Hindu Holy Places

Question 1

How many rivers are there in India?

Answer 1

There are seven sacred rivers in India

Question 2

What is the most sacred river in India?

Answer 2

The most sacred river is the Ganges

Question 3

What do Hindus believe bathing in any of the sacred rivers will do?

Answer 3

Bathing in any of them removes bad karma (all the actions performed in a Hindus lifetime whether good or bad)

Question 4

What is reincarnation?

Answer 4

The cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth

Question 5

If a person’s ashes are scattered on the waters the soul will move into the next life with the hope of being released from ______________

Answer 5

reincarnation

Question 6

If a person calls out Ganga, Ganga within 35 miles or 55 km of the river, What will happen?

Answer 6

It will make amends for sins committed in their past lives

Question 7

What is moksha?

Answer 7

The final release from reincarnation is called moksha it is the liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth

Question 8

Why are mountains holy for Hindus?

Answer 8

Mountains are holy because gods live in their peak.

Question 9

Who do Hindus say live in the mountains?

Answer 9

Shiva who lives in the Himalayan Mountains. The source of the river Ganges is also there.

Question 10

What is the Varanasi (Benares)?

Answer 10

The most sacred and important city for Hindus is Varanasi or Benares.

Question 11

Why is the Varanasi (Benares) holy?

Answer 11

It is holy because Shiva once lived there and also because the Ganges met his tributary (another body of water) the Varuna there.

Question 12

Where is the Varanasi (Benares) located?

Answer 12

It is located on the banks of the Ganges

Question 13

What are the rituals Hindus do at the Ganges River?

Answer 13

1. Huge bathing fairs call melas
2. Its waters being used for healing
3. Drinking of the sacred water
4. Hindus taken there to die
5. Cremation of dead bodies
6. The scattering of sacred marigold leaves and human ashes
7. Bathing on the ghats (steps along the river to cleanse the soul from all evil as well as providing refreshment after the long journey to reach the city)
8. Gurus (holy men) sitting on the ghats to teach people about Hinduism
9. Hindus listening to famous teacher
10. Hindus meditating
11. Hindus learning yoga

Question 14

What are the ghats?

Answer 14

Steps along the river to cleanse the soul from all evil