Unit 2 Hinduism Flashcards
Caste System lowest to highest USVKB
Caste defines SOWDEM
who escapes the cycle of life
- untouchable (street cleaners)
- Sudra (servants)
- Visaya (Merchents, sell things)
- Kshatriya (warriors)
- Brahmin (priests)
Defines: Social status, occupation, worship,dress,eating habits, marriage partner
Brahmin can only escape cycle of life others have to be reborn each time to highest level
Caste system disadvantages & advan
Advantages: everyone knows their role in community
-motivated to be better so they can move up the levels on the caste
disavn: segregation, capitalism, inequality, disagreements can lead to violence
Gods VISHNU BRAHMA SHIVA KRISHNA
Vishnu: God of preservation
Brahma: CREATOR GOD w/4 heads and hands, 1=used in blessing, sits on lotus(represents knowledge and understanding) throne, SARASWATI= wife
Shiva: Destroyer God 4 arms, crescent moon on head, snake around neck=power over evil, left hand= holds flame to destruct and purify, right hand= a drum PARVATI= WIFE and 2 others Durga and Kali, SON= GANESH
Krishna: wisdom and known as dark, considered to be Vishnu incarnation, loves to herd cows and dance with cow girls
The trimuti(hindi trinity): COSMOLOGICAL CYCLE
Cosmological Cycle= Brahma(Saraswati)(creator)—-Vishnu(Lakshimi)(preservation)—-Shiva(Parvati)(destruction)
HINDU GODDESSES
LAKSHMI
Lakshmi: goddess of wealth and good fortune, mother of creation, wisdom, good fortune
-gives freedom from cycle of life and death
DIWALI= HER CELEBRATION
Sacred texts Vedas Shruti Bhagavad Gita Sanskirt
- composed in san skirt
- Vedas= knowledge
- Hindus called vedos as “Shruti”
- Bhagavad Gita is one of the 4 hindu scripture books
- Sanskirt: Type of writing used in hindu scripture
TEN AVATARS
-Vishnu created —— to conquer
Vishnu created avatars(incarnations) as humans/animals to conquer evil
- 7th: Rama
- 8th: Krishna
- 9th: Siddartha Gautama (buddha)
Ganesha
- Son of Shiva and Parvati
- human body on elephants head
- worshipped to remove obstacles
- Milk miracle
Four goals in life
DAKM
- Dharma: moral practices accroding to the scripture including duties: social, relgious, individual
- Artha: (Wealth) basic necessities for household, wealth is distributed to the poor
- Kama: achieving satisfaction from human desires (food, music, art)
- Moksha: free from cycle of birth and death. Need to be free from dharma, artha and kama to reach Moksha
Hindu stages in life
SHRF
- student 2. householder 3.retirement 4. forest dweller
what is ahimsa
ahimsa: non violence towards all creatures
Three types of yoga
purpose of yoga
Bhakti: yoga of devotion
Jnana: yoga of knowledge
Karma: yoga of doing good selfless actions
the purpose of yoga is to exercise the spirtual mind
Symbols
AUM
Shri Yantra
aum: most important symbol represents Brahman A= thorat UM= from the lips
Shri: the focus point of meditation symbolize wholeness and peace
Diwali
Holi
Puja
holiday to worship Lakshmi from oct-nov
Holi: celebrate after full moon in march spring season throwing colour water “festivals of God colours”
Puja: their way of praying to a God
Henotheistic
Monotheistic
polytheistic
Trinitanan
Heno: recognize single god and other gods as aspects to supreme God
Mono: recognizes supreme God
Poly:worships more than one god
Trin: Brahman is visualizded as a triad(god w/ 3 persons the holy trinity)
