Codex of FaithsAn illustrated atlas of belief

Codex of Faiths · codexoffaiths.com

Hinduism: quiz worksheet

A printable worksheet for the classroom: 8 multiple-choice questions on Hinduism, with an answer key and explanations on the last page.

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  1. Which are the oldest Hindu scriptures?

    1. A The Puranas
    2. B The Ramayana
    3. C The Bhagavad Gita
    4. D The Vedas

  2. The Bhagavad Gita is part of which great epic?

    1. A The Rigveda
    2. B The Puranas
    3. C The Mahabharata
    4. D The Ramayana

  3. What is moksha?

    1. A Duty within the cosmic order
    2. B Loving devotion to God
    3. C The sacred syllable Om
    4. D Liberation from the cycle of rebirth

  4. Where does the word “Hindu” come from?

    1. A Sindhu, the Sanskrit name of the Indus
    2. B A Persian king
    3. C The Hindi language
    4. D The Himalaya

  5. Which of these is NOT one of the four classical goals of life?

    1. A Ahimsa
    2. B Dharma
    3. C Artha
    4. D Kama

  6. What did the philosopher Shankara teach?

    1. A That the Vedas should be abandoned
    2. B Advaita, the non-duality of self and Brahman
    3. C That the gods are only myths
    4. D That God is wholly distinct from the soul

  7. To which god did the Khmer king Suryavarman II dedicate Angkor Wat?

    1. A Shiva
    2. B Indra
    3. C Vishnu
    4. D Brahma

  8. Diwali is best known as the festival of…

    1. A Kites
    2. B Lights
    3. C Colours
    4. D Nine nights for the Goddess

Answer key

  1. D · The Vedas. The Vedas, composed from about 1500 BCE and passed on orally, are shruti, “what is heard”.
  2. C · The Mahabharata. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Krishna teaches the warrior Arjuna in 700 verses.
  3. D · Liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Moksha frees the soul from samsara; dharma is duty and bhakti is devotion.
  4. A · Sindhu, the Sanskrit name of the Indus. Persians and later outsiders used the word for the people beyond the Indus. Many Hindus call their tradition Sanatana Dharma.
  5. A · Ahimsa. The four goals are dharma, artha (prosperity), kama (love and pleasure) and moksha. Ahimsa, non-violence, is a virtue, not one of the four.
  6. B · Advaita, the non-duality of self and Brahman. Shankara, traditionally of the 8th century, taught Advaita Vedanta; Ramanuja and Madhva defended a personal God distinct from the soul.
  7. C · Vishnu. Through trade and royal courts Hindu gods travelled to Southeast Asia; Angkor Wat was built in the 12th century.
  8. B · Lights. Holi is the festival of colours and Navaratri the nine nights; Diwali’s lamps welcome Lakshmi and recall Rama’s return.

From Codex of Faiths, codexoffaiths.com. You may print and copy this worksheet for teaching.