The following list consists of notable

concept A concept is an abstract idea that serves as a foundation for more concrete principles, thoughts, and beliefs. Concepts play an important role in all aspects of cognition. As such, concepts are studied within such disciplines as linguistics, ...

s that are derived from Hindu culture and associated cultures’ ( Indian, Nepali, Balinese) traditions, which are expressed as words in

Sanskrit Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...

or other Indic languages and

Dravidian languages The Dravidian languages are a language family, family of languages spoken by 250 million people, primarily in South India, north-east Sri Lanka, and south-west Pakistan, with pockets elsewhere in South Asia. The most commonly spoken Dravidian l ...

. 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 Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

, or from the language itself, can be difficult. Many

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 In Indian religions and society, an ''acharya'' (Sanskrit: आचार्य, IAST: ; Pali: ''ācariya'') is a religious teacher in Hinduism and Buddhism and a spiritual guide to Hindus and Buddhists. The designation has different meanings i ...

: 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 (, IAST: , ) is the ancient Indian principle of nonviolence which applies to actions towards all living beings. It is a key virtue in Indian religions like Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. (also spelled Ahinsa) is one of the cardinal vi ...

: A

religious Religion is a range of social- cultural systems, including designated behaviors and practices, morals, beliefs, worldviews, texts, sanctified places, prophecies, ethics, or organizations, that generally relate humanity to supernatural ...

principle of non-violence and respect for all

life Life, also known as biota, refers to matter that has biological processes, such as Cell signaling, signaling and self-sustaining processes. It is defined descriptively by the capacity for homeostasis, Structure#Biological, organisation, met ...

. ''Ahimsa'' ( ) is

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 Hinduism () is an Hypernymy and hyponymy, umbrella term for a range of Indian religions, Indian List of religions and spiritual traditions#Indian religions, religious and spiritual traditions (Sampradaya, ''sampradaya''s) that are unified ...

Jainism Jainism ( ), also known as Jain Dharma, is an Indian religions, Indian religion whose three main pillars are nonviolence (), asceticism (), and a rejection of all simplistic and one-sided views of truth and reality (). Jainism traces its s ...

, and

Buddhism Buddhism, also known as Buddhadharma and Dharmavinaya, is an Indian religion and List of philosophies, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha, a wandering teacher who lived in the 6th or ...

. 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

vegan Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products and the consumption of animal source foods, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who practices veganism is known as a ve ...

s. :; Akashic Records : ( Akasha is a

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 Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

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 The Indian subcontinent is a physiographic region of Asia below the Himalayas which projects into the Indian Ocean between the Bay of Bengal to the east and the Arabian Sea to the west. It is now divided between Bangladesh, India, and Pakista ...

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 Rama (; , , ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the seventh and one of the most popular avatars of Vishnu. In Rama-centric Hindu traditions, he is considered the Supreme Being. Also considered as the ideal man (''maryāda' ...

. :; Bhargava : The descendants of the great rishi, Bhrigu. :; Bhasmasura : Ancient legendary character in

. :; Bhavana : Sense for ''calling into existence''. :; Bhumi : Earth goddess :;

Brahma Brahma (, ) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity that includes Vishnu and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity, Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 212– ...

: 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 In Hinduism, ''Brahman'' (; IAST: ''Brahman'') connotes the highest universal principle, the ultimate reality of the universe.P. T. Raju (2006), ''Idealistic Thought of India'', Routledge, , page 426 and Conclusion chapter part XII In the ...

: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 Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

: The class or varna of people consisting of priests, teachers, sages, and gurus. :; Brahma Sutras : Sanskrit texts attributed by Sage

Vyasa Vyasa (; , ) or Veda Vyasa (, ), also known as Krishna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa (, ''Vedavyāsa''), is a ''rishi'' (sage) with a prominent role in most Hindu traditions. He is traditionally regarded as the author of the epic Mahabharata, Mah� ...

. :; Brahmastra : Supernatural weapon as per Hindu texts. :; Braj : Region associated with Radha and Krishna. :; Buddhi :

Intelligence Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for abstraction, logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. It can be described as t ...

or soul.

C

:; Catur Sloki: Four most important verses among

Hindu texts Hindu texts or Hindu scriptures are manuscripts and voluminous historical literature which are related to any of the diverse traditions within Hinduism. Some of the major Hindus, Hindu texts include the Vedas, the Upanishads, and the Itihasa. ...

. :; 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

. :;

Dashavatara The Dashavatara (, ) are the ten primary avatars of Vishnu, a principal Hindus, Hindu god. Vishnu is said to descend in the form of an avatar to restore cosmic order. The word ''Dashavatara'' derives from , meaning "ten", and , roughly equi ...

: The series of 10 Avatars of

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

. :;

Deva Deva may refer to: Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Deva, List of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition monsters, an ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition monster * Deva, in the 2023 Indian film ''Salaar: Part 1 – Ceasefir ...

: 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

. :; 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 The sky is an unobstructed view upward from the planetary surface, surface of the Earth. It includes the atmosphere of Earth, atmosphere and outer space. It may also be considered a place between the ground and outer space, thus distinct from ...

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 The Mahājanapadas were sixteen Realm, kingdoms and aristocracy, aristocratic republics that existed in ancient India from the sixth to fourth centuries BCE, during the History of India#Second urbanisation (c. 600 – 200 BCE), second urbanis ...

. :; Gandhari : Wife of Dhritarashtra and mother of Kaurava. :; Gandhari people : Ancient Hindu tribes in Mahabharata. :; Gandharva : Rigvedic tribe. :;

Ganesha Ganesha or Ganesh (, , ), also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most worshipped Deva (Hinduism), deities in the Hindu deities, Hindu pantheon and is the Supreme God in the Ganapatya sect. His depictions ...

: The god of new beginnings, wisdom, and luck, commonly identified for his

elephant Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant ('' Loxodonta africana''), the African forest elephant (''L. cyclotis''), and the Asian elephant ('' Elephas maximus ...

head A head is the part of an organism which usually includes the ears, brain, forehead, cheeks, chin, eyes, nose, and mouth, each of which aid in various sensory functions such as sight, hearing, smell, and taste. Some very simple ani ...

. :; Ganga: A holy river in

Northern India North India is a geographical region, loosely defined as a cultural region comprising the northern part of India (or historically, the Indian subcontinent) wherein Indo-Aryans (speaking Indo-Aryan languages) form the prominent majority populati ...

, believed to be a goddess by Hindus (see Ganga in Hinduism). :; Gayatri Mantra : A revered mantra in

, 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 Radha-Krishna (IAST , ) is the combined form of the Hindu god Krishna with his chief consort and ''shakti'' Radha. They are regarded as the feminine as well as the masculine realities of God and gender in Hinduism, God, in several Krishnaism, Kr ...

. :; 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 Guru ( ; International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ''guru'') is a Sanskrit term for a "mentor, guide, expert, or master" of certain knowledge or field. In pan-Indian religions, Indian traditions, a guru is more than a teacher: tr ...

: 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 In Hinduism, Vanara () are either monkeys, apes, or a race of forest-dwelling people. In the epic the ''Ramayana'', the Vanaras help Rama defeat Ravana. They are generally depicted as humanoid apes, or human-like beings. Etymology There ...

who helped

, the seventh avatar of

, in rescuing his wife

Sita Sita (; ), also known as Siya, Jānaki and Maithili, is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana''. Sita is the consort of Rama, the avatar of god Vishnu, and is regarded as an avatar of goddess Lakshmi. She is t ...

from the Rakshasa king

Ravana According to the Mahakavya, Hindu epic, ''Ramayana'', Ravana was a kingJustin W. Henry, ''Ravana's Kingdom: The Ramayana and Sri Lankan History from Below'', Oxford University Press, p.3 of the island of Lanka, in which he is the chief antag ...

. :; Hindu scripture : Sacred texts of Hinduism mostly written in

. 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). :;

: 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 Indra (; ) is the Hindu god of weather, considered the king of the Deva (Hinduism), Devas and Svarga in Hinduism. He is associated with the sky, lightning, weather, thunder, storms, rains, river flows, and war. volumes Indra is the m ...

: The chief

deity A deity or god is a supernatural being considered to be sacred and worthy of worship due to having authority over some aspect of the universe and/or life. The ''Oxford Dictionary of English'' defines ''deity'' as a God (male deity), god or god ...

of the

Rigveda The ''Rigveda'' or ''Rig Veda'' (, , from wikt:ऋच्, ऋच्, "praise" and wikt:वेद, वेद, "knowledge") is an ancient Indian Miscellany, collection of Vedic Sanskrit hymns (''sūktas''). It is one of the four sacred canoni ...

, the god of

weather Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloud cover, cloudy. On Earth, most weather phenomena occur in the lowest layer of the planet's atmo ...

and war as well as Lord of Svargaloka in

. :; Ishvara: A

Hindu Hindus (; ; also known as Sanātanīs) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism, also known by its endonym Sanātana Dharma. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pp. 35–37 Historically, the term has also be ...

philosophical concept of

God In monotheistic belief systems, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. In polytheistic belief systems, a god is "a spirit or being believed to have created, or for controlling some part of the un ...

referring to the Supreme Being which is the lord and the ruler of everything.

uses the term Ishvara exclusively to refer to the Supreme

in a monotheistic sense.

J

:; Japa : A spiritual discipline in which a devotee repeats a mantra or the name of

. The repetition can be aloud, just the movement of lips or in the mind. :;

Jiva ''Jiva'' (, IAST: ), also referred as ''Jivātman,'' is a living being or any entity imbued with a life force in Hinduism and Jīva (Jainism), Jainism. The word itself originates from the Sanskrit verb-root ''jīv'', which translates as 'to br ...

: 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 Shiva (; , ), also known as Mahadeva (; , , Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐh and Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the God in Hinduism, Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions w ...

. :; Kali Purusha : The demonic and evil personification of Kali Yuga. :; Kali Yuga : Last of four yugas in Hindu cosmology. :;

Kalki Kalki (), also called Kalkin, is the prophesied tenth and final incarnation of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu. According to Vaishnavism, Vaishnava cosmology, Kalki is destined to appear at the end of the Kali Yuga, the last of the four ages i ...

: The tenth avatar of

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 Karma (, from , ; ) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called ...

: A Sanskrit term that encompasses the entire cycle of cause and effect. :; Karma Yoga : The practise of disciplining action.

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 Kartikeya (/Sanskrit phonology, kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda (Sanskrit phonology, /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/Sanskrit phonology, sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha (Sanskrit phonology, /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan ...

: A god born out of a magical spark created by

, his father. God of war, victory, and knowledge. :; Krishna: The eighth avatar of

, 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 Wealth is the abundance of valuable financial assets or physical possessions which can be converted into a form that can be used for transactions. This includes the core meaning as held in the originating Old English word , which is from an ...

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

where he took the form of a tortoise.

L

:; Lakshmi : Goddess of prosperity, wealth and good fortune. She is the consort of

and an aspect of Devi.

M

:; Mahabharata: One of the two major ancient

epics of

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, 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

. :; Mahacharya: Honorific spiritual title meaning "great teacher", used in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. :; 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 The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the northern Indian subcontinent, most of Europe, and the Iranian plateau with additional native branches found in regions such as Sri Lanka, the Maldives, parts of Central Asia (e. ...

words such as

mind The mind is that which thinks, feels, perceives, imagines, remembers, and wills. It covers the totality of mental phenomena, including both conscious processes, through which an individual is aware of external and internal circumstances ...

:; Mandir : Temple. :; Manidvipa : Abode of the supreme goddess in Shaktism. :; Mantra : A

syllable A syllable is a basic unit of organization within a sequence of speech sounds, such as within a word, typically defined by linguists as a ''nucleus'' (most often a vowel) with optional sounds before or after that nucleus (''margins'', which are ...

poem Poetry (from the Greek language, Greek word ''poiesis'', "making") is a form of literature, literary art that uses aesthetics, aesthetic and often rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meaning (linguistics), meanings in addition to, or in ...

, typically from the

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 Matsya () is the fish avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. Often described as the first of Vishnu's Dashavatara, ten primary avatars, Matsya is described to have rescued the first man, Manu (Hinduism), Manu, from a great deluge. Matsya may be dep ...

: The first avatar of

, where he came in the form of a

fish A fish (: fish or fishes) is an aquatic animal, aquatic, Anamniotes, anamniotic, gill-bearing vertebrate animal with swimming fish fin, fins and craniate, a hard skull, but lacking limb (anatomy), limbs with digit (anatomy), digits. Fish can ...

. :;

Mitra ''Mitra'' (Proto-Indo-Iranian language, Proto-Indo-Iranian: wikt:Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-Iranian/mitrás, ''*mitrás'') is the name of an Indo-Iranians#Religion, Indo-Iranian divinity that predates the Rigveda, Rigvedic Mitra (Hindu god), Mitrá ...

: 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 Consciousness, at its simplest, is awareness of a state or object, either internal to oneself or in one's external environment. However, its nature has led to millennia of analyses, explanations, and debate among philosophers, scientists, an ...

time Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...

space Space is a three-dimensional continuum containing positions and directions. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions. Modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless ...

, and causation (

karma Karma (, from , ; ) is an ancient Indian concept that refers to an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively called ...

). :; Mount Meru : A sacred mountain.: Muscular Hinduism: A movement to increase Hindu physical fitness.

N

:; Naraka : Realm of punishment, the abode of Yama. :;

Narasimha Narasimha (, , or , ), is the fourth avatara of the Hindu god Vishnu in the Satya Yuga. He incarnated as a part-lion, part-man and killed Hiranyakashipu, ended religious persecution and calamity on earth, and restored dharma. Narasimha has th ...

: The fourth avatar of

. He is a mixed form of a man and a

lion The lion (''Panthera leo'') is a large Felidae, cat of the genus ''Panthera'', native to Sub-Saharan Africa and India. It has a muscular, broad-chested body (biology), body; a short, rounded head; round ears; and a dark, hairy tuft at the ...

. :; Nastika : Unorthodox (such as Dharmas which claim anatman). :; Nirvana: Literally "extinction" and/or "extinguishing", is the culmination of the yogi's pursuit of liberation.

uses the word nirvana to describe the state of moksha, roughly equivalent to

heaven Heaven, or the Heavens, is a common Religious cosmology, religious cosmological or supernatural place where beings such as deity, deities, angels, souls, saints, or Veneration of the dead, venerated ancestors are said to originate, be throne, ...

O

:; Om: ("Om", also ''Aum'', ॐ) is the most

sacred Sacred describes something that is dedicated or set apart for the service or worship of a deity; is considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspires awe or reverence among believers. The property is often ascribed to objects ( ...

, 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

, 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

and mother of

. :; 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:

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. :;

: The Seventh Avatara of

. The life and heroic deeds of Rama are written in the

epic, The Ramayana. :; Ramayana : Part of the

smriti, written by Valmiki. This epic of 24,000 verses in seven ''kandas'' (chapters or books) tells of a Raghuvamsa prince,

of Ayodhya, whose wife

is abducted by the rakshasa

. :;

Rishi In Indian religions, a ''rishi'' ( ) is an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mention in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "gre ...

: An enlightened one or seer. :; Ṛta : The vedic principle of natural order which regulates and coordinates the operation of the universe and everything within it. :; Rudra : A Rigvedic god of the storm, the hunt,

death Death is the end of life; the irreversible cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Death eventually and inevitably occurs in all organisms. The remains of a former organism normally begin to decompose sh ...

nature Nature is an inherent character or constitution, particularly of the Ecosphere (planetary), ecosphere or the universe as a whole. In this general sense nature refers to the Scientific law, laws, elements and phenomenon, phenomena of the physic ...

and the wind. Rudra is an early form of

and a name of Shiva in the Shiva sahasranama. :; Rukmini: The Hindu goddess of fortune. The chief wife 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

. :; Samadhi : A term used in yogic meditation. Samadhi is also the

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

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. :; Satyabhama : is the Hindu Goddess and third queen of Krishna she is the personification of the goddess Bhumi and one of the incarnations of Lakshmi. :; Saraswati : The goddess of education and knowledge, and consort of

. :; Shakta : A Hindu denomination which follows the Bhagavati/ Devi/ Shakti (Goddess). :; Shakti: An aspect of Devi and a personification of

as the Divine Mother who represents the active, dynamic principles of feminine power. :;

: God of destruction,

birth Birth is the act or process of bearing or bringing forth offspring, also referred to in technical contexts as parturition. In mammals, the process is initiated by hormones which cause the muscular walls of the uterus to contract, expelling the f ...

, and

the arts The arts or creative arts are a vast range of human practices involving creative expression, storytelling, and cultural participation. The arts encompass diverse and plural modes of thought, deeds, and existence in an extensive range of m ...

; the Supreme Being/Ultimate Reality in Shaivism. A form of Ishvara or

Shaivism Shaivism (, , ) is one of the major Hindu denominations, Hindu traditions, which worships Shiva as the Para Brahman, supreme being. It is the Hinduism#Demographics, second-largest Hindu sect after Vaishnavism, constituting about 385 million H ...

. 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). :;

: The wife of

, a

's seventh avatar. :; 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

, typically recited as a prayer. :; Smarta : A

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

scriptures. Shruti is believed to have no author; but rather a

divine Divinity (from Latin ) refers to the quality, presence, or nature of that which is divine—a term that, before the rise of monotheism, evoked a broad and dynamic field of sacred power. In the ancient world, divinity was not limited to a singl ...

recording of the "cosmic sounds of truth", heard by

rishi In Indian religions, a ''rishi'' ( ) is an accomplished and enlightened person. They find mention in various Vedic texts. Rishis are believed to have composed hymns of the Vedas. The Post-Vedic tradition of Hinduism regards the rishis as "gre ...

s. :; 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", "vacuity", and sometimes "voidness", 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 ''Sutra'' ()Monier Williams, ''Sanskrit English Dictionary'', Oxford University Press, Entry fo''sutra'' page 1241 in Indian literary traditions refers to an aphorism or a collection of aphorisms in the form of a manual or, more broadly, a ...

: 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 Tantra (; ) is an esoteric yogic tradition that developed on the India, Indian subcontinent beginning in the middle of the 1st millennium CE, first within Shaivism and later in Buddhism. The term ''tantra'', in the Greater India, Indian tr ...

: The esoteric Hindu traditions of

ritual A ritual is a repeated, structured sequence of actions or behaviors that alters the internal or external state of an individual, group, or environment, regardless of conscious understanding, emotional context, or symbolic meaning. Traditionally ...

s 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; awr-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

'' Śruti'' scriptures which primarily discuss meditation and

philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

, seen as religious instructions by most schools of

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

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

brahmin Brahmin (; ) is a ''Varna (Hinduism), varna'' (theoretical social classes) within Hindu society. The other three varnas are the ''Kshatriya'' (rulers and warriors), ''Vaishya'' (traders, merchants, and farmers), and ''Shudra'' (labourers). Th ...

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

Varaha Varaha (, , "boar") is the avatar of the Hinduism, Hindu god Vishnu, in the form of a wild boar, boar. Varaha is generally listed as third in the Dashavatara, the ten principal avatars of Vishnu. In legend, when the demon Hiranyaksha steals ...

: The third avatar of

, who came in the form of a

boar The wild boar (''Sus scrofa''), also known as the wild swine, common wild pig, Eurasian wild pig, or simply wild pig, is a Suidae, suid native to much of Eurasia and North Africa, and has been introduced to the Americas and Oceania. The speci ...

. :; 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

, of

rain Rain is a form of precipitation where water drop (liquid), droplets that have condensation, condensed from Water vapor#In Earth's atmosphere, atmospheric water vapor fall under gravity. Rain is a major component of the water cycle and is res ...

and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law and of the

underworld The underworld, also known as the netherworld or hell, is the supernatural world of the dead in various religious traditions and myths, located below the world of the living. Chthonic is the technical adjective for things of the underworld. ...

. :; Vasu : Group of eight deities associated with fire and light. :;

Vayu Vayu (; ), also known as Vata () and Pavana (), is the Hindu deities, Hindu god of the winds as well as the divine messenger of the gods. In the ''Vedic scriptures'', Vayu is an important deity and is closely associated with Indra, the king o ...

: The god of air and wind who is also father of

Bhima Bhima (, ), also known as Bhimasena (, ), is a hero and one of the most prominent characters in the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata''. As the second of the five Pandava brothers, Bhima was born to Kunti—the wife of King Pandu—fathered by Vayu, the ...

and Hanuman. :; Veda: Collectively refers to a corpus of ancient Indo-Aryan religious literature that is considered by adherents of

to be ''revealed'' knowledge. Many

believe the Vedas existed since the beginning of creation. :; Vedanta : Vedic

Philosophy Philosophy ('love of wisdom' in Ancient Greek) is a systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, Value (ethics and social sciences), value, mind, and language. It is a rational an ...

. :; Vijnana : Mind or knowing The Divine. :;

: God of Preservation. A form of

, to whom many

s 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

and

. Known as the ''Preserver'', He is most famously identified with His avatars, especially Krishna and

. :; Vrata : Fast.

Y

:; Yajna : A Vedic

sacrifice Sacrifice is an act or offering made to a deity. A sacrifice can serve as propitiation, or a sacrifice can be an offering of praise and thanksgiving. Evidence of ritual animal sacrifice has been seen at least since ancient Hebrews and Gree ...

performed to please the Devas, or sometimes to the Supreme Spirit

. 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

, especially by

after the rite of Upanayana. :; Yama : The lord of

, first recorded in the Vedas. :; Yamas: A yama (

), literally translates as a "restraint", a rule or code of conduct for living virtuously. :; Yamuna: A sacred Hindu river goddess and the fourth queen of Krishna, she is considered one of the incarnations of Lakshmi. :; Yantra : A geometric picture, typically holy/religious. :; Yoga :

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 An āsana (Sanskrit: wikt:आसन, आसन) is a body posture, originally and still a general term for a meditation seat, sitting meditation pose,Verse 46, chapter II, "Patanjali Yoga sutras" by Swami Prabhavananda, published by the Sri Ra ...

(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.

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