Concepts & Philosophy
The core ideas of Hindu thought
In short
What the great ideas of Hinduism actually mean — dharma and karma, the cycle of samsara and the freedom of moksha, the true self (atman) and the ultimate reality (Brahman), maya, bhakti, yoga, ahimsa, the three gunas, the four aims of life, and Om. Each explained plainly and, where one fits, grounded in a verified verse.
Reviewed by the Godify team · Last updated
All concepts
- Dharmaधर्मduty, righteousness, and the order that upholds life
- Karmaकर्मaction, and the law that every action bears fruit
- Mokshaमोक्षliberation — release from the cycle of rebirth
- Atmanआत्मन्the true self — the eternal soul within
- Brahmanब्रह्मन्the ultimate reality underlying all that exists
- Mayaमायाthe appearance that veils ultimate reality
- Samsaraसंसारthe cycle of birth, death, and rebirth
- Bhaktiभक्तिloving devotion to the Divine
- Yogaयोगunion — the disciplines that join the self to the Divine
- Ahimsaअहिंसाnon-violence and reverence for all life
- The Three Gunasगुणsattva, rajas, and tamas — the three qualities of nature
- The Four Purusharthasपुरुषार्थdharma, artha, kama, moksha — the four aims of life
- Omॐthe primordial sound and symbol of the Absolute
Frequently asked questions
What are the core concepts of Hinduism?
Central ideas include dharma (duty and righteousness), karma (action and consequence), samsara (the cycle of rebirth), moksha (liberation), atman (the true self), Brahman (ultimate reality), maya (appearance), bhakti (devotion), yoga (union), ahimsa (non-violence), the three gunas, and the four aims of life (purusharthas).
How is this information sourced?
Each page explains the concept in stable, widely-attested terms and, where one genuinely fits, links to a verified verse shown verbatim from Godify's corpus with its exact source. Godify never invents scripture or fabricates specifics.
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