Download Brahman reincarnation dharma karma The Vedas pujas moksha

SEVENTH GRADE SOCIAL STUDIES
STUDY GUIDE – HINDUISM
NAME ____________________________
DATE ______________________
PERIOD _____
DIRECTIONS: Use the following study guide to prepare for the quiz on Hinduism and the caste
system. In the left hand column, you will see important terms that you should be familiar with. In the
right hand column, write down any important information that you need to know about these terms.
Then, fold the paper vertically on the dotted line to quiz yourself.
Brahman
reincarnation
dharma
Supreme Being – has no form and is also
known by other names/many gods
represents the different sides of Braham
(Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu)
Idea that people have eternal selves/ in a
cycle of birth, death and rebirth
following one’s duties/ in the past was
related to following the duties of your caste
but now is more about doing what is right
or moral
a person’s good or bad actions that can
be a reward or punishment
karma
Ancient scripture or religious writings,
stories of the Hindu gods
The Vedas
daily rituals in which Hindus pray, small
acts of worship
pujas
moksha
believed to be a state of eternal happiness
when one breaks out of the cycle of
reincarnation/ Hindus strive for this
Pilgrimage to Ganges River
Hindus consider the Ganges River to be
sacred and may make a pilgrimage (holy
journey) to bathe in the river to purify or
cleanse selves/ some spread cremations on
the river
Cows
Hindus consider that the cow is sacred
animal and believed to be the mother of all
civilization; most Hindus do not eat beef;
laws about cow protection varies in
different states and impacts globalization
issues
caste system
Untouchables/ Harijans
How has the caste system
changed over time?
Divali, Pongal,
Krishna’s Birthday, Navratri
You should also be able to answer the unit’s
essential question: How does religion
influence culture? Your response should
contain specific details about the key
concepts and holidays to demonstrate your
understanding of Hinduism and its
influence on culture.
Social system that divided society into groups
determined by your birth / was connected to
Hinduism in that one had to follow their dharma
or duties of the caste
Untouchables were considered out of the caste and
had the least desirable jobs/ Gandhi renamed them
the Harijans, which means “children of God” to
show that all people were equal
discrimination by caste became illegal in 1947
Indian government started affirmative action
programs to help the lower castes get jobs/ some
higher castes protested
These are Hindu holidays. (You should be
familiar with specific details of at least one
of them to show how Hinduism influences
culture. See holidays and rituals
worksheet.