Hinduism Test

avatar

a god's incarnation or form on earth, especially one of Vishnu's appearances to restore balance and defeat evil.

guru

a spiritual teacher who guides others in religious knowledge and practice.

ahimsa

the principle of non-violence and respect for all living things.

aryan

a group of people who migrated into India around 1500 BCE and contributed to early Hindu beliefs and the Vedas.

samsara

the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

atman

the eternal soul or true self within each person.

yoga

a spiritual discipline aimed at uniting the atman with Brahman, often through meditation and physical practice.

harijan

a term meaning 'children of God,' used by Gandhi for people considered 'untouchables' in the caste system (now more commonly called Dalits).

ascetic

a person who lives a simple, disciplined life focused on spiritual goals, often giving up worldly pleasures.

karma

the law of cause and effect, where a person's actions determine their future rebirth.

dharma

a person's moral and religious duties, or the right way of living.

maya

the illusion or temporary nature of the physical world.

moksha

liberation from samsara and union with Brahman.

mandir

a Hindu temple, a place of worship.

puja

a ritual of worship involving offerings, prayers, and devotion to a deity.

mantra

a sacred word or phrase repeated during prayer or meditation.

om/aum

a sacred sound representing the ultimate reality, Brahman.

pilgrimage

a journey to a holy place for spiritual purposes.

sacred cow

a symbol of life and generosity; cows are respected and protected in Hinduism.

agni

the fire god, seen as a link between humans and the divine in rituals.

shruti

sacred texts that are 'heard' or revealed, such as the Vedas.

smriti

sacred texts that are 'remembered' and written by humans, like epics and laws.

swami

a holy person or spiritual leader who has dedicated their life to religion.

yogi

a person who practices yoga to achieve spiritual enlightenment.

Statistics of Hinduism

15.1% of worlds population is hindu, 1.6% of canadas popular is hindu

Hinduism name background

hinduism is a 19th century word, derived from indo aryan and sanskrit word Sindhu which means a large body of water, covering river ocean

Aryan Arrival

Called themselves aryans or noble, collected hymns, ritual texts, and philosophical works called vedas, hindus oldest sacred writing

Scared texts

Revealed texts = Divine origin (Hinduism's oldest text come from straight) compared to Hadith and Quran

Remembered texts =human text, interpretations of the Vedas are called Brahmanas and epic stories such as Mahabharata and the Ramayana

How it's referred to 3 ways (theism)

polytheistic: they have many deity's and gods they worship

monotheistic: hindus believe in different manifestations oc the same supreme being :BRAHMAN

monistic: God is and unknowable and impersonal entity, without a form or quality

Atman

• Atman is the hindu term for the human soul or sprit it is the part of the innermost spirit that is identical go Brahman, the universal soul

• It is eternal and immortal, when one dies, the atman lives, shedding the lifeless body to enter a new one tis is known as reincarnation

reincarnation

samsara is the cycle of birth life death and rebirth, hindus believe the soul doesn't die, but instead enters in another body (human plant animal) based on karma, and dharma which is moral duity. to escape our imperfect world maya, to reach moksha

trimurti

Trimuti, the prefix "tri" means three and "murti" is an image of statue, • Modern Hindus do not normally worship the trimurti as a deity, but rather prefer to concentrate on individual aspects of a god instead.

brahma

Brahma is the creator of the universe. • Brahma is shown with four heads,bearded face and four arms

• His four arms represent the hindu belief that god is omnipotent,or all powerful

four arms represent four defections & • mind,intellect,ego and swlf confidence

vishnu

• Vishnu is the preserver of the universe

• Vishnu is believed to have come to earth in nine different forms, known as avatars or incarnations.

• Vishnu is often depicted as blue, the colour of infinite space, to symbolize his all pervasive nature

• He has three vertical lines on his forehead to symbolize that he is the member of the trimurti

shiva

• Shiva is also known as Natarai, the Lord of the Dance. Shiva is also the destroyer.

• On the cosmic level,destruction is the prelude to the recreation

• On the personal level, destruction is the means to remove the bonds that hold the devotee to the cycle of rebirth.

Shiva has a 3rd eye. It represents wisdom and power.

saraswati

the consort of Brahma (wife of Brahma)

• the goddess of knowledge, is the consort of Brahma and far more popular than Brahma.

• She is the patron of music,the arts, and culture.

lakshmi

• Goddess Lakshmi means Goodluck. The word "Lakshmi" is derived from the Sanskrit word

• "Laksha", meaning "aim" '

• Goddess of wealth/prosperity

incarnations of parvati

• Parvati is the mother goddess representing female energy (shakti)

• Durga - the warrior goddess

• Kali- the fierce destroyer of evil, ferocious form

Forehead markings,lotus, lines

Groups and Institutions

• Most hindus fall into 3 main groups and his incarnations such as Rama and Krishna

• Worshippers of Shiva and his consort of Parvati

• Worshippers of the divine female energy

Devotees of a particular religion are free to worship other deities and can set up images and statues of deities in home shrines and temples

Shaivais

• Worshipers of shiva upin his many formsnatw called "Shivites and the secr is known Shaivism

• Many scriptures are significant to shivites including the Upanishads

• The Shiva Puranas include the myths of Shiva and his consort Parvati.

shakti

• Hindus recognize the feminine aspect of energy , known as Shakti

• They believe that a male deity's strength comes from his female consort

• Shakti indcludes Sati, Parvati, Durgo, and Kali

• An affectionate name used for all female energy is known as Devi

• Durgo and Kali represent fierce energy

Ardhanari

• Shiva is often depicted as Ardhanaei, a manifestation whose right half of the body is male and whose left half is female.

Vaishnavism

• Followers of Vishnu are called Vaishnavities

• Vishnu sometimes appwar in human form to restorw order and righteousness.

• Vishuna appwars as 10 avatars,9 have taken place, 1 is yet to come

Rama and Krishna

• Most famous account in the Bhagavad-Gita which outlines to all Vaishanavities bhakti on intense devotion to a particular deity.

caste system

extreme social classes composed of four karma classes. brahmins: priests teachers judges, entitled to study of vedas. kshatriya: warriors and rulers that protect ppl, give gifts to brahmins. vaisyas, traders shopkeepers, peasants, need rights. sudras, farmer only duty is to serve, not allowed things,. harijan untouchable because they're unclean

the vedas

hymns for priests to sing prayers and instructions on how to live and worship

upanishads

end of each vedas , question and answer

four types of vedas

rig-veda: 1028 hymns contained in ten books that praise ancient deity's, yajur-veda: priests handbook for performance of fire sacrifices. soma-veda: melodies and chants. athana-veda: magical formulas/spells/chants

each vedas contains (4)

1. mantras: psalms of praise

2. brahmanas: prose manual for priests in prayer and ritual

3. aranyakas: forest books for saints and heemits

4. upanishads: philosophical commentaries that appear in the vedas

the maya

translates to illusion, imperfect physical world, clouds knowledge of brahman

bhagard gita

divine sing, gita is long epic poem called mahabharata, written dialogue form, dharma is goal to fulfill in the gita (means ethical duty), gandhi preached nonviolence / ahimsa

AUM/OM

This symbol also referred to as Pravana, means that which by God is effectively praise, AUM

- the letter A represents the beginning

- the letter U represents progress

- the letter M represents dissolution

swastika

The swastika is an ancient symbol of good fortune and

protection. The root word "swasti" literally means auspicious in

Sanskrit.

● It is a symbol for Vishnu but also represents the wheel of life

which rotates upon an unchanging center - God.

forehead markings

symbolizes 3rd eye if wisdom Hindu men and women mark a symbol called a tilak on their

forehead to indicate the deity that they worship

● For example, devotees of Vishnu use sandalwood paste, Shiva

devotees use ashes and devotees of Parvati use red powder. married women wear bindi or tilak

mala or japamala

108 beads blessed with hindu mantras used to chant names of god

sri yantra

Commonly used as a visual focal point for

meditation

● It consists of 9 triangles which intersect to form 43

triangles in all.

● It represents spiritual evolution. The triangles

stand for the many aspects of God which when

focused on will merge into one

lotus

The lotus flower

symbolizes the birth of

the universe, manifesting

itself in all its glory The lotus is the seat of

Brahma as well

holi festival

festival of colours, story of the demon king tryna kill his son but vishnu saving him and demon brought holika and vishnu slimed her. celebrate triumph over evil

diwali

festival of lights, • Reinforces cultural identity

and spiritual reflection.

• Strengthens family and

community bonds.

• Encourages themes of

renewal, hope, and inner light.

• Promotes generosity,

gratitude, and compassio

rites of passage

There are 40 rites of passage, 16

which are central to the religion.

► Few people observe all the rites

► Priests officiate all these rites which

are attended by friends and family

early life

talk w priest, horoscope for baby, father dips gold honey pen and writes om on tongue fir baby being honest. 10 days after baby born name is given, name of god or goddess abs whispered in child's ear. first outing haircut and solid food.

thread ceremony

boys 8-12, in presence if guru shaves head & wears saffron robe, thread over left shoulder and right arm, wears all life, kid seen as adult

wedding

entry into householder stage, arranged marriages are matter of honour, father if groom asks women to marry, don't meet until wedding day, wants kids to marry

4 stages of life

student: gain knowledge

householder: marry and give to charity

forest dweller: retire and give assets to family, pilgrimage

ascetic: give up worldly life, wander

4 goals of life

Dharma - conducting one's duties with compassion toward all

beings, absence of jealousy, purity, tranquility, goodness, absence

of greed and cruelty

Artha - earning wealth to provide for one's family through

honest means

Kama - pursuing love and physical pleasures to balance life

and to sanctify marriage

Moksha - leading the soul toward salvation through honest and

moral action

4 paths of yoga

Karma yoga: The Path (way) of Action (good deeds)

• Jnana yoga: The Path (way) of Knowledge/Wisdom(guru)

• Bhakti yoga: The Path (way) of Devotion(total surrender)

• Raja yoga: The Path (way) of Meditation(spiritual energy)