksha: freedom from samsara and being reunited with God. Liberation
- monothesim: One God only
- murti: status of God. A guest in the home. Woken with a bell, dressed and washed with water. Food is then shared.
- Narasimha (Half man half lion): Killed a demon who attacked Vishnu's worsippers. (avatar)
- Parasurama: A warrior, destroyed fighters and put an end to war.(avatar)
- Puja: All senses are used to perform Puja. Worship in the home. They see the murti,the flame,the flowers. The hear the bell. They feel the kum kum powder and the clothes as they dress the murti. They smell the incense and then finally taste the food that they share with the murti.
- Rama: The king who showed how to rule justly and live simply (avatar)
- respect of family: An extra pathway to moksha involving those who are close.
- samsara: the cycle of birth,death and rebirth ( reincarnation)
- Sanatana Dharma: Eternal Law
- Shudras: Unskilled workers
- Siva: The Destroyer
- Symbols of Brahman: Blue skin = cosmic power
- the trimurti: The three main forms of God. G..O..D
- The untouchables: The 5th varna - Can only do the most unpleasant jobs. The different groups cannot mix.
- vaishyas: Farmers, Traders and skilled workers.
- Vamana (beautiful dwarf): Defeated the demon King Bali (avatar)
- Varaha (the boar): rescued the earth when it fell from its place, (avatar)
- varna: Some hindus use this name for the different groups they are put into when they are born.
- Visnu: The Observer / Sustainer.
- Yoga: The 3 types of pathways to moksha