DharmaQuiz: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 179: 30-Nov-2012

Theme: Festivals of Kartika month (Mostly November in 2012)

Name this festival that occurred in Novmbr this year,where Maithili & Bhojpuri speaking women give arghya to thank Sun god. #DharmaQuiz 1251. Ans: Chhath Puja.
During which Hindu calendar month, does the marriage of the most famous medicinal plant Tulasi, is symbolically celebrated? #DharmaQuiz 1252. Ans: Kartika month, Krishna Paksha, Dwadashi day.
2 days after Diwali, sisters remember the chiranjeevis like Bali & Hanuman, and wish brothers longevity. Name the festival. #DharmaQuiz 1253. Ans: Bhai Dooj.
Day after Diwali is celebrated in South India as Bali Padyami. What's it celebrated in North, symbolizing nature worship? #DharmaQuiz 1254. Ans: Goverdhan pooja.
A festival was celebrated 3 nights back by Telugu & Tamil Hindus,lighting lamps for Murugan. Name it. #DharmaQuiz 1255. Ans: Karthikai Deepam or Kartika Deepotsavam. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karthikai_Deepam

Top scorers of session 179:

@idurgesh : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@man8shree : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@fas_gayi_garari : 5
@intodust_in : 5
@philAmit : 5
@cubicle_warrier : 5
@pradeepkhs : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@ThejasMysore : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5

Congrats to:

@servantofkrsna : 4
@SamitLive : 4
@iSumitRk : 4
@numbbybirth : 4

@tandonb : 3
@dominodeck : 3
@raopm9 : 3
@amitsinha19 : 3

@nitinjoshi20 : 2
@manohar_sram : 2
@emsreenu : 2
@mist_27 : 2
@shrutidharp : 2

@bezubaan : 1
@drvijayr1 : 1
@TheArvindDhar : 1
@RRMMZZ : 1
@LifeIsChels : 1
@Prach82 : 1
@bezubaan : 1
@iCSM : 1
@SthitaprajnaD : 1
@DAmunRa : 1
@sandeepmadhukar : 1
@alkeshtunara : 1
@navneet2frn : 1
@kanhaiyajaiswal : 1
@mbhagawat : 1
@vikasbsingh : 1

See you next time. Have a great Kartika month.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 178: 27-Nov-2012

Theme: The 18 days of Kurukshetra War in Mahabharata.

On the 15th day of Kurukshetra war, who killed Dronacharya violating "No warrior may kill an unarmed warrior" Dharma rule? #DharmaQuiz 1246. Ans: Drishtadyumna. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhristadyumna
When Abhimanyu was killed on the 13th day of Kurukshetra war, in Chakravyuha, whom did Arjuna target as revenge next day? #DharmaQuiz 1247. Ans: Jayadratha. More here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abhimanyu
Karna beats Sahadeva & Yudhisthira in Kurukshetra battle on 17th day, but spared their lives. Sparing as a promise to whom? #DharmaQuiz 1248. Ans: As a promise to his mother Kunti on the 15th night.
On which day of the 18 days' Kurukshetra war, did Shri Krishna render Bhagavad Gita to warrior Arjuna? #DharmaQuiz 1249. Ans: The very first day. It's celebrated as Gita Jayanti -> http://hinduism.about.com/od/thegita/a/gita_jayanti.htm
Out of the millions who went to Kurukshetra war, only 12 warriors survived. Name 1 Kaurava survivor. #DharmaQuiz 1250. Ans: Any one of these -> Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, Yuyutsu (only son of Dhritarashtra who survived, but he fought on Pandava side), Vrishakethu (son of Karna) and Kritvarma.

Top Scorers of session 178:

@Tasmayi : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@iRohitBhat : 5
@arunz : 5
@man8shree : 5
@ChdryPk : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@shivsankar : 5
@indianomad : 5
@shriram78 : 5
@iSumitRk : 5
@ashutoshkulkar1 : 5
@SandeepHBhat : 5
@lodyaashi : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@servantofkrsna : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@Manojakrishna : 5
@pangalanrao : 5
@neovasant : 5
@philAmit : 5
@shibinbly : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@MandoosMallu : 5
@kishan_harathi : 5
@guruswamy_c : 5
@smna17 : 5
@TheArvindDhar : 5
@keerthinarayan8 : 5
@geophyraj : 5
@Ethirajans : 5
@vyasraj : 5
@sharad_51 : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5

Also, Congrats to:

@sharathinindia : 4
@its_poooja : 4
@vamshitweet : 4
@pvsswamy : 4
@Keefarqpaindha : 4

@AJAY_KR_GUPTA : 3
@RohitR_ : 2
@rinku3009 : 3
@amitsinha19 : 3
@flip2win : 3
@gboxam : 3
@R_Bhartiya : 3
@SamitLive : 3
@ankushanup : 3

@at_patel : 2
@vipulIT : 2
@stille_wensen : 2
@PawanDande : 2
@manishwebmaster : 2
@manohar_sram : 2
@sathya_ngt: 2
@pramodgurav : 2
@AmitRVKSharma : 2
@_Murali : 2
@dominodeck : 2

@AmitBajare1 : 1
@pradysp : 1
@anilkoulz : 1
@VikranthKalva : 1
@rZZv : 1
@CACAECILIA : 1
@zombiespirits : 1
@balmaa : 1
@hmani2000 : 1
@ravin1sky : 1
@venatarajan : 1
@Kachnarr : 1
@DAmunRa : 1
@lldhr : 1
@sunilmumbaikar : 1
@vicramb : 1
@Pseudo_Secular : 1
@upendrverma : 1
@ArunTatTvamAsi : 1
@vga_sagar : 1
@hethal09 : 1
@shivoahm : 1
@loveshsingla : 1
@sharmayuvaraj : 1
@madhuvanpushp : 1
@GP545 : 1
@sandeepsmys : 1
@wavehit : 1
@ulatyabomba : 1
@ishekhar_sk : 1
@mabhik : 1
@deepakbharat : 1
@natrajan : 1
@sahucar : 1
@rameshnswamy : 1
@upretivineet : 1
@ChoteBhai1 : 1
@antidespondent : 1
@karthiks_india : 1
@kaliom : 1
@avinashkarn : 1

Amazing response today. 100 people got to the scoreboard and many more tried! Keep up the interest friends in our Dharma and Heritage!

Friday, November 23, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 177: 23-Nov-2012

Theme: Key heritage sources of North and East India, from the South.

Name this very famous Hindu Sanyasi, born in South India, who established the Jyotirmath in
Uttarakhand 1200 years ago. #DharmaQuiz 1241. Ans: Adi Shankara.
Name this South Indian barber, whose parents were from Bidar, Karnataka, who was 1 of the first 5
Sikhs to form the Khalsa. #DharmaQuiz 1242. Ans: Bhai Sahib Singh.
For 350 years, all chief priests of Nepal's most famous Pashupatinath temple, have been from South
India. From which state? #DharmaQuiz 1243. Ans: Karnataka.
Name this Acharya who founded the Shuddha Advaita Pushti sect 500 years back, born in Bihar, in a
Telugu Brahmin family. #DharmaQuiz 1244. Ans: Vallabha Acharya.
{Final,Open till 11PM} A powerful dynasty ruled Bengal 1000 yrs ago (1070-1230), whose origin was from Karnataka. Name it. #DharmaQuiz 1245. Ans: The Sena Dynasty. More: http://www.indianetzone.com/22/sena_dynasty_origin_early_history.htm

Top scorers of session 177:

@pirateadmiral : 5
@surenc1974 : 5
@bbkhilari : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@Dhanushm : 5
@philAmit : 5
@geophyraj : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@intodust_in : 5
@being_delhite : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@Shree03 : 5

Many Congrats to these:

@ChandanYogendra : 4
@Tasmayi : 4
@bhaviknz : 4
@sweetandu : 4
@pradeepkhs : 4
@anandt_05 : 4

@ThejasMysore : 3
@Manjunaath : 3

@manohar_sram : 2
@vyasraj : 2
@iRohitBhat : 2
@rinku3009 : 2

@pandurangpai40 : 1
@alok_bhatt : 1
@911ashish : 1
@shra1kulkarni : 1
@CAPMohan : 1
@BalachandarS : 1
@Dilipmys : 1
@skumbar : 1
@HeathensWeb : 1
@dankchikidang : 1
@bkprajwal : 1
@vyas_rs : 1
@1800guru : 1
@sreedharag : 1
@matarishwan : 1
@divyankp : 1
@Rasraj : 1
@gantinm : 1
@shriram78 : 1
@imukuvacha : 1
@Marut_ : 1
@CJ_Shekhar : 1
@siva420 : 1

This particular session combined (Hindu) history too to Dharma part. But will give you quite a bit of insight into how Sikhs in Punjab, Dynasties of Bengal and Temples of Nepal have historical link to South India. Very few would ever know that one of the first five Sikhs ever (Khalsa's Punj Pyares) was a Kannadiga!

More interesting topic next time. Watch out for Tuesday and Friday around 6 PM India time on Twitter for this quiz, with a tag #DharmaQuiz .

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 176: 20-Nov-2012

Theme: Panchatantra

Panchatantra, composed at least 4000 years ago by Vishnu Sharma, is a part of which shastra? a) Dharma b) Niti c) Sankhya. #DharmaQuiz 1236 Ans: b) Niti Shastra or the treatise of the wise.
Panchatantra shares many stories in common with Jataka tales of which religion? d) Sikhism. e) Jainism. f) Buddhism. #DharmaQuiz 1237. Ans: f) Buddhism.
The oldest available Sanskrit recension of Panchatantra, the "Tantrakhyayika" was found where? g)Asom. h) Kashmir i) Bihar. #DharmaQuiz 1238. Ans: h) Kashmir.
"Kalila wa Dimna", considered the first masterpiece of Arabic prose, was a translation of Pancha tantra. Who translated? #DharmaQuiz 1239. Ans: Ibn al-Muqaffa.
Panchatantra's translation, Das Der Buch Beyspiele, was the earliest German print after Bible. When? #DharmaQuiz 1240. Ans: 1483 CE. One of the earliest ones after Bible to be printed in Germany.

Top scorers:

@geophyraj : 5
@intodust_in : 5
@ChandanYogendra : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@surnell : 5
@Ramgopaljgd : 5
@iSumitRk : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@man8shree : 5
@sharathinindia : 5

Congrats to:

@vinodvyas220 : 4

@cubicle_warrier : 3
@babu2034 : 3
@hd223 : 3
@sweathot : 3

@raopm9 : 2
@shivsankar : 2
@lshyam : 2
@Can2Ind : 2
@Satya046 : 2
@TheArvindDhar : 2
@Ganja_Baba : 2
@sharan_vj : 2

@Marut_ : 1
@ahmednkhan : 1
@lodyaashi : 1
@upretivineet : 1

It's nice to see so many attempt this particular quiz. Many did not make to this list, but my thanks to them. Pancha Tantra stories were the original Indian colonization of the then known world. Every major civilization got a translation over 1000s of years.

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, November 9, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 174: 09-Nov-2012

Theme: Deepavali or Diwali

In which language is this Diwali wish? "Thanu Diwali diyan bohut boht vadhaiyan" - #DharmaQuiz 1226. Ans: Punjabi, but may be Dogri too.
Name this African Union nation where Diwali is a public holiday. #DharmaQuiz 1227. Ans: Mauritius
Name any Rakshasa or Demon, whose slaying is one prominent day among the 6 Diwali days. #DharmaQuiz 1228. Ans: Narakasura, Chaturdashi day when Krishna slayed him. But Bali also can be considered.
Identify the language of this Diwali greeting: "deepavaLi habbada ShubhashayagaLu". #DharmaQuiz 1229. Ans: Kannada.
{Final, Open till 11PM} Name any one state in India where Devi Kali's pooja is done during one of the Diwali nights. #DharmaQuiz 1230. Ans: Odisha, Asom, Poschim Bongo and Bihar.

Top Scorers of session 174:

@arunz : 5
@Shree03 : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@TheArvindDhar : 5
@gupta_n : 5
@cybercalci : 5
@ramas_cal : 5

Congrats to:

@philAmit : 4
@fas_gayi_garari : 4
@Keefarqpaindha : 4
@gbhat_ : 4
@ClownPrinceG : 4
@pradeepkhs : 4
@reach_alak : 4
@anandt_05 : 4
@surenc1974 : 4
@iSumitRk : 4
@sweetandu : 4

@ankushraj29 : 3
@vinodvyas220 : 3
@mayureshgaikwad : 3
@NayakPradeep : 3
@mamtan14 : 3
@AvinashCKM : 3
@cubicle_warrier : 3

@rinku3009 : 2
@Susri1210 : 2
@prasanpd : 2
@gboxam : 2

@hchaturv : 1
@pawandurani : 1
@miumesh : 1
@piyush9999 : 1
@praveenmla : 1
@Mayank29Gupta : 1
@nilavya : 1
@SuvenduHuddar : 1
@idurgesh : 1
@venkatej : 1
@pramodthap : 1
@upretivineet : 1
@sushmahari : 1
@maheshksatija : 1
@Ameysd : 1
@vikashroy : 1
@saggirex : 1
@hethal09 : 1
@ramkirangowda : 1
@tpratheesh : 1
@The_Rocktor : 1
@gcmogre : 1
@sridharkswamy : 1
@sa_kiran : 1
@psychiatrycal : 1
@shantivr : 1
@911ashish : 1
@raopm9 : 1
@SastiBaat : 1
@PankajBagla : 1
@ChandanYogendra : 1
@bharathtintin : 1

Have a colourful Deepawali everyone!

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 173: 06-Nov-2012

Theme: Apastamba Sutra's Ethical Code of Conduct

The Apastamba Sutra tells "Anasuya" is a required good trait to develop. What does "Anasuya" mean? #DharmaQuiz 1221. Ans: Asuya = Jealousy Anasuya = Free from Jealousy.
The Apastamba Sutra tells "Adroha" is a required good trait to develop. What does "Adroha" mean? #DharmaQuiz 1222. Ans: Droha = Cheating or Malice. Adroha = Not cheating.
The Apastamba Sutra tells "Alobha" is a required good trait for Humans. What does "Alobha" mean? #DharmaQuiz 1223. Ans: Lobha = Greed, Alobha = Greedless
The Apastamba Sutra tells "Apaishunya" is a must have good trait for the society. What does "Apaishunya" mean? #DharmaQuiz 1224. Ans: Paishunya = Calumny or Slandering or harming reputation of someone unreasonably. Apaishunya = Not Slandering
The Apastamba Sutra tells "Arosha" is a required good trait to develop. What does "Arosha" mean? #DharmaQuiz 1225. Ans: Rosha = Extreme anger. Arosha = Controlling extreme anger.

Top Scorers for session 173:

@Dhanushm : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@shawjipk : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@shanthigrama : 5
@pvaidyaraj : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@TheArvindDhar : 5
@being_delhite : 5
@Manjunaath : 5
@lodyaashi : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@raopm9 : 5

Congrats to:

@surenc1974 : 4
@cubicle_warrier : 4
@man8shree : 4
@DevNakshi : 4

@forevernivesh : 3
@Geminiseventh : 3

@Kachnarr : 2
@sharathinindia : 2

@lskrish : 1
@rinku3009 : 1
@Amaresh80 : 1
@_cowInspector : 1

See you next time.

DharmaQuiz Session 172: 26-Oct-2012

Theme: Important Gunas (ethics) from Ramayana and Mahabharata

Cite one person from Ramayana or Mahabharata who exemplified "Satya vaachi" or Ever Truthful. #DharmaQuiz 1216. Ans: Yudhishtira, Shri Rama, Pandavas towards Jayadratha, Bhishma, Sahadeva
Cite one character from Mahabharata or Ramayana, that most displayed "Akrodha" or "never get angry" trait. #DharmaQuiz 1217. Ans: Vibhishana in Ramayana and Vidura in Mahabharata, Sita, Sanjaya.
Cite any one incident from Ramayana or Mahabharata, where "Kshama" or forgiving trait was shown for an enemy or opponent. #DharmaQuiz 1218. Ans: Shishupala being forgiven by Krishna 100 times, Devavrata forgiving Saalva King, Sita forgiving rakshasis who tortured her, Rama forgiving Indrajitu for a day, Yudhishtira forgiving Sindhu raja, Pandavas forgiving Ashwatthama, Rama forgiving Manthara & Kaikeyi
Vidya is an essential trait. Name one female from Mahabharata or Ramayana, who was an expert in Yuddha Vidya (warfare). #DharmaQuiz 1219. Satyabhama, Krishna's wife who fought Narakasura (Deepavali time), Chitrangada, Kaikeyi, Utthara, Uluchi (mother of Babruvahana), Hidimba
Cite an incident from Ramayana or Mahabharata, where "Indriya Nigraha" or pefect control of senses, was demonstrated. #DharmaQuiz 1220. Ans: Arjuna treating Urvashi as mother, Rama ignoring Shurpanakha's advances, Lakshmana living a bachelor life after marriage for 14 years, Hanuman when searching for Sita at Ravana's antahpura, Sukhamuni seeing bathing girls, Bhishma who could have married Amba, Ambika or Ambalika, Bhishma at the bed of arrows.

Top Scorers for session 172:

@ramas_cal : 5
@shawjipk : 5
@Tasmayi : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@gbhat_ : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@surenc1974 : 5
@lodyaashi : 5
@TheArvindDhar : 5
@cubicle_warrier : 5
@NPatnaik55 : 5
@bhaviknz : 5

Congrats to:

@philAmit : 4
@pvaidyaraj : 4
@DevNakshi : 4

@PankajBagla : 3
@sharathinindia : 3
@Sanjaypro : 3

@FakeJourno : 2
@natrajan : 2
@psudo : 2
@raopm9 : 2
@Geminiseventh : 2
@shylsmn : 2
@stormylook : 2
@nimeshchandra : 2
@seeker8002 : 2

@pankajtalkies : 1
@__Alka : 1
@RishiShenoy : 1
@DAmunRa : 1
@bhijeetD : 1
@bhattvihang : 1
@roshan_halwai : 1
@khaishk : 1
@BeingJai : 1
@ankushraj29 : 1
@sudhee26 : 1
@Flyfiddlesticks : 1
@Bact_man : 1

Thanks for participating.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Friday, November 23, 2012

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Friday, November 16, 2012

Friday, November 9, 2012

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

You Are Visitor Number: