Hinduism: A Comprehensive Guide to Beliefs, Practices, and Deities
Ahimsa
Respect for all living things and avoidance of violence toward others.
Arti
Waving the tray of offerings in a circle clockwise, representing the cyclical nature of life.
Ascetic
Living without worldly comforts, in extreme discipline
Atman
In Hinduism, the individual soul or essence; the element of Brahman within you that will someday return to Brahman
Avatar
The incarnation of a Hindu god, especially Vishnu, in human or animal form; a god made flesh
Bahkti
A devotion to the deities (devotion – uniting with something bigger than yourself).
Bhakti
In Hinduism, the devotional way of achieving liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, emphasizing the loving faith of a devotee for the gods
Brahman
In Hinduism, Ultimate Reality or Absolute Reality
Brahmins
Hindu priests; also used to describe the highest social class in the Hindu caste system
Caste system
The social class system that is prevalent in Hindu India
Chat is Diwali?
Celebrates the return of Rama (seventh avatar of Vishnu) and good overtaking evil; festival of lights.
Devas
From the Sanskrit for”sitting one” they are celestial beings in the Hindu tradition.
Dharma
Following the moral law (everyone has a sense of moral law because in every soul).
Fire Ceremony
During Kumbh Mela, it is a ritual of penance that occurs before the day of bathing.
Gurdwara
Sikh temple
Guru
Respected spiritual leader; someone who leads out of darkness into light.
Gurus
From the Sanskrit for”teacher” Hindu teachers and guides in philosophical and spiritual matters
How does Hinduism explain pain and suffering in the world?
Karma (if you have a bad life, because bad in previous life; good life because previous life good deeds); deserve bad situation because of what done in previous life.
How is SIkhism different from Hinduism?
Need God’s grace to break reincarnation cycle; not endless cycle (fewer lives than Hinduism).
Iconoclasm
The”breaking of icons” the belief that there should be no human depiction of the sacred for it places the icon as a source of worship rather than what the image represents.
Karma
Based on the belief in reincarnation, the Hindu and Buddhist belief that the form the soul will take in the next life is determined by its behavior in this life; the notion that the form the soul will take in the next life is determined by its behavior in this life; what goes around comes around
Kumbh Mela
Pilgrimage every 12 years to four cities in India (Haridwar, Allahabad, Nashik, and Ujjain).
Mantra
A sacred verbal formula that is repeated in prayer or meditation
Maya
Sanskrit for”illusions” A teaching of the Upanishads that says that only Brahman is permanent; everything else is only an illusion.
Moksha
Murti
Small depiction of a deity.
Naga
Holy naked men; cover themselves with ashes and lead everyone down to the river.
Puja
A type of prayer service practiced by most Hindus at the beginning of the day.
Sadhu
One who tries to abandon their physical being by completing strange physical feats.
Samsara
The experience of birth, life, and death over and over again until one has achieved oneness with Brahman;”the wheel of rebirt”
Sanskrit
An ancient language of India that is the language of Hinduism and the Vedas; it is derived from a word that means”perfecte”
satyagraha
The policy of non-violent resistance initiated by Gandhi as a means for pressing for political reform
Shruti
A canon of Hindu scripture, it is from a word that means”what is hear”
Soma
A hallucinogenic beverage that was used as an offering to Hindu gods and used in Vedic ritual sacrifices
Transcendent
A term that means”lying beyond the ordinary range of perceptio”
Transcendental Meditation
A technique derived from Hinduism that promotes deep relaxation through recitation of a mantra
Vedas
Ancient scriptures that are the foundation of Hinduism. They were composed in Sanskrit
What are the five K’s?
Knife/dagger (be able to defend those who are in need); wrist band (deflect evil); uncut hair (symbol of covenant with God); comb (body is a temple of God, so maintain it); shorts (modesty).
What are the five rules of ascetics?
Do not injure another life form, avoid lying, do not take what has not been given, renounce sexual activity, renounce possession.
What are the four stages a soul may live in?
Heaven, human, animal, hell
What are the main sects of Hinduism?
Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism, Smartism
What are the three duties of a Sikh?
Nam Japna – keep God in your mind at all times; Kit Karna – honest living; Vand Chakna – charity.
What are the three paths for liberation?
Right faith, right conduct, right knowledge
What are the three things each gurdwara has?
Four walls each with a door (everyone is welcome); a kitchen (feed Sikhs and homeless); place for Adi Granth (like a throne, put to bed in a side room at the end of the day).
What are the two categories of sacred scriptures? Define them
Shruti – revealed to ancient seers by the gods; smriti – contains Hindu traditions passed down orally through the ages.
What are the two main type of Jainism? Difference between?
Shvetambara and Digambara; Shvetambara believe men and women equal, but Digambara believe only men can cross over.
What becomes the 11th guru?
Adi Granth (sacred text)
What does Sikh mean?
What is Holi?
Celebrates love between Krishna (eighth avatar of Vishnu) and Radha; celebrates baby Krishna defeating Holika (demon); festival of color.
What is Shaivism?
The main devotion to Shiva; most prevalent sect within Hinduism because want change for the better or afraid of change.
What is Shaktism?
Devotion to Saraswati (art and music), Laksmi (prosperity), Parvati (fertility, love, devotion); art/music not separate from math/science – balance.
What is Smartism?
Devotion to Shiva, Vishnu, Shakti, Ganesh (prosperity), Murugan (war), Surya (sun).
What is the holiest of the four Kumbh Mela sites?
Allahabad (located on Ganges).
What is the main gurdwara?
Amritsar (aka Golden Temple, contains original Adi Granth).