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Questions and Answers
Which deity is known as the creator in Hinduism?
What is the primary ritual of Bhakti worship as practiced by the Hare Krishnas?
What is the significance of food offerings in Puja?
Which deity is associated with destruction in Hinduism?
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What does 'Darshana' refer to in the context of Puja?
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Which feminine principle is associated with the active aspect of deities?
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Which sect focuses on the worship of Vishnu?
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Where does Brahma, the creator god, emerge from according to Hindu belief?
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What is one significant outcome of the interaction between the Nomadic Aryans and the Dravidians?
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Which of the following is NOT a part of the Vedas?
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Which deity is primarily associated with fire in the early Vedic tradition?
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What does the term 'Henotheistic' refer to in the context of Hinduism?
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In what way is the Vedic sacrifice characterized?
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Which scripture or texts are typically associated with the philosophical aspects of Vedic thought?
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What is a characteristic feature of the caste system that emerged during the Vedic period?
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What aspect of Soma makes it significant in Vedic rituals?
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Which goddess is depicted with a lion as her mount and embodies a feminine conception of Absolute Divinity?
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What is the primary attribute of Lakshmi as the Goddess of Fortune?
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In which festival do devotees particularly worship Lakshmi, inviting her into their homes?
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Kali is often adorned with which of the following symbols that reflects her intimidating nature?
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What concept does Tantra highlight in relation to goddess worship in the Shaivite traditions?
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Who is considered the 8th avatar of Vishnu?
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Which event is associated with the festival of Holi?
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What is the primary characteristic of Hanuman in relation to Rama?
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Which masculine attribute is distinctly emphasized in Shaktism?
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What do all goddesses in Hinduism represent according to the content?
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What is the significance of the Kalki avatar?
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What role does Shakti play in Hindu cosmology?
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In the epic Ramayana, what is Rama's primary quest?
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What role does Ganesha play in Hinduism?
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Which of the following avatars of Vishnu is known for slaying a demon that could not be killed by a man or a beast?
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Which of the following avatars of Vishnu is associated with the Ramayana epic?
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What does Vishnu primarily preserve in Hindu cosmology?
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Which avatar of Vishnu is famous for playing the flute?
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What was the significance of the tortoise avatara of Vishnu during the churning of the Sea of Milk?
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Who are the divine parents of Ganesha?
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In which form did Vishnu take the avatar known as the tortoise?
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Study Notes
Hinduism Origins
- Founded in India
- Mixed traditions: Dravidian, Aryan, and Indigenous tribes
- Indus Valley Civilization dated 3300 - 1900 BCE
- Vedic Period c. 1500 - 500 BCE
- Major religions of India and Nepal
- Spreads South through India, East through Asia
- 15% of the world's population
- Class / Caste system: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra, Dalit
Key Terms
- Harrapan / Indus Valley
- Mohenjo Daro
- Aryan
- Dravidian
- Vedas
- Sanskrit
- Proto-Shiva
- Caste System
Hinduism
- Diverse traditions
- Henotheistic: multiple deities
- One deity is primary when worshiped
- Vedas: Four sets of scriptures, each with four parts
- Emphasis on ritual of different kinds: offerings, prayers, devotional acts
- Karma à Samsara à Moksha (B.Nirvana)
Vedas
- Four collections of hymns (Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva)
- Hymns about various deities: Agni, Indra, etc
- Brahmanas: sacrificial ritual performance
- Aranyakas: meditative visualizations
- Upanishads: philosophical speculation
Vedic Sacrifice
- Ritual exactitude
- A "science"
- Compels gods to respond
- Reciprocal relationship
- Yajna nourished gods, who in turn maintained cosmic stability
Vedic Deities
- Agni: God of fire, transports sacrifices to other gods, a messenger
- Indra: God of thunder
Vedic Sacrifice by Brahmins
- Depends on ritual exactitude
- A “science”
- Would compel the gods to respond
- A reciprocal relationship
- Yajna nourished the gods, who in turn maintained cosmic stability
Soma
- Hallucinogenic properties
- Sacred for its ability to elicit visions
Bhakti
- Suggests helplessness, deities are not obligated to respond
- Hare Krishnas: Western wing of a bhakti-oriented Hindu group
- Public dancing and chanting of Krishna’s name
Puja
- At home or in a temple
- Offerings: flowers, incense, a flame, food, prayer
- Food offerings are regarded as blessed
- Darshana: going for an audience with a deity
Brahma (n)
- Cosmic principle, personified as Brahma
- One of three cosmic deities: Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (Preserver), Shiva (Destroyer)
- Each has a Shakti: feminine principle
Brahma: Creator
- Associated with distraction of the mind
- Few temples
Sarasvati
- Consort of Brahma
- Holds manuscripts, prayer beads and lotus (purity)
Brahma
- Creator emerges from Vishnu
Hindu Sects
- Shaktism / Tantra: To Goddess
- Vaisnavism: To Vishnu
- Saivism: To Shiva
Shiva
- The World Ender
- Important as a destructive force
Shiva: Offerings
- Linga: Phallic symbol representing Shiva
- Yoni: Female genital symbol representing Shakti
Ganesha
- Elephant-headed god, one of the most popular gods in Hinduism
- Removes obstacles of all kinds, from the commonplace to the religious
- Son of Shiva and Parvati
Vishnu
- Preserves cosmic balance
- Many avatars, including Rama and Krishna
Vishnu Avatara
- Tortoise: Back used as a pivot when gods churned the Sea of Milk for Elixir of Immortality
- Man-Lion: Slew a demon that could not be killed by man or beast
- Rama: Slew demon Ravana, who had abducted Rama's wife Sita
- Krishna: Beloved avatara, flute-playing cowherd, kingly advisor in the Bhagavad Gita
- Balarama or Buddha: Some texts list Balarama (Slaying brother) or Buddha as the ninth avatara
- Kalki: Heroic figure on white horse to usher in new cycle
Krishna
- 8th Vishnu Avatar
- Irresistible flute-playing cowherd, charms village milkmaids (gopi)
- Hero in the epic Mahabharata who counsels Arjuna
Holi
- Feb-March
- Defeat of demoness Holika, coming of Spring
- Krishna, Radha, and Gopis playing Holi
Rama
- 7th Vishnu Avatar
- Warrior, hero in the epic Ramayana
- Wife Sita is taken, Rama journeys to save her with the aid of Hanuman
Hanuman
- Best known as the ideal devotee, for loyalty to Rama
Consorts and Goddesses
- Hinduism emphasizes strength of both male and female power
- Gods often have consorts – goddesses that support and empower them
- Goddesses take on numerous traits, such as Kali (Fearsome), Lakshmi (Auspiciousness)
- Yoni paired with linga
- Tantric Hinduism focuses on various forms of the Goddess
Durga
- The Great Goddess: Shakti, the power which animates the cosmos
- Also called Shakti, Mahadevi (Great Goddess), or Ma (Mother)
- Has a lion as her mount
- Has many arms that carry the weapons of the male gods
- Feminine conception of Absolute Divinity (without a spouse)
- Defeats a Buffalo Demon
Parvati
- Mountain Goddess
- Beautiful spouse of Shiva
- Symbolically present in the yoni stones
Lakshmi
- Goddess of Fortune
- Often depicted seated on a lotus flower
- May hold lotuses, grants wealth and boons
- Worshipped on Divali
- Consort of Vishnu
Divali
- Late Autumn, begins New Year for many
- Lamps invite Lakshmi into homes
- Most Hindus live in India, Hindu communities exist in most nations
Kali
- Terrifying goddess
- Often shown upon Shiva’s supine (laying on back) body
- Decorated with a garland of skulls
- Carries a cleaver and a severed head
- Represents Time and the power of destruction
Tantra
- Related to the worship of Durga / Kali etc
- Centers on inseparability of Shiva and Shakti
- Body is a microcosm of the universe
- Control of the body can then unite spiritual forces to unite Shiva (passive intelligence) and Shakti (active creative energy)
- Mandala, Mudra, Mantra
- Siddhi
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Description
Explore the foundational aspects of Hinduism, including its diverse traditions and key historical periods such as the Indus Valley Civilization and the Vedic Period. This quiz covers important concepts like the caste system, the nature of deities, and the role of the Vedas in Hindu practices. Dive into the beliefs and texts that shaped one of the world's major religions.
