The Hindu way of life Flashcards
What is the first asrama?
Brahmacarya
What is the Brahmacarya stage?
Student stage
What ideal dharma is there for the Brahmacarya stage?
Learn to become a useful and mature member of society and to get educated.
What is the second asrama?
Grihastha
What is the Grihastha stage?
House holder
What ideal dharma is there for the Grihastha stage?
Marriage and duties of raising a family.
What is the third asrama?
Vanaprastha
What is the Vanaprastha stage?
Forest dwelling
What ideal dharma is there for the Vanaprastha stage?
To retire from family and social life, to give up work, wealth and possesions.
What is the fourth asrama?
Samnyasin
What is the Samnyasin stage?
Renouncer stage
What ideal dharma is there for the Samsyasin stage?
Abandon all desires.
Who did the 4 Asramas apply to?
Brahmins , Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.
NOT WOMEN
Which are the four varnas?
1) Brahmin
2) Kshatriyas
3) Vaishyas
4) Sudras
What were the Brahmins?
Priests
What were the Kshatriyas?
Warriors and the ruling class
What were the Vaishyas?
The buisness class
What were the Sudras?
The serving class
Hey, can you explain the hymn of the Cosmic Man?
All Hindus came from the Cosmic Man (GOD), divided into varnas:
Brahmins came from his mouth ~ closer to heaven and God
Kshatriyas came from his arms ~ strong, like warriors
Vaishyas came from his thighs ~ support
Sudras came from his feet ~ like dirt, closer to the ground, away from heaven. :-(
What is Dharma?
The practice of virtue, obeying duties and obligations of varnas and asramas.
Where do the asramas come from?
Aryan people who created the vedas.
What are the three upper classes called?
Twice born, ceremony into student stage, sacred thread ceremony.
What is a Sadhu?
A holy man who may or may not belong to a religious order or follow any particular spiritual discipline.
They may inflict pain on themselves for spiritual rewards.
e.g. them cremation ground peeps (Aghoris)
What is a Pandit?
A scholar educated in the sacred scripts.
Translates as ‘‘learned scholar’’
What is a Swami?
Normally a member of a religious community. They are involved in teaching about the Hindu religion and culture.
What is a Rishi?
A holy person said to have an intuitive knowledge of the divine.
Normally found in mythology.
What is a Guru?
translates as ‘‘teacher’’
they are said to be heavy with spiritual and religious knowledge.
Give an example of a modern day guru
Sathya Sai Baba
What is the 4th asrama associated with?
Moksha,
liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth
How might a Hindu become Samnyasi?
They are usually initiated into the ascetic way of life by a guru after a period of training
HOWEVER
formal initiation is now necessary
What happens when a Samnyasi leaves home?
Funeral rights are performed
This symbolises stepping out of the ritual life & society
What is shraddha
Rituals for your dead ancestors
How do you say the right way of life in Sanskrit
Santayana dharma
What is the sacred thread ceremony called
Upanayana
How do you become a twice born hindu
through the sacred thread ceremony - upanayana
What do the untouchables refer themselves as
dalits - the oppressed
Why may someone be for the caste system (2)
- stable society
- everyone has an identity
What is Sanskritisation
when lower castes adopt the customs and manners of upper caste, such as diet, dress, and marriage
