Section 2: Practices Flashcards
Yoga
- type of worship (puja)
- way of relating to and reuniting either God
- way of conquering the Gunas
Definition of yoga
- ‘discipline’
- control mind and body so a person can become free of selfishness, anxiety and greed
Example of karma yoga
Gandhi
Karma yoga
- path of selfless good deeds
- duties (dharma) for your caste
- no demand for reward
- fulfilling your own potential for the good of society
Bhakti yoga
- path of loving devotion for God
- expressed in loving relationship with personal deity
Jnana yoga
- path of knowledge
- knowledge and understanding of scripture
- leads devotee to realise how temporary life is
- mediation and oneness with Brahman
Raja yoga
- highest form of yoga and fulfils the other 3 ways
- self control over the senses and mind
- deeper contemplation of Brahman
State 3 reasons why Hindus practice yoga
- to achieve moksha
- to escape the Gunas
- to be united with God/escape the Samsara Cycle
Outline 3 beliefs about Jnana Yoga
- it involves knowledge and understanding of scriptures
- it results in the realisation of maya
- it is oneness with Brahman
Explain how yoga may help a Hindu conquer the Gunas
- through it detaching them from the material world -> karma yoga seeks no reward for good actions (can escape the influence of Rajas)
- through it creating oneness with God -> allows them to fulfil their dharma as a Hindu and escape the influence of the Gunas leading to liberation
‘Its better to worship Brahman alone than many deities’
AGREE
- focusing on just one will help achieve moksha faster
- can be confusing and less focused with many
- it’s better to distribute all your Bhakti to one instead of splitting it up
- Brahman is in everything so worshipping him also worships everything else
BUT there are many paths to the truth
DISAGREE
- worshipping many can enhance their faith -> create better understanding (Jnana Yoga)
- each deity has different purposes and help in different ways
- Brahman is without form and so it’s harder to relate to him whereas the deities are personable
- vaishnatives
Gurus
- help you focus
- teachers of scripture (high caste)
- offer wisdom and understanding
- spending time with a Guru is a form of worship
Hindus different views on the divine
- causes them to worship differently
- God (Brahman or deities)
- Soecial places
- sacred river
- mountains (Himalayas)
- animals (elephant)
- sacred plants (soma)
Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about worship (5)
- it is rewarded with moksha -> Bhagavad Gita says the yogi whose mind is calm will achieve ‘great transcendental happiness’
-> worship will lead to a oneness with Brahman and will liberate you from the samsara cycle - it can all take place at home -> a shrine allows them to worship their focused deity solely without distractions
Why would someone go to a temple
- feel the presence of God
- focus on the religion
- feel a sense of community
Temples and shrines
- associated with gods/miracles/religious events
- temple -> most prominent building in town (near to river)
- place of learning/socialising
Design
- helps produce a religious state of mind
- looks like places therefore reminder of gods special nature
- divine realm
- symbol of the universe
- scenes of sacred stories
Worship in the mandir
- remove shoes
- ring bell to alert deities
- prostration -> touch steps
- circumambulation -> symbolic of pilgrimage (God at the centre)
- arti -> light is offered to deity
- darshan -> beholding of the holy
- prasad -> food offered to deity
Why is the mandir important
- brings the community together
- instructs young people
- involves the wider community
- focus and strengthens social cultural and religious bonds (dharma)
- preserves traditions
- visiting it creates good karma
Gandhi -> ‘to reject the necessity of Mandirs, is to reject the necessity of God’
Explain how worship in the mandir encourages Hindus to use their senses
- through the use of mala beads -> use their sense of touch and merge it with their holy number and prayers -> important as it allows them to associate everyday things like sense of touch remind them of worship
- through the use of the puja tray -> involves all senses (like ringing a bell) -> helps them show that their whole being is dedicated to God
Explain the significance of 2 features of a mandir
- Garbha Griha -> situated in the centre and symbolises the heart as it gives life to the temple -> circumambulation (God is at the centre of their lives - fulfill their dharma)
- Puja tray -> involve all senses and therefore show their bhakti towards Brahman and how it uses the whole body
Explain why worship in the mandir is importante for some Hindus (5)
- a form of pilgrimage -> circumambulation allows them to show their dedication to Brahman in turn allowing them to fulfill their dharma
- it is a necessity in Hinduism -> Gandhi -> without them it is easier to stray from the truth
Prayer
- can be formal alongside rituals
- involves making offering
- murti is used as a way of accessing God
- devotees acknowledge greatness and compassion of God
Gayatri Mantra
- god is the most powerful, gives life to everyone, may it keep darkness away from us and guide us to you
- expresses the importance of prayers to Hindus -> states how it helps connect with God more
- the mantra adores god fulfilling the purpose of puja + helps focus your mind on god
Facts about Holi
- two day festival
- end of winter
- festival of colours
- caste rules are forgotten
Facts about Navrati Dusserha
- celebrated for 9 nights
- durga, lakshmi + saraswati are worshipped
- god is adored as a mother
- honours the divine feminine
Facts about Ram Navami
- celebrates the birth of Rama
- a holiday for government employees of India
- time of moral reflection
Facts about Janmashtami
- commemorates the birth of Krishna
Facts about Ratha-Yatra
- Krishna is carried on a massive chariot
- this word ‘juggernaut’ came from the chariot
Facts about Raksha Bandhan
- celebrates brotherhood and love
- ‘Raksha’ means protection
- ‘Bandhan’ means to tie
Beliefs about Holi
- symbolises good overcoming evil
- bonfires purify the air -> so they can worship, represents lights, and an aspect of God we can see
Beliefs about Navrati Dusserha
- symbolises the triumph of good over evil
- flames symbolises everlasting divine power
Beliefs about Ram Navami
- Rama is viewed as an ideal king + human
- victory of dharma
Beliefs about Janmashtami
- whatever you worship Krishna will reciprocate on a unique level
- believed all deities of manifestations of Krishna
Beliefs about Ratha Yatra
- signifies the lords love for his devotees and he personally comes to see them
Beliefs about Raksha Bhandan
- when a woman ties a rakhi around the man’s hand it is compulsory for him to honour his duty and protect her
- believe the rakhi removes sin from one hand and provides safety for the other
Holi traditions
- gather around a bonfire
- gulal powder is thrown
-> red is love, blue is Krishna, green is spring
Navrati traditions
- women plant 9 kinds of feed seeds + offer the saplings to the Goddesses
- image of durga carried in a procession
Ram Navami traditions
- recite from the Ramayana
- worship Rama as an infant by putting an image of him in a cradle
- many take a dip in a sacred river
Janmashtami traditions
- last dawn till midnight
- kirtan (sing the lords name)
- clothe and decorate Krishna deity
Ratha-Yatra traditions
- meet up with old friends
- usually in a park
Raksha Bandhan traditions
- rakhis tied around people’s wrists
- after tying a mantra is changed in Sanskrit
- brother gives a gift of monetary appreciation to sister
Holi stories
- Holika + Hiranyakashipu
-> defeated by Vishnu
Navrati stories
- Shiva gave permission to Durga to see her mother for 9 days in the year
- Durga fought for 9 days and nights
Ram Navami stories
- Ramayana -> Ayodhya
Diwali facts
- festival of lights
- most important for many Hindus
- Hindu New year
- Ankot marks the start of the new year
Beliefs about Diwali
- helps your fulfil your dharma
- the diva is a symbol of removing darkness
- thanksgiving
- bhakti
- ankot: ahimsa, good karma, reincarnation
-> by harming animals you are harming the Atman and God
Diwali traditions
- diva -> Rama and sita used them to guide them home
- offer account books to thank God for past fortune
- lotus -> purity
- decorated with rangoli patterns -> shows bhakti
- roll hand over flame to symbolise taking a blessing -> arti
- fireworks -> dispelling darkness
- offerings to Ganesha for good luck
- Ankot: offer food that is vegetarian -> AHIMSA
Stories for Diwali
- Ramayana
- Stories of Vishnu
- Lakshmi
State 3 facts about Diwali
- celebrated for 3-5 days
- the festival of lights
- celebrated in October or November
Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about Diwali
- is is a symbol of ahimsa -> Ankot -> ahimsa links to the fact everything has Brahman in it and so if we treat everything with respect we will achieve good karma
- it represents light overcoming darkness -> arti, fireworks, divas -> helps a Hindu fulfil their dharma in order to be liberated from the Samsara Cycle
Give 2 reasons why the Ramayana is significant for Hindus (5)
- a big part of Diwali and a source of its existence -> Rama and Sita use lights to guide them home in the Ramayana -> celebrating it leads to fulfilled dharma and bhakti yoga
- it is a guide on how to live their life right -> Rama is a leader and role model who reminds Hindus to do their duty to schive good karma
‘Diwali is a time for presents and parties’
AGREE
- it’s a celebration so of course there will be parties
- it’s new year
DISAGREE
- worship privately
- dharma + reincarnation
- bhakti (Ramayana)
- ahimsa -> Brahman is in everything (Ankot)
Explain 2 reasons why Ratha Yatra is importsnt for Hindus
- reminds them of the love God holds for them -> they believe Krishna personally comes to visit giving them a sense of reunion and closeness with their faith -> encourages their faith as Krishna will always return the love
- a time of devotion -> allows them to exert bhakti yoga leading to fulfilling dharma -> the festival allows them to fulfil their duty
Explain 2 reasons why Holi is importsnt for Hindus (5)
- symbolises good overcoming evil -> the story of Holika being defeated by Vishnu is the basis of the festival -> encouraged a Hindu to stray away from darkness and instead fulfil their dharma
- it is a symbol of purity and God himself -> act of lighting bonfires purified the air for worship as well as displaying a quality of God that we can physically see -> helps a Hindu worship and create a closer bond with their God
‘Hindu festivals are just an excuse for a party’
YES
- you can worship in private
- it is a party of victory + celebration -> still has meaning (Holi)
- don’t need all the materialistic events (maya)
NO
- form of dharma -> good karma, moksha (Diwali)
- act on ahimsa (Ankot) -> Brahman is in everything
- involves worship (Navrati)
- show Bhakti and thanksgiving (yogas)
- helps enhance faith
Why do Hindus go on pilgrimages
- penance to atone for bad behaviour (prayaschitta)
- punya
- to purify the mind, body and soul
River Ganges
Where: Himalayas
Why?: regarded as the centre of the universe -> a river that came down from the heavens to cool the earth
What they do: bathe in the water
Impact: allows them and their ancestors to leave their body
-> associated with Shiva, Vishnu and Rama
Varanasi
Where: city of Varanasi on the bank of the Ganges
Why: believe waters will wash away bad karma and the deceased will attain moksha
What they do: Ganga aarti to show respect for the waters + ashes spread to wash away bad karma
Impact: purification + renewal
Kumbh Mela
Where: 4 sacred locations in India
Why: the locations mark the spot of sacred nectar dropped during a battle with the Gods and demons
What they do: millions gather and meet at each location
Impact: more potent help from the river
Kanvad Yatra
Where: along the Ganges
Why: to achieve darhsan
What they do: travel on foot to sacred sites along the Ganges to bring its water back home
Impact: strengthens bond with the deity (Shiva) and allows them to experience closeness to him
Mountains
- where earth meets sky
- closeness to God
Rivers
- wash away bad karma
- rivers are sacred
- Ganges: living goddess
Vrindavan
- where Krishna is said to have grown up
- considered sacred by Vaishnavism
- monkeys and cows are sacred there
SOA for the rivers
Rig Veda- has a hymn about rivers and praises them -> affirms their believe that pilgrimage to rivers are sacred
‘Pilgrimage is not the same as a holiday’
AGREE
- it is a time for devotion -> bhakti yoga (kanvad yatra)
- it allows for spiritual enlightenment + punya (Rig Veda + Ganges)
- promotes liberation from the samsara cycle -> Mahabharata
- religious obligations (Varnashramadharma)
- obligations to ancestors (shraddha rites)
- focus on deity
- go specifically to celebrate events + people’s (dharma)
DISAGREE
- it’s supposed to be a holiday -> reflection + peace (mediation)
- can take place in the mandir (circumambulation) -> Gandhi
- it is a privilege and not accessible to all so it has to be a holiday
- can’t still get good karma and meet other Hindus
Importance of environmental projects for Hindus
- Brahman is in everything -> Atman, ahimsa is apart of SanatanDharma
- teaches harmony with nature
- important not to upset the natural balance of creation
-> yogas are always moving - as more resources are used the scarcer they become (karma)
Sun
- referred to as the ‘eye of God’
- colour saffron represents the suns life giving glow as a reminder of Gods power
- Bhagavad Gita: ‘anyone who enjoys these gifts without offering selfless acts in return is a thief’
The Chipko Movement
- aims to prevent further deforestation in Himalayas
- uses non-violence
- link hands around trees
- ‘tree give me your strength to protect you’
Sacred Plants
- tulsi (basil plant) sacred to Vishnu
- bilva plant sacred to Shiva
-> cultivated and used in worship as murtis - peepul sacred fig tree
- banyan tree -> where Buddha sat and became enlightened
Sacred Animals
- many are vehicles (vahana) associated with deities
- tigers, peacocks, and elephants are protected
- monkeys because of Hanuman
- snakes are protectors (found on Shiva)
Sacred cow
- cow is a source of nourishment and giver of life
- attain so many things from it
Law of Manu: ‘taking what has not been given injuring creatures without the sanctity of the law… are declared to be wicked actions’
- Goshalas -> cow retirement homes
- Gandhi -> ‘cow-slaughter and man-slaughter are in my opinion two sides of the same coin’
Vegetarianism
ISKCON say
- meat is unhealthy
- meat arouses passions (Gunas)
- if you quote the Vedas (the word of God) your mouth shouldn’t be contaminated by meat
- a devotee will only eat what Krishna ate (fruit + veg in Gita)
- karma -> we will be killed and eaten in the next life
State 3 Hindu beliefs about the natural world
- it all came from God
- everything in it is temporary
- harming the natural world is like harming Brahman
Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about the cow
- protecting it means to protect every living thing -> Gandhi said that cow protection means the protection of every living creature -> by looking after cows we also keep Brahman safe as he is in everything
- it is a giver of life -> cows provide nourishment through their milk and manure for crops -> they help us to live lives like Krishna and attain a healthy sustainable lifestyle
Explain 2 reasons why Hindus protect the environment
- because it’s their duty -> Bhagavad Gita says those who cannot repay for their gifts from God are a thief -> ahimsa is apart of our sanatandharma and is necessary in order to fulfil their dharma
- through acts like deforestation resources become scarcer and impact us in our next life -> the belief of Sanchita tells us karma is carried into our next life and so by destroying what we have now we will receive fewer gifts from God in the next life
Explain 2 reasons why Hindus protect the environment
- it is duty -> Bhagavad Gita says those who cannot repay for their gifts from God are a thief -> ahimsa is apart of our sanatandharma and is necessary in order to fulfil their dharma
- through acts like deforestation resources become scarcer and impact us in our next life -> the belief of Sanchita tells us karma is carried into our next life and so by destroying what we have now we will receive fewer gifts from God in the next life
‘Animals are just as important as humans in Hinduism’
SOA about charity
Veda: ‘one may amass wealth with hundreds of hands but one should also distribute it with thousands of hands’
State 3 Hindu beliefs about giving
- it should be selfless
- it is rewarded with good karma
- it is part of our dharma
Explain 2 Hindu beliefs about charity
- it is the same as helping Brahman -> Brahman is in everything and so by helping living things we will be in turn helping God -> this fulfils dharma
- it should be a selfless act without need for reciprocation -> the motive behind giving shouldn’t be to receive as this can keep tamas attached to our soul and keep us trapped on earth instead of achieving moksha
Explain 2 reasons why Hindus help others (5)
- because it’s more beneficial that just helping yourself -> the Veda says we should give out more than we receive -> Hindus believe in maya so helping ourselves would do no good anyway whereas caring for others can help them live life as a devout Hindu
- it is part of their dharma -> a Hindu who carries out a selfless act will be fulfilling their karma yoga which then allows them to fulfil their dharma and achieve liberation
