Hinduism Flashcards
Shiva chops off his head and replaces with an elephant head. Represents new beginnings.
Ganesha
Devotional and ritualistic practices
Bhakti Practices
Offering using a murti (represent deities)
Puja
Ritualistic practice of waving a fire
Aarti
Umbrella term to describe covering all diversity within the Hindu gods
Ecumenical Hinduism
Are the gods all brahman? yes/no
-Monistic Hindus:
-Dualistic Hundus:
Monistic Hindus: Yes, all gods are connected to brahman, it doesn’t matter which god you worship.
Dualistic Hindus: No, Individual gods matter in worship.
Sound of Brahman to connect to ultimate reality
OM (AUM) Sound
Is nature Important in Hinduism?
Yes, there are many rituals that take place in nature. Despite diversity in Hinduism, the sacredness of nature is experienced throughout all sects.
-ex. Bathing in the Ganges river
Cycle of reincarnation, death, birth and rebirth
Samsara
Soul that goes through Samsara
Atman
Ultimate goal, salvation from getting stuck in samsara.
Moksha
Good actions= Good rewards, Bad actions= bad rewards
-Affects rebirth/reincarnation
Karma
Ones duty, to do actions that you are given
-Ex. gender roles, caste system
Dharma
1 in caste system
Brahmin priests +academics.
-represents the mouth
2 in caste system
2) Kshatriya : Warriors/ Kings
- represents arms (muscle)
3 in caste system
3) Vaishya: Business community
- Represents the thighs
4 in caste system
4) Kshudra: Servants and subordinates
- represents the feet
6 in caste system
6) Outcasts: untouchables (The Dalit).
- Deserved this position due to Karma.
What are all of the caste classes?
1) Brahmin priests: Priests/ academics
2) Kshatriya: Warriors/Kings
3) Vaishya: Business community
4) Kshudra: Servants/subordinates
5) Outcasts: The Dalit, untouchables
What are the three spiritual paths?
1) Path of devotion (bhakti)
2) Path of action (Karma, dharma)
3) Path of Knowledge (Jnana)
-More elite
-Can choose multiple paths
Where are some places that Hindus can practice their religion?
At the community temple (Mandir) and home alters for devotional practices
The concept of visiting, seeing and being seen by the god.
-Importance of material dimension, presence
Darshan
Brahmin Priests
Takes care of temple/god. Must be born into a higher caste
Renounces society, simple living, alternative route to get to moksha
-Fasting, extremes, upper caste men
-Also called wondering holy men
-Yogis
A Sannyasi
What are the stages of life?
- Student
2.Householder - Hermit
- Sannyasi
Techniques to quiet the body for mental concentration
-Body positions (asanas), breath control, mantras
Yoga
What are the goals of Yoga?
Union of atman and brahman, liberation from karma, better rebirth, moksha
The goals of life
- Dharma
- Pleasure
- Prosperity
- Moksha
Main three deities
Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti
Shiva
Worshipped by shaivas
Presented as a yogi/sannyasi
Family man, parvati and ganesha
Lingam stone is a representation
Vishnu
-Worshipped by vaishnavas
-Incarcerations: Krishna and Rama
Shakti (Devi)
-Worshipped by Shaktas
-Kali= War and destruction
-Durga= More beautiful but still harsh
The cycle of the universe
Shiva destroys, Vishnu preserves, Brahma (NOT BRAHMAN) creates again
Types of Hindi texts
1) Revealed texts (Shruti): Most ancient, most sacred, telling from gods directly
2) Recollected texts (Shmriti): Epics, told from humans, not as sacred.
Two revealed texts (Shruti)
- Vedas: Sacred hymns and ritual instructions, most ancient
- Vedic gods: Agni (god of fire) and Indra (god of thunder) - Upanishads: Philosophical concepts (second most ancient). Sacred.
What are the Recollected texts in Hinduism?
1) Ramayana (Ramas Journey), Ideal characters
- Be a good husband/wife and uphold social roles
2) Mahabharata (longest epic): Battle for the throne.
-Chapter: Bhagavad Gita (song of the lord) with Krishna and Bhakti
