Hinduism

• Atman means 'eternal self'. The atman refers to the real self beyond the ego or false self. It is often referred to as 'spirit' or 'soul' and indicates our true self or essence which underlies our existence.
• Dharma is an important term in Indian religions. In Hinduism it means 'duty', 'virtue', 'morality', and even 'religion' and it refers to the power which upholds the universe and society.
• Varna - An important idea that developed in classical Hinduism is that dharma refers especially to a person's responsibility regarding class (varna) and stage of life (ashrama). This is called varnashrama-dharma.
• Brahmans or Brahmins - the intellectuals and the priestly class who perform religious rituals
• Kshatriya (nobles or warriors) - who traditionally had power
• Vaishyas (commoners or merchants) - ordinary people who produce, farm, trade and earn a living.
•  Shudras (workers) - who traditionally served the higher classes, including laborers, artists, musicians, and clerks.
• Brahmacarya 


  'celibate student' stage in which males learn the Veda
• grihastha 


  'householder' in which the twice-born male can experience the human purposes (purushartha) of responsibility, wealth, and sexual pleasure
• Vanaprastha


  'hermit' or 'wilderness dweller' in which the twice-born male retires from life in the world to take up pilgrimage and religious observances along with his wife
• Samnyasa


  'renunciation' in which the twice-born gives up the world, takes on a saffron robe or, in some sects, goes naked, with a bowl and a staff to seek moksha (liberation) or develop devotion
• Brahman


   is a Sanskrit word that refers to a transcendent power beyond the universe. As such, it is sometimes translated as 'God' although the two concepts are not identical. Brahman is the power that upholds and supports everything.
• God


  Most Hindus believe in God but what this means varies in different traditions.
• Guro

  The terms guru and acharya refer to a teacher or master of a tradition. The basic meaning is of a teacher who teaches through example and conveys knowledge and wisdom to his disciples. The disciple in turn might become a teacher and so the lineage continues through the generations.
• Kriyamãn karma 


  It is karma being acquired every moment. The fruits of these karmas can be attained in this life, the next, or after many births.
• Sanchit karma


  It is an accumulation of karmas containing the sum total of all a person’s karmas from one or many past lives. The fruits of these karmas are being experienced or have yet to be experienced.
• Prãrabdha karma 


  It is a part of one’s sanchit karma that is being experienced in this birth. For example, the attributes and conditions of one’s physical body and mental capacities are due to one’s prãrabdha karmas.