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174 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Analogy
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The direct comparison of the sacred with something that is familiar.
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Apocrypha
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Books that are not part of the official canon of scripture, but which are still considered sacred.
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Canon
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An official list of sacred scriptures.
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Deity
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God or object of worship
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Exegesis
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The interpretation of a specific passage of scripture.
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Fundamentalism
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Describes a group of people who try to live by a strict and literal interpretation of scripture. Used in the 20th century to describe some conservative forms of Christianity.
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Heretic
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A person (or idea) that publically asserts a controversial postion or disagreement with orthodox forms of worship, practice or belief.
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Hermeneutics
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The bias or method of interpretation that we bring to the interpretation of scriptures.
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Liberal
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Take a flexible approach to religion. Liberals do not feel that people oday are required to act like people in the past, but instead believe that scripture is only a guide.
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Metaphor
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A figure of speech, a symbolic expression. Frequently based on comparison, metaphor is the use of something familiar to help people understand something that is unfamiliar.
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Mystic/Mysticism
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People who use their own spiritual experiences to interpret scripture. They seek a personal encounter with the supernational to guide them.
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Oral Scripture
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Sacred stories of of primal religions.
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Orthodox
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People who try to follow an established religious tradition through reading scripture literally.
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Religion
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A system of belief that includes sacred stories, doctrines, rituals, ethics and a moral code and that attempts to connect people with the sacred
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Religious Studies
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The study of of a relgion including it's basic concepts and terms.
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Scripture
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The sacred writings of a religion that are considered authoritative, because people read scripture to learn what is right and wrong.
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Story
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Stories that are considered sacred. They are the staries that are the basis of the beliefs and the practices of each religion.
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Apologetics
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The use of theology to defend a religion.
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Cosmogony
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The story about the creation of the world. Aquinas thought that the universe must have a cause and that everything in the universe could be traced back to this origin.
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Cosmological proof
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Thomas Aquinas - God's existance deals with cosmogony.
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Creed
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A short simple statement of faith that people can recite as a way to profess their faith. Most commonly recited the Apostle's Creed and the Nicene Creed
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Doctrine
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A statement or teaching about the beliefs of a religion. It is based on sacred scripture and cannont be proven.
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Dogma
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An authoritative opinion based on sacred scriptures or the teachings of a relgious group that is considered authoratative.
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Ethics
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The moral codes that help people to to distinguish between what is right and wrong.
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Faith
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Religious doctrines that must be accepted without scientific proof.
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First Cause
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The first cause - the power that created the universe is God. (Thomas Aquinas)
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Moral Argument
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Immanuel Kant (1724 - 1804) Kant is a philosopher - he wanted to know why people wanted to be good. Kant ultimately decided that people want to be good bause they wanted to be rewarded. They believe in the presense of a divine being who will reward them for living a moral life.
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Norms
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The standards of behavior for a religion.
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Ontological proof
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Christian theologian, Anselm (1033-1109). Anselm questioned what God is like and he decided that God is a "being than which nothing greater can be conceived"
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Philosophy
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The study of wisdom and knowledge to defend the truths of a religion
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Teleological proof
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The argument from design. English philosopher William Paley (1743 - 1805) - Universe is like a watch - so complicated that it had to be designed by an intelligent mind.
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Theodicy
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The theological speculation about the problem of evil.
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Theology
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The study of the divine
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Theologian
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A person who studies the divine.
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Agnosticism
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The belief that we do not have sufficient proof either to doubt or affirm God's existence
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Angel
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The belief in the existance of lesser beings. They were created by God, but they are not gods.
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Animism
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The belief that the entire world is alive with spirits.
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Atheism
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Skeptics who do not believe in the existance of any supernatual power.
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Belief
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The acceptance of factual statements. Religion is based upon faith, not belief
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Dualism
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Concept to explain evil - the existence of lesser beings wh are responsible in part for evil
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Goddess
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A female god
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Henotheism
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The belief that some gods are more important that others, therefore they are more worthy of worship.
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Humanism
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The belief that people are basically good and can save themselves.
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Immanence
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The doctrine of immanence holds that the diety is in everything and is everything.
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Materialism
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The belief that nothing exists apart from matter.
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Monism
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There is one unified sacred reality beyond the many forms of gods & goddesses. All reality is the same.
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Monotheism
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Is the belief in the existance of a single God
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Nontheistic or Nontheism
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Religions that believe in a spiritual reality byt not in the existence of a personal god or gods. Buddhism & Confucianism are examples of such religions.
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Omnipotent
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God has total power over the universe.
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Pantheism
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The view that everything is God. Nothing exists apart from the deity.
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Pantheon
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An arranged hierachy of the deities.
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Polytheism
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The worship of multiple Gods
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Satan
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A fallen angel who is responsible for evil
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Skepticism / Skeptics
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Those who do not choose to practice or believe in a religion.
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Theism
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The belief that God is a personal , loving deity who responds to prayer.
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Transcendent
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The belief that God exists outside of the material world.
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Deism
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The belief that God is distant and is not actively involved in the world.
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Myth
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Are the sacred stories that religions tell about their past.
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Profane
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The opposite of sacred. It represents the ordinary. A religious building is a sacred space, where an office building is a profane space.
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Rites of Passage
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A ceremony designed to indicate a change in the status of an individual, the family or the community.
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Ritual
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Ritual is the way in which people act out their beliefs.
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Clergy
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Are the leaders - specialists in the traditions, beliefs and rituals of the religion.
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Divination
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The use of ritual to predict the future
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Laity
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Are the ordinary people who practice a religion
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Magic
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Magic is used to manipulate the spirits.
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Ordination
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A formal ceremony to mark the end of instruction and the recognition of that indivual by a religious body as a member of the leadership of that body.
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Priest
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A professional religious leader who performs religious rituals.
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Prophet
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A messenger of a deity. Prophets claim to hve a direct connection with the sacred.
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Psychic
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A person who can predict the future and may have contact with the dead
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Shaman
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Similar to a priest. Intermediary between the community and the sacred and are common in the primal religions.
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Moral Codes
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a code of conduct that govern behavior and which are often found in scripture
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Morals
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Principles about what is right and what is wrong.
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Morality
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A set of codes or laws that are intended to guide behavior in accordance with the sacred.
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Secular
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Non-religious
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Tradition
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History. What was done in the past. What does the past sacred stories and beliefs and practices of a religion teach us today?
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advaita
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non dual or "not two"
Brahman is the ultimate reality - the soul and the world are the same... according to the Upanishads, the self (Atman) is Brahman. Only Brahman exists |
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Agni
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fire god - carries the sacrifices to the deities
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Aranyakas
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one of early scriptures, but not part of the Vedas
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Aryan
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A Sanksrit word meaning "the noble ones"
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ashramas
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the 4 stages of life.
Members of the twice born castes become full people only after they have passed through four stages called ashramas. Only males can perform these stages. |
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Atharva-Veda
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Final Vedic book.
A collection of rituals for the Brahmin priests. Deeply rooted in magic, and includes spells to ward off evil. Also includes rituals to be conducted at home as well as prayers to the gods. |
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What is Atman?
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the indivual's self or soul
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What is avidya?
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Ignorance.
The problem with the human condition is due to our ignorance. |
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Define Brahmacharin
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Student stage. First stage of the ashramas. Young males study & learn the Vedas and other religious texts. Required to be celibate during this period of instruction.
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Brahmins
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Special group of priests who supervised the sacrifices
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What is the caste system?
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Societal structure. Everyone is born to fulfill a specific role in society based upon their past karma.
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dalit
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The untouchables.
The lowest caste of people who do the "dirtiest of jobs" for everyone else. |
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dharma
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Social duty and proper behavior
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What is Grihastha?
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The second stage of the ashramas. This is called the "Householder period." The male marries and raises a family.
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Harappan
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Early civilization of India
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Indra
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diety of storms & war - focus of worship because of his strength
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What is the jati?
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The further division of the caste into families or clans. Each jati has different sets of rules about acceptable careers. Members of a jati are usually required to marry within their own jati.
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Explain the doctrine of karma.
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Our good and bad actions result in rewards and punishments that we experience in this life or in a future life.
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Who are the Kshatriyas?
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This is the caste of nobles and warriors. According to the Rig-Veda, this caste arose from Purusha's arms.
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Describe the Law of Manu.
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Book of the Vedas that disusses the specific, unique duties and responsibilties for each caste.
It is better to do one's own dharma badly than to perform correctly thedharma of another caste. A person who fails to live according to the law of his or her caste, moreover, is excluded from that caste. |
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Lingam
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A model of the male sex organs which represent the Hidnu diety Shiva.
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lotus position
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special sitting position for meditation
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mantras
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scriptures or prayers
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maya
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A concept that is used to explain our ignorance about the material world. The word "maya" means: ignorance, illusion and false knowledge.
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moksha
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The release or liberation from the cycle of samsara.
It is something that we should all seek. |
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Purusha
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Creation myth - universe emerged from the division and sacrifice of a cosmic person named Purusha. Gods sacrified Purusha and divided his body. The different parts of his body then became the elements of the universe. This means that everything in the universe is part of Purusha.
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What is the Rig-Veda?
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The first and oldest book of the Vedas; it is actually worlds oldest scipture. It is a polytheistic book. Book also contains the story of how the castes developed.
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rishis
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holy men who possess divine insight
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rita
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The power that preserves the unity of the cosmos and maintains the cosmic social order.
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Sama-Veda
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Third book of the Vedas. Contains mantras to be chanted by the priests at the sacrifices.
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samhitas
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the Vedas - divided into 4 hymns to the Aryan gods.
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samsara
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Wheel of time - the cycle of birth, death and rebirth "we all experience" until we achieve release.
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What is Sannyasin? How is Sannyasin accomplished?
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This is the final stage of the ashramas. Also known as the "wandering begger stage." The male is required to give up all his early possessions and renouce his family ties. He wanders alone and begs for food. The focus of his life is to concentrate on obtaining release from samsara. During this final stage of life, he performs no rituals. He becomes a pilgrim and visits holy sites.
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Sanskrit
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An Indo-European language that is related to the family of languages that includes Hindi, Greek, French, Spanish, German & English
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Santana Dharma
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Indigenous term for the religions of India.
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shruti
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word meaning "to hear" - as in something being divinely inspired
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soma
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A liquid that is made from the soma plant that is used in the ancient Aryan rituals.
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Who are the Sudra?
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Lowest caste which includes the peasants, manual laborers. According to the Rig-Veda, this caste came from Purusha's feet.
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twice-born castes
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The three upper castes, Brahmin, Kshatriya and Vaisya. Members of these castes are symbolically born again through a Vedic initation ceremony.
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untouchables
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Dalit - beneath the four castes. Members of this caste traditionally perform the dirtiest work in Indian Society.
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Upanishads
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one early scriptures, but not part of the Vedas
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Define the Vaishyas.
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Third level of the twice born caste system. Includes the merchants and artisans. Their purpose is economic specialists.
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Define the Vanaprastha.
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The third stage of ashramas. Called the "Forest dweller or hermit period." The man leaves his family & home, and retires to the forest to focus on spiritual matters. Lives on wild food and renouces pleasure and sex.
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What is Varna?
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Social class or castes. The caste system divides the world in to four varna. Concept goes back to the creation hymns of the Rig-Veda.
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What are the Vedas?
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Divinely Inspired Scritpures that are the basis for most of Hindu religon. Can not be added to or changed.
--------------------------- Early collection of Aryan / Hindu Scripture writen some- time between 1500 B.C.E. and 800 B.C.E. |
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What is the Vedanta?
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The final collection of shruti literature is known as the Upsanishads -also called the Vendanta, meaning "end of the Vedas"; because they are the final books to be added to the shruti.
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Vishnu
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diety responsible for the cosmic order.
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What is in the Yajur-Veda?
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The Yajur-Veda is the second book of the Vedas. It contains ritual instructions for the priests about how to conduct the sacrifices. It was sued by the priests who recited the Vedic hymns during the sacrifices.
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Why is the pursuit of Artha important in completing one's dharma?
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The second of the Dharma Shastras - one of the duties, responsibilties and capablilties that are determined to them by birth.
Artha includes both material wealth and power. Power is a legitimate goal because it is important to rule. |
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What is an Avatar?
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An Avatar is a diety who has taken on a human form.
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What does Bhakti mean?
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Devotion
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What is bhakti-marga?
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It is the way of devotion. One of the "Three Ways" paths taught in the Bhagavad Gita.
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What is the Bhagavad Gita?
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One of the more popular books of the smriti. It is a conversation between the warrior Arjuna andthe god Krishna who has disguised himself as a charioteer. The ultimate lesson being taught is the goal in life is to perform actions without attachment and desire.
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Who is Brahma?
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One of the three major dieties that came to be the focus of worship.
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What is Brahminism?
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The early period of Hinduism is referred to by some scholars as Brahminism. The time after the development of the Three Ways is referred to as Hinduism.
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What is a darshana?
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The 6 way division of the Jnana-Marga (the Way of Knowledge into six different darshana or systems of philosophy.
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What is the Dharma Shastra?
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The Dharma Shastras are the law manuals the describe religious duty, and are the best known descriptions of the way of action. (Karma-Marga)
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Describe the jnana-marga
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The way of knowledge. It is divided into 6 different darshana or systems of philosophy. All six accept the authority of the Vedas, seek moksha and believe in reincarnation.
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What are the 6 darshana of the Jnana-Marga (Way of Knowledge)?
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Sankhya System; Yoga System; Mimansa System; Vaisheshika System; Nyaya System; and the Vendanta System.
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What is the Kali Yuga?
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The Kali Yuga (end of time) a period of darkness. Began in 3102 B.C.E. and will culminate w/ many natural disasters and the end of the earth by a great fire.
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What is Kama?
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Kama is (pleasure) it is one of the four legimate life goals appropriate to the present world. Kama is considered the lowest pursuit. In Hinduism, kama also includes poetry, sports, and the enjoyment of life.
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What is the importance of the Karma-Marga?
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The Karma-Marga (the way of action) is based on ancient teachings of Hinduism. Path emphasizes correct dharma. Each individual must perform certian duties, rites and social responibilties. The Law of Manu is important here.
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Describe the Mahabharata.
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Written ca. 400B.C.E and 400 C.E. It is a story about the struggle between two families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. It teaches that trying to help other people is the basis of dharma. Also includes traditional doctrines: ashramas, the 4 life goals, and the caste system.
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What does marga mean?
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It means "the way".
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Describe the Mimansa System.
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The Mimansa system is based on a literal interpretation of the Vedas. It teaches that the Vedas have power over the dieties. The main goal of this system is to avoid rebirth.
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What is the Nyaya system?
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Adopted mayny docgtrines of the Viasheshika system. It is atheist and teaches that the world is real. This system stresses insight,reason, and logic to learn the truth about the world.
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what is prakriti?
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Matter
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define purusha
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The soul or self
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What is the Sankhya system?
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dualistic and atheistic. Teaches that matter (prakriti) and the self (purusha) are real. Only matter and spirit exist. It's goal is to bring about liberation of the spirit from matter.
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Who is Shiva?
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Shiva is one of the three dieties of the Vedas that became the focus of worship along with Vraahma and Vishnu
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what is smriti?
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A new type of religious literature developed afer the Shruti literature. Smriti means "tradition" or "what is remembered." it is written by people who have studied the Shurti literature, but unlike the Shurti, the Smiriti is not considered divinely inspired.
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Describe the Vaisheshika system.
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Similar to Greek philosophy. This system holds tat the universe is composed of eternal elements.
There are no deities since those elements are both eternal and uncreated. |
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Describe the Vendanta system.
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The end of the Vedas. Based on the Upanishads. It is monistic and teaches that there is only one true essence in the universe: Brahman. Nothing exists apart from Brahman.
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What is yoga?
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The word yoga means discipline. It teaches the suppression of the mental statesis accomplished through spiritual or physical exercises that elp the individual to overcome desire.
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What is yuga?
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Periods of time or eras. There are four different eras called yugas.
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bhakti yoga
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Devotion Yoga - the spiritual discipline fo devotion. The goal is to live a life of devotion to a deity, devotion to include prayers, chants and offerings to statues of deities.
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chakra
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the seven energy centers that are located along the spinal column. Each chakra is an energy source whos powers can be released through meditation
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devi
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Female deity who is frequently portrayed as a great goddess who is the destroyer of evil.
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Durga
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The name of the female deity and is sometimes the Skkti of the god Shiva.
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hatha yoga
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Power Yoga - a spiritual discipline of physical exercise. Goal is t6o release the power of the kundalini.
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jnana yoga
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Knowledge yoga - teaches that the ignorance is the root of all problems. Based on teachings of the Upanishads & the Bhagavad Gita. Goal is spiritual insight rather than intellectual knowledge.
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karma yoga
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Action yoga - the spiritual disciple of selfless action. Teaches that unselfish acts can lead to perfection
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kundalini
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The life force at the base of the spine
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kundalina yoga
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the discipline of releasing the powers of the seven chakras through meditation . When the energy of the seventh chakra at the head is released, a person experiences a state of profound bliss.
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raja yoga
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Royal Yoga - Stresses the discipline of meditation. Most popular in the West. Uses body postures & breathing exercises to focus the mind & induse states of meditation.
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Shakti
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The female consort who represented the energy of the male deities of the Vedas.
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tantric shaktism
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The Hindu form of Tantrism.
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Tantrism
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a system of thought based on the ancient yoga traditions. it focuses on the goddesses. It seeks to arouse the spiritual force in the chakras.
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yoga sutras
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.
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darshan
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The act of standing before the statue of a deity is called darshan - a sacred encounter wtih the presence of the deity.
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Lakshmi
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Vishnu's wife. She is responsible for the fertility and the protection of the world. Frequently serves as a mediator between humans and Vishnu.
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pinda
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Food balls usuall made of rice cakes that are offered to the spirit of the deceased. Feeds the dead during their journey to rebirth. Also provides the deceased with a new spiritual body.
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prasad
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food that is offered to the deity and eaten by the worshipers. This meal is believed to impart blessings to the devotees of the deity.
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sadhu
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People who have become ascetics. They have renounced everything in order to obtain release. They are no longer bound by regulations of their family or caste. Many sandus are the focus of devotion. (The same as worshipping God.)
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sanskaras
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Rituals to celebrate important events or points in a person's life cycle: birthdays, beginning of school, marriage and death... etc...
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Shivaites
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Shiva is the god of destruction. Also responsible for death & disease. Destruction is seen as part of the cosmic cycle of time, therefore Shiva is also the god of reproduction. People who are devotees of Shiva are known as Shivaites.
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shraddha
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Ceremony to mark death. used to help the ancestor to move along his or her appropriate karmic path. Following the cremation/funeral the family must conduct a purification ceremony.
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Trimuriti
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The gods Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva - viewed as manifestations of Brahman-Atman and were velieved to maintain the cosmos
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Vaishnavites
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People who are devotes of Vishnu.
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