Topic 2: Intro to Hinduism 2

Question 1

what are the Vedas?

Answer 1

the earliest set of scriptures divided into four collections

Question 2

what were the contents of the Vedas?

Answer 2

they contained hymns (meant to be sung to the Gods), asking for wishes to be granted

Question 3

what is cosmology?

Answer 3

how religions view the world, how it explains the world

Question 4

what is the most popular creation myth?

Answer 4

Vishnu and the Serpent

Question 5

why are there multiple creation myths?

Answer 5

1. because the world is cyclical
2. Hinduism clumps together make religions and traditions (including the stories)

Question 6

what is the story of the golden egg?

Answer 6

1. there was an egg that rose from the ocean, it floated for one year
2. the egg then split in half
3. the earth was born from one half, the Gods and the sky was born from the other

Question 7

what is the one thing that existed before anything else?

Answer 7

the ocean

Question 8

what common name is pyrite known by?

Answer 8

fools gold

Question 9

what is geomythology?

Answer 9

the study of how fossils inspire mythology

Question 10

what are Gaudhas? what is their role?

Answer 10

a creature of a human body with wings of a bird, it is a protector

Question 11

what is a Naga? what is their role?

Answer 11

a serpent, it is the guardian of treasures

Question 12

what is the meaning of “Asthipura”?

Answer 12

town of bones

Question 13

what are Ammonites?

Answer 13

sea creatures with a hard shell, they are connected with the sun disk of Vishnu

Question 14

what are Chakras?

Answer 14

energy centers within the body

Question 15

how di fossilized tusks influence myths?

Answer 15

fossilized elephant tusks inspired myths of war elephants that the giants rode on

Question 16

how are Ammonites connected to the Gods?

Answer 16

the river ammonites were placed on altars and given to the Gods as offerings

Question 17

what is the story of Vishnu and the Serpent?

Answer 17

1. Vishnu floating on a serpent on the ocean, umbilical cord rises from naval and Brahma is born
2. Brahma wonders “what should I do?”, and Vishnu tells him to create the world
3. Brahma meditates, and hears the “Om” sound from the ocean
4. from a lotus, he creates the heavens, Gods/sky, and the Earth

Question 18

what is the name of the serpent Vishnu was riding on?

Answer 18

Sesha

Question 19

who is Lakshmi?

Answer 19

the Goddess of Prosperity

Question 20

what happens to Brahma after he creates the world?

Answer 20

he gets lonely and splits into 2:

1. Brahma (male)
2. Saraswati (female)

Question 21

what is Brahma the God of?

Answer 21

he is the creator God

Question 22

what is Saraswati the Goddess of?

Answer 22

she is the Goddess of learning

Question 23

what is Vishnu the God of?

Answer 23

he is the God of light, he keeps the world going and sustains it

Question 24

what is the story of the Hymns of Purusha?

Answer 24

• Purusha is an ancient giant with 1000 hands, feet, and eyes
• the Gods decided to sacrifice him
• from each body part, creation was born

Question 25

how is Purusha related to the discovery of fossils?

Answer 25

the elephant thigh bone was found, and because it is similar to the human thigh bone they believed that giants once roamed the earth

Question 26

what are the origins of the word caste?

Answer 26

it is a Portuguese term that means breed or stock (of cattle)

Question 27

what is the meaning of the word caste?

Answer 27

birthright

Question 28

what castes came from Purusha's body parts?

Answer 28

mouth: Brahmin arms: Kshatriyas thighs: Vaishyas feet: Shudras

Question 29

how is a person's caste determined?

Answer 29

by their last name

Question 30

what is the difference between a Brahmin and a Pandit?

Answer 30

Brahmins are those who have the birthright to become a priest, Pandits are actual practicing priests

Question 31

what is the role of the Brahmin?

Answer 31

they are priests, role is to safeguard knowledge and the Vedas

Question 32

what are the roles of the Kshatriyas?

Answer 32

they are the warriors and rulers in society, they create/enforce laws, carry firearms, etc.

Question 33

what are the roles of the Vaishyas

Answer 33

they are the merchants, artisans, farmers, etc.

Question 34

what are the roles of the Shudras?

Answer 34

they are servants, role is to serve the upper 3 castes (described as darker skinned)

Question 35

which castes can study the scriptures?

Answer 35

only the upper three castes can even hear the Vedas

Question 36

what are Jatis?

Answer 36

each caste is further divided into Jatis (e.g. shoemakers -> Vaishyas)

Question 37

what are Dabbawalas?

Answer 37

men who deliver homemade lunches to people throughout Mumbai

Question 38

define casteism

Answer 38

discrimination against another person due to their caste, which is illegal today

Question 39

what are some examples of casteism seen in villages in India today?

Answer 39

1.not allowed to walk in slippers in higher caste areas 2. if a Harijan gets on a bus, everyone else will get off 3. they are not allowed to enter a house once it is built 4. remove slippers before entering restaurants

Question 40

what are untouchables/Dalits/Harijans?

Answer 40

they are ultimately outcastes, they don't fit in any of the castes and others view them as polluted

Question 41

what does Harijan mean?

Answer 41

children of God

Question 42

what does Dharma mean?

Answer 42

duty, way of living, rights

Question 43

what do the Laws of Manu say about castes?

Answer 43

that it is better to follow one's own dharma than another

Question 44

how is purity restored?

Answer 44

1. prayers 2. fire rituals 3. cleanse with water

Question 45

how does one become an untouchable?

Answer 45

through prolonged contact with bodily substances (e.g. a Shudra who's job it is to clean the sewers)

Question 46

how are the Laws of Manu related to open defecation?

Answer 46

if you need to use the washroom you have to do it as far away from the house as possible

Question 47

what is the most holy animal in India?

Answer 47

cows, every part of them is holy except for leather

Question 48

where did the term Harijan come from?

Answer 48

Gandhi proposed it when he decided to fight for the rights of untouchables

Question 49

how did Gandhi protest casteism?

Answer 49

he put on a white robe

Question 50

what happens to a caste when a woman marries?

Answer 50

her caste changes to the man's caste (changes with last name)

Question 51

what are the conditions when wanting to change your caste?

Answer 51

you have to put the name change in the newspapers for three months (to make them searchable)

Question 52

what does Sramana mean?

Answer 52

seeker, they don't accept the caste system and left society behind

Question 53

what are Sadhus?

Answer 53

extreme practices that deprive the body of basic needs to stand against society and casteism

Question 54

what are Yugas?

Answer 54

they represent the four cycles of time

Question 55

what is the Krita Yuga?

Answer 55

the world is born, good prevails over evil, long lifespans, (4 legs -> stable)

Question 56

what is the Kali Yuga?

Answer 56

very unfavourable, more evil than good, (1 leg -> very unstable)

Question 57

what happens after Kali Yuga (the final yuga)?

Answer 57

the world ends and there is a blackout period where only the ocean exists (creation begins again)

Question 58

what is the story of the Goddess Kali?

Answer 58

1. there was a battle between Gods and demons, the Gods were losing, so they decided to combine their powers and create Kali 2. she began cutting off their heads, but from their blood more demons spawned 3. she ends up killing both Gods and demons because she cant separate them, until Shiva comes and lays in front of her 4. it is when she steps on him that she can see the difference between good and evil again