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Hinduism Sources: https://archive.org/details/tDyP_bhagavad-gita-with-gudharth-deepika-by-madhusudan-sarasvati-translated-by-swami-/page/n1/mode/2up https://www.pdfdrive.com/abhinavaguptas-commentary-on-the-bhagavad-gita-e38527473.html https://archive.org/details/gitaramanujagitabhasyadevanagariandenglishrenderingbyswamiadidevanandasriramakrishnamath/mode/2up https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9781315475653/defining-hinduism-llewellyn https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/edit/10.4324/9780203644706/hindu-world-sushil-mittal-gene-thursby Intro material for novices 1. An Introduction to Indian Philosophy- Satishchandra Chatterjee, Dhirendramohan Dutta dated, but a good intro, despite having simplified much of the material 2. Essentials of Indian Philosophy- M. Hiriyanna (dated, good for intro to Vedic schools, bias to Advaita Vedānta, not good for Buddhism) 3. An Introduction to Indian Philosophy - Roy W. Perrett (not dated, well presented, quite brief intro) 4. Classical Indian Philosophy (Vol 5) - Ganeri, Adamson (good intro) new and updated, written by distinguished philosophers, better than Perrett 5. Classical Indian Philosophy- J.N. Mohanty (not a conventional intro) Thematically contrasts Hindu & Indian philosophical positions on epistemology, metaphysics, politics, morals, religion, and art. Brilliant introduction by distinguished Indian scholar. 6. A Sourcebook in Indian Philosophy- S. Radhakrishnan & C.A. Moore The introductory material explaining the selections are often biased in favor of Advaita Vedānta, and translations are crude. It remains useful for its historical and scholastic breadth. Detailed Intro (updated with good material) - History of Indian Philosophy , edited by Purushottama Bilimoria (Routledge) latest and updated among all books in this answer. A compendium with chapters covering even ethics and other interesting topics which the rest of the books don't cover. Contains chapters covering different topics, written by many established scholars. Further detailed/advanced introductions (not for novices) - A History of Indian Philosophy (Vol I-V) – Surendranath Dasgupta An idiosyncratic, but in-depth, survey of Ind phls. Perhaps the largest textbook on the topic. It has dated material. - A Critical Survey of Indian Philosophy - Chandradhar Sharma (dated. problematic Buddhist views) -Indian Philosophy: A Collection of Readings (5 Vols) - Perrett (Ed.) - Encyclopedia of Indian Philosophies - Karl Potter (lit. encyclopedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_Hinduism_terms These sources and resources are focused specifically on Vedic Hinduism but is helpful for us shaktis since our practice includes Vedic Hindu practices. Much love <3

More coming soon...

This will be the updated page for all vocab terms that will be able to be updated with new terms: Agarbhatti- Incense Sticks Abhishekam- Ritual Bathing of a Murtie Akshatas- Unbroken Rice Grains Amma- Name for Mother in Tamil Amman- Alternative name for Amma Asuras- Demons Attar- Perfume for Offering Ayurveda- Indo-Caribbean Herbal Medicine Baba- Name for father, a term of endearment for a deity Baboot- An Alternate name for Vibhut Bagavad Gita- Holy Hindu Scripture Bahavad Gita- Another name for Bagavad Gita Balidan- Sacrifice, may refer to symbolic sacrifice of fruits like coconuts, nutmegs, sugarcane, and/or squash or may refer to the sacrificial animals that are yearly sacrificed for Kali Maa in the month of Aadi Big Puja- Another name for Karagam Puja Bhakti- Faith Bhakti Esaiyil- Devotional Songs Chandan- Sandalwood Paste Damaru- Sanskrit name of Udukkai Deva- God Devi- Goddess Deota- God Diya- Oil Lamp Divali- Hindu celebration celebrating good over evil, aka festival of lights Dhaan- Whole Brown Rice (sometimes called Paddy Rice) (May also refer to grains) Dhar- A powder that is mixed with water or milk or both for Abhishekam Dhaar- Another name for Dhar Dhoop- May refer to either Incense Sticks or Sticks used for Hawan Dye- Another name for Haldi Elaichi- Cardamom Pods Firepass- The ritual act of walking on hot coals while in trance or as an act of tribute to the Ullagattil Tayaa Ghanta- Bell Ghee- Clarified Butter Gogul- Resin Incense, Usually frankincense Guru- Spiritual Teacher Haldi- Turmeric Powder Hawan- Holy fire ceremony (Look at The Sacred Symbolism of Sacred Fire in Indo-Caribbean Shaktism post for more info) Hawan Kund- The container used for the Hawan Henna- A decorative paste made from Henna Leaves used to decorate the hands of one for a wedding or a puja, sometimes it is even just an ornament for everyday life Hing- Asafoetida Powder, a spice used sometimes for strong spiritual baths to remove curses (smells horrible but tastes pleasant in food) Japa- A necklace made up of 108 beads, being the 108 names of a god, similar to a Rosary Jhandi- A flag raised to symbolize a deity but may also refer to a spiritual ceremony Ji- a term of endearment for a deity (Example: Ganesh Ji) Jow- Pearl Barley Kalash- Another name for Lota Kalasam- Tamil name for Lota Kalsa- Another name for Lota Kargum- A pot that is decorated with flowers, neem leaves, leaf of life, and more used during Karagam Puja Karagam- Another name for Kargum Karakam- Alternative spelling of Karagam Karagam Puja- A three-day ceremony done to honour Madurai Minakshi, Mari Amman, and Karunai Kamakshi as well as to pay tributes to Kateri Amma and Gangai Amman through a procession to a body of water where offerings are left Kanji- a poriddge made of rice, black eyed peas, etc. eaten after a ceremony where the ingredients are traditionally gathered from going house to house asking for ingredients. An Important symbol of Kaliamman Kaval Deivam- Madrasi Gods, gods of rural villages Kirtanam- Devotional Songs, similar to Bhajans and Bhakti Esaiyil Kurta- A dress that is put on male deities to adorn them after their abhishekam Lobani- a type of incense Lota- A vessel, similar to a pot, used to hold water or another liquid Maa- Mother, a term of endearment, may be used individually to describe Kali or another female god Mala- a necklace of flowers, similar to a Hawaiian Lei Mari Amman- Tamil name for Kali Marlo- Someone who is able to act as a medium, allowing a god/goddess's shakti to go into their body to heal others or transmit messages Marulali- Devotee of Kali Amman Mata- Another name for Maa Muthu Mari Amman- Title for Kali, meaning (Mother of rain who is more beautiful than pearls) Murti- A representation of a devi or deva Murtie- another name for Murti Nav Graha- The planetary deities (meaning Nine planets) Navgraha- another name for Nav Graha Oath-Taking- The ritual act of putting a lit camphor on ones tongue as a way to cleanse the mouth before Amma speaks through you or as a way to pay tribute to Amman One-Day Puja- A shortened version of the Karagam Puja, lasting all day. Pancha Upatra- a small vessel, similar to a cup, used for ceremonial drinking Panchapatra- another name for Pancha Upatra Pandaram- Non-Vedic Priest who serves the kaval deivam Phagwa- A colorful hindu festival Prashad- Food to be offered to a deity, usually fruit or sweets Pujari- A priest Puja- A devotional ceremony Pundit- Someone who is knowledgable in the faith Poosai- Tamil name for Puja Pushpam- Sanskrit word for flowers Rakhi- A Bracelet made from Muli, similar to an amulet Sadaa- Non-Vegetarian Saidukadu- Cremation Grounds, where warrior deotas are said to reside Sami Aduthal- A trance entered when shakti enters the marlo's body, through ritual trance-possession by a god Sari- a dress used to adorn female deities Satwik- Vegetarian Sedha- a bag used to carry ingredients to be donated for a ceremonial use Shakti- the divine feminine energy Shankh- A shell horn Small Puja- Another name for One Day Puja Sri- A term meaning Holy Shree- Another name for Sri Sindoor- A red powder used for ceremonial use, also called Kumkum (may have variations for different devi and deva) Sooparie- Betal Nuts, may be also called Tambulam Supari- Another name for Sooparie Tabeege- A locket or Talisman Tanni Potutal- Water mixed with Neem Leaves and Haldi poured on the Marlo to cool any heat emitted from the Shakti within Tappu- Traditional frame drums used in poosai Tari- a plate that holds ingredients for a puja Thali- another name for Tari Theemithi- Tamil, Original name for Firepass Til- Sesame Seeds Trishul- A trident, a symbol of warrior deotas and devis, most known is Kali Maa, Shiva Maa, and the Kaval Deivam Udukai- Drums used for invoking Amma Kali or any other Deota/Devi, a symbol of Shiva Ullagattil Tayaa- Alternate name for Kali Amman, meaning "Mother of the Universe" Vibhuti- Sacred Ash made from ritually burnt dung, used as Tilak and offerings (Deity names list may be found in Introduction to Indo-Caribbean Shaktism) (This list will be updated when i find new Info to put)