a body of religious and philosophical beliefs and cultural practices native to India and based on a caste system; it is characterized by a belief in reincarnation, by a belief in a supreme being of many forms and natures, by the view that opposing theories are aspects of one eternal truth, and by a desire for liberation from earthly evils | a Magadhan language spoken by the Bengali people; the official language of Bangladesh and Bengal |
the religion of most people in India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal | an ethnic group speaking Bengali and living in Bangladesh and eastern India |
| (Hinduism) a member of a people living in Bangladesh and West Bengal (mainly Hindus) |