Hindu practices

Question 1

Puja

Answer 1

worship

Question 2

Bhakti

Answer 2

to give love and devotion to Brahman or a deity

Question 3

Murti

Answer 3

a statue or image of a deity used in worship

Question 4

shrine

Answer 4

a sacred space usually in the home used for wordhip

Question 5

mandir

Answer 5

temple

Question 6

darshan

Answer 6

viewing a holy image or statue or site

Question 7

guru

Answer 7

holy teachers who offer guidance and teaching

Question 8

pilgrimage

Answer 8

a journey to/around a sacred place or a place of religious importance

Question 9

pilgrim

Answer 9

a person who goes on a pilgrimage

Question 10

penance

Answer 10

doing something to make up for something/rid yourself of bad karma

Question 11

yoga

Answer 11

spiritual pathway a person follows through life

Question 12

karma yoga

Answer 12

the path of selfless action

Question 13

astanga yoga

Answer 13

the path of meditation

Question 14

bhakti yoga

Answer 14

the path of devotion

Question 15

jnana yoga

Answer 15

the path of knowledge

Question 16

festival

Answer 16

religious celebration, usually remembering a particular event or deity

Question 17

diwali

Answer 17

hindu new year festival in october/november. celebrating the deity lakshmi and the story of rama and sita

Question 18

Holi

Answer 18

Hindu spring festival in February/March. Celebrating good overcoming evil and the story of Prahlada

Question 19

Ahimsa

Answer 19

Non-violence towards humans,animals and the environment

Question 20

Stewardship

Answer 20

the belief that the world belongs to god and humans have a responsibility to care for it

Question 21

Sustainability

Answer 21

Only using natural resources at a rate at which they can be replaced

Question 22

Goshalla

Answer 22

A cow sanctuary, caring for cows that are sick and/or old

Question 23

Tree Hugging

Answer 23

A form of protest where people link arms around a tree to prevent it being cut down

Question 24

Social Justice

Answer 24

Ensuring that society is fair to all people

Question 25

Inclusion

Answer 25

Ensuring that all people are equally valued and included in society

Question 26

Dana

Answer 26

Giving: 4 ways to give; give to family, give to society, give to the world, give to God

Question 27

Sewa

Answer 27

Selfless service: Hinduism teaches that part of dana is selfless service to those in need

Question 28

Arati ceremony

Answer 28

Main ceremony to happen in a temple. Hindus show love & devotion to the deities by waving candles at murtis and singing prayers. Symbolises receiving blessings from deities, offering everything they have to the deity as sometimes offering are made in the ceremony

Question 29

Havan ceremony

Answer 29

Fire sacrificed performed to the deity Agni (God of fire). The fire cleanses bad energy and allows them to focus more on Brahman and less on material in the world.

Question 30

Japa/Mantra

Answer 30

Mantra is a chant and Japa describes the action of changing. A string of beads is used to count how many times the prayer is sang through. Japa focuses the mind on God and forget everything else in the world.

Question 31

Bhajan/Kirtan

Answer 31

Singing hymns or prayers. Kirtan is singing a song to tell a story (like Rama and Sita). Normally done as a group event

Question 32

Ashram

Answer 32

A place where Hindus live together away from the rest of society

Question 33

Sadhu

Answer 33

An ascetic

Question 34

Circumambulation

Answer 34

Walking around a holy site, often whilst chanting or praying

Question 35

Celibacy

Answer 35

Giving up sexual activity whilst on pilgrimage as a sign of commitment to God

Question 36

Varanasi

Answer 36

Pilgrimage site, where Earth and heaven meet, built on the river Ganges, believe to be founded by Shiva, lots of people go when close to death as it will give their atman a greater chance of reaching Moksha

Question 37

Ghat

Answer 37

A series of steps leading down to a body of water