Hindu test Flashcards
define polytheistic
characterized belief that there is more than one god
define monotheistic
characterized belief that there is only one god
define monistic
the belief that there is only one kind of ultimate substance
meaning of Hindu
from the Persian “river” they call their religion “eternal truth”
what is the significance of Nepal?
it is the only nation with Hindu as there national religion
what is the name of the spiritual leaders
guru or sage
what is the original language?
Sanskrit
what is the purpose of life
to attain freedom (moksa) from reincarnation if you have unresolved kram you are reincarnation and if you do not have any you won’t be reincarnation and attain freedom or moksa
what are the 3 depts?
to god, to the sages and saints and ancestors
what are the 4 stages of life?
student - grow and learn
spouse - marriage family and career
seeker - turns attention to spiritual things
devotees - abandon the world to seek spiritual things
what does the first hindu scritpture praise
praises the spirit of natural forces
who is brahman
has no form or quality, the soul of the universe
meaning of Trimurti
Sanskrit for three forms
Identify the 3 gods of the Trinity and what each represents
Brahma - as a creator of the universe
Vishnu - maintains the universe’s balance
Shiva - the cycle of creation and destruction
what do Brahma’s four faces represent
the four Vedas
vishnu’s avatar
returns to earth during troubled times to restore the balance
what are Shiva’s symbols?
serpent - no fear
crescent - spiritual wisdom
3rd eye - supernatural insight
trident - sattva; goodness, rajas; passion, tamas; ignorance
what does Ganesha help people overcome?
he helps people overcome obstacles and new projects in their works
what is Saraswati the goddess of
knowledge, music and flowing water
Who is shiva “husband” and what does she have that connects her to him
brahma is her husband and she is depicted with four arms (mirroring her husband)
what do the rosary and water pot represent
rosary - the power of meditation
water pot - the purifying power to separate right and wrong
how many avatars does Vishnu have
they manifest through 10 avatars
who is the 8th avatar of Vishnu?
Krishna is commonly seen as one of the most important avatars. and came to earth with the lesson that humans can be one with god
who is the last avatar and what will he do
Kalki hasn’t appeared but when he does he will destroy the demon Kail
what is kails purpose
embodies creation and destruction in one entity
what is shakti
Kail symbolizes Shakti the divine feminine energy
what is Kail worshiped for
strength protection and liberation from the birth and death cycle
what does kails trident represent
represents their ability to eradicate ignorance, want and ego
what three animals represent kail divine power, authority and nature
tiger represents strength
lion represents majesty
Jackel ability to challenge life
what is Lakshmi the goddess of
wealth and prosperity
what event did Lakshmi emerge from
the event of churring ocean
what god is Rama connected with
Vishnu
what is Rama’s purpose?
destined to defect the demon Ravana
what values are associated with Rama
chivalry and virtue
what goddess is sita connected with
Lakshmi
what does sita represent
the ideal wife and woman in the Sanskrit tale
what values are associated with sita
beauty and wealth
what does Diwali mean
comes from the word ‘Deepavali’ which means a row of lights
what god is Diwali dedicated to
Lakshmi
what do Hindus do on day one of Diwali
clean their homes and shop for gold to bring them good fortune
what do Hindus do on day five of Diwali
brothers vist married sisters where they are welcomed with love and a lavish meal
what time of year is Diwali
mid-October and mid-November
what do the colours of hoil represent
red; love and Fertility
yellow; turmeric medical properties
green; spring
blue; the divine
what time of year is Hoil
in March and for the arrival of spring
what god/goddess is Hoil connected to
Radha and Krishna celebrate their eternal love
purpose of Hoil
combining religion, cultural and social significance
meaning of the Vedas
means knowledge in Sanskrit is the oldest text in Hinduism
smriti meaning
“memory” and is distinguished from Shruti in terms of its origin
shiurt meaning
“heard” and consists of what Hindus believe to be eternal truths related to natural law.
Who presents the lessons in the Bhagavad Gita?
believed to reveal a number of truths and life lessons by Krishna, who Hindus believe to be an incarnation of the Divine
