Hindusm Beliefs + Practices Flashcards

1
Q

Brahman

A
  • The Hindu word for God
  • ultimate Dalit, limitless, universal soul, beyond human understanding, source of all life
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2
Q

Nirguna-Brahman

A

When god exists without a physical form/shape, as a spirit

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3
Q

Saguna-Brahman

A

When god exists with a physical form/shape

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4
Q

Deity

A

When Brahman takes on a physical shape, this being is called a deity

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5
Q

Tri-murti

A

The3 most worshipped/most famous deities

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6
Q

Brahma

A
  • One of the tri-murti deities: responsible for creation
  • teaches humans wisdom and important truths
  • 4 heads, looking in all directions, responsible for crating whole world
  • lotus flower: symbol of purity
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7
Q

Vishnu

A

One of the tri-murti deities: responsible for sustaining the universe

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8
Q

Shiva

A

On of the tri-murti deities: responsible for destruction

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9
Q

Vaishnavas

A

Hindus who focus on Vishnu for their worship

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10
Q

Shaivites

A

Hindus who focus on shiva for their worship

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11
Q

Avatar

A

When the deity of Vishnu become human/animal

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12
Q

How many avatars have there been

A

10

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13
Q

Antaryami

A

Brahman existing inside each living thing

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14
Q

Saraswati

A
  • consort of brahma
  • goddess of learning
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15
Q

Lakshmi

A
  • consort o Vishnu
  • goddess of beauty prosperity and wealth
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16
Q

Parvati

A
  • reincarnation of sati, shiva’s first wife
  • she became goddess of motherhood
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17
Q

Hanuman

A
  • monkey warrior
  • son of shiva and Parvati
  • patron of wrestlers, sportsmen, and soliders
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18
Q

Krishna

A
  • most well-known vats of Vishnu
  • approachable, loving, mischevious
  • taught people how to live a peaceful and good life
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19
Q

Rama

A

-7th avatar of Vishnu
-killed evil em on king Ravanna to save his wife Sita
- helped bring peace and harmony to the world

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20
Q

Why is Vishnu important

A
  • represents soul of entire universe
  • gave bath to brahma who created the universe
  • he enters the heart of every living being to become ‘the lord within’
  • worshiped through avatars
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21
Q

Prakriti

A

Matter

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22
Q

Illusion

A

Maya

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23
Q

Ganesha

A
  • elephant-headed god
    -son of shiva and Parvati
  • Godoy do luck and remover of obstacles
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24
Q

What are Shaivites like

A
  • often ascetics who are trying to gain liberation from samsara cycle
  • they practice astanga yoga
  • believe atman and Brahman are one so therefore there is only one reality
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25
Q

What are vaishanavas like

A
  • worship is base on scriptures and focuses on bhakti through saying mantras ad repetitive prayers (japa)
  • they believe that the atman is separate from the supreme being
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26
Q

What is a yuga

A
  • periods of time in the cycle of 4 age
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27
Q

The cycle of 4 ages

A
  • Hindus believe that time is separated into 4 long periods of time
    -gold, silver, copper, iron
  • get shorter each time and more corrupt
  • we’re in iron right now
  • at the end Vishnu will arrive as Kalki, 10th avatar, and destroy remaining evil and new cycle will begin
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28
Q

Purusa

A

Spirit

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29
Q

What is atman

A
  • the real and eternal self
  • made of spirit Brahman
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30
Q

What is the samsara cycle

A
  • the continual cycle of brith and death
  • the atman (soul) gets passed onto next body
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31
Q

What is transmigration

A
  • the transferring of the atman into a different body
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32
Q

What is moksha

A
  • the ultimate goal in human life
  • reaching enlightenment
  • breaking samsara cycle
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33
Q

What is karma

A
  • destiny
  • consequences of one’s actions
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34
Q

What’s is Kama

A
  • to gain enjoyment
  • enjoying pleasures of life responsibly
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35
Q

What is Artha

A
  • to gain prosperity
  • trying to gain more wealth through lawful means
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36
Q

What is Dharma

A
  • duty or path in life
  • to act virtuously and righteously
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37
Q

Purusharthas

A

Objectives of a human

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38
Q

Things to do to achieve dharma

A
  • worshiping god
  • doing job properly
  • not hurting people or living animals
    -being honest
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39
Q

4 aims in life

A
  1. Dharma
  2. Artha
  3. Kama
  4. Moksha
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40
Q

Sanatana dharma

A
  • the ideal or perfect way of life that all Hindus try to follow
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41
Q

What does sanatana dharma consist of

A
  • always considering what is right and what is wrong about any action
  • remembering god in you heart and mind
  • learning more about god and dharma from holy scriptures
  • trying to reach moksha
  • offering worship to god either in the temple or at home
  • feeding animals, caring for environment
  • showing respect to elders and arming for the needy
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42
Q

Why do Hindus think suffering happens

A
  • because of the sum of all the bad karma from people’s previous lives
43
Q

How is inner peace achieved for Hindus

A
  • changing self rather than changing material circumstances
  • relieve suffering of others
44
Q

How does the belief in avatars and deities influence Hindus today

A
  • focus on different deities or avatars in their worship
  • different Hindus will feel closer to different deities or avatars, more personal
  • they will say prayers to those deities to ask for help or guidance, they also make offerings to them at temples
45
Q

Varnashrama-dharma

A

The responsibilities that will be different for different Hindus depending on who they are

46
Q

What happens if a person has built up good karma by the end of their life

A
  • good karma, their soul will be reborn into a good life and vice versa
47
Q

What happens when soul is released from samara cycle

A
  • moksha
  • enlightenment
  • joins with brahman
48
Q

How to acheived moksha

A
  • living a good life
  • fulfilling all your duties and responsibilities
  • becoming close to Brahman through prayer
  • making offerings to god to show you’re committed
49
Q

How do the 4 aims influence people today

A
  • take their responsibilities seriously
  • pray to Brahman and deities for support
  • give to charity or care for others
50
Q

Bhagavan

A

Supreme being

51
Q

Hindu ideas about the world and how it works

A
  • time is cyclical
  • the material world is repeatedly created
  • the universe is one f many bubbles floating in space
  • 3 tiers: heavenly planets, earthly realm, lower worlds
52
Q

Different beliefs about atman

A
  1. Some think atman is always one with Brahman
  2. Some think that the atman and Brahman always remain separate
53
Q

How does a Hindu achieve moksha (beliefs)

A
  1. Some think moksha is acheived by person’s own efforts
  2. Others debate it’s acheived through grace, through Brahman or another deity
54
Q

Puja

A
  • Hindu worship
  • means ‘giving respect and honour’
  • prayers are said in front of chosen deity and worshippers make offerings
55
Q

Bhakti

A

Showing loving devotion to god

56
Q

What does Bhakti instil

A
  • encourages devotees to show their love by focusing on the deity and make offerings
  • offers promise of moksha to those who show this loving and steadfast devotion
57
Q

Arati

A
  • main worship ceremony
  • an offering of light to the deity through a murti
58
Q

Murti

A

An image of a deity used as a focus of worship and offerings

59
Q

Mandir

A

Hindu temple

60
Q

Where do Hindus worship

A
  • they can all worship in the home, shrine or scared space outdoors
  • the way a person worships is not as important as the love and devotion in their heart when they worship
61
Q

Darshan

A
  • viewing with respect a holy image and receiving a divine blessing
  • they will sing hymns (bhajan/kirtan)
  • chant mantras
62
Q

Bhajan/kirtan

A

Devotional songs and hymns to god

63
Q

Mantras/japa

A

Chants or prayers to god; repeating holy sounds or words

64
Q

Havan

A
  • a fire sacrifice offered to the fire god Agni in the temple
65
Q

Bhagavan

A

Personal deity that Hindus worship to make the Supreme Being easier to access and understand

66
Q

What are home shrines like

A
  • family murtis treated with great respect
  • home shrines cleanest rooms in the house
67
Q

The swastika

A

-ancient Hindu symbol of sun and prosperity
- crooked branches represent the human mind is unable to comprehend direct truths about Brahman

68
Q

Duration and time of holi

A
  • 2 days
  • February/march
69
Q

Duration and time of Diwali

A
  • 5 days
  • September/october
70
Q

What types of festivals are Diwali and holi

A

-celebrating a key event in the life of deity

71
Q

Who is remembered and why in holi

A

The victory of Prahlad and Vishnu over the demon holika. It also remembers the story of Krishna and the milkmaids

72
Q

Who is remembered and why in Diwali

A
  • The goddess Lakshimi - to bring prosperity
  • the story of Rama and Sita - to mark the victory over the light over darkness, and good over evil
  • start of Hindu new year
73
Q

How is Diwali celebrated

A
  • houses spring-cleaned and decorated to welcome Lakshimi
  • lights are lit to light the path to the home
  • gifts and new clothes bought and exchanged
  • lamps and fireworks are lit to show the victory of good over evil
74
Q

How is holi celebrated

A
  • fires lit to remember the story of Prahlad being protected by Vishnu
  • people wear old clothes and throw coloured paint to rememebr fun that Krishna and the milkmaids had
  • everyone can join in and normal standards of behaviour are forgotten
75
Q

4 paths of yoga

A
  1. Karma yoga
  2. Bhakti yoga (most popular)
  3. Jnana yoga
  4. Astanga yoga
76
Q

Karma yoga

A
  • path of unselfish action
  • by doing daily work, particularly the duties of your stage in life and caste without the desire for a reward or selfish gain
77
Q

Bhakti yoga

A
  • loving devotion
  • expressing beliefs through a loving relationship with a personal deity
  • will sing and chant gods name
  • they believe thy will receive refuge from god and lead them to moksha
78
Q

Astanga yoga

A
  • known as ‘royal yoga’
  • this is a form of self-control over both the senses and the mind
  • involves deep contemplation of Brahman
  • when success is achieved, the yogi’s personality is transformed and they are freed from anger, greed, envy and sadness
79
Q

Jnana yoga

A
  • the path of knowledge and understanding
  • acheived trough deep meditation and an experience of oneness with the supreme spirit Brahman
80
Q

Sadhu

A
  • wandering holy man
  • lead procession of pilgrims into the water
81
Q

Sannyasin

A
  • a religious hermit who has reached the last stage of life
  • give up all possessions and connection with family
  • highly respected as an example of austerity, meditation and prayer
82
Q

Guru

A
  • wise teacher of religion and spirituality
83
Q

4 qualities a guru must have

A
  • be well versed in the scriptures
  • know about Brahman
  • have overcome all human desires
  • be honest, sincere and trustworthy
84
Q

Swami

A
  • ‘master of the senses’
  • known for being highly knowledgeable about Hindu scriptures and belong to a religious order
85
Q

Amma - guru

A

-holy teacher
-travels world showing love by hugging people

86
Q

Satay Sai Baba - guru

A
  • popular modern guru who had 15 million followers worldwide
  • had an ashram in India where thousands of Hindus would wait daily in hope of seeing him
87
Q

Why are most Hindus vegetarian

A
  • killing animals for meat causes them to suffer
  • their breath which is used for uttering holy scriptures, should not be linked to the killing of animals
  • animals are a part of the ice cycle and should not be harmed
88
Q

Ahimsa

A

Non-violence

89
Q

Why are cows sacred to Hindus

A
  • lord Krishna was a cowherd to many want to follow his example
  • the Veda’s forbids the killing of cows
  • the bull is the animal on which shiva rides and is a source of power
90
Q

Goshalla

A

Retirement home for cows

91
Q

Bhaktivedanta Manor Cow Protection Project

A

Stops cows from, being slaughtered unnecessarily, acts a goshalla shelter for cows

92
Q

Chipko movement

A
  • tree-hugging to try and stop the trees from being cut down
93
Q

The vrindavan forest project

A

-many believe lord Krishna lived in this forest
- its a scheme to protect and restore the forest

94
Q

Sewa

A

Selfless service

95
Q

Sewa international

A
  • works to improve the status of women in India
  • one of its goals is to organise women workers for full employment
96
Q

Dana

A

Giving

97
Q

ISKCON

A

International society for Krishna consciousness

98
Q

Why do Hindus believe in preserving the environment

A
  • god is present in the world and in all life
  • the world has been created with everything living in harmony, working together for the benefit of all
99
Q

Why do Hindus go on pilgrimage

A
  • to strengthen faith and become closer to god
  • to show commitment to faith
  • to make amends for something they’ve done wrong
  • to ask for help or healing
100
Q

Things pilgrims do on pilgrimage

A
  • make offerings to god
  • chant mantras
  • say prayers
  • spend time in the prescience of the deity
101
Q

Varanasi

A
  • point where two holy rivers meet
  • considered - city of lord shiva
  • where many Hindus go to reflect on the temporal nature of this life and the ultimate goal of moksha
  • considered ‘ gateway to moksha ‘
  • famous for the ghats, where the deceased are cremated at the edge of the river
102
Q

Kumbh mela

A
  • pilgrimage which takes place every 3 years. Every 3 years, Hindus travel to different places in India.
  • 4 different places
  • takes 12 years
103
Q

Why do Hindus go to varanasi

A
  • they believe the city was built by the deity shiva
  • they believe that if you die in this city, your soul has a better chance of achieving moksha and joining Brahman
  • they believe that bathing in the water cleanses you of all sins
104
Q

Why do Hindus go to Kumbh mela

A
  • they believable each of the 4 places in holy
  • ya the en of the 12 years, Hindus believable that bathing in the waters at the Kumbh Mela will help release soul to Brahman