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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is thought of as a symbol of rain and fertility?

2. Max Muller dubs the unknown god _____.

3. The daughter of the sun is the _____ of Soma.

4. What is the sky divided into in "A Spell to Turn Back the Departing Spirit"?

5. What are the sisters that embrace the pressing stones?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Aditi and the Birth of the Gods", what does the author think is meant by the poet's seeing the birth of the gods?

2. In "The Creation of the Sacrifice", what is the significance of weaving?

3. What are the the three forms of speech highlighted in the hymn, "Speech", and what do they represent?

4. Who are the Asuras in the beginning of the Vedas, as opposed to their role toward the end?

5. Who are the three brothers in "The Riddle of the Sacrifice" and with whom are they associated in the text?

6. What is the role of the goat in "The Sacrifice of the Horse" and for whom does it do this?

7. What does the hymn, "The Sacrificial Priests", liken the work of the priests to? How?

8. How are Agni and Soma linked?

9. What is the actual content of the secret in "The Mystery of Agni"?

10. What is the function of the "Royal Consecration" hymn, and what would accompany it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the Maruts known for? Whom do they serve? Why does Agastya have to apologize to them?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the ritual involved in the sacrifice of the horse. Describe of each stage of the sacrifice. Who is involved? Who is the sacrifice dedicated to?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the meaning of "Hiranyagarbha". What are the different meanings of the separate parts of the word? What is the symbolism contained in the word?

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This section contains 666 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample