Hinduism Flashcards
Ashrama
-there are 4 ashramas
-bramacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa
-how Hindus organize their lives
-each ahsrama has different goals and responsibilities
to follow
(how do we get there)
Artha
-important aim in human life
-means the “means of life”
-activities and resources that enables a person to
pursue worldly wealth
-part of the 4 ahramas
(how do we get there)
Kama
-signifies desire, wish, passion, emotions, pleasure of
the senses. the aesthetic enjoyment of life, affection,
or love with or without sexual connotations
-anything that brings a sense of delight in our lives
(how do we get there)
Atman
-means “breath” or “self”
-a persons spiritual self or soul
-the eternal essence of each living soul/thing
(human condition/where are we going)
Maya
-means “illusion” or “that which is not”
-the false belief that the body and the physical world
are real/true when in fact the only ultimate reality in
Brahman and our atman
-when we accept the temporary as having lasting value
(human condition/how do we get there)
Brahman
-means “supreme being”
-cosmic soul
-the big soul that all our souls are apart of (if the
universe was a living thing)
(human condition)
Grihastha
-second stage in ashrama
-starts when a student returns from his studies
-will marry and raise a family, earn a living , and
contribute to the community
(how do we get there)
Brahmacharya
-starts when you’re 8
-its the first stage
-time of education in preparation for family life, a
profession for religious duties or other responsibilities
(how do we get there)
Vanaprastha
-the third stage
-starts around 50 (when skin becomes wrinkled)
-will draw from business and household responsibilities
(retirement)
-devotes time to quietness, solitude, and studying
scriptures
(how do we get there)
Purushartha
-comes from 2 words one meaning “person” or “self”
and the other means “goals/aims” or “purpose”
- the aims or goals of a human life that each Hindu
person ought to strive for throughout this and all lives
-must do these to have a happy life
-that 4 are dharma. artha, kama, moksha
(how do we get there)
Hanuman
-lord of winds
-know as the monkey king
-has the head of a monkey
-ability to change sizes
-he can fly
(human condition)
Ahimsa
-the act of not being violent
-choosing peace
(how do we get there)
Sannyasa
-the last stage of ashrama
-starts when you’re 75
-turns away the world completely to become as close
as possible to god
-they break off ties with family and friends and give up
all property and wealth
(how do we get there)
Purusha*
- means “person” or “self”
-the first god?
-has thousands of heads, eyes and feet
-god of immortality
produced the universe
-who the caste system is made out of
(human condition)
Dharma
-the religious duties/moral rights a person must follow
-part of the 4 purusharthas
(how do we get there)
Raja Yoga
-path of meditation
-what you think of when you imagine yoga
-turning mental/physical energy into spiritual energy
-physical rituals and meditation
(how do we get there)
Jnana Yoga
-the path to wisdom
-deep meditation to experience a connection with
Brahman
-study the Vedas under a guru
-life necessities must be minimizes
-hardest to practice
(how do we get there)
Caste System
-has 5 parts
-brahmin, kshatriyas, vaishyas, shudras, dalits
-dalits aren’t even part of the system
-based on the job/you are born into it
-can’t get out of your caste
(human condition/how do we get there)
Shiva
-one of the oldest gods of India
-god of destruction, regeneration and transformation
-associated with deer and snakes
-part of the great Hindu trinity
(human condition)
Vishnu
-protects everything
-blue with for arms
-has ten other forms
-holds a lotus flower, mase, shell, discus
-depicted sleeping in the coils of a giant snake floating on a cosmic ocean
-part of the great Hindu trinity
(human condition)
Vaishya
-third on the caste system
-the business community
-came from the brahmas thighs
(human condition)
Brahma
-creator of the world/all things in it
-has 4 heads to watch over things
-keeper of the Vedas
-has no weapons, but he carries a carafe of water
(contains the source of life)
-has a trident and a drum
-holds a lotus, carafe, rosery and the Vedas
-part of the great Hindu trinity
(human condition)
Lakshmi
-goddess of wealth and happiness
-very beautiful
-best known for good luck
-has 4 arms
-holds 2 lotus flowers, the aum symbol and gifts of
prosperity
(human condition)
Ganesha
-lord of all living things
-has the head of an elephant
-has 4 arms
-head was cut off by Shiva
-brings good luck and clears obstacles
(human condition)
Saraswati
-goddess of knowledge and the arts
-first goddess to be worshipped in Hinduism
-symbolizes independent women
-has 4 arms
-carries a pearl mala
(human condition)
Varna
-another word for caste
human condition
Deity
-another word/a name for a god
human condition
Reincarnation
-the religious belief that the soul, after death of the body, can begin a new life in a new body
-re means “again”
-carnate means “embodied in the flesh”
(all 3 questions)
Sanskrit
-the name of the language that Hindu words come
from
(human condition)
Sanatana Dharma
-eternal and absolute set of duties or religious
practices that all Hindus must follow
-virtue include: honesty, refraining from killing,
asceticism, patience and generosity
(how do we get there)
Moksha
-the freedom/liberation from the cycle of samsara
-what Hindus strive for
-part of the 4 purusharthas
(where are we going)
Varnashrama Dharma
-describes the particular duties of an individual according to caste
-what might be desirable for one caste may be degrading to another
-the higher on the system the more responsibilities they will have
(how do we get there)
Dalit
-not even on the caste system
-hated on
-untouchables
-do religiously “bad” jobs
-doesn’t come from Brahma at all
(human condition)
Krishna
-a reincarnation of Vishnu
human condition
Samskaras
-a right of passage (usually a ceremony)
-like a milestone
-important events
(how do we get there)
Samsara
-the endless cycle of birth, death and rebirth
all 3 questions
Karma Yoga
-do good deeds, think good thoughts
-focuses on creating good karma
-most authentic way to progress in spiritual life
-the path of selfless action
(how do we get there)
Sudra
-bottom on the caste system
-servants for everyone above them
-came from the Brahmas feet
(human condition)
Karma
-good deeds. words, thoughts lead to beneficial effects
-bad deed, words, thoughts lead to harmful effects
-if you are good you will be rewarded if you are bad you will be punished
-example: if a child has cancer it’s because in their past life they had bad karma
(how do we get there)
Kshatriya
-second on the caste system
-came from Brahmas arms
(human condition)
Brahmin
-at the top of the system
-cames from Brahmas head
-mostly preits and academics
(human condition)
bhakti yoga
- the path of devotion
-easiest way for a common person
-does involve yoga practices
-praise Brahman through prayers
(how do we get there)
henotheistic
-more accurate way to describe Hinduism as henotheistic in thatHindus worship one god without senying the existence of other gods
(human condition)
