Why is the river Ganges sacred to Hindus?

The Ganges is worshipped as the goddess Ganga, who descended from heaven. A bath in the Ganges is believed to wash away sins.

Why is Varanasi important to Hindus?

Varanasi, or Kashi, is the city of Shiva on the banks of the Ganges. Many Hindus believe that death in Varanasi brings moksha.

What do pilgrims do at Varanasi?

Pilgrims bathe at the ghats, the stone steps leading down to the river, and offer lamps at the evening arti. Many bring the ashes of relatives to scatter in the Ganges.

What is the Kumbh Mela?

The Kumbh Mela is a vast pilgrimage festival where millions bathe in sacred rivers. The Kumbh Mela rotates between Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik.

OCR GCSE Religious Studies J625

Christianity: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1

Topic overview Christian terms for the nature of God Why God's nature matters to Christians The Christian Trinity and different attitudes to it Christian beliefs about creation in Genesis and John Evil, suffering and a loving God Jesus as Messiah, Son of God, Lord and Saviour The incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension Salvation, atonement, law, sin and grace Christian eschatology: the Second Coming, judgement, heaven and hell

Christianity: PracticesGroup 1

Topic overview Christian worship and the structure of services Christian sacraments: baptism and the Eucharist Christian prayer and the Lord's Prayer Christian pilgrimage and festivals: Lourdes, Jerusalem, Walsingham, Rome, Christmas and Easter Christian rites of passage and support for families Christian mission, evangelism and new forms of church The worldwide Church, ecumenism and Christian aid agencies

Islam: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1

Topic overview The six articles of faith in Sunni Islam The five roots of Usul ad-Din in Shi'a Islam The 99 names of Allah Tawhid, shirk and Allah's attributes in action Risalah and the prophets from Adam to Dawud Isa, Muhammad and the twelve Shi'a Imams The Kutub: Muslim holy books and the Qur'an Malaikah: the angels in Islam Al-Qadr: predestination and human freedom in Islam Akhirah: barzakh, judgement, Jannah and Jahannam

Islam: PracticesGroup 1

Topic overview The Five Pillars of Sunni Islam The Ten Obligatory Acts of Shi'a Islam Salah and wudu: how and why Muslims pray Shahadah, Jummah prayer and the khutba Du'a: private prayer in Islam Hajj: origins, obligation and ihram The rituals of Hajj and their meaning Zakah: meaning, origins and nisab Khums, sadaqah and the distribution of alms Sawm: fasting in Ramadan Eid-ul-Adha and Eid-ul-Fitr Eid-ul-Ghadeer and Ashura in Shi'a Islam Greater and lesser jihad

Judaism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1

Topic overview G-d as One, Creator, Law-Giver, Judge and Eternal G-d's characteristics and the problem of suffering in Judaism Shekinah, the divine presence of G-d The Covenant at Sinai and the role of Moses The Messiah and the Messianic Age The Promised Land and the Covenant with Abraham Mitzvot, free will and Divine Providence Ethical and ritual Mitzvot The sanctity of life and Pikuach Nefesh Jewish beliefs about the soul and life after death

Judaism: PracticesGroup 1

Topic overview The synagogue: design, features and the Temple Synagogue services and worship in the Jewish home Jewish public prayer and the Amidah Jewish private prayer, the Shema and blessings at home The Tenakh, the Talmud and Jewish law Shabbat in the Jewish home and synagogue Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Pesach and the Seder Shavuot, Sukkot, Hanukkah and the Jewish calendar Kashrut: the Jewish dietary laws Jewish birth ceremonies and Brit Milah Bar Mitzvah, Bat Mitzvah and Bat Chayil Kiddushin and the Jewish wedding Jewish burial and mourning rites

Buddhism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1

Topic overview The life of the Buddha and his Enlightenment The Dhamma and dependent origination The Three Marks of Existence The First Noble Truth: dukkha The Second Noble Truth: tanha and the three poisons The Third Noble Truth: nibbana and Enlightenment The Fourth Noble Truth: the Eightfold Path and Threefold Way The five khandhas, sunyata and buddha-nature Arhats, bodhisattvas, Buddhas and the Pure Land Buddhist ethical teachings: kamma, compassion and the precepts Skilful action and the Middle Way in modern life

Buddhism: PracticesGroup 1

Topic overview Buddhist worship: puja, chanting, mantras and offerings Buddhist meditation: samatha, vipassana, zazen and visualisation Buddhist temples, shrines, pilgrimage sites and retreats The Buddhist Sangha: monastic and lay Buddhist festivals: Wesak, Vassa, Uposatha and more Buddhist death rites and mourning

Hinduism: Beliefs and TeachingsGroup 1

Topic overview Atman, the eternal self Samsara, maya, detachment and moksha Hindu teaching on karma Lokas, devas and asuras Prakriti, the gunas and the cycle of creation Saguna Brahman, the Trimurti and the Tridevi Avatars of Vishnu and the murti Brahman as impersonal, indwelling and personal Dharma and the four aims of life Hindu virtues, free will and suffering

Hinduism: PracticesGroup 1

Topic overview The four margas: jnana, bhakti, karma and raja yoga Varnashrama dharma, svadharma, sewa and dana Hindu worship: havan, puja, japa, bhajan and darshan Hindu temples, shrines, holy people and sacred nature Hindu pilgrimage to Varanasi, the Ganges and other sites Holi, Navaratri and Diwali Maha Shivaratri, Ganesh Chaturthi and Raksha Bandhan Hindu ethical concerns: animals, environment and society

Christianity: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2

Topic overview The purpose of Christian marriage and family life Christian attitudes to same-sex marriage and civil partnership Christian attitudes to sex before marriage, cohabitation and celibacy Christian attitudes to contraception Christian ethics of divorce, annulment and remarriage The roles of men and women in Christian families and communities Christian understandings of equality and gender discrimination

Christianity: The Existence of GodGroup 2

Topic overview Christian understandings of God's relationship with the world and humanity God's goodness and human suffering The design argument and the anthropic principle The first cause argument and Christian belief The moral argument, soul-making and judgement How Christians believe God is revealed Christian religious experience: conversion, mystical, charismatic and sacramental

Christianity: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2

Topic overview Christian teachings about violence and conflict Christian attitudes to terrorism The Just War theory, Holy War and conduct in war Christian attitudes to conventional, technological and nuclear warfare Christian pacifism: absolute and conditional Christian peacemaking and non-violent action Christian teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation Christian views on justice, injustice and social justice

Christianity: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2

Topic overview Christianity in British public life Secularisation and the rise of humanism in Britain Religious and secular values in education Christian teachings and secular law on marriage and equality Christian teachings and science in medical ethics Christian attitudes to other religions: exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism Ecumenism, inter-faith dialogue and proselytisation Christianity and atheism, agnosticism, humanism and secularism

Islam: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2

Topic overview The Muslim family: roles and purposes Muslim marriage: purposes, contract and practice Muslim views on sexuality, same-sex marriage and civil partnership Sex before marriage, cohabitation, celibacy and contraception in Islam Muslim teachings on divorce, annulment and remarriage Roles of Muslim men and women in family and community Gender equality and discrimination in Islam

Islam: The Existence of AllahGroup 2

Topic overview Muslim views on what Allah is like Allah's goodness and the problem of evil in Islam Muslim responses to suffering Muslim arguments from design and first cause Khalifah, purpose and moral testing in the Muslim view of the world Revelation and miracles as Muslim evidence for Allah Muslim religious experience: fitrah, Sufism and worship

Islam: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2

Topic overview Muslim teachings on violence and conflict Muslim responses to terrorism Holy War, the Just War theory and Muslim conduct in war Muslim attitudes to conventional, technological and nuclear warfare Pacifism, non-violence and Muslim peacemaking Forgiveness and reconciliation in Islam Justice and social justice in Islam

Islam: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2

Topic overview Muslim perspectives on Christianity in British public life Secularisation, humanism and Muslim faith schools Muslim marriage customs and UK secular law Euthanasia, abortion and genetic science in Muslim ethics Muslim exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism Unity within the ummah, national identity and da'wah Islam in dialogue with atheism, agnosticism, humanism and secularism

Judaism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2

Topic overview The purpose of family and marriage in Judaism Jewish views on same-sex relationships and civil partnership Jewish views on sex, cohabitation, celibacy and contraception Jewish divorce, annulment and remarriage Roles of men and women in Jewish families and communities Jewish teaching on gender equality and discrimination

Judaism: The Existence of G-DGroup 2

Topic overview Jewish beliefs about G-d's nature and relationship with the world Jewish responses to evil and human suffering Jewish views on the design and first cause arguments Morality, covenant and the value of arguments for G-d in Judaism How Jews believe G-d is revealed Jewish religious experience and perception of the divine

Judaism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2

Topic overview Jewish teachings on violence and its justification Jewish attitudes to terrorism Milchemet Mitzvah, Milchemet Reshut and conduct in war Jewish attitudes to conventional, technological and nuclear warfare Jewish views on pacifism and working for peace Jewish teaching on forgiveness and reconciliation Jewish views on justice and social justice

Judaism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2

Topic overview Jewish perspectives on Christianity's place in British public life Judaism in a secular Britain Jewish schools, marriage and equality law in Britain Jewish medical ethics and scientific development Jewish views of other faiths: exclusivism, inclusivism and pluralism Intra-faith and inter-faith dialogue in British Judaism Judaism and non-religious worldviews

Buddhism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2

Topic overview Buddhist views on the family and the Sigalovada Sutta Buddhist attitudes to marriage and its cultural forms Buddhist ethics of sex, the Third Precept and same-sex relationships Buddhist views on cohabitation, celibacy, contraception and divorce Buddhist views on the roles of men and women Buddhist teaching on equality, caste and gender discrimination

Buddhism: The Existence of Ultimate RealityGroup 2

Topic overview Buddhist understandings of Ultimate Reality without a creator God Buddhist views on goodness, evil and suffering Buddhist responses to design, first cause and the unanswered questions The world as samsara: kamma, cycles and human rebirth How Buddhists believe Ultimate Reality is revealed Buddhist religious experience: refuge, jhanas, kensho and visions

Buddhism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2

Topic overview Buddhist teachings on violence and non-harm Buddhists in violent conflict and attitudes to terrorism Buddhist views on justified war, holy war and modern warfare Buddhist pacifism and non-violent action Buddhist peacemakers and engaged Buddhism Buddhist teachings on forgiveness and reconciliation Buddhist views on justice, injustice and social justice

Buddhism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2

Topic overview Buddhists in British society and public life Buddhist responses to secularisation and secular education Buddhist responses to clashes with secular law on marriage and equality Buddhist responses to medical ethics and the value of life Buddhist views on other religions and inter-faith dialogue Buddhist dialogue with atheism, agnosticism, Humanism and secularism

Hinduism: Relationships and FamiliesGroup 2

Topic overview The Hindu family and the purposes of marriage The significance of a Hindu wedding Hindu views on sexuality, same-sex marriage and civil partnership Hindu views on sex before marriage, cohabitation, celibacy and contraception Hindu views on divorce, annulment and remarriage Roles of Hindu men and women in family, community and upbringing Hindu teaching on gender equality and discrimination

Hinduism: The Existence of Ultimate Reality and DeityGroup 2

Topic overview Brahman, the gods and the Hindu question of deity Hindu responses to evil and suffering Hindu arguments about cause and creation The purpose of the world in Hindu thought: cycles, samsara and karma How Ultimate Reality is revealed to Hindus Hindu religious experience: conversion, mysticism, visions and murti puja

Hinduism: Religion, Peace and ConflictGroup 2

Topic overview Hindu teachings on violence and the Kshatriya's duty Hindus, terrorism and religious politics Dharma yuddha, holy war and Hindu conduct in war Hindu attitudes to conventional, technological and nuclear warfare Hindu pacifism, satyagraha and peacemaking Hindu teaching on forgiveness and reconciliation Hindu views on justice and social justice

Hinduism: Dialogue Between Religious and Non-Religious BeliefsGroup 2

Topic overview Hindus and the Christian heritage of British public life Hindus in a secular Britain: secularisation, humanism and schools Hindu marriage, equality and British law Hindu responses to euthanasia, abortion and genetic science Hindu views of other faiths and inter-faith dialogue Hindu conversion, proselytising and national identity Hinduism in dialogue with atheism, agnosticism, humanism and secularism

Hinduism: Practices

Hindu pilgrimage to Varanasi, the Ganges and other sites

3 things to know
Component Group 1

Overview

Tirtha and tirtha yatra, what pilgrims do at Varanasi, the Kumbh Mela, Vrindavan and Mount Kailasa, the Char Dham, pilgrimage and the yogas, its effect on karma, and differing views.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

How is pilgrimage linked to the yogas and to karma?

Key term

What do Hindus mean by a tirtha?

Key term

What is the purpose of Hindu pilgrimage (tirtha yatra)?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What do Hindus mean by a tirtha?
Model answer
A tirtha is a place of pilgrimage, literally a crossing place. Hindus believe a tirtha is where the human world and the divine meet.
2
What is the purpose of Hindu pilgrimage (tirtha yatra)?
Model answer
Hindus go on pilgrimage to receive darshan, remove bad karma and deepen devotion. Some go to fulfil a vow or to perform rites for the dead.
3
Why is the river Ganges sacred to Hindus?
Model answer
The Ganges is worshipped as the goddess Ganga, who descended from heaven. A bath in the Ganges is believed to wash away sins.
4
Why is Varanasi important to Hindus?
Model answer
Varanasi, or Kashi, is the city of Shiva on the banks of the Ganges. Many Hindus believe that death in Varanasi brings moksha.
5
What do pilgrims do at Varanasi?
Model answer
Pilgrims bathe at the ghats, the stone steps leading down to the river, and offer lamps at the evening arti. Many bring the ashes of relatives to scatter in the Ganges.
6
What is the Kumbh Mela?
Model answer
The Kumbh Mela is a vast pilgrimage festival where millions bathe in sacred rivers. The Kumbh Mela rotates between Prayagraj, Haridwar, Ujjain and Nashik.

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