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RS > Hindu Beliefs > Flashcards

Hindu Beliefs Flashcards

1
Q

Polytheism

A

Belief in many God’s

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2
Q

Monotheism

A

Belief in one God

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3
Q

Polymorphic monotheism

A

There is one Supreme Personal God (Brahman) who is the source of everything that exists. This person is revealed in different forms

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4
Q

Inclusive monotheism

A

There is one Supreme Personal God (Brahman). This view does not deny the existence of other deities

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5
Q

RR for polymorphic vs inclusive monotheism

A

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 391 states that no one knows how many Gods there are and everyone interprets God differently

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6
Q

Vaishnavas

A

Worship Vishnu and his avatars

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7
Q

Shaivas

A

Worship Shiva

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8
Q

Shaktas

A

Worship Shakti and her avatars

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9
Q

Smartas

A

Worship five deities - Vishnu, Shiva, Devi, Ganesh and Surya

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10
Q

Aum symbol

A

The sacred sound of the universe

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11
Q

Swastika symbol

A

Represents auspiciousness

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12
Q

Brahman

A

The Hindu name for God or the Supreme Being

Creator of everything

Universal soul

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13
Q

RR for Brahman

A

‘The ultimate truth is One - though
the wise speak of it in many ways’ - Rig Veda

‘In Truth all is Brahman’ - Mundaka Upanishad 2.22

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14
Q

Nirguna Brahman

A

God is impersonal, without personal characteristics

Represented through the aum symbol

Brahman is not a person

The idea that God and the individual are one (monism)

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15
Q

RR for Nirguna Brahman

A

aham brahmasmi- I am brahman - Vedas

Means I am not different from God

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16
Q

Analogy for Nirguna Brahman

A

The analogy of a drop of water in an ocean

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17
Q

Saguna Brahman

A

God is personal, with perfect personal characteristics, e.g. name, form

Brahman is a person

The idea that God and the individual are two different entities (dualism)

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18
Q

RR for Saguna Brahman

A

aham brahmasmi- I am brahman - Vedas

Means that although both the individual and Brahman are made from spirit, they are different quantitively

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19
Q

Analogy of Saguna Brahman

A

The analogy of the parrot in the forest

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20
Q

Deity

A

A God or Goddess

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21
Q

Murti

A

A devotional image such as a statue or icon of a deity

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22
Q

Lord Brahma

A

The secondary creator

Teacher of the Vedas

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23
Q

Iconography of Lord Brahma

A

4 heads - to look in all 4 directions

Lotus flower - serves as a reminder that he is connected to Lord Vishnu (story of the creation)

The book of the Vedas - represents that he is the first teacher of the Vedas

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24
Q

RR for Brahma

A

The creation story - Vedas

‘You create this material world by your energy’ - Srimad Bhagavatam 7.23

‘Brahma was the creator of all’ - Mundaka Upanishad

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25
Q

Story of why Lord Brahma is not worshipped (reference - Vedas)

A

During a ceremony, Brahma was listening to music so he was punished

Brahma created a female deity and fell in love with her, Shiva disliked Brahma’s obsession so he ordered that he should not be worshipped

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26
Q

Lord Vishnu

A

Protector of his creation

Maintainer of his creation

Destroyer of evil, protects devotees through avatars

He is in everyone’s heart (Paramatma)

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27
Q

Iconography of Lord Vishnu

A

Lotus - symbolizes purity and wealth

Crown - represents his supreme authority

Chakra - confirms the ability to destroy evil and establish dharma

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28
Q

RR for Vishnu

A

‘Oceans are Vishnu’s waist, the hills and mountains are his bones, the clouds are the hairs on his head and the air is his breathing’ - Purusha Sukta Hymn

‘Everything rests on me’ - B.G

‘I am the taste in water’ - B.G

‘Vishnu is in all things and in all things are Vishnu’ - Vedas

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29
Q

Story of Brigu (reference - Vedas)

A

Brigu went to Lord Shiva and kicked him in the chest, Lord Shiva wanted to kill him. Brigu then went to Lord Vishnu and did the same thing but did not want to hurt him. With this information, Brigu decided that Lord Vishnu was superior

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30
Q

Avatara

A

One who comes down, descends or incarnates

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31
Q

RR for avatars

A

‘There is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata’ -B.G

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32
Q

Why does Vishnu appear as an avatar?

A

Protect his devotees

Re-establish religious principles

Increase devotion

Show love for his devotees

Set an example

Restore faith in Him/her

33
Q

Story of Prahlada Maharaj and
Sri Narasimha (reference - Vedas)

A

Hiranyakasipu grew jealous of Lord Vishnu and conquered three worlds. Prahlada (the son of the demon) worshipped Lord Vishnu and the demon therefore wanted to kill him. Prahalda said God is everywhere so the demon punched the pillars and Lord Narasimha (half man - half lion) came out and killed the demon

34
Q

Story of Govardhan Hill (reference - Vedas)

A

Krishna told everyone to worship Govardhan Hill instead of Indra. Indra got angry and sent rain and thunder to the village. Krishna saved everyone by lifting the hill with his finger. Lord Indra prayed for forgiveness and Krishna enlightened him of his dharma

35
Q

Story of Rama killing Ravana (reference - Ramayana)

A

After Ravana took away Sita, Rama and Hanuman built a stone bridge to bring Sita back. With the help of the monkey’s Rama killed Ravana bringing Sita home

36
Q

Lord Shiva

A

Responsible for tama guna (destruction + death)

Compassionate and grants wishes to his devotees

Allows ghosts to follow him to enter a new gross body

37
Q

Iconography of Lord Shiva

A

Earrings - Lord Shiva is both male and female

Blue body - Shiva drank poison to save the earth

Serpent - Shiva’s power to destroy and recreate

Trident - represents the Trimurti

38
Q

The story of Shiva drinking poison (reference Vedas)

A

Shiva drank poison but it stayed in his neck, therefore saving the world

39
Q

Saraswati (Lord Brahma’s consort)

A

The Goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning

Mother of the Vedas

Has a son called Manu - father of mankind

40
Q

Laksmi (Lord Vishnu’s consort)

A

The goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity

Worshipped during Diwali

41
Q

Sakti (Lord Shiva’s consort)

A

Also known as Parvati, Durga or Kali

42
Q

Hanuman

A

The monkey warrior

The symbol is a mace symbolizing strength and authority

Devotion to Rama and Sita

43
Q

Ganesh

A

Son of Shiva and Parvati

Remover of obstacles

Wisdom and knowledge

44
Q

Cosmology

A

Refers to an orderly harmonious systematic universe

45
Q

Spirit (purusha)

A

Eternal

Unchanging

Infinite

Imperishable

46
Q

Matter (prakriti)

A

Temporary

Changing

Finite

Perishable

47
Q

RR for characteristics of material body and soul

A

‘No one can cause the destruction of the imperishable soul’ - B.G

‘The soul is neither born, nor does it ever die’ - B.G

‘Only the material body is perishable’ - B.G

48
Q

Maya

A

Material reality

Impersonalists say that maya means illusion; the material world is not real and therefore has no value

Personalists say that maya means ‘illusory’; the world is not real because it is temporary. They decide to serve others rather than being distracted from the material world

49
Q

The creation of the universe

A

Maha Vishnu maintains the totality of the cosmic manifestation

He resides on the Casual Ocean

Unlimited universes are generated, when he inhales universes are consumed, but when he exhales universes are created

Then Garbhodakaśāyī Vishnu, enters each universe and gives birth to Brahma

Vishnu empowers Brahma to create the planetary systems within each universe.

Brahma is the secondary creator

When Vishnu inhales the universes are destroyed.

Shiva destroys the material planets and thus allows their renewal.

50
Q

The upper planetary systems or heavenly planets

A

Residents are wise and pious

There is no quarrel or disharmony

Residents are God conscious

They don’t age or fall sick

The duration of life is long

51
Q

The middle planets – like Earth

A

Both enjoyment and suffering are present in these realm

This is the best place to become God conscious

52
Q

Subterranean heavens / hellish planets

A

There is no sunshine in these realms but some of them are more opulent than the upper planets

There is conflict and a lack of awareness of God

Punishment takes place in the hellish planets

53
Q

Linear time

A

Beginning & end

Goal oriented

From simple to complex

From ignorance to progress

Pressure and worry about the future

54
Q

Cyclical time

A

No beginning, no end

Static, progress and wisdom already exist

Promotes community

Inclusive of deities or ideas

Encourages patience & tolerance

55
Q

Atman

A

A person’s inner self

Also soul, spirit or living force

56
Q

Analogies for atman

A

Analogy of space in a jar

Analogy of a driver in a vehicle

57
Q

Reincarnation

A

Transmigration of the atman from one body to another

58
Q

RR for reincarnation

A

‘As the self, moves in this body from childhood to youth to old age, so it also passes into another body at death’ - B.G 2.13

‘One who attains to my abode never takes birth again’ - B.G

59
Q

Samsara

A

The continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth

60
Q

Moksha

A

The ultimate goal of human life, liberation from the cycle of rebirth

61
Q

RR for moksha

A

‘And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt’ - B.G 8.5

‘Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail’ - B.G 8.6

62
Q

Karma

A

Consequences of one’s actions; the total of good and bad actions and reactions

Vikarma - bad actions result in punishment

Akarma - selfless actions bring no rewards or punishment but help us attain moksha

63
Q

Free will

A

The idea that individuals are in control of their destiny

64
Q

Analogy of free will in relation to karma

A

The analogy of traveling on a plane:
We can choose a destination but we can’t decide who sits next to or other events

65
Q

How should Hindus respond to suffering?

A

Through ahimsa and fulfilling our dharma

66
Q

Moral responsibility

A

Having a duty to do good things rather than bad things in the world

67
Q

Sanatana Dharma

A

Duty performed according to eternal religious principles

68
Q

Varnashrama Dharma

A

Duty based on personal inclinations and talents (Varnas) and stages in life (Ashramas)

69
Q

Varnas

A

Fields of work based of natural inclinations & talents

70
Q

Brahmins

A

Know about Brahman, teach scripture, guide & advice

e.g. priests, teachers

71
Q

Kṣatriyas

A

Apply law and justice; protect

e.g. warriors, lawyers

72
Q

Vaishyas

A

Generate wealth & keep the economy going

e.g. business people

73
Q

Shudras

A

Support other groups

e.g. they are employed by others

74
Q

Ashrama

A

Stages of life

75
Q

Students (brahmacharya)

A

Study, develop good character, prepare for life

76
Q

Householders (grihastha)

A

Provide for family members,
teach virtues, moral & religious principles

77
Q

Retired (vanaprastha)

A

Focus on spiritual activities

78
Q

Renounced (sannyasis)

A

Devote one’s life to God

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