Final Exam Review Guide - Unit 3 Notes

Final Exam Details

The final exam is worth 25 points out of the total 100 points for the semester grade.
The exam consists of 75 objective questions.
The questions are distributed across the major units studied throughout the semester.
- 15 questions from the Islam material (Part 1).
- 25 questions from the Judaism unit.
- 10 questions from each of the first four units (Units 1-4).

Key Terminology (Hindu Context)

Dharma: Understand its contextual application within Hinduism.
Karma: Understand its contextual application within Hinduism.
Samsara: The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.
Moksha: Liberation from the cycle of samsara.
Atman: The individual soul or self.
Brahman: The ultimate reality or cosmic principle.
Aryan Invasion Theory (Debunked): Historical theory now largely discredited.
Hindu Synthesis: The amalgamation of various traditions and philosophies into Hinduism.
Maya: Illusion or the perceived reality that obscures the true nature of Brahman.
Om: A sacred syllable representing Brahman.
Vedas: Ancient scriptures of Hinduism.
Upanishads: Philosophical texts that elaborate on the Vedas.
Shruti vs. Smriti:
- Shruti: Divinely revealed texts (e.g., Vedas).
- Smriti: Traditionally authored texts (e.g., epics, law codes).
Bhakti: Devotion or love for a personal deity.
Yoga: Spiritual practices for union with the divine.
Darshana: A system of philosophy or perspective.
Advaita Vedanta: Non-dualistic school of philosophy.
Vishishtadvaita Vedanta: Qualified non-dualistic school of philosophy.
Dvaita Vedanta: Dualistic school of philosophy.
Ramayana: An epic narrative.
Mahābhārata: An epic narrative (longer than the Ramayana).
Bhagavad Gītā: A scripture within the Mahābhārata.
Krishna: An avatar of Vishnu.
Sita: A central character in the Ramayana.
Rama: A central character in the Ramayana and an avatar of Vishnu.
Hanuman: A devotee of Rama.
Draupadī: A central character in the Mahabharata.
Swastika (Dharmic usage): An ancient symbol of well-being and auspiciousness.
Right-facing vs. Left-facing Swastika (Dharmic usage): Different orientations with varied symbolic meanings.
Swastika (Misappropriation): The misuse of the swastika by the Nazi regime.
Suparshvanatha: A Jain Tirthankara associated with the swastika.
Tat Tvam Asi: "That Thou Art" - A philosophical statement of unity.
Panchayatana Puja: The worship of five deities.
Sannyasin: A renunciate or ascetic.
Smriti Texts: Texts based on tradition.
Mandala: A geometric design representing the cosmos.

Major Periods in the Development of Hinduism

Indus Valley Civilization (ca. 3300–1300 BCE)
- Highly urbanized culture with sophisticated city planning.
- Religious elements include:
  - Proto-Shiva figures.
  - Ritual bathing.
  - Early swastika usage.
- Possible precursors to yogic practice and concepts of cosmic order.
Vedic Age (ca. 1500–500 BCE)
- Emphasis on ritual sacrifice conducted by Brahmins.
- Four Vedas composed; oral tradition is key.
- Caste system and cosmic order rooted in dharma.
Upanishadic Revolution / Śramaṇa Movements (ca. 800–300 BCE)
- Philosophical shift toward interior realization (Atman = Brahman).
- Karma and samsara more clearly articulated.
- Birth of renouncer traditions (e.g., Jainism, Buddhism).
Epic Era (ca. 400 BCE – 400 CE)
- Ramayana and Mahābhārata dramatize moral conflict and dharma.
- Bhakti, karma, and moksha embedded in narrative form.
- Emergence of iconic characters: Rama, Sita, Hanuman, Arjuna, Krishna, Draupadi, Bhishma, and Duryodhana.
Classical Hinduism / Smriti Canon (post-300 CE)
- Veda becomes a unifying symbol, even if not read directly.
- Smriti texts (Epics, Puranas, Dharma Shastras) become the practical canon.
- Rituals, law codes, and mythology guide public and private life.

Philosophical Schools of Vedanta

Advaita Vedanta: Non-dualism; Atman and Brahman are one (Shankara).
Vishishtadvaita: Qualified non-dualism; souls are part of Brahman but distinct (Ramanuja).
Dvaita Vedanta: Dualism; Atman and Brahman are eternally distinct (Madhva).

The Epics

The Ramayana
- Overview
  - Attributed to Valmiki; over 24,000 verses.
  - Told across temples, festivals, and many Asian cultures.
  - Explores dharma, sacrifice, and the consequences of duty.
- Key Characters
  - Rama – Avatar of Vishnu; upholds dharma at great personal cost.
  - Sita – Embodiment of devotion and dignity; undergoes fiery trials and exile.
  - Lakshmana – Rama’s loyal brother, protector, and moral counterpoint.
  - Hanuman – The ultimate devotee; strength, humility, and fearless Bhakti.
  - Ravana – The tragic villain; brilliant and powerful but undone by ego.
- Saga in Five Acts
  1. Exile of Rama – Accepts banishment over comfort to uphold dharma.
  2. Sita’s Capture – Ravana kidnaps Sita, believing himself worthy.
  3. Hanuman’s Journey – Leap of faith to find Sita; destroys Lanka.
  4. Battle of Lanka – Rama defeats Ravana; cosmic justice prevails.
  5. Trial by Fire & Second Exile – Sita proves purity, but Rama exiles her to preserve royal legitimacy.
- Key Lessons
  - Dharma is not always clear-cut – even heroes must make painful choices.
  - Sita’s story raises questions – Is patience a strength? Is dharma always just?
  - Devotion may not lead to reward – but it reveals one’s true character.
The Mahābhārata
- Overview
  - Over 100,000 verses – the longest epic poem in world literature.
  - Story of family betrayal, moral collapse, and the fight for dharma in a corrupt world.
  - At its heart: What does it mean to do what is right in a broken age?
- Key Characters
  - Pandavas – Sons of gods; fight for justice but suffer deeply.
  - Kauravas – Ambitious cousins driven by pride and manipulation.
  - Draupadī – Humiliated queen whose dignity demands vengeance.
  - Krishna – Avatar of Vishnu; divine strategist and teacher of the Gītā.
  - Bhīṣma, Drona, Karna – Noble warriors caught between dharma and loyalty.
- Key Episodes
  - The Dice Game & Draupadī’s Humiliation – A kingdom lost, a woman shamed, a vow made.
  - The Bhagavad Gītā – Arjuna falters; Krishna reveals divine truth.
  - Fall of Heroes – Bhīṣma, Drona, and Karna all fall tragically.
  - Final War & Restoration – Victory comes at great moral and spiritual cost.
- Key Lessons
  - Even dharma becomes unclear when institutions are corrupted.
  - Vows and oaths can both protect and destroy.
  - Righteousness may not prevail without suffering.
  - Compassion without action leads to paralysis.
The Bhagavad Gītā (within the Mahābhārata)
- Overview
  - Set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, just before war begins.
  - Dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, unfolding in 700 verses.
  - A concise spiritual map of Hindu theology—widely revered and recited today.
  - Considered by many Hindus the most important sacred text.
- Major Teachings
  - Dharma – One must fulfill their sacred duty, even when painful.
  - Karma Yoga – Act without attachment to the results; the action itself is sacred.
  - Bhakti Yoga – Surrender to God in love and devotion; let divine grace carry you.
  - Jñāna Yoga – Seek liberation through wisdom and insight.
  - Krishna’s Theophany – Reveals himself as Vishvarupa (the Universal Form), containing all creation and destruction within himself.
- Key Lessons
  - You are not the body or the ego – the Atman is eternal and unchanging.
  - The soul cannot kill or be killed – it simply is.
  - One’s station in life (svadharma) must be lived out fully, even if tragic.
  - The divine dwells within and beyond all things – every action, when done with love and detachment, is a form of worship.
  - True surrender leads to liberation – Krishna promises: “Abandon all dharmas and take refuge in Me alone; I will deliver you.”

The Swastika in the Dharmic Tradition

Indus Valley Origins – Cosmic order, divine favor
Dharmic Usage:
- Hinduism:
  - Right-facing: Vishnu, Surya, prosperity
  - Left-facing: Kali, destruction, return to source
- Buddhism:
  - Used to mark temples, texts, Buddha’s body
  - Represents Dharma Wheel, eternal truth
- Jainism:
  - Map of rebirth realms and path to moksha
  - Associated with Suparshvanatha (7th Tirthankara)
Global Usage: Appears in Troy, Greece, Indigenous North America, Ethiopia, and beyond
Modern Misappropriation: 20th-century Nazi misuse distorts original sacred meanings

Bhakti Traditions – Loving Devotion to the Ultimate

Vaishnavism
- Worship of Vishnu and his avatars (Krishna, Rama)
- Major traditions: Sri Vaishnavism, Gaudiya Vaishnavism, Ramanandi
- Emphasizes personal devotion and divine grace
Shaivism
- Worship of Shiva as cosmic lord
- Traditions include householders, ascetics (Aghori), and Tantric practitioners
- Lingam – Symbol of formless creative power
Shaktism
- Worship of Shakti, the divine feminine
- Durga, Kali, Lakshmi central figures
- Celebrated through festivals (e.g., Navaratri) and rituals
Smartism
- Philosophy of unity-in-diversity
- Panchayatana Puja – Worship of five deities (Shiva, Vishnu, Devi, Surya, Ganesha)

Hindu Rituals and Festivals – Symbolic Meaning and Ritual Actions

Diwali – Festival of lights; Lakshmi worship and victory of light over darkness
Holi – Spring festival of color; myth of Prahlad and divine joy
Durga Puja – Worship of goddess Durga’s triumph over evil
Kumbh Mela – Pilgrimage gathering at sacred rivers; cyclical time and renewal
Ratha Yatra – Festival of chariots; community devotion to Krishna
Janmashtami – Birth of Krishna; devotional reenactments
Ganesh Chaturthi – Celebrates the remover of obstacles
Kali Puja – Nighttime ritual invoking transformative power
Key Themes in Ritual Life:
- Embodiment – Using the body in acts of devotion
- Community – Ritual as a shared, social experience
- Cyclicality – Festivals connect time to cosmic rhythm
- Mythic Dramatization – Rituals reenact sacred stories in lived time