Unit 3

Question 1

Worship with light, involving the waving of a lamp in front of the deity.

Answer 1

arati (aah-ra-tee; Sanskrit)

Question 2

The eternal self or soul that is successively reincarnated until released from samsara through moksha.

Answer 2

atman (aat-mun; Sanskrit)

Question 3

The path of devotion.

Answer 3

bhakti marga (bhah-k-tee; Sanskrit)

Question 4

For monistic Hinduism, the supreme, unitary reality, the ground of all Being; for dualisitic Hinduism, can refer to the supreme God (ex: Vishnu)

Answer 4

Brahman (braah-mun; Sanskrit, “expansive”)

Question 5

A member of the priestly class of the varna or caste system.

Answer 5

brahmin (braah-mun; Sanskrit)

Question 6

Self-designation of people who had traditionally been classified as untouchables or outcastes.

Answer 6

dalit (daah-lit; Sanskrit, “oppressed”; Marathi, “broken”)

Question 7

Worship through simultaneously seeing and being seen by a deity in the presence of its image.

Answer 7

darshan (dur-shaan; Sanskrit, “to see”)

Question 8

Duty, righteousness, “religion”; basis for living in a way that upholds the cosmic and social order.

Answer 8

dharma (dhur-ma; Sanskrit)

Question 9

A modern term that encompasses the ideology of Hindu nationalism.

Answer 9

hindutva (hin-doot-vah; Sanskrit, “Hindu-ness”)

Question 10

One of thousands of endogamous groups or subcastes, each equal in social and ritual status.

Answer 10

jati (jaah-tee; Sanskrit, “birth group”)

Question 11

The path of knowledge.

Answer 11

jnana marga (nyah-nah mar-guh)

Question 12

Action; also the consequences of action.

Answer 12

karma (kur-mah; Sanskrit, “action”)

Question 13

The path of ethical and ritual works, or “action.”

Answer 13

karma marga (kur-mah mar-guh)

Question 14

A member of the warrior and administrator class of the varna or caste system.

Answer 14

kshatriya (kshut-ree-yuh; Sanskrit)

Question 15

A ritual formula recited to produce a spiritual effect.

Answer 15

mantra (mun-trah; Sanskrit)

Question 16

In the Vedas, the magical power of the gods used to create this world; in Vedanta philosophy, illusion that veils the mind.

Answer 16

maya (my-yah; Sanskrit, “magic” or “illusion”)

Question 17

Liberation, the final release from samsara.

Answer 17

moksha (mohk-shah; Sanskrit, “release”)

Question 18

The primordial sound through which the universe is manisfested.

Answer 18

OM (oh-m; from three Sanskrit letters: A-U-M)

Question 19

Generally, worship; usually the offering before an image of the deity of fruit, incense, or flowers.

Answer 19

puja (poo-jah; Sanskrit, “worship”)

Question 20

A compendium of myth, usually with a sectarian emphasis.

Answer 20

Purana (pooh-raa-nah; Sanskrit, “ancient”)

Question 21

The continuing cycle of birth, death, and rebirth; also the this-worldly realm in which the cycle occurs.

Answer 21

samsara (sum-saah-rah; Sanskrit)

Question 22

Renouncer in the fourth stage (ashrama) of life.

Answer 22

sannyasi (sun-nyaah-see; Sanskrit)

Question 23

A devotee of Shiva.

Answer 23

Shaiva (shay-vah; Sanskrit)

Question 24

A devotee of the Great Goddess, Devi.

Answer 24

Shakta (shah-k-tah; Sanskrit)

Question 25

Term denoting the category of Vedic literature accepted by orthodox Hindus as revealed truth.

Answer 25

shruti (shroo-tee; Sanskrit, "that which is heard")

Question 26

A member of the servant class of the varna or caste system.

Answer 26

shudra (shoo-druh; Sanskrit)

Question 27

Term denoting the vast category of Hindu sacred texts that is not Shruti.

Answer 27

smriti (smree-tee; Sanskrit, "tradition")

Question 28

System of ideas and practices that potentiates sudden liberation from samsara; also a form of sacred text detailing the ideas and practices.

Answer 28

Tantra (tahn-truh; Sanskrit, "loom")

Question 29

A philosophical text from the later period of Vedic literature, also called Vedanta ("end of Vedas")

Answer 29

Upanishad (ooh-pah-nee-shud; Sanskrit, "sitting down near [a teacher]")

Question 30

A devotee of Vishnu and his avatars.

Answer 30

Vaishnava (vie-sh-na-vah; Sanskrit)

Question 31

A member of the producer (farmer and merchant) class of the varna or caste system.

Answer 31

Vaishya (vie-sh-yuh; Sanskrit)

Question 32

Caste of class; the four main classes form the basis of the traditional hierarchical organization of Hindu society.

Answer 32

varna (vaar-nah; Sanskrit, "color")

Question 33

Synonym for Upanishads; prominent Hindu philosophical school.

Answer 33

Vedanta (veh-daan-tah; Sanskrit, "end of the vedas")

Question 34

Broadly, all Vedic literature; narrowly, four ancient collections (samhitas) of hymns and other religious material.

Answer 34

Vedas (veh-duh; from Sanskrit veda, "knowledge")

Question 35

Generally, uniting of the self with God; sometimes used as an alternative to marga when referring to the three main paths to liberation; also (normally capitalized) one of the six philosophical schools, focusing on moral, physical, and spiritual practices leading to liberation.

Answer 35

yoga (yoh-gah; Sanskrit, "yoking" or "uniting")

Question 36

A "descent" of God (usually Vishnu) to earth in a physical form with the specific goal of aiding the world.

Answer 36

avatar (ah-vah-taahr; from Sanskrit avatara)