I. Important names and terms:

Question 1

Vedas

Answer 1

• Earliest sacred text in Hinduism
• Oldest Hindu scripture that are still used today
• No one created these text, they just exist (started off orally)
• Certain techniques used for reciting and memorizing
• Composed roughly 1500-500 BCE
• 4 vedas (each have a different stratum)
• Consist of 3 parts
  1. Hymns to the Vedic gods
  2. Ritual instruction
  3. Mystical an philosophical teaching

Question 2

Upanishads

Answer 2

• Hindu religious text though to have been composed around 600 BCE
• Composed in Sanskrit
• Questioning of ritual and heaven
• Inquiring into one’s self
• Poses questions (discussion)
• Originally considered to be secret text (containing the secrets of the universe)
  1. Ultimate reality (Brahman)
• Highest essence and source of all the cosmos
  2. Self (Atma[n])
• Our deepest existence
  (2 ways of asking the same question, therefore, the answer is one in the same)
• One must be properly proposed, one must be deemed worthy for a teacher to give the teachings far from all ears

Question 3

Brahman

Answer 3

• The absolute,” “ultimate
  reality,” “the essence or foundation of the universe,” or even “God” in some contexts
• Highest essence and source of the cosmos

Question 4

Atman (self)

Answer 4

• The innermost essence of a person
• Deepest existence of a person

Question 5

Vishnu—Vaishnavism

Question 6

Shiva-Shaivism

Question 7

Devi/Shakti—Shaktism

Question 8

ishta devata

Question 9

Avatar

Question 10

Dharma

Question 11

Caste

Answer 11

brahmins
kshatriyas
vaishyas
shudras

Question 12

Karma

Question 13

Samsara

Answer 13

The cycle of life and rebirth in Hinduism

Question 14

Moksha (liberation)

Answer 14

• Liberation to break free from samsara through practicing a yoga
• Comes through God’s grace
• Realizing, working up to reality

Question 15

Yoga

Question 16

Guru

Question 17

Mantra

Question 18

Tantra

Question 19

Mahabharata

Question 20

Darshana

Question 21

Prasada

Question 22

Puja