Hinduism: Beliefs vocab

Question 1

Indus civilisation

Answer 1

The first civilisations based along the Indus River.

Question 2

River Ganges

Answer 2

Were the Indus Civilisation migrated too.

Question 3

Shruti texts

Answer 3

Texts that are the unquestionable truth.

Question 4

Smriti text

Answer 4

Texts that are less important —> poems/stories etc.

Question 5

Brahman

Answer 5

Hindu term for God.

Question 6

Aum symbol

Answer 6

Represents God throughout everything used in meditation.

Question 7

Monotheism

Answer 7

Belief in one God.

Question 8

Nirguna-Brahman

Answer 8

Give without Form.

Question 9

Saguna-Brahman

Answer 9

God with Form.

Question 10

Deities

Answer 10

The manifestation of Brahman.

Question 11

Bhagavan

Answer 11

God without does -> in spirit world.

Question 12

Antaryami

Answer 12

God within

Question 13

Ganesha

Answer 13

Elephant head - chopped off + found baby elephant. Nicked his head. (Poor dumbo)

Question 14

Hanuman

Answer 14

Monkey God

Question 15

Parvati

Answer 15

Reincarnation of sati, perfect motherhood. Consort of shiva.

Question 16

Saraswati

Answer 16

Consort of Brahma, Goddess of learning.

Question 17

Lakshmi

Answer 17

Worshipped at Diwali. Representative of prosperity and beauty.

Question 18

The Trimurti

Answer 18

3 most important manifestations of God. Shiva, Vishnu, Brahma.

Question 19

Brahma

Answer 19

Created everything on the world.

Question 20

Shiva

Answer 20

Watches over + rules creation + destruction.

Question 21

Maya

Answer 21

Illusion/distraction from God.

Question 22

Ascetic

Answer 22

Particularly dedicated Hindu - No posessions.

Question 23

Shaivism

Answer 23

People dedicated to shiva.

Question 24

Vishnu

Answer 24

Deity with 10 avators

Question 25

Vaishnavism

Answer 25

Hindus specifically dedicated to Vishnu.

Question 26

Avatar

Answer 26

One of the forms Vishnu takes to restore balance between Dharma (virtue/good) and Adharma (evil)

Question 27

Rama

Answer 27

Avatar who saved Sita from The ten headed demon ravana.

Question 28

Ramayana

Answer 28

The book in which the story of Rama + sita is

Question 29

Sita

Answer 29

The princess (wife of Rama) who was kidnapped by Ravanna.

Question 30

Krishna

Answer 30

One of the best known avatars of Vishnu. Known for making peace in the kurukshetra war and teaching about ahimsa.

Question 31

The kurukshetra war

Answer 31

A war between two nations which was ended by Krishna’s interference. Krishna taught soldiers from both sides about dharma and living honourable lives, which caused the fighting to be called off.

Question 32

The 4 aims of life

Answer 32

Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha

Question 33

Artha

Answer 33

Earning a lawful living through honest means. For many Hindus, this also means using their wealth to help others.

Question 34

Kama

Answer 34

Enjoying life responsibility and having a positive outlook.

Question 35

Moksha

Answer 35

The soul joining with Brahman after death. Hindus believe that souls are reincarnated and live many lives. The ultimate aim is for the cycle to end and the soul to be released back to God - Brahman

Question 36

Dharma

Answer 36

Virtue -> good virtue

Question 37

Sanatana Dharma

Answer 37

6 personal virtues, sustaining -> apply to everyone

Question 38

Varnashrama dharma

Answer 38

Responsibility depending on age, status, job etc…

Question 39

Varna

Answer 39

The duties that a Hindu should follow at different stages of their life.

Question 40

Free will

Answer 40

The idea that everybody is in control of their own decisions and so it is up to them to do good things so they can end up achieving Moksha.

Question 41

The 6 personal virtues

Answer 41

Ahimsa, Love, humility, control, empathy, respect

Question 42

Ahimsa

Answer 42

Non harm to all living things. Eg. Live peaceful, perhaps vegetarian.

Question 43

Atman

Answer 43

Eternal soul

Question 44

Transmigration.

Answer 44

Movement of atman from one body to the next.

Question 45

Samsara cycle

Answer 45

Continuous cycle of birth > life > death that the Atman goes through

Question 46

The law of karma

Answer 46

Good actions = good consequences Bad actions = bad consequences

Question 47

Reincarnation/rebirth

Answer 47

Atman taking on a physical body

Question 48

Punya

Answer 48

Merit

Question 49

Papa

Answer 49

Sin

Question 50

Prakriti

Answer 50

Physical matter

Question 51

Purusa

Answer 51

Spirit

Question 52

Jiva

Answer 52

Only concerned with bodily needs and appetites

Question 53

Maya

Answer 53

Evil illusions

Question 54

Cosmology

Answer 54

Ideas and beliefs about the universe

Question 55

The cycle of 4 ages

Answer 55

Hindus believe that the universe has 4 cycles, once all 4 are completed, it starts again.

Question 56

Yuga

Answer 56

‘Era’

Question 57

Golden yuga

Answer 57

Original age

Question 58

Silver yuga

Answer 58

Second age, people start dying

Question 59

Copper yuga

Answer 59

War and battle

Question 60

Iron yuga

Answer 60

Industrialism + everything wrong with the world.

Question 61

Kalki

Answer 61

Avatar of Vishnu who appears at the end of the cycle of 4 ages to destroy and recreate the universe

Question 62

Tri-guna

Answer 62

3 stages that all matter goes through- creation, maintenance and destruction.