Download Hinduism Introductory Worksheet

Hinduism
PART ONE: Video - Origins
1. When and where did Hinduism begin?
2. What word starting with ‘H’ is the name of the civilization where
Hinduism began?
3. What can we learn from the archeological artefacts and seals found on
the site of this ancient civilization?
4. One seal shows a meditating figure which scholars link to which Hindu
lord?
5. What posture is shown on other seals?
6. Other symbols connecting the ancient past with today include (3):
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7. Fire altars have been found which show the ceremonial practices of
vedic people also known as A_____________.
8. Other things discovered include (4):
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9. What is the name of the traditional Hindu greeting and what action do
people do?
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10.When and why did the Saraswati Indus culture decline?
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11.Where did people migrate to?
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Textbook:
Read the section on ‘Aryans’ on page 187 of your text. Answer the
following questions:
1. Who were the Aryans?
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2. What did the Aryans possess and what language did they speak?
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3. What did the dominant Aryans do to the non-Aryans and what did
they develop?
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4. What three upper classes comprised the class system?
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5. Describe some of the gods which the Aryans worshipped:
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6. Summarise the worship practices of the Aryans, and explain how
these relate to the formation of the Vedas, the Aryans’ sacred texts.
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PART TWO: Video – Hindu Scriptures
1. How many Vedas are there?
2. When were they first written and in what language?
3. What one word do the words Hindu and India come from?
4. What do the vedic hymns describe or worship?
5. Were these hymns oral or written?
Textbook:
After viewing the Power Point on ‘Sacred Texts,’ read page 188-189 of
your text and answer the following questions:
1. Define the Vedas.
2. Write down any points which were not mentioned in the Power
Point.
3. What is the powerful and mysterious power called Brahman?
4. How are the Vedas and the Upanishads connected?
5. Define the Upanishads.
6. Which group of people emerged by the end of the 7th Century BCE
and what role did they begin to play in Hinduism?
7. Define the following core concepts which are developed in the
Upanishads:
* Brahman
* Atman
* Maya
* Karma
* Moksha
8. Why isn’t death a tragedy in Hinduism?
9. Explain the idea of rebirth and the concept of Karma.
10. Who is Krishna?
11. What is dharma?