RELS 203 Quiz 2

Where does the term Hinduism come from?

from the Sindu/Indus River. Umbrella term given to very "amorphous" tradition. Coined by European scholars

The term Hinduism does not refer to a...

unified group

The pizza effect

One culture is transferred into another country and then reimported in its original culture.

Harappa

civilization discovered in 1856 and was believed that "civilization was lost"

Mohenjo-Daro

One of the first major settlements in ancient India that became a centre of the Indus Valley civilization

Arya

Used in Buddhism that translates as "noble," "valuable" or "rich." Use in ancient India to indicate people of a certain social background rather than a race.

Veda

Earliest compositions in Hindu tradition. Four collections of hymns and texts, revealed to riches (seers) through both sight and sound, making the words called shruti. The dual on seeing and hearing the sacred is important to all Hindu traditions

What are the 4 sacred texts of the Veda?

1. The rig Veda ("hymn knowledge"

2. Yajur Veda ("ceremonial knowledge")

3. Sama Veda ("chant knowledge")

4. Atharva Veda ("knowledge from [the teachers] Atharva')

Henotheism

The supreme status and worship of one god while acknowledging that there are lesser gods that may be worshipped

Who coined the term henotheism?

Max Mueller

Sanatana-Dharma

Another word for 'Hinduism." Not an indigenous term. Translates to 'Eternal Religion' used to refer to local manifestations of faith. "Dharma" means righteousness for Hindus.

What is the concept of karma

A continuing cycle of death and rebirth of reincarnation called Samsara.

Moksha

Means "release" Liberation from Samsara or birth/rebirth through knowledge.

Rsi

Means ("poet-sages") They are the Vedic seekers, they "saw" the mantras and transmitted them to their disciples; they did not invent or compose them.

Yajnu

Means sacrifice. Part of the Vedic hymns. It was a ritual sacrifice typically performed using fire.

"Hymn of the Supreme Person" (Purusa Sukta)

The universe was created through the cosmic sacrifice of the primeval man (purusha). Universal principle that is eternal, indestructible, without form of all pervasive.

Indra

Part of the early hymns and one of the deities who in time would superseded. He is a warrior god who battles other cosmic powers.

Agni

Fire god of hinduism. Second only to Indra in the Vedic mythology of Ancient India. He is equally the fire of the sun, of lightening, and both the domestic and sacrificial earth.

Rta

("cosmic order") the universal or cosmic order

Upanishad

Quest for a unifying truth. The "higher" knowledge distinguished from "lower" knowledge.

Marga

Means "path" refers to a way of accomplishing something as a yoga or sadhana

Varna

The four major social divisions in India's caste system

Jati ("birth")

A form of existence determined by birth

"Smrti"

"that which is remembered" composed by humans

Puranas

'Old tales', stories about deities that became important after the Vedic period. They may call it the fifth Veda. Each Purana focuses on a specific deity as the supreme being.

Krishna

Major deity in hinduism, worshipped as the 8th avatar of the god Vishnu, the god of compassion and tenderness and love.

The 10 Avatars of Vishnu

Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (lion), Vamana (dwarf), Rama, Parasurama-Krsna, Krishna, Buddha, Kalkin (rides on horse)

Arjuna

1 of 5 panda brothers who are heroes in Mahabharata, son of Indra, famous for his archery.

Bhagavad-Gita

Song (Gita) of the Lord (Bhagavad), episode of the Mahabharata 6th book, Instruction by Krsna to Arjuna given on the eve of battle, single most important expression of Hindu religious thoughts

Who said that the Bhagavad-Gita was the "essence of Hinduism"

M.K Ghandi

Who referred Gita as a spiritual Mother

M.K Ghandi

Puja

("worship" or Offering") Hindus express their devotion to a deity or spiritual teacher through rituals performed in home.

Dipavali/Deepavali/Divali

Deepa means "lamp," Vali means "necklace" or "row" It means "necklace of lights" celebrated at the time of the new moon between October 15th and November 14th

Samskaras

Mental impressions, recollections, or psychological imprints. Basis for the development of karma theory, describe formations

Auspiciousness

the good life

Upanayana

ritual of initiation, restricted to the upper three Varnas, marks the male Childs entrance upon the life of a student.

Brahmacharya

the student stage (Ashramas)

Dharmashastra

("law books") genre of Sanskrit theological texts.

Vedanta

"end of the Vedas"; influential school of philosophy based especially on the Upanishads

Alvars

12 South Indian poet-saints who lived between the 8-10 centuries C.E

Yoga

A seal represented a man seated on a low throne in a yoga pose. It is a mental and physical discipline through which practitioners "yoke" their spirit to the divine.

Tantra

Ritual practices and texts interpreting them, apart from the Vedic tradition. Derived from a root word meaning "to stretch" Shaiva, Shakta, and Vaishnava communities all have their own texts called tantra

What are the 4 components of Tantric?

• Jnana (knowledge of deities and divine powers),

• yoga (forms of praxis including, but not limited to the use of mantras),

• Kriya (praxis and rituals),

• carya (conduct and behaviour)

How was Tantrism developed?

Developed its own for of yoga, know as kundalini centred on the shaky or power of the Goddess

Bhakti

• means fervent Devotion,

• standard portrait of Vedic and classical Hinduism is based on the culture of the northern part of the Indian subcontinent

Brahmo Samaj

Ram Mohan Roy born into an orthodox brahmin family, studied Vedas and Qur'an, rejected christian belief of Jesus, Organization was called Brahmo Samaj (Congregation of Brahman) Emphasized monotheism, rationalism, humanism and social reform.

Arya Samaj

Established by Dayanada Sarasvati, born into a brahmin family, studied Sanskrit under a guru named Virajanada, Taught that only true Hindu scriptures were the Vedas, rejected the notion of a personal god, rejected vision of the divine, total elimination of karma is impossible

Jnana

Knowledge

Ajnana

lack of knowledge

Shruti

That which is heard, god-ordained

Devas

celestial beings

Asuras

Demons

Puja

Rituals that may include image worship

4 sections in each Vedic collection

Samhitas- hymns, the earliest parts Brahmanas- sacred ritual instruction Aranyaka- compositions for the forest Upanishads- philosophical works

adharma

when things get out of order

Four Major traditions

• vedic tradition

• devotional tradition

• ascetic tradition

• popular tradition

What is the Bhagavad Gita?

Excerpt from the Mahabhrata of a conversation between Krsna and Arjuna about the importance of dharma and ones duty

What are the five varnas?

Brahmin Kshatriya Vaishya Shudra Harijans

Describe dharma

Order, duty, faith, obligation, righteousness

What is a rishi?

Seer or holymen who transcribed the Vedas

What were the cities found near the Indus River?

Harrapa and Mohenjo-Daro

When was the Vedas created?

around 1500 BCE to 600 BCE

Outline the historical periods in hinduism

2500 BCE - 800 BCE: Formative Period 800 BCE - 400 BCE: Speculative Period 400 BCE - 600 CE: Epic & Classical Period 600 - 1800: Medieval Period 1800 - : Modern Period

What is a requirement of being able to perform yajna?

Being a married couple

Describe the concept of amrta

Immortality is achieved through procreation

What is the main theme of the upanishads?

Atman and Brahman Inner human essence and absolute reality Quest for a unifying truth

What is macro-chasm versus micro-chasm?

Macro- universe Micro- body or a spiritual arena (mini version of the universe)

What was the atmosphere when the Upanishads came?

People were questioning sacrifice and authoritarian structures Upanishads rethink and reformulate

Where do we find the earliest mention karma and how do you define it?

The upanishads contained the earliest discussion about karma Karma means action but also means a system rewards and punishments that come with actions

What is samsara?

continuous cycle of death and rebirth Another word for karma

What are the three types of smirti?

1- Epics 2- Ancient stories, the Puranas 3- Ethics

What are the two main epics

Ramayana and Mahabharata

Briefly summarize the Ramayana

Story about a young prince named Rama who was exiled into the forest joined by his wife Sita and his half brother Lakshmana Sita is captured by demon Ravana Rama is seen as the incarnate of Visnu

Briefly summarize the Mahabharata

Longest poem in the world ~100,000 verses About the descendants of the kind Bharata Two groups- Pandavas and Kauravas Krisna- Visnu incarnate Warrior Arjuna

What are the three ways (margas) to achieve liberation?

1- karma yoga: the way of action 2- jnana yoga: the way of knowledge 3- bhakti yoga: the way of devotion

Which three gods rise to prominence during the Gupta Period?

Vishnu Shiva The Goddess- Devi, Parvati, Durga

Identify the three 'big' couples in Hinduism

Visnu + Lakshmi Shiva + Parvati Brahma + Sarasvati

Which goddess is often pictures alone?

Sarasvati

Which goddess is often seen in stores?

Lakshmi- she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity

Who is Visnu?

The all pervasive one He comes to earth to restore dharma Has 10 incarnations for the preset cycle of creation

What roles does Shiva often appear in?

Paradoxical roles-

• creator and destroyer

• dancer and yogi

What item represents shiva?

A linga in temples

• a pillar-like stone in a yoni- represents the womb shiva linga- column of light

What is tandarva and lasya dance?

Tandarva is a fierce and violent dance while lasya is a gentle lyrical dance

Who is Nataraja?

A portrayal of Shiva as a king of dance

What are some forms of The Goddess?

Parvati- wife of Shiva Durga- warrior form, breaks the wife mold, created from anger Kali- fierce and wild

Who is the child of Shiva and Parvati?

Ganesha

Who is the goddess of learning?

Sarawasti

What are the 4 primary forms of shiva?

1. Lord of yoga

2. Family Man

3. Lord of Dance

4. Linga

What are the four main schools and describe them

• 1- Shaivism: shiva, yoga, austerity

• 2- Shaktism: feminine, chants and mantras

• 3- Vaishnavism: Vishnu, bhakti, avatars

• 4- Smartism: self-realization, study, reflection, meditation Shravaa, manana, dhyana

Austerity

sternness or severity of manner or attitude.

Auspiciousness

characterized by success; prosperous. thought to have the power to bring about good fortune and a good quality of existence

Which holy city is the most important?

Varanasi

What is the Hindu 'Trinity?'

Known as trimurti Consists of Brahma, Visnu and Shiva The creator, the sustainer and the destroyer

Describe the four ashramas (stages of a mans life)

1- studenthood 2- family man 3- forest retreat 4- samnyasin- ascetic life

How many limbs or disciplines does yoga have?

Eight

What is the first and second limb of yoga?

1- yama= restraints avoid violence, falsehood, theft, greed, sex 1- niyama= positive practices cleanliness, equanimity, discipline, yoga study

Describe the ages briefly

Golden yuga Treta yuga Dvapara yuga Kali yuga

What is a yuga?

An age of mankind

Puram vs akam

outer world of warfare- puram inner world of love and joy- akam

Jayadeva

12th century poet Thought to be both Hindu and Muslim