Authors: Wendy Doniger
The Hindus (119 page)
POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS
ABVP: Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (All-India Students’ Council)
BJP: Bharatiya Janata Party (Peoples’ Party of India)
RSS: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (National Volunteers’ Organization)
VHP: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council)
GLOSSARY OF TERMS IN INDIAN LANGUAGES AND NAMES OF KEY FIGURES
Abhinavagupta:
philosopher of Kashmir Shaivism, 975-1025 CE
philosopher of Kashmir Shaivism, 975-1025 CE
Aditi:
“Infinity,” name of a Vedic goddess of creation, mother of the Adityas, solar gods
“Infinity,” name of a Vedic goddess of creation, mother of the Adityas, solar gods
Adivasis :
“Original inhabitants,” indigenous inhabitants of India, tribal peoples
“Original inhabitants,” indigenous inhabitants of India, tribal peoples
Advaita:
nondualism, a philosophical school, propounded by Shankara
nondualism, a philosophical school, propounded by Shankara
Agastya:
a mythical sage said to have brought Sanskrit south to the Tamil land and also established Tamil there
a mythical sage said to have brought Sanskrit south to the Tamil land and also established Tamil there
Agni:
Vedic god of fire (
ignis
)
Vedic god of fire (
ignis
)
agrahara:
“taking the field,” a grant of temple land to Brahmins
“taking the field,” a grant of temple land to Brahmins
ahimsa:
nonviolence, literally “a lack of the desire to harm”
nonviolence, literally “a lack of the desire to harm”
akam:
word used in Tamil poetry for the interior world, the world of love
word used in Tamil poetry for the interior world, the world of love
Akbar:
Mughal emperor, 1556-1605, noted for his religious pluralism
Mughal emperor, 1556-1605, noted for his religious pluralism
Alvars :
Tamil Vaishnava saints
Tamil Vaishnava saints
Amba:
“Mother,” name of a woman in the
Mahabharata
who was reborn as a man; also the name of a goddess
“Mother,” name of a woman in the
Mahabharata
who was reborn as a man; also the name of a goddess
Ambalika:
“Dear Little Mother,” name of the mother of Pandu in the
Mahabharata
“Dear Little Mother,” name of the mother of Pandu in the
Mahabharata
Ambika:
“Little Mother,” name of the mother of Dhritarashtra in the
Mahabharata
“Little Mother,” name of the mother of Dhritarashtra in the
Mahabharata
apad-dharma:
the permissive religious law that prevails in time of emergency
the permissive religious law that prevails in time of emergency
Apala:
a woman who pressed soma in her mouth for the god Indra in the
Rig Veda
a woman who pressed soma in her mouth for the god Indra in the
Rig Veda
Appar:
one of the first three Tamil Nayanmar saints, sixth to eighth century
one of the first three Tamil Nayanmar saints, sixth to eighth century
Apsarases :
“Gliding in the Waters,” celestial nymphs and courtesans
“Gliding in the Waters,” celestial nymphs and courtesans
Arjuna:
one of the five sons of Pandu in the
Mahabharata
, fathered by the god Indra
one of the five sons of Pandu in the
Mahabharata
, fathered by the god Indra
Artha-shastra:
textbook of political science
textbook of political science
Arya Samaj:
a religious movement founded by Dayananda Sarasvati in Bengal in 1875
a religious movement founded by Dayananda Sarasvati in Bengal in 1875
Aryas :
“nobles,” name by which the Vedic people referred to themselves
“nobles,” name by which the Vedic people referred to themselves
Ashoka:
Mauryan emperor, 265-232 BCE, author of the first surviving writing in India, edicts in stone
Mauryan emperor, 265-232 BCE, author of the first surviving writing in India, edicts in stone
ashrama:
a hermitage; also a stage or way of life (there are four: chaste student, householder, forest dweller, renouncer)
a hermitage; also a stage or way of life (there are four: chaste student, householder, forest dweller, renouncer)
Ashvaghosha:
a first century CE poet, author of a life of the Buddha
a first century CE poet, author of a life of the Buddha
Ashvins :
“Horsemen,” twin half horse gods, sons of Saranyu and the sun
“Horsemen,” twin half horse gods, sons of Saranyu and the sun
Asuras :
antigods, enemies of the gods in heaven; originally, the older gods
antigods, enemies of the gods in heaven; originally, the older gods
Atharva Veda:
the fourth Veda, largely devoted to magic spells
the fourth Veda, largely devoted to magic spells
atman:
the self, the individual soul, identical with the world soul (atman or
brahman
)
the self, the individual soul, identical with the world soul (atman or
brahman
)
Aurangzeb :
a Mughal emperor, 1658-1707 CE, noted for his chauvinism
a Mughal emperor, 1658-1707 CE, noted for his chauvinism
avatar:
a “descent” of a god, particularly an incarnation of the god Vishnu
a “descent” of a god, particularly an incarnation of the god Vishnu
Avesta:
the sacred text of the ancient Iranians
the sacred text of the ancient Iranians
Ayur-veda:
the Veda of long life, the science of medicine
the Veda of long life, the science of medicine
Babur:
the first Mughal emperor, 1483-1530
the first Mughal emperor, 1483-1530
Backward Castes:
one of many names for the lowest and most oppressed castes
one of many names for the lowest and most oppressed castes
Bali:
a demon undone by his generosity to the god Vishnu, who had become incarnate as a dwarf
a demon undone by his generosity to the god Vishnu, who had become incarnate as a dwarf
Bana:
a poet in the court of Harsha, author of a biography of Harsha
a poet in the court of Harsha, author of a biography of Harsha
banyan:
a sacred tree that puts down multiple roots
a sacred tree that puts down multiple roots
Basava:
a Brahmin who founded the Virashaiva movement, c. 1106-1167 CE
a Brahmin who founded the Virashaiva movement, c. 1106-1167 CE
Bhagavad Gita:
a philosophical text, spoken by the god Krishna to the prince Arjuna, in the
Mahabharata
a philosophical text, spoken by the god Krishna to the prince Arjuna, in the
Mahabharata
Bhagavan:
a name of god, Vishnu or Shiva
a name of god, Vishnu or Shiva
Bhagavata:
a worshiper of the gods Vishnu or Shiva
a worshiper of the gods Vishnu or Shiva
Bhagiratha:
a sage who brought the Ganges down to earth from the Milky Way
a sage who brought the Ganges down to earth from the Milky Way
bhakta:
devotee of a god
devotee of a god
bhakti:
passionate devotion to a god who returns that love
passionate devotion to a god who returns that love
Bharata:
younger brother of Rama; also the name of the son of Shakuntala and Dushyanta and an ancient name of India
younger brother of Rama; also the name of the son of Shakuntala and Dushyanta and an ancient name of India
Bharata-varsha:
the land of India
the land of India
Bhil, Bhilla:
name of a tribal people
name of a tribal people
Bhima:
one of the five sons of Pandu in the
Mahabharata
, fathered by the god Vayu, the wind
one of the five sons of Pandu in the
Mahabharata
, fathered by the god Vayu, the wind
Bhishma:
celibate son of Satyavati in the
Mahabharata
celibate son of Satyavati in the
Mahabharata
Bhrigu:
a powerful sage
a powerful sage
Brahma:
a god, responsible for the task of creation
a god, responsible for the task of creation
brahman:
the divine substance of the universe
the divine substance of the universe
Brahmanas :
texts, from c. 800 to 600 BCE, explaining the Vedic rituals
texts, from c. 800 to 600 BCE, explaining the Vedic rituals
Brahmin:
the highest of the four classes, the class from which Vedic priests must come
the highest of the four classes, the class from which Vedic priests must come
Brahmo Samaj:
a reform movement founded by Rammohun Roy in 1828
a reform movement founded by Rammohun Roy in 1828
bride-price:
a reverse dowry, paid by the groom to the family of the bride
a reverse dowry, paid by the groom to the family of the bride
Buddhification:
casting a non-Buddhist as a Buddhist
casting a non-Buddhist as a Buddhist
Campantar:
one of the first three Tamil Nayanmar saints, sixth to eighth century
one of the first three Tamil Nayanmar saints, sixth to eighth century
Cankam:
(from Sanskrit
sangham
): early Tamil literary assembly
(from Sanskrit
sangham
): early Tamil literary assembly
Chaitanya:
Bengali saint, 1486-1533 CE
Bengali saint, 1486-1533 CE
Chamars :
a Dalit caste, leatherworkers
a Dalit caste, leatherworkers
Chandalas :
a Dalit caste, workers in cremation grounds
a Dalit caste, workers in cremation grounds
Chandidas :
a fourteenth-century CE Bengali poet
a fourteenth-century CE Bengali poet
Chandika:
“The Fierce,” a name of the Goddess
“The Fierce,” a name of the Goddess
Chandra Gupta I :
founder of the Gupta Empire in 324 CE
founder of the Gupta Empire in 324 CE
Chandragupta Maurya:
founder of the Mauryan Empire in 324 BCE
founder of the Mauryan Empire in 324 BCE
Charaka:
author of a medical textbook
author of a medical textbook
Charioteers (Sutas):
a caste of charioteers and bards
a caste of charioteers and bards
Charvakas :
Materialists, regarded as the paradigmatic heretics; also called Lokayatas
Materialists, regarded as the paradigmatic heretics; also called Lokayatas
Cheras :
an ancient South Indian kingdom
an ancient South Indian kingdom
Cholas :
an ancient South Indian kingdom
an ancient South Indian kingdom
Clive, Robert:
governor of Bengal from 1755-1760 ; chancellor from 1765
governor of Bengal from 1755-1760 ; chancellor from 1765
Cuntarar:
one of the first three Tamil Nayanmar saints, sixth to eighth century
one of the first three Tamil Nayanmar saints, sixth to eighth century
Dadhyanch:
a Vedic sage whose head was replaced with a horse head
a Vedic sage whose head was replaced with a horse head
Daksha:
a Vedic patriarch, father of Sati, who foolishly refused to invite the god Shiva to his sacrifice
a Vedic patriarch, father of Sati, who foolishly refused to invite the god Shiva to his sacrifice
Dalit:
preferred contemporary word, derived from the Marathi/Hindi word for “oppressed,” for the lowest castes, formerly known as Untouchables
preferred contemporary word, derived from the Marathi/Hindi word for “oppressed,” for the lowest castes, formerly known as Untouchables
Dalitification:
the process by which castes claim to be Dalits; the reverse of Sanskritization
the process by which castes claim to be Dalits; the reverse of Sanskritization
darshan:
“seeing,” the exchange of powerful gazes between god and worshiper, or king and subject
“seeing,” the exchange of powerful gazes between god and worshiper, or king and subject
Dasa:
“slave,” the word that the Vedic Aryas applied to their enemies
“slave,” the word that the Vedic Aryas applied to their enemies
Dasyu:
another word for “slave”
another word for “slave”
Deshification:
the process by which the Sanskritic tradition absorbs local traditions
the process by which the Sanskritic tradition absorbs local traditions
Devaki:
royal mother of Krishna
royal mother of Krishna
dhamma:
Pali for the Sanskrit term dharma; Buddhist law, and Ashokan law
Pali for the Sanskrit term dharma; Buddhist law, and Ashokan law
dharma:
religious law, justice, righteousness.
See also sadharana, sanatana
religious law, justice, righteousness.
See also sadharana, sanatana
dog cooker
shva-paka:
ancient term of opprobrium for Dalit castes
shva-paka:
ancient term of opprobrium for Dalit castes
Draupadi:
wife of the five Pandava brothers, heroine of the
Mahabharata,
later a goddess
wife of the five Pandava brothers, heroine of the
Mahabharata,
later a goddess
Dravida:
Sanskrit word for South India
Sanskrit word for South India
Dravidian:
a language group from South India that includes Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam
a language group from South India that includes Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam
Drona:
the Pandavas’ tutor in martial arts in the
Mahabharata
the Pandavas’ tutor in martial arts in the
Mahabharata
Drupada:
father of Draupadi in the
Mahabharata
dualism:
the philosophical view that god and the universe, including the worshiper, are of two different substances
father of Draupadi in the
Mahabharata
dualism:
the philosophical view that god and the universe, including the worshiper, are of two different substances
Durga:
“Hard to Get [to],” a goddess
“Hard to Get [to],” a goddess
Dvaita:
dualism, a philosophical school, whose most famous proponent was Madhva
dualism, a philosophical school, whose most famous proponent was Madhva
Dvapara Yuga:
“The Age of the Deuce,” the third of the degenerating ages
“The Age of the Deuce,” the third of the degenerating ages
Dyer, Major Reginald:
British officer who gave the command for the massacre at Amritsar
British officer who gave the command for the massacre at Amritsar
Ekalavya:
tribal (Nishada) prince who cut off his thumb at the request of Arjuna and Drona, in the
Mahabharata
tribal (Nishada) prince who cut off his thumb at the request of Arjuna and Drona, in the
Mahabharata
Ellamma:
South Indian goddess with the body of a Brahmin woman and the head of a Dalit woman
South Indian goddess with the body of a Brahmin woman and the head of a Dalit woman
Fs, the five:
elements of Tantric ritual (fish, flesh, fermented grapes, frumentum, and fornication),
see also
Ms, the five
elements of Tantric ritual (fish, flesh, fermented grapes, frumentum, and fornication),
see also
Ms, the five
Faxian:
Chinese visitor to India in 402 CE
Chinese visitor to India in 402 CE
Gandhari:
wife of Dhritarashtra, mother of Duryodhana and his brothers, the enemies of the Pandavas, in the
Mahabharata
wife of Dhritarashtra, mother of Duryodhana and his brothers, the enemies of the Pandavas, in the
Mahabharata
Gandharvas :
demigods, musicians, associated with fertility and horses; consorts of the Apsarases
demigods, musicians, associated with fertility and horses; consorts of the Apsarases
Ganga:
the Ganges River
the Ganges River
Gargi:
a feisty woman who interrogates sages in the Upanishads
a feisty woman who interrogates sages in the Upanishads
Garuda:
a mythical eagle, the mount of the god Vishnu
a mythical eagle, the mount of the god Vishnu
Gayatri:
name of a meter; of a particularly holy verse in the
Rig Veda;
and of a goddess
name of a meter; of a particularly holy verse in the
Rig Veda;
and of a goddess
Ghasidas :
a Chamar who founded a branch of the Satnamis
a Chamar who founded a branch of the Satnamis
Gita:
short name of the
Bhagavad Gita
short name of the
Bhagavad Gita
Gonds :
a tribal people
a tribal people
Gondwana:
a mythical land thought to have been submerged long, long ago
a mythical land thought to have been submerged long, long ago
Gugga
(also spelled
Guga
): a folk god, said to have been a historical figure; famous for his flying black mare
(also spelled
Guga
): a folk god, said to have been a historical figure; famous for his flying black mare
guna:
“quality,” term for the three strands of matter in Sankhya philosophy
“quality,” term for the three strands of matter in Sankhya philosophy
Guru Nanak:
founder of Sikhism, 1469-1539 CE
founder of Sikhism, 1469-1539 CE
Hanuman:
the monkey ally of Rama in the
Ramayana
the monkey ally of Rama in the
Ramayana
Harappa:
ancient city in the Indus Valley, c. 2500 BCE
ancient city in the Indus Valley, c. 2500 BCE
Harijan:
“People of God” (Hari, Vishnu), Gandhi’s name for the Dalits
“People of God” (Hari, Vishnu), Gandhi’s name for the Dalits
Indra:
Veda king of the gods, god of rain, fertility, and war
Veda king of the gods, god of rain, fertility, and war
Indrani:
wife of the Vedic god Indra
wife of the Vedic god Indra
itihasa:
“that’s what happened,” history
“that’s what happened,” history
Jabali:
a Brahmin who argues for atheism in the
Ramayana
a Brahmin who argues for atheism in the
Ramayana
Jagannatha:
“Lord of the Universe,” the name of a form of Vishnu, especially in a temple in Puri, Orissa
“Lord of the Universe,” the name of a form of Vishnu, especially in a temple in Puri, Orissa
Jainas :
followers of the religion founded by the Jina, in the fifth century BCE
followers of the religion founded by the Jina, in the fifth century BCE
Jambu-dvipa:
“the plum tree continent,” the ancient name for the subcontinent of India
“the plum tree continent,” the ancient name for the subcontinent of India
Janaka:
a king of Videha, father of Sita
a king of Videha, father of Sita
Janashruti:
a king in the Upanishads
a king in the Upanishads
Jara:
“old age”; also the name of a hunter who kills the incarnate god Krishna
“old age”; also the name of a hunter who kills the incarnate god Krishna
jati:
“birth,” caste
“birth,” caste
Jina:
Vardhamana Mahavira, founder of Jainism
Vardhamana Mahavira, founder of Jainism
jizya:
tax levied by Muslim rulers on subjects who did not perform military service
tax levied by Muslim rulers on subjects who did not perform military service
Kabir:
a poet, c. 1398-1448 CE, whose teachings bridged Hinduism and Islam
a poet, c. 1398-1448 CE, whose teachings bridged Hinduism and Islam
Kaikeyi:
mother of Bharata in the
Ramayana
, who insisted that Rama be exiled
mother of Bharata in the
Ramayana
, who insisted that Rama be exiled
Kalamukhas :
“Death Heads,” a sect of antinomian Shaivas
“Death Heads,” a sect of antinomian Shaivas
Kali (goddess):
“Time” or “Doomsday,” goddess of sex and violence and much more
“Time” or “Doomsday,” goddess of sex and violence and much more
Kali Age (Yuga):
the fourth and worst of the ages; the present age
the fourth and worst of the ages; the present age
Kalidasa:
a Gupta poet, author of
Shakuntala
a Gupta poet, author of
Shakuntala
Kalinga:
the ancient name of Orissa
the ancient name of Orissa
Kalki:
the final avatar of Vishnu, a horse-headed warrior who will kill the barbarians
the final avatar of Vishnu, a horse-headed warrior who will kill the barbarians
Kama-sutra:
textbook of pleasure, composed by Vatsyayana, third century CE
textbook of pleasure, composed by Vatsyayana, third century CE
Kamsa:
king who devoted his life to the attempt to kill Krishna
king who devoted his life to the attempt to kill Krishna
Kannappar:
Tamil saint who tore out his eyes for Shiva
Tamil saint who tore out his eyes for Shiva
Kanphata:
“Pierced-Ear,” name of a sect of yogis
“Pierced-Ear,” name of a sect of yogis
Kapala-mochana:
“The Release of the Skull,” the shrine in Varanasi where the skull of Brahma fell from Shiva’s hand
“The Release of the Skull,” the shrine in Varanasi where the skull of Brahma fell from Shiva’s hand
Kapalikas :
“Skull Bearers,” a sect of Shaivas who imitate Shiva’s wandering with Brahma’s skull
“Skull Bearers,” a sect of Shaivas who imitate Shiva’s wandering with Brahma’s skull
karma:
action, or the fruits of action
action, or the fruits of action
Karna:
illegitimate son of Kunti, raised by low-caste Charioteers, in the
Mahabharata
illegitimate son of Kunti, raised by low-caste Charioteers, in the
Mahabharata
kathenotheism:
F. Max Müller’s term for the worship of one supreme god at a time
F. Max Müller’s term for the worship of one supreme god at a time
Kaula:
“belonging to the family [
kula
],” name of a Tantric sect
“belonging to the family [
kula
],” name of a Tantric sect
Kausalya:
mother of Rama, in the
Ramayana
mother of Rama, in the
Ramayana
Kautilya:
author of the
Artha-shastra
author of the
Artha-shastra
kavya:
poetry
poetry
Khandoba:
Maharashtrian god associated with dogs
Maharashtrian god associated with dogs
kliba:
a sexually challenged man
a sexually challenged man
Krishna:
an incarnation of Vishnu, a hero of the
Mahabharata
who grew up among cowherds
an incarnation of Vishnu, a hero of the
Mahabharata
who grew up among cowherds
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