RELIGIONS IN INDIA Flashcards
Name the four vedas and their basic content?
- Rig Veda– consists of about 1000 hymns about various Gods.
- Sama Veda– music and hymns.
- Yajur Veda– sacrificial hymns.
- Atharva Veda– magic and medicine.
What are the four sects under Hinduism?
- Vaishnavism also called krishnaism.
- Shaivism
- Shaktism
- Smartism
Enumerate prominent sects or sampradayas under Vaishnavism?
- Varkari Panth or Varkari Sampradaya
- Ramanandi Sampradaya
- Brahma Sampradaya
- Pushti Marg Sampradaya
- Nimbarka Sampradaya
Enumerate prominent sects or sampradayas under Shaivism?
- Siddhas
- Nathpanthi
- Lingayatism
- Dashanami Sanyasis
- Aghoris
- Siddhars or Siddhas.
Brief about Varkari Sampradaya or Varkari Panth?
- Followers are devotees of Lord Vishnu in form of Vithoba.
- Worship in Vithoba temple at Pandharpur in Maharashtra.
- Sect avoids alcohol and tobacco.
- Annual pilgrimage is Vari.
- In Vari, the Varkaris carry padukas of the saints in palkhis from samadhi to Pandharpur.
- Events Ringan and Dhava are held during pilgrimage.
- Prominent figures:– Jnaneshwar, Namdev, Eknath and Tukaram.
What is Ringan regarding Varkari Sampradaya?
Under Ringan, a sacred horse runs through the rows of pilgrims, who try catching the dust particles kicked off and smear their head with the same.
Brief about Ramanandi Sampradaya?
- They adhere to the teachings of the Advaita scholar Ramandana.
- This is the largest monastic group within Hinduism in Asia, and these Vaishnava monks are known as Ramanandis, Vairagis or Bairagis.
- They worship Rama.
- Follow strict ascetic practices, but also believe that the grace of god is required to achieve liberation.
- Its two sub groups are called Tyagi and Naga.
Brief about Brahma Sampradaya?
- Associated with Lord Vishnu, the Para Brahma or Universal Creator (not to be confused with Brahma deity).
- The founder was Madhvacharya.
- Gaudiya Vaishnavism promoted by Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is associated with Brahma Sampradaya.
- The ISKCON belongs to this Sampradaya.
Brief about Pushti marg Sampradaya?
- Vasihnava sect founded by Vallabhacharya.
- Their philosophy is that the ultimate truth is one and only one Brahm.
- The devotion is based on pure love for Lord Krishna.
- All followers are expected to do Seva to their personal icon of Krishna.
Brief about Nimbarka Sampradaya?
Also known as the Hamsa Sampradaya and Kumara Sampradaya, the followers worship Radha and Krishna deities.
Nathpanthi adhere to the teachings of?
Also known as Siddha Siddhanat, they adhere to the teachings of Gorakhnath and Matsyendranath and worship Adinath, a form of Shiva. They use the technique of Hath Yoga to transform one’s body into a state of awakened self’s identity with absolute reality.
Lingayatism also known as Veershaivism on Vedas and caste system?
They believe in monotheism and rejected the authority of Vedas and caste system.
Dashanami Sanyasi are disciples of?
They are asoscaited with the Advaita Vedanta tradition and are the disciples of Adi Shankaracharya. They are also called “Dash Nam Sanyasi” as they are further divided into ten groups.
What is Varmam Kalai?
Is a martial art for self defense and a medical treatment at the same time. Believed to be founded by the Siddhars or Siddhas.
Enumerate the Shramana schools and they belong to which school of philosophy?
The word Shramana means one who performs acts of austerity and ascetic.
1. Jainism
2. Buddhism
3. Ajivikas
4. Ajnanas
5. Charvakas
All above five belong to Nastika or Heterodox school of philosophy.
Ajivika school was founded by?
Makkhali Gosala in 5th century BC.
Doctrines of Ajivikas?
- The school revolves around the Niyati (Fate) doctrine of absolute determinism.
- It believes that there is no free will and whatever has happened, is happening or will happen is entirely pre-ordained or pre-decided and is based on cosmic principles. Hence there was no use of Karma.
- It is based on the theory of atoms and believes that everything is composed of atoms and the various qualities emerge from the aggregates of atoms which is pre-determined.
- Ajivikas led a simple ascetic life, without clothes and any material possession.
- They opposed Buddhism and Jainism and were atheists.
- They don’t believe in Karma doctrine unlike Jainism and Buddhism.
- They consider Karma a fallacy.
- They also rejected the authority of Vedas like Buddhism and Jainism
However, they believed in the existence of soul (atman) in every living being like ainism. But they believed existence of soul in material form whereas jainism propounds formless soul. - Bindusara (4’ Century BC) was one of its followers.
- Savathi (Sravasti) in Uttar Pradesh is believed to be the centre of Ajivikas.
- The text of Ajivikas is non existing at present.
- Ashoka’s 7th pillar edicts mention about Ajivikas.
Which Mauryan Emperor was follower of Ajivikas?
Bindusara.
Which pillar edict of Ashoka mentions about Ajivikas?
7th pillar edict.
Doctrine of Ajnanas?
- The ajnana sect believed in radical skepticism.
- The school believed that it is impossible to attain knowleage about nature. Even if it is possible, it is useless for attaining salvation.
- This school was a major rival of Jainism and Buddhism.
- They specialized in refutation and were considered ignorant.
- They believed that Ignorance is Best.
Top 5 most followed religions in the world?
- Christianity (31.1%)
- Islam (24.9%)
- Irreligion (15.6%)
- Hinduism (15.2%)
- Buddhism (6.6%)
- Folk religions (5.6%).
What was the name of Buddha’s horse and chrioteer?
Horse Kanthaka and charioteer Channa.
What was the Dharma-chakra-pravartana?
After attaining Nirvana in Bodh Gaya, Buddha gave his first sermon to his five companions at the Deer Park in Sarnath near Varanasi. This event was called Dharma-chakra-pravartana (Turning the wheel of Law).
What are the three Jewels or triratnas embraced under Buddhism?
- Buddha– The enlightened one.
- Dhamma– Teachings of Buddha (doctrine).
- Sangha– The monastic order.
Out of the three jewels or triratnas, the concept of ________ was initiated by Buddha at the time of giving first sermon.
Sangha (the order).
Buddha attained Mahaparinirvana at?
Kushinagar (Malla Mahajanapada) in Uttar Pradesh at the age of 80 in 483 BC.
Buddha is known in various Buddhist texts as Tathagatha and _______.
Sakyamuni.
The predecessor of Buddha under Buddhism was ________ and his successor will be _________.
Kassapa Buddha and his successor will be Maitreya.
After passing of Buddha, The original Sangha is believed to have split into the two early schools in between 383 BC and 250 BC that are?
- Sthavira Nikaya
- Mahasamghika.
Subsects under Sthavira nikaya?
- Mahisasaka
- Sarvastivada
- Sankrantika
- Sautrantika
- Dharmagupta
- Vatsiputriya
- Dharmottariya
- Bhadrayaniya
- Sannagarika
- Sammitiya.
Subsects under Mahasamghika?
- Gokulika
- Prajnaptivada
- Bahusrutiya
- Ekavyaharikas
- Caitika.
Sects not identified under Sthavira nikaya and Mahasamghika are?
- Hemavatika
- Rajagiriya
- Siddhatthaka
- Aparaseliya
- Apararajagirika.
Four major Noble truths of Buddhism?
- Dukkha– The truth of suffering.
- Samudāya– The truth of the origin of suffering.
- Nirodha– The truth of the cessation of suffering.
- Magga– The truth of the path to the cessation of suffering.
Bodhicitta, generation stage and completion stage are the practices in which Buddhism?
- Mahayana practice of Bodhicitta.
- Vajrayana practices of generation stage and completion stage.
What is the ultimate goal in Theravada Buddhism?
The ultimate goal is the cessation of the kleshas and the attainment of the sublime state of Nirvana, achieved by practicing the Noble Eightfold Path, thus escaping what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth.
Features of Hinayana Buddhism?
- It means the lesser vehicle..
- The school includes the followers of the original preaching of the Buddha.
- It is more of an orthodox school.
- They did not believe in idol or image worship of Buddha.
- They believe in individual salvation and try to attain individual salvation through self discipline and meditation.
- Ultimate aim of Hinayana is thus nirvana.
- One of the sub-sects of Hinayana is Sthaviravada or Theravada.
- The Hinayana scholars used Pali language to interact with the masses.
- Emperor Ashoka patronised Hinayana sect as Mahayana school came into being much later.
- Hinayana school in its original form is almost non-existent in the present age.
Features of Mahayana Buddhism?
- It means the greater vehicle.
- The school is more liberal and believes in the heavenliness of Buddha and Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha Nature. The ultimate goal under Mahayana is “spiritual upliftment”.
- The Mahayana followers believe in idol or image worship of Buddha.
- The concept of Bodhisattva is the result of Mahayana Buddhism.
- Mahayana is also called “Bodhisattvayana”, or the “Bodhisattva Vehicle.
- That is to say, the followers believe in Bodhisattva concept of salvation of all conscious individual.
- In other words, they believe in universal liberation from suffering of all beings.
- A bodhisattva seeks complete enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. A bodhisattva who has accomplished this goal is called a Samyaksambuddha.
- Prominent Mahayana texts include Lotus Sutra, Mahavamsa, etc.
- As per Lotus Sutra, Mahayana school believes in six perfections (or paramitas) to be followed by an individual.
- As per scholars, one of the sub-sects of Mahayana being developed in the later periods was Vajrayana.
- The Mahayana scholars predominantly used Sanskrit as a language.
- Emperor Kanishka of Kushana dynasty is said to be the founder of Mahayana sect of Buddhism in 1st century AD.
- Presently, the majority of the Buddhist followers in the world belong to Mahayana sect. (around. 53.2% as per 2010 report).
A bodhisattva seeks complete enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. A bodhisattva who has accomplished this goal is called a?
Samyaksambuddha.
What are Paramitas?
As per Lotus Sutra, Mahayana school believes in six perfections (or paramitas) to be followed by an individual:
- Dana (generosity)
- Sila (virtue, morality, discipline and proper conduct)
- Ksanti (patience, tolerance, acceptance)
- Virya (energy, diligence, vigor, effort)
- Dhyana (one-pointed concentration)
- Prajna (wisdom and insight).
Bodhisattva is the one who has generated Bodhicitta to attain Buddhahood for the benefit of all sentient beings. It believes in universal liberation and is a concept under Mahayana Buddhism. Bodhicitta means?
A spontaneous wish and a compassionate mind.
- Under Theravada Buddhism, a person whose aim is to become fully enlightened is still subject to birth, illness, death, sorrow, defilement, and delusion.
- On the path to become a Buddha, a bodhisattva proceeds through ten grounds or bhumis namely Great Joy, Stainless, luminous, radiant, very difficult to train, obviously transcendent, gone afar, immovable, Good discriminating wisdom, and Cloud of Dharma. By passing these 10 bhumis, he becomes an enlightened one.
True/false?
- True
- True.
Enumerate prominent Boddhisattvas under Buddhism?
- Avalokitesvara
- Vajrapani
- Manjusri
- Samantabhadra
- Ksitigarbha
- Maitreya
- Akasagarbha
- Tara
- Vasudhara
- Skanda
- Sitatapatra