The Basics
This is the world's oldest living religious tradition
What is Hinduism?
This is is the sum of a person’s actions in this and past states of existence that determined future existences
What is kharma?
These are authoritative scriptures believed to be divine revelation of nature of reality; introduced into India by the Aryans
What are the Vedas?
This is the creator. His consort is Saraswati, goddess of knowledge.
Who is Brahma?
This is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism; some use this one syllable sound as they believe all creation is encompassed in the vibrational frequency
What is AUM (=OM)?
This is the person who founded Hinduism
Who is nobody?
This is the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth until one achieved oneness with Brahman
What is samsara?
These four Vedas are included within Shruti Scriptures
What are the Rig Veda, the Sama Veda, the Yajur Veda, and the Atharva Veda?
This is the preserver. His consort is Lakshmi, a beautiful woman with 4 arms standing on a lotus flower with an elephant or two behind her.
Who is Vishnu?
This man is most famous for his development of the strategy of satyagraha or “Peaceful resistance”
Who is Ghandi?
Having many gods, Hinduism can be described as this type of religion
What is polytheistic?
This Hindu celebration includes people lighting lanterns and decorating their home with colorful lights to help the prince find his way home
What is Diwali?
These are epics and stories that bring more abstract Shruti scriptures to light
What are Smriti Scriptures?
These are the most popular avatars (incarnations) of Vishnu.
Who are Krishna and Rama?
The Hindu festival of Kumbh Mela includes ritual washings in this sacred river
What is the Ganges River?
The word Hinduism comes from this Sanskrit word
What is "river"?
This word describes a ritual to honor a god or goddess, typically performed at home
What is puja?
This is the most beloved Hindu Scripture; the message is that one must cultivate disinterest – detachment from personal desires or agendas – in performing one’s duties
What is the Bhagavad Gita?
This is the destroyer. His consort is Parvati, the divine mother.
Who is Shiva?
Brahman is identical to one’s innermost soul and real self; this word is the real self
What is Atman?
Hinduism is the synthesis of many elements including Vedic religions, asceticism, meditation, and rituals which are referred to by this word
What is bhakti?
This word describes self-realization achieved through physical and mental discipline; it can also describe being freed from the endless cycle of death and rebirth
What is moksha?
These are the stories of the 3 God's Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva; they are stories about creation, history of the world, miracles, and personal devotions
What are the Puranas?
These make up the Hindu Triumvirate
What are male deities and avatars (an incarnation of a god)
Release from maya (the body, mind, and emotions are not the real self, they are an illusion) will enable one to recognize that these two Hindu beliefs are the same
What are Atman and Brahman?