AS and A Level: Hinduism
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What is the Role and Significance of Hindu Temples?
The temple is central to festivals, for example Durga Puja, and is often the focus of pilgrimages. The priests speak Sanskrit preventing the language from dying, this upholds the ties to centuries of Hindus. Furthermore, ceremonies are performed to perfection in the temple ensuring that the rituals continue as a constant. The temple acts as a preserver of the religion in all its glory and tradition. The temple is seen as the dwelling place of God and so is considered the place to receive darshan: a glimpse of God. Temple murtis are considered far more significant than home murtis.
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The concept of Atman
The next day the dad tells him to get the water and drink from the side of it. He asks the boy what it's like and the boy replies (quite obviously) "salty" and he gets the boy to drink from different bits of the container and the middle and every time, the boy tells him that it's salty. The point of this story is showing that he can't distinguish the salt from the water, and in the same way atman evades us and becomes part of the whole world. The first recordings of the notion of atman are found in the Upanishads and it isn't really featured that much in the Vedas.
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How is Hinduism different from the other two major world religions?
Out of this principle of unity stems the concept of accountability of one's actions in this earthly life. The rise in popularity of Hinduism in the last half of the last century is attributed to this very principle, because it can be compared with the Earth's ecosystem of interdependencies of different biological levels of organisms. The followers of Hinduism are motivated to behave according their religion's moral code not because of the fear of successive punishment. Rather, they know that everything in this world functions according to the cause-and-effect principle and one's actions today will lead to the inevitable consequences after the incarnation.
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Describe Hindu belief in respect for all living creatures.
Hindus also believe the universal soul is the ultimate, so if it is in everything then you should respect everything and therefore killing an animal is exactly the same as killing a human. Some Hindus also believe in the teachings of the school of Advaita Vedanta, which was founded by the Indian philosopher Shankara. Shankara's main belief was the idea of Non-dualism.
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Identify the characteristics beliefs and practises associated with Krishna And what is the significance for a devotee of Krishna.
His love affair with the beautiful cowherdess, Radha is immensely popular with his followers. In many Indian temples dedicated to Krishna, his followers visit (Darshan) his images and present water for washing, drinking, clothes, flowers, incense and offer praise during their puja. Chanting and singing the Hare Krishna mantra is a very popular activity found in temples. The maha-mantra is a transcendental sound vibration which awakens love of God in the heart and mind. As with all other activities, music is considered a sacred offering to God. Murti's of Krishna are ritually installed temples, as it is believed that it is actually full of divine spirit of Krishna.
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To What Extent Was Mohammad Ali Jinnah Responsible for The Foundation of Pakistan?
However, perhaps most importantly, Jinnah became the President of the All India Muslim League after being a significant member for many years. Furthermore, Jinnah attended Round Table conferences in England causing great influence within the British government. Many suggest that Jinnah was the leader of the Pakistan movement spurring the Muslim community forward in search of equality and freedom and in essence creating such a movement and evidently the gain of a separate Muslim state. Perhaps as a show of appreciation, Jinnah was elected as the first President of Pakistan and is still known today as the 'Qaid e azam' which is Arabic for 'The Great Leader.'
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