World Faiths Hinduism Test

Two basic categories of Hindu scriptures and language associated with them

shurti — that which is heard and smirti — that which is remembered lanugage is sanskrit

three layers of the Shruti

samhitas, brahmanas, and the upanishads

which of the four Vedas is the most important

the rig veda

what are the four smriti writings

code of manu, bhagavad gita, mahabharata, ramayana

code of manu

hindu law and conduct

mahabharata

includes the bhagavad-gita, focus is krishna (for both)

ramayana

focus is rama

four varnas of classical hinduism (be able to identify and list in order)

brahmins, kshatriyas, vaishyas, and shudras

realtionship between samsara,moksha, karma, and dharma

dharma guides actions which fuel the cycle of rebirth(samsara) until spritual wisdom breaks the cycle and brings liberation

four permissible goals

purusharthas

dharma- (duty)

artha - weath and prosperity

kama- pleasure and love

moksha- liberation

three ways of salvation and why the bhagavad gita is important for all three

karma yoga - path of action, fulfilling your duties selflessly, teaches peoples must act without attachment to reward

Jnana Yoga- path of knowledge, deep study and reflection to realize true nature of reality, aims to destroy avidya(spiritual ignorance) by recognizing atman being one with Brahman

Bhakti Yoga- path of devotion, loving and personal surrender and devotion to a deity, emotional connection through everyday relationships and worship

The Bhagavad Gita says you should choose all three

how many orthodox darshanas are there and describe them

Six darshanas

Sankhya - oldest, ishvarakrishna, atheistic and dualistic, 2 eternal catagories of being material and souls

yoga darshana- yogi is a practice, mental discipline, physiological and psychological measure to assist mind in effort to concentrate, postures, breathing, refined by Patanjali

Mimamsa darshana- rules for interpretation of Vedas, provide enlightenment on dharma

Vedanta darshana- three versions

what is advaita vedanta and who is the founder

a non-dualtstic, advaita means not two, founder is adi shankara, core teaching that the indiviual soul and the ultimate unchanging reality are the same

which hindu diety traditionally is associated with 10 avatars, including krshna and budda

vishnu

three gods of the Trimurti

brahma is the creator

vishnu is the preserver

shiva is the destroyer

most venerated animal

cow

which river is consider the holiest? and from which river does the term hindu derive

Ganges - holiest

Indus - name

match the festivals: holi, diwali, maha shivaratri, krishna janmashtami

holi - festival of colors, celebrates arrival of spring and triumph of good over evil

diwali - festival of lights, celebrates the return of lord rama

maha shivaratri - the great night of shiva

krishna janmashtami - birth anniversary of lord krishna

Advaita

not- two

atman

the eternal, unchanging, divine inner self or soul of a living being

avatar

the descent or incarnation of a diety, most commonly of vishnu

avidya

spiritual ignorance

Bhagavad Gita

part of the mahabharata, 700 verse scritpture, pandava prince and arjuna

Bhakti

intense emotional and personal bond of loving devotion between a devotee and a personal god

Brahman

infinite, unchanging, and all encompassing ultimate realty and supreme cosmic spirit that forms the divine ground of all existence

Brahmanas

ancient sanskrit prose texts that serve as ritual and theological commentaries on the four Vedas

Brahmin

preist, wrote brahmanas

Code of Manu

ancient legal and ethical text attributed to the primordial sage Manu

Dalits

members of lowest social groups in caste, but not an original group, untouchables

darshana

the sacred act of seeing and being seen by a deity, holy person, or sacred object

deva

a celestial being or shining one

dharma

duty

Dvaita

dualism, teaches that God and the individual soul are eternally separate and distinct realities

guru

personal spiritual mentor

Jnana

profound spiritual knowledge and wisdom that leads to liberation

karma

the universal law of cause and effect where every thought, word, and deed produces an inevitable reaction that shapes a soul’s present and future

Kshatriya

2nd highest social order, military, ruling and administrative elite

Mahabharata

massive ancient sanksrit epic, longest, foundational

Mahadeva

great god

mandir

a hindu temple

maya

the cosmic power and illusion that makes the material world appear real

Mimamsa

a darshana, focues on deep analysis of the vedas and performance of ritual duties

moksha

ultimate spiritual goal, release from samsara

Om

sacred sound and symbol

puja

devotional worship, honor, homage, adoration

Ramayana

epic about Rama

samadhi

highest state of intense mental concentration and meditative absorption where the mind unites with the ultimate reality

Samhitas

most ancient layer of text in the Vedas, consisting of foundation mantras, hymns, prayer, and litanies used in rituals

samasara

the neverending cycle of death and rebirth

Santana Dharma

santana dharma meaning eternal orer is the native endonym for the religous phiosohical and moral traditions know as hinduism

Sankhya

dualistic - ulitmante reality mix of two independent eternal priciples

sati

hindu goddess, means good woman

Shruti

that which is heard

Shudra

fourth and lowest orginal varna, laborers, artisans, and service workers

Smirti

that which is remembered

Trimurti

the trinity, brahma, shiva, and vishnu

Upanishads

the philosophical commentary of the vedas

utsava

festival or celebration

Vaisya

third hightes of the varnas, can be second born

varna

class, assigned by birth

Vedanta

focuses on teach of the vedas

Yoga

spiritual and physical dicipline

Indra

ancient vedic kind of gods and the god of thunder, rain storms and war

Agni

god of fire

Purusha

cosmic man, spirit, or pure consciousness, gives life to the universe

Tad Ekam (that one)

singular, all-encompassing impersonal reality that exists before all creation

Brahma

god of creation

Shiva

god of destroyer

Parvati

goddess of love fertility, devotion and divine feminine energy

Kali

goddess of time, destruction and spiritual liberation

Lakshumi

goddess of wealth and fortune

Vishnu

preserver and protector

Krishna

avatar of vishnu, love compassion, protection and righteousness

Rama

7th incarnation of vishnu, the ideal man

Sita

revrend hindu goddes central female in epic of ramayana

Ganesha

elephant head of wisdom

Nandi

sacred white bull who is the gatekeeper of shiva

Hanuman

body of man and face of a monkey, selfless service

Arjuna

central hero, master archer, pandava prince in ancient indian epic mahabhartata

Shankara (assoc with what branch of darshana)

advaita vedanta, nondualism , agues the atman and the brahman are one

Pantajali (assoc with what darshana)

founder of yoga darshana

Gargi Vachaknavi

sage and philosopher

Mirabi

hindu mystic and poet passionate devotee of lord krishna