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Hinduism > The Gods > Flashcards

The Gods Flashcards

(134 cards)

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1
Q

How many arms does Vishnu have?

A

4 arms

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2
Q

What things does Vishnu carry?

A

1) Disc of light
2) Conch shell
3) A mace
4) A lotus

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3
Q

What is Vishnu’s main vahana?

A

A cobra

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4
Q

What colour is Vishnu and what does is represent?

A

Vishnu is blue, which represents his eternity and that he is out of time and space.

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5
Q

What is Vishnu’s main role?

A

Preserver and protector of the universe, he restores the world in troubled times

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6
Q

How many times has Vishnu incarnated

A

9 times

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7
Q

What are Vishnu’s worshippers called

A

Vaishnavas

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8
Q

What is Vishnu’s second vahana?

A

Garuda ~ king of birds

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9
Q

Why does Vishnu incarnate as a human?

A

To set balance of good and eveil in the world

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10
Q

What do Vishnu’s 4 hands symoblise?

A

Domination over the four direcrions of space, the four asrams and varnas.

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11
Q

Who is Vishnu’s shakti?

A

Lakshmi

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12
Q

How many arms does Lakshmi have?

A

4 arms (like Vishnu)

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13
Q

What is Lakshmi the Goddess of?

A

Good future and prosperity, the goddess of the buisness people

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14
Q

Name the two important murtis assosicated with Vishnu

A

Narayana and Ananta

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15
Q

Describe Narayana (Vishnu)

A

Reclining image of Vishnu, on his vahana a cobra. He is floating on the ocean, with Lakshmi masaging his feet. Brahman is sitting on a lotus flower which is coming out of Vishnu’s navel.
Represents - state of completely absorption before creation begun. According to holm & bowker.

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16
Q

What is the non-anthropomorphic object assosiated with Vishnu

A

Salagram stone, from the river Ganges

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17
Q

Why do avatars come to earth?

A

To restore Dharma and to conquer evil

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18
Q

Quote from the Bhagavad Gita about the reason avatars come to earth

A

‘I come down in the ages that pass to restore dharma and destroy evil.’

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19
Q

Who is Rama & what does he represent?

A
  • Vishnu’s seventh incarnation

- represents the monarchial aspect of the supreme.

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20
Q

Who is Hanuman?

A

Rama’s helper in the Ramayan story

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21
Q

Hey, can you explain the Ramayan story?!

A

Rama was forced into exile with Sita and his brother Lakshmana. They live in a forest, but Ravana’s sister wants to steal Rama from Sita, so she persuades Ravana that Sita should be his wife. Ravana kidnaps Sita and takes her to Lanka. Rama goes in search of Sita, with the help of Hanuman. Rama gives him a ring to give to Sita to let her know he is coming to find her. Hanuman finds Sita but cannot rescue her. Later, Rama and his army of bears and monkeys, make a bridge over the sea and invade Lanka. They all have a bfg fight and eventually Rama is defeated and Sita is recused. But Rama and Lakshmana are wounded by Rvavna’s poisonous arrows, Hanuman saves them with herbs from the Himalayas. Rama says he cannot take her back unless she proves her loyalty to him by walking through a ring of fire. Which she did safely, thus proving her innocence. They live happily ever after :—)

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22
Q

Who is Krishna?

A

One of Vishnu’s avatars

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23
Q

Hey, can you tell me a bit about Krishna’s birth?

A

His parents were prince and Queen of Devaki, his wicked uncle King Kamsa, wanted to kill him because he believed that their son would kill him. He was born in a prison and was smuggled out and was brought up in a village called Gokol. His new family were cow herders. He was am extraordinary child.

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24
Q

Who is Shiva’s Shakti?

A

Parvati

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25
What does Hanuman embody?
Courage, physical strength, humility and devotion to duty
26
What is Hanuman's symbol?
The mace
27
What festival is in honour of Hanuman?
His birthday, Hanuman Jayanti, celebrated in april
28
Who is Nandi?
Shiva's vahana, white bull
29
Who holds together all opposites?
Shiva
30
What is Shiva's primary role?
The destroyer of evil
31
Nataraja - what does it mean, and who does it apply to?
The lord of the dance, it is one of Shiva's names
32
Describe Shiva as Nataraja (5)
Dancing in a ring of fire, with - loose hair, symbol of power strength and energy. Releases energy and all tensions are held in unison. - drum, symbolises rhythm and sound associated with creation. - fire balls, destruction of the world. He is the symbol of life and death. - abhaya mudra, grace and protection, liberation is available for all those who seek refuge in him. - one foot on demon, triumph over evil.
33
Describe Shiva as a great yogi
Represented in a yogic posture, on a tiger skin, with prayer beads and a mendicant's bowl.
34
What does Shiva as yogi and grahastha represent?
Renunciation and affirmation of life
35
What does Shiva hold in his murti as a yogi and grahastha?
A trident
36
What does Shiva have on his forehead?
Three horizontal lines
37
What do the three horizontal lines on Shiva's head represent?
They indicate the three functions of Shiva
38
What is on Shiva's top knot?
A crescent moon which is a symbol of creation, and a small figure of the goddess Ganga, to show his association with the river Ganges
39
What is Shiva as Daksinamurti?
Shiva as guru or spiritual teacher
40
What is Shiva as Ardhanari?
Shiva as half female and half male
41
How is Shiva worshiped in temples?
In the form of linga
42
What does the linga represent?
The union of male and female principles
43
Who is Brahma?
Creator of the universe
44
Who is the second member of the Trimurti?
Vishnu
45
Why does Vishnu hold a conch shell?
It represents the primeval sound of creation
46
Why does Vishnu hold a mace?
It represents his royal power and authority
47
Why does Vishnu hold a lotus flower?
It symbolises purity
48
Why does Vishnu hold a disc of light?
It shows him as sustainer of the world and represents samsara
49
What does Vishnu have on his forehead?
Three vertical lines
50
How many arms does Krishna have?
Two arms
51
What festival is associated with Krishna?
His birthday, Janmashtami
52
Who is Krishna's consort?
Radha
53
What is Rama meant to represent
The perfect man
54
What age did Rama appear at?
Treta Yuga, the second age
55
Who is Sarasvati?
The consort of Brahma
56
Who is the Goddess of wisdom and fine arts?
Sarasvati
57
What is Sarasvati's vahana?
A swan, represents spiritual perfection and transcendence
58
What does Ganesh look like?
a human figure with an elephant head
59
What does Ganesh hold?
Sweets and mala beads a goad and an axe/noose
60
What is Ganesh's vehicle?
a rat/mouse
61
Why is Ganesh FAT
His tummy contains the created world/universe
62
Why does Ganesh have a broken tusk?
To represented to manifested material world and Brahman saguna
63
Why does Ganesh have an elephant head?
Durga made him out of her own body, when Ganesh was guarding the door whilst she bathed, Siva came back and cut Ganesh's head off when he wouldnt let him in. Durga made him replace his head, and he replaced it with an elephant head.
64
What is a famous myth about Ganesh and the Ganges?
Durga made a state of a boy and threw it in the Ganges, which gave it life.
65
What are Ganesh's powers?
Lord of obstacles.
66
What is Ganesh associated with
the arts, dance, learning
67
What colour does Parvati wear?
Pink
68
Who are Parvati's sons?
Ganesh and Skanda/Kartikkeya (Lakshmi and Parvati)
69
What is Parvati's character?
classic ideal indian wife, gentle, womanly
70
What colour does Durga wear?
Red
71
What is Durga's vehicle?
a lion/tiger
72
How many arms does Durga have?
8/10
73
What is Durga's character?
assertive, independent, powerful, protective mother to devotees
74
When is Durga worshipped?
Durga puja, as a wife returning home to her parents for 10 days
75
What does Kali hold?
a trident, a sword, a severed head and showing the mudra of protection for devotees.
76
What does Kali look like?
She is black, wears a skirt made of severed arms, and a necklace made of skulls
77
Describe Kali's murti
she can be depicted dancing on shiva
78
What is Kali associated with
battle and cremation grounds
79
how is Kali full of opposites?
shes attractive and repulsive
80
What colour does Lakshmi wear?
Red and gold | not pink that's parvti you dim wit
81
What is Gaja-Lakshmi
A murti where Lakshmi is with white elephants to symbolise her royalty. She carries a pot of amrit (nectar of life) and a conch shell to represent Vishnu.
82
What festival is Lakshmi associated with?
Divali, she visits houses which are clean
83
Why do women worship Lakshmi?
for prosperity and a long life
84
When worshipped by herself, what is she referred to as?
Lokamata, the mother of the world.
85
What is another word for Durga
Amba-ma
86
How is Druga-puja celebrated?
Shrines are built, clay images are built and used in puja, and then immersed in the river at the end of the celebrations.
87
How is Durga seen in south india?
independent worrier with powerful sexuality.
88
How is Druga seen in North india ?
wife and mother figure
89
What does Sarasvati hold?
The four Vedas, pen, inki, musical instrument vina
90
Why do people worship Sarasvati?
To acquire knowledge
91
What is the great goddess called
Mahadevi
92
What does Sati mean
Virtuous wife
93
What does Mahadevi do as Sati
She attracts Siva into marriage
94
What does Sati in the form of yoni do
attracts the aesthetic shiva, who becomes accessible to the world in the form of linga
95
why do you love me
ur nan
96
How are Parvati and Siva shown in the Puranas?
Seated on Kailasa
97
When Durga is mother, what is she called?
Amba or Durga ma
98
What role does Durga take at Durga-puja
The role of a daughter
99
What is Kali the goddess of?
Destruction of evil
100
What is the famous myth associated with Kali
Kali kills the demon Raktavija, Kali drinks his blood to conquer evil, but then she becomes blood thirsty. and kills loads of demons. Shiva realised that this cosmic dance of destruction would threaten the universal balance. he throws himself at her feet to calm her down, she dances on him.
101
What is Daksinkali
When Kali is standing on Shiva with her mouth wide open and her tongue out
102
What is Kali's role?
To drag Shiva into vigorous activity.
103
In Bengal, what is Kali worshipped as?
as divine mother
104
Who was the 2nd Avatar?
A tortoise put a mountain on his back to stop it from sinking into the ocean for the nectar of immorality!
105
Who was the 1st Avatar?
A fish who saved Manu
106
Who was the 3rd Avatar?
A boar who lifted the earth away from the ocean
107
Who was the 7th Avatar?
Rama the perfect man
108
Who was the 8th Avatar?
Krishna
109
Who is kalki
The last avatar, who has not happened yet,
110
When will kalki come?
At the end of the kali yoga, which is the last age, which we are currently in
111
What does Radha symbolise?
She is the lover of Krishna, so we should all be the lovers of Krishna and not the dutiful wife
112
Who can be considered to be an avatar as well?
Gurus are sometimes considered to be avatars, so God in human form. For example, Sai Baba
113
What is Brahman Ninguna?
Where God cannot be known personally, he has no attributes. It is not a thing or an object. We cannot describe it.
114
What is Brahman Saguna?
God in personal form, like in murtis.
115
How is Brahman Ninguna possibly knowable?
Through yoga and meditation, the way that Samnyasins connect with God. He is known to the individual
116
Tell me about Sati's story
She was Shiva's first wife, she attracted ascetic Shiva into marriage through extreme devotion. But Sati's father wasnt happy with the marriage, and when Shiva was not invited to the fire ceremony she threw herelf in to honour her husband. Siva went into a state of yogic meditation in the mountains looking for Sati, he found her in the form of a yoni, and he turned himself into a linga so they could be together forever.
117
Who is Sati
Shiva's first wife
118
What is Kali the goddess of?
Destruction
119
What does Kali hold?
A trident, a severed head, a sword and abhaya mudra
120
What is Shiva's symbol?
The linga
121
What is the special hand of protection called
Abhaya mudra
122
Name some of Shiva's opposites. (400)
Creator ---- Destroyer Male -------- Female Asetic ------ Householder Serene ---- Energy
123
Describe Shiva as grahastha
He is married to Parvati (who are equals) and has two children, Ganesh and Karttikeya, they are represented as a classic Indian family
124
Describe Shiva as ascetic
In a yoga stance, has 3 horizontal lines on his forehead, crescent moon in his hair + Ganga
125
What is Shiva's link with the river Ganges
In order to reduce the forceful impact of the flow of the river Ganges on earth, He allows the river to flow through his hair
126
Explain the 'PRACTICAL' model of Brahman nirguna and sirguna
P-ersonal: like our-selves R-elate: easier to relate to and bring into everyday life A-atma-yatra: Personal forms of God provide a journey of the soul back to Brahman C-ompanionship and solace T-eachings I-mpersonal: No personal qualities C-ompromises: Personal qualities compromise the greatness of Brahman who is beyond thought A-bstract: Formless, personality-less spirit. L-eft behind: Personal forms need to be left behind in order to reach enlightenment.
127
What is Brahman nirguna?
the impersonal form of God without attributes
128
How might Brahman nirguna be refferred to? | 5 things
'tat' - that it 'The Eternal' 'Sat chit ananda' - knowledge, conciousness, bliss AUM - the word/sound = a mantra that stands for Brahman
129
How is Brahman nirguna reffered to in the Upanishads?
'This in truth is That'
130
What is Brahman saguna?
Brahman with personal attributes. | A form that can be defined
131
What does Brahman saguna have that Brahman nirguna does not?
nama - name rupa - form character and story e.g. the Ramayana
132
Festival dedicated to sarasvati
Navarati
133
What's the origin of sarasvati
Brahma divided himself into two halves, male and female, fell in love with other half
134
Great things about Rama
- renowned for devotion to dharma even in the face of great adversity - considered perfect son/ husband / brother / king

Hinduism (3 decks)

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