Hinduism Study Guide

Can you convert to Hinduism?

no

what is an adjective for Hinduism meaning it’s accepting of other religious traditions

Pluralistic

Vedic Period

• sacrifice/ritual based —> transactional

• world MAINTENANCE

What were the years of the Vedic period around?

1500-800 BCE

who performed rituals in Vedic period?

priests

Around when did the Upanishads start being written?

800 BCE

what was the period of the upanishads like? (not specific years)

• growing ability for self awareness, reflection, and questions of transcendence

• world TRANSCENDENCE

Vedas

instructions for rituals, prayers, + hymns

Who were the vedas specific to?

priests

Upanishads

collection of genres + major Hindu philosophical concepts

Monism

all reality shares a common essence (Brahman)

is monism followed by every Hindu?

no

Brahman

impersonal essence and source of everything

is Brahman theistic or nontheistic?

nontheistic

atman

individual eternal soul possessing a body

T/F: Brahman and atman are fundamentally the same

True 😮

Samsara

cycle of reincarnation that the atman goes through

what does samsara translate to? (2)

“wandering” or “migration”

Hindu cosmology is ____ (linear or cyclical and what does that mean)

cyclical — periods of creation and destruction for the universe and the individual

moksha

release from samsara + being one with Brahman

what does moksha translate to?

“Release” or “liberation”

dharma

ethical duty/responsibilities; standard by which actions are judged right or wrong

what does dharma depend on? (3)

• gender

• caste

• stage of life

Karma

moral law of cause and effect

What does karma do to the soul? (2)

traps the soul in samsara + decides form of rebirth

what does karma translate to?

“deeds” or “action”

Caste order (5)

1. Brahmins

2. Kshatriya

3. Vaishya

4. Shudras

   Dalits — lowest rung

Brahmin

priests, religious elites, highly educated

Kshatriya

warriors/military administrator, rulers

Vaishya

merchants, farmers, traders, artisans

Shudras

laborers, servants

Dalit other names

Untouchables and Outcaste

What would happen if someone else touched a Dalit?

they would be considered impure

What did Gandhi call the Dalits?

Harijan (“God’s Children”)

What is caste system based on?

hereditary + past life karma

Can you change caste within a lifetime?

no

4 Stages of Life and what is its other name

Ashramas:

1. Student

2. Householder

3. Forest Dweller

4. Sannyasin/Wandering Ascetic

Student duration and main activities

• begins puberty - ends at marriage

• study vedas

Householder duration + main activities

• marriage-late middle age (getting a house and kids)

• establishing a household + spiritual practice

Forest Dweller duration + main activities

• after family obligations have been met

• detachment from everyday life / spiritual concern

Sannyasin/wandering ascetic main activity

solely pursuing moksha

4 goals

1. Kama

2. Artha

3. Dharma

4. Moksha

kama

pleasure

artha

material wealth + status

Dharma as a goal

pursuit of dharma out of joy rather than obligation

The Three Margas (general definition)

paths to liberation from samsara

What are the three margas and their other names?

1. Karma Marga — Path of Works

2. Jnana Marga — Path of Knowledge

3. Bhakti Marga — Path of Devotion

T/F: The three margas are mutually exclusive

False

What does “marga” mean?

methods of seeking

Karma Marga (what does it believe and what do you do)

• selfishness keeps soul trapped

• selfless action w/o wanting credit or self-interest in the outcome

Jnana Marga (what does it believe and what do you do)

• ignorance of one’s self keeps soul trapped

• intellectual and meditative practices to gain awareness of oneness of reality

  • seeing maya

maya

cosmic illusion brought about by divine creative power

who is the jnana marga most feasible for and why?

Brahmins b/c its difficult and philosophical

Bhakti Marga (what does it believe and what do you do)

• Separation from Brahman keeps soul trapped

• Devotion to and love for the divine in the form of god or goddess as a way to transcend selfishness/egotism

Aspects of Bhakti Marga (4)

• Pilgrimage

• cow veneration

• worship of deities (devotional rites ex: puja)

• Holidays and Festivals

Aum (4)

• sanskrit syllable

• embodies Brahman as the source

• primary symbol

• often used in prayers or mantras

Lotus Flower

represents purity and transcendence

Tilak

symbolic mark (mostly worn by men) during religious rituals/when visiting temples

What does the tilak indicate?

deity tradition

where is the lingam usually located?

home shrines and temples dedicated to worship of Shiva

Mudra

hand gesture indicating certain ideas or intentions

Namaste

greeting meaning “I bow to you” or “the divine in me honors the divine in you”

Swastika

sun symbol meaning well being and auspiciousness

what does the word swastika come from?

Sanskrit word “svasti” meaning good fortune

why is the hindu swastika bent?

b/c can’t directly study spirituality —> have to go about it a different way

What does Mahatma mean?

Great Soul

What/who did Mohandas advocate for? (2)

• outcastes

• indian independence

What did Gandhi call outcastes?

“Harijan” —> God’s children

what were Gandhi’s actions (3)

nonviolence, civil disobedience, direct action (eg boycotts)

Who had control over India?

British Raj (Empire)

Did Gandhi’s vision come to fruition?

no

What year was the Partition?

1947

Rigveda

oldest of 4 Vedas

what is Hinduism’s most popular sacred text?

Bhagavad Gita

Bhagavad Gita

short section in Mahabharata in which the god Krishna teaches the warrior Arjuna about bhakti marga and the other ways to Brahman

What is another name for the Bhagavad Gita?

Song of the Lord

maya

cosmic illusion brought about by divine creative power

Avatar

Incarnation (living embodiment) of a deity who is sent to earth to accomplish a divine purpose

Which deity are avatars usually of and what are two examples?

Vishnu —> Rama and Krishna

sati

traditional practice of burning a widow on her husband’s funeral pyre

Holi: other name and when celebrated

“Festival of Colors” — spring

what is celebrated in Holi? (3)

transition from winter to spring, victory of good over evil, love between Krishna and Radha

Holi traditions

Bonfires and spraying brightly colored powders and water in public celebration

Diwali: other name and when celebrated

“Festival of Lights” — autumn

Diwali traditions

putting clay lamps (diyas) outside house, family gatherings, fireworks, bonfires, flowers, sharing sweets, worship to Lakshmi, exchanging gifts

what does Diwali celebrate?

good over evil, light over darkness

Puja

form of worship involving offering fruit and flowers to one’s preferred deity

where does puja occur?

temples and homes

puja ritual actions/symbols examples (6)

chanting, bell ringing, fruit offering, aarti (using fire), eyes embedded in decor, cleanse/decorate/wave incense in front of lingam

Hindu deities

give points of contact with and manifest diff aspects of Brahman

what do multiple arms represent

divine omnipresence (ability to be in many places at once) and widespread influence

what does blue skin represent

otherworldliness and divinity

what are deities usually depicted with?

specific symbols (a “vehicle” usually an animal) and weapon

Hindu Trimurti

Brahma — Creator

Vishnu — Preserver

Shiva — Destroyer

2 symbols associated with Shiva

Lingam, Trident

Brahma

• four heads and four arms

• not commonly worshipped

Vishnu

• four arms, blue skin, usually resting on a snake

• protector in struggle between good + evil

• preserver of world order

How many times was vishnu incarnated?

nine

What major hindu sect worships Vishnu?

Vaishnavism

Rama

7th Incarnation of vishnu + central figure in Ramanyana epic story