Hinduism

Public temple that is the place of worship for Hindus

Mandir

Image or statue dedicated to a god/goddess found in the main shrine room of the mandir

Murti

worship

Puja

a mark made on the head of the murti

Tilak

lamp containing five flames, one for each of the five senses

arti lamp

blessed food that has been offered to the god of the mandir (fruit, nuts, sweets)

prasad

verses from the Hindu holy book

mantras

What do Hindus believe about the Ganges river?

It is the liquid form of God and can purify

What Hindu god carries the soul to heaven?

Shiva

Who is the founder of Hinduism?

there is no single founder; grew from the beliefs of diverse groups who settled in India

Contain eternal truth revealed to wise men (stories, myths, chants, etc.)

Vedas

helps explain ideas found in the Vedas

Upanishads

epic poem of God Rama and wife Sita

Ramayana

epic poem of royal brothers regaining their kingdom

Mahabarata

What is the supreme force of Hinduism?

Brahman

What words describe Brahman?

nameless, formless, unlimited

What is the purpose of the ghats (steps) along the Ganges river?

provide a ceremonial approach to the water

The single supreme force of the universe

Brahman

an essential self (a part of the universal soul)

Atman

freeing the soul from the body so it can unite with Brahman

Moksha

Who are the 3 main gods that make up trimurti?

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

The three main gods make up what?

trimurti

Who is the creator god?

Brahma

What is Brahma considered?

creator

Who is the preserver god?

Vishnu

What is Vishnu considered?

preserver

Who is the destroyer god?

Shiva

What is Shiva considered?

destroyer

What describes Brahma’s appearance?

four faces and four arms

What does Brahma’s four faces represent?

that he sees everything that is happening

What does Brahma’s four arms represent?

four points of the compass

What does Vishnu hold in his hands?

Lotus, Conch Shell, Mace, Chakra

What does Vishnu’s lotus represent?

purity

What does Vishnu’s conch shell symbolize?

remembrance for worshippers to destroy ignorance and evil

What does Vishnu’s Mace symbolize?

Club that Vishnu uses against his enemies

What is Vishnu’s Chakra?

weapon that returns to Vishnu’s hand after it has struck an enemy

What god is worshipped more than any other god?

Vishnu

What gods is believed to return to earth in many forms?

Vishnu

What are Vishnu’s two most important forms that he returns as?

Roma and Krishna

Who is the god of love?

Krishna

What is Krishna the god of?

love

What does Krishna’s blue skin represent?

the color of the sky, meaning that they are everywhere and eternal

What does Krishna’s flute represent?

the benefit of cows and gopis

women who care for cows

gopis

What things describe Krishna?

blue skin and flute

Who is another form of Krishna?

Kalki

Why is Shiva known as the destroyer?

he destroys wars and diseases

Who is Shiva usually shown as?

Natraja

What is Natraja (Shiva) know as?

The Lord of the Dance

What does Natraja’s (Shiva’s) dance provide?

the **energy** that keeps the universe moving

What does Shiva dancing on a demon symbolize?

ignorance

What does the flames that encircle Shiva symbolize?

the destruction and recreation of the world

What Shiva’s 3 eyes symbolize?

the ability to look at the past, present, and future

What does Shiva’s long hair symbolize?

The Ganges river

Who is Shiva married to?

Paravati

What type of head does Ganesh have?

elephant

Who are Ganesh’s parents?

Shiva and Parvati

Who is the son of Shiva and Parvati?

Ganesh

Ganesh is the god of what?

wisdom and strength

What does Vigneshwara mean (Ganesh)?

“he who overcomes all obstacles”

What does Ganesh’s pot belly represent?

the universe

What does Ganesh’s mouse represent?

gentleness

who is the monkey god?

Hanuman

What does Hanuman represent?

intelligence

What two events show Hanuman’s strength?

helped Roma free his wife from evil ten-headed demon king and lifted an entire mountain to the battlefield and back

What is Shakti referred to as?

the mother goddess

Shakti is the wife of who?

Shiva

What is Shakti also called?

Parvati

What does Shakti symbolize?

Earth’s fertility

Lakshmi is the goddess of what?

wealth and prosperity

What is Lakshmi normally standing in and holding?

lotus

Reincarnation (samsara)

the rebirth of a soul in a new body

all the actions of a person’s life that affect his or her fate in the next life

Karma

Social groups into which people are born and which can rarely be changed 

Caste

What are the 4 castes of Hinduism plus the one not considered? (greatest to least)

Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, Sudras, Dalits

Who makes up the Brahmins?

Priests

Who makes up the Kshatriyas?

warriors

Who makes up the Vaisyas?

herders, farmers (landowner), artisans, merchants

Who makes up the Sudras?

Farmworkers, servants, other laborers

Who makes up the Dalits?

untouchables; people with jobs that are considered “impure”

What are some jobs that Dalits do that are considered “impure”?

digging graves, cleaning streets, cleaning toilets

Ways castes affect the lives of hindus

Where they live, what they eat, how they dress, how they earn a living, etc.

The religious and moral duties of an individual

Dharma

What is the holiest river for Hindus?

the Ganges river

What is thought to be good to do at the Ganges river?

drink, bathe, and have your ashes scattered here

Who were Aryans?

A group of people that arose from nomads intermarrying local people in Europe and Aisa

most skilled leader

rajah

 What type of written language did priest use to write sacred texts?

Sanskrit

union with Brahman (ultimate goal of existence)

Moksha

 nonviolence, another key moral principle

Ahimsa

a spiritual teacher

guru

a plucked stringed instrument, originating from the Indian subcontinent, used in Hindu classical music

Sitar

a harmonious note, melody, formula, building block of music available to a musician to construct a state of experience in the audience

Raga

Where is the ultimate pilgrimage spot for Hindus?

Varanasi

What are the four stages of life (ashramas)?

Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha, Sannyasa

What is the Brahmacharya stage of life?

1 to 25; student phase

What is the Grihastha stage of life?

26 to 50; married and duties of maintaining a household phase

What is the Vanaprastha stage of life?

51 to 75; retirement and handing over responsibilities to the next generation phase

What is the Sannyasa stage of life?

76+; focusing on Moksha and a peaceful/simple life phase

What is the word for the stages of Hindu lives?

ashramas