The Hindu way of life

Question 1

What is the first asrama?

Answer 1

Brahmacarya

Question 2

What is the Brahmacarya stage?

Answer 2

Student stage

Question 3

What ideal dharma is there for the Brahmacarya stage?

Answer 3

Learn to become a useful and mature member of society and to get educated.

Question 4

What is the second asrama?

Answer 4

Grihastha

Question 5

What is the Grihastha stage?

Answer 5

House holder

Question 6

What ideal dharma is there for the Grihastha stage?

Answer 6

Marriage and duties of raising a family.

Question 7

What is the third asrama?

Answer 7

Vanaprastha

Question 8

What is the Vanaprastha stage?

Answer 8

Forest dwelling

Question 9

What ideal dharma is there for the Vanaprastha stage?

Answer 9

To retire from family and social life, to give up work, wealth and possesions.

Question 10

What is the fourth asrama?

Answer 10

Samnyasin

Question 11

What is the Samnyasin stage?

Answer 11

Renouncer stage

Question 12

What ideal dharma is there for the Samsyasin stage?

Answer 12

Abandon all desires.

Question 13

Who did the 4 Asramas apply to?

Answer 13

Brahmins , Kshatriyas and Vaishyas.

NOT WOMEN

Question 14

Which are the four varnas?

Answer 14

1) Brahmin
2) Kshatriyas
3) Vaishyas
4) Sudras

Question 15

What were the Brahmins?

Answer 15

Priests

Question 16

What were the Kshatriyas?

Answer 16

Warriors and the ruling class

Question 17

What were the Vaishyas?

Answer 17

The buisness class

Question 18

What were the Sudras?

Answer 18

The serving class

Question 19

Hey, can you explain the hymn of the Cosmic Man?

Answer 19

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. :-(

Question 20

What is Dharma?

Answer 20

The practice of virtue, obeying duties and obligations of varnas and asramas.

Question 21

Where do the asramas come from?

Answer 21

Aryan people who created the vedas.

Question 22

What are the three upper classes called?

Answer 22

Twice born, ceremony into student stage, sacred thread ceremony.

Question 23

What is a Sadhu?

Answer 23

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)

Question 24

What is a Pandit?

Answer 24

A scholar educated in the sacred scripts.

Translates as ‘‘learned scholar’’

Question 25

What is a Swami?

Answer 25

Normally a member of a religious community. They are involved in teaching about the Hindu religion and culture.

Question 26

What is a Rishi?

Answer 26

A holy person said to have an intuitive knowledge of the divine. Normally found in mythology.

Question 27

What is a Guru?

Answer 27

translates as ''teacher'' | they are said to be heavy with spiritual and religious knowledge.

Question 28

Give an example of a modern day guru

Answer 28

Sathya Sai Baba

Question 29

What is the 4th asrama associated with?

Answer 29

Moksha, | liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth

Question 30

How might a Hindu become Samnyasi?

Answer 30

They are usually initiated into the ascetic way of life by a guru after a period of training HOWEVER formal initiation is now necessary

Question 31

What happens when a Samnyasi leaves home?

Answer 31

Funeral rights are performed | This symbolises stepping out of the ritual life & society

Question 32

What is shraddha

Answer 32

Rituals for your dead ancestors

Question 33

How do you say the right way of life in Sanskrit

Answer 33

Santayana dharma

Question 34

What is the sacred thread ceremony called

Answer 34

Upanayana

Question 35

How do you become a twice born hindu

Answer 35

through the sacred thread ceremony - upanayana

Question 36

What do the untouchables refer themselves as

Answer 36

dalits - the oppressed

Question 37

Why may someone be for the caste system (2)

Answer 37

- stable society | - everyone has an identity

Question 38

What is Sanskritisation

Answer 38

when lower castes adopt the customs and manners of upper caste, such as diet, dress, and marriage