Hinduism Study Guide

4 Vedas - correct answer not to be passed to anyone other than priests Rig Veda: oldest/most sacred, over 1000 poems to various gods (hymns of creation, praise, etc.) Soma Veda: hymns chanted at soma sacrifices (hallucinogenic beverages use as an offering to the Gods) Yajur Veda: instructing priests in fire and soma services Atharva Veda: collections of charms, spells and incarnations used for healings and curses, hymns for domestic use Ahimsa - correct answer the desire not to harm any form of life (basis of nonviolence), promoted by Mohandas Ghandi Arjuna - correct answer story in Smriti scriptures about Arjuna who was caught between his duty as a warrior and his dedication to nonviolence Atman - correct answer the soul, the individual's essential nature, the real self of each person Avatar - correct answer incarnations of a god/goddess who came to rid the world of evil Banyan tree - correct answer symbol of Hinduism Bhakti - correct answer bahminical sacrificial rituals Bhakti Yoga/Magra - correct answer part of the Path of Devotion Brahma - correct answer Creator god Brahman - correct answer all gods and goddesses are images of him, the Ultimate Reality/Absolute Reality, has no attributes, 3 forms (Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva) Dharma - correct answer pursuit of harmony with the dharma is a primary concern, social order affects it Diwali - correct answer festival of lights No universal date celebrated in the fall Length depends on where you live North 5 days, south 1 day Some consider this the start of the new year Celebrates the return of Rama to his kingdom after a 14 year exile * People lit lamps to guide him and his friends on their journey * Today people decorate with colorful lights and candles * Begins at darkness so the lights really shine Also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains Gandhi - correct answer Mohandas Gandhi advocated the equality of all religions, worked hard to alleviate tensions between religious traditions Ganges - correct answer premier place for spiritual healing, symbol of life without end, ritual bathing (power to wash away the karma), at death ashes are put in the river Gurdwara - correct answer their service that consists of singing and reading scriptures Guru Nanak - correct answer founded Sikhism, student of the Hindu poet Kabir who was heavily influenced by Islamic mysticism Hindu - correct answer roots in the Sanskrit "sindhu" meaning "river" Holi - correct answer celebration of love Celebrated in the spring Time where the divisions between castes is suspended Fun-loving pranks are performed as a reminder of the fun Krishna had as a boy Commemoration of the love between Krishna and Radha Squirt each other with red liquor or throw red powder during the festival * Holika tried to poison Krishna, but he exposed her for the demon she was Jainism - correct answer Founded by Mahavira Mix of elements from Buddhism and Hinduism Reacting against some sacrificial elements Because Jainism is big on non-violence, they will only eat things that will not kill plants or animals Also big on non-injury Vegetarians- Diet mostly fruit, milk, and nuts Jnana Yoga/Magra - correct answer involves looking at oneself in the 3rd person Learning The information received from the outside world Thinking Internal reflection of what's been learned Viewing Seeing from God's point of view Karma - correct answer the moral law of cause and effect that determines where we wind up in or next life Karma Yoga/Magra - correct answer Path of Action selfless service to others, performs right actions for the sake of Brahman (not personal gain) Krishna - correct answer popular avatar of Vishnu, considered a god Lakshmi - correct answer goddess of prosperity, good fortune, and beauty, linked to Vishnu Mahabharata Epic - correct answer Poem of a war between 2 families over heritance Mahavira - correct answer founder of Jainism Maya - correct answer elusions (body, mind, and emotions that do not equal a person's real self), only they the release of maya can one achieve union with Brahman Moksha - correct answer true self-realization, liberation from the endless cycle of rebirth, pursuit of union with the infinite being, awareness, and bliss of liberation Monism - correct answer holds that all reality is ultimately one, deities are all points of contact with the divine Murti - correct answer statue, picture, or image of the god which is utilized for the ritual of puja cleansed, dressed and given food, flowers, and incense special to each family Parvati - correct answer the Divine Mother often representing the goddess Devi or Great Goddess, linked to Shiva Polytheistic - correct answer NOT HINDUISM Puja - correct answer use Murtis can be individual or collective done by women when home Brahmin perform in Temple Deity is awakened with bells Murti cleansed and dressed and given food/flowers/incense Prayers, hymns, scripture all done At the end, people eat offering Puranas - correct answer collections of stories about Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva (noteable