Hinduism

Question 1

Brahman

Answer 1

Supreme universal spirit that is the origin and support of all matter, time, energy, and space. Beyond the reach of human perception and thought.

Question 2

Purusha

Answer 2

From the creation story of the vedas.
Primordial being who sacrificed himself to bring about the creation of the universe. All things existing in the universe derived from his body.
ex: eyes became the sun and breath the wind

Question 3

Brahma

Answer 3

The creator god. One of three channels derived from shakti. God for the gods.

Question 4

Durga

Answer 4

Goddess of protection of mankind. Derived from the combined powers of the gods for the purpose of destroying a demon. Preserves moral order and righteousness.

Question 5

Ganga

Answer 5

Goddess of the ganges river. The ganges river is known to be the holiest river in India. The river has the power to wash away sins and so many rituals are performed in the river.

Question 6

Kali

Answer 6

Born from the goddess durga.
Is often depicted with shiva under her feet. He laid there to satisfy her and stop her killing rampage. She is the god of empowerment.

Question 7

Shakti

Answer 7

Means power. Mother goddess and the source of all energy and power.

Question 8

Agni

Answer 8

God of fire and acceptor of sacrifices.

Mediator between people/diety, earth/heaven through the embodiment of the fire that consumes the offerings.

Question 9

Chaitanya

Answer 9

Incarnation of both radha and kirshna in one body. Started with acting out the part of Radha in plays. He began to feel the love radha felt for krishna and he began to show by example how to fully surrender to krishna

Question 10

Gopi

Answer 10

Cow herding girls. Often used to represent the ideal devotees of krishna

Question 11

Kamsa

Answer 11

Evil ruler who was threatened by Krishnas birth because it was professed that krishna would destroy him. Sent putana to kill baby krishna.

Question 12

Krishna

Answer 12

One of the avatars of Lord vishnu and is associated with Radha. Together they each and show by example bhakti.

Question 13

Mirabai

Answer 13

Mystical singer and poet who admired krishna more than her own husband. She is known to be the ideal example of the true lover and devotee of krishna

Question 14

Putana

Answer 14

Female demon hired by Kamsa to kill baby krishna by breast feeding him with poison applied to her nipples.
Failed because krishna ended up sucking all of her body fluids out of her.

Question 15

Radha

Answer 15

Supreme devotee of krishna who is the embodiment of bhakti. Attained the status of a goddess through her immense love and dedication towards krishna.

Question 16

Ganesha

Answer 16

son of Shiva and Parvati-head of an elephant, remover of obstacles, brings good fortune

Question 17

Parvati

Answer 17

Consort of Shiva. Mother of ganesha.

Needed to have a child of shiva in order to destroy a demon. So shakti turned into parvati for this purpose.

Question 18

Sati

Answer 18

Woman who was in love with Shiva but lit herself on fire in rebellion against her fathers disapproval of her husband Shiva. Also refers to the act in which wifes light themselves on fire at husbands funeral to be reunited with them. Was reincarnated into parvati.

Question 19

Lakshmi

Answer 19

Goddess of wealth and is the divine consort of vishnu.

Question 20

Shiva

Answer 20

Destroyer god. Worshipped in the form of a lingam and he is the god of the yogis.
Often depicted dancing around a ring of fire which represents his inner energy acquired through meditation.

Question 21

Vishnu

Answer 21

Preserver god. Two common avatars include Rama and Krishna.

Question 22

Rama

Answer 22

One of the avatars of vishnu. Symbolizes the ideal man of true dharma. Associated with Sita.

Question 23

Ravana

Answer 23

Evil ten headed demon who kidnaps sita. Eventually killed by Rama.
His effigy is burned every year during Dussehra.

Question 24

Hanuman

Answer 24

Monkey god and helper of Rama.

Question 25

Lakshmana

Answer 25

Brother of Rama who symbolizes sacrifices in order to keep the dharma. Leaves wife to accompany rama in exile. Symbolizes ones dharma as a brother

Question 26

Sita

Answer 26

Wife of Rama. Symbolizes the dharmas of a woman as a queen, wife, woman.

Question 27

Indra

Answer 27

King of the gods and ruler of the heavens.

Question 28

Diwali

Answer 28

Festival of lights. Commemorates the return of Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after their exile.
Celebration of light over dark…good over evil

Question 29

Dussehra

Answer 29

Celebrates Ramas victory over Ravana. Good over evil.

Large effigies of Ravana are lit on fire in memory of the triumph.

Question 30

Holi

Answer 30

A festival of colors.
Celebrated in honor of Krishna and Radhas love for one another.
Originated from Krishnas prank on the gopi girls with colored water.

Question 31

Mahashivaratri

Answer 31

Night of worshipping Shiva. Fast in day. Stay up all night remaining faithful to shiva. Chant his name.
Lingams and statues of Shiva are venerated.

Question 32

Ramayana

Answer 32

A Hindu epic telling of ramas exile from his kingdom and the abduction of his wife by ravana and Rama’s restoration to the throne.

Question 33

Rasa Dance

Answer 33

Krishna’s dance with the Gopis, in which He manifested Himself into many different forms so He could personally dance with each Gopi.

Question 34

Linga/Yoni

Answer 34

A Hinduism clay structure. The Linga symbolizes Shiva’s sexual organ and the Yoni symbolizes Shakti’s sexual organ.
Represents the union of the oneness of male and female power.

Question 35

Caste

Answer 35

Class structure of society
1. Brahmins
2.Warriors/rulers
3.Merchants
4.Laborers
Untouchables are the lowest with no caste.
Born into your caste.

Question 36

Dharma

Answer 36

Obligations or duties based on who you are and your social standing

Question 37

Bhakti

Answer 37

Devotion/love.

Question 38

Karma

Answer 38

The cumulative actions that affect a person’s fate in the next life.

Question 39

Puja

Answer 39

Worship through prayers, songs, and offerings. Image of deity serves as a gateway to the divine. Image is filled with the cosmic energy of the deity

Question 40

Samsara

Answer 40

Cycle of birth, death and rebirth back into the material world determined by karma.

Question 41

Yajna

Answer 41

Ritual of sacrifice carried out by brahmins.

Fire accompanied by vedic chanting. Everything put into the fire is believed to reach the Gods through Agni.

Question 42

Yoga

Answer 42

Hindu discipline aimed at training the consciousness and limitations of flesh for a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility.

Question 43

Kama

Answer 43

Pleasure/love. One of the four goals of life.

Question 44

Maya

Answer 44

Illusion.

Many demons use the power of maya.

Question 45

Sanskrit

Answer 45

Ancient language of india and it is the language in which the hindu scriptures are written in. Known to be the language of the Gods.

Question 46

Veda

Answer 46

Means truth/knowledge.
Refers to the hindu scriptures.
Contains hymns, rituals, theologies and philosophies.
Written from the conversations that have been heard between the gods. Four vedas.

Question 47

Avatar

Answer 47

Manifestation of a deity either in human or animal form. Often manifested in order to teach a lesson. Set examples.

Question 48

Brahmin

Answer 48

Hindu priests who are at the top of the caste. Performs yajna and lives y and teaches the vedic scriptures. Institutes and regulates many of the social norms within their communities.

Question 49

Samskara

Answer 49

Rites of passage marking a major event in ones life. There are 16 samskaras. Some include birth, death, marriage.