Hindu Beliefs

Question 1

What kind of God is Brahman?

Answer 1

Brahman is a panentheistic God - it interpenetrates every part of nature and extends beyond it infinitely.

Question 2

What is Saguna Brahman?

Answer 2

The aspect of Brahman seen in creation and life.

Question 3

What is Nirguna Brahman?

Answer 3

The aspect of Brahman that remains hidden - the divine consciousness.

Question 4

What are the three aspects of the divine?

Answer 4

1) Brahman
2) God within the heart - Antaryami
3) As personal deities - Bhagavan

Question 5

What is the name of the spiritual realm where the bhagavan dwell?

Answer 5

Vaikuntha.

Question 6

Give the names and roles of the tri-murti.

Answer 6

1) Brahma - Creator
2) Vishnu - Preserver
3) Shiva - Destroyer / Transformer

Question 7

What is Brahma often pictured with?

Answer 7

1) A book representing the Vedas showing he is guided by them
2) A spoon representing a sacrificial ladle showing he is often responsible for offerings during worship
3) A string of beads representing a mala (used in meditation)
4) A water pot representing the water of life showing his part in creation
5) The lotus, a symbol of purity

Question 8

Who is Saraswati?

Answer 8

The consort of Brahma, Goddess of music, knowledge, art and learning. She is often pictured with the lotus flower and the swan.

Question 9

What is the swan a symbol of?

Answer 9

Justice, as they are thought to be able separate water from milk showing the ability to discriminate and serve justice to everyone.

Question 10

What is the Om / Aum?

Answer 10

The first sound, a symbol of Brahman.

Question 11

Why is Vishnu special?

Answer 11

1) He represents the soul of the entire universe
2) He gave birth to Brahma who created the universe
3) He enters the heart of every living being to become ‘the lord within’
4) He is worshipped through avatars such as Rama and Krishna

Question 12

Who is Krishna?

Answer 12

The 8th avatar of Vishnu, a cowherd, charioteer and statesman who shrewdly changed the rules. His complete dedication to his favourite gopi (milkmaid) represents the never-ending love of God for his follower. He is also the charioteer of Prince Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita.

Question 13

Who is Rama?

Answer 13

The hero of the Ramayana - he along with his wife Sita and the monkey king Hanuman defeated Ravanna (the demon king of Sri Lanka). This story is thought to not be literal, but an allegory for the battle within the hearts of all between light and darkness. Their triumph is remembered every year at Divali.

Question 14

Who is Lakshmi?

Answer 14

The consort of Vishnu, Goddess of wealth, light, good fortune, prosperity and love. She became Sita in the story of the Ramayana and is associated with unconditional forgiveness.

Question 15

What is Vaishnavism?

Answer 15

Vaishnavism is a tradition within Hinduism that focuses on the worship of Vishnu and his avatars. It is increasingly popular in the UK due to the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). They focus on prayer through mantras and are sometimes described as dualists as some doubt the unity of the atman (self) and the Supreme Being.

Question 16

What is the general term for Goddess, meaning energy?

Answer 16

Shakti.

Question 17

Who are the forms of Shakti?

Answer 17

1) Parvati - Shiva’s companion, sometimes known as the Mother Goddess
2) Durga - Similar in many ways to Shiva with his destructive and reproductive powers
3) Kali - The Dark One, a symbol of the power of Nature, to be respected and feared

Question 18

What is Shaivism?

Answer 18

Shaivism is the second largest tradition in Hinduism after Vaishnavism, they are often ascetics aiming for liberation through complete detachment. They believe that the atman and the Supreme Being are one.

Question 19

According to Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 391, how many Gods are there?

Answer 19

There are equally thousands of Gods and one God, as all Gods are just aspects of Brahman - the Ultimate Reality.

Question 20

Who is Ganesha?

Answer 20

The son of Shiva and Parvati, the elephant headed God and the remover of obstacles.

Question 21

What is the Hindu understanding of time?

Answer 21

It’s cyclical, repeating cycles of 4 yugas, each shorter and more corrupt than the last. Each cycle lasts 4,320,000 years total.

Question 22

What is the role of Vishnu’s 10th avatar?

Answer 22

Kalki will come to the Earth at the end of the last yuga (our current yuga) and kill off the remaining evil and evil-doers of the world, restarting the cycle.

Question 23

How long is each yuga?

Answer 23

The yuga of gold - 1,728,000 years
The yuga of silver - 1,296,000 years
The yuga of copper - 864,000 years
The yuga of iron - 432,000 years

Question 24

How do Hindus understand the universe?

Answer 24

It’s like a cluster of bubbles floating in space created from Vishnu’s breath. In each universe there is an upper realm, an earthly realm and a lower realm, with every form of creation fitting into these realms.

Question 25

How do Hindus understand matter?

Answer 25

They believe the world is made up of spirit (purusa) and matter (prakriti) but that once you reach enlightenment it becomes clear that both are maya - an illusion. They believe matter goes through three stages - the tri-guna.

Question 26

What are the gunas?

Answer 26

Sattva - Knowledge
Rajas - Passion
Tamas - Delusion

Question 27

What is the atman?

Answer 27

The divine being within all people - the true self which is reincarnated after death.

Question 28

Explain Hindu beliefs about reincarnation.

Answer 28

The cycle of samsara is the cycle of rebirth, designed to teach the atman to become closer to God and to help it progress towards moksha - liberation from the cycle of samsara and union with Brahman.

Question 29

What is Karma?

Answer 29

The belief that all actions have consequences, both in this life and all subsequent ones.

Question 30

What are the purusharthas (aims of Hindu life)?

Answer 30

1) Dharma - Following your God given duty
2) Artha - Gathering wealth to support a family and yourself in upholding your dharma
3) Kama - The delight of the senses to allow oneself to realise the needlessness of desire
4) Moksha - The pursuit of liberation from the cycle of samsara and union with Brahman

Question 31

What are varnas?

Answer 31

Social classes, coming from the split up body of Purusa - Priests, Warriors/Rulers, Merchants and Unskilled Workers.

Question 32

What are ashramas?

Answer 32

The stages of life - Brahmacharya, with the duty of learning, Grihastha, the householder stage, Vanaprastha, with the duty of taking an advisory role within the family and Sannyasa, with the duty of working towards achieving moksha.

Question 33

What is Santana Dharma?

Answer 33

It means ‘eternal truth’, the ideal way of living life, consisting (for example) trying to reach moksha and showing respect to elders.