Indian Art Music and Culture Quiz 1

Sanskrit

* Base of languages in India


* Classical language
* Not spoken

Hinduism

* Way of life
* Oral tradition
* Guru/sisya
* Parampara
* 3 Realms
* Book of Knowledge

Kama Lohka

world

love, desire, passion, eros

Rupa

form, shape, “giving shape”

Arupa

formlessness, selflessness, oneness

becoming completely immersed

4 Aims of Life

Kama, Artha, Dharma, Moksha

Artha

meaning, material, possessions, worldly, wealth

Dharma

virtuous, righteous duties

Moksha

salutation, release, liberation

4 Stages of Life

Sisya, Griha Hasta, Vanaprastha, Bikshu

Sisya

student

Griha Hasta

house holder

Vanaprastha

“ready to walk into the forest”, to isolate

Bikshu

wandering, in search of the truth

Brahman

Ultimate goal to achieve

cannot be described - cosmic power, divine energy, absolute

no form - nirguna

mystic syllable “ohm”

Religions that came from Hinduism

Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam

Brahma

Lord of creation

* 4 heads - entire universe
* pitcher of water
* vedas - to guide him
* lotus

saraswati - consort of Brahma, goddess of knowledge

Brahmin

caste

Saguna Brahman

with form

Ishwara

divine image, superior in human form

Atman

self, soul

merges with the Brahman

Meaning of Lotus

lotus grows in muddy waters into a beautiful flower

you can always better your life

Different names of India

Bharat - from sanskrit, most ancient

Hindustan - \`”land beyond Indus(river)”, persian from sindu

India - persian from ”hind”

**Satchitananda**

Sat - exists, Being, Chit - pure intelligence, consciousness, Ananda - pure bliss

Vishnu

Lord of preservation

sits on Ananta, many headed cobra symbolizes cosmic energy Ocean - endless milk, bliss \n colored blue - limitless as the sky \n Chakra - discus, order in the universe \n Shanka - conch, Nada (sound) symbolic of removal of ignorance \n Gada - mace, removing evil \n Lotus - beauty/ purity \n Vehicle - Garuda, man/eagle, power/ piety \n Lakshmi - consort, feminine aspect, image for (prosperity and wealth)

Shiva

Destruction

Lord of Dance - Natraja, Natesha \n symbols: \n Dwarf - apasmara purusa, ego / ignorance, avidya stamps it out \n Drum - nada, sound, knowledge \n Ardhachandra mudra - half moon hand gesture with a tongue of flame, destruction

Ring of flames - prabha mandala - energy wisdom, cycle of destruction creation other hand - protection \n Half moon - time \n Ganga - water

Two Dances

two forms merged as one \n Lasya - gentle erotic dance \n Tandava - violent, destructive dance

Paruati

Goddess of love

vehicle - bull

counterpart of shiva

Maya

Illusion, deceptiom, ignorance, flux, real, unreal

our perception of realityy keeps changing

* aquiring knowledge and experience

Samsara

Cycle of birth, death, rebirth

Karma

Law of cause and effect

Praradbha Karma

beyond our control, soul chooses to be born according to ones previous actions

Samchita Karma

accumulated karma, tendencies, interests, pertaining characteristics. Changeable with wisdom

Agami Karma

Actions in out present life which determines our future, pave way for a better life, free will

Kali

destructive form of Parvati

mother’s fierce/goddess of chaos

dark aspect of goddess Durga

can see through any disguise

* Created from 3 forces
* Strong - shakti
* Standing on shiva


1. Severed head
2. plate/skull cap
3. Bloody tongue out
4. Sihkl
5. Skirt of severed hands
6. Necklace of heads

4 classes, castes

varna - occupation


1. Brahmanas, Brahmins - teachers, priests
2. Kshatriyas - warriors, rulers
3. Vaishyas - commercial occupations, traders
4. Sudras - manual labor, farmer, agriculturists

Incarnations of Vishnu

1)Matsya Avatar (fish) \n 2)Kurma Avatar (tortoise) \n 3)Varaha (Boar) \n 4)Narsimha (half man, half beast/lion) 5)Vamana (the dwarf)

6)Parasurama (the angry man) \n 7)Rama (the perfect man) \n 8)Krishna (the divine statesman) \n 9)Buddha (the compassionate man) \n 10)Kalki (will ride forth and re-establish Dharma)

Maha Maya Devi

can see through the veils of maya, of ignorance, and remove

durga, shakti, kali

Difference between Indian and Western art

Western art is an illusion of realism, classical beauty

Indian art is couched in a language of symbols and myths

Parvati

Divine mother

Ganesh

new beginnings, remover of obstacles

Lakshimi

wealth, prosperity

Saraswati

Knowledge, music, arts

Durga

Devi, Shakti, warrior goddess

AUM

awakened state, awareness, imaginary/ dream state