DharmaQuiz: Agastya

Showing posts with label Agastya. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 220: 4-Jun-2013

Theme: Women in Vedas

A mantra in the Rig Veda is attributed to this highly educated, philosopher wife of Rishi Agastya. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1466. Ans: Lopamudra.
Wife of Rishi Yajnavalkya was a Brahmavadini or an expounder of the Veda. 10 Rig Veda mantras accredited to her. Who's she? #DharmaQuiz 1467. Ans: Maitreyi.
This Vedic age philosopher challenged Rishi Yajnavalkya. Daughter of Vachaknu & Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions her. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1468. Ans: Gargi Vachaknavi.
This celestial mother of Surya, is mentioned nearly 80 times in the Rigveda, the oldest religious text today. Who's she? #DharmaQuiz 1469. Ans: Aditi
This female cited in Rig Veda's 10th mandala, is also associated with a river, Krishna & Yama. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1470. Ans: Yami. But Yamuna or Kalindi also considered.

You can refer to this for more information on Women in Vedas:

Women Rishikas in Vedas: http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Women_as_Rishikas_in_the_Vedas
Ancient India's Women Seers: http://historyindianized.blogspot.in/2013/01/women-seers-of-ancient-india-rishika.html?spref=tw

Toppers of session 220:

@Bacchuji : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@manya_rao : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@VellaDev : 5
@Susri1210 : 5
@ankushraj29 : 5
@Sai_swaroopa : 5
@MaheshwarBhatP : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@GayathriSrinath : 5
@man8shree : 5
@cgmagia : 5
@philAmit : 5
@PrachinVaani : 5
@smna17 : 5
@pangalanrao : 5
@geophyraj : 5

Congrats to:

@siddarthpaim : 4
@R_Bhartiya : 4
@ssmalani : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@biswajeetdash : 4

@iKumbhakarna : 3

@Nalamara : 2
@pundeerjitendra : 2
@natb786 : 2

@Kaushikrg : 1
@angry_mumbaikar : 1
@balamy : 1
@drmenz : 1
@manohar_sram : 1
@sudarshan_v1 : 1

This session was to talk about the much maligned gender equality and gender importance roles among Hindus. This shows that Hindus of ancient India accorded the topmost space in the society for women, who showed the aptitude and ability to excel in philosophy. I don't know of any other major religious text in today's world, that has mantras (verses) revealed or attributed to women!

Friday, February 22, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 197: 22-Feb-2013

Theme: Physics and Science from ancient India.

12th century's Rasarnava describes a Magnet as having Bhramakam, Chumbakam, Karshakam, Dravakam and Romakam. Chumbakam means? #DharmaQuiz 1346. Ans: Chumbakam = attraction or clutching effect.
Taittiriya Upanishad: From THAT (absolute cause) space came, then wind,fire, water & earth. What's the word used for space? #DharmaQuiz 1347. Ans: Aakasha
Agastya Samhita describes generation of electrical energy using copper plates. What's the Sanskrit word for copper? #DharmaQuiz 1348. Ans: Taamra.
What's the most commonly used measurement of distance, during Ramayana and Mahabharata times? #DharmaQuiz 1349. Ans: Yojana.
Newton's Cause & Effect was shown in Vaisheshika Darshanam. Is Vaisheshika a philosophy or ritual? #DharmaQuiz 1350. Ans: Philosophy

Top scorers of session 197:

@JagannathAjnabi : 5
@pradeepkhs : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@indianomad : 5
@S_Mandalia : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@man8shree : 5
@cubicle_warrier : 5
@surnell : 5
@vinodvyas220 : 5

Congrats to:

@Sahyadri : 4
@surenc1974 : 4
@vishal1818 : 4

@sharathinindia : 3
@kishor_narayan : 3
@ankushraj29 : 3
@dolby_mehul : 3
@milindatkgp : 3
@sumat_patel : 3

@Kiran_Speaks : 2
@shrutireplys : 2
@AdwaitanWay : 2
@pravinrao6750 : 2
@Marut_ : 2
@srikrishnaus : 2
@manjunathkumarr : 2
@abhi_bol : 2

@aptwits : 1
@ganeshh_k : 1
@srikrishnaus : 1
@rinku3009 : 1
@punter_me : 1
@ashok567 : 1
@alien_lama : 1
@bkn69 : 1
@jusubha : 1
@shriram78 : 1
@lalit1988sa : 1
@dominodeck : 1
@sumanthbharatha : 1
@Flyfiddlesticks : 1
@jenaanindya : 1
@Modi4India : 1
@Saffronista : 1

Three more session to go before our 200th! A special prize will come on that day.

Friday, March 30, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 128: 30-Mar-2012

Theme: Ramanavami

When Dasharatha was son-less for a long time, Sage Vasistha advised him to perform a specific yaga. Name the yaga. #DharmaQuiz 996. Ans: Putra Kameshti Yaga.
For 14 years, Prince Bharata ran the kingdom on behalf of Lord Rama from a place in modern-day UP. Name the place. #DharmaQuiz 997. Ans: Nandi Grama
I waited many years to get a darshan of Lord Rama & offered half-bitten berries to him when he entered my ashram. Who am I ? #DharmaQuiz 998. Ans: Shabari
Sage Agastya teaches a shloka - seeking energy from Sun - to Rama just before his battle with Ravana. Name this hymn/shloka. #DharmaQuiz 999 Ans: Aditya Hridayam.
***1000th Question***. Name the vehicle in which Lord Rama returned from Lanka to Ayodhya. #DharmaQuiz 1000. Ans: Pushpaka Vimana.

Top Scorers:

@surenc1974 : 5
@Susri1210 : 5
@aravozhukkam : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@shawjipk : 5
@Rasraj : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@abhishek_2411 : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@ABelWINS : 5
@philAmit : 5

Congratulations to:

@pirateadmiral : 4
@iSumitRk : 4
@itsmesuresh : 4
@neerajstpl : 4
@SantaSingh : 4

@rajiv_aqua : 3
@idurgesh : 3
@clumsycoder : 2
@subodh1945 : 2
@trueindian00 : 2
@sharad_51 : 2
@the_delhi_girl : 2
@mayureshgaikwad : 2
@gootypp : 2
@raunakjhawar : 2
@bhattvihang : 2
@aughadnath :2

@c_aashish : 1
@vinaybsub : 1
@Nisharp : 1
@sanjaykhera11 : 1
@jaipurarun : 1
@keerthinarayan8 : 1
@Harsh1011 : 1
@pchaturved : 1
@shamit11 : 1
@stormylook : 1
@ishekhar_sk : 1
@paritosh2608 : 1
@virendersj : 1
@rranjan501 : 1
@ankushraj29 : 1
@MissRighto : 1
@_mithya : 1
@Iam_BigV : 1
@Sumit_Nagpal : 1
@EternalWhiner : 1
@neelimatripathi : 1
@DaringDeepa : 1
@pushkaras : 1
@sanjaykhera11 : 1
@DonAmit : 1
@From_Samir : 1
@Satya046 : 1
@ankushraj29 : 1
@diwakargc : 1
@dharmakrit : 1
@WordOfTheFree : 1

Wow.. We made it to the 1000th question in about 20 months, by focusing on #DharmaQuiz 2 times a week mostly. Thanks a lot for the continuous particiatipn of one and all. Without your support, we wouldn't be here now.

Special thanks to @kishor_narayan for sending questions ahead of time and playing the guest Quiz Master role! If anyone else wants to play that role for future editions, you are most welcome. Just contact me on Twitter at @kiranks.

Take care and Jai Shreeram!!!