1.A - sources of authority - origins of Hinduism

Question 1

Why searching for the origins of hinduism hard

Answer 1

as the early origins are ambiguous - there is no founder or definite starting point so it claims to be timeless with no beginning

Question 2

what does Hinduism claim to be

Answer 2

it claims to be timeless and have no beginning

Question 3

what does the Indus Valley civilisation provide evidence of

Answer 3

it provides evidence of some rituals such as bathing, sacrifices, and goddess worship

Question 4

what provides evidence within in IVC for bathing rituals

Answer 4

the ‘great bath’

Question 5

what does the ‘great bath’ provide evidence for

Answer 5

rituals like cleansing

Question 6

what provides evidence within in IVC for sacrifices

Answer 6

as most houses within the IVC had 2 fireplaces this could show that 1 of those fires was used for fire sacrifices

Question 7

what provides evidence within in IVC for goddess worship

Answer 7

their were figures within the IVC which could suggest goddess worship

Question 8

Dates of the Indus valley civilisation

Answer 8

it was a Bronze Age culture from 2500 to 1500 BCE

Question 9

what does evidence show the IVC was like

Answer 9

that it was an advanced urban culture, society that had a wealthy middle class and a centralised government

Question 10

What was the IVC centred around

Answer 10

towns and cities with large populations

Question 11

What system were towns and citys in the iVC designed on and what were they built on

Answer 11

towns and citys were planned and designed on a grid system and were build on brick platforms to protect from floods

Question 12

why were towns and citys in the IVC built on brick platforms

Answer 12

to protect from floods

Question 13

where had water sources

Answer 13

wells and many houses had their own water sources

Question 14

what highly efficient system did the IVC have

Answer 14

They had a highly efficient sewage system

Question 15

Why is little known about the way people lived in the IVC

Answer 15

as the Indus Valley scriptures can’t be translated and understood

Question 16

what is their evidence about to suggest the religious beliefs in the IVC

Answer 16

little is known about religious beliefs but their is some evidence to suggest belief in life after death

Question 17

What evidence in the IVC suggest the goddess shiva

Answer 17

the seal features a horned figure surrounded by animals

Question 18

What do some people argue that the Indus Valley is the same as

Answer 18

some argue the IVC is the same as the Vedic civilisation and that the Ayana came from India

Question 19

where did the aryans originally come from

Answer 19

Central Asia

Question 20

What is there a debate around aryans invading the IVC

Answer 20

there is a debate around wether it was a forceful invasion or rather waves of settlement of a long period of time

Question 21

What did the Aryan call themselves and what does it mean

Answer 21

They called themselves Arya meaning the noble ones

Question 22

why did they call themselves the aryans

Answer 22

to differenziate themselves from the inhabitants of the Indus Valley civilisation

Question 23

what did Aryans describe themselves as

Answer 23

tail and fair skinned

Question 24

who were Drayus

Answer 24

the people that the aryans conquered or replaced

Question 25

what were the people that the aryans had conquered or replaced called

Answer 25

Drayus

Question 26

Why did the aryans consider themselves to be superior to other races in india

Answer 26

as they conquered and replaced people as Drayus

Question 27

what have people suggested the original purpose of the varna system was

Answer 27

that it was to keep these 2 groups apart, and too keep the superior aryans from being polluted by the inferior inhabitants of the indus vally

Question 28

what does Inferior Inhabitants mean

Answer 28

it refers to the lower social status

Question 29

what was Aryans culture described as

Answer 29

as a whole their culture was very mundane

Question 30

what does mundane mean

Answer 30

very ordinary and not interesting

Question 31

what didn't the aryans build

Answer 31

they didn't build any citys

Question 32

what was the aryans way of life like

Answer 32

their way of life was semi-nomadic

Question 33

what was the aryans social structure like

Answer 33

their social structure was patriarchal and tribal

Question 34

What was a cow a symbol of in Aryan society

Answer 34

a cow was a symbol of prestige

Question 35

who did the Aryans worship

Answer 35

they worshipped war like gods

Question 36

who is one of the main gods Aryans worshipped and what was he called

Answer 36

Indra who is often called they smasher of cities

Question 37

what is the god indra used to support

Answer 37

often used to support the aryan invasion

Question 38

What do both the IVC and modern Hinduism emphasise

Answer 38

they both emphasise rituals and worship, including the importance of cleanliness and purification

Question 39

What do both the IVC culture and modern hinduism culture prioritise

Answer 39

both cultures priorities agriculture with rituals and festivals related to harvest cycles

Question 40

What do both the IVC and modern hinduism show in terms of organisation

Answer 40

Both show organised social hierarchies and community participation in their religious life

Question 41

What link is their between the IVC, modern hinduism and deities

Answer 41

evidence from the IVC suggests a group of deities, and some of which may have evolved into HIndu gods, such as the figure proton-shiva

Question 42

What was status of people like in the IVC

Answer 42

there was well organised cities with division between high and low status

Question 43

what link is their between water in the IVC and modern hinduism

Answer 43

in the IVC water management was import and in modern hinduism purification by water is important

Question 44

what are highly worshipped in hinduism

Answer 44

goddesses

Question 45

what is nearly all hindu worship conducted before

Answer 45

nearly all hindu worship is conducted before a murtis

Question 46

what is a murtis

Answer 46

an image

Question 47

why is most worship conducted before a murtis

Answer 47

to acheieve darshan

Question 48

what is darshan

Answer 48

the showing or sight of a deity or holy person

Question 49

what animals were significant in both the IVC and modern Hinduism

Answer 49

bulls

Question 50

what does a bull represent

Answer 50

bulls represents strength which links to vishnu

Question 51

How does the IVC link to the worship of Shiva

Answer 51

there was a figure seated in the padmasana which may be an early form of the god Shiva

Question 52

what is a padmasana

Answer 52

its a part of a temple

Question 53

what evidence in the IVC is there if animal sacrifice

Answer 53

some altar like structures may be evidence of animal sacrifice

Question 54

what may terracotta figures in the IVC represent

Answer 54

terracotta figures may represent deities

Question 55

when did the IVC culture begin to decline

Answer 55

in around 1800 BCE

Question 56

What have some scholars suggest about aryans and them taking over the IVC

Answer 56

some scholars have suggested that the IVC was already in decline when the aryans came into contact with it

Question 57

what has the aryan invasion theory generally been rejected as

Answer 57

inaccurate

Question 58

what do some people believe the aryans adopted and from who

Answer 58

some believe the aryans may have adopted ritual purity from the Indus Valley

Question 59

what is it believed that the Aryans influenced and absorbed people into

Answer 59

that the aryans influenced and absorbed the Indus and other groups into their culture

Question 60

what was the central practice of the Vedic religion

Answer 60

yajna, the fire sacrifice which was based upon making offerings ti the gods by placing them in the fire

Question 61

why do many scholars refute that a invasion took place

Answer 61

as there is an absence of archaeological evidence to support this idea

Question 62

state the quote by Gavin flood shows that Hinduism developed through historical events, such as the rise and fall of civilisations

Answer 62

'although there is an emphasis on personal spirituality, Hinduism's history is closely linked with social and political developments such as the rise and fall of different kingdoms and empires' - Gavin flood

Question 63

state the quote by Gavin flood talks about the links between the IVC and contemporary Hinduism and what the links are

Answer 63

'there may be continuities between the Indus Valley civilisation and later hinduism as suggested by the apparent emphasis on ritual bathing, sacrifice, and goddess worship, but ritual purity' - Gavin flood

Question 64

state the quote by Michale bamshad about upper and lower castes

Answer 64

'the upper castes are more similar to europeans than to asians; and upper castes are significantly more similar to europeans than are lower castes'

Question 65

What do scholars believe the IVC was finally destroyed by

Answer 65

that it was finally destroyed by a server flood, or climatic change

Question 66

What is the outcome about the origins of hinduism

Answer 66

that it is ultimately clear that the origins of hinduism are a combination of both the IVC and aryans.