Hinduism

Question 1

atman

Answer 1

he soul or self, considered eternal

Question 2

avatara

Answer 2

descent or incarnation of a god, as Krishna and
Rama are avataras of the great God Vishnu

Question 3

Bhagavad Gita

Answer 3

important scripture, containing Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna and summing up the fundamental ideas of Hinduism

Question 4

Brahma

Answer 4

designation for the creator god in Hindu thought

Question 5

Brahman

Answer 5

Hindu term for ultimate reality; the divine source and pervading essence of the universe

Question 6

Brahmanas

Answer 6

ritual commentaries, part of the Vedas

Question 7

Dharma

Answer 7

the cosmic order, social duty, and proper behavior

Question 8

jati

Answer 8

“birth”; one’s caste or closed social group as determined by birth in India

Question 9

karma

Answer 9

“action;’ law that all deeds and thoughts, according
to one’s intentions, will have set consequences, including
rebirth

Question 10

mantra

Answer 10

powerful sacred words, formula, or verse chanted
as a focus for meditation and devotion

Question 11

moksha

Answer 11

liberation from bondage to samsara and karma;
the goal of Hindu spiritual practice

Question 12

Path of Action

Answer 12

Hindu path toward liberation
based on acting according to Dharma, without
desire for the fruits of action (must build up significantly good karma)

Question 13

Path of Devotion

Answer 13

Hindu path toward liberation
based on devotional practices directed toward
one’s god

Question 14

Path of Knowledge

Answer 14

Hindu path toward
liberation based on knowledge, emphasizing meditation

Question 15

rebirth

Answer 15

belief that after the death of its body the soul
takes on another body, determined by karma

Question 16

Rig Veda

Answer 16

the earliest and most important collection of Vedic hymns

Question 17

samsara

Answer 17

the rebirth cycle of existence

Question 18

Shiva

Answer 18

one of the two great Gods, symbolized by the lingam; focus of the Shaivite devotional movement

Question 19

Shruti

Answer 19

“that which is heard;’ the eternal truth, that is, the Vedas

Question 20

Smriti

Answer 20

“that which is remembered,” the tradition, that is, the scriptural writings after the Vedas

Question 21

Upanishads

Answer 21

collection of teachings about the self and ultimate reality that makes up the last part of the Veda
(Shruti)

Question 22

Vedas

Answer 22

most important scriptures of Hinduism, the Shruti;
they consist of the Samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas,
and Upanishads

Question 23

Vishnu

Answer 23

one of the two great Gods, worshiped also in his
avataras Rama and Krishna

Question 24

bhakti

Answer 24

devotion, self-surrender to one’s god (worship of the gods; one of the paths for attaining moksha)