Hinduism Flashcards
What is Artha?
Artha: Earning in proportion to one’s need: Artha (wealth) is a basic requirement for existence in this world, not an end in it.
What is an avatar?
Avatar: The incarnation of a deity in human or animal form to counteract an evil in the world.
What are the four ends of life?
Four ends of life: Four proper goals or aims of a human life. (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha).
Karma: The cycle of cause and effect.
Dharma: The religious and moral law governing individual conduct and is one of the four ends of life.
Samsara: Reincarnation, the idea that after we die our soul will be reborn again in another body.
Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth (samsara).
What is Brahman?
Brahman: Supreme existence or absolute reality.
What is reincarnation?
Reincarnation: The religious or philosophical belief that the soul or spirit, after biological death, begins a new life in a new body that may be human, animal or spiritual depending on the moral quality of the previous life’s actions.
What are the 7 core beliefs?
Belief in one universal soul: Brahman (the material that makes up the universe), Belief in an immortal individual (atman, transmigration), Belief in karma, Belief in moksha (back to Brahman), Belief in the 4 vedas, Belief in cyclical time, Belief in dharma (maintains balance in the universe, its your purpose.)
What are the 6 temptations?
6 Temptations:
Mada (pride), matsarya (jealousy), moha (unrealistic attatchment to things, people, etc), Lobha (greed), Krodha (anger), kama (lust and materialism).
Who are the 3 main Gods and their consorts?
Brahma and consorts: The creator, made everything but not the universe, 4 heads for the 4 vedas. Saraswati is his consort, goddess of companion and learning.
Vishnu and consorts: Preserver, preserve the world and has many avatars. 2 consorts Goddess of Earth Lakshini, and Goddess of good fortune Bhu Devi.
Shiva and consorts: The destroyer, detroys the universe to prepare for its renewal. At the end of Gali yuga shiva performs a dance that destroys the universe. Paravatic and Sati are shivas concorts. Muragen and Ganesha are his sons, God of war and remover of obstacles.
Whats the cast-system?
Cast system: Brahmins (Priests), Kshatriyas (Warriors), Vaishya (traders), shudras (labourers), untouchables (handle impure jobs, like handling meat).
What are the sub-classes in hinduism.
Vaishnavas: Worships Vishnu
Shaivas: Worships shiva
Shakta: Worships devi, a feminine version of Brahma.
Smartas: Follow the sacred text and worship 5 Gods, avatar of Vishnu, Ganesha, Durga, shiva and surya.
What is the shruti and what does it contain?
Shruti: That which is heard and transmitted by Earthly sages, basically the vedas.
Veda: Divine or sacred knowledge, a true expression of spirituality.
Sanshita: Hymns or structured combinations of verses.
Liturgies: Rituals and ceremonies.
Arayanas: Philosophy behind the rituals.
What is smriti?
Smriti: That which is remembered, like the stories and epics.
What are the 10 main upanishads?
10 main Upanishads: Rig: Aitariya. Yajur: Kirshna = Katha, Taittiriya and Shukla = Isa, Brhadaranyaka. Sama = Kera and Chandogya. Atharva = Prasna, Mundaka, Mandukya.
What are the vedas?
Rig Veda: Collection of songs
Yajur Veda: Sacrifical rights and rituals
Sama Veda: Sweet song that destroys sorrow.
Atharva Veda: Curses and charms.
Upanishads: Sequels for clarification, books on philosophy…
Bhagavada Gita: Important war story about the importance of Dharma.
Puranas: Encyclopedia of Hindu beliefs
Ramayana: About Prince Raman, theme about dharma.
Mahabhanta: Largest poem in the world – again dharma theme.
