Hinduism Cosmology: Explore the Granthas and Scriptures

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Questions and Answers

When were the Upanishads written?

Around 2000 B.C.

Before 1000 B.C.

After 1000 B.C. (correct)

Around 500 B.C.

What is the main purpose of the Brahmanas?

To offer detailed instructions for rituals and duties of priests (correct)

To compose and memorize Hindu scriptures

To provide a theoretical basis for rituals

To explain Hindu cosmology

What is the category of Hindu texts that includes the Vedas and Upanishads?

Shruti (correct)

Sutras

Smriti

Shastras

How were Hindu scriptures transmitted for many centuries?

Through verbal transmission from generation to generation Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the scripture that is part of the Mahabharata and is a popular later scripture?

Bhagavad-Gita Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Sutras?

To explain laws and ceremonies Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Agama' mean?

Tradition or that which has come down Signup and view all the answers

What is the main topic of the Prakarana Granthas?

Spiritual studies and introduction to philosophy Signup and view all the answers

How many names of each deity are mentioned in the Sahasranamams?

1008 Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the six systems of Indian philosophy?

Charvaka's Lokayata Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the classical text for the Hindu Yoga tradition?

Yoga Sutras Signup and view all the answers

When did Indian modernists reassert the 'Aryan origins' of Hinduism?

19th century Signup and view all the answers

Which god is associated with death and sends signs of old age, sickness, and approaching mortality?

Yama Signup and view all the answers

What is the script used to write Vedas on palm leaf manuscripts?

Tamil Grantha Signup and view all the answers

Which hymn describes the universe as emerging from the sacrifice of a cosmic man?

Rig Veda Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the Lord of creatures in Hindu mythology?

Prajapati Signup and view all the answers

How does Hinduism tend to view the different visions of the origin of the universe?

As different facets of a single truth Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a vision of the highest reality in the Vedic accounts?

A cosmic woman Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Upanishads in the context of psychology?

They provide a philosophical framework for understanding human nature and psychological phenomena Signup and view all the answers

How many major Upanishads are there, according to the text?

12 Signup and view all the answers

Which Upanishads are classified under the early Upanishadic period?

Brhadaranyka, Chandogya, Is'a, Kena, Mandukya, Aitereya, Taittiriya, and Kausitiki Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'Annamaya' sheath in the ancient Indian model of personality?

The food sheath Signup and view all the answers

Which Upanishads are significant in contemporary psychology in the context of studies on consciousness and personality?

Mandukya and Taittiriya Signup and view all the answers

What is the focus of the core themes in the ancient philosophical tradition, according to Kalpana Srivastava?

The self, soul, human nature, human existence, and human experience Signup and view all the answers

What is the symbolic meaning of the story of Rama and Sita?

The struggle between good and evil Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated number of couplets in the Ramayana?

24,000 Signup and view all the answers

Who helped Prince Rama in rescuing Sita from Ravana?

The Monkey God, Hanuman Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the collection of texts that includes the Ramayana and Mahabharata?

Smriti Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate time period during which the Ramayana and Mahabharata were written?

200 B.C. – A.D. 200 Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the Ramayana and Mahabharata in Indian art?

They are a rich source for art Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Yama, the god of death, sends signs of old age, sickness, and mortality to encourage moral living.
Surya is the sun god, Chandra is the moon god, Vayu is the wind god, and Usha is the dawn goddess.

Vedic Accounts of the Universe

The universe originated from an impersonal force manifested as male and female principles.
Some hymns describe a personal creator, Prajapati, the Lord of creatures, who created the heavens, earth, and other gods.
Another hymn describes the universe emerging from the sacrifice of a cosmic man (purusha), who was the source of all things.

Upanishads

The Upanishads are a storehouse of psychological material, explaining the nature of the mind, its functions, and various psychological phenomena.
There are 12 major Upanishads, divided into three groups, representing different stages of thought development.
The Upanishads describe the ancient Indian model of "Personality" consisting of five sheaths: Annamaya, Pranamaya, Manomaya, Vijnanamaya, and Anandamaya.

Hindu Scriptures

The Vedas and Upanishads are the most widely accepted sacred texts in India.
The Bhagavad-Gita from the Mahabharata is a popular later scripture.
Hindu scriptures were composed, memorized, and transmitted verbally before being written down.

Organization and Categorization of Hindu Texts

Hindu sacred texts are divided into Shruti ("What Is Heard") and Smriti ("What Is Remembered").
The Sruti includes the Vedas and Upanishads, considered divinely inspired, while the Smriti includes the Mahabharata and Ramayana, derived from great sages.
The Agama texts cover topics such as philosophical doctrines, cosmology, and epistemology.

Systems of Indian Philosophy

There are six systems of Indian philosophy, or astika schools, which recognize the authority of the Vedas.
These systems are: Jaimini's Purva Mimansa, Patanjali's Yoga, Gautama's Nyaya, Kanada's Vaisheshika, Vyasa's Vedanta, and Kapila's Sankhya.

Epics and Stories

The Ramayana and Mahabharata are two great epics that tell stories of good overcoming evil and are a rich source for art.
These epics are believed to have been written between 200 B.C. and A.D. 200 and contain laws and regulations regarding caste, eating, idolatry, and superstitions.

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Description

Explore the sacred texts of Hinduism, including the Vedas and Upanishads, and learn about their significance in Hindu cosmology. Discover the importance of the Bhagavad-Gita and the Brahmanas in Hindu scripture. Test your knowledge of these ancient texts!

Hindu Scriptures and Cosmology

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