Chapter 5.1

Smrti

was another body of literature that was found to be more appealing

Shruti

canon of Hindu Scripture, it is from a word that means "what is heard"

samsara

"to flow together", a belief in the ongoing migration between life and death and new life

Looking at the Indus Valley period, what was found in the archaeological finds that date back to that time, and what did these finds show?

-Collection of cities, many which contained a large public bath in the middle of the city(it suggest the value of purity) -Female figurines( depicts characteristics of fertility and regeneration) -Seals showing male animals( man sitting in meditative position, precursor of th Hindu god Shiva -few weapons found(peaceful civilization)

What are the "two great epics"?

-The Mahabharata- includes the Bhagavad Gita -Ramayana- deals with the struggle between good and evil

What are the events that happened during the Modern Period?

16th century:Christian missionaries who came to India 18th century:British defeated the Muslim rulers of India and set up India as a colony of Britain 20th century:Muslims broke away from India and established Pakistan as a separate Muslim country

In what period was Hindu recognized as a religion and temples were established?

Classical Period

Gurus

From Sanskrit for "teacher," Hindu teachers and guides in philosophical and spiritual matters

What do Hindus think about God? What do they encourage their believers in regard to God?

God is unknowable. Encourages believers to imagine a god that is best for them,even if it comes from another religion.

Brahmin

Hindu priests. Also the highest social class in the Hindu caste system

How was the tradition of the Hindus originally passed down? Who was able to do this? Why was it done like this?

Oral tradition by their Priest. They believed the spoken word had the power for both good and evil and only the priests were to be custodians of that power.

Where do most Hindus live?

India

Brahmanas

commentaries of more complex rituals

What is the most important part of the Vedas? What does it consist of?

Rig Veda-consist of 1028 hymns praising the gods of the Aryan tribes who invaded India from the northwest around 2000 BCE.

What word does Hindu come from? What does that word mean?

Sanskrit word "Sindhu" meaning "river"(Indus River)

How did Muslims treat the Hindus?

Some Muslim rulers were tolerant of Hinduism while others destroyed Hindu temples and statues

Who brought transcendental meditation to the world's attention?

The Beatles

In what period did Muslims spread into India?

The Hindu-Muslim Period

What did Sri Ramakarishna teach?

The belief that all religions are paths to God.

What do most Hindus identify themselves with?

The caste they belong to,their family heritage, their town or village of origin, philosophical school they adhere to, or what rituals they practice.

What did Gandhi advocate for?

The equality of all religions

What were two prominent contributions of Aryans to Hinduism?

Their language and their scriptures

What happened with Brahmins during the Brahmanical Period?

Various schools of Brahmins began to specialize in certain types of sacrifice

What are some of the factors that led to Hinduism?

Vedic religion of the Indo-Aryans -Brahminical sacrificial rituals called bhakti(devotion)

Sikhism

a synthesis of Hinduism and Islam

Sanskrit

ancient language of India that is the language of Hinduism and the Vedas. Derived from a word that means "perfected"

Vedas

ancient scriptures that are the foundation of Hinduism. Composed in Sanskrit.

Karma

based on belief of reincarnation, the Hindu and Buddhist belief that the form the soul will take in the next life is determined by its behavior in life.

Bhakti

devotional way of achieving liberation from the cycle of death and rebirth, emphasizing the loving faith of a devotee for the gods

mantra

sacred verbal formula that is repeated in prayer or meditation.

caste system

social class system that is prevalent in Hindu India

transcendental meditation

technique derived from Hinduism that promotes deep relaxation through recitation of mantra