Religions Test-1

Bin Mahayana Buddhism, Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts but used this not to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world, but to help others. The worship of images of the Buddha and Bodhisattas became an important part of this tradition.

The new way of thinking was called Mahayana – literally, the “great vehicle”. Those who adopted these beliefs described the older tradition as Hinayana or the “lesser vehicle”.

Vaishnavism was a form of Hinduism within which Vishnu was worshipped as the principal deity) and Shaivism - a tradition within which Shiva was regarded as the chief god.

Shiva was symbolised by the linga, although he was occasionally represented in human form too. All such representations depicted a complex set of ideas about the deities and their attributes through symbols such as headdresses, ornaments and ayudhas – weapons or auspicious objects the deities hold in their hands – how they are seated, etc.

The early temple was a small square room, called the garbhagriha, with a single doorway for the worshipper to enter and offer worship to the image. Gradually, a tall structure, known as the shikhara, was built over the central shrine. Temple walls were often decorated with sculpture.

From earliest times, people tended to regard certain places as sacred. These included sites with special trees or unique rocks, or sites of awe inspiring natural beauty. These sites, with small shrines attached to them, were sometimes described as chaityas.

Buddha’s life – he was born in Lumbini), he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, He gave his first sermon at Sarnath and he attained nibbana at Kusinagara.

According to a Buddhist text known as the Ashokavadana, Asoka distributed portions of the Buddha’s relics to every important town and ordered the construction of stupas over them.

The stupa (a Sanskrit word meaning a heap) originated as a simple semi-circular mound of earth, later called anda. Above the anda was the harmika, a balconylike structure that represented the abode of the gods. Arising from the harmika was a mast called the yashti, often surmounted by a chhatri or umbrella. Around the mound was a railing, separating the sacred space from the secular world.

Buddha’s life – he was born in Lumbini), he attained enlightenment in Bodh Gaya, He gave his first sermon at Sarnath and he attained nibbana at Kusinagara.