Religion 102 : Introduction to World Religions Hinduism Study Guide
revised as of 2/15/00

I. Key Terms:

Vedas	castes	Kali Yuga	jnana yoga
Sanatana Dharma	kshatriyas	Ramayana	karma yoga
Dharma	vaishyas	Mahabharata	bhakti yoga
Siva	shudra	Bhagavad-Gita	Vaishnavites
Harappans	atman	sacred thread	Saivites
Upanishads	reincarnation	sannyasin	Saktas
Agni	karma	guru	Tantras
Brahmins	samsara	yoga	Samkhya
Brahman	moksha	raja yoga	Advaita Vedanta

II. Focus Questions

1. What is Hinduism? How should it be explained to one who knows nothing about it?
2. What is the significance of the subtitle of this chapter, "With mind absorbed and heart melted in love"?
3. What views of women are engendered by Hinduism? Explain.
3. Explain why there are so many different kinds of religious responses in Hinduism.
5. The word Dharma, in the term Sanatana Dharma, can be translated as "religion." If that is done, what DOESN'T the word "religion" express which is part of the meaning of Dharma? Explain.
6. Why is it difficult to reconstruct a historical chronology of the development of Hinduism?

III. While you view "Hinduism: 330 Million Gods":

1. In this film a Hindu priest tells Ronald Eyre that there are 330 million gods in the Hindu pantheon. What does he mean? How does this support the description of Hinduism as "unity in diversity"?

2. One of the festivals is in honor of the goddess of learning, Saraswati. What is the significance of the ceremony at the boy's school? Does this celebration reveal anything about religious toleration in Hinduism?

3. Identify the four stages of life in Hinduism. How can this scheme help us understand the nephew's remark that the "sannyasi" or "mahatma" used to be his uncle?