Stevens Hinduism Test (copy)

Caste, Family heritage, town, or village

What would most identify with at first?

80%

What percentage of India are Hindu?

95%

What percentage of Hindus live in India?

Indus Civilization declines

What led to the Nomads from Central Asia moving into India?

Sanskrit

What language did the Aryan Migration bring into india?

Vedas

Ancient Sanskrit writings that are the earliest sacred texts of Hinduism, the oral tradition of the brahmins eventually written down (oldest)

3000-300 BCE

When did Old school Vedic Hindusim last from?

please the gods through complex sacrifices to maintain order

What was the focus of Old Vedic Hinduism?

Brahmins

Who passes along the words/steps of the rituals which ensure efficacy

Vedic Gods

Gods that are described in the ancient Indian religious scriptures called the Vedas. The gods form the basis of Hinduism.

Indra, Varuna, Agni

Who are the 3 Vedic Gods?

Indra

Warrior Lord of the Heavens (slays many demons, brings victories to the gods), will do anything to maintain status/leadership, amoral character, has the most hymns devoted to him in the Vedas.

Varuna

Upholder of Law and Order and Guardian of the world (sees and knows everything), mophs into god of the ocean

Agni

"Fire god" who transports sacrifices to other gods, (Earth presence as fire, sky as lightning, heavens as Sun) Messenger priest of the gods who must be present for the sacrifice to "work"

Shruti Scriptures

earliest, divine in origin and thus "holiest"

Uphanishads

Written dialogues or discussions of Hindu teachers that offer interpretations of the Vedic hymns and explore how a person can achieve liberation from desires and suffering to reach moksha.

Smriti Scriptures

Means "that which is to be remembered"; a type of Hindu scripture comprised of epic poems describing popular Hindu traditions

Mahabharata

Epic poem with many sub stories, including Bhagavad Gita and Ramayana

Puranas

Stories about major gods

Muslims invade and occupy North and Central India. Major Effect of this period = Development of even more Hindu practices to distinguish itself from Muslims
More exposure to Hinduism after English Colonization
Influence of Gandhi to current Western fascination (Beatles)

What happened during the Muslim period? What was a major effect? What was exposed to them through this period?

Brahma

A Hindu god considered the creator of the world; wasn't widely popular

Shiva

Terrifying Transcendent Power! Both the Destroyer & Restorer, third eye example; outward burning destruction or inward constructive wise vision

Shavism

sect that holds Shiva as the representation of the most supreme deity

Vishnu

A Hindu god considered the preserver of the world

Avatar

an earthly appearance or representation of a deity. Vishnu is most known for having avatars

Vaishnavism

sect that holds vishnu as the representation of the most supreme deity.

Shakti

the female principle of divine energy, especially when personified as the supreme deity.

Kali

Manifestation of Shakti

Henotheism

Belief in one primary God and many secondary ones

Ultimate reality

The supreme, final, fundamental power in all reality

Atman

the individual soul. It is eternal, imperishable, and beyond time and space

The Hindu Problem

people dont realize that they are pure spirit (Atman) and that spirit is a part of God (Brahman)

Maya

"illusions" - lost in the dualism delusion! Thinking that one is separate from each other and from God

Brahman

What is the Atman identical to?

Moksha

Becoming liberated for the cycle of reincarnation in Hinduism.

Through discipline

one can achieve true self realization that one's Atman is in fact Brahman

Samsara

what happens until the Atman merges with Brahman (Moksha)

Karma

who are beings in Samsara are governed by? The moral law of cause and effect. Keeps us separate from Brahman

Karma Yoga

path of service. Serving others as devotion to Brahman

Jnana Yoga

path of knowledge, knowing/understanding how you truly relate to Brahman. Must learn to tell what is real/eternal (Brahman) from what us temporary (Maya)

Bhakti Yoga

path of devotion and love to Brahman. Most popular path. Often through personal devotion to one of the gods (Vaishnavism most common)

Raja Yoga

Often through personal devotion to one of the gods (vaishnavism most common)

Scholars and perform religious ceremonies

What jobs do Brahmins generally have?

Noblemen or soldiers

What jobs do Kshatriya generally have?

Mechant or Farmers

What jobs do Vaishya generally have?

Menial laborers, and serve the other 3

What jobs do Shudra generally have?

Untouchables

perform most despised jobs, usually forced to live on outskirts of town or village, typically denied access to temples, lowest spot on the totem pole

Brahmancarin, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sannyasin

What are the 4 stages if life?

Brahmancarin

Student phase of life, find guru to learn Hindu faith, very open and humble

Grihastha

the householder stage where you get married, have kids, and contribute to society

Vanaprastha

Retirement stage of life where you start to distance yourself from their old life and family

Sanyassin

Complete Renunciation Phase of life, abandon family, possessions, name... pursuing moksha as wandering pilgrim

Judaism, Islam, Christianity

What are the three prominent religions in the Middle East?

says it can be only human (sannyasin) or only god (vishnu)

What does Hinduism say about Avatar v Incarnation

says he is fully human and fully God

What does catholicism say about Avatar v Incarnation

the problem is that humans are ignorant of truth about reality, which can be solved by understanding the true nature of reality

What does Hinduism say about Understanding the Human Problem

the problem is that our relationship with God and others is broken (sin), which can be resolved by restoring the right relationship

What does Catholicism say about Understanding the Human Problem

as cyclical, eternal; there is no real true beginning or end

What does Hinduism say about Understanding of Time/creation

creation has a beginning, soul has a beginning

What does catholicism say about Understanding of Time/creation

there is not set or finalized cannon; there is a traditional text, but not all Hindus study scripture or base their faith on scripture

How does Hinduism approach scripture?

Finalized Cannon; tradition and scripture, but we are very much a book based faith

How does Catholicism approach scripture?

Spritual discipline saves you or helps with your Karmic situation. Brahman does not save you

What does Hinduism say about Spiritual discipline vs grace

Spiritual discipline helps you grow and gain correct understanding; but it is not what saves you. God saves

What does Catholicism say about Spiritual discipline vs grace

Images and Veneration

What does Catholicism and Hinduism agree on?

Hindus believe in the doctrines of samsara (the continuous cycle of life, death, and reincarnation) and karma; Caste system believes they are deeply rooted in the Hinduism belief in karma and reincarnation. Dating back more than 3,000 years, the caste system divides Hindus into four main categories

What is the relationship between the Caste System and the core beliefs of Hinduism?

Banyan trees are sacred and represent eternal life because it supports its expanding canopy by growing special roots from its branches.

Why is the Banyan tree a good symbol for the History of Hinduism?

Hinduism believes He can only be fully human or fully God, not both. ...

Know the two different Hindu approaches to Jesus and how/why they fall short of the Christian approach to Jesus.