Bhagavad-Gita: Literally, “The Song of God,” part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
Burning-ghat: In India, a ghat is a place, often with steps, where people descend to a river or lake, usually for bathing. Burning-ghats are reserved for cremation, so that the funeral party may have access to a body of water for purification and for disposal of ashes.
Coolie: Unskilled laborer.
Guru: A religious teacher.
Karma: The law of cause and effect operating in the moral world, as believed by the Hindus.
Koran: Sacred book of the Muslims.
Mantram: Words of divine power.
Nirvana: State of spiritual enlightenment or illumination. According to Buddhism, nirvana releases man from the cycle of birth, suffering, death, and all other forms of worldly bondage.
Pundit: A scholar, especially versed in the Sanskrit lore of the Hindus.
Sadhu: A Hindu holy man or monk.
Sannyasi: A monk who has taken the final vows of renunciation according to Hindu rites.
Sari: A garment worn by Indian women.
Swami: A Hindu religious title.
Upanishads: Part of the ancient sacred Hindu texts called the Vedas.