Hindu Beliefs Flashcards
What kind of God is Brahman?
Brahman is a panentheistic God - it interpenetrates every part of nature and extends beyond it infinitely.
What is Saguna Brahman?
The aspect of Brahman seen in creation and life.
What is Nirguna Brahman?
The aspect of Brahman that remains hidden - the divine consciousness.
What are the three aspects of the divine?
1) Brahman
2) God within the heart - Antaryami
3) As personal deities - Bhagavan
What is the name of the spiritual realm where the bhagavan dwell?
Vaikuntha.
Give the names and roles of the tri-murti.
1) Brahma - Creator
2) Vishnu - Preserver
3) Shiva - Destroyer / Transformer
What is Brahma often pictured with?
1) A book representing the Vedas showing he is guided by them
2) A spoon representing a sacrificial ladle showing he is often responsible for offerings during worship
3) A string of beads representing a mala (used in meditation)
4) A water pot representing the water of life showing his part in creation
5) The lotus, a symbol of purity
Who is Saraswati?
The consort of Brahma, Goddess of music, knowledge, art and learning. She is often pictured with the lotus flower and the swan.
What is the swan a symbol of?
Justice, as they are thought to be able separate water from milk showing the ability to discriminate and serve justice to everyone.
What is the Om / Aum?
The first sound, a symbol of Brahman.
Why is Vishnu special?
1) He represents the soul of the entire universe
2) He gave birth to Brahma who created the universe
3) He enters the heart of every living being to become ‘the lord within’
4) He is worshipped through avatars such as Rama and Krishna
Who is Krishna?
The 8th avatar of Vishnu, a cowherd, charioteer and statesman who shrewdly changed the rules. His complete dedication to his favourite gopi (milkmaid) represents the never-ending love of God for his follower. He is also the charioteer of Prince Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita.
Who is Rama?
The hero of the Ramayana - he along with his wife Sita and the monkey king Hanuman defeated Ravanna (the demon king of Sri Lanka). This story is thought to not be literal, but an allegory for the battle within the hearts of all between light and darkness. Their triumph is remembered every year at Divali.
Who is Lakshmi?
The consort of Vishnu, Goddess of wealth, light, good fortune, prosperity and love. She became Sita in the story of the Ramayana and is associated with unconditional forgiveness.
What is Vaishnavism?
Vaishnavism is a tradition within Hinduism that focuses on the worship of Vishnu and his avatars. It is increasingly popular in the UK due to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). They focus on prayer through mantras and are sometimes described as dualists as some doubt the unity of the atman (self) and the Supreme Being.
What is the general term for Goddess, meaning energy?
Shakti.
Who are the forms of Shakti?
1) Parvati - Shiva’s companion, sometimes known as the Mother Goddess
2) Durga - Similar in many ways to Shiva with his destructive and reproductive powers
3) Kali - The Dark One, a symbol of the power of Nature, to be respected and feared
What is Shaivism?
Shaivism is the second largest tradition in Hinduism after Vaishnavism, they are often ascetics aiming for liberation through complete detachment. They believe that the atman and the Supreme Being are one.
According to Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 391, how many Gods are there?
There are equally thousands of Gods and one God, as all Gods are just aspects of Brahman - the Ultimate Reality.
Who is Ganesha?
The son of Shiva and Parvati, the elephant headed God and the remover of obstacles.
What is the Hindu understanding of time?
It’s cyclical, repeating cycles of 4 yugas, each shorter and more corrupt than the last. Each cycle lasts 4,320,000 years total.
What is the role of Vishnu’s 10th avatar?
Kalki will come to the Earth at the end of the last yuga (our current yuga) and kill off the remaining evil and evil-doers of the world, restarting the cycle.
How long is each yuga?
The yuga of gold - 1,728,000 years
The yuga of silver - 1,296,000 years
The yuga of copper - 864,000 years
The yuga of iron - 432,000 years
How do Hindus understand the universe?
It’s like a cluster of bubbles floating in space created from Vishnu’s breath. In each universe there is an upper realm, an earthly realm and a lower realm, with every form of creation fitting into these realms.
