Hinduism Quiz

Hinduism

a family of religious traditions practiced by about 900 million people around the world.

Caste System

a division of social class in India based on ancient Hindu teachings.

Brahman

the one, absolute god to which all other gods are lower. Believed to be the supreme essence or god of Hinduism; it is thought of in many different forms.

Karma

the Hindu belief that a person’s actions affect what happens to him or her. This principle determines the position of rebirth based upon each person’s actions in his or her previous lifetime.

Reincarnation

is the belief in rebirth after death.

Samsara

the Hindu belief in a cycle of birth, death, and rebirth until a soul achieves enlightenment.

Moksha

the Hindu belief in freedom from samsara, when a person is no longer a part of the circle of life.

Puja

Hindu prayer rituals.

Vedas

ancient Hindu sacred writings.

Yajur

Veda consists of prose for prayers.

Rig

Veda consists of religious poetry.

Sama

Veda consists of chants used by priest.

Atharva

Veda consists of Magical blessings and curses.

Atman

is used to define the eternal self, or the spiritual essence of who you are.

Atman

is used to define the eternal self, or the spiritual essence of who you are.

Brahma

considered the creator god that has four heads and four arms.

Vishnu

preserves creation and appears in blue skin and four arms.

Shiva

is the destroyer deity and can have both good and evil roles.

Ashramas

the four Hindu stages of life.

Student

the first stage of Hindu life. This is the stage of life when a young man leaves his family to live with a teacher (guru)

Householder

the second stage of Hindu life. This is when a man marries and sets up a household.

Hermit

the third stage of Hindu life. This is when a man passes down the responsibility of maintaining material wealth to the younger generation.

Sannyasin

the fourth stage of Hindu life. This is the rejection of life and all the other stages.

Sanskrit

the ancient language of the Indus River Valley and the Indo-European people.

Harappa

culture inhabited the banks of the Indus River around 4000 BCE.

Aryans

were a group of Indo-Europeans that influenced the Harappa culture.

Upanayana

the Thread Ceremony that symbolizes the transition from childhood into spiritual awareness.

Cows

represent divinity and are protected and honored

Dharma

the moral force that orders the universe. It is maintained through one’s personal duty.