Hinduism

Question 1

What is a “yuga”?

Answer 1

an era within a four age cycle; essential to Hindu Cosmology

Question 2

What is “Kali Yuga”?

Answer 2

the current era; Age of Darkness

Question 3

When did the Vedic Period occur?

Answer 3

1500-500BCE

Question 4

When did the Epic/Puranic/Classical Age occur?

Answer 4

500BCE-500CE

Question 5

When did the Medieval Period occur?

Answer 5

500CE-1500CE

Question 6

When did the Pre-Modern Period occur?

Answer 6

1500-1757CE

Question 7

When did the British Period occur?

Answer 7

1757-1947CE

Question 8

When did the Independent India era occur?

Answer 8

1947CE-Present

Question 9

What is Dharma

Answer 9

one’s social or religious duty

Question 10

What are rituals?

Answer 10

repeated actions

Question 11

What is Homa?

Answer 11

ritual in which one makes offerings to the god(s) in a fire

Question 12

What is Yajna?

Answer 12

“Sacrifice”; ritual of offerings accompanied by mantras

Question 13

What are Mantras?

Answer 13

sound, syllable, word, or group of words ex:”om”

Question 14

What are Mudras?

Answer 14

gestures (hand positioning)

Question 15

What is Mandalas?

Answer 15

a symbol representing the universe

Question 16

What are Tantric Practices?

Answer 16

practices using symbols, rituals, and visions to access spiritual knowledge (knowledge of what is not seen). Also called esoteric

Question 17

What is puja?

Answer 17

a devotional ritual where an offering is given to a deva

Question 18

What does yoga mean?

Answer 18

“to add”, “to join”, “to unite”, “to attach”

Question 19

What are Yogic Practices?

Answer 19

Mental, physical, spiritual practices to attain moksha

Question 20

What is Bhakti Yoga?

Answer 20

Yoga of Devotion

Question 21

What is Jnana Yoga?

Answer 21

Yoga of Knowledge

Question 22

What is Karma Yoga?

Answer 22

Yoga of Action

Question 23

What is Raja Yoga?

Answer 23

Yoga of Meditation

Question 24

What is Meditation?

Answer 24

mental practices aimed at attaining moksha

Question 25

What are the Vedas?

Answer 25

oldest Sanskrit texts of Hinduism; sruti; related to performance

Question 26

Sruti Texts

Answer 26

"that which is heard"; texts accredited to divine revelation

Question 27

Smirti Texts

Answer 27

"that which is remembered"; Epic Texts including the Gita

Question 28

Samhitas

Answer 28

Part of the Vedas; collection of mantras; hymns praising God

Question 29

Brahmanas

Answer 29

Part of the Vedas; discuss sacrificial rituals, prayers

Question 30

Aranyakas

Answer 30

Part of the Vedas; discuss worship and meditation

Question 31

Upanishads

Answer 31

Part of the Vedas; Philosophical teachings

Question 32

Dharma Sutras

Answer 32

Explanations of other texts regarding Dharma

Question 33

Shastras

Answer 33

"rules"; "scriptures"

Question 34

Mahabharata

Answer 34

Longest Sanskrit epic; philosophical and devotional themes

Question 35

Bhagavad-Gita

Answer 35

Part of Mahabharata; upholds Upanishads; Themes: moksha, dharma, yoga

Question 36

Ramayana

Answer 36

Sanskrit epic related to dharma

Question 37

Puranas

Answer 37

Hindu texts related to devas, especially the Trimurti

Question 38

Tantras

Answer 38

scriptures of esoteric practices

Question 39

Vaishnavism

Answer 39

People who primarily worship Vishnu

Question 40

Shaivism

Answer 40

People who primarily worship Shiva

Question 41

Smartism

Answer 41

People who accept all major Hindu deities as Brahman

Question 42

Shaktism

Answer 42

People who primarily worship the Divine Mother (Devi/Shakti)

Question 43

Hare Krishna

Answer 43

practice Bhakti Yoga devoted to Krishna

Question 44

Guru

Answer 44

Hindu Teacher

Question 45

Hindutva Movement

Answer 45

Advocated a "Hindu" Nation

Question 46

Diaspora

Answer 46

scattered populations; people living outside original homeland

Question 47

Ramakrishna

Answer 47

19th century mystic; proponent of Advaita Vedanta; unity of religions

Question 48

Vivekananda

Answer 48

Ramakrishna's disciple; introduced Vedanta and Yoga to the West

Question 49

Gandhi

Answer 49

(1869-1948); Leader of Indian Nationalism

Question 50

Devas

Answer 50

gods

Question 51

Henotheism

Answer 51

Belief in one god, while accepting the existence of other gods

Question 52

Trimurti

Answer 52

Concept that Brahman has three aspects

Question 53

Brahman

Answer 53

Unchanging reality, Truth; God; Divinity

Question 54

Devi/Shakti

Answer 54

Female aspect of the Divine (Brahman)

Question 55

Brahma

Answer 55

Creator God

Question 56

Vishnu

Answer 56

Sustainer God

Question 57

Shiva

Answer 57

Destroyer God

Question 58

Lakshmi

Answer 58

Goddess; Consort of Vishnu

Question 59

Krishna

Answer 59

Eighth incarnation of Vishnu; Character in Bhagavad-Gita

Question 60

Ganesha

Answer 60

Deity; Remover of obstacles; Depicted as elephant

Question 61

Guna

Answer 61

"Qualities"

Question 62

Nirguna

Answer 62

God without qualities; Transcendent God

Question 63

Saguna

Answer 63

God with qualities; Immanent God

Question 64

Atman

Answer 64

True Self

Question 65

Brahman

Answer 65

Highest Reality

Question 66

Atman/ Brahman

Answer 66

Both atman and brahman are pure consciousness; the same

Question 67

Advaita Vedanta

Answer 67

Interpretation from the Upanishads that atman=brahman

Question 68

Karma

Answer 68

Action or Deed; Cause of Samsara

Question 69

Samsara

Answer 69

Cycle of Birth and Rebirth

Question 70

Moksha

Answer 70

Liberation from Samsara; state of endless peace

Question 71

Maya

Answer 71

Illusion

Question 72

Reincarnation

Answer 72

Being reborn

Question 73

Ahimsa

Answer 73

Non-Violence

Question 74

Caste

Answer 74

System where a society or religion is divided into classes