AQA GCSE RS - Hinduism (Beliefs)

Give 2 quotes about Brahman.

Explain what they could suggest.

"In truth Brahman is all." - Mundaka Upanishad 2.2

- suggests that Brahman is everywhere

"He moves, and he moves not. He is far, and he is near. He is within all, and he is outside all." - Isa Upanishad 1.5

- this quote seems incomplete and contradictory, suggesting that Hindus believe that Brahman is a limitless, universal soul or consciousness

- suggests that he is beyong human understanding

What is 'Brahman'?

- the Hindu name for God or Supreme Being

What is the difference between the two understandings of Brahman?

- nirguna Brahman = God/the Supreme Being as spiritual prescence only, without form or shape (ultimate reality in divine consciousness)

- saguna Brahman = God/the Supreme Being shown in form as in pictures (manifestation of a physical God)

What representation is used to understand or explain nirguna Brahman?

Why is it important to Hindus?

the om or Aum symbol

- it is considered as the first sound at the start of all creation

What is 'bhagavan'?

- the Supreme Being existing in the world of spirits and deities

What are the three ways in which Hindus think of God?

- existing everywhere, not as a personal God, called Brahman

- being within the heart of everyone, called antaryami

- asa person God or Lord, called bhagavan and approached through many different deities, living in the spirtiual worlds called vaikuntha

What does 'antaryami' mean?

- the Supreme Being existing within the heart of all living beings

What does 'vaikuntha' mean?

- the perfect world; the spiritual realm

What does 'tri-murti' mean?

- the three main hindu deities or aspects of God

What are the three gods that form the tri-murti, and what are their roles?

- Brahma (the Creator)

- Vishnu (the Preserver, responsible for sustaining the universe)

- Shiva (the Destroyer)

Why is Brahma typically depicted with many heads (usually four)?

- Brahma is usually shown in pictures with four heads which suggests that he is looking north, east, south and west at all times

- he is responsible for the created world and he is looking over his creation

What does the book, which is held by Brahma, symbolise?

- the Vedas (the earliest Hindu scriptures)

- shows that he is guided by the Vedas (some even think Brahma is responsible for their originin)

What does the spoon, which is held by Brahma, symbolise?

- represents a sacrifical ladle used in worship

- shows that Brahma is responsible for offerings during worship

What does the string of beads, which is held by Brahma, symbolise?

- represents a 'mala' which is used during meditation

What is a 'mala'?

- string of beads

- used to help count chanted mantras during meditation

What does the water pot, which is held by Brahma, symbolise?

- represents the water of life, which was responsible for the beginning of creation

Why is Brahmaoften pictured on a lotus flower?

- the lotus is a symbol of purity as it emerges pure white from the mud of a river

- it is said that Brahma was born sitting on a lotus flower emerging from the navel of Vishnu

- one of Brahma's names is 'self-born' because he had no mother

Why are Brahma and Vishnu linked specifically?

- many Hindus believe that Vishnu was responsible for bringing many universes ino being and that he created Brahma to continue his work of creation in all the different worlds

- Brahma is still the creator because he brough to these worlds: space and light, the moon, the rain, plants and all living beings

Give a quote that shows that Brahma was the Creator.

"Brahma was [...] the Creator of all, the Guardian of the Universe [...] From him comes all life and mind [...] space and light, air and fire and water, and this earth that holds us all." - Mundaka Upanishad 1 and 2

Who is the consort (wife) of Brahma?

Saraswati

Describe Saraswati.

- goddess of music and knowledge, art and learning

- also sits on a lotus flower

- often pictured riding a swan

What is the significance of a swan in Hinduism?

- a symbol of spiritual perfection

- the swan is believed to be able to separate milk from water when they are mixed, and drink only the milk

=> for Hindus, this represents the ability to discriminate and how justice is given to everyone

What does the Sanskrit word 'Vishnu' mean?

'one who enters everywhere'

How is Vishnu usually depicted?

- many Hindus think of Vishnu as the preserver and sustainer of the universe, and the spirit present everywhere in the universe

- usually pictured as a royal figure living in vaikuntha, a spiritual world of great beauty and richness

How is Vishnu usually worshipped?

- worshipped mainly through his incarnations, especially Rama and Krishna

What are 'avatars'?

- the ten animal or human forms in which Vishnu appears on Earth

In what four ways is Vishnu special?

- he represents the soul of the entire universe

- he gave birth to Brahma who created the universe

- he enters the heart of every living being to become 'the lord within'

- he is worshipped through avatars

What are images of Vishnu meant to do?

- all images of him are meant to remind Hindus to follow religious and moral laws, and that Vishnu steps in when necessary to restore moral order

- Vishnu has the power to prevent suffering and disaster when things go wrong in the world

What is the denomination of Hinduism that focuses on Vishnu and what are followers of the denomination called?

Vaishnavism (followers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavas)

What is the role of Vaishanavas?

- worship is based on the Upanishads, the Vedas and the Puranas, especially the Bhagavad Gita

- concentrates on the concept of bhakti (personal devotion)

- worship often consists of praying specific mantras (eg 'Hare Krishna') and the practice of repetitive prayer, known as 'japa'

- Vaishnavas consider that Vishnu is within them as the 'antaryami' or God within, and their aim in life is to serve Vishnu or one of his avatars in the spiritual realm of vaikuntha

Give a quote that shows Vishnu has the power to prevent suffering when things go wrong.

"Whenever there appears on earth decline of Righteousness, uprising of Unrighteousness, I send Myself to birth."

"For protection of the good, the wicken put to flight, I come into being age by age establishing the Right." - Bhagavad Gita 4.7-8

Who is the consort of Vishnu? What is her role?

Lakshmi (goddess of wealth and good fortune, prosperity and love)

Why is Shiva known as the most complex god?

- he has different qualities that could all be present at the same time

- Shaivites select the quality that appeals to them most, or is mot relevant to their situation in life at that time

What name was Shiva known as in the earlierst Hindu scriptures?

Rudra

Why is Shiva's symbol the 'linga'?

- 'linga' is the male sex organ

- represents his ability to recreate after destruction

What does 'Nataraja' mean?

Lord of the Dance

Who is Shiva's consort and what other three names is she less commonly known by?

Parvati (a gentle goddess of fertility, love, beauty, marriage, children, and devotion)

- aka Shakti

- aka Durga or Kali in her wild and fierce aspects

What are 'ascetics'? Why do they link with Shiva?

- people who live austere and simple lives

- Shaivites are often ascetics aiming for liberation through complete detachment

- the naked holy men always present at the Kumbh Mela pilgrimate are Shaivites who practise astanga yoga

- some Shaivite ascetics smoke marijuana as an aid to meditation

What is one contrast between Shaivites and Vaishnavas?

- many Shaivites believe that there is only one reality, that the atman, or self, and Brahman are one

- Vaishnavas, however, are less sure of this 'oneness'

- Vaishnavas are sometimes described as 'dualists' because they believe the atman is separate from the Supreme Being who is the Lord Vishnu

Why might Hinduism be seen as not an inclusive religion in accepting other beliefs?

- Shaivites and Vaishnavas disagree about which dety is superior (Shiva or Vishnu)

What do the animal hides symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- sitting on a tiger skin is a sign of an ascetic, and his mastery over the powerfurl tiger which represents lust

What does the trident symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- represents the three deities of the tri-murti

What do serpents symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- could represent Shiva's creatove powers after destruction, as the serpent throws of its skin to rejuvenate; the cobra is thought to have a ruby in its hood, to light the nights for Shiva and Parvati, to make love

What does the third eye symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- the third eye is in the centre of Shiva's forehead which could symbolise spiritual knowldge and power; like fire, the powerful gaze of Shiva's third eye annihilates evil, so evil-doers fear it

What does the ash symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- holy men smear themselves with ash, and Shaivites often out three parallel lines of ash on their foreheads to show they are an ascetic

What does the blue body symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- Shiva has a blue neck because he drank poison that was meant for the world, thus saving it from destruction

What does the River Ganges symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- flows from Shiva's head, representing everlasting tine; according to legend, Shiva used his matted hair to break the fall of the Ganges to the earth, again saving the world from destruction

What do the earrings symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- the right earring stands for male and the left for female, showing that Shiva is both genders

What does the bull symbolise when Shiva is pictured?

- Nandi the bull

- shows Shiva's calm and gentle aspects

- the bull symbolises courage

Give evidence that Hindus can be both polytheists and monotheists at the same time.

- Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 391

- The seeker (Vidagdha, sson of Sakalya) asks the wise man (Yajnavalkya) about Hindu ideas of Brahman and other deities, and gradually works out thatt even through there are hundreds of Hindu deities, there is only one Supreme Being

- "Yes, of course", he said, "but really yajnavalkya, how many gods are there?"

"One."

How is Saraswati described?

- consort of Brahma

- goddess of learning

- worldly possessions do not interest her

- her robe is usually white and her vehicles are the swan, goose or peacock

- often pictured playing a musical instrument

- Saraswati and Brahman had a son called manu (thought of as the faher of mankind and author of the 'Laws of Manu', a book of moral laws in Hindu scriptures)

- The Vedas are also thought to be Saraswati's children so she is often referred to as 'Veda-Mata' (mother of the Vedas)

How does Saraswati influence Hindus?

- Hindu musicians pray to her before concerts

- students at universities pay respect to her before their studies

- try not to be interested by worldly possessions

How is Lakshmi described?

- consort of Vishnu

- often referred to as 'Sri' (a word meaning beauty, prosperity and wealth)

When is Lakshmi especially worshipped?

- during the festival of Diwali when she is prayed to for a prosperous new year

- marriage of Vishnu and Lakshmi is considered a perfect union so it is remembered by newly-weds for a happy married life together

What does 'Shakti' mean?

- the general term for goddess, meaning energy

- used especially for Shiva's consort

How is Parvati a specific form of Shakti?

- Parvati is said to be the reincarnation of Sati, Shiva's first wife, who had killed herself after he father verbally abused Shiva

- in his desolation, Shiva became a wandering holy man and retired to the Himalayas as a widower

- Parvati followed him and finally won his love

- she has become the perfect example of motherhood and is usually portrayed in a domestic setting with her children, Ganesha and Skandi

How is Durga a specific form of Shakti? How is she described?

- Durga is a fierce and powerful goddess, so she has many arms to fight with demons and is often portrayed riding on a lion or a tiger

- her weapons are a bow and arrow, discus, a trident and a curved sword

- she also carries a conch shell to summon her warriors into battle

- she usually wears a red sari and fights against the demon Mahish

How is Kali a specific form of Shakti? How is she described?

- also a fierce and wild goddess

- has at least four arms, which hold a sword, a severed head, a bowl to catch the blood, and a trident

- she is often shown naked, with blue or black skin, a protruding tongue and a garland of human skulls

- associated with death and destruction (particularly of demons)

- worshipped especially in the Kalighat Temple in Kolkata

How many avatars does Vishnu have?

ten

What is the story of Rama (the seventh avatar)?

- Ravanna, the demon king of Sri Lanka, once ruled the earth

- Rama was banished by his stepmother for fourteen years

- Rama's wife, Sita, and his brother, Laksmana, chose to accompany him and share his simple life in the forest

- Rama and Sita lived happily in the forest but Ravanna fell in love with Sita and tried to abduct her

- when Rama and Laksmana were out hunting, Sita stepped outside of her magic protective circle and was then captured by Ravanna

- Rama asked Hanuman to help him find her

- a causeway was built from India to Sri Lanka and a mighty battle was fought

- Rama killed Ravanna and Sita proved that she remained chaste while living in the house of another man

- Rama and Sita returned home together, and Rama took his rightful place as king

For Hindus, what does the story of Rama show?

- wisdom

- justice

- equality

- obedience

- loyalty

- devotion

Who is 'Hanuman'?

- monkey warrior

- born of Shiva and Parvati

- adopted by the wind god, Vayu

- able to leap colossal distances

- symbol is a mace (strength and authority)

- worshipped by wrestlers, sportsmen and soldiers

- remembered for his devotion to Rama and Sita

Who is 'Krishna'?

- eighth avatar of Vishnu

- thought to be very approachable, loving, mischievous and caring about others

- the Sanskrit word 'Krishna' means 'dark' so his skin is dark blue and he wears yellow robes to represent earth

- often pictured playing the flute, entertaining the milkmaids (gopis) of the village who danced to his music

What is Krishna's story?

- born in jail in Mathura

- rescued and taken to live in the forest of Vrindavan where he was looked after by foster parents who were cowherds

Who is 'Ganesha'?

- the god with the head of an elephant

- son of Shiva and Parvati, born while his father was away

Why does Ganesha have an elephant-head?

- Parvati sent Ganesha to guard the door of their home while she took a bath

- Shiva returned but Ganesha, not recognising him, refused to let him in

- Shiva, in his rage, cut off Ganesha's head

- Parvati insisted Shiva to bring him back to life

- Shiva sent messengers to bring back the first head they could find of any sleeping creature (which happened to be a baby elephant)

Why is Ganesha worshipped?

- seen as a god of good luck and remover of obstacles

- worshipped before big events or rituals, such as weddings

- he is also thought to be the one who guards gates and doorways

What 6 things to Hindus believe about cosmology?

- time is cyclical

- the material worldis repeatedly created

- the universe is one of many bubbles floating in sppace

- there are three tiers of our universe (the heavenly plants, the earthly realm, and the lower worlds)

- there is not a single account of creation; instead, there are many interrelated stories

- there are two realities, spirit (purusa) and matter (prakriti)

What does 'purusa' mean?

- spirit

- spiritual reality; the essence of a living ebing which cannot be seen

What does 'prakriti' mean?

- matter

- material reality; that from which things are made and which can be seen

What ius the 'Cycle of Four Ages'?

- Hindus believe that there are four 'yugas'; divisions within the cycle of time which continuously rotate

What is the 'Satya Yuga'?

- first age

- the yuga of gold

- longest age (1,728,000 years)

- age of religious observance, high moral behaviour and no indiscipline, when people lived for a very long time

What is the 'Treta Yuga'?

- second age

- the yuga of silver (1,296,000 years)

What is the 'Dvapara Yuga'?

- third age

- the yuga of copper (864,000 years)

What is the 'Kali Yuga'?

- fourth age

- the yuga of iron (432,000 years)

What do Hindus believe about the four ages?

- each age gets shorter and more corrupt

- currently living in the iron age

What do Hindus believe will happen after the yuga of iron has finished?

- the tenth avatar of Vishnu will appear as Kalki, riding a white horse

- he will kill off the remaining evil-doers in the world and bring about the birth of another golden age (new cycle of time will start)

- age of disrespect for spirituality when religion is forgotten, behaviour is bad, the world is corrupt and people live for the shortest time of any age

What do Hindus understand about the universe?

- the universe is like clusters of bubbles floating in space created from Vishnu's breath

- in each universe, there is an upper realm of heavenly planets, an earthly realm that is more familiar to humans, and a lower world full of less pleasant beings

- every form of creation has a place in these universes

- the cycle of life means that, in a new creation, humans might move into a different realm

What do Hindus believe about purusa and prakriti?

- they believe that these two realities exist separately and that spirit must conquer matter

- other Hindus believe that both spirit and matter are needed together for the universe to be complete and creation fulfilled

What do Hindus believe will happen when an individual reaches enlightenment?

- the world will no longer have any substance but it will be shown to be an illusion

What is 'enlightenment'?

- the gaining of true knowledge about God or self, usually through meditation and self-discipline; in Hindu tradition, gaining freedom from the cycle of rebirth

What is 'maya'?

- illusion

- everything in the world seems real but is not

What three stages does matter go through?

- creation

- maintenance

- destruction

What is the 'tri-guna'?

- the three stages of matter seen in human life

- the three qualities or gunas; goodness, passion and ignorance