Name ______________ANSWER KEY______________ Period _________ Date _________________
TRADITIONAL INDIA TEST REVIEW PACKET
RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS
pp. 177-182 & Hinduism Packet
Hindu Deities
Name
Physical Description
Brahma 4 heads, sometimes has a beard
Religious Significance
Creator god
Vishnu
Many-headed cobra behind his head God that helps people do their
dharma
Shiva
Cobra around his neck, trident in
God of destruction and
his hand
reincarnation
Ganesh Elephant head
God of journeys, remover of
obstacles
Lakshmi Money falling from her hand
Goddess of wealth and prosperity
Kali
Holds a bloody sword and severed
head of a demon, skirt of arms
Hindu Stories
Story
Six Blind
Men and the
Elephant
Lord’s Song
– Arjuna’s
Sorrow
Summary
Destroyer of evil and demons
Hindu Belief
Six blind men are using touch to
describe an elephant (that
symbolizes the Universal Spirit)
The Universal Spirit (Brahmin) is hard
to describe, All of the gods & atman of
living things are part of Universal Spirit
Arjuna does not want to fight in a
battle, but Krishna, an incarnation
of Vishnu, convinces him to do so
Reincarnation, Atman, Dharma, Karma,
Fate, Caste
A priest is going to sacrifice a goat,
but the goat stops him so he, too, is
not reincarnated as a goat
Reincarnation., Karma, Life is sacred,
Fate
An elephant will not put a flag pole
in a hole, despite being beaten, so he
does not kill a cat
All life is sacred
(Bagavad Gita)
Jataka
Parable
Mahagiri
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Term
Definition
A person’s duty
Dharma
Karma
Reincarnation
The result of how well a person does his/her dharma; it represents how pure
on’es atman is; a better karma means a better reincarnation
Most people are reborn after they die, The god Shiva is involved with karma
and the cycle of rebirth; Most people remember the details of their past lives;
People who live a good life and do their dharma will be reborn at a higher level.
display of devotion to a godv
Puja
Person’s spirit/energy
Atman
Mokshe
When are person’s atman becomes so spiritually pure, it does not need to be
reincarnated and becomes one with the Universal Spirit
Brahman
Universal Spirit; everything has a spirit and they are all part of this Universal
Spirit
Describe additional major Hindu beliefs
No one holy book, no set of rules (dogma), all life is sacred, cows are especially sacred, water is
sacred, life is a cycle, There are many gods which together make up the one Universal Spirit
What is the caste system? What does it represent?
Caste is determined by birth (who your parents are); it affects who you can marry, what job
you have, what you eat, etc.; Caste is an entire way of life;
How the beliefs of Hinduism support the caste system? (Be specific)
Hindus believe that what you do in your previous life affects your Karma and that your karma
determines how you will be reincarnated in your next life (like what caste you are in), caste
represents your spiritual purity; caste discourages people to work hard because the believe
they are a particular caste and they cannot change that.
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Brahmin
Priests
Which cast is
the largest?
Kshatrya
Warriors & rulers
Sudra
Vaishya
Skilled traders, merchants, & minor officials
Shudra (Sudra)
unskilled workers
Caste
Jobs
Untouchables (Pariahs) Dalits, “untouchables,” handle the deceased,
Which caste is
the smallest?
Brahmin
street sweepers, beggars
EARLY CIVILIZATIONS OF INDIA
pp. 170-174
Why is the Indus River Valley Civilization is significant? Why did it begin where it did?
It is one of the largest ancient civilizations; they settled in the Indus River Valley for it’s fertile soil
and fresh water source
Describe the Aryan civilization and how it affected modern-day India?
Aryans invaded from the north, coming across the Hindu Kush Mountains. They brought their
culture with them and it became part of the Indian culture, including caste, cows being sacred, the
Vedas (readings), and many other beliefs that are now part of Hinduism
POWERFUL EMPIRES PP. 183-188
Identify/Define:
tomb for a Muslim king’s favorite wife
Taj Mahal
Muslim king
Sultan
Ruling family
Dynasty
Shrine containing the remains of Buddha
stupa
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Maurya
Time Period
321 – 232 B.C.E
Differences
Muhgul
320 – 600 C.E.
1526 – 1853
United India
Peace
Peace
Golden Age _
accomplishments in arts and
music
Mixing of Muslim and
Hindu culture
Asoka
Chandragupta
Babar
Akb
Acheivements
Major
Leader(s)
Gupta
Ashoka (Asoka)
Akbar
Buddhist
262-232 B.C.E
Muslim
1556-1605
Similarities
Great Muslim leaders,
peaceful
accepting of people’s differences
What is cultural diffusion?
Cultural diffusion is when pats of one culture become part of another through trade or war
How did invaders help shape India?
Aryans brought beliefs that are now part of Hinduism; Muslim invaders brought Islam and it
is now the 2nd most common religion in South Asia
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PATTERNS OF LIFE PP. 189-193
Hindu and Muslim tradition of women staying secluded from society
Purdah
 How did the caste system regulate people’s lives?
Who they could marry, what they could eat, what jobs they could have, what clothes they
would wear
 Describe village life (how it was run, how it supported itself, etc.).
Most people lived in villages; they were self-sufficient (produced everything they needed)
 Describe the traditional Indian family
The man was the leader of the family
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