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Revealed literature (sruti):
Vedas (Rig, Yajur, Sama, Atharva): ritual hymns
Brahmanas: interpretations of Vedas
Aranyakas: esoteric meanings of rituals
Upanishads: philosophical basis of gods, ritual, etc.
Three "Great Gods"
Brahma: creator (not actively worshipped)
Vishnu: preserver
Shiva: destroyer
(Devi: "goddess")
Four Classes (varna, subdivided
into jati, castes):
Brahmin: priests
Ksatriya: nobles
Vaisya: farmers, merchants, artisans
Shudra: servants
Three Paths (marga) or
Disciplines (yoga):
Path of knowledge (jñana)
Path of devotion, worship (bhakti)
Path of (moral) action (karma)
Four Stages (ashrama):
Student (brahmacarin)
Householder (grihasta)
"Forest-dweller" (or retiree, vanaprastha)
Renunciate (sannyasin)
Four Goals:
Duty (dharma)
Profit (artha)
Pleasure (kama)
Liberation (moksa)
"Four Brahms"
(my term):
Brahman: ultimate reality
Brahmin: priest (actually Brahman)
Brahma: creator god
Brahmanas: Vedic literature
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Traditional literature (smriti):
sutras (verse teachings)
epics (e.g. Mahabharata, Ramayana)
Puranas (myths)
morality books (e.g. Laws of Manu)
Other terms:
Indus River Valley
Mohenjo-daro
Harappa
Aryans
Sanskrit
rishis
Vedic gods:
Varuna (guardian of cosmic order, rita)
Indra (warrior)
Agni (ritual fire)
Soma (ritual drink)
Dyaus (sky)
Contemporary gods (plus "Great Gods"):
Ganesha (remover of obstacles)
Kali (fierce)
Lakshmi (consort of Vishnu)
Shakti (consort of Shiva)
Saraswati (goddess of education)
Purusha (primal man)
puja (worship ritual)
darsan (viewing a deity)
twice-born
Dalit ("untouchable")
karma (moral causality)
samsara (cycle of life/death/rebirth)
maya (illusion)
moksa (liberation)
Atman/Brahman
personal/impersonal & one/many
Bhagavad-gita
Arjuna
Krishna
three gunas
OM/AUM
dhyana (meditation)
prana (breath)
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