5.1 Hinduism Key Beliefs: Nature of God (AQA GCSE Religious Studies A): Flashcards
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- Front5.1.1 Brahman
Define Brahman.
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Define Brahman.
The one true ultimate reality (God) in Hinduism, of which all deities are aspects.
Is Hinduism monotheistic or polytheistic?
Monotheistic — the many gods and goddesses represent aspects of the one God, Brahman.
Define Nirguna Brahman.
Brahman as beyond time and space, with no particular form, present within all beings.
Define Saguna Brahman.
Brahman in form — manifested in the gods and goddesses worshipped by Hindus.
Define murti.
An image or statue worshipped as a representation of Saguna Brahman.
Which symbol represents Nirguna Brahman and is used in meditation?
The aum (om) symbol.
What do Hindus believe the sound 'aum' is?
The sound that began the universe.
What does the word 'puja' mean?
Worship.
Where do Hindus worship?
In a Mandir (temple) and at home.
True or False?
Hindus believe there are many separate, independent gods.
False.
Hinduism is monotheistic — the deities are all aspects of the one God, Brahman.
______ Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance, is an example of a murti representing Brahman.
Shiva Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance, is an example of a murti representing Brahman.
In which country did Hinduism, the oldest world religion, originate?
India.
What are the three features of the Divine in Hinduism?
Brahman (residing everywhere)
Antaryami (residing within)
Bhagavan (residing beyond)
Define Antaryami.
God as the Lord within a person's heart — the all-pervading presence Hindus meditate on.
Define Bhagavan.
God as a supreme being who lives beyond the world (also called Ishvara), with whom Hindus can have a personal relationship.
What does the scripture 'everything is Brahman' mean?
That everything comes from God and is not separate from Him; everyone has an atman that is part of the one divine reality.
Why do many Hindus meditate on Antaryami?
To become aware of Brahman and bring balance and realisation of God.
True or False?
All Hindu traditions understand the three features of God in exactly the same way.
False.
Most teach all three, but they stress one as more important and understand them differently.
God as Bhagavan possesses qualities including knowledge and ______.
God as Bhagavan possesses qualities including knowledge and strength.
What does the feature 'Brahman' refer to?
The Ultimate Reality or truth — the all-pervading world-soul.
Antaryami means God residing ______ a person.
Antaryami means God residing within a person.
Define the Trimurti.
The three main aspects of Brahman: Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
What are the three gods of the Trimurti, and their roles?
Brahma (the Creator)
Vishnu (the Preserver)
Shiva (the Destroyer)
What is Brahma's role, and why is he the least worshipped?
Creator of the world; least worshipped as his role as creator is over (only two temples in India).
What is Vishnu's role in the Trimurti?
The Preserver — he protects the universe and restores the balance of good and evil.
What is Shiva's role in the Trimurti?
The Destroyer (and Transformer) — he destroys the universe in order to re-create it.
What is Vaishnavism?
The worship of Vishnu as the greatest god (his worshippers are called Vaishnava).
Define avatar (avatara).
An incarnation — when a god appears on earth in living form, at a time when goodness has declined.
Which two are the most important avatars of Vishnu?
The seventh, Rama, and the eighth, Krishna.
Who is the tenth and final avatar of Vishnu, yet to come?
Kalki, who will ride a white horse to destroy evil.
Who is Ganesha, and what is he known for?
The elephant-headed god, son of Shiva and Parvati, known as the remover of obstacles.
Who is Hanuman, and what does he symbolise?
The monkey god who saved Sita in the Ramayana; he symbolises selfless devotion and service to others.
Name the three main female deities and whose consorts they are.
Saraswati (Brahma)
Lakshmi (Vishnu)
Shakti / Parvati (Shiva)
True or False?
The many Hindu deities mean Hinduism is polytheistic.
False.
The deities are embodiments of the one Divine Brahman, so Hinduism is monotheistic.
Saraswati is the goddess of ______, worshipped by students.
Saraswati is the goddess of learning, worshipped by students.
What is Lakshmi the goddess of, and when is she especially worshipped?
The goddess of wealth and beauty, worshipped especially at Diwali.
An avatar appears on earth when there has been a decline in ______ and evil is influencing human actions.
An avatar appears on earth when there has been a decline in goodness and evil is influencing human actions.
Define prakriti.
Matter — everything in the universe that can be seen.
Define purusa.
Spirit — things that cannot be seen or touched.
Why do Hindus believe spirit is more important than matter?
Because matter can be destroyed, but spirit cannot.
Define maya.
Illusion — a veil that stops people seeing the spiritual truth of everything around them.
What are the three qualities (Tri-guna)?
Sattva (harmony / goodness)
Rajas (energy / passion)
Tamas (darkness / ignorance)
How do the Tri-guna link to the Trimurti?
Everything is created (Brahma), preserved (Vishnu) and destroyed (Shiva) — the qualities reflect this cycle.
How do the gunas affect a person?
A soul's preference for goodness, passion or ignorance affects how they are reincarnated.
Define Brahmanda.
The infinite (cosmic) egg in which the universe exists, forged by Brahman.
What shape does Hindu belief say time takes?
Cyclical — the material world is repeatedly created (the cosmic cycle / samsara).
True or False?
Hindus believe the material world is the ultimate reality.
False.
The material world is an illusion (maya); the spiritual reality is bigger and more important.
Sattva is the guna of harmony, Rajas of energy, and Tamas of ______.
Sattva is the guna of harmony, Rajas of energy, and Tamas of darkness.
What is the ultimate aim in Hindu cosmology?
Moksha — liberation from the cycle of samsara, reuniting with Brahman.
Why should Hindus avoid attachment to material things?
Because the world is temporary and material things are ultimately an illusion (maya).
Hindus believe there are two realities: spirit (purusa) and ______ (prakriti).
Hindus believe there are two realities: spirit (purusa) and matter (prakriti).
What does 'cosmology' refer to?
Ideas about the nature of the universe and how it works.
What are the four yugas (ages)?
Satya Yuga
Treta Yuga
Dwapara Yuga
Kali Yuga
Define yuga.
One of the four long ages of time in the Hindu cycle (totalling 4,320,000 years).
Which yuga (age) do Hindus believe we are currently living in?
The Kali Yuga.
What happens to each successive age in the cycle?
Each age gets shorter and more corrupt.
As whom will Vishnu appear at the end of the Kali Yuga?
As Kalki (the 10th avatar), riding a white horse to destroy evil and start a golden age.
Which member of the Trimurti creates the universe, and which destroys it?
Brahma creates it; Shiva destroys it (and Vishnu preserves it).
What shape does Hindu belief say time takes?
Eternal cycles with no beginning and no end, reflected in reincarnation.
From what do Hindus believe the universes were created?
Vishnu's breath — the universe is clusters of bubbles floating in space.
True or False?
Hindus believe time has a definite beginning and end.
False.
Time moves in eternal cycles — universes are created, exist, die and are recreated, with no beginning or end.
Define lokas.
The 14 worlds that make up the Hindu multiverse — seven upper (vyarthis) and seven lower (patalas).
During the Satya Yuga only ______ prevailed, but it has gradually been lost through the ages.
During the Satya Yuga only truth prevailed, but it has gradually been lost through the ages.
According to a popular creation story, what grew from Vishnu's navel?
A lotus flower, with Brahma sitting on it.
The 14 lokas are divided into seven upper worlds (vyarthis) and seven ______ worlds (patalas).
The 14 lokas are divided into seven upper worlds (vyarthis) and seven lower worlds (patalas).
What does the Hymn of Creation (Rig Veda) conclude about how the universe began?
That nobody knows — it even questions whether Brahman knows.
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