nature of God Flashcards
Who is Brahman? And what are the three qualities?
the supreme spiritual God in Hinduism
- God as non personal
- Antaryami, God within one’s heart; God exists in the hearts of every living creature
- loving force which is external to you, beyond
Give a scripture for Brahman that proves he is everything
“That supreme Brahman effulgence spreads throughout the material and spiritual skies” - Mundaka Upanishad 2.1.1
Give a teaching that proves Brahman is Antaryami
“The supreme lord is situated in everyone’s heart. O Arjuna, and is directly the wanderings of all evil entities” - Bhagavad Gita 18.61
What is Saguna Brahman?
The concept of knowing Brahman with physical qualities and attributes, including
- omniscient
- omnibenevolent
- the source of the universe
- personal form of God
Give scripture about Saguna Brahman
“There are indeed two forms of Brahman. Physical and meta-physical, mortal and immortal, stoic and dynamic, manifest and unmanifest”
upanishads
What is Nirguna Brahman?
To know Brahman without any qualities, as transcendant and beyond human understanding
- spiritual presence of God rather than his physical presence
Give scripture about Nirguna Brahman
“It is unseen, non transactionable, ungraspable, without definition, unthinkable, without representation “
upanishads
What is the Trimurti?
The three main Gods of Hinduism, 3 faces of God, manifestations of God
Who is Brahma?
The God of beginning, the creator, crafted the universe
How is Brahma represented?
> > depicted with four heads and arms, showing the vedas
white beard to show he’s the oldest wisest being
no weapon in hands
vehicle is a white swan
Who is Vishnu?
The sustainer of the universe, represents everything has its time and protects the universe from harm
> unlike brahma, not attached to creation
> unlike shiva, not disengaged from it
> he both creates and destroys
creates balance and harmony, has avatars
How is Vishnu represented?
> > holds chakra, showing time is a cycle, and is a weapon against blasphemy
holds mace indicating punishment for indiscipline
depicted reclining on a coiled snake floating on cosmic waters, representing the peaceful universe
pose symbolises calm and patience in the face of fear, worries represented by the poisonous snake, teaching Hindus to not let fear overpower and destroy your peace
Who is Shiva
- symbolising the bringing of the end
- the destroyer
> eventually ends the cycle of creation
>”shakti” or power
> most powerful God and Hindus will
> dissolving force in life, dissolves to create because death is necessary for rebirth into a new life
believed to be at the core of the central force of the universe due to his responsibility for death and destruction
How is Shiva represented?
> > With a trident to fight enemies and destroy evil and ignorance with will, and whose three prongs symbolise the trigunas, the three qualities of nature
third eye showing he has the eye of wisdom which is why Shiva can see reason beyond the physical world
from his hair, the Ganges sprouts, which is why its considered to be holy
Who is Ganesha?
Shiva and Parvati’s second son, representing idealism intuition, generosity and wisdom, the remover of obstacles and the deity of good fortune.
Who is Lakshmi?
The consort of Vishnu, the Goddess of power beauty anf wealth
Who is Hanuman?
The divine companion of Rama, central character of the epic Ramayana, represents selfless devotion to God
King of the monkeys, king of strength, wisdom and courage.
Who is Saraswati?
Consort of Brahma, she’s the goddess of learning and the arts, wisdom and nature
What are avatars?
Incarnations of God that appear in times of chaos or danger to destroy evil + restore justice, teaching people the right way to live.
Describe two ways in which avatars are seen
- traditionally; avatars are direct manifestations of God, to rebalance
- less traditionally, more spiritual, avatars are liberated souls that have been sent back down to earth from God to help others, born not to show their greatness but to serve as an example to Hindus, and give hope they can also be liberated.
Who is Krishna?
…
Who is Rama?
…
give a scripture about brahman being in all
“In truth Brahman is all”
- Mundaka Upanishad
give scripture about Brahma
“Brahma was the creator of all”
mundaka upanishad
