Hinduism Flashcards
Is Hinduism polytheistic?
No, it is monotheistic, with many deities, and the Ultimate Reality (Brahman)
Briefly describe the history
The Indus Valley Civilization started more than 5000 years ago. Aryans entered 1000 years after, and the Vedic Tradition was introduced (polytheism, Vedas, and the caste system). Upanishads philosophy developed after, with Hinduism developing from Vedic Tradition and Upanishads.
Shruti?
Revealed texts, in four books of the Vedas. Consists of myths, rituals, and chants. Along with the Upanishads, philosophy.
Smriti?
Remembered texts, the epics. Like the Ramayana, and Mahabharata.
Darsan?
“Seeing” the deity (not idol worship)
Prasad?
Taking the divine within your own being through eating of food shared with the deity
Atman?
The human soul/spirit, identical to Brahman (universal soul). A Hindu’s goal is to reunite with their atman with Brahman.
Dharma?
Personal conduct and righteous living
- A Hindu’s religious moral and righteous duty of the welfare for their family/society.
Samsara?
Endless cycle of reincarnation
Karma?
Basic belief of cause and effect, totality of one’s life determining the form they will take in their next life
Moksha?
Liberation from samsara and reuniting with Brahman through honest and moral actions (good karma)
Brahman?
Supreme being and soul of the universe
- No form, qualities, or attributes
- Divine, invisible, unlimited
Brahma?
- Creator of the universe , part of Trinity (creator God)
- No one created him
- Closest to Brahman (due to his name)
Features: four faces/arms, no weapon, lotus, long white beard
Sarasvati?
- Wife of Brahma
- Goddess: Knowledge and learning, arts, speech and communication, wisdom
- Drive away darkness
Features: veena (instrument), white (purity), lotus, swan
Sri Vishnu?
- Preserver of the universe, part of Trinity
- Brings salvation
- God: forgiveness, and compassion
Features: bow and arrow, blue, swastika on chest, snake
Notable avatars: Rama, Krishna, Buddha
Lakshmi?
- Wife of Vishnu
- Goddess: wealth, happiness, good wealth, beauty
Features: two red lotuses in two hands, lotus, elephant, red
Shiva?
- Destroyer and restorer of universe, part of Trinity
- God of Dance
- Creative and sensual
- Started off as Ruda (small deity)
- Creates chance
Features: fire, dancing, trident, tiger
Paravati?
- Wife of Shiva
- Mother Goddess
Forms (Mata) : Durga (Warrior), Kali (Destruction, Gauri
Features: Two hands with red and blue lotuses, two hands and blue lotus with Shiva Durga= tiger with lotus, Kali= tongue out
Ganesha?
- God: success
- Remover of obstacles
- Son of Shiva and Parvati
Features: elephant
Rama?
- Reincarnation of Vishnu
- Wife= Sita
- Ramayana
Features: blue skin, bow and arrow
Hanuman
- Monkey God
- God of physical strength
- In Ramayana
4 Goals of Life?
Dharma, artha, kama, moksha
Artha?
Earning money by honest means to provide for your family
Kama?
Pursuing love and physical pleasures to balance life and sanctify marriage
Four Stages of Hindu Life?
Student, householder, forest dweller, ascetic
Diwali?
- Festival of Lights
- Fireworks, light decorations, gifts and new clothes
- Triumph of good and knowledge over ignorance
- Vegetarian dinner and puja performed
- Honours Lakshmi and Vishnu’s defeat of Naraka
Holi?
- Bonfire night before to burn evil
- Squirt coloured water
- Sweets and other foods
Navrati?
- Goddesses celebrated for three nights each: Durga, Lakshmi, Saraswati
- Tenth day= Day of Victory
Mahshivaratri?
- Dedicated to the worshp of Shiva
- Worship, fast for 24 hours
- Chants, and flower/grain offers
-Water poured over his image from a copper vessel
Gandhi overview?
- Led India’s independence from Britain
- Fought with ‘ahimsa’ (non violence)
- Started in South Africa
- Improved social injustice among minorities (Muslims, women, untouchables)
- Accepted caste system, but not implications and mistreatment
- Assassinated by a fanatic Hindu
Reincarnation?
The soul doesn’t die with the body, but enters another to carry on existence
Maya?
Imperfect world
Student stage?
- Discipline mind and body
- Gain knowledge
- Learn Hinduism rules/rituals
- Respect others
Householder stage?
- Marry and have a family, provide for them (including elders)
- Give to charity
- Practice social/religious traditions
Forest dweller stage?
- Only men
- Retire, give household duties to wife/won
- Read/study
- Pilgrimage
Ascetic stage?
- Give up worldly life
- Wander
- Meditate
- Attain salvation
What is the belief of the caste system?
- Every occupation has a status with it
- The higher the varnas (classes), the purer/closer to God/moksha
Brahmins caste?
- Top
- Priests/advisors /scholars
Kshatriyas caste?
- Second
- Soldiers/rulers/warriors/ leaders
Vaishyas caste?
- Third
- Traders/shopkeepers /farmers
Sudras caste?
- Fourth
- Servants/labourers
- Serve other castes
Untouchables?
- Outside of the caste system
- No job, can’t talk to people in the castes
- Worst jobs, unable to worshipping with other castes
Paths to salvation?
Bhakti, raja, jnana, karma
- Based on the Hindu’s nature/inclination
Bhakti yoga?
- Devotion/love towards a deity
- Simpler, popular
- Representations used to help with worship
- Surrender themselves to deity, sing praises
Karma yoga?
- Good deeds and thoughts= good karma
- Action not done for the reward
Jnana yoga?
- Difficult, needs assistance from guru
- Learn about the relationship between Brahman, atman, and the nature of the universe explained in scripture
- Follow scripture, follow guru’s teachings, meditation
Raja yoga?
- Mediation/deep contemplation on Brahman
- Trance like, acquire knowledge of Truth, become one with Brahman
- Difficult, strict physical/spiritual discipline
Puja?
- Thanksgiving, offerings given to deities
- Offerings put on a tray near a shrine
Offerings: flowers, fruits, incense, water
Books of the Vedas?
Samhitas: deity worship
Brahmanas: ritual sacrifice
Aranyakas: worship/meditation
Upanishads: philosophy
Aum/om? Draw it
- Sankrit
- Represents the earth, atmosphere, and heaven (representing the Trinity)
- Mantra , essence of Ultimate Reality
Swastika? Draw it
- Eternal wheel of life on an unchanged centre (God)
- Good fortune/protection
Sri yantra?
- Focal point for mediation
Lotus?
- Symbolizes the birth of the universe/the sun
Cow?
- Sacred animal
- Provides milk/butter, used in rituals
The Eight Milestones?
Naming of a child, child’s first outing, first solid food, first haircut, thread initiation ceremony, marriage, death/cremation, death anniversary
Naming a child milestone?
- First
- Named by a priest 10 days after birth
- Now usually done by parents
Child’s first outing milestone?
- Second
- Expose child to their surroundings
- New clothes and dab of charcoal applied to protect them from the evil eye
First solid food milestone?
- Third
- 7-8 months after birth, a special prayer for good health/long life
First haircut milestone?
- Fourth
- After six months of birth, hair shaven off (except for front of head)
Thread ceremony milestone?
- Fifth
- Boy of the top 3 castes
- Transitions into the student stage, and study sacred texts
Marriage milestone?
- Sixth
- Bride and groom into householder
Death/cremation milestone?
- Seventh
- Done by a priest, family prepares the body
- Ashes scattered into holy waters
Death anniversary milestone?
- Eighth
- Anniversary of their death, recitation of religious rites by priest
Ahimsa?
Non-violence towards living creatures
Avatar?
Incarnation of a deity in earthly form
Guru?
Spiritual teacher/guide to help achieve moksha
What is the language of Hinduism?
Sanskrit
