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Intro to Hinduism Exam 2
Exam 2 Vocab
111
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 3
11/11/2014

Additional Religious Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Samskara - what is it and examples
Definition
Rituals that mark one's progress through life. Rites of perfection.

Examples:
- Upanayana - wearing of the sacred thread
- Garbhadhana - moment of conception
- Jatakarman - birth
- Namakarana - naming of child
Term
Upanayana
Definition
Wearing of the thread ceremony. One of the most important Samskara. Marks moment of "rebirth" from boyhood to manhood.
Term
Ashrama
Definition
The four stages of life for a man: student, householder, forest dweller, renouncer (samnyasin)
Term
Varna
Definition
Social categories (castes). There are four: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriya (warriors/kings/advisors), Vaishya (merchants/craftsmen/workers), shudra (servants).
Term
4 Goals of Life (Purusarthas)
Definition
The 4 goals of life are the blueprint for human fulfillment depending on one's stage (Ashrama). 4 of them: Kama (love for wife, family), Artha (wealth), Dharma (morality), Moksha (giving up of desire).
Term
grihyasutra
Definition
Sutras (manuals) for performing domestic (grihya) religious rituals. Specifically, describes the samskaras.
Term
Dharmasutra
Definition
Manuals (sutras) containing clear explanations of dharma.
Term
Apastamba
Definition
Distinguished Brahmin family that memorized parts of the Shautra Sutras (manuals for vedic rituals): the Apastamba Shulbasutra.
Term
Gautama
Definition
Important Brahminic family. Memorized important Dharma sutra texts. Siddhartha Gautama = Buddha after meditating under a Bodhi tree.
Term
Dharmashastra
Definition
Law books that elaborated on the Dharma sutras, developed the science of Dharma. Also called Smritis. Most famous = Manu Smriti = Laws of Manu.
Term
Manu
Definition
Most important/famous Dharma shastra/Smriti. Orders sources of the law to resolve moral dilemmas. All law comes from the Vedas.
Term
sva-dharma
Definition
one's own dharma, personal rules, based on one's varna and ashrama
Term
sadharana dharma
Definition
general/universal moral rules. there are only a few of these, like don't sleep w/ your guru's wife or dishonor parents or harm a cow.
Term
Mahabharata
Definition
very expansive epic about the conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Part of it is the Bhagavad Gita.
Term
Pandavas
Definition
The "good" family in the Mahabharata. Patriarch = Pandu. Cheated out of the throne by the Kauravas. Sentenced to exile for 14 years, return and the Kauravas don't uphold their end of the bargain. Said to be born of the gods. Chief warrior and 3rd son is Arjuna of the BG.
Term
Kauravas
Definition
The "bad" family of the Mahabharata. Patriarch = Dhritarashtra. Said to be born of the asuras. Cheated Pandavas out of the throne.
Term
Yudhishthira
Definition
Oldest Pandava. Rightful heir to the throne. Loses it in a game of dice. Sentenced to exile for 14 years with his brothers.
Term
Arjuna
Definition
3rd Pandava brother. The warrior. Has moral dilemma on the battlefield. His charioteer is Krishna Vasudeva.
Term
Draupadi
Definition
The shared wife of the 5 Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata.
Term
Krishna Vasudeva
Definition
Arjuna's charioteer in the BG. Must convince Arjuna to fight when he faces a moral dilemma in battle. His response is the 3 yogas - jnana, karma, and bhakti.
Term
Dhritarashtra
Definition
The patriarch of the Kauravas in the Mahabharata. Was blind.
Term
Ramayana
Definition
Most significant piece of Hindu culture. Follows the story of Rama and Sita. Has 3 main "layers" - conflict over the throne, dharma, and theologial.
Term
Rama
Definition
Son of King Dasaratha and incarnation of Vishnu. Husband to Sita. Defeats Ravana.
Term
Sita
Definition
Wife of Rama. Is not very smart but is extraordinarily beautiful.
Term
Lakshmana
Definition
Brother of Rama and accompanies him in his travels. Mutilates Soorpanaka.
Term
Ravana
Definition
Demon king, protected by Shiva. Kidnaps Sita b/c he's in love with her. Brother of Soorpanaka. Defeated by Rama.
Term
Soorpanaka
Definition
Sister to Ravana. Attempts to seduce Rama as a beautiful woman.
Term
Dasaratha
Definition
King. Has moral dilemma b/w promise to wife and obligation to Rama. This = center of the narrative.
Term
Dharmasutra
Definition
Manuals (sutras) containing clear explanations of dharma.
Term
Apastamba
Definition
Distinguished Brahmin family that memorized parts of the Shautra Sutras (manuals for vedic rituals): the Apastamba Shulbasutra.
Term
Gautama
Definition
Important Brahminic family. Memorized important Dharma sutra texts. Siddhartha Gautama = Buddha after meditating under a Bodhi tree.
Term
Dharmashastra
Definition
Law books that elaborated on the Dharma sutras, developed the science of Dharma. Also called Smritis. Most famous = Manu Smriti = Laws of Manu.
Term
Manu
Definition
Most important/famous Dharma shastra/Smriti. Orders sources of the law to resolve moral dilemmas. All law comes from the Vedas.
Term
sva-dharma
Definition
one's own dharma, personal rules, based on one's varna and ashrama
Term
sadharana dharma
Definition
general/universal moral rules. there are only a few of these, like don't sleep w/ your guru's wife or dishonor parents or harm a cow.
Term
Mahabharata
Definition
very expansive epic about the conflict between the Pandavas and Kauravas. Part of it is the Bhagavad Gita.
Term
Pandavas
Definition
The "good" family in the Mahabharata. Patriarch = Pandu. Cheated out of the throne by the Kauravas. Sentenced to exile for 14 years, return and the Kauravas don't uphold their end of the bargain. Said to be born of the gods. Chief warrior and 3rd son is Arjuna of the BG.
Term
Kauravas
Definition
The "bad" family of the Mahabharata. Patriarch = Dhritarashtra. Said to be born of the asuras. Cheated Pandavas out of the throne.
Term
Yudhishthira
Definition
Oldest Pandava. Rightful heir to the throne. Loses it in a game of dice. Sentenced to exile for 14 years with his brothers.
Term
Arjuna
Definition
3rd Pandava brother. The warrior. Has moral dilemma on the battlefield. His charioteer is Krishna Vasudeva.
Term
Draupadi
Definition
The shared wife of the 5 Pandava brothers in the Mahabharata.
Term
Krishna Vasudeva
Definition
Arjuna's charioteer in the BG. Must convince Arjuna to fight when he faces a moral dilemma in battle. His response is the 3 yogas - jnana, karma, and bhakti.
Term
Dhritarashtra
Definition
The patriarch of the Kauravas in the Mahabharata. Was blind.
Term
Ramayana
Definition
Most significant piece of Hindu culture. Follows the story of Rama and Sita. Has 3 main "layers" - conflict over the throne, dharma, and theologial.
Term
Rama
Definition
Son of King Dasaratha and incarnation of Vishnu. Husband to Sita. Defeats Ravana.
Term
Sita
Definition
Wife of Rama. Is not very smart but is extraordinarily beautiful.
Term
Lakshmana
Definition
Brother of Rama and accompanies him in his travels. Mutilates Soorpanaka.
Term
Ravana
Definition
Demon king, protected by Shiva. Kidnaps Sita b/c he's in love with her. Brother of Soorpanaka. Defeated by Rama.
Term
Soorpanaka
Definition
Sister to Ravana. Attempts to seduce Rama as a beautiful woman.
Term
Dasaratha
Definition
King. Has moral dilemma b/w promise to wife and obligation to Rama. This = center of the narrative.
Term
Kaikeyi
Definition
Favorite wife of Dasaratha. Causes Rama's exile by making the King fulfill 2 wishes he'd promised a long time ago. Is manipulated by her servant.
Term
Baratha
Definition
Brother of Rama and son of Kaikeyi. Rules for 14 years before Rama returns.
Term
Valmiki
Definition
Original author/editor of the Ramayana. Probably a mythical figure.
Term
Vrindavana
Definition
Area of significant Krishna influence. Is near where Krishna spent his childhood. Now important pilgrimage site for devotees of Krishna.
Term
Mathura
Definition
City, center of Krishna bhakti cults. Kings were Kushana, of foreign descent, most important was Kanishka. Important for pilgrimage.
Term
Kushanas
Definition
Kings that ruled Mathura. Of foreign descent. Most important was Kanishka, a patron of buddhism.
Term
Kanishka
Definition
Most important king of Mathura, a Kushana. A patron of buddhism.
Term
Krishna Gopala
Definition
Incarnation of Krishna raised near Vrindavana with the gopis (cow herders) to protect him from his uncle. At one point saved the village from Indra. Was a lover. Consort was Radha.
Term
raja-dharma
Definition
Dharma (morality) of the king. It's about authority/legitimacy of the king in front of his hindu people. Important in Mathura.
Term
Yavana
Definition
Indo-greeks that lived on the western periphery of Hindu civilization. Invasions caused Brahmins to move south and spread Vedic culture.
Term
Ashvamedha
Definition
The horse sacrifice. Chose white stallion with black spots, let it roam free for a year, kill it, wife "copulates," cut it up, eat it.
Term
Smriti
Definition
Law books that elaborated on the Dharma sutras, developed the science of Dharma. Also called dharmashastras. Most famous = Manu Smriti = Laws of Manu.
Term
Shvetashvatara Upanishad
Definition
Written to cope with dominance of foreign powers but still explain importance of vedas. Shiva was the supreme God, synthesized all vedic thought. Shows hindu scholars avoided conflict.
Term
Harivamsa
Definition
Genealogy of Hari (Krishna), sort of a prequel to the Mahabharata. Included life with gopis, etc. Was born in Mathura. Incarnation of Vishnu.
Term
Bhagavata Purana
Definition
Most important of the Puranas which detailed Krishnas life in the Yamuna with the gopis. Killed a treacherous wet nurse, uprooted 2 trees, defeated the serpent kailya.
Term
Gupta
Definition
One of two most important empires in India (other = Mauryas). Was the first great hindu empire. Most important king was Samudragupta who had ashoka's pillar re-chiseled. Was key time for Indian art/drama.
Term
Rudra
Definition
Original, vedic, name for Shiva in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad.
Term
Yoga (what is it and name the 3 in the BG)
Definition
Yoga is discipline. 3 yogas of the BG:
- jnana yoga - knowledge that body isn't the true self
- karma yoga - disciple of action - don't act for fruits of action
- bhakti yoga - devotion to god
Term
Bhagavad Gita (ch. 2)
Definition
Arjuna doesn't want to fight. Krishna vasudeva says he should - throwaway arg is b/c he must look strong, not be shameful. Main args = 3 yogas - jnana, karma, and bhakti.
Term
Gunas (what are they and name the 3)
Definition
Gunas are the strands that make up all material reality, Prakriti. Make action inevitable. 3 of them:
- sattva - pure/good
- rajas - dynamic
- tamas - inert
Term
Atharvaveda
Definition
The "fourth" veda. Focused on magic and rituals (non-vedic). Was important "2nd rationality" text. Included chants, needed kaushika sutra to know rituals. Covered medicine, diets, women, love, warfare, demons, etc.
Term
shakas
Definition
families/schools of priests that memorized the vedas
Term
Kaushika Sutra
Definition
"manual" (sutra) text that accompanied the atharvaveda with explanation of how to perform rituals. Covered tons of topics. 2nd rationality.
Term
Rig Vidhana
Definition
Manual of everyday hymns. Synthesized vedic and popular culture. Lacks explanation of specific ritual actions to take.
Term
Tantra
Definition
Specialized ritual techniques to achieve spiritual liberation and worldly perfection. 2nd rationality. Emphasized role of body as perfectible vehicle to spiritual enlightenment. Mantras were important.
Term
Ayurveda
Definition
Medicine. Combined spiritual and physical methods. Assumes connection b/w individual and he universe. Earliest technique = use of mercury for healing.
Term
Devi Mahatmya
Definition
Gupta-era text that championed cult of the Goddess, Durga, put her above Shiva and Vishnu. Subsumed many other theological principles to synthesize Durga.
Term
Devas
Definition
Gods.
Term
Asuras.
Definition
Demons.
Term
Mahishasura
Definition
A demon king, asura, who was slain by Durga. This is now celebrated in Durga Puja.
Term
mleccha
Definition
Foreigners that lived on the boundaries of hindu civilization. Exs: yavanas (indo-greeks) in the west and kiratas (tribes) in the east, shakas, hunas (huns). Came to power after the guptas.
Term
matha
Definition
Monastic colleges established by the brahmin meant to rival the buddhists.
Term
Alvars
Definition
Poet-saints that wrote devotional poems about Shiva.
Term
Nayanars
Definition
Poet-saints that wrote devotional poems about Vishnu.
Term
acharya
Definition
A great teacher, a Brahmin head guide/instructor. Ex: Shankara.
Term
Mandana Mishra and Bharati
Definition
Husband and wife (respectively). Debated Shankara. Shankara defeated Mishra first. Bharati challenged him to explain lovemaking, he did by inhabiting a kinds body. They both became his followers after losing debates.
Term
Kumarila
Definition
Important scholar in the Mimamsa school, a dualist and champion of dharma. Relied on Jaimini's Mimamsa Sutras. May have debated Shankara.
Term
Jaimini
Definition
Founder of Mimamsa school which is dualist and argues primacy of dharma. Said dharma was the way to heaven. Wrote the Mimamsa sutras in 2nd century BCE. Drew on Shrauta Sutras (late vedic authors).
Term
Darshana
Definition
School of Hindu philosophy. 6 of them = Mimamsa, Vedanta, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Samkhya, Yoga.
Term
Mimamsa
Definition
School of philosophy, dualist and argued primacy of dharma as way to heaven. Founder = Jaimini (Mimamsa Sutras) and important scholar = Kumarila. Also drew from Brahmanas Vedas. Flaw = body and mind cannot communicate with separate languages.
Term
mahavakyas
Definition
"Great sayings" of the Upanishads that the Advaita Vedanta school drew on. 4 of them, one in each of the 4 vedas.
Term
Madhava/Madhva
Definition
Founder of the Dvaita branch of Vedanta. Dualist. World is embodied, real and God is real. Similar to Christian/Muslim views. Gap b/w God and world is crossed by self-transcendence.
Term
Dvaita
Definition
Branch of Vedanta founded by Madhava. Dualist. World is embodied, real and God is real. Similar to Christian/Muslim views. Gap b/w God and world is crossed by self-transcendence.
Term
Ramanuja
Definition
Vedanta scholar after Shankara, founded Vishishtadvaita branch, which is qualified nondualism. Reality is real and not real, as a product of Brahman.
Term
Vishishtadvaita
Definition
Branch of Vedanta founded by Ramanuja. Qualified nondualism. Reality is real and not real, as a product of Brahman.
Term
Shankara
Definition
Founder of Advaita Vedanta, father of all Vedanta schools. Monist, primacy of Brahman. Said to be endowed by Shiva. Famous as a debater. Relied primarily on Brahma Sutra of Badarayana. Wrote commentaries, including on BG.
Term
Advaita
Definition
Branch of Vedanta founded by Shankara. Monist, Brahman is all that is real. Drew from Baradayana's Brahma Sutra. Flaw = if Brahman is everything then why is it not manifest? Nothing can cause Brahman so how does it come to be that we know it?
Term
Vedanta
Definition
School of Hindu philosophy. Monist. Primacy of Brahman. Founded by Shankara. Draws from 1. Vedas 2. Brahma Sutra 3. Bhabavad Gita.
Term
Badarayana
Definition
Author of the Brahma Sutra which argued primacy of brahman as foundation of all reality. Draws from interpretation of the vedas. Brahman is beyond cause and effect. Inspired Vedanta school (darshana) under Shankara.
Term
Dharma (4 sources according to Manu)
Definition
4 sources of dharma (reality) to resolve moral dilemmas according to the Laws of Manu (Manu Smriti):
1. Veda
2. Tradition and practice of those who interpret the veda
3. Conduct of good people
4. Personal conscience/pleasure
Term
Vedic Sciences (name and explain all 7)
Definition
- Astrology - important to decide auspicious days and personal fortunes.
- Etymology - study of where words come from
- Phonetics - study of what words should sound like
- Metrics - the proper rhythm of a text
- Text Sciences - interpreting the meaning of texts
- Grammar - constructing texts. Panini is the father of modern linguistics. Created idea of nouns, objects, etc. Also created categories in language.
- Kalpa - math/geometry/laws/poli sci
Term
Kalidasa
Definition
Important playwright from Gupta era. Most famous play is Shakuntala about a king and a forest nymph.
Term
Bhakti
Definition
Devotion to 1 or 2 gods, such as Krishna or Shiva or Vishnu.
Term
Hindu Temple (explain significance)
Definition
Not just a place for worship but a cosmological symbol. God/goddess resides at center as king/queen. Tower is shaped like a mountain, Mt. Meru, which is the mountain at the center of the universe.
Term
Rasa
Definition
depiction of ideal forms of emotion for symbolic meaning in Hindu plays/dances
Term
Raga
Definition
Religious song, about 45 mins. Has very simple base structure with a large amount of improvisation to make it complex.
Term
Difference between great and small tradition
Definition
Great tradition says there is a gap between the material and the sacred which is mediated by mantras, internal meditation, dharma, etc. The small tradition says there isn't a gad b/c the sacred is, and is in, the physical world. This is magic.
Term
Great Tradition Texts
Definition
Rig Veda, Upanishads, Dharma texts, Ramayana, Mahabharata
Term
Small Tradition Texts
Definition
Atharva Veda + Kaushika Sutra, Rig Vidhana, Medical Texts, Tantras
Term
Importance of Goddess
Definition
Acted as a "powerhouse" for the God - imbues more power - can be playful or terrifying. Devi Mahatmya says Durga is the supreme being of the universe. Especially important for female worship practices, umbrella for all female principles.
Term
Pramana (what it is and the 6 ways)
Definition
Pramanas are the ways of knowing - epistemology. 6 ways of knowing:
- Perception
- Inference
- Comparison
- Postulation
- Non-cognition
- Verbal testimony (read the vedas)
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