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Hinduism
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- 1What is Brahman?It is used to describe God, it is a supreme, universal spirit that is eternal and unchanging. Holy books refer to Brahman as being present throughout the entire universe and all living beings carry a part of Brahman within them. This divine spark is known as the atman (soul) and it is immortal. The ultimate goal in life is to achieve spiritual union with Brahman. Lord Krishna states that Brahman is both within (immanent) and beyond (transcendent) the universe and its limitations. Brahman is shown in the form of deities (Goddesses and Gods).
- 2What is Nirguna Brahman?The idea that Brahman is beyond time and space, it has no particular form and is present within all living beings and everywhere. It allows Hindus to focus on Brahman’s eternal qualities rather than getting distracted by different names and forms.
- 3What is Saguna Brahman?Brahman has a form, identity and purpose, which may vary over time. Deities are a way for Hindus to understand Brahman’s vast nature, and help worshippers to focus on images or statues (murtis). This type of devotion is known as bhakti, it involves expressing love for the divine through adoration and rituals. Lord Krishna identified this in the Hindu text Bhagavad Gita as a way to achieve union with Brahman.
- 4What is Vaikuntha?When Hindus worship Brahman as a divine person (Ishvara), they recognise that this form of Brahman has a spiritual home. Hindus believe that many spiritual realms exist beyond our own universe and that divine beings reside in them. Vaikuntha is the highest of these worlds, it is the home of Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi.
- 5How can Hindus visit Vaikuntha?Hindus who maintain strict devotion to Vishnu throughout their lives earn a blessing where, at the moment of their death, their soul can visit Vaikuntha for some time. The soul then continues on its journey through the cycle of death and rebirth, also known as samsara. The Rig Veda states that even the demigods hope to enter this spiritual place.
- 6What are the three aspects of the Divine?God is Antaryami (Brahman within humans). God is the Lord within a person’s heart (all-pervading Antaryami), many Hindus meditate on Antaryami to be aware of Brahman, and to bring balance and realisation of God. Lastly, God as Ishvara or Bhagavan, a supreme being who lives beyond the world and that possesses qualities like knowledge and strength, Hindus can develop a personal and direct relationship with Bhagavan.
- 7How does the Divine manifest?Hindus perceive Brahman in various forms, and worship Brahman through deities. Each Hindu worships their own preferred form of Brahman (Ishta Devata). The three main male deities are the Trimurti, they represent the continuous cycle of samsara and link to three human qualities (gunas) which are tamas (ignorance), rajas (passion), and sattva (goodness). The three main female deities are the Trivedi.
- 8Who is Brahma?The father of creation, he has four heads and four arms. Brahma is often depicted holding five objects; a rosary (time), a water pot (the potential for creation), a sceptre in the form of a spoon (the pouring of holy oil during prayer as Brahma is the lord of sacrifices), sacred texts (the Vedas) (Brahma makes all knowledge possible), a lotus flower (that Brahma evolved from). Brahma is often seated on a divine swan, signifying the journey of the individual soul as it travels onward to union with Brahman. The Rajasthan temple is devoted exclusively to Brahma in India.
- 9Who is Vishnu?He incarnates in multiple forms, or avatars, to fulfil his role as protector of the universe. There are ten avatars of Vishnu and he has incarnated nine times, and the tenth avatar (Kalki) is yet to appear on Earth. The Vishnu Purana states that Kalki will appear at the end of this present cycle of creation carrying a sword and ride on a white horse, and he will travel to the four corners of the Earth to hand out justice and punishment to those who have done wrong. Hindus who prefer to worship Vishnu are known as Vaishnavites.
- 10How is Vishnu portrayed?As dark blue and standing upright to show that he is always watching over creation. He has four arms, representing his supreme power. He holds four items. These are; a conch (shell) which is blown at the start of Hindu ceremonies, it is linked with the sound ‘om’ which holds all of creation. A discus (chakra) represents the power of Vishnu’s divine thoughts and was used to cut off the heads of demons who threatened dharma (duties) with their evil thoughts. A mace represents Vishnu’s control over time and knowledge. A lotus flower is a sign of Vishnu’s purity, serenity and creative ability.
- 11Who is Shiva?The Destroyer and the Transformer, his acts of destruction brings about rebirth and change. He represents internal understanding or self-awareness, and is the god of yoga and Lord of Dance. Thus, classical Indian dancers always offer worship to him on stage before they perform in public. Shiva holds a trident whose three spikes represent the three gunas to remind Hindus that he is beyond these three qualities and the three states of waking, dreaming and sleeping.
- 12How is Shiva depicted?He is shown with a third eye in the middle of his forehead to remind Hindus that he has the ability to see beyond what humans take at face value. Shiva’s third eye opens when he intends to destroy that which is evil or outdated. The king of serpents, Vasuki, is coiled around his neck, as a symbol of the need for mental alertness, a sign of Shiva’s tranquil, gentle nature, and that he has conquered all fear and feels no threat. A crescent moon on his head represents the mind achieving spiritual wisdom.
- 13Who is Saraswati?The goddess of learning, arts and music, she shows the power of knowledge and pure thought and is the wife of Brahma. Saraswati is pictured holding a veena (a stringed musical instrument), prayer beads (mala) to signify meditation, a book, and a pot of water to show that she helps to purify people's thoughts. Saraswati’s four arms represent the mind, the imagination, reasoning and self-understanding. She is portrayed wearing white, and is often on a swan as a symbol of elegance and purity, or on a stone indicating that the pursuit of knowledge can be hard, like a stone.
- 14Who is Lakshmi?The goddess of good fortune and wealth, she is the wife of Vishnu and is his strength. She is shown either standing or sitting in a lotus flower to represent spirituality, self-understanding and success. She has four hands to represent the four goals of a Hindu’s life; dharma (good conduct), kama (longing or desire in life), artha (earning money legitimately), and moksha (liberation from birth and death, samsara).
- 15Who is Parvati?The wife of Shiva, she represents the continuity of life and is seated in the Himalayas by Shiva’s side. She is the mother of Ganesha, the god of good fortune and intelligence, and Kartikeya, the commander of the divine army of devas (male deities). Parvati is a form of Brahman known as Shakti, a feminine power that continually brings the universe into existence. Shiva and Shakti rely on each other, neither one can fully exist without the other, and they are twin features of the one Brahman.
- 16What is the story of Parvati and Ganesha?Lord Shiva did not want children so instructed Parvati to make a doll from some cloth, the power of her tears transformed the doll into a real child, Ganesha. Parvati ordered her son to guard the cave, and when Lord Shiva came to visit one day, Ganesha refused him entry. Lord Shiva was furious and chopped off the boy’s head. Parvati was devastated and Lord Shiva vowed to make Ganesha whole again but he could only find an elephant’s head. Ganesha was then reborn and became known as the god of good fortune and the ‘remover of obstacles’.
- 17What are the Atman and Samsara beliefs that influences a Hindus life?Atman means ‘eternal self’, when a Hindu refers to the atman, they are referring to the immortal part of their self that will exist for eternity. Samsara refers to the process of reincarnation, the belief that there is a cycle of rebirth of the soul that occurs repeatedly. The actions of a person in their mortal life determine their incarnation in the next.
- 18What are the Moksha and Karma beliefs that influences a Hindus life?The ultimate goal in life is to reach moksha, it means salvation and freedom from the cycle of samsara. If Hindus manage to overcome ignorance and desire, including desire for moksha, then they may achieve moksha when they die. Karma is the belief that all actions have a reaction. So, good actions will allow Hindus to have a good mortal life, and this will increase their chance of achieving moksha.
- 19How do these ideas link to Brahman?When a Hindu is attempting to achieve moksha, they are attempting to achieve becoming one with Brahman. Brahman is part of all living things, and is an unchanging ultimate reality. Hindus understand the Birhadaranayaka Upanishad as the source of wisdom concerned with the nature of God and the self. Once a person has achieved moksha, the cycle of samsara ends and the person ‘merges in Brahman’.
- 20What is the purpose of life for Hindus?To achieve four aims, called Purusharthas, these are dharma, kama, artha and moksha. These provide Hindus with opportunities to act morally, ethically and lead a good life. Throughout their lives, Hindus attempt to end the cycle of samsara and behave in a way that provides good karma in this life and the next.
- 21What is Dharma?This is related to a person’s true purpose and is concerned with a person’s duty and the actions the person takes. Each Hindu believes that they have their own personal dharma, and they must lead a righteous life. Hindus want to end the cycle of samsara, and therefore they aim to make morally right decisions in order to achieve good karma.
- 22What is Kama and Artha?Kama means love, desire and pleasure. Hindus aim to achieve pleasure in many ways, including sports, cultural interests, and sexual pleasure, as sex is a natural part of human instinct and produces children. Artha means prosperity, it is of utmost importance to attain material wealth as part of attempting to achieve moksha, but Hindus must not become attached to this wealth.
- 23What is Sanatana Dharma?The eternal dharma that governs all Hindus regardless of their status or caste. It is the eternal duty towards God and a code of conduct for how the Hindu community should act. Therefore, Hindus in their daily lives attempt to be aware of their actions and show virtues such as patience, kindness and loyalty. It helps Hindus to focus on their own spiritual journey and their own aims in life while also undertaking the duties towards God.
- 24How is Sanatana dharma different from personal dharma?It is a community-wide set of duties and virtues, but many Hindus view Sanatana dharma and personal dharma as interchangeable. This is because by paying attention to their personal dharma, they will be living a virtuous life that demonstrates a positive code of conduct for other Hindus.
- 25What is Varnashrama dharma?An outdated form of dharma as it focuses on social class (or caste) and materialistic duties in life. It appears in the Rig Veda but is not widely practised among Hindus today. The four main classes are Brahmins (teachers and priests), Kshatriyas (warriors and leaders), Vaishyas (merchants, traders and farmers), and Shudras (manual workers and labourers).
- 26Why is Varnashrama dharma important to some Hindus?It places an emphasis on a person’s position due to their actions in life. A person’s actions in their mortal life will allow them to move through these stages over the course of several lifetimes. All Hindus aim to be Brahmans but to achieve this status, they have to move through the other three castes in their mortal lives.
- 27How do Hindus view suffering?They accept both mental and physical suffering as a part of their lives and this allows them to move forward. Also, suffering can be caused by being attached to material things and they must overcome this In order to achieve moksha and break the cycle of samsara.
- 28What is Ahimsa?The ideal of total non-violence in thoughts, words, and actions. Hindus must ensure that they do not inflict pain upon others. They should try to live their lives in a compassionate and caring way by giving to charity. This will help Hindus to achieve their ultimate goal of moksha and freedom from samsara by gaining good karma.
- 29What do Hindu scriptures say about suffering?The Mahabharata tells Hindus that they should treat others with the same level of respect that they would expect others to show to them. Hindus may specifically use this source of wisdom and authority in relation to how they interact with people of a different social class. This allows them to demonstrate humility and work towards understanding why people suffer.
- 30What is the Rig Veda?A source of wisdom and authority that helps Hindus to understand the nature of creation. It is known to some Hindus as the Hymn of Creation. Each verse demonstrates different aspects of creation, showing that it is infinite
- 31What are Yugas?Cycles of time, the four stages that creation must pass through. The stages are; Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. Many Hindus believe that we are living the Kali Yuga. They each represent a stage of evolution, and humankind becomes better or worse physically, mentally and spiritually depending on each generations actions.
- 32What is the idea of many worlds?Hindus believe that there are 14 lokas, or worlds that make up a multiverse, and there are inhabitants in each of these planetary systems. The lokas are divided into the seven upper worlds, known as vyarthis, and the seven lower worlds, known as patalas.
- 33What are the seven vyarthis?Satya-loka (the place of Brahma, where each person’s atman is released from the inevitability of rebirth), Tapa-loka (where Ayohnija devadasis lives), Jana-loka (where the sons of the god Brahma live), Mahar-loka (where enlightened beings such as Markandeya live), Svar-loka (the area between the Sun and the Polar Star, the Heaven of the god Indra where all the 330 million Hindu gods live), Bhuvar-loka (or Pitri-loka) (the space between Earth and the Sun where semi-divine beings live), Bhur-loka (the Earth, one of billions of inhabited worlds in the universe).
- 34What are the seven patalas?Atala-loka (Atala is ruled by Bala, a son of Maya, she possesses mystical powers), Vitala-loka (Vitala is ruled by the god Hara-Bhava, a form of Shiva), Sutala-loka (Sutala is the kingdom of the demon king Bali), Talatala-loka (Talatala is the realm of Maya, Shiva is here under Maya's protection), Mahatala-loka (Mahatala is where many nagas (serpents) live), Rasatala-loka (the home of the demons Danavas and Daityas), Patala-loka (or Naga-loka) (the lowest realm, the region of nagas, ruled by Vasuki a King serpent).
- 35What is Prakriti and the Triguna?The prakriti is a creative or natural force made up of three gunas. These are;
sattva (Goodness, a state of harmony), rajas (Passion, a state of energy and change), and tamas (ignorance and darkness). Together, these are known as the Triguna and each guna is controlled by one of the three main deities; Vishnu, Brahma and Shiva. - 36Why is Prakriti important?Many Hindus believe that the soul’s preference for goodness, passion or ignorance will affect how that person is reincarnated. Each person has a gunic ‘makeup’, and Hindus believe that the dissolution of the universe at the end of each yugas has an impact on the balance of the gunas. Therefore, people who are in the cycle of samsara need to be mindful of the gunas in order to attain moksha and end the cycle of reincarnation.
- 37What is Maya?A concept focused on the ideas of illusion and mysticism (direct experience of the divine). For Hindus it is directly linked to our human understanding of the world around us. When Hindus refer to the world as Maya, they are talking about the idea that the world is an illusion but that God allows people to believe it is real through magic.
- 38What do Hindus worship?Hinduism is a monotheistic religion, although Brahman, the Ultimate Reality is expressed and made known to humans through many deities. Hindus worship these deities as aspects of Brahman. The Trimurti is a group of three male gods, and the Tridevi is a group of three female Gods. This is an iconographic way of understanding the three functions of God (creation, preservation and destruction).
- 39What is the purpose of gurus?They are considered teachers or spiritual guides. Gurus are revered and experienced people, because they pass knowledge of the scriptures and the Hindu faith on to worshippers. They also counsel people during challenging times, and show how to follow a truly Hindu way of life.
- 40Which scriptures guide worship?The Samhitas are the oldest parts of the Vedas, consisting of hymns of praise to God, and form part of worship at home and in the temple. The Brahmanas are rituals and prayers that help priests in their duties during worship. The Aranyakas give practical guidance in relation to worship and meditation. The Upanishads consist of the mystical and philosophical teachings, and allow Hindus to gain a deeper understanding of the nature of the world.
- 41What is the Bhagavad Gita?A central Hindu scripture, it includes guidance for worshippers. It explains that Hindu worship should focus on God, Hindus should worship God as the Supreme Being, and God is within all things. The idea that God can be found everywhere allows Hindus to worship through yoga practice, nature, acts of kindness and being mindful that God is everywhere and everything.
- 42Where do Hindus worship?The temple is often used as a place of worship on significant days or festivals. Many temples are dedicated to a particular deity and contain statues or images of that deity called murti. Hindu worship is often referred to as puja, and involves images (murti), prayers, mantras and offerings. The Bhagavad Gita encourages Hindus to make offerings at their shrines as part of the act of worship, it also encourages Hindus to focus on God and continually be devoted to him to help them achieve moksha.
- 43How do Hindus worship in the temple?Some temple rituals help Hindus to communicate with a deity, like walking clockwise around a shrine that has a statue (murti) of the deity in its innermost part. They may also bring offerings such as fruit and flowers to be blessed by the deity. It is a personal worship experience that takes place in a communal setting.
- 44How do Hindus worship in the home?Many Hindus have their own shrine at home, it is a space where they place images of selected deities that are significant to them. Hindus worship at home more often, and use their shrine to make offerings, it is the most holy area of the home.
- 45How do Hindus worship at holy places?Worship can be undertaken outdoors, such as at hills and rivers, including the Himalaya mountains. These mountains are integral to God as they represent the Hindu god, Himavat. Hindus consider many plants and animals to be sacred, so many are vegetarian and always act with loving kindness towards living things.
- 46What are some methods of worship?Meditation (a quiet activity in which a person focuses on an object or a thought to make their mind calm and clear), puja (devotional worship and prayer performed in honour of one or more deities), havan (ritual offerings that are burnt, usually following births or other significant events), and darshan (meditation or yoga with a focus on the presence of a deity).
- 47What are some more methods of worship?Arti (a ceremony that takes place in front of the deities where all the four elements (fire, earth, water and air) are all represented in the offerings), bhajan (singing and other music as part of worship), kirtan (narration or recitation as part of worship), and japa (meditative repetition of a mantra as a way of focusing on worship).
- 48What is yoga?A discipline that is part of a Hindu’s spiritual journey, the practise aims to achieve religious devotion. It allows for loving service to God and unites Hindus in their pursuit of moksha. A form of yoga consists of stretching, movement and meditation. Yet, yoga includes a variety of spiritual and physical practices intended to encourage mental and bodily wellbeing.
- 49What is karma yoga?The yoga of action, one of the oldest forms of selfless action, and is one of the main ways that a Hindu can grow spiritually. An example is volunteering in a selfless way, by helping another person without expecting a reward, such as teaching others how to practise yoga or fundraising for charity in the local community.
- 50What is Jnana yoga?It is practised by Hindus experienced in yoga. Jnana yoga allows Hindus to become spiritually knowledgeable about God and the soul.
- 51What is Raja or Ashtanga yoga?It rests upon eight limbs which are; restraints, disciplines, postures, control of breathing and life currents, turning the attention within, concentration, meditation, and holy trance. It is focused on meditation, time taken for silence and reflection, this helps to create inner self-awareness and rediscovery, and improves concentration..
- 52What is Bhakti yoga?It is a means of achieving self-realisation and understanding. It is known as the yoga of devotion, and some people call it their personal relationship with God and surrender themselves to God. The motivation is love, and this is expressed through meditation or chanting, and some people even enter a trance-like state.
- 53What is the importance of different types of yoga?The Bhagavad Gita mentions yoga and claims that it should be part of Hindus’ faith and daily practice. Yoga helps Hindus to show loving service to God, and unites Hindus in their pursuit of moksha, in which the atman becomes one with Brahman.
- 54Why do Hindus go on pilgrimages?To visit places that are of significance to certain deities to show their devotion to them. For example, rivers are considered sacred because water gives life and the Rig Veda contains a hymn about rivers and praises them, so visiting a river on pilgrimage gives Hindus an opportunity to show devotion to gods involved in creation.
- 55What is the Kumbh Mela pilgrimage site?Once every 12 years, up to 10 million people meet at the Kumbh Mela festival, held at one of four sites where the waters of the Ganges and Jumna rivers combine. They share ritual bathing, believing that their sins will be washed away, and this is followed by spiritual purification and a ceremony that secures the blessings of the deity.
- 56What are some other popular pilgrimage sites?The river Ganges is the holiest river because it flowed from Heaven with the aim of purifying humans, and Lord Vishnu is said to have spent time there. Varanasi, the city of light, is on the banks of the Ganges. Vrindavana is a town in the Mathura district in India, and Lord Krishna spent time here as a child.
- 57What are the festivals of Diwali and Holi?Diwali, the festival of light, remembers the story of Lord Rama and Sita, and the idea of good overcoming evil. Hindus light diva lamps and there are often large firework displays and family gatherings. Holi, the festival of colour, celebrates the arrival of spring and shows thanks for a good harvest. Hindus throw colourful powders over one another and have fun.
- 58What are the festivals of Navratri Dussehra and Ram Navami?Navratri Dussehra signifies good overcoming evil, and celebrates Lord Rama fighting Ravana and winning the battle. It takes place over nine nights, and communities and families meet for festivities and meals. Ram Navami is held in the spring and marks the birth of Lord Rama, people read stories about Lord Rama and worship this deity.
- 59What are the festivals of Ratha-Yatra andRatha-Yatra is a public procession on a chariot, people congregate to watch Lord Jagannatha processing through the streets, and there is lots of colour. Janmashtami marks the birth of Lord Krishna. Hindus attempt to go without sleep for 48 hours and sing traditional songs, dances and performances are held to mark the birthday of this revered deity.
- 60How do Hindus view the evironment?Many Hindus attempt to recycle and reduce their carbon footprint, and they may volunteer as part of their own personal dharma to ensure that they look after God’s creation. Hindus wish to be mindful of how they treat the Earth as they their actions will have consequences, so they do not want to use up the world’s scarce resources that are over-consumed. Some Hindus choose to be vegetarian by practising ahimsa.
- 61What does the Bhagavad Gita teach about the environment?Humans should be grateful for what the natural world provides, including vegetation, soil and trees. The world’s resources belong to God, and if they view the world’s resources as belonging to themselves, they are being selfish and their actions will be considered theft.
- 62Why do Hindus protect cows?A hymn in the Rig Veda teaches Hindus that they should not kill or mistreat a cow as it is a sacred animal, and they will be punished. Hindus ensure the safety and protection of cows as part of their belief in karma and ahimsa. Lord Krishna was a cow herder, so Hindus follow his example of caring for cows. There are many goshillas, in India and the UK.
- 63What is the global Hindu movement to protect cows?One organisation is the International Society of Cow Protection (ISCOWP), it works to educate people, and allows them to adopt a cow to ensure that it is not slaughtered. In Vedic scriptures, the idea that the cow provides milk affirms the belief that the cow is one of the Earth’s mothers.
- 64Why do Hindus practise charity?To live out the idea of good karma, ahimsa means ‘harmlessness’, and this may involve vegetarianism or environmental protection. Many Hindus see all life as one (monism), and Brahman can be seen in the living atman of all creatures so they should all be protected and cared for. Charity in Hinduism is dana (giving) or sewa (selfless service), it is done to live out pure goodness, not to give something back.
- 65What is Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM)?An international organisation that aims to improve the spiritual wellbeing of humanity. It was founded by Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, and it's members visit areas, people and organisations that may be in need and aims to change their lives.
- 66What was one programme undertaken by MAM member Choti Sing?It involved women’s rights, she set aside caste divisions and went into her village of Ratanpur in 2014 with the aims of uplifting her community, providing education for young children and educating mothers about the importance of childhood vaccinations.
- 67What are some Hindu environmental protection projects?Friends of Vrindavan aims to protect India’s sacred forests, saving trees and educating people about environmental protection. A Hindu story in the Srimad-Bhagavatam tells of the life of Vishnu in the Vrindavan forest, so Hindus believe the forest should be looked after and protected.
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