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🕉️Intro to Hinduism
Key Terms

147 essential vocabulary terms and definitions to know for your Intro to Hinduism exam

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A

Adbhuta
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankaracharya
Ahimsa
All India Hindu Mahasabha
Artha as Material Wealth
Aryan Migration
Asceticism

B

B.R. Ambedkar
Basava Jayanti
Bhairava
Bhakti sutras
Bhayanaka
Brahmin Traditions
Brahmo Samaj
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

C

Chandogya Upanishad
Char Dham
Colonial-era migrations
Conch Shell
Cosmic order
Cow slaughter ban
Cultural appropriation
Cultural hybridity

D

Dalit movement
Dayananda Saraswati
Devi Mahatmya
Devotional imagery
Devotional literature
Devotional singing
Dharma as Duty or Righteousness
Dharma sankat
Dharma shastras
Dhyana mudra
Divine grace
Divya prabandham
Durga Puja
Dvaita Vedanta

E

Epic Narratives
Epic poetry
Ethical disciplines

F

Five Elements

G

Ganesh Chaturthi
Garbha griha
Goddess as divine mother
Guna Balance
Gupta Period
Guru Purnima

H

Hare Krishna Movement
Hindu Nationalism
Hindu-Muslim Relations
Hindutva
Holi

I

Indra
Integral Yoga
Ishvara Krishna
Ishvara pranidhana

J

Jivanmukta

K

Krishna lila
Kurukshetra War

M

Madhvacharya
Maha shivaratri
Makar sankranti
Mandukya Upanishad
Material vs. Spiritual
Medieval bhakti movement
Meditation on the self
Moksha as Liberation
Monotheism vs. Polytheism
Mughal Influences

N

Nada Brahman
Nadi shodhana
Nama-smaran
Nath Tradition
Natya Shastra