Hinduism Flashcards by Grace Hull

The Vedas

Collection of early texts composed of Hymns

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Shruti

Author-less, eternal, no origin, revealed by deities. The Vedas

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Hymns

Intended to be chanted or sung, sacrificial. By Brahmins

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Brahmins

Hindu priests, only ones who can recite the Vedas

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Rig Veda

Oldest and most famous collection

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Epics

Meaningful to those in lower caste system, oral traditions, parable style stories (have lessons)

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The Ramayana

An epic, Prince Rama is banished from home because his dad’s first wife had one wish and she used it to banish him. He left with his wife, and his wife then got taken by a demon. He went on a journey to find her, thought she cheated on him and made her lay on fire. She came out unscathed = innocent. Moral of story: remain loyal to family and each other.

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Mahabharata

-An epic, longest epic poem.
-Final Sections: Bhagavad Gita - Prince Arjuna finds his dharma but doesn’t want to kill people. He is visited by lord Krishna who tells him to complete his dharma.

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Puranas

-Build up of Vedas and Upanishads.
-Narratives and biographies of Divinities.
-Sexual and sensual pleasure

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Hijra

-Born a male, identifies as the third gender, and has spiritual powers.
-Was imprisoned by the British

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Cosmology

-Part of Puranas
-Theory of Cosmos, explored cosmology life cycles
-4 Yugas (Phases)

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Golden Yuga

-First phase of Cosmology
-Dharma very visible
-Long life spans
-Cosmos virtually perfect

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Silver Yuga

-Second phase of Cosmology
-Start to get some cracks in the system
-Start acting unethically

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Iron Yuga

-Third phase of Cosmology
Evil more common than good
Bloodshed, violence, and war

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Kali Yuga

-Final stage of Cosmology
-War, bloodshed, and violence are normalized
-Worst of the worst
-End of Cosmos
We are in this stage

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Dharma

-One’s purpose
-Depends on Caste System
-Foundation of the good life

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Artha

-Success in all worldly activities
-Included success in power (like financial power)

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Karma

-Love and sensual pleasure
-Karma Sutra - Manual on how to achieve love and sensual pleasure

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Moksha

-Returning to Brahman
-Not realistic for most of us (other than Brahmins)

Samsara

-Cycle of reincarnation
-This is bad … We want out
-Body released into Samsara when it dies and ataman reincarnated into a new body. Repeated until we reach Moksha

Upanishads

-Series of conversations between a guru and student
-Shruti (eternal)

Brahman

-Upanishads
-The infinite light, the One, the Great Reality
-Beginning there was only Brahman, then an explosion happened, pieces went everywhere (ataman)
-Unity –> Diversion

Ataman

-“Self” or “Soul”
-Only real thing, everything else is an illusion (Maya - temporary/illusionary)

Adraita

-No dual life
-Everyone is equal
-Race, sex, and identity do not matter

Karma

-the action and the result of the action -Decides your rebirth -To get good karma you must perform your dharma - Ultimate goal is Moksha - time and space will cease to exist

Moksha

-Ataman is not reborn -Escape samsara -Time and space cease to exist -Infinity will exist again

Upanishads - Caste System

-Helped people reach their dharma -everyone has a role to play -born into caste

Brahmana

-highest form of existence in caste system -closest to moksha

Kshatriya

- 2nd highest in the caste system -leaders, ruler, governors, royal family, warriors

Vaishya

- Middle of the caste system -Merchants and artisans (middle class)

Shudra

-Second lowest -Most amount of work for least amount of pay -Peasentry

Dalits

-Worst of the worst in the caste system -"Untouchables" -Can't look in their eyes or touch them or they could infect you with their bad karma

Life of a Brahmin

-1-25: Celibate, life of study -25-50: Get married, have kids, provide for family, get a job -50-75: Pull away from material items, return to a life of study, the wife becomes the householder and must make the money -75: Becomes the ultimate (Sunnyasin), renounces the world, lives homeless. Life of wandering and meditation

Hindu Rituals

-Yoga -Darshan -Aarti -Puja

Darshan

-"Mutual seeing" -look at the deity and stare into his eyes silently, ones feels spiritual connection to deity

Aarti

-Brahmin makes offerings (like food) to gods - Prasad -Lay candles or flame in front of the statues

Puja

-Public worship (temples and shrines) -led by Brahmins

Raja Yoga

-Only physical yoga -Mental concentration -Chakras- stretching movements to clear energy blockages -Om-sound you make, the sound of the universe at creation -Samadhi- goal, intense concentration

Jnana Yoga

-More academic -Between a guru and a student

Karma Yoga

-Takes you to Samadhi (intense concentration) -Think about karmic actions

Bhakti Yoga

-Most performed -Worship in temples or shrines at home -Praying

Deities

-Tens of thousands of gods in Hinduism -Trimurti - "the Hindu Trinity" - Past Present and Future

Brahma

-god of creation -Partner = Saraswati - goddess of knowledge

Vishnu

-god of prescription -Partner = Lakshmi - goddess of beauty

Shira

-god of destruction -Partner= Ganesh - goddess of power

Avatars

-all deities/gods can be understood as this -the incarnation of Brahman