Core Concepts & Philosophies

Question 1

Hinduism as umbrella term

Answer 1

decentralized
lots of practices/texts

Question 2

Trimurti

Answer 2

Vishnu, Shiva, and Brahma

Question 3

Shakti

Answer 3

Power and energy
Personified as the goddess
Female principle/energy of the universe
Has the power of the gods and control over the gods
Maternal and marital

Question 4

How is shakti accessible?

Answer 4

Through nature and within

Question 5

Shakta

Answer 5

Followers of the goddess

Question 6

Bhakti

Answer 6

Loving devotion

Question 7

Karma Yoga

Answer 7

Path of Selfless Action

Question 8

Nirguna brahman

Answer 8

God without form

Question 9

Saguna brahman

Answer 9

God with form

Question 10

Svayambhu

Answer 10

Self arising murtis

Question 11

Puranicization

Answer 11

Brahmins bring local gods and deities under the control of kings and priests through the Puranas
Often done by bringing local gods into the lineage of the kingdom’s gods

Question 12

What are the 5 different theisms in Hinduism?

Answer 12

polytheism
pantheism
panentheism
Henotheism
Kathenotheism

Question 13

polytheism

Answer 13

the belief in or worship of more than one god

Question 14

pantheism

Answer 14

the universe and god as one

Question 15

panentheism

Answer 15

the universe and god as one, but there’s also the god beyond the universe

Question 16

Henotheism

Answer 16

polytheism with one high god more powerful than the rest

Question 17

Kathenotheism

Answer 17

Multiple gods with transitions on who’s most powerful

Question 18

Smirti

Answer 18

That which is remembered

Question 19

Shruti

Answer 19

That which is heard

Question 20

Moksha

Answer 20

Liberation from the cycle of samsara

Question 21

Advaita Vedanta / Non-dualism *

Answer 21

Adi Shankara key figure in consolidation of this idea
Aghori practice taboo behaviors as practice of non-duality
The idea that everything is god - pantheism/panentheism