Hinduism: Practices
What's covered
Key facts
Bhajan, Kirtan, Japa and Mantra
A bhajan is a Hindu devotional song.
Diwali and Holi
At home Diwali is celebrated by lighting diya lamps and sharing sweets.
Environmental Projects and Cow Protection
Mother Earth in Hinduism is called Bhumi.
Havan, Puja, Arati, Darshan
Agni (fire) carries offerings to the gods in havan.
Hindu Charities
Annadana means giving food to those in need.
Murti: Significance
The Arya Samaj (founded 1875 by Dayananda Saraswati) rejects murti worship.
Pilgrimage and the Kumbh Mela
Bathing at the Kumbh is believed to cleanse karma from past lives.
Places of Worship: Home, Temple, Outdoors
The largest UK mandir is the BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London.
The Four Yoga Paths: Karma, Jnana, Astanga, Bhakti
Astanga literally means "eight limbs".
Bhajan, Kirtan, Japa and Mantra
Japa is repetition of a mantra.
Practice questions with answers
A taste of the 88 questions in this topic, answers marked. Sign up to practise the full set with spaced repetition.
What is a bhajan?
- ✓Devotional Hindu song
- •Group call-and-response chanting
- •Repeated recitation of a mantra
- •Sacred fire ceremony
What does Diwali primarily celebrate?
- ✓Light triumphing over darkness
- •The arrival of the spring harvest
- •the birthday of Lord Krishna
- •The founding of the Khalsa
Why are cows sacred to many Hindus?
- •Krishna commanded their worship
- ✓Symbol of life and ahimsa
- •They are an avatara of Vishnu
- •They are forbidden to be touched
What is havan?
- •Group call-and-response chanting
- •Lamp-waving devotional ritual
- •Ritual bathing in the Ganges
- ✓Sacred fire ceremony
What does Hindu charity often emphasise?
- •Donating only to one's family
- •Earning fame for the donor
- •Maximising tax breaks alone
- ✓Service that purifies the giver
What is a murti mainly used for in Hindu worship?
- •A decorative object with no religious role
- ✓A focus for devotion to the deity
- •A record of a family's ancestors
- •A replacement for all prayer and ritual
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