DharmaQuiz: February 2012

Friday, February 24, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 121: 24-Feb-2012

Theme: Madhya Pradesh Temples

One 1500 year old major temple in Devgarh, Madhya Pradesh, survived the temple destruction period. Which is its main deity? #DharmaQuiz 959. Ans: Vishnu
Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar temple, that houses one of the 12 holiest Jyotir Lingas, is situated on which lake's side? #DharmaQuiz 960. Ans: Rudra Sagar Lake.
There is a unique Pashupatinath temple in Madhya Pradesh, where the Linga has 8 faces of Shiva on it. Which town is it in? #DharmaQuiz 961. Ans: Mandsaur.
Name the famous Jyotir Linga which is found in Madhya Pradesh, on the banks of Narmada river. #DharmaQuiz 962. Ans: Omkareshwar.
{Final, open till 11 PM} Name the World Heritage Site town in Madhya Pradesh, that is famous for eroticism in 25 Hindu & Jain temples. #DharmaQuiz 963. Ans: Khajuraho

Top Scorers:

@vijirak : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@neerajstpl : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@balakrshnanr : 5

Congrats to:

@hchaturv : 4
@iSumitRk : 4
@mamtan14 : 4
@kk_ahm : 3
@nvignesh93 : 3
@Rasraj : 2
@indori_vj : 2
@mayaadvaita : 2
@sundar113 : 1
@gchellappan : 1
@man0jsharma : 1
@hindu_tweeter : 1
@mayureshgaikwad : 1
@virendersj : 1
@ambuj_patel : 1
@_Aniket : 1
@ramu_gandhi : 1
@rucheesharma : 1
@mrkunalkedia : 1

Many thanks to all those who participated. Good luck with the next seession. Watch Twitter ( @kiranks ) every Tuesday and Friday afternoons.

DharmaQuiz Session 120: 21-Feb-2012

Theme: Meaning of key mantra words.

You hear in all Gayatri mantras, the Sanskrit word "Prachodayaat". What does it mean? #DharmaQuiz 954. Ans: Guide (or Show the path, Enlighten us, stir/arouse/sharpen the intellect, May Inspire us)
In important Devi prayers like "Sarva mangala mangalye", the Sanskrit word "sharaNye" is used. What does it mean? #DharmaQuiz 955. Ans: Protector (of those who surrender) or Provide refuge (to those who seek refuge)
There's a single alphabet in Sanskrit which is heavily used in prayers. It means wealth or good fortune. Which alphabet? #DharmaQuiz 956. Ans: Shri
Fill in the blank with a name of a very popular Hindu God: "Sham Karoti iti ______". (Sham = Good, Karoti = does) #DharmaQuiz 957. Ans: Shankara (name of Lord Shiva, the doer of good to his devotees)
Before calling for peace 3 times, Hindu prayers use a very famous syllable before them. Name it. #DharmaQuiz 958. Ans: Aum or Om.

Top Scorers:

@hindu_tweeter : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@Veedeeda : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@neerajstpl : 5
@Right2bRight : 5
@nvignesh93 : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@mamtan14 : 5
@AjitVGupta : 5
@iSumitRk : 5
@SandipPawar : 5

Congrats to:

@surenc1974 : 4
@udgeetha : 4
@philAmit : 4
@pkagrawala : 4
@iSaakshi : 4
@vikasF22 : 4
@gchellappan : 3
@kalyan_sk3011 : 3
@ChdryPk : 3
@DaringDeepa : 3
@vinodvyas220 : 3
@mayureshgaikwad : 2
@jagdish : 2
@jemin_p : 2
@gkamitabh : 2
@mallipoorasigai : 2
@SantaSingh : 2
@Marut_ : 2
@AGGBHIMSAIN : 1
@aaindian : 1
@BasantiMomified : 1
@indori_vj : 1
@andhroindian : 1
@cgmagia : 1
@srikrishnaus : 1
@psudo : 1
@pooja_LuvIndia : 1
@srikrishnaus : 1
@kishor_narayan : 1
@anilkvdc : 1
@RudraHindu : 1
@ranganaathan : 1
@kapil_dev : 1
@balakrshnanr : 1
@noprbs : 1
@dppoddar : 1
@voxindica : 1
@mjrajput : 1
@Satya046 : 1
@kamal_1986 : 1
@FatAngryBird : 1
@atulbadani : 1

Many congrats to all those who top scored, and also those who answered very well above. This was a tougher quiz version.

See you soon.

DharmaQuiz Session 119: 17-Feb-2012

Theme: Capitals from Hindu PuraNas.

In Hindu puranas, which city is depicted as the capital of Kubera? #DharmaQuiz 949. Ans: Alakavati, but will consider Lanka too.
In Mahabharata, which grandly built city was Shri Krishna's capital? #DharmaQuiz 950 Ans: Dwaraka
In Hindu puraNas, which city is depicted as Yama's capital? #DharmaQuiz 951 Ans: Samyamani Nagara.
In Mahabharata, which city is termed as the capital of Gandhara kingdom, today's Afghanistan-Pakistan area? #DharmaQuiz 952. Ans: Will accept Pushkalavati and Purushapura (Peshawar now)
{Final, open till 11 PM} Tough one: Name the capital of Lord of the winds, Vayu. #DharmaQuiz 953. Ans: Gandhavati Nagar

Top Scorers:

@sheefal : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5

Congratulations to:

@pirateadmiral : 4
@sgdas2004 : 4
@DevNakshi : 4
@vijirak : 3
@ChdryPk : 3
@surenc1974 : 3
@mamtan14 : 3
@jsinh : 3
@Susri1210 : 2
@iSumitRk : 2
@divyaT_ : 2
@SamitLive : 2
@Kar7x : 2
@idurgesh : 2
@sharathinindia : 2
@kumar_vv : 2
@DaigdigDalisay : 2
@philAmit : 2
@ashithakur : 2
@ShatrughanSingh : 2
@TheArvindDhar : 2
@iSaakshi : 2
@stormylook : 2
@balakrshnanr : 2
@neerajstpl : 2
@vaswaniravi : 1
@ChefEmBee : 1
@udgeetha : 1
@man0jsharma : 1
@SantaSingh : 1
@chikchirp : 1
@abhipar7 : 1
@Ravitejadanda : 1
@shamit11 : 1
@i_Balaji : 1
@mbhagawat : 1
@shivsBHARAT : 1
@_ankitG : 1
@hindu_tweeter : 1
@vikasF22 : 1
@voxindica : 1
@Noopur_m : 1

Thanks for your participation!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 118: 14-Feb-2012

Theme: Valentine's Day!

Sage Vishwamitra's brief valentine was the dancer Menaka who came to spoil his deep penance. Name their daughter. #DharmaQuiz 944. Ans: Shakuntala
Mahabharata: The daughter of a bear-king got attracted to Krishna's handsomeness and became his valentine & wife. Name her. #DharmaQuiz 945. Ans: Jambavati
When Draupadi was humiliated, her angry valentine & 1 of the 5 husbands, vowed to take revenge over Duryodhana. Who was it? #DharmaQuiz 946. Ans: Bhima
Name the mother of Lord Shiva's valentine/wife, whose marriage was the first official marriage of the first Manvantara. #DharmaQuiz 947. Ans: Prasuti, wife of Daksha Prajapati, who was the son of Lord Brahma.
{Final, open till 11 PM} Name the valentine/husband of Priti. His name also literally means "The God of Love" :) #DharmaQuiz 948. Ans: Kama Deva or Manmatha. His other wife was Rati.

Top scorers: (Fifteen top scorers today!)

@chikchirp : 5
@pinkelephanta : 5
@pvaidyaraj : 5
@SandipPawar : 5
@gabbar01 : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@mamtan14 : 5
@ChdryPk : 5
@neerajstpl : 5
@philAmit : 5
@me_MRYTYUNJAY : 5
@venshu : 5
@jiboyv : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@anillucky31 : 5

Congratulations to:

@hindu_tweeter : 4
@hchaturv : 4
@pkagrawala : 4
@KT_I777 : 4
@RohitRajpurohit : 4
@sheefal : 4
@sharathinindia : 4

@kailashmaharshi : 3
@keerthinarayan8 : 3
@Susri1210 : 3
@Rasraj : 3
@Manjunaath : 3
@lshyam : 3
@vbpulla : 3
@biswajeetdash : 3
@dwellerinme : 3
@DeeIinthesky: 3
@man0jsharma : 3
@shivsBHARAT : 3
@Nisharp : 3

@Marut_ : 2
@sprayrose : 2
@shamshanyogi : 2
@udgeetha : 2

@RightwingIndian : 1
@dildhondtahai : 1
@virendersj : 1
@A_cynic : 1
@rahulghildiyal : 1
@drvijayr1 : 1
@ranganaathan : 1
@NikhilVadia : 1
@Rakeshpundir15 : 1
@mayaadvaita : 1
@arbitvalue : 1
@psudo : 1
@shivaranjan : 1
@dppoddar : 1
@Sshankara : 1
@SantaSingh : 1
@Naren_reddy23 : 1
@kamal_1986 : 1
@AAPARACHIT : 1
@mahendrastiwari : 1

Many thanks to all those who participated and those who made to the score board above. Look out for the next one coming Friday. Good night!

Friday, February 10, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 117: 10-Feb-2012

Theme: Mahabharata

Who was the closest friend of Duryodhana in Mahabharata? #DharmaQuiz 939. Ans: Karna
Which "Vamsha" or Lineage did Bhishma Pitamah belong to? #DharmaQuiz 940. Ans: Chandra Vamsha. Kuru vamsha is also accepted as the question was more broad.
What was the name of conch or "Shankha" that Yudhishthira or Dharmaraja used for battle announcements? #DharmaQuiz 941. Ans: Ananta Vijaya
What was the name of the only daughter, the blind King Dhritarashtra had in Mahabharata? #DharmaQuiz 942. Ans: Duhshala
In Mahabharata, which God came in front of Arjuna in the form of a Kirata? #DharmaQuiz 943. Ans: Lord Shiva.

Top Scorers:

@iSaakshi : 5
@SandipPawar : 5
@surenc1974 : 5
@pkagrawala : 5
@kishor_narayan : 5
@kpark_kunal : 5
@talismaan : 5

Congratulations to:

@sheefal : 4
@gabbar01 : 4
@philAmit : 4
@DevNakshi : 4
@nvignesh93 : 4
@Gaandeeva : 4
@sebiljoseph : 4
@dwellerinme : 4
@vcd_87 : 4
@RohitRajpurohit : 4
@VenkatKL : 4
@vijirak : 4

@CoolGazi : 3
@hindu_tweeter : 3
@FEEL4INDIA : 3
@SantaSingh : 3
@kapil_dev : 3
@mamtan14 : 3
@neerajstpl : 3
@DaringDeepa : 3
@jiboyv : 3

@Dptoshniwal1 : 2
@nimeshchandra : 2
@netargument : 2
@jaideepb : 2
@vaidhiy4v : 2
@Sammy_2912 : 2
@Lawan22 : 2
@man0jsharma : 2
@voxindica : 2
@mayureshgaikwad : 2

@rahulsingh5385 : 1
@tyrantasorus : 1
@smkhant : 1
@ujjwalpareek : 1
@2KunalChoudhary : 1
@bhattvihang : 1
@gootypp : 1
@StrugDT : 1
@gkamitabh : 1
@centerofright : 1
@shaileshsoni : 1
@sharathinindia : 1
@Vikas_Indian : 1
@ChandaDebabrata : 1
@Manjunaath : 1
@sharmisthaNandy : 1
@Serendipity9090 : 1

Feel free to leave a comment or tweet telling me how to make this semi-weekly spiritual quiz better and more useful.

DharmaQuiz Session 116: 7-Feb-2012

Theme: Advanced Maths/Science concepts from ancient India

Words Navy and Navigation, are derived from the ancient Sanskrit words Nau and Nau-Gatih.What does "Nau" mean? #DharmaQuiz 934. Ans: Boat or Ship.
Name the world's 1st major university, developed by Buddhists & Hindus, which taught 60 subjects to 1000s of world students. #DharmaQuiz 935. Ans: Takshashila or Taxila, in Pakistan today.
Aryurveda, at least 3500 yrs old, is regarded as the world's oldest school of medicine. What does "Ayus' in Ayus+Veda mean? #DharmaQuiz 936. Ans: Longivity or Long life.
Who wrote Siddhanta Shiromani, 400 yrs before Newton, which gave Earth's diameter as 12648 km (Today's science, 12800 KM). #DharmaQuiz 937. Ans: Bhaskaracharya. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bh%C4%81skara_II
{Final, open till 11 PM} Chakravala Vidhi /Cyclic Algorithm from ancient India is attributed to Bhaskara & 1 more. Name him. #DharmaQuiz 938. Ans: Jayadeva (950-1000 CE). More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakravala_method

Top Scorers:

@pkagrawala : 5
@kishor_narayan : 5
@RohitRajpurohit : 5
@iSaakshi : 5

Congrats to:

@Susri1210 : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@VenkatKL : 4
@philAmit : 4
@DevNakshi : 4
@mamtan14 : 4

@gabbar01 : 3
@rajputrahul19 : 3
@hindu_tweeter : 3
@TheArvindDhar : 3
@ChdryPk : 3
@Sammy_2912 : 3

@VishvambharV : 2
@karancspeaks : 2
@Jaadoo_jupiter : 2
@kapil_dev : 2
@BJPMember : 2

@dildhondtahai : 1
@vkspathak : 1
@stormylook : 1
@Manjunaath : 1
@rameshsethu : 1
@itsmesuresh : 1
@shivsBHARAT : 1
@ashithakur : 1
@venshu : 1
@satishv278 : 1
@AAA2100 : 1
@mahfoozdr : 1
@plantneem4gud : 1
@SandipPawar : 1

Many thanks to everyone keenly following Dharma Quiz and participating. Feel free to leave a comment to improve this spiritual & Dharmic semi-weekly fun quiz.

- Kiran

DharmaQuiz Session 115: 27-Jan-2012

Theme: Science and Technology in Ancient India

Pipilika is the form of a precious metal mentioned in Mahabharata's Rajasuya Yajna. Which precious metal is it? #DharmaQuiz 929. Ans: Gold. Mahabharata 2.52.54 has a mention.
Weight loss due to heating of previous metals is described by Vajnyavalkya.What type of Hindu text did Yajnyavalkya compose? #DharmaQuiz 930. Ans: Smriti.
Which Hindu text has a mention of Pushpaka Vimana (plane) in it? #DharmaQuiz 931. Ans: Ramayana
In Shanti Parva, oil getting fragrances due to flower mix is mentioned. Which famous Hindu text is Shanti Parva a part of? #DharmaQuiz 932. Ans: Mahabharata
6 types of soil- Arid,Marshy,Stony,Plain,Coastal & Foothills,described by Artha Shastra. Who wrote it? #DharmaQuiz 933. Ans: Koutilya or Chanakya

Top Scorers:

@Amaresh80 : 5
@nvignesh93 : 5
@sudhen03 : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@kpark_kunal : 5
@kishor_narayan : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@DevNakshi : 5

Congratulations:

@Sammy_2912 : 4
@Rasraj : 4
@hindu_tweeter : 4
@kalyan_sk3011 : 4
@mallipoorasigai : 4

@Susri1210 : 3
@BeingJai : 3
@spicy_words : 3
@GrandIndusJurix : 3
@gabbar01 : 3
@imukuvacha : 3
@neerajstpl : 3
@vcd_87 : 3

@talismaan : 2
@hchaturv : 2
@FEEL4INDIA : 2

@puneethot : 1
@SathyaShingade : 1
@pchaturved : 1
@SantoshBachuwar : 1
@biswajeetdash : 1
@adiscover : 1
@2thsculptor : 1
@ramjoukani : 1
@anillucky31 : 1
@RoVatK : 1
@um_dubey : 1
@shivsinghDESH : 1
@_Innovision : 1
@csrinathin : 1

Good luck next time to all those who attempted and didn't make to the list above. Check out @kiranks tweets every Tuesday and Friday, around 5 PM India time, for the next round of Dharma Quiz.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Friday, February 10, 2012

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