hinduism practices

Question 1

Puja :

Answer 1

• ‘giving respect and honour’
• offering flowers, fruit or money

Question 2

Bhajan/Kirtan :

Answer 2

• singing devotional songs or prayers

Question 3

Havan :

Answer 3

• a fire sacrifice to the fire god Aagni

Question 4

Arati :

Answer 4

• a lit lamp passed around the deity
• tray includes parts of the elements ; wind, air, fire, earth, water

Question 5

Dharshan :

Answer 5

• gracious glance from the guru/catching sight of the divine
• touching or kissing the steps of a shrine or feet of a deity
• shows respect and gaining a blessing

Question 6

Sewa :

Answer 6

selfless service

Question 7

Dana :

Answer 7

giving

Question 8

Ana dana :

Answer 8

giving food

Question 9

Holi : who does it remember?

Answer 9

• The victory of Prahlad
  and Vishnu over the
  demon Holika.
• It also
  remembers the story of
  Krishna and the
  milkmaids.

Question 10

Holi : how it is celebrated?

Answer 10

• Fires are lit to remember
  the story of Prahlad
  being protected by
  Vishnu.
• People wear old clothes
  and throw coloured
  paint to remember the
  fun that Krishna and the
  milkmaids have.
• Everyone can join in
  and normal standards
  of behaviour are
  forgotten.

Question 11

Diwali : who does it remember?

Answer 11

• The goddess Lakshmi –
  to bring prosperity, or
  the story of Rama and
  Sita – to mark the
  victory of light over
  darkness, and good
  over evil.
• it is also the start of the
  Hindu New Year.

Question 12

Diwali : how is it celebrated?

Answer 12

• Houses are spring cleaned and
  decorated to welcome
  Lakshmi, lights are lit to
  light the path to the
  home.
• Gifts and new
  clothes are bought and
  exchanged.
• Lamps and fireworks are
  lit to show the victory of
  good over evil.

Question 13

Four paths of yoga : union with the divine

Answer 13

Karma, Jhana, Bhakti, Astanga

Question 14

Yogas : Karma

Answer 14

• path of unselfish action
• Gandhi, who worked tirelessly and
  selflessly in campaigns for Indian
  independence and the upliftment of
  the untouchables{outcasts}, was seen as the
  ideal karma yogi

Question 15

Yogas : Jhana

Answer 15

• the path of knowledge and
  understanding.

Question 16

Yogas : Bhakti

Answer 16

• Bhakti is loving devotion
• so Hindus who choose this path choose to
  express their beliefs through a loving relationship with a personal deity

Question 17

Yogas : Astanga

Answer 17

• meditation
• a form of self-control over both
  the senses and the mind.

Question 18

Gurus : attributes

Answer 18

• Be well versed in the scriptures
• Know about Brahman
• Have overcome all human desires
• Be honest, sincere and trustworthy.

Question 19

Sadhu :

Answer 19

A sadhu is a wandering holy man.

Question 20

Sannyasin :

Answer 20

Someone who has reached the last stage of life. They give up all posessions.

Question 21

Swami :

Answer 21

Swami is a ‘master of the senses’. They are know for being highly knowledgeable about
the Hindu scriptures and belong to a religious order.

Question 22

Pilgrimage : why do hindus go on pilgrimage?

Answer 22

1.To make amends for something they have done wrong.
2. To strengthen their faith and become closer to God.
3. To show how committed they are to their religion or a particular deity.
4. To make a spiritual journey on behalf of someone unable to do it for themselves.
5. To ask for help or healing
6. To find out about a holy place.
7. Because members of their family have always gone on a particular place on pilgrimage
8. To say thank you for something good that has happened.
9. Pilgrimage is part of their dharma or religious duty.
10. Because pilgrimage is open to everyone and there are no division of age, class or
gender.

Question 23

Pilgrimage : what do hindus do on pilgrimage?

Answer 23

-Make offerings to God
-Circumambulator the temple
-Say prayers
-Chant mantras  Spend time in the presence of the deity
-Leave ashes of a loved one
-Wash in holy water
-Collect samples of water/earth etc.
-Buy and wear special clothes
-Shave heads
-Walk barefoot
-Remain celibate
-Focus on God

Question 24

Varanasi : who and why do people go?

Answer 24

• the point where two holy rivers meet, the Ganges and the Yumana rivers.
  -considered the ‘City of Lord Shiva’ It’s where many Hindus go to reflect on the temporal
  nature of this life and the ultimate goal of Moksha.
  -Varanasi is considered, ‘the Gateway to
  Moksha’, and death in the city is believed to bring immediate salvation.
  -The city is famous for its ghats, where the deceased are cremated at the edge of the river.

Question 25

Kumbh Mela : who and why do people go?

Answer 25

-a very holy river crossing, where the Ganges and Yamuna rivers meet the mythical river Saraswati. - also a festival that remembers the spilling of the nectar of immortality during a battle between gods and demons. Therefore, bathing in the water here brings purification. -If pilgrims bathe in the Ganges on the day of the new moon, they are believed to be released from the cycle of samsara. -Pilgrims make offerings of garlands of marigolds by dropping them in the river for Mother Ganges. -They also offer water by scooping it from the river and letting it fall back through their fingers. -Traditionally, naked sadhus smeared in ashes and wearing marigold garlands, lead the procession into the river.

Question 26

Cow protection :

Answer 26

- being a vegetarian - ahimsa -

Question 27

why are the yogas important?

Answer 27

- each can lead to moksha {liberation from samsara} - they allow different routes to the same goal, so everyone can find a way that will suit them

Question 28

scripture on astanga

Answer 28

'in sound and in silence'

Question 29

scripture on bhakti

Answer 29

'a leaf, fruit, flower a devotee in love may bring'

Question 30

scripture on jhana

Answer 30

'by realising god, one is relieved from all fetas' --> {problems}

Question 31

scripture on karma

Answer 31

“The meaning of karma is in the intention. The intention behind action is what matters.”

Question 32

strengths of karma yoga

Answer 32

- helping others, helps you evolve spiritually and reach moksha

Question 33

strengths of jhana yoga

Answer 33

-helps you reach moksha -helps you understand scripture

Question 34

strengths of bhakti yoga

Answer 34

- strengthens your relationships with others - shows your love to god

Question 35

strengths of astanga yoga

Answer 35

- peace = happiness = moksha - controlling prakriti through purusa --> arguably more important than others

Question 36

two problems of karma yoga

Answer 36

- takes up a lot of time e.g. volunteers or parents - difficult for those who struggle physically or mentally themselves e.g. lower caste

Question 37

two problems of jhana yoga

Answer 37

- required a teacher --> might not be accessible - books and scripture ---> might not be accessible

Question 38

two problems of bhakti yoga

Answer 38

- other people may have other commitments - if you follow nirguna brahman you may want to follow personal instead, not a specific deity - 'in sound and in sight'

Question 39

two problems of astanga yoga

Answer 39

- challenging - shouldn't have any connection to a normal life - not accessible to everyone e.g. householder----> parents cannot meditate