Tuesday, October 23, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 171: 23-Oct-2012

Theme: Nava Durgas or Nine forms of Devi Durga
  1. Among the Nava Durgas (9 Durgas) worshiped during Navaratri, which form of Devi derives its name from her son? #DharmaQuiz 1211. Ans: Skanda Mata (Mother of Subrahmanya or Skanda)
  2. Which of the 9 forms of Goddess Durga worshiped during Navaratri denotes her as being extremely fair complexioned?  #DharmaQuiz 1212. Ans: Maha Gauri (Gaura colour in Sanskrit means spotless white)
  3. Which of the 9 forms of Devi Durga worshiped during Navaratri denotes her as very dark in colour, ready to fight demons?  #DharmaQuiz 1213. Ans: Kala Raatri, fighting rakshasas Shumbha and Nishumbha.
  4. Goddess Durga wears a half moon, or crescent on her forehead during the 3rd day of Navaratri. What is she called that day?  #DharmaQuiz 1214. Ans: Chandra Ghanta. 
  5. Shiva worshiped Durga on 9th day of Navaratri and got powers. Which Nava Durga form he worshiped? #DharmaQuiz 1215. Ans: Siddhi Dhaatri (The one who bestows powers or siddhis).
Read more here:

Nava Durgas: http://hinduism.about.com/od/godsgoddesses/ss/navadurga_2.htm

Sequence of how Nava Durgas were formed: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navadurga#NavaDurga_Life_Phases

Top Scorers of session 171:
  1. @nanditathhakur : 5
  2. @AshutoshNSingh : 5
  3. @Amaresh80 : 5
  4. @sharathinindia : 5
  5. @sweetandu : 5
  6. @dolby_mehul : 5
  7. @abhipar7 : 5
  8. @man8shree : 5
  9. @suryakantpandey : 5
  10. @sharad_51 : 5
  11. @intodust_in : 5
  12. @DevNakshi : 5
  13. @rahulghildiyal : 5
Many congrats to:

@udgeetha : 4
@smna17 : 4

@ankushraj29 : 3
@harishkaushik15 : 3
@forevernivesh : 3

@keewwllguy : 2
@ochrerocker : 2

@Ajaymishra412 : 1
@iNeelSoni : 1
@lodyaashi : 1
@archie229 : 1
@meelogsin : 1
@Prach82 : 1
@dppoddar : 1
@IamSrivatsanV : 1

May Goddess Durga bless everyone! Peace.

Friday, October 19, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 170: 19-Oct-2012

Theme: Navaratri Special
  1. "Yatra Naryastu pujyante,ramante tatra devatah" -Where women r revered, Gods r pleased to be there. Which Smriti says this? #DharmaQuiz 1206. Ans: Manu Smriti.
  2. Navaratri or 9 days of Goddess worship happening now, is a part of which Hindu calendar month? (Hint: Named after Ashwini) #DharmaQuiz 1207. Ans: Ashwayuja or Ashwin month. More: http://hindusphere.com/significance-of-aswayuja-ashwayuja-ashwini-masam/
  3. Shri Sukta is 1 revered text that glorifies Goddess aka "Devi Mahatmya". Name any 1 other Dharma text which does the same. #DharmaQuiz 1208. Ans: Durga Sukta, Devi Bhagavata, Harivamsha, Sapta Shati and Many Puranas.
  4. Name a city in India, whose name is derived from the name of a demon that Goddess Durga killed during Navaratri. #DharmaQuiz 1209. Ans: Mysore or Mysuru. From Mahisha-uru (place of Mahisha Asura or the place where Mahisha was killed)
  5. Which Dharma text contains the famous "Ya Devi Sarva Bhuteshu Matru RupeNa Samsthita" chant? #DharmaQuiz 1210. Ans: Markandeya Purana's Devi Mahatmya's Chandi Path.
Top scorers during session 170:
  1. @smna17 : 5
  2. @intodust_in : 5
  3. @Sahyadri : 5
  4. @ThejasMysore : 5
  5. @bhaviknz : 5
  6. @man8shree : 5
  7. @anandt_05 : 5
  8. @wnnbl : 5
  9. @ashutoshkulkar1 : 5
  10. @iSumitRk : 5
  11. @dolby_mehul : 5
  12. @khaishk : 5
  13. @sweetandu : 5
  14. @rahulghildiyal : 5
  15. @hchaturv : 5
Also, Congrats to:

@sharathinindia : 4
@DevNakshi : 4

@ankushraj29 : 3
@Shree03 : 3

@voxindica : 2
@shivsankar : 2
@sbharti : 2

@PrateekThakkar : 1
@amitssingh83 : 1
@swamy_sena : 1
@B_S_YADDI : 1
@DailyBreadIndia : 1
@sushmahari : 1
@svinayak85 : 1
@cubicle_warrier : 1
@pcrajendra : 1
@anand_vaidya : 1
@nikhilda12 : 1
@psudo : 1
@amit8195 : 1
@beingprabhu : 1
@_Murali : 1
@upretivineet : 1

Have a great Navaratri. If you find DharmaQuiz interesting do let me know via comments or tweets. Also, indicate any improvement I can do to reach more people effectively.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 169: 16-Oct-2012

Theme: Ayurveda
  1. This common herbal plant is prescribed by Ayurveda for  over 15 remedies to skin, heart, fever & other ailments. Name it. #DharmaQuiz 1201. Ans: Tulasi or Basil. But neem and Aloe Vera will also be considered.
  2. Give one common market name (not brand name) for a comprehensive Ayurvedic herbal tonic with multiple health benefits.  #DharmaQuiz 1202. Ans: Chyawanprash.
  3. Name this Indian state that gets the maximum number of Ayurvedic therapy related tourism, particularly Panchakarma therapy. #DharmaQuiz 1203. Ans: Kerala.
  4. At least 3 nations in Europe allow Doctors to study Ayurveda in University post graduate courses. Name any one of them. #DharmaQuiz 1204. Ans: Germany or Italy or England. Read more here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3117322/
  5. In Ayurveda, the "The Path of Juice" or "Elixir Vitae" is commonly used. Name the Sanskrit term. #DharmaQuiz 1205. Ans: Rasayana (Rasa + Ayana)
Top Scorers this session:
  1. @rahulghildiyal : 5
  2. @cubicle_warrier : 5
  3. @Sahyadri : 5
  4. @surenc1974 : 5
  5. @DevNakshi : 5
  6. @smna17 : 5
  7. @cybercalci : 5
Congrats to:
  • @sharathinindia : 4
  • @raopm9 : 4
  • @dolby_mehul : 4
  • @man8shree : 4
  • @raoathreyas : 4
  • @lodyaashi : 4
  • @jagdish : 3
  • @rinku3009 : 2
  • @PankajBagla : 2
  • @Umeshkumarr26 : 2
  • @Anirvachan : 2
  • @upendrverma : 2
  • @jagdish : 2
  • @lldhr : 2
  • @alkeshtunara : 2
  • @CJ_Shekhar : 2
  • @ajayjmun : 1
  • @Tailwind3 : 1
  • @desprem : 1
  • @GirishPodar : 1
  • @nagarjund : 1
  • @sandeeptvenkat : 1
  • @VijayDharwad : 1
  • @roshanmadhav4 : 1
  • @aknarendranath : 1
  • @bhsngr : 1
  • @MullahYogi : 1
  • @kshetragnya : 1
  • @Dinuraghubansi : 1
  • @R_Bhartiya : 1
  • @shailkumar7468 : 1
  • @puneetdwd : 1
  • @mbhagawat : 1
Many thanks to all the participants, including those who could not get to the list above.

Friday, October 12, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 168: 12-Oct-2012

Theme: Contribution to Sanskrit literature from ancient and medieval Karnataka.
  1. 1500 years back, a king of W Ganga dynasty in Karnataka, gave the Sanskrit world, the majestic "Brihatkatha". Name him.  #DharmaQuiz 1196. Ans: Durvinita (Note, he translated from Baladya's Prakrit work) More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durvinita
  2. 700 yrs ago, this commentator on Vedas was 1ST to compute approx speed of light. Name this brother of Vijayanagara founder. #DharmaQuiz 1197. Ans: Sayana Acharya. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayana
  3. "Jambavati Parinayam" is a Sanskrit work by the most famous emperor of South India 500 years back. Name him. #DharmaQuiz 1198. Ans: Krishna Deva Raya. More: http://www.museindia.com/viewarticle.asp?myr=2009&issid=26&id=1607
  4. Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya wrote "Ramabhyudayam" a Sanskrit work over 500 years ago. Which empire's king was he? #DharmaQuiz 1199. Ans: Vijaya Nagara Empire. Ans: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saluva_Narasimha_Deva_Raya 
  5. Tirumalamba, a poetess from S India,wrote Varadambika Parinayam. Meaning of "Parinayam" in Sanskrit? #DharmaQuiz 1200 Ans: Marriage/Wedding. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirumalamba
Top Scorers:
  1. @man8shree : 5
  2. @surnell : 5
  3. @gupta_n : 5
Congrats to:

@DevNakshi  : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@abhipar7 : 4
@mareekuree : 4
@iRohitBhat : 4
@TheArvindDhar : 4

@ThejasMysore : 3
@Shree03 : 3
@sweetandu : 3

@voxindica : 2
@Marut_ : 2
@Amaresh80 : 2

@vishchan : 1
@marriagewiz : 1
@Susri1210 : 1
@ravikantbhat : 1
@cubicle_warrier : 1
@Nisharp : 1
@Rasraj : 1
@shylsmn : 1
@anurup : 1
@Durden47 : 1
@SathyaSher : 1

Thanks for participating. This one was surely a tough one!

Friday, October 5, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 167: 05-Oct-2012

Theme: Significance of the number 5 in Dharma
  1. Pancha Upachara (5 step Pooja) include Gandha (scent), Pushpa (flower), Dhoopa (incense) & Deepa (Light). Name the 5th one. #DharmaQuiz 1191. Ans: Naivedya or Food Offering.
  2. Pancha Gavya (5 Cow Products) include Ksheera (Milk), Ghrita (Ghee), Gomutra (urine) and Gomya (dung). Name the 5th one. #DharmaQuiz 1192. Ans. Dadhi or Curds.
  3. Pancha Kanya (5 revered women in Hinduism) include Druapadi, Sita, Tara and Mandodari. Name the fifth one.  #DharmaQuiz 1193. Ans: Ahalya.
  4. Pancha Maha Kavyas of Sanskrit (Court Epics) include Kumara Sambhava, Kiratarjuniya, Shishupala Vadha & Naishadha. 5th one? #DharmaQuiz 1194. Ans: Raghu Vamsha.
  5. Pancha Lohas (5 metals) used for making murtis include Iron, Lead, Gold & Silver. Name the 5th one. #DharmaQuiz 1195. Ans: Copper
Top scorers during session 167:
  1. @pvaidyaraj : 5
  2. @surnell : 5
  3. @shawjipk : 5
  4. @Manojakrishna : 5
  5. @Sahyadri : 5
  6. @smna17 : 5
  7. @Right2bRight : 5
  8. @sweetandu : 5
  9. @arunz : 5
  10. @man8shree : 5
  11. @rahulghildiyal : 5
  12. @iSumitRk : 5
  13. @sharathinindia : 5
  14. @shylsmn : 5
  15. @abhipar7 : 5
  16. @dolby_mehul : 5
  17. @SandipPawar : 5
Congrats to:
  • @Manjunaath : 4
  • @voxindica : 4
  • @DevNakshi : 4
  • @stormylook : 3
  • @cubicle_warrier : 3
  • @Rasraj : 2
  • @anantjoshi84 : 2
  • @Dhanushm : 2
  • @ThejasMysore : 2
  • @praveenudupa : 2
  • @OneindiaKannada : 1
  • @VijayDharwad : 1
  • @rpmkarthi : 1
  • @TheArvindDhar : 1
  • @K_Oswal : 1
Thanks for participating. Next quiz on next Friday.