Hinduism
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Hin·du·ism
(hĭn′do͞o-ĭz′əm)n.
A religious, philosophical, and cultural tradition that developed in India with the composition of the Vedas, characterized by belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, by the desire for liberation from earthly evils, and by belief in reincarnation.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Hinduism
(ˈhɪndʊˌɪzəm) orHindooism
n
(Hinduism) the complex of beliefs, values, and customs comprising the dominant religion of India, characterized by the worship of many gods, including Brahma as supreme being, a caste system, belief in reincarnation, etc
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
Hin•du•ism
(ˈhɪn duˌɪz əm)n.
the common religion of India, based upon the religion of the original Aryan settlers as expounded and evolved in the Vedas, Upanishads, Bhagavad-Gita, etc.
[1820–30]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Hinduism
the conventional Hindu system of medicine, founded chiefly on naturopathy and homeopathy. — Ayurvedic, adj.
the doctrines and practices of Brahmans and orthodox Hindus, characterized by the caste system, a diverse pantheism, and primary devotion to Brahma, the creator-god of the Hindu trinity.
the practices and doctrines of the Brahmos, members of a Hindu theistic society noted for its belief in social reform and monotheism.
the worship of Krishna as the eighth incarnation of the god Vishnu, the preserver-god of the Hindu trinity.
the worship of Rama, a hero of Hindu epic, as an incarnation of the god Vishnu. — Ramaite, n.
1. a Hindu sect worshipping Shakti as a mother goddess under such names as Kali and Durga through contemplation and humility; right-hand Shaktism.
2. a Hindu Tantric sect worshiping Shakti as the feminine principle of gen-eration through rites involving ritual eating and orgy; left-hand Shaktism. See also Tantrism. — Shakta, Shakti, n., adj.
2. a Hindu Tantric sect worshiping Shakti as the feminine principle of gen-eration through rites involving ritual eating and orgy; left-hand Shaktism. See also Tantrism. — Shakta, Shakti, n., adj.
the doctrines of a reformed Hindu sect opposed to the caste system, supremacy of Brahrnan priests, magic, idolatry, and pilgrimages. — Sikh, n., adj.
a cult made up of the worshipers of Siva, the destroyer-god of the Hindu trinity. — Sivaite, n.
the Hindu practice or custom, now forbidden, of a widow’s self-immolation upon her husband’s funeral pyre. — suttee, sati, n.
1. the teachings of the Tantras, Sanskrit religious writings concerned with mysticism and magic rituals.
2. the beliefs and practices of Hindu adherents to the Tantras in place of the Vedas, especially magic rituals for healing, averting evil, and union with the female creative principle. — Tantrist, n. — Tantric, adj.
2. the beliefs and practices of Hindu adherents to the Tantras in place of the Vedas, especially magic rituals for healing, averting evil, and union with the female creative principle. — Tantrist, n. — Tantric, adj.
a semi-religious Hindu cult with a highly organized system of murder and robbery, suppressed in India in the 19th century. Also thuggery. — thug, n.
the worship of Vishnu in any of his forms or incarnations. — Vaishnava, Vaishnavite, n.
1. the teachings of the Vedas, the four most sacred writings of Hinduism.
2. an adherence to these teachings; orthodox Hinduism. — Vedaic, Vedic, adj.
2. an adherence to these teachings; orthodox Hinduism. — Vedaic, Vedic, adj.
the beliefs and practices of Vedanta, an orthodox Hindu philoso-phy emphasizing the teachings on contemplation found in the Vedas. — Vedantist, n. — Vedantic, adj.
1. an orthodox Hindu philosophical system concerned with the liberation of the self from its noneternal elements or states.
2. any system of exercises and disciplines for achieving such liberation of self. — Yogi, Yogin, n.
2. any system of exercises and disciplines for achieving such liberation of self. — Yogi, Yogin, n.
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
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| Noun | 1. |  Hinduism - the religion of most people in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepalorganized religion, religion, faith - an institution to express belief in a divine power; "he was raised in the Baptist religion"; "a member of his own faith contradicted him" Brahmanism, Brahminism - the religious and social system of orthodox Hinduism Vaishnavism, Vaisnavism - Hindu sect worshiping of Vishnu International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, Hare Krishna - a religious sect founded in the United States in 1966; based on Vedic scriptures; groups engage in joyful chanting of `Hare Krishna' and other mantras based on the name of the Hindu god Krishna; devotees usually wear saffron robes and practice vegetarianism and celibacy Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka, Ceylon - a republic on the island of Ceylon; became independent of the United Kingdom in 1948 Bangla Desh, Bangladesh, East Pakistan, People's Republic of Bangladesh - a Muslim republic in southern Asia bordered by India to the north and west and east and the Bay of Bengal to the south; formerly part of India and then part of Pakistan; it achieved independence in 1971 Bharat, India, Republic of India - a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947 Kingdom of Nepal, Nepal - a small landlocked Asian country high in the Himalayas between India and China |
| 2. | Hinduism - a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils bhakti - (Hinduism) loving devotion to a deity leading to salvation and nirvana; open to all persons independent of caste or sex mandala - any of various geometric designs (usually circular) symbolizing the universe; used chiefly in Hinduism and Buddhism as an aid to meditation asana - (Hinduism) a posture or manner of sitting (as in the practice of yoga) matsyendra - (Hinduism) a religious posture faith, religion, religious belief - a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny; "he lost his faith but not his morality" Darsana - (from the Sanskrit word for `to see') one of six orthodox philosophical systems or viewpoints on the nature of reality and the release from bondage to karma Mimamsa - (from the Sanskrit word for `reflection' or `interpretation') one of six orthodox philosophical systems or viewpoints on ritual traditions rooted in the Vedas and the Brahmanas as opposed to Vedanta which relies mostly on the Upanishads Vedanta - (from the Sanskrit for `end of the Veda') one of six orthodox philosophical systems or viewpoints rooted in the Upanishads as opposed to Mimamsa which relies on the Vedas and Brahmanas Krishnaism - worship of Krishna the 8th avatar of Vishnu Vishnuism, Vaishnavism, Vaisnavism - worship of Vishnu one of the 3 chief gods of the Hindu pantheon yoga - Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility that is achieved through the three paths of actions and knowledge and devotion Vedism - the form of Hinduism that revolves primarily around the mythic version and ritual ideologies in the Vedas Bhagavadgita, Bhagavad-Gita, Gita - (Hinduism) the sacred `song of God' composed about 200 BC and incorporated into the Mahabharata (a Sanskrit epic); contains a discussion between Krishna and the Indian hero Arjuna on human nature and the purpose of life Mahabharata, Mahabharatam, Mahabharatum - (Hinduism) a sacred epic Sanskrit poem of India dealing in many episodes with the struggle between two rival families Veda, Vedic literature - (from the Sanskrit word for `knowledge') any of the most ancient sacred writings of Hinduism written in early Sanskrit; traditionally believed to comprise the Samhitas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas, and the Upanishads Ayurveda - (Sanskrit) an ancient medical treatise summarizing the Hindu art of healing and prolonging life; sometimes regarded as a 5th Veda mantra - (Sanskrit) literally a `sacred utterance' in Vedism; one of a collection of orally transmitted poetic hymns ahimsa - a Buddhist and Hindu and especially Jainist doctrine holding that all forms of life are sacred and urging the avoidance of violence Sanskrit, Sanskritic language - (Hinduism) an ancient language of India (the language of the Vedas and of Hinduism); an official language of India although it is now used only for religious purposes cycle of rebirth - (Hinduism) repeated rebirth in new forms moksa - (Hinduism) release from the cycle of rebirth karma - (Hinduism and Buddhism) the effects of a person's actions that determine his destiny in his next incarnation samsara - (Hinduism and Buddhism) the endless cycle of birth and suffering and death and rebirth caste - (Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity jati - (Hinduism) a Hindu caste or distinctive social group of which there are thousands throughout India; a special characteristic is often the exclusive occupation of its male members (such as barber or potter) varna - (Hinduism) the name for the original social division of Vedic people into four groups (which are subdivided into thousands of jatis) Arjuna - (Hindu mythology) the warrior prince in the Bhagavad-Gita to whom Krishna explains the nature of being and of God and how humans can come to know God Hindu deity - a deity worshipped by the Hindus Bengali - (Hinduism) a member of a people living in Bangladesh and West Bengal (mainly Hindus) guru - a Hindu or Buddhist religious leader and spiritual teacher mahatma - (Hinduism) term of respect for a brahmin sage nirvana, enlightenment - (Hinduism and Buddhism) the beatitude that transcends the cycle of reincarnation; characterized by the extinction of desire and suffering and individual consciousness |
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Hinduism
Hindu denominations and sects
Hare Krishna, Saivaism, Saktas, VaishnavismCollins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
hinduismushinduizmus
hinduisme
hindulaisuus
हिन्दू धर्म
hinduizam
ヒンズー教
힌두교
Hinduismus
induizmas
Hinduizem
hinduism
ศาสนาฮินดู
Đạo Hindu
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
Hinduism
n → Hinduismus m
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
Hinduism
→ هِندُوسِيَّة hinduismus hinduisme Hinduismus Ινδουϊσμός hinduismo hindulaisuus hindouisme hinduizam induismo ヒンズー教 힌두교 hindoeïsme hinduisme hinduizm hinduísmo индуизм hinduism ศาสนาฮินดู Hinduizm Đạo Hindu 印度教Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009