DharmaQuiz: January 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 114: 20-Jan-2012

Theme: Bhakti Music by Purandara Dasa and Bhimsen Joshi

What was the birth name of the father of Carnatic music and a Bhakti movement stalwart in south India, Purandara Dasa? #DharmaQuiz 924. Ans: Srinivasa Nayaka.
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, a stellar Hindustani singer mesmerized with devotional songs. Which Gharana was he a member of? #DharmaQuiz 925. Ans: Kirana Gharana, from Uttar Pradesh.
What was Bhakti movement composer Purandara Dasa's pen name? a)Purandara Vitthala b)Purandara Krishna c)Kaginele Keshava. #DharmaQuiz 926. Ans: a - Purandara Vitthala
Along with Bhimsen Joshi, devotional singers Gangubai Hangal, Firoz Dastur & Basavaraj Rajguru had the same guru. Name him. #DharmaQuiz 927. Ans: Sawai Gandharva.
Tansen, 1 of Akbar's court's navaratna, had a teacher who was Purandara Dasa's disciple. Name him. #DharmaQuiz 928. Ans: Swami Haridas.

Some questions for this session were supplied by tweep @itsmesuresh . Thank him for his interest!

Congratulations to all those who attempted and scored well. Just for this episode, I may not be able to produce a score list. Will do it for the next session.

Keep participating!

DharmaQuiz Session 113: 20-Jan-2012

Theme: Values of Dharma System

What's the word 'Sanaatana' mean when we refer to Sanaatana Dharma or Hinduism? #DharmaQuiz919. Ans: Eternity
In Sanaatana Dharma if "demand" is loosely termed as 'kaama', what would "supply" be termed as from the 4 purushaarthas? #DharmaQuiz 920. Ans: artha.
Vedas teach us about various types of "ruNas", like Pitru ruNa, deva ruNa.. What does 'ruNa' mean? #DharmaQuiz 921. Ans: indebtedness
There is a very special & popular term in Vedas starting with 'y' which means selfless offering (or sacrifice). Name it. #DharmaQuiz 922. Ans: Yajna from the root word Yaj
Among various Dharmas like Raja Dharma, Varna Dharma, Apad Dharma, for whom is 'Sanyasa Dharma'? #DharmaQuiz 923. Ans: For ascetics or renuciated or Sanyasis.

For an excellent insight into Dharma & all questions above, read this by Shatavadhani Dr. R Ganesh.
http://prekshaa.blogspot.com/2010/10/foundations-of-sanaatana-dharma.html
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=IN&v=wN7wXn-MTDE

Top scorers for Session 113:

@mamtan14 : 5
@kpark_kunal : 5
@pkagrawala : 5
@mallipoorasigai : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@Susri1210 : 5

Congratulations to:

@pirateadmiral : 4
@Amaresh80 : 4
@nvignesh93 : 4
@philAmit : 4
@pirateadmiral : 4
@chikchirp : 4
@khaishk : 4

@Rasraj : 3
@Sammy_2912 : 3
@soul_longings : 3
@pchaturved : 3
@MRYYTYUNJAY : 3
@Equateall : 3
@octa_sud : 3
@pvaidyaraj : 3
@sudhen03 : 3
@Ethirajans : 3
@sharathinindia : 3
@DevNakshi : 3
@hindu_tweeter : 3

@manojkagarwal : 2
@voxindica : 2
@Sshankara : 2
@mjrajput : 2
@keerthinarayan8 : 2
@DevsChat : 2

@asimhot : 1
@ishekhar_sk : 1
@The_educatr : 1
@karancspeaks : 1
@ravi_superb : 1
@man0jsharma : 1
@PriyaNarayankar : 1
@rajivgaxdhi : 1
@stormylook : 1
@jsinh : 1
@RoVatK : 1
@swetamishraa : 1
@mediacrooks : 1
@rakeshranjan_in : 1
@Equateall : 1
@kalyan_sk3011 : 1

Congratulations to all the tweeple listed above. Also thanks to those who follow silently or attempted, but could not make it to the list above.

Good luck next time!

Monday, January 16, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 112: 13-Jan-2012

Theme: Makar Sankranti

There are at least two states in India where Makar Sankranti is celebrated as "Uttarayan". Name one of them. - #DharmaQuiz 914. Ans: Rajasthan or Gujarat
In 1 state in S India, Makar Sankranti is celebrated by a name which is also the name of a delicious dish. Name the state. #DharmaQuiz 915. Ans: Pongal in Tamil Nadu
Sikhs celebrate Makar Sanskranti by what name? #DharmaQuiz 916. Ans: Maghi or Lohri.
Name any one state where cows are decorated, fed well and made to jump over a pyre or bonfire during Makar Sankranti. #DharmaQuiz 917. Ans: Karnataka or Tamil Nadu.
What is "Makara" in the name of the festival Makar Sankranti? #DharmaQuiz 918. Ans: A rashi or zodiac's constellation, called in English as Capricorn. It also means Crocodile, which some say as the shape of this zodiac. Shani, the son of Surya is considered as the 'Adhipati' or Lord of the Makara Rashi. It is symbolically father visiting his son's home, for a month every year!

Answers to Session 112:

Top Scorers:

@TheArvindDhar : 5
@Sammy_2912 : 5
@chikchirp : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@AbhiUwach : 5
@KVSarmaJ : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@mamtan14 : 5
@DevNakshi : 5

Congratulations to:

@talismaan : 4
@kpark_kunal : 4
@itsmesuresh : 4

@amitgupta_lnct : 3
@man0jsharma : 3
@Ethirajans : 3
@Dhruv_rathore : 3

@vkspathak : 2
@ChdryPk : 2
@Noopur_m : 2
@Rasraj : 2
@GrandIndusJurix : 2
@jai1900 : 2
@mjrajput : 2
@shamshanyogi : 2
@kailashmaharshi : 2
@keerthinarayan8 : 2
@srikrishnaus : 2
@ajith_shetty : 2

@rajputrahul19 : 1
@urs_sandeepan : 1
@FatAngryBird :
@asimhot : 1
@hm_eVOTS : 1
@hindu_tweeter : 1
@ppnss : 1
@Jangid : 1
@nvignesh93 : 1
@miumesh : 1
@VivekTelangana : 1
@anilkvdc : 1
@Rajarshi_n : 1
@mediacrooks : 1
@Yogesh_Dreams : 1
@ujjwalpareek : 1
@sanjaykhera11 : 1
@srikrishnaus : 1
@kdpgrahi : 1
@vibrantbharat : 1
@Yogesh_Dreams : 1
@idurgesh : 1
@GirishRSingh : 1
@octa_sud : 1
@Flyfiddlesticks : 1
@rakeshranjan_in : 1
@neerajstpl : 1

Many thanks to all those who participated above. Feel free to suggest topics for Dharma Quiz.

Friday, January 6, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 111: 06-Jan-2012

Theme: Bhagavad Gita, in honour of Bhagavad Gita Abhiyana by Sonda Swami

Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya wrote 2000 pages of commentary Gita. Where in India is his gurukulam located? #DharmaQuiz 909. Ans: Main in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Other branches exist too.
The very first chapter of Bhagavad Gita is name Arjuna Vishada Yoga. What does 'Vishada' mean? #DharmaQuiz 910. Ans: Vishada = Dejection/Sorrow/Grief.
The first English translation of Bhagavad Gita was done by Charles Wilkins. Which century AD did he do that in? #DharmaQuiz 911. Ans: 18th century, 1785 to be precise.
BG Abhiyana of distributing Gita to 25 Lac kids was using Guna Traya Vibhaga Yoga. Out of 18 chapters which chapter is this? #DharmaQuiz 912. Ans: 14th chapter.
Name the scholarly President of India, who termed shloka 11.55 as THE "substance of entire Gita": #DharmaQuiz 913. Ans: Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. More about 11.55 here: http://www.asitis.com/11/55.html

Answers to Session 111:

Top scorers are:

@iSaakshi : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@hindu_tweeter : 5

Congratulations to:

@chhayank : 4
@hchaturv : 4
@Ethirajans : 4
@ranganaathan : 4
@shaileshsoni : 3
@Sammy_2912 : 2
@dhruvhere : 2
@WordOfTheFree : 2
@psudo : 1
@SAIRAMNATARAJA : 1
@DevsChat : 1
@0mgURsoSL0 : 1
@subramanianaras : 1
@abgohel : 1
@Bgiridharr : 1
@Rasraj : 1
@manohar_sram : 1
@amitgupta_lnct : 1
@manu_bhaarat : 1
@octa_sud : 1
@rsenthilkumar : 1

Also, thanks to others who attempted, but couldn't get in the list above. Better luck next time.

Thanks for participating and/or following the semi-weekly spiritual quiz on Twitter.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 114: 20-Jan-2012

DharmaQuiz Session 113: 20-Jan-2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 112: 13-Jan-2012

Friday, January 6, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 111: 06-Jan-2012

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