DharmaQuiz: Saraswati

Showing posts with label Saraswati. Show all posts

Friday, July 18, 2014

Hinduism in Myanmar (Burma)

DharmaQuiz Session 288: 18-July-2014

#DharmaQuiz 1826: Where is this ancient temple within Myanmar (Burma), which has eight Brahma's on outside walls? Ans: Nanpaya temple, Bagan.

DQ 1826. Pic: asiaexplorers.com

#DharmaQuiz 1827: Myanmar used a Sanskrit word for the "head of the state" title. Even Japanese endorsed it in 1940s.
What's the title? Ans: Adhipati (Adipati)

#DharmaQuiz 1828: A scene from drama enacting what is termed as Myanmar's national epic.
What's the name of epic? : Ans: Yama Zatdaw or Yamayana, an adaptation of Ramayana. Rama is termed Yama here. Sita is Thida. Lakshmana is Lakhana and Hanuman is Hanuman.

DQ 1828: Pic: Wiki

#DharmaQuiz 1829: Myanmar has a Goddess named "Thuyathadi", an adaptation of a famous Hindu Goddess/ Devi. Who? Ans: Saraswati.

DQ 1829: Pic: blogspot

#DharmaQuiz 1830: There's a 1000 year old Vishnu temple in Myanmar/Burma. Where? Ans: Bagan. Nathlaung Kyaung temple with 10 avataras of Vishnu all around.

DQ 1830: Pic: travelmyanmar.net

Scores for session 288:

@KaushikRg : 5

@lodyaashi : 3
@conphucius : 2
@anandakonar : 2

@Lata_MV : 1
@rajeshrajput1 : 1
‏@sambapatnaik : 1
@durgaramdas : 1
@Gooli_here : 1
@SunilTapashetti : 1
‏@SrDPO : 1

Nice seeing some attempts for a tough session on Myanmar. Thanks.

Friday, December 13, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 247: 13-Nov-2013

DQ 1621: Source thelivingmoon.com

Theme: Discovery of ancient Hindu monuments

#DharmaQuiz 1621: This is a diver examining the submerged city built during Shri Krishna's era. Name the city. Ans: Dwaraka, off Gujarat's coast.

#DharmaQuiz 1622: A massive settlement happened in North West of India & Pakistan, along the banks of which river? Ans: Saraswati. (But Sindhu also considered, though the map clearly identifies Saraswati valley's ascent)

DQ 1622: Source telegraphindia

DQ 1623: Image - causes-prod.caudn.com

#DharmaQuiz 1623: This is an ancient bridge submerged now in Indian ocean. Where does it's Eastern end connect to? Ans: Talai Mannar in Sri Lanka.

#DharmaQuiz 1624: This satellite image shows 900 yr old Vishnu temple (world's biggest temple complex). Where is it?. Ans: Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

DQ 1624: Image - dailymail.co.uk

DQ 1625: Source - weather-forecast

#DharmaQuiz 1625: Satellite image of Hindu pilgrimage place looking like Cow's ear. Name it. Ans: Gokarna in Karnataka. (Go = cow, karna = ear).

Answers for session 247:

@drarora_gaurav : 5
@rajeshrajput1 : 5
@gupta_n : 5
@GirishLN : 5
@KaushikRg : 5
‏@ramas_cal : 5
@man8shree : 5
@mareekuree : 5
@GayathriSrinath : 5

@brahmavith : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@sudhee26 : 4
@rinku3009 : 4
@kr_upadhyaya : 4
@rravi55 : 4
@manjunathbhg : 4
@JagannathAjnabi : 4
@AMoorthy : 4
@sinhankur : 4

@meenabg : 3
@MKanthaliya : 3
@saggirex : 3
@sunilgujar : 3
@pnthacker : 3
@nareshdixit82 : 3
@MorpariaRajesh : 3

@ravlu : 2
@sweetandu : 2
@AmitIntruder : 2
@mangalorecafe : 2
@Sravan : 2
@rajmohan_k : 2
@BhaghatGuru : 2
‏@pooja_LuvIndia : 2
@stormylook : 2
@SaffronRahul : 2
@Harshythsunkari : 2
@pradeep_noida : 2
@sidd1993 : 2
‏@sndpmysuru : 2
@ksmsundaram1975 : 2
@piyush1062 : 2

@sid_dhupe : 1
@praveenmla : 1
@nimeshchandra : 1
@gnswamy74 : 1
@BRIJGOPALJOSHI: 1
@kumarnandaj : 1
@SrDPO : 1
@chaitanyasoul : 1
@rohitsamvada : 1
‏@padmakark : 1
@venkataa : 1
@InternetVHindu : 1
@satishpatil24 : 1
@srisriyash : 1
@showadarsh : 1
@iChiradeep : 1
@gprasadadv : 1
@praveena_kd : 1
@RramachandranR : 1
@Rudra_TheArcher : 1
@geffbeck : 1
@rationaldeep : 1
@SarayuBaawan : 1
@shekhu : 1
@alokjain_ : 1
@satishmohite : 1
@gautam_purohit : 1
@VBRajiv : 1
@ShKa89 : 1
‏@imharshp : 1
@zincmetal : 1
@ashu_tryambak : 1
‏@RaRao23 : 1
@bhartikaushal79 : 1
@Sunrisecandles1 : 1
‏@vidhyaaradhya : 1
@ilovedirestrait : 1
@iHardikBhatt : 1
@vishal1818 : 1
@srikanthviru : 1
@NirmaalyaDe : 1
‏@harshit13175873 : 1
@kbharada : 1

See you next week. Hope you are exploring further on these ancient Hindu treasures!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 221: 18-Jun-2013

Theme: 19th and 20th century Hindu Veda/Yoga Scholars.

A great Swami of 19th century Gujarat, propounded the motto "Go back to Vedas". What was his birth name given by family? #DharmaQuiz 1481. Ans: Mul Shankar Tiwari later became Dayananda Saraswati.
Name this Pandit born in 19th century Bihar, whose scientific interpretation of Vedas earned him a title "2nd Veda Vyasa ". #DharmaQuiz 1482. Ans: Pandit Madhusudan Ojha - More: http://www.vedicpeeth.org/Madhusudan-Ojha.html
This nationalist, Yogi and Guru, was born in 19th century Kolkata in a Ghosh family. Authored at least 4 Yoga books. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1483. Ans: Sri Aurobindo.
This nationalist born in 19th century Maharashtra, authored "Shrimad Bhagavad Geeta Rahasya" at a Myanmar jail. Name him. #DharmaQuiz 1484. Ans: Bal Gangadhar Tilak
Name this Hindu spiritual master of 20th century, born a Ghose, who was Hindu of the Year in 1997. #DharmaQuiz 1485. Ans: Sri Chinmoy.

Toppers for session 221:

@rahulghildiyal : 5
@manya_rao : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@GuruCharan99 : 5
@vinodvyas220 : 5
@natb786 : 5
@vipulgupta1976 : 5
@philAmit : 5
@KaushikRg : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@iParamanand : 5
@vijastha : 5
@geophyraj : 5

Congrats to all these:

@man8shree : 4
@Parixyt : 4
@Tasmayi : 4
@GayathriSrinath : 4
@brahmavith : 4

@roshan_halwai : 3
@dolby_mehul : 3
@ComedyDivine : 3
@MaheshwarBhatP : 3
@sanjayleo : 3

@ajittyagi1805 : 2
@kaushkrahul : 2
@punter_me : 2
@S_Senshi : 2

@iRushikesh : 1
@shailendram1 : 1
@bsr3012 : 1
@mukunthaniyer : 1
@DhanushKool : 1
@Right__Click : 1
@SujnanNayak : 1
@MadhuRa_april : 1
@Rasraj : 1
@psychiatrycal : 1
@IntrepidTrooper : 1
@bajajsanjay : 1
@bhrigupathi : 1
@aveeksen : 1
@SUBHRANSHUDASH1 : 1
@kmukundra : 1
@CalmAadmi : 1
@geffbeck : 1
@narayan_reddy : 1
@suar4sure : 1
@rishitwt : 1
@prassingh : 1
@udhbava : 1
@harishinamdar : 1
@SharmaJC : 1
@TheArvindDhar : 1
@dasaradhmanji : 1
@Susri1210 : 1
@kalyan_sk3011 : 1
@mandukulkarni : 1
@Daddajidheele : 1
@cubicle_warrier : 1
@trivedianupam : 1
@psudo : 1

Glad that so many tried to answer and learned some things about these great luminaries of Hindu world.

See you next Friday!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 192: 29-Jan-2013

Theme: Animals and Birds associated with Hindu Bhagawans and Bhagawatis.

Name the Hindu Bhagawan (God), who rides a vehicle that is symbolic of higher male sexual energy. #DharmaQuiz 1321. Ans: Shiva. His vehicle Nandi or Bull is symbolic of higher male sexual energy.
Name the Bhagawan who adores a peacock feather over his head, for ornamental purpose. #DharmaQuiz 1322. Ans: Shri Krishna.
Name a Hindu Devi, who has been worshiped as 'Mayura Vahini" or the Goddess who rides a peacock as vehicle. #DharmaQuiz 1323. Ans: Saraswati.She is also a Hamsa Vahini or rider of swans.
Name all these three Bhagawans: a) He has Naga (serpent) around neck. b) Has around stomach. c) Sits over it. #DharmaQuiz 1324. Ans: 1) Shiva 2) Ganesha 3) Vishnu.
People mostly fear this deity or Deva, whose vehicle is a crow. Who is he? #DharmaQuiz 1325. Ans: Shani Deva.

Top Scorers for Session 192:

@smna17 : 5
@cubicle_warrier : 5
@shawjipk : 5
@ashutoshkulkar1 : 5
@man8shree : 5
@S_Mandalia : 5
@ravighiyar : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@indianomad : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@gupta_n : 5
@rk_kulkarni : 5

Congrats to:

@mrsnrao : 4
@Tasmayi : 4
@manohar_sram : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@iDevNakshi : 4
@Dhanushm : 4
@Sahyadri : 4

@kiran_en25 : 3
@vigneshshanbhag : 3
@ankushraj29 : 3
@biswajeetdash : 3
@iParamanand : 3

@Ameysd : 2
@geophyraj : 2
@RameshRameshwar : 2
@numbbybirth : 2

@pcrajendra : 1
@vasenvy : 1
@mayureshgaikwad : 1
@JagannathAjnabi : 1
@rmdrao : 1
@seshasivasailam : 1
@ahmednkhan : 1
@cgmagia : 1
@achandwar : 1
@hrnaidu : 1
@vinsisthebest : 1
@seeniram : 1
@dattakg : 1
@killol81 : 1
@mbhagawat : 1
@Kiran_speaks : 1
@harikiranroyal : 1
@pnthacker : 1
@ranganathabhatt : 1
@raviswams : 1
@BeSharmaji : 1
@suar4sure : 1
@hindu_r : 1
@TheWiredGoon : 1
@CJ_Shekhar : 1
@vsumanthkumar : 1
@GypsyFeet_ : 1
@Neo_Hindu : 1
@pvsswamy : 1
@vikasF22 : 1
@ronakdesai88 : 1
@wavehit : 1

Many congrats to all the participants. Thanks to those who tried, but could not get to the score board this time. Better luck next time!

Friday, November 16, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 175: 16-Nov-2012

Theme: Basics of a Hindu Pooja or Worship.

During poojas, the man doing pooja is asked to do "Achamana". What is Achamana? #DharmaQuiz 1231. Ans: Drinking spoon quantity of water three times, chanting Krishna's name. Purification of the body before worship. Essentially swallowing water 3 times from the base of the right thumb, while reciting different mantras in praise of the lord like Keshavaya Swaha, Narayanaya Swaha and Madhavaya Swaha. Names change based on local customs.
Few Hindus worship Vishwaksena before the main deity. But whom do majority of Hindus worship as the first deity in a pooja? #DharmaQuiz 1232. Ans: Ganapati.
When Hindus setup a Kalasha or pot for sacred water during pooja, symbolically how many rivers' water is invited in that? #DharmaQuiz 1233. Ans: Seven rivers: Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri.
In any pooja, you symbolically wash the feet of Deva or Devi using "padya". Which is the very next step in most poojas? #DharmaQuiz 1234. Ans: Arghya or offering water to cleanse the hands. There are more meanings too: http://vedabase.net/a/arghya
{Final, Open till 11PM} Usually poojas involve "Ashtottara" name chanting. Ashta = 8, Uttara =After. Eight after what? #DharmaQuiz 1235. Ans: Full name is Shata-Ashta-Uttara or 8 after 100. In short used as Ashtottara. There is also Sahasra-Ashta-Uttara or 1008.

Top scorers of session 175:

@cubicle_warrier : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@hindujanjagruti : 5
@Right2bRight : 5
@arunz : 5
@Tasmayi : 5
@man8shree : 5
@surenc1974 : 5
@surnell : 5
@vipulgupta1976 : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@iSaakshi : 5

Congratulations to:

@Manojakrishna : 4

@raopm9 : 3
@pvaidyaraj : 3
@philAmit : 3
@fas_gayi_garari : 3
@rainaamit : 3

@Rasraj : 2
@Keefarqpaindha : 2
@ishuaadi : 2
@khaishk : 2
@Manjunaath : 2
@dominodeck : 2
@rinku3009 : 2
@Darksider150 : 2

@psudo : 1
@PANDIT_SAURABH : 1
@rucheesharma : 1
@AvinashCKM : 1
@aanchall : 1
@Vimzy_ : 1
@halovivek : 1
@yoginisd : 1
@antidespondent : 1
@mayureshgaikwad : 1
@saggirex : 1
@DAmunRa : 1
@rkjain2903 : 1
@DrShobha : 1
@KPGanesh : 1
@Modi4India : 1
@SathyaSher : 1
@Anirvachan : 1
@im_adi : 1

See you next time. If you have topic ideas, please do drop in a comment. I will surely read and incororate it.

Friday, September 7, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 161: 7-Sep-2012

Theme: Famous Hindu/Sikh temples outside India.

Benzaiten is the Japanese name for a famous Hindu goddess. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1161. Ans: Saraswati. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzaiten
Combodia's Angkor Wat, largest Hindu temple complex in world, has influence from 2 Indian states. 1 is Odisha. The other? #DharmaQuiz 1162. Ans: Tamil Nadu, the Chola influence.
In 2011, historic Gorakhnath temple reopened in Pakistan, thanks to a court verdict, after 60yrs of closure. In which city? #DharmaQuiz 1163. Ans: Peshawar, NWFP. Read more here - http://hindutemplespakistan.blogspot.in/
Sri Sri Ravishankar addressed a huge crowd at Argentina y'day. Name the place where Argentina's biggest Gurudwara exists. #DharmaQuiz 1164. Ans: Rosario de la Frontera in Salta province.
In 1975, Swami Ghanananda Saraswati, an African, setup a Hindu temple in West Africa. Which nation? #DharmaQuiz 1165. Ans: The hint is in his name, Ghana. Read more here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10401741

Top scorers:

@smna17 : 5
@arunz : 5
@mareekuree : 5
@intodust_in : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@nisargsoni : 5
@pvaidyaraj : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@Manjunaath : 5
@cybercalci : 5

@abhipar7 : 4
@Amaresh80 : 4
@surnell : 4
@ramas_cal : 4
@DevNakshi : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@sweetandu : 4
@hindu_tweeter : 4
@rahulghildiyal : 4
@dolby_mehul : 4

@jemin_p : 3
@Dhanushm : 3
@iSumitRk : 3
@surenc1974 : 3
@pkagrawala : 3

@srinivasa444 : 2
@SandeepShelke : 2
@wavehit : 2

@KPGanesh : 1
@zizou789 : 1
@man8shree : 1
@rinku3009 : 1
@sandeepsmysore : 1
@RiddleBoza : 1
@RohitR_ : 1
@kannaniyyer : 1

This was a tougher one, but very glad that so many answered with or without searching on the net. It helps for Hindus to know famous Hindu shrines outside India.

See you next time.

Friday, June 15, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 144: 15-Jun-2012

Theme: Hindu Rituals

Of which Hindu ritual, "Paani grahana" is a part of? a)Naming ceremony. b) Marriage. c) Death ceremony. - #DharmaQuiz 1076. Ans: b) Marriage.
There is a Hindu samskara called Karna Vedha. It's related to which of the following? d) Hands. e) Ear. f) Nose . - #DharmaQuiz 1077. Ans: e)Ear
When is this prayer usually said? "karagre vasate Lakshmi.. kara madhye Saraswati"? g) Morning. h) Before lunch i) Evening. #DharmaQuiz 1078. Ans: g) Morning. More: "karaagre vasate lakshmi karamadhye saraswati karamoole sthithaa gouri prabhaate karadarshanam" when looking at both palms first thing in the morning.
When Hindus say "paada sparsham kshamaswa me" prayer, whom are they addressing? j) Sky. k) Fire. l) Earth. - #DharmaQuiz 1079. Ans: l) Earth. Hindus touch the floor and pray "samudra vasane devi parvata sthana mandale Vishnu patnee namasthubhyam paada sparsham kshamaswa me" to ask for forgiveness for touching mother Earth with foot.
{Final, Open till 11PM} Among Hindu samskaras or customs, which one comes first? m)Jatakarma n) Namakarana o) Chudakarana - #DharmaQuiz 1080. Ans: m) Jatakarma.

Two good references to read further:
http://www.vmission.org.in/hinduism/samskaras.htm
http://sanskritdocuments.org/articles/customs_rituals_in_Hindu_dharma_IISH_Gopalakrishnan.doc

Top Scorers:

@vinodvyas220 : 5
@iCSM : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@shawjipk : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@akhilm176 : 5
@rahulghildiyal
@shanthigrama : 5
@bhaviknz : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@premchandu_a : 5
@philAmit : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@surnell : 5
@gdeepy : 5

Congrats to all these, who answered well!

@Susri1210 : 4
@Gurush_ : 4
@gnanambalam : 4
@prashanth__s : 4
@rk_kulkarni : 4
@Marut_ : 4

@kaushkrahul : 3
@Tasmayi : 3
@arora_chandan : 3
@abhipar7 : 3
@akhil_fsu : 3

@gototihar : 2
@ManishManke : 2
@swathyg : 2
@NAashish : 2
@kharesm : 2
@archie229 : 2
@Hindustanumh : 2
@talismaan : 2
@karthik_sy : 2
@somaiyahiral : 2
@WiseIndian : 2
@MaheshwarBhatP : 2
@pravinrao6750 : 2
@ashok567 : 2
@TobaTekSing : 2
@SarathRamakrish : 2

@idhairya : 1
@psudo : 1
@hm_eVOTS : 1
@ecophilo : 1
@harshvb : 1
@achandwar : 1
@truevirathindu : 1
@TheArvindDhar : 1
@VickyTweets9 : 1
@rajiv2131 : 1
@sanathandharma : 1
@AvinashCKM : 1
@CricRaks : 1
@_cowInspector : 1
@raghu_ji : 1
@VijayShenli : 1
@1KaDuM : 1
@pramodthap : 1
@Shree03 : 1
@krimhumhrim : 1
@suren_bamel : 1
@riteshshetty : 1

Thanks for a wonderful participation today. You can always refer to this blog after 11 PM IST, on Tuesdays and Fridays. Also, you can subscribe on Twitter to @kiranks/dharmaquiz list for an update tweet with answers.