Key Terms Hinduism

eternal; everlasting

ultimate reality; a Hindu expression of monism

an incarnation of god

the highest priestly caste, most spiritually pure

Brahma (creation), Vishnu (preservation of creation), Shiva (destruction)

the manifestation of the deity in a particular form

the state of seeing or being seen by the deity

religious or moral duty as ascribed by caste, gender, and age

non-violence

the cycle of life, death, rebirth, and redying

the illusory forms of the created world

the qualities of the created world

liberation, ending samsara

the paths or ways to moksha

the path of devotion to the God

the path of knowldge

the path of ethical actions

the law of action

the self or soul, sometimes seen as identical of Brahman

sin; anything that causes mental, spiritual, or physical harm to other beings

holiness; spiritual excellence

divine feminine creative power

belief in one God while accepting the possible existence of other deities