Question 1

This follower of non-dualistic Vedanta and a priest of Kali in Calcutta is known as perhaps the greatest religious reformer of the nineteenth century.

Accepted Answer

Sri Ramakrishna, also known as Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, was a follower of non-dualistic Vedanta and a priest of Kali in Calcutta. He is known as perhaps the greatest religious reformer of the nineteenth century for his teachings and philosophy that emphasized the unity of all religions and the direct experience of God. His disciples included Swami Vivekananda, who founded the Ramakrishna Mission to propagate his teachings.

Question 2

What does Hinduism share with most religions today?

Accepted Answer

Hinduism, like many other religions today, grapples with how to reconcile their traditional beliefs and practices with the changes brought about by modernity. This includes adapting to new technologies, changing societal norms, and coping with the impact of globalization. While Hinduism is distinct in many ways, this is an issue that it shares with other religions in the modern world.

Question 3

Discuss the three major gods in postclassical Hinduism. What are the characteristics of each? What form does devotion to each take? Discuss the wives, if any, of these gods and the roles they play as goddesses in Hindu devotion.

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Question 4

This philosopher is known as the developer of the Advaita Vedanta system and fiercely opposed Buddhism.

Accepted Answer

Shankara is known as the developer of the Advaita Vedanta system, which emphasizes the oneness of consciousness and fiercely opposed Buddhism for its theory of non-self (anatta) and the rejection of the existence of a permanent self or soul.

Question 5

The most popular Hindu festival is celebrated to welcome spring.

Accepted Answer

Holi is commonly known as the festival of colors and is celebrated to welcome spring. It is one of the most widely celebrated Hindu festivals and is known for the throwing of colored powders and water.

Question 6

William Carey, a nineteenth-century British missionary, objected to the practice of surviving Indian widows dying on their dead husbands' funeral pyres called

Accepted Answer

William Carey objected to the practice of suttee, which involved a widow immolating herself on her husband's funeral pyre. This practice was prevalent in some parts of India during the nineteenth century. Carey was a Christian missionary who worked in India and was instrumental in the development of the modern Indian education system. He was also known for his efforts to promote social reform and improve the status of women in India.

Question 7

Who were the Aryans and when did they come to India? Describe the basic characteristics of Aryan religion and discuss some of the ways early Hinduism preserved them, particularly in the Vedic literature.

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Question 8

Hinduism boasts a rich and complex textual tradition. Explain, in particular, the basic tenets of the Upanishads and the concepts of karma, samsara, and moksha, and how these relate to the life of the Hindu.

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Question 9

Discuss the Hindu philosophical tradition known as Vedanta. Explain the ideas of Shankara and the ways in which later medieval Hindu theologians modified and/or challenged his system. Discuss the thinkers in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries who kept this system alive and presented it to the world as the essence of true Hinduism.

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Question 10

The caste system

Accepted Answer

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...

Question 11

The emergence of this religion in the fifteenth century represented an attempt at reconciliation between Islam and Hinduism.

Accepted Answer

Sikhism emerged in the fifteenth century in the Punjab region of India as a religious movement that attempted to reconcile the differences between Islam and Hinduism. It was founded by Guru Nanak who believed in the unity of God and the equality of all humans. The religion combines elements of both Hindu and Islamic traditions while also emphasizing the importance of community service and the rejection of caste systems.

Question 12

How do American Hindu temples differ from those in India?

Accepted Answer

American Hindu temples are dedicated to the worship of many gods, whereas, in India, temples typically focus on worship of a particular deity or a few deities.

Question 13

Explain the contradiction some scholars see between the Upanishads and the other types of Vedic literature. How would someone who sees both as fundamentally similar challenge the attempt to contrast them?

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Question 14

What is one reason that Hindus make pilgrimages to the Ganges River?

Accepted Answer

Hindus make pilgrimages to the Ganges River to fulfill their vows. The river is considered very sacred by Hindus, and taking a dip in it is believed to cleanse one's sins and grant salvation. Therefore, many Hindus visit the Ganges to fulfill their vows, seek blessings, and perform various rituals.

Question 15

What are some of the challenges Hinduism and its practitioners face today? Give at least two examples of modern Hindu reformers and how they influenced Hinduism.

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Quiz 3: Hinduism