Hinduism

Question 1

perhaps the most sacred syllable or utterance (mantra) in Hinduism. It embodies absolute reality and is the sound that encapsulates all sound. it is chanted in meditation and precedes most Vedic prayers

Answer 1

Om/Aum

Question 2

symbol of fecundity and prosperity, venerated by Hindus, who will not kill or eat it. Linked to Krishna

Answer 2

the Cow

Question 3

Hinduism abounds with images (murti) of deities whose extraordinary appearance immediately conveys their transhuman nature. Multiple arms, wielding weapons or other items symbolizing the deity’s powers, while specific postures and gestures (mudra) coney messages about the deity’s nature, mythological acts, or teachings.

Answer 3

Divine Images

Question 4

Cylindrical stone effigy of the male reproductive organ and symbol of Shiva

Answer 4

Linga

Question 5

Stone receptacle into which a linga is often placed. Effigy of the female procreative organ and sybol of the Devi, it is regarded as the source from which creation emerges.

Answer 5

Yoni

Question 6

An ancient symbol of well being (svasti) and auspiciousness; often used to decorate entrances of homes and temples, and inscribed on sacred objects

Answer 6

Svastika

Question 7

Location

Answer 7

Indus River

Question 8

Primary texts

Answer 8

Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyaka, and Upanshads. Most popular Bhagavad Gita

Question 9

Main idea

Answer 9

Karma

Question 10

Life cycle

Answer 10

four stages of life student; householder; retired (hermit) and renouncer (wandering)

Question 11

Major sects

Answer 11

Vishnu Shiva, Devi

Question 12

Subgroups

Answer 12

four main classes Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vashya, and Shudra,

Question 13

The priestly class. Retain and closely guard their authority to learn and teach the Vedas

Answer 13

Brahmin

Question 14

The ruling class kings, warriors, and landlords

Answer 14

Kshatriya

Question 15

the mercantile class, entitled to study the Vedas, not teach. Farmers and traders

Answer 15

Vaishya

Question 16

The servant class not allowed to study the Vedas

Answer 16

Shudra

Question 17

The classless group many of whom prefer to call themselves Dalits

Answer 17

Untouchables

Question 18

an ancient city located on the river Ganga and renowned as a center of Vedic learning. It contains temples to many deities but is regarded as particularly dedicated to the god Shiva

Answer 18

Varanasi (Banaras)

Question 19

One of the four pilgrimage sites at a source of the river Ganga, and the location of a temple dedicated to Vishnu

Answer 19

Badrinath

Question 20

A city on the river Ganga, where millions of Hindu pilgrims gather for a purifying bath during the Kumbha Mela

Answer 20

Prayag (Allahabad)

Question 21

One of the most influential monastic centers of Hindu orthodoxy, reputedly established by Shankara

Answer 21

Kanchipuram

Question 22

Birthplace and capital city of the mythic god-king Rama

Answer 22

Ayodhya

Question 23

One of the seven sacred cities of the Hindus. It lies at the foothills of the Himalays, where the Ganga descends to the plains. About thirty miles upstream lies the Rishikesh, anotherer city popular for its many yoga and meditation retreat centers

Answer 23

Hardwar

Question 24

meditation retreat centers are called

Answer 24

ashrams

Question 25

Great south Indian temple complex dedicated to Vishnu, it is a center of qualified nondualistic Vedanta philosophy

Answer 25

Shrirangam

Question 26

The most revered literature in Hinduism, possessing the status of shruti (divine)

Answer 26

Vedas

Question 27

the four sets of Vedic texts

Answer 27

Rig, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva Vedas

Question 28

The last portion of each set of Vedic texts.

Answer 28

Upanishads

Question 29

The two great epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata

Answer 29

the Epics

Question 30

The Ramayana recount

Answer 30

the eploits of Prince Rama, Vishnu's seventh incarnation

Question 31

The Mahabaharata recounts

Answer 31

the Pandavas, five heroic brothers

Question 32

"The Song of the Lord" A portion of the Mahabharata, consisting of conversation about the purpose of existence between Krishna, a human incarnation of Vishnu, and the warrior Arjuna

Answer 32

The Bhagavad Gita

Question 33

Large often sectarian, pseudohistorical compediums, containing mythological accounts of the creation, favorite post-Vedic deities, royal dynasties, and holy places

Answer 33

The Puranas

Question 34

A vast assortment of texts, often written as teachings by deity's

Answer 34

Tantras

Question 35

In early theology, identified witht he destructive principle of the cosmos. To devotees he is the supreme deity who reconciles the seeming polarities of creation and destruction worshiped in the form of an erect linga

Answer 35

Shiva

Question 36

All pervading and often depicted blue like the sky, through his incarnations preserves righteousness when forces of chaos and unrighteousness threaten the cosmic order. cosmic kind, resting on an endless serpent

Answer 36

Vashnu

Question 37

The great Godess, also called Durga, the soucrce and summation of all femal deities, and the power of Shakti that animates the entire cosmos

Answer 37

Devi

Question 38

Popular, elephant-headed, potbellied deity; leader of Shiv's forces

Answer 38

Ganesha

Question 39

Eighth incarnation of Vishu

Answer 39

Krishna

Question 40

The goddess of prosperity and good fortune, often linked w her consort Vishnu; also known as Shri depicted as a beautiful women seated on a lotus

Answer 40

Lakshmi

Question 41

Kark, fierce goddess who symbolizes time and destruction depicted naked, with disheveled hair and a garland of skulls

Answer 41

Kali

Question 42

The monkey god, protector

Answer 42

Hanuman

Question 43

four goals or aims

Answer 43

dharama, kama, artha, moksha

Question 44

an understanding of the meaning of duty or righteousness and its application in one's life

Answer 44

dharma

Question 45

knowledge of love, sexual and sensual pleasure, joy and happiness

Answer 45

kama

Question 46

the pursuit of wealth power, and attainments through the development of one's potential

Answer 46

Artha

Question 47

Liberation through self-realization from the bondage to wordly existence and the cycles of reincarnation

Answer 47

Moksha

Question 48

South indian renouncer, known for his Vedanta philosophy of radical nondualism. Brahman which has no attributes is regarded as the absolute and only reality

Answer 48

Shankara

Question 49

Proponent of Qualified Nondualistic Vendanta, in which Brahman is the only reality but possesses attributes such as compassion and grace

Answer 49

Ramanuja

Question 50

taught a dualistic Vendanta, in which Brahman is different from human souls and the creation

Answer 50

Madhva

Question 51

Bengali saint who popularized public dance and chanting as a form of devotion

Answer 51

Chaitanya

Question 52

founder of the Brahmo Samaj, an organization that emphasized rationalism, humanism and social reform, taught against widow burning

Answer 52

Ram Mohan Roy

Question 53

founder of the Ramakrshna movement; influenced the West's knowledge of Hinduism

Answer 53

Swami Vivekananda

Question 54

Proponent of active but nonviolent resistance to oppression, used in the struggle for Indian independence from British rule

Answer 54

Mahatma Gandi

Question 55

A path of selfless action described in the Bhagavad Gita. Emphasizes detachment from the outcome of all actions, which should be performed in a spirit of sacrifice to the divine

Answer 55

Karma Yoga

Question 56

A path that centers on the intellect and is regarded as dificult

Answer 56

Jnana Yoga

Question 57

an approach introduced in the Bhagavad Gita, calling for loving devotion to a deity

Answer 57

Bhakti Yoga

Question 58

Royal Yoga, which centers on stopping the turnings of thoughts

Answer 58

Raja Yoga

Question 59

The yoga of the coiled energy, envisioned as a dormant serpent. awakened energy

Answer 59

Kundalini Yoga

Question 60

four stages of life

Answer 60

student, householder, forest-dweller, renouncer

Question 61

originally a period of formal Vedic education with a spiritual mentor

Answer 61

student

Question 62

married life during which one is expected to conduct the household rituals contributed to society, and raise children

Answer 62

householder

Question 63

option prescribed for grandparents or the elderly retiring to the forest

Answer 63

forest-dweller

Question 64

highly esteemed option. It requires conducting one's own death rituals, abandoning spouse and society, and living entirely off the alms given by others

Answer 64

Renouncer

Question 65

ONe who presides over the performance of religious rituals

Answer 65

Priest

Question 66

One's teaher, generally used to designate the most important guid and mentor in one's spiritual development

Answer 66

Guru

Question 67

A person who is wholly committed to the discipline of yoga

Answer 67

Yogi

Question 68

A title bestowed on those who have become renouncers

Answer 68

swami

Question 69

A generic term used to designate any HIndu holy man.

Answer 69

Sadhu

Question 70

Males of the twice born classes, particularly Brahmins between eight and thirteen are given a sacred utterance to repeat and a loop of

Answer 70

sacred thread

Question 71

generally arranged by parents

Answer 71

marriage

Question 72

regarded as the final sacrifice in a person's life

Answer 72

Death

Question 73

an optional rite of passage prescribed for people in their old age

Answer 73

renunciation

Question 74

A festival of lights celebrated on the new moon between mid October and mid November.

Answer 74

Divali

Question 75

a nine night festival beginning on the new moon between mid September and mid October dedicated to Devi

Answer 75

Navaratra

Question 76

celebrated in feb and march commemorates the defeat of the demoness Holika color festival

Answer 76

Holi

Question 77

celebrated in honor of Shiva

Answer 77

Mahashivaratri

Question 78

a pilgrimage to a specific part of a sacred river

Answer 78

Kumbha Mela

Question 79

divinely heard orthodox hindus

Answer 79

shruti

Question 80

remembered, Hindu sacred writings not just shruti includes the epics

Answer 80

smriti

Question 81

numerous Sanskrit terms are used to describe one's inner spirit or soul

Answer 81

Self

Question 82

Several Hindu words derive from the Sanskrit veral root brih to expand. allencopassing absolute reality

Answer 82

Brahman