The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (435 page)
Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions Online
Authors: John Bowker
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
6.03Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
), of all beings.
tman and Brahman are one, and the knowledge of Brahman (
brahmavidy
; see
APARAVIDYA
) is the supreme goal of human life as it confers liberation (
mok
a
) from the ongoing cycle of suffering and rebirth (see e.g.
A
KARA
).
tman and Brahman are one, and the knowledge of Brahman (brahmavidy
; seeAPARAVIDYA
) is the supreme goal of human life as it confers liberation (
mok
a) from the ongoing cycle of suffering and rebirth (see e.g.
AKARA).
Brahman
(often Anglicized as brahmin
;
(often Anglicized as brahmin
;
Skt.,
br
hma
a
). A member of the highest of the four
varna
, or categories, of
Vedic
society, hence
Brahmanism
.
The brahmans were traditionally the custodians, interpreters, and teachers of religious knowledge, and, as priests, acted as intermediaries between humans, the world, and God. They alone knew and could perform the rituals of correct worship, making them acceptable to God.
br
hmaa). A member of the highest of the four
varna
, or categories, of
Vedic
society, hence
Brahmanism
.
The brahmans were traditionally the custodians, interpreters, and teachers of religious knowledge, and, as priests, acted as intermediaries between humans, the world, and God. They alone knew and could perform the rituals of correct worship, making them acceptable to God.
Br
hma
a
hmaa(Skt., ‘that pertaining to
brahman
’). In Hinduism, the explanatory portion of the
Veda
developed as a commentary on the
mantra
portions of the text. Commonly they are dated between 1,000 BCE and 650 BCE. The most important are the following: the
Aitareya
and
Kaus
taki
(
kh
yana
) Br
hma
as of the
g Veda
; the
Jaimin
ya
and
Pañcavi
sa
(
T
yamah
brahman
’). In Hinduism, the explanatory portion of the
Veda
developed as a commentary on the
mantra
portions of the text. Commonly they are dated between 1,000 BCE and 650 BCE. The most important are the following: the
Aitareya
and
Kaus
taki(
khyana) Br
hmaas of theg Veda; the
Jaimin
yaand
Pañcavi
sa(
T
yamahOther books
The News of the World by Ron Carlson
Body by Audrey Carlan
Within That Room! by John Russell Fearn
Baa Baa Black Sheep by Gregory Boyington
The Right To Sing the Blues by John Lutz
Reckless by R.M. Martinez
Murder at Moot Point by Marlys Millhiser
Dead Fall by Matt Hilton
Dead Americans by Ben Peek, Ben Peek
Southern Men: Ballad of a Texas Rose by Kane, Carla
