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Chapter 3: Early Hinduism
Fill in the Blank
1. “Varna” is the Brahmin word for _________.
2. In the religious Dogma evolved by the Brahmins, linking the _________ with the _________
provided an explanation for the inequalities of life.
3. The only general obligation of early Hindus was to _________.
4. The _________ was the acknowledged leader of early Indian tribes known as Aryan.
5. When the Aryans engaged in public worship they gathered here: _________.
6. The four varna are _________, _________, _________, and __________.
7. “Turiya” refers to _________.
8. “Samsara” is an Upanishad doctrine of __________.
9. The _________ were Indian natives that resisted the invasion of the Indo-Aryans in the northwest of
India from about 1800-1500 B.C.E.
10. The Indo-Aryans originally migrated from _________.
Multiple Choice
11. While modern Hindus have become accustomed to using the term “Hinduism” when speaking
English, among themselves they use the ancient word _________.
a. dharma
b. adhvaryu
c. rajah
d. varna
12. The tribes of Indo-Aryan nomads that conquered the Indian natives belonged to the same ethnic group
that conquered what ancient land?
a. Etruvia
b. Mesoamerica
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c. Old Europe
d. Persia
13. Tribes with a __________ heritage have held territories in northeast India since at least the early
second millennium B.C.E.
a. Indo- Aryan
b. Indo- European
c. Mongoloid
d. Persian
14. In the Aryan social structure the Rajah typically obtained his position through_________.
a. age
b. election
c. heredity
d. war
15. What is the Rig-Veda?
a. an anthology of religious poetry
b. an explanation of the caste system
c. an oral history of the divas
d. directions for preparation of the sacrifices
16. During the Vedic age the altar grounds included a seat strewn with grass near the fires. For whom was
the seat reserved?
a. the altar builder
b. the invisible divine guests
c. the kindler of the sacrificial fire
d. the libations pourer
17. What effect did soma, a sacred drink used in rituals, have on those who drank it?
a. a deadly effect
b. a humbling effect
c. an hallucinatory effect
d. it did not have an effect
18. Which of the Vedic gods was ruler of the mid-region of the sky?
a. Indra
b. Purusha
c. Vritra
d. Vishuakarman
19. In the Vedic conceptual system, these deities were chiefly associated with, and were outgrowths of,
the act of worship itself.
a. divine deities
b. henotheistic deities
c. liturgical deities
d. nature deities
20. What rhythmic chants were used by priests at the soma sacrifice?
a. Agni-Veda
b. Atharva-Veda
c. Rig-Veda
d. Sama-Veda
21. The __________ provides evidence of the development of an anatomically informed medical art.
a. Agni-Veda
b. Atharva-Veda
c. Rig-Veda
d. Sama-Veda
22. The 129th hymn of the tenth book of the Rig-Veda is addressed to a great unnamed cosmic reality that
is referred to as _________.
a. creator of the cosmos
b. cosmic man
c. he who sees all
d. that One Thing
23. According to Brahmanism, _________ were thought to be the pivotal beings of the universe.
a. cosmic beings
b. gods
c. priests
d. the supreme being
24. In the Brahmin class system, the common people were referred to as _________.
a. kshatriyas
b. rajaynas
c. shudras
d. vaisyas
25. The Brahmanas were meant to direct the priests in the use of _________ and _________.
a. herbs, medicines
b. hymns, prayers
c. libations, food
d. reward, punishment
26. The Brahmanas described a public rite referred to as the Asvamedha or Horse Sacrifice. How long
did it take to complete this rite?
a. 100 days
b. a fortnight
c. over a year
d. up to one week
27. What spiritual theme did the Upanishads mainly contemplate?
a. interpretations of existence
b. origins of the universe
c. the afterlife
d. the power of ritual
28. The Upanishads are often in what form?
a. dialogues
b. first-person narratives
c. letters
d. poetry
29. The trend toward _________ in India suggested an interiorizing of religion.
a. asceticism
b. practice of magic
c. public worship
d. temple building
30. The Upanishads refer to Brahman unmanifest as_________.
a. He-She
b. It
c. God
d. Mayana
31. The Brahman term _________ refers to the transcendental self.
a. atman
b. jiva
c. moksha
d. tapas
32. The _________ suggests that one’s thoughts words, and deeds have an ethical consequence.
a. Law of Brahmans
b. Law of Kalpas
c. Law of Karma
d. Law of Turiya
33. Which of the following is NOT represented in the Smriti?
a. Darshana
b. Dharma Shastras
c. Krishna Recension
d. Nibandhas
34. The metaphysical view that ultimate reality is made up of only one substance is referred to as
_________.
a. henotheism
b. karma
c. monism
d. mayanism
35. _________ refers to liberation from the cycle of samsara.
a. agni
b. jiva
c. moksha
d. monism