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