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June 2024
Q1.1: Which one of the following is not one of the four aims of human life for Hindus?
Put a tick () in the box next to the correct answer. A Artha B Dharma C Kama D Saguna
Answer:
beliefs, practices and sources of authority Answer: D Saguna
Q1.2: Give two ways in which Hindus can show the personal virtue of respect.
Answer:
beliefs, practices and sources of authority considered for marking. Speaking kindly to others / not using language to offend or cause harm / not discriminating against others / helping anyone in need, without barriers / treating the elderly with respect / treating teachers and gurus with respect / showing compassion / obeying parents / obeying laws / respect for the environment / for people’s rights / for authority, eg Government / shown at the temple / toward deities / self-respect / fight for justice / worship / darshan / kirtan / visit a shrine, etc.
Q1.3: Explain two ways in which belief in the Tri-murti influences Hindus today.
Question 1 continues on the next page
Answer:
influence on individuals, communities and societies To be a ‘detailed explanation’ the ‘influence’ of the belief must be included. Responses may focus on individual members of the Tri-murti, or the Tri-murti as a whole. • Belief in the Tri-murti will influence Hindus to try to understand the Tri-murti through study of scripture / or via a guru / they will seek to learn or understand that there are three parts to the Vaishnavite Tri-murti / Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva / together they are the godhead of Hinduism / the Tri-murti are all manifestations of Brahman (Ultimate Reality) / it is very difficult for anyone to understand Brahman / by understanding the nature of the Tri-murti humans can better understand Brahman / to understand Brahman is to see the true nature of the divine / and attain moksha. • Many Hindus will focus their worship on one of the Tri-murti / particularly Shiva or Vishnu / Shaivites believe Shiva to be the Supreme of the three / and to be Supreme Lord / ‘By knowing Shiva, the Auspicious One who is hidden in all things, exceedingly fine, like film arising from clarified butter, the One embracer of the universe – by realising God, one is released from all fetters’ – Vedas / whereas Vaishnavites believe Vishnu to be Supreme / and the Supreme Lord / ‘Of all types of worship, worship of Vishnu is supreme.’ – Padma Purana / hence each group of Hindus gives their devotion to that specific deity, with the other in a lesser form. • Hindus who believe in Vishnu will also believe in avatars / many worship Krishna / eg ISKCON / as Supreme Lord or Brahman / will do bhakti yoga (service) as a form of worship / and to attain moksha / for example devoting their life to a job which is service to others such as medicine. • Hindus might build temples dedicated to one of the Tri-murti / eg the many temples ancient and modern in Varanasi dedicated to Shiva. • Hindus might make pilgrimage to a place associated with one of the Tri-murti / eg Mt Kailash for Shiva / Vrindavan for Krishna / to come closer to the deity / and gain greater merit, etc.
Q1.4: Explain two Hindu teachings about karma.
Refer to sacred writings or another source of Hindu belief and teaching in your answer.
Answer:
beliefs, practices and sources of authority Relevant and accurate reference to sacred writing or another source of Hindu belief and teaching – 1 mark • Law of karma is part of natural law / every action has a consequence / covers thoughts, words • Two types of action / those actions causing hurt and suffering (papa) / those actions which bring joy and happiness (punya) / Hindus should accumulate good merit through acts which are punya. • Everything humans do comes from the choices they make / from free will / Hinduism stresses the need to be aware, and to make positive choices. • What happens to a human comes from karmic debt / either as a consequence of what they have done in this or a previous lifetime / or as a result of the decisions of others / hence a person can benefit or suffer regardless of their own karma. • Consequences of karma can be for the individual / eg bad behaviour leads to punishment. • Consequences can be for other people or beings / eg drink-driving can lead to car accidents in which other people are hurt • Consequences can be immediate / eg the pain from cutting oneself whilst cooking without paying • Consequences can be deferred / eg spending all one’s money now leads to no money to buy what is needed later. • Consequences can be felt in more than one lifetime / dependent on the severity of any actions / eg story of the priest who sacrificed goats / which illustrates that negative karma might take many lifetimes to work through, and can come from what a person believes to be good actions. • Karma generated will depend on the attitude and amount of goodness generated / eg an altruistic Hindu might believe that Krishna will reward them with a place in Goloka for their service to • Karma is the reason humans continue to be reborn on the cycle of samsara (birth and death) / central aim of Hinduism is moksha / release from samsara / must build karma positively to make that more likely. • Attitude behind actions is important / any act will be affected if done selflessly or selfishly / Hindus should always try to be selfless / brings greater merit for reincarnation. • Following a path of yoga (union with the divine) is a way to generate positive karma / bhakti, karma, jnana, astanga / karma yoga is the path of service / focused entirely on service to others,
Sources of authority might include:
‘If we sow goodness, we reap goodness.’ – Vedas ‘Do not do unto others what you do not want done unto you; wish for others what you wish for yourself.’ – Vedas / Golden Rule ‘This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.’ – Mahabharata / ‘After death, the soul goes to the next world, bearing in mind the subtle impressions of its deeds, and after reaping their harvest returns again to this world of action. Thus, he who has desires continues subject to rebirth.’ – Yajur Veda ‘By realising God, one is released from all fetters.’ – Vedas ‘These actions which cause hurt and suffering to any other living beings are to be considered papa (sin, demerit, unskilful action); and punya (virtue, merit, skilful action) is defined as those actions which bring joy and happiness to others.’ – Mahabharata ‘Do not do to another what you do not like to be done to yourself; that is the gist of the law – all other laws are variable.’ – Mahabharata Accept all other sources of authority that correctly support the beliefs given.
Q1.5: ‘Belief in avatars is the most important belief for Hindus.’
Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: • refer to Hindu teaching • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view • reach a justified conclusion.
[SPaG 3 marks]
Extra space
Q2 Hinduism: Practices
Answer:
In your answer you should: • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view [SPaG 3 marks] understanding of relevant evidence and information. References to religion applied to the issue. relevant evidence and information. Clear reference to religion. evidence and information.
Arguments in support
• The concept of avatar is a very ancient belief / it is found in the Puranas and Bhagavad Gita specifically / however the concept is a reflection of the belief in Saguna Brahman / found in the Upanishads / Rig Veda describes Indra as being able to take any form at will. • ‘For the protection of the good, and for the destruction of the wicked, for the establishment of Dharma, I am born from age to age’ – Bhagavad Gita re Vishnu / avatars exist for the highest of reasons / so belief in them is to believe in the absolute goodness of the divine / from which all other beliefs are easier to accept. • Belief in avatars leads to devotion (bhakti) / which is one of the paths to union with the divine / hence the belief is put into practice if belief is true / and the central aim of Hinduism (moksha) can be attained / eg ISKCON is a form of Hinduism devoted to the avatar Krishna / bhakti yoga is a form of yoga to achieve moksha based on devotion, usually to Krishna or Vishnu. • Vishnu’s ten avatars have included ones which stepped up the level of universal development / they were vital to what now exists / and to humans’ capacity to attain moksha / hence they must be the most important of beliefs, etc.
Arguments in support of other views
• There are many competing beliefs for the title of most important / eg fully realising that Brahman is everything (Upanishads) / is the ultimate aim for any Hindu as it is moksha / belief in avatars is simply a stepping stone to this. • Belief in Brahman / as Brahman is the Ultimate Reality / moksha is reunion with Brahman / this is the key aim of life for all Hindus. • Belief in the Tri-murti allows Hindus to understand the divine / Vaishnavites see Vishnu as Supreme Lord / Shaivites see Shiva as Supreme Lord / Ganapatians see Ganesha as Supreme Lord / belief in any deity as Supreme Lord makes it the most important belief / because a Hindu follows their teachings primarily. • Belief in the Dharma acts as a guide to living / this must be the most important belief / if everyone in society lived according to the Dharma / society would be perfect. • Belief in moksha / since this is the ultimate aim for Hindus / ends suffering / is the outcome of following the four yogas. • Belief in the atman / that it is they who must achieve moksha / so belief in this aspect of the self is vital to underpin all other beliefs. • Belief in avatars is a Vaishnavite concept / so for many Hindus, such as Shaivites, avatars are not something important to believe in / as they do not believe in them. • Hinduism teaches that a person must work hard on their own self in order to attain moksha / belief in avatars encourages a Hindu to rely on the avatar, eg Krishna / so discourages that self- discipline and self-work. • The stories of the avatars are good stories / eg Rama and Sita, the dwarf Vamana and so on / however, they are important for their messages, eg the good defeats evil / rather than being the most important beliefs / they have a different role in Hindu faith, etc. Q2 Hinduism: Practices
Q2.1: Which one of the following refers to a statue of a deity?
Put a tick () in the box next to the correct answer. A Mandir B Mantra C Moksha D Murti
Answer:
beliefs, practices and sources of authority Answer: D Murti
Q2.2: Give two reasons why Hindus use land, hills and rivers for worship.
Answer:
beliefs, practices and sources of authority considered for marking. Homes of deities / they are sacred or holy / everything is Brahman (Upanishads, Vedas, Bhagavad Gita) / all created by the divine / rivers give life, eg by watering fields / linked to deities, eg Vrindavan to Krishna / venue for acts of worship / venue for other rituals, eg cremation at ghats in Varanasi / river water, like Ganges, used in acts of worship / Ganges is the hair of Shiva / the appropriateness of the place eg its beauty or tranquillity / in the absence of a nearby temple, etc.
Q2.3: Explain two contrasting ways in which Hindu charities support women’s rights.
Question 2 continues on the next page
Answer:
similarities and differences within and/or between religions and beliefs If similar ways are given, only one of them may be credited up to 2 marks max. offices and in outreach / this supports financially / also empowers them / builds self-esteem / by trying to get laws changed to give greater rights and legal support to women / funding legal battles for women / politicising examples of women’s rights abuses / establishing women’s refuges / celebrating women’s achievements / encouraging women to be held in higher esteem within their communities / through better education, capacity to earn etc / supporting skills and education for the setting up of small businesses run by women / promoting positive Hindu teachings about gender, etc. • Allow reference to specific charities which focus on specific elements of rights, for example: • Commit2Change educates orphaned girls / gets them out of the poverty cycle / reduces chance of them being sold into prostitution or marriage / helps them gain qualifications to be able to support • Sayfty – educates women about keeping themselves safe / being able to protect themselves (self- defence) if under threat of rape / supports reporting and legal action following rape. • WASH United – makes available sanitary products for free / educates girls to understand menstruation more clearly / reducing taboos around menstruation in girls or women and generally • Piramal Sarvajal – sets up ‘water ATMs’ in rural areas / reduces distance to travel for clean water / giving more time to other roles and more time for rest / allows women to protect their families' health as water is clean / also supports setting up of small co-operatives amongst women who now have more time / to generate wealth for their families. • Women on Wings – creator of jobs for women in rural India / means they can then support their families financially / escape cycle of poverty. • Allow examples of charities which have projects for women / for example, Sewa International, which runs projects for women / eg financial learning / and projects which indirectly help women / eg rural medical care, etc.
Q2.4: Explain two purposes of Hindu pilgrimage.
Refer to sacred writings or another source of Hindu belief and teaching in your answer.
Answer:
beliefs, practices and sources of authority Relevant and accurate reference to sacred writing or another source of Hindu belief and teaching – 1 mark • To show devotion and faith / as a pilgrimage is a form of worship which costs more / needs more time out of daily life / thus bringing greater karmic reward (punya). • To fulfil their dharma / pilgrimage can be considered part od one’s duties in the ashrama dharma • To be healed / eg bathing in the Ganges is believed to heal / visiting a specific guru can bring • To help another karmically / by dedicating the pilgrimage and the positive karma gained to another person / eg a sick relative. • To gain positive karma (punya) / by the journey to the place of pilgrimage / and being at the place of pilgrimage / every aspect is an act of worship / which brings positive karma (punya) / Varanasi is claimed to be the gateway to moksha. • To totally surrender to the divine will / because all is being done for the divine. • To do acts of bhakti once there / eg by serving food to other pilgrims / making the karmic reward even greater / these acts also demonstrate the Hindu virtues – love, respect, empathy. • To be able to scatter the ashes of a relative / for example, in the Ganges at Varanasi / which is believed to aid and quicken rebirth / and bring merit to the pilgrim. • To seek guidance from one of the gurus, sadhus or priests who are based in those places of pilgrimage / eg Varanasi is a city of temples / Kumbh Mela attracts sadhus who give guidance. • To be in a place considered special to a deity / breathe in that atmosphere / eg Mt Kailash where Shiva is thought to meditate / receive the blessing of that deity in acts of worship there, etc.
Sources of authority might include:
‘A pilgrim must go with total surrender, with a total faith in God, that it is only by God’s grace that he can finish the pilgrimage.’ – Ma Yoga Shakti ‘Do your work with the welfare of others in mind.’ – Bhagavad Gita ‘Flower-like the heels of the wanderer, His body growth is fruitful: All his sins disappear, Slain by the toil of sacred journey.’ – Rig Veda ‘Pilgrimages may be undertaken for many personal reasons, such as penance for sin or spiritual regeneration.’ – Swami Chidanand Saraswati ‘Those who bathe at least once in the Ganges in its pure water are protected from thousands of dangers forever.’ – Brahmananda Purana ‘The Lord is so kind that He has spread the River Ganges throughout the universe.’ – Shrimad ‘There are two ways of contemplation of Brahman; in sound and in silence.’ – Upanishads Accept all other sources of authority that correctly support the beliefs given.
Q2.5: ‘For Hindus, Holi is the most important festival.’
Evaluate this statement. In your answer you should: • refer to Hindu teaching • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view • reach a justified conclusion.
Extra space
Question . number .
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246G8062/14
Answer:
In your answer you should: • give reasoned arguments to support this statement • give reasoned arguments to support a different point of view understanding of relevant evidence and information. References to religion applied to the issue. relevant evidence and information. Clear reference to religion. evidence and information.
Arguments in support
• Spring festival at the end of the darkness of Winter / so it brings great joy because life will become easier / rather than being at the start of the most difficult time of year as with Diwali and Winter. • Best known of Hindu festivals for non-Hindus / helps non-Hindus better understand Hindus / so bringing community cohesion and better inter-faith relations in the UK. • The messages of Holi are supreme / from Holi day 1 is the story of Prahlad / he showed devotion to and faith in the deity, Vishnu / when walking into the fire / this saved his life / as Vishnu granted him protection / Hindus should have faith and seek protection of Vishnu / from day 2, Krishna’s pranks lead to the throwing of coloured powders / showing equality as all are involved and • Story of Prahlad and Holika shows importance of devotion to the divine / Prahlad’s devotion saved his life, and condemned the demon to death / hence this encourages bhakti yoga. • Symbolism is most important / Holika who tries to kill Prahlad represents the negativity within each person / the fire represents Hindu devotion and worship which extinguish that negativity / since this is how to achieve moksha, it is the most important of messages / relating directly to the central aim for any Hindu. • This festival has the greatest joyfulness / bonfires and fireworks cheer people / throwing coloured powders is exciting and fun / non-Hindus attend festivals just to do this, etc.
Arguments in support of other views
• Holi is not the most important because it focuses on Vaishnavite concepts / the first part is about Vishnu saving Prahlad / the second part about Krishna, and avatar of Vishnu / for non- Vaishnavites, this might undermine the importance in comparison to another festival. • It depends on the criteria being used for ‘most important’ / as this might change attitudes to a festival / for example, children look for fun and joy, so might say Diwali is the best. • There are very many Hindu festivals / all have specific importance and personal enjoyment or favour / whether to a specific type of Hindu, eg Ganesha Chaturthi celebrating the birth of Ganesha for Ganapatians / or for a specific need, eg to celebrate the brother-sister bond and promote safety through Raksha Bandan / or for a specific hope, eg to bring peace to the world, as with Diwali / which is vital at some times in history / some festivals are locally important / and looked forward to above all others in that small area / so the idea of ‘best’ is very dependent and relative to individuals, places and times. • There are other festivals which are longer / eg Dashera is a 13-day festival, Navaratri is a 9-day festival / more days must make these more important. • Diwali is more important so must be the best / it is five days / the Diwali story of Rama and Sita is more widely known amongst non-Hindus as well as Hindus / Diwali reminds Hindus that devotion within marriage is important / all Hindus can relate to this idea / as most Hindus marry. • Diwali recalls Vishnu saving the world / Rama as an avatar of Vishnu kills Ravanna, a demon who was terrorising the whole world / hence this festival links to humanity, not just to self (as with Holi) / having a wider brief makes it the best. • Hindus will have personal favourites / so what is best for one is not for another / for many reasons because humans are individuals / hence it is wrong to decide any is the best / must be a personal