Hindusim Test

bhakti

spiritual + physical devotion

asceticism

focusing on self discipline to living out your faith

sanskrit

language of India + Vedas

caste

social class system

Brahman

ultimate reality, beyond human comprehension, no physical attributes

Vedas

foundation of Hinduism

guru

teachers of Bhakti

transcendent

self reflection/awareness

karma

form a soul will take after death is determined by their past behavior

samsara

life, death, rebirth

transcendental meditation

practicing self reflection

shruti

“that which was heard”, oldest + most sacred, location of Vedas

vedas

from the aryans, sanskrit

rig veda

oldest + most sacred, contains hymns to God’s

smriti

“that which is to be remembered”, epics + stories

mahabharata

contains Bhagavad Gita, story of Arjuna + Krishna, most beloved scripture

trinity gods

brahma, vishnu (krishna) + shiva

brahma

creator god

vishnu

preserving god

shiva

destroying god

krishna

avatar of vishnu

atman

“innermost soul”,

karma

moral law of cause + effect, YOGA

maya

“illusion”

moksha

true liberation from samsara

caste system

priests + teachers, warriors, farmers + merchants, servants, untouchables

dharma

preform ones duties

artha

wealth/providing for family

kama

pleasure

stages of life

student, householder, forest dweller, spiritual pilgrim

diwali

festival of the lights

holi

festival of colors

samskaras

16 events in Hindu life

marriage

elaborate ceremony that lasts days, ceremonial fire, gods are called, vows are exchanged

in temples…

brahmins preform worship services

in home shrines…

puja is normally conducted by the women of the house, they pray for the God to enter the murti

murti

embodiment of the divine

puja

cleanse yourself before, whatever is done to the murti is done to themselves, best time to conduct is before sunrise