Hindu Beliefs and Teachings

What is Brahman?

The Ultimate Reality, source of life, absolute truth

What are some of Brahman's characteristics?

Present in every soul (atman), doesn’t have a human form/gender as this would mean Brahman's limited

What are the 2 types of Brahman?

Nirguna and Saguna

What is Nirguna Brahman?

The supreme being as spiritual form only - no form, no qualities and cannot be worshipped

What is Saguna Brahman?

The supreme being shown in form - can be worshipped and connected to

What is the ohm?

The sound of the universe - represents Brahman

What is Vaikuntha?

Where the Gods live - closely linked to Vishnu
Regarded more broadly as the spiritual world/heavenly realms
Devotees of Vishnu can live there

What is Antaryami?

Brahman existing within the heart (or soul) or all living beings

What is Bhagavan?

a personal loving God

Who are the Tri-murti?

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva

What are the attributes of Brahma?

The creator, associated with a swan, holds the Vedas

What are the attributes of Vishnu?

Represents the soul of the entire universe, enters the heart of every living being, has the power to prevent suffering

Why is Vishnu important?

Reminds Hindus to follow religious and moral laws

What are the attributes of Shiva?

The destroyer, source of both good and evil, Lord of the dance (metaphor for balance of the universe)

What is Shakti?

Strength. Symbolises feminine aspects of the divine. Inspires creation

Who is Parvati?

Wife of Shiva, benevolent goddess, goddess of family and home

Who is Lakshmi?

Goddess of wealth and purity, linked to Vishnu, known to bestow success on hardworkers

Who form the Tridevi?

Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati

What are avatars?

The incarnation of Hindu deities

Name 3 Avatars of Vishnu

Rama, Kalki, Krishna

What is Prakriti?

Material reality. Composed of the 3 gunas that characterise all nature

What are the tri-gunas?

3 phases of matter:
Rajas = passion creates
Sattva = goodness sustains
Tamas = ignorance destroys

Why are the tri-gunas important?

They are said to explain human behaviours

What is Maya?

Illusion, everything is a complex illusion that the soul creates. Maya can lead humans to become greedy, angry and selfish. Can be escaped by achieving moksha

What is a time cycle called and how long is it?

Kalpa = 43.2 million yrs

What are the 4 yugas?

gold, silver, copper, iron

What is the atman?

The eternal self/soul
the living force of all nature
Even though humans possess a mind the atman is the 'real' self

What are some beliefs about samsara?

Body may reborn but the atman remains the same, a persons aim in life is to escape samsara.

What is Karma?

The sum of a person's actions in this and previous exsistences.

What is a Hindu response to suffering?

Caused by bad karma but also moral choices, moral evil and free will

Why are beliefs about the atman, karma, samsara and moksha important for Hindus today?

Guide Hindus to do good

What are the 6 personal virtues?

Ahimsa, respect, empathy, mind/sense control, humility, love (Bhakti/Kama)

What are the 4 aims in life?

Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha

What is dharma?

Fulfilling personal, social and religious duty

What is artha?

Earning wealth honestly

What is kama?

Achieving rightful desires of the senses through action

What is Santana Dharma?

The eternal law

What is Varnashramadharma?

Their dharma based of their varna and stage in life

What are the 4 Varnas?

Brahmins - priests, teachers, philosophers
Kshatriyas - monarchs, politicians, armed forces
Vaishyas - businesses and trades
Shudras - manufacturers and labourers

What are the 4 Ashramas?

Bramacharya - up to 24, acquires knowledge
Grihastha - 24-48, enjoys family and looks after family
Vanaprastha - 48-78, freely shares wisdom
Sannyasa - 72-death, optional, only seeks moksha

"That _____ Brahma is Eternal, _____, Omniscient, _____"

"That Supreme Brahma is Eternal, Truth, Omniscient, Infinite"

"They _____ for his _____ deeds Brahma, who _____ in the mountains"

"They praise for his heroic deeds Brahma, who lurks in the mountains"

"Spouses of _____, Goddesses with whose wings may they come to us with great _____ and _____"

"Spouses of Heroes, Goddesses with whose wings may they come to us with great protection and aid"

"A man of _____ acts will become _____, a man of _____ acts, _____."

"A man of good acts will become good, a man of bad acts, bad."

"It is far better to perform one's _____ though _____ with faults, than to perform _____ _____ duty"

"It is far better to perform one's duty though tinged with faults, than to perform another's prescribed duty"

"Do not do to _____ what you do _____ like to be done to _____"

"Do not do to another what you do not like to be done to yourself"

"He, the first _____ of this creation, whether he _____ it all or did not form it ... he _____ it, or perhaps he knows not"

"He, the first origin of this creation, whether he formed it all or did not form it ... he knows it, or perhaps he knows not"