PRE - Hinduism Words

Question 1

Indus civilisation

Answer 1

People living to the west of the Indus river

Question 2

River Ganges

Answer 2

The river the Hindus moved to

Question 3

Shruti texts

Answer 3

The most important texts eg. The Vedas, The Upanishads. These texts are seen to have come straight from God (the unquestionable truth)

Question 4

Smriti texts

Answer 4

Still important texts but those with slightly less authority, could have been updated/adapted over the years. Eg. The Bhagavad-Gita, The Ramayana

Question 5

Brahman

Answer 5

God

Question 6

Aum symbol

Answer 6

The symbol that is used to represent Brahman. Represents the reverberating noise when god created the universe.

Question 7

Monotheism

Answer 7

When you worship one God who created everything

Question 8

Nirguna- Brahman

Answer 8

God with no form or shape. Transcendent, can be inside and outside the universe

Question 9

Saguna- Brahman

Answer 9

God in individual physical form

Question 10

Deities

Answer 10

The many manifestations of Brahmans different personalities

Question 11

Bhagavan

Answer 11

God in the spiritual world

Question 12

Antaryami

Answer 12

Brahman within each human being. Direct translation- “the god within”

Question 13

Parvati

Answer 13

Shiva’s wife. Parvati is the deity of motherhood and is often depicted in a domestic situation with her two children, Ganesha and Skandi

Question 14

Ganesha

Answer 14

The elephant headed Deity, his head was chopped off by his father Shiva. The god of good luck, often worshipped at rituals such as weddings.

Question 15

Saraswati

Answer 15

The Deity of Learning, material possessions don’t interest her- knowledge is the most important thing to her. Worshiped by musicians before concerts and students before exams.

Question 16

Hanuman

Answer 16

The monkey warrior. His symbol is mace, meaning authority. He is a patron of soldiers, wrestlers and sportsmen

Question 17

Lakshmi

Answer 17

The deity of prosperity. She is worshipped during the festival of Diwali in order to hope for a prosperous year.

Question 18

The Trimurti

Answer 18

Three main deities- Shiva , Vishnu and Brahma

Question 19

Brahma

Answer 19

The creator

Question 20

Shiva

Answer 20

The destroyer

Question 21

Ascetic

Answer 21

Asceticism is living a very simple life with no interest in material things, lots of Hindus live by this.

Question 22

Shaivites

Answer 22

Shaivism is focusing your worship on shiva especially

Question 23

Vishnu

Answer 23

One of the Tri-Murti Deities, the preserver. Worshipped especially Vaishnavas.

Question 24

Vaishnavism

Answer 24

People who especially focus their worship on Vishnu. Vaishnavas

Question 25

Avatar

Answer 25

One of the manifestations on Vishnu in Human form, coming to the world to restore balance

Question 26

Dharma

Answer 26

Virtue. Also your Dharma is What you have to do to be good and virtuous.

Question 27

Adharma

Answer 27

Evil

Question 28

Rama

Answer 28

One of the avatars of Vishnu, a brave man who battled to save his wife ‘Sita’

Question 29

The Ramayana

Answer 29

One of the Smriti texts

Question 30

Ravana

Answer 30

The demon king who stole Sita from Rama

Question 31

Sita

Answer 31

Rama’s wife who was captured by Ravana

Question 32

Krishna

Answer 32

Another Avatar of Vishnu. Teaches the world about Ahimsa (non-violence) and Moksha

Question 33

The Kurukshetra war

Answer 33

A war between two nations that was stopped by Krishna when she taught all the soldiers from both armies about living honourable lives.

Question 34

The 4 aims of life

Answer 34

You need to do good deeds and follow Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha

Question 35

Artha

Answer 35

Earning a lawful living through honest means

Question 36

Kama

Answer 36

Enjoying life responsibility and having a positive outlook.

Question 37

Moksha

Answer 37

The atman joining with Brahman, The end of the Rebirth cycle

Question 38

Sanatana dharma

Answer 38

Hindus believe that there are some responsibilities and duties that apply to all Hindus. The 6 personal virtues are ‘Sanatana Dharma’

Question 39

Varnashrama Dharma

Answer 39

The different responsibilities that apply to people of different classes ‘Varnas’

Question 40

Varna

Answer 40

Your class in society. Eg. Brahmins and Kshatriyas

Question 41

Free will

Answer 41

The fact that you make all the choices yourselves, what you are going to decide is not pre-determined by God.

Question 42

The 6 personal Virtues

Answer 42

What the key things that everybody should practice: | Ahimsa, Love, Humility, Control, Empathy, Respect

Question 43

Ahimsa

Answer 43

Non-violence to all living things

Question 44

Atman

Answer 44

The soul

Question 45

Transmigration

Answer 45

The atman going to a new body

Question 46

Samsara cycle

Answer 46

The life cycle of the atman

Question 47

Karma

Answer 47

Everything that you do will build good or bad Karma that will affect the next life of your atman

Question 48

Reincarnation / rebirth

Answer 48

The idea that after your life, your atman (soul) moves onto another body