The Hindu Concept Of God Flashcards
(18 cards)
What is Vishnu associated with and how he is depicted?
Associated with primeval waters and is often depicted reposing on a lotus or upon the coils of the serpent Shesha.
Members of the Trimurti
Brahma-creator
Vishnu-preserver
Shiva-destroyer and regenerator
Another name for Vishnu?
Narayana: the ever-present all-pervading.
What is the purpose of Vishnu’s avatars or ‘descents’?
To save humankind from natural disasters or cruel tyrants.
How many avatars is Vishnu said to have and where is this mentioned?
22 in the Bhagavata Purana.
What are the 4 things Vishnu holds?
Padma-lotus-beauty, prosperity and fertility
Gada-mace-strength
Shankha-conch-Om sound, creation
Chakra-discuss-ultimate destruction
What is Vishnu’s vahana?
Garuda the eagle.
What is the practise of panchayatana-puja?
Involves worshipping 5 deities-Surya, Shiva, Vishnu, Parvati, Ganesha.
Meaning of istadevata?
Chosen deity.
Meaning of bhakti?
Loving devotion.
Importance of iconographical representation?
- designed to help the worshipper understand a given deity
- the symbolism is carefully devised and is repeated from generation to generation in order to help worshippers draw closer to the divine
- fantastical imagery
Meaning of many arms?
- showing God can do many things at once
- to portray superhuman power
Why are they presented as attractive?
To inspire worship and to be ideal beings.
Ceremony to install murtis?
Prana pratishta, where the breath/energy of the deity is breathed into the murti. Thus the deity is considered to be present within (although not confined to) the image.
How do the roles of the trimurti fit with other understandings?
Creation, preservation and destruction fits perfectly with the underlying Hindu vision of time as cyclic: death is rarely the end, merely an opportunity for it to return to life in a new form and hopefully move closer to liberation.
Description of Brahma and meanings:
- 4 heads-each of which faces one of the cardinal directions
- 4 arms-believed that the caste system or the 4 varnas came from them
- sits on a lotus flower in yoga position-the lotus is a beautiful flower that grows from slime at the bottom of ponds-the spiritual beauty that may grow from human nature
- whie beard-shows his sage like experience
Who is Brahma’s consort?
Saraswati
What does Brahma hold?
- the Vedas: symbolising the religious knowledge that enables him to create
- a water pot (kamandalu): used to wash before meditation, symbolising all creation emanating from him
- mala (string of 108 beads): symbolising time
- a ladle: symbolising means to feed sacrificial fire,
