Chapter 2 Inquizitive: Hinduism practice

Which of the following were positions on Hindu beliefs and practices endorsed by Dayanand Sarasvati and the Arya Samaj?

*Arranged marriage, child brides, and widows burning are a corruption of true Hinduism *Hindus should move away from the epics and Puranas and go "back to the Vedas" *Practices such as pilgrimages, idol worhip, and temple offerings are superstitious corruptions of true Hindusim

Select positions on Hindu beliefs and practices endorsed by Ram Mohan Roy and the Brahmo Samaj.

*Designating Dalits as "untouchables" is undemocratic *Polytheism, idol worship, karma, and reincarnation are superstitions *Revelation cannot be supported by reason, including the Vedas *The Hindu epics are merely myths

From 1959 through the 1980s, a number of Hindu leaders gained notoriety in the United States as gurus (spiritual teachers). Who of the following were gurus active in America during this period?

*Maharishi Mahesh Yogi *A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada *Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

According to classical Hinduism, which of the following are among the four aims of life?

*moksha (freedom) *artha (wealth and power) *kama (pleasure) *dharma (righteousness)

The Indus Valley civilization vanished by 1500 BCE. The so-called "Aryan invasion thesis" theorizes that Northern Europeans invaded northern India from the west, destroying the Indus Valley civilization, and that traces of Aryan culture survive in modern Hinduism. Which of the following are objections, nuances, or variations to the Aryan invasion thesis?

*some indians argue that the "Aryans" came from the Indian subcontinent, not Europe *Some Indians claim that Sanskrit is the mother of European Languages *There is no evidence that the Aryans were invaders. They might have migrated peacefully or arrived as traders

Hinduism is an ancient religion and its focus has shifted over time. Arrange the ideas about what is "important" about Hinduism in chronological order from most ancient to most modern.

1. Hinduism is about fire sacrifices and ritual. 2. hinduism is about seeking the wisdom to overcome samsara 3.hinduism is about connecting with a god through powerful devotion (bhakti) 4. Hinduism is about the nation of India and being patriotic Indian

Order the events below from furthest in the past to the most recent.

1. The Indus Valley civilization flourished 2. the Rig Veda, the oldest of the four Vedas, is composed 3. The Early Upanishads are composed 4. The Bhagavad Gita is composed

Which text is most important for the emergence of bhakti (devotional) Hinduism?

Bhagavad Gita

_________ is one of the most popular Hindu holidays and is also celebrated by Jains, Sikhs, and some Buddhists. In North India, it commemorates Rama and Sita's return from defeating the demon king Ravana. In South India, it commemorates Krishna's defeat of a demon king. Celebrations typically involve lights and fireworks.

Divali

Since its founding in or before 800 BCE, Varanasi has been independently governed by Hindus and even today its sacred spaces and places of worship are exclusively Hindu.

False

The Vedas have been found written on stone tablets dating back to 1500 BCE.

False they are ancient texts passed on by oral tradition, and not written down until the ninth centruy

is often depicted near doorways and thresholds and is known as the remover of obstacles.

Ganesha

Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra are all names of

Hindu Castes

The view that only those who view India as both fatherland and holy land are true citizens of India is consistent with the ideas of which of the following?

Hindutva

What Hindu holiday have these boys been celebrating? (powders on childrens face)

Holi

Order the countries below from the country with the highest number of Hindus to the country with the lowest number of Hindus.

India, Nepal, Indonesia, The US

______, the warrior god, and ________,the fire god, are two deities featured prominently in the Vedas.

Indra, Agni

______ is a powerful ________ employed at the beginning and ending of many Hindu ceremonies and rituals. It is also written with honey on newborn's lips or tongue during a birth ceremony.

Om, Mantra

Amas is a Hindu whose spiritual path involves awakening shakti energy in the base of his spine and directing it through invisible energy centers in his body known as chakras to the top of his skull. Amas talks a lot about overcoming duality, including the duality of male and female, in order to realize his unity with the divine. What tradition does Amas most likely practice?

Tantra

Why was 1965 an important year for Hinduism in America?

The Hart-Cellar Act was passed, opening the doors to Indian immigration

Hindus think of the ancient city of ______ as a tirtha, or "crossing place," from life to death and from death to spiritual liberation. According to many Hindus, if you die in this city, Shiva will whisper into your ear the mantra of the crossing, enabling you to achieve moksha, or release from rebirth and suffering.

Varanasi

Why was Swami Vivekananda ideally suited to represent Hinduism at the 1893 World's Parliament of Religions in Chicago?

Vivekananda emphasized that Hinduism was reasonable and compatible with modern science

Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of ethics and nonviolence drew from multiple religious influences, including the Jain concept of _______ , daily readings of the _______ , and even the Christian gospels.

ahimsa, Bhagavad Gita

Keya's religious tradition involves cultivating intense love for her chosen god (ishtadevata), whom she describes as her spiritual husband. Her spiritual practices include songs of praise, chanting, and ecstatic dancing. Which path (marga) is Keya most likely following?

bhakti

In Vedanta philosophy ______ refers to the divine principle and ______refers to the individual self-soul that migrates from life to life. Advaita Vedanta teaches that these two are actually one and the same, while Dvaita Vedanta teaches that they are distinct.

brahman, atman

What type of event is depicted in this clip? (lantern floating in water)

cremation

While visiting family in India, Madhuri has planned a trip to see a famous statue of one of her favorite gods. For Madhuri, this is more than tourism: looking into the eyes of the statue is an intimate connection with a god. What Hindu tradition is Madhuri participating in?

darshan

Hindus have been content to think of theirs as a religion of a people rather than the religion of all people. For that reason, it has typically been classified as a[n] __________ religion (like Judaism and Navajo religion) rather than a ___________ religion (like Buddhism and Islam).

ethnic, missionary

Which of the following elements is most central to the hymns and rituals described in the Vedas?

fire sacrifice

Karn is a Hindu whose spiritual path involves renouncing the world. Karn has quit his job and lives as a sannyasin so that he can focus entirely on attaining moksha. He studies the Upanishads and hopes to escape samsara by fully realizing that atman is one with brahman. Which path does Karn most likely practice?

jnana

Pia is a Hindu who believes her tradition calls her to ethical and political engagement. She is inspired by Gandhi and she reads the Bhagavad Gita regularly. She interprets the yogic idea of acting without desire for results as a commandment to act through nonviolence. Which path does Pia most likely practice?

karma

A column of light, a pillar of ice, or a phallic-shaped stone can all be examples of what Hindu sacred object?

lingam

Some Hindus insist that Hinduism is ______ and that to describe it otherwise is racist. Others insist that Hinduism is _______ and that to describe it otherwise is to spout colonialist lies. Still others claim that both of these arguments fall prey to _______ by assuming that Hinduism is one unchanging thing.

monotheistic, polytheistic, essentialism

Devraj keeps a small shrine in his home. With his family, he lights a lamp and makes offerings of fruit, flowers, or even water to small statues of Hindu gods. What Hindu tradition are Devraj and his family participating in?

puja

For most Hindus, the ultimate problem is _______ and the ultimate goal is ___________

samsara, moksha

Which text describes a great war between the Pandavas and their cousins, the Kauravas?

the Mahabharata

Which of the following Hindu texts is the most ancient?

the Vedas

In 1992, Hindu mobs destroyed a 450-year-old mosque in northern India. Thousands were killed in the ensuing violence. What larger pattern in Hinduism was this event related to?

the emergence of Hindu nationalism as a religious force