Hinduism

Question 1

The religion of the Veda

Answer 1

Hinduism

Question 2

Describe the Indus Valley Civilization

Answer 2

Dravidian. They had a more advanced culture than you would think they did (writing system, seal stamps), planned city, agricultural society

Question 3

What kind of society was the Indus Valley Civilization?

Answer 3

They were an agricultural society (irrigating agriculture), with some evidence of herding

Question 4

When was the Indus Valley Civilization at its peak?

Answer 4

3000 BCE to 1500 BCE

Question 5

When did the Indus Valley Civilization begin to decline?

Answer 5

Between 1800 BCE and 1500 BCE

Question 6

How did the Indus Valley Civilization decline?

Answer 6

1) Theories say that it was a gradual decline. Could have been due to natural disasters or floods.
2) Migration of new people. Theory say that Dravidian culture did not just die out, but it fused with Aryan culture (Zoroastrianism), in what is modern day Iran.

Question 7

What does the term Aryan mean?

Answer 7

Noble One (sanskrit)

Question 8

Describe Aryan religion

Answer 8

Portable “religion on your back”. Oral tradition.

Question 9

Where did the Aryans migrate from?

Answer 9

They migrated from the Mesopotamia basin to India

Question 10

What kinds of people were the Aryans?

Answer 10

Poets, Pastoralists, Warriors

Question 11

What do the Gods look like in Aryan culture?

Answer 11

Nature, personification. Human qualities in animal Gods.

Question 12

What is the Aryan Invasion Theory?

Answer 12

Aryans were nomadic, that’s why they were travelling slowly downward to the Indus River Valley. Religion was oral. Gods had to do with nature and the personification of nature. This is where we get this Aryan invasion theory from, because we see a lot of instances of Aryan culture becoming predominant in Indus River Valley population. Invaded rather than slow fusion.

Question 13

Aryans migrated in waves to

Answer 13

India

Question 14

Aryan tribal communities has leaders called

Answer 14

Rajas

Question 15

What were the societal distinctions in the Indus River Valley called?

Answer 15

Varnas

Question 16

What does Varnas literally translate to?

Answer 16

Colors

Question 17

What are the four Varnas?

Answer 17

1) Brahmins
2) Kshatriyas
3) Vaishyas
4) Shudras

*Brahmins were the most powerful

Question 18

Priests who were powerful and has access to knowledge

Answer 18

Brahmins

Question 19

Warriors, chieftans. Leaders of communities.

Answer 19

Kshatriyas

Question 20

Commoners, merchants.

Answer 20

Vaishyas

Question 21

Slaves, servants. People who existed in the Indus River Valley before the Aryan Invasion. Typically darker-skinned.

Answer 21

Shudras

Question 22

Who were the most powerful people in the Indus River Valley?

Answer 22

Brahmin. Religious people were more powerful than warriors.

Question 23

What were some arbutus of Aryan Religion?

Answer 23

1) Polytheistic
2) Gods were personifications of nature, natural forces
3) Animistic qualities
4) Main type of worship, sacrifice on altars (nomadic)
5) Sacrifice of animals, milk, butter, soma
6) Horse sacrifice

Question 24

What is a horse sacrifice?

Answer 24

They would pick a young horse and let it wander for a year. Anywhere that the horse would travel, the king could claim. After a year, they slaughter it and eat the meat. Said to be very powerful. The more you do it, the more powerful you become. Also, very time consuming.

Question 25

Hindu sacred writings, such as the Vedas, based on "heard" or "revealed" knowledge

Answer 25

Shruti

Question 26

writings based on what human authors "remembered"of revelations to Hindus. Less authoritative than revealed scriptures.

Answer 26

Smriti

Question 27

Revealed

Answer 27

Shruti

Question 28

Remembered

Answer 28

Smriti

Question 29

The oldest sacred texts of Hinduism

Answer 29

The Vedas

Question 30

The VEDAS

Answer 30

1) oldest sacred text of Hinduism 2) Basic source for Hindu understanding of the universe 3) All other texts are seen as commentary on the Vedas 4) Created when Aryans came in and mingled with native people 5) Oral transmission for generations before written down 6) Vedic language- predecessor of early Sanskrit

Question 31

What was the predecessor of early Sanskrit?

Answer 31

Vedic Language

Question 32

How did people normally memorize the Vedas before it was written down?

Answer 32

Typically through hymns

Question 33

What does Vedas mean?

Answer 33

"Knowledge" or "Sacred Lore"

Question 34

what does "Ved" mean?

Answer 34

To know

Question 35

The oldest of the Vedas

Answer 35

Rg Veda

Question 36

Collection of over 1,000 hymns to the Aryan gods. Contains their mythology.

Answer 36

Rg Veda

Question 37

Knowledge of rites. A collection of materials to be recited during sacrifice to the Gods.

Answer 37

Yajur Veda

Question 38

Knowledge of chants. A collection of basic hymns recited to priests at sacrifices.

Answer 38

Sama Veda

Question 39

Knowledge given by the sage Atharva. Rituals to be used in the home, popular prayers to the Gods, spells to ward off evil.

Answer 39

Atharva Veda

Question 40

Sage

Answer 40

Wise person

Question 41

What is considered to be the second most important of the Vedic books?

Answer 41

Atharva Veda

Question 42

Hymns to the Gods

Answer 42

Mantra

Question 43

Ritual materials on how to perform proper sacrifices.

Answer 43

Brahmana

Question 44

Forest Treatises. Materials for hermits in their religious pursuits.

Answer 44

Aranyakas

Question 45

Philosophical materials

Answer 45

Upanishads

Question 46

Each to the four Vedic books can be divided into four different sections. What are they?

Answer 46

1) Mantra 2) Brahmana 3) Aranyakas 4) Upanishads

Question 47

What is the foundation for much of later Indian philosophy?

Answer 47

Upanishads

Question 48

People who separate themselves from society

Answer 48

Hermits

Question 49

God of fire, priests

Answer 49

Agni

Question 50

The God of the thunderbolt, of clouds and rain, and the ruler of heaven

Answer 50

Indra

Question 51

The God who resides over the order of the universe, forgives sinners

Answer 51

Varuna

Question 52

God of the dead

Answer 52

Yama

Question 53

God of faith-keeping and loyalty

Answer 53

Mitra

Question 54

deified plant

Answer 54

Soma

Question 55

Where does Agni, the God of fire, come from?

Answer 55

Comes from Zoroastrianism. Fire was very important in Zoroastrianism.

Question 56

(ultimate reality)-eternal, infinite, unknowable, sexless, without a past, present, or future, and totally impersonal

Answer 56

Brahman

Question 57

false knowledge

Answer 57

Maya *Humans have false knowledge when they believe that this life and our separation from Brahman are real

Question 58

ignorance in the Upanishads

Answer 58

Avidya

Question 59

(True/False) The Upanishads emphasizes meditation as a means of worship.

Answer 59

True

Question 60

What is the philosophy of Brahman?

Answer 60

Living beings that inhabit our world are expressions of Brahman. They are souls (atman) in a collection that make up Brahman. All phenomenal existence is an illusion (maya), arising from ignorance (avidya) of the true nature of reality.

Question 61

Karma means

Answer 61

Action

Question 62

Where is the idea of karma introduced?

Answer 62

In the Upanishads

Question 63

What does samsara mean?

Answer 63

"To wander across"- The round of rebirth

Question 64

seen as a negative phenomenon, one is bound to a life in ignorance and pain, living over and over again through countless generations.

Answer 64

Samsara

Question 65

The ultimate goal is _____, of breaking free from life.

Answer 65

Moksha *No longer being reborn

Question 66

The first man in Hinduism

Answer 66

Manu

Question 67

Ethical and social standards that were held as the ideal during the classical era of Indian history

Answer 67

The Laws of Manu

Question 68

Each caste had specific duties

Answer 68

Dharma *Mobility within a caste is only possible through reincarnation

Question 69

When is the classical era?

Answer 69

Starts when the Aryans come into the Indus River Valley and end when the Gita is finished. *Big period for literature

Question 70

What are the stages of life that an upper caste member would go through?

Answer 70

1) Student 2) Householder 3) Hermit 4) Wandering Aesthetic *Women's roles were dictated by the men in their lives

Question 71

What are some characteristics of the Laws of Manu?

Answer 71

Pleasantness, patience, control of mind, non-stealing, purity, control of senses, intelligence, knowledge, truthfulness, non-irritability

Question 72

What is the Indian concept of time?

Answer 72

Time moves endlessly through cycles, or ages of creation. No beginning or end.

Question 73

Age of creation

Answer 73

Kalpas

Question 74

Creator

Answer 74

Brahma

Question 75

Maintainer

Answer 75

Vishnu

Question 76

Destroyer

Answer 76

Shiva

Question 77

Epic poem encompassing Indian religious philosophy and culture

Answer 77

Bhagavad Gita

Question 78

What does the Bhagavad Gita translate to?

Answer 78

The song of the Lord

Question 79

The Bhagavad Gita is part of what?

Answer 79

The Mahabharata

Question 80

Conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna *Battlefield struggle, metaphor for human struggles. Deals with philosophical and moral concepts

Answer 80

Bhagavad Gita

Question 81

What is the overall message of the Bhagavad Gita?

Answer 81

It is more important to fulfill your duty than to protect your family.

Question 82

From the Bhagavad Gita, we get four _____.

Answer 82

Yogas

Question 83

What are yogas?

Answer 83

They are paths to meet Moksha. Realize that people are different and might meet moksha in different ways.

Question 84

The way of works

Answer 84

Kharma yoga

Question 85

The way of knowledge

Answer 85

Jnana yoga

Question 86

The way of physical discipline

Answer 86

Raja yoga

Question 87

The way of devotion

Answer 87

Bhakti yoga

Question 88

Post-classical Brahma is broken up into what three parts?

Answer 88

1) Brahma 2) Vishnu 3) Shiva *This is called the Trimurti

Question 89

When does classical Hinduism end?

Answer 89

After the completion of the Bhagavad Gita

Question 90

What are the four goals of life for modern Hindus?

Answer 90

1) Kama- sensual pleasures 2) Artha- wealth 3) Dharma- religious duty 4) Moksha *Dharma and Moksha are almost a higher order of goals.

Question 91

Sensual pleasures

Answer 91

Kama

Question 92

Wealth

Answer 92

Artha

Question 93

Religious duty

Answer 93

Dharma

Question 94

Two parts. We exist as matter and spirit.

Answer 94

Sankhya

Question 95

What is the goal of Sankhya?

Answer 95

The goal is to separate your spirit from the matter that it is being entangled in so you can get out.

Question 96

Matter

Answer 96

prakriti

Question 97

Spirit

Answer 97

Purusha

Question 98

What is the goal of yoga?

Answer 98

To attempt to "yoke" atman and Brahman

Question 99

Avoidance of rebirth by following the Vedas

Answer 99

Mimansa *Lays presedence on the teachings of the Veda and rebirth.

Question 100

Reality of the physical world. Nine eternal elements, no Gods.

Answer 100

Vaishesika *No need for Gods, aesthetic

Question 101

Logical analysis for arriving at truth

Answer 101

Nyaya

Question 102

Non-dualism. Atman and Brahman are not separate. Realizing this is how you reach liberation.

Answer 102

Advaita Vedanta

Question 103

celebrated during February/March to welcome spring, dedicated to the god Krishna, was once a fertility ceremony, now also celebrates the destruction of demons (festival of colors)

Answer 103

Holi

Question 104

Hindu new year, festival of lights

Answer 104

Divali

Question 105

nine days in October (started this year on the 14th!) reserved to celebrate Durga’s (a consort of Shiva) victory over evil. There are presents, dances, ad processions

Answer 105

Dasehra

Question 106

Where does the word Hindu come from?

Answer 106

It comes from the Sanskrit word for the river Indus, "Shindu"

Question 107

Initially referred to the religion of the people of India

Answer 107

Hindu * only recently have people begun to refer to themselves as Hindus * Possible that Muslim conquerors were the first to use the germ and British picked it up

Question 108

Rejected the sacrifice system of the Vedas. Focused on spiritual accomplishments. Open to any caste. Liberation through aestheticism and non-violence.

Answer 108

Jainism *Liberation is achieved by being super-aware of your surroundings

Question 109

non-violence

Answer 109

ahimsa (Jainism)

Question 110

How many people practice Jainism today?

Answer 110

About 2 million (out of a population of 1 billion in India)