Texts
Collected between the 1500s and 500s B.C.E., this is a collection of foundational texts in Hinduism
The Vedas
What does Nirguna refer to?
Means without characteristic and communicates the inability for the divine to be understood by human language and minds in Sikhism.
This god is associated with a dance of destruction and recreation, an act of lila (or divine play)
Shiva
This term describes Hindu devotional practices
Puja
One of the main characters of the Bhagavad Gita, a Kshatriya who receives a divine eye from Krishna
Arjuna
The cosmic ocean or all-encompassing force central to Hindu tradition
Brahman
Who is Ravana?
The central antagonist of the Ramayana, and a ten-headed being often described as a demon king.
How did our conception of the idea of Karma change over time?
In the Vedic era Karma was understood in its' relation to ritual practice, but conceptions became internalized through changes in tradition and texts like the Upanishads.
How many gurus are there in the Sikh lineage?
10
What is the agamas?
A general word describing the Jain canon.
Kali, Durga, and Devi are all examples of what in Hinduism?
The divine feminine force.
The founder of Sikhism
Guru Nanak
This happened in 1947
British colonial powers left India after setting new boundaries and identities, resulting in a period of internal strife.
What is samsara
The cycle of death and rebirth
Considered the living guru, this text is central to Sikhism.
The Adi Granth, also known as the Guru Granth Sahib
Two different terms for the soul in Hindu and Jain tradition
Atman (Hindu) and Jiva (Jain)
Who is Mahavira
The 24th Tirthankara in the current cycle of decay, and cited as the "founder" of Jainism.
This empire is associated with the blending of Hindu and Islamic ideas, playing a large role in the development of Sikh tradition.
The Mughal Empire
In what text does the concept of Bhakti, or devotion, get solidified in Hindu tradition
The Bhagavad Gita (within the Mahabharata)
Describe the significance of the collection of texts, the function of the epics, and push back
Open - answer
How do we relate these conceptions of the divine, how do these ideas interact?
Open-answer:
Who are the two key avatars of Vishnu, and what characteristics do they share in many depictions?
Rama and Krishna
Blue, multi-armed, four objects.
Describe why we use the word "myth" when discussing the concept of a three-fold godhead in Hinduism?
open answer:
What are the five great vows?
1. Ahimsa (non-violence)
2. Satya (Truthfulness)
3. Asteya (non-theft)
4. Brahmacharya (celibacy)
5. Aparigraha (non-possesion)