Hinduism Beliefs Flashcards
When did the Indus civilisation begin?
6000 years ago
When did a civilisation grow on the west of the Indus River and what was the name of it?
4000 years ago and they were called the Persians
What did the Persians refer to the people east of the river Indus?
Hindus as they added an “H” to the Indus River
What did the ancient Greeks call the land of the Hindus
India
Where did the Hindus move to?
The river Ganges
What did the Hindus bring when they came to the river Ganges?
Their culture combining it with the locals
Why did trade in Asia growing help Hinduism spread?
It spread their culture and religion
What countries has Hinduism spread to?
USA, South America, Europe, UK, India, south east Asia and the Caribbean
Why is Hinduism arguably more than a religion?
Because it has a unique culture and identity that has grown over the past 6000 years
What are the 2 main Hindu branches?
Vaishnavism & Shaivism
What are the members of Shaivism called?
Shaivites
What is the most important Hindu scripture & why?
Shruti texts because they have been heard and so are the unquestionable truth and are believed to have come straight from God or people who heard the words directly from God
What are the members of Vaishnavism called?
Vaishnavas
What is the key distinction of Vaishnavism?
Focus their worship on the deity (god) Vishnu who they believe to be the deity responsible for preserving life, morality and order in the world
What is the key distinction of Shaivism?
Focus their worship on the deity (god) Shiva who they believe to be responsible for destruction and recreation/rebirth
What is the second Hindu Scripture
Smriti texts which have been remembered, they are stories poems, etc that are important but have slightly less authority. these texts might have changed over time, been adapted, beem updated, etc.
What are the names of Hindu texts part of the Smriti texts?
The Bhagavad which is “the song of God”, the Ramayana which is the longest poem in teh worl and the Puranas
What are the names of Hindu texts part of the Shruti texts?
the Vedas which is the oldest Hindu texts and the Upanishads which includes Hindu beliefs and philosophy.
What is Nirguna-Brahman?
It means “God without form” and this is the term Hindus use when speaking about Brahman as a force or spirit
What is Saguna-Brahman?
Means “God with form” or shape. The individual manifestations of Brahman in this way are referred to as deities.
What do Hindus believe about the Brahman
They are a limitless, unending, indescribable, gender-less, powerless spirit. they do not have a physical form because they are not a being.
What is Brahman?
The Hindu term for God
What is the Aum symbol?
The symbol is a sound, and represents Brahman
What is Bhagavan?
its used to refer to Brahman with for but in the world of spirits and deities (not in our world)
What is Antaryami?
It means “the God within”`
What type of religion is Hinduism?
Monotheistic
How does the belief in deities influence Hindu life?
-Hindus may devote their worship to a particular deity that they feel a connection with
-Hindus may have a shrine in their home to a particular deity that they feel a connection with
-Hindus may feel that their lives are enriched by the knowledge of Brahman which they gain through the different deities
-Hindus may feel the importance of passing on stories and traditions relating to the different deities to their children
-Hindus may feel strengthened or empowered by the different deities and the stories connected to them
What is the Trimurti?
The three main deities
What does Tri mean in Trimurti?
Three
What does murti mean in Trimurti?
image
What is Brahma?
The creator