DharmaQuiz: March 2013

Friday, March 29, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 206: 29-Mar-2013

Theme: Shri Krishna and Bhagavad Gita.

Once Krishna left Vrindavana and Radha, did he ever return there? Yes or No. - #DharmaQuiz 1391. Ans: No.
Is Bhagavad Gita that we have today, the version Krishna spoke to Arjuna or the version Sanjaya recounted to Dhritarashtra? #DharmaQuiz 1392. Ans: Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra.
Out of the 18 chapters of Bhagavad Gita, how many have the name "Karma" in their chapter titles? #DharmaQuiz 1393. Ans: Three. Karma Yoga, Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga and Karma Sanyaasa Yoga.
Which chapter of Bhagavad Gita describes the universal form of Shri Krishna, as he describes it himself in detail? #DharmaQuiz 1394. Ans: Chapter 11 - Vishwa Roopa Darshana.
There's one chapter in Bhagavad Gita, whose title talks about Knowledge and Science. Which chapter? #DharmaQuiz 1395. Ans: Chapter 7. Jnana Vijnana Yoga.

If you disagree with any of these answers, please leave a comment explaining your side.

Top scorers of session 206:

@SinchitaaJGD : 5
@verma_shefali : 5
@pvaidyaraj : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@sndpmysuru : 5
@pllks30 : 5
@surnell : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
‏@Santhosht_ : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@man8shree : 5
@LiGeWi : 5
@rinku3009 : 5
@S_Mandalia : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@Manjunaath : 5

Also, congrats to all these friends:

@Tasmayi : 4
@geophyraj : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@KatLover4Eva : 4
@GayathriSrinath : 4

@aditya_manocha : 3

@Gurush_ : 2
@initinkumar : 2
@roshan_halwai : 2
@Sharnarthee : 2
@RohitD83 : 2
@JagannathAjnabi : 2

@shreeramm : 1
@kapilbodha : 1
@AdwaitanWay : 1
@rexrao52 : 1
@ManjuSHegde : 1
@praveenudupa : 1
@Marut_ : 1
@subodh1945 : 1
@coat32 : 1
@ShikharTweets : 1
@Dinuraghubansi : 1
@Alisaspeaks : 1
@YugPurushModi : 1
@piyush1062 : 1

See you next week.

DharmaQuiz Session 205: 26-Mar-2013

Theme: Holi

1) This is a shot of a magnificent Holi celebration at a famous temple town of India. Which town? #DharmaQuiz 1386. Ans: Mathura.

2) What this type of Holi celebration called, where men are symbolically beaten by women. #DharmaQuiz 1387. Ans: Laath maar Holi.

3) This is the biggest Holi celebration in the United States. Which state this Krishna temple is in? #DharmaQuiz 1388. Ans: Utah.

4) This big Holi celebration is from Europe, in a city that was infamous for its wall. Which city? #DharmaQuiz 1389. Ans: Berlin.

5) This Holi celebration is from the southernmost tip of Africa. Which city? #DharmaQuiz 1390. Ans: Capetown.

Clue Pictures:

For DQ 1386

For DQ 1387

For DQ 1388

For DQ 1389

For DQ 1390

All credits to original photographers for these pictures. Found through internet search.

Just for this session, winners' names are not announced. Will do it for the next session.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 204: 19-Mar-2013

For 1381: Source = balsanskar

For 1382: Source = supergoodmovies

Theme: Valiant Hindu Queens over the past 500 years.

1) Name this very famous Hindu queen from 18th century, who rebuilt the desecrated Somnath temple. #DharmaQuiz 1381. Ans: Ahilyabai Holkar

2) Name this Hindu queen 200 years ago, a Shiva devotee, who was the 1st Indian woman to fight British. #DharmaQuiz 1382. Ans: Kittur Rani Chennamma.

For 1383: Source = wikimedia

3) Name this Hindu queen from 450 years ago, who fought Akbar's Mughal army, and died as a martyr. #DharmaQuiz 1383. Ans: Rani Durgavati.

For 1384: Source = 4to40

For 1385: Source = in

4) Name this brave Hindu queen who became a martyr 145 years ago. Her birth name was Manikarnika. #DharmaQuiz 1384. Ans: Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai.

5) Name the 17th cent Hindu queen who fought Shivaji raising an all-female army. #DharmaQuiz 1385. Ans: Belawadi Mallamma.

Toppers of session 204:

@CJ_Shekhar : 5
@LiGeWi : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@manya_rao : 5
@TheArvindDhar : 5
@Sahyadri : 5
@surnell : 5
@smna17 : 5
@Santhosht_ : 5
@Amaresh80 : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@man8shree : 5
@Tweelak : 5
@GayathriSrinath : 5
@S_Mandalia : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@pllks30 : 5
@bhaviknz : 5
@arunz : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5

Also, Congratulations to :

@MatruBhakt : 4
@mamtan14 : 4
@amitscmishra : 4
@geophyraj : 4
@vipulgupta1976 : 4
@Susri1210 : 4

@cubicle_warrier : 3
@ankushraj29 : 3

@sri709 : 2
@AdwaitanWay : 2
@vishchan : 2
@rk_kulkarni : 2
@Rohanbajpeyi : 2
@Voter77 : 2
@Dev_Vaani : 2

@prabhumetikurke : 1
@pious_Hindu : 1
@ganeshmahnar : 1
@vigneshshanbhag : 1
@SureshOfficial : 1
@ashwin_polali ; 1
@rituvashi : 1
@indianhindu16 : 1
@sureshnakhua : 1
@rupaksandilya : 1
@Saffronista : 1
@jemin_p ; 1
@Ameysd ; 1
@Equateall : 1
@kshetragnya : 1
@stormylook : 1
@nareshdixit82 : 1
@ShrimanYogee : 1
@FourthStump : 1
@ChoudhariRams : 1
@SarathRamakrish : 1

Isn't it amazing that India had such valiant and brave Hindu queens all along? We rarely read about them. There are dozens of more cases which we can cover in a future session.

Good luck with the next one!

Friday, March 15, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 203: 15-Mar-2013

Theme: Sanskrit names for ancient nations & Hindu Kingdoms.

What was the ancient Sanskrit name for Greece? #DharmaQuiz 1376. Ans: Yavana desha.
What was the ancient Sanskrit name for Cambodia? #DharmaQuiz 1377. Ans: Kambhuja desha.
There's an old agreement listing Indra, Mitra, Varuna and Nasatyas between Hittite and Mittannian Kings. In which country? #DharmaQuiz 1378. Ans: Turkey. A place called Bogazkoy. Read more here: http://tamilandvedas.wordpress.com/2012/03/16/ancient-sanskrit-inscriptions-in-strange-places/
Indrapura, Amaravati, Vijaya, Kauthara & Panduranga were 5 territories of an ancient Hindu nation. Today's which country? #DharmaQuiz 1379. Ans: Vietnam known in Sanskrit as Champa.
Caspian sea, the world's largest inland sea, was called in Sanskrit as a "sagara" of a Rishi. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1380. Ans: Rishi Kashyapa. It was called Kashyapa Sagara and 'Caspi' tribe or sea is believed to be derived from 'Kashyapa'.

Top scorers of session 203:

@bhaviknz : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@S_Mandalia : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@manya_rao : 5
@vinodvyas220 : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@geophyraj : 5
@pllks30 : 5
@Santhosht_ : 5
@keewwllguy : 5
@ashutoshkulkar1 : 5
@DrSaisree : 5
@Tweelak : 5
@deshrajeev : 5

Congrats to:

@mamtan14 : 4
@ankushraj29 : 4
@cubicle_warrier : 4
@ksmsundaram1975 : 4
@surnell : 4
@kishor_narayan : 4

@anandt_05 : 3
@manekshaws : 3
@JagannathAjnabi : 3
@Sahyadri : 3

@Susri1210 : 2
@akhilm176 : 2
@GirishLN : 2

@ranganaathan : 1
@WatchingIndia : 1
@MSLohia : 1
@TerroristHindu : 1
@raam_7 : 1
@LoneRangerrr : 1
@rathivar : 1
@iyernbk : 1
@LiGeWi : 1
@KishoreTrivedi1 : 1
@manohar_sram : 1
@dattakg : 1
@ssmalani : 1
@AntarikshG : 1
@AnInternetHindu : 1
@pnthacker : 1
@bhijeetD : 1
@raopm9 : 1
@rinku3009 : 1

Thanks for the topic suggestion in the last quiz. Leave comments if you want me to focus on your suggestions.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 202: 12-Mar-2013

Theme: Five Virodhabasas or Contradictions associated with Lord Shiva

If Shiva's neck has visha or poison, there's something over him that represents Amrita or immortal nectar. What's it? #DharmaQuiz 1371. Ans: Moon or Soma, symbolic of Amrita. Yes, Ganga can also be life giving, but immortality was the key point here.
Shiva's hair locks are holding the life giving Ganga. But there's something nearby which can destroy the world. What's it? #DharmaQuiz 1372. Ans: Shiva's third eye, which can send fire to destroy the creation, during a Pralaya.
Shiva is feared as the Lord of destruction. But also praised as Lord helping to win over death. What's that Sanskrit term? #DharmaQuiz 1373. Ans: Mrityunjaya or Amarnath.
Something that Shiva keeps with him, can't live with what his wife Durga keeps with her, on our earth. What's that? #DharmaQuiz 1374. Ans: His vehicle Nandi or the Bull.
{Final, Open till 10 PM} What's on Shiva's upper body, that in real world, can't live with something you see with Ganesha. #DharmaQuiz 1375. Ans: Snake (Ganesh's vehicle is Mouse)

Top scorers of session 202:

@ksmsundaram1975 : 5
@pllks30 : 5
@shawjipk : 5
@DrSaisree : 5
@sanity_insanity : 5
@philAmit : 5
@cubicle_warrier : 5

Congratulations to all these:

@_fallen7angel_ : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@AntarikshG : 4
@S_Mandalia : 4
@dolby_mehul : 4
@ComedyDivine : 4
@verma_shefali : 4
@rahulghildiyal : 4
@anandt_05 : 4
@Ankitaaa_ : 4
@Santhosht_ : 4
@Sai_swaroopa : 4
@niraj_dave : 4
@Tasmayi : 4
@roshan_halwai : 4
@vyasraj : 4
@keewwllguy : 4
@deshrajeev : 4
@GayathriSrinath : 4
@__aksa : 4
@iDev007 : 4
@kapilbodha : 4
@Tweelak : 4

@vishal1818 : 3
@man8shree : 3
@harishonbreak : 3
@sridharkswamy : 3
@ankushraj29 : 3
@sndpmysuru : 3
@shivsBHARAT : 3
@amitscmishra : 3

@rinku3009 : 2
@numbbybirth : 2
@pkaushal_99 : 2
@kirankonnects : 2
@Mamdhata : 2
@PunyaPrakop : 2
@j_daredevil : 2
@s007kunal : 2

@oneandonlydilip : 1
@bajajsanjay : 1
@Govind1603 : 1
@rinku3009 : 1
@5ajanya : 1
@indianhindu16 : 1
@Susri1210 : 1
@ArunTatTvamAsi : 1
@niravkbhagat : 1
@AnInternetHindu : 1
@manohar_sram : 1
@bharathipura : 1
@TyaunTyaun : 1
@missionmodify : 1
@Keefarqpaindha : 1
@arora_chandan : 1
@nikhilug : 1
@piyush1062 : 1
@Sreevathsaa : 1
@emsreenu : 1
@joshinav : 1
@ASKL2013 : 1
@Prach82 : 1
@Mr_demented : 1
@MeGirishBaliga : 1

If you have topic suggestions for future Dharma Quiz sessions, please leave a comment.
Thanks

Friday, March 8, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 201: 8-Mar-2013

Theme: Bhagawan Shiva.

Lord Shiva is praised as Tryambakam. What does "ambaka" mean in Samskritam? #DharmaQuiz 1366. Ans: Ambaka = eye.
Bhagawan Shiva has a crescent moon over his head. What does 'Shekhara' mean in 'Chandrashekhara" title for him? #DharmaQuiz 1367. Ans: Shekhara = crest or crown. Shikha is tuft of hair on top of the head. Meaning Moon as his crown.
What's the name of that poison that Shiva drank, but stopped in his throat, making him a blue necked God? #DharmaQuiz 1368. Ans: Halaahala or Kaalakootam.
Tiger represents lust. Shiva sits on a tiger’s skin. What's the Sanskrit name given to him for sitting over a tiger's skin? #DharmaQuiz 1369. Ans: Krittivasa. {Some say Vyagrambara meaning dressed in tiger skin, but that is for wearing tiger skin, not sitting on it.}
Which Asian mountain peak is considered as the world's most central Shiva linga? #DharmaQuiz 1370. Ans: Kailasa Parvata, in Tibet.

Top scorers of session 201:

@Susri1210 : 5
@surnell : 5
@shawjipk : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@Sahyadri : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@S_Mandalia : 5
@ankushraj29 : 5
@man8shree : 5
@Santhosht_ : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@pllks30 : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@Tasmayi : 5
@sumanthbharatha : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5

Congratulations to all these scorers:

@surenc1974 : 4
@vinodvyas220 : 4
@cubicle_warrier : 4
@geophyraj : 4
@AntarikshG : 4
@arunz : 4
@iParamanand : 4
@rinku3009 : 4
@abhipar7 : 4

@philAmit : 3
@bhaviknz : 3
@ajayjmun : 3
@JagannathAjnabi : 3
@sankararaman : 3
@tripathi_v : 3
@adiscover : 3
@gboxam : 3
@Mimaniya : 3
@Ankitaaa_ : 3
@RishiShenoy : 3

@pramodthap : 2
@vishal1818 : 2
@Kiran_Speaks : 2
@Purple_Truth : 2
@voxindica : 2
@dattakg : 2
@TheArvindDhar : 2
@BharatBhakta : 2
@niraj_dave : 2
@AdwaitanWay : 2
1. @Adheesh_86 : 1
2. @Vprksh : 1
3. @jp_surat : 1
4. @ramas_cal : 1
5. @rovenky : 1
6. @realbhartiya : 1
7. @GuunjanJha : 1
8. @Ameysd : 1
9. @doubtinggaurav : 1
10. @PunyaPrakop : 1
11. @ronakdesai88 : 1
12. @mbhagawat : 1
13. @AjeebLadki : 1
14. @sri709 : 2
15. @kvm_prakash : 1
16. @suar4sure : 1
17. @saggirex : 1
18. @anantjoshi84 : 1

Note the number of people with 'S' handle start, who have scored top score in 'S'hiva quiz :)

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 200: 5-Mar-2013

Theme: Significance of numbers in Dharma

The mystical symbol AUM (Om), also known as Pranava, is made up of parts from how many Sanskrit letters? #DharmaQuiz 1361. Ans: Three. Aa, Va, Ma.
How many Aastika (Orthodox) schools of Philosophy are there in Hinduism? #DharmaQuiz 1362. Ans: Six. They are Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa, and Vedanta.
Popularly, how many forms of Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth), are worshiped together (like courage, knowledge, wealth etc.) ? #DharmaQuiz 1363. Ans: Eight. Ashta Lakshmis. Adi, Dhana, Dhanya, Gaja, Santana, Veera, Vijya and Vidya.
In Dharmic tradition, how many ashramas or stages of life are defined for a human? #DharmaQuiz 1364. Ans: Four. Brahmacharya, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and Sannyasa.
How many worlds or planes or spheres of existence, are cited in the most revered Gayatri mantra? #DharmaQuiz 1365. Ans: Three. Bhur (Physical or Earth), Bhuvah (Astral) and Suvah (Celestial).

Top Scorers in this milestone point of 200th episode!

@sndpmysuru - Fastest Winner! Gets 'Science in Samskrit" book as a gift :)

Other Top Scorers - 27 this time!

@abhipar7 : 5
@kritdeo : 5
@Tasmayi : 5
@pllks30 : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@avinashjanardan : 5
@shawjipk : 5
@surenc1974 : 5
@suar4sure : 5
@geophyraj : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@Kiran_Speaks : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@arunz : 5
@ankushraj29 : 5
@kishor_narayan : 5
@DrSaisree : 5
@bhaviknz : 5
@hchaturv : 5
@surnell : 5
@ashutoshkulkar1 : 5
@AdwaitanWay : 5
@kritdeo : 5
@hemanthaj : 5
@S_Mandalia : 5
@AntarikshG : 5
@sharathinindia : 5

Congratulations to those who came close:

@iDevNakshi : 4
@sumanthbharatha : 4
@keewwllguy : 4
@sudhee26 : 4
@gboxam : 4
@Tweelak : 4
@s_navroop : 4
@Santhosht_ : 4
@rsyashasvi : 4
@man8shree : 4

@vishal1818 : 3
@verma_shefali : 3
@manohar_sram : 3
@siddalinga1 : 3
@nanditathhakur : 3
@deshrajeev : 3
@dolby_mehul : 3
@gunturmaverick : 3

@cubicle_warrier : 2
@indianhindu16 : 2
@krishnakkmumbai : 2
@at_patel : 2
@Lawan22 : 2
@raopm9 : 2
@Marut_ : 2

@sreedharag : 1
@mrsnrao : 1
@hindu_r : 1
@ajay5963 : 1
@jp_surat : 1
@AbhinavShankar1 : 1
@Pul_verize : 1
@RocketLaunche10 : 1
@CAPMohan : 1
@sahucar : 1
@GrandIndusJurix : 1
@Shahmihir4 : 1
@ghoshashim : 1
@subodh1945 : 1
@Tailor_Durden : 1
@sri709 : 1
@AshGudAshItGets : 1
@IgnitedBrain : 1
@PTSwami : 1
@AAP_ka_BAAP : 1
@shivanikapoor01 : 1
@philAmit : 1
@Ameysd : 1

Thanks for participation and encouragement friends. It feels great to cross this 200th episode milestone!

Friday, March 1, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 199: 1-Mar-2013

Theme: Birth and Death places of famous Gurus of India.

Name this 19th/20th century Indian Guru, whose birth and death places were different, but both started with 'Tiru'. #DharmaQuiz 1356. Ans: Ramana Maharshi. Death - Tiruvannamalai and Birth - Tiruchuli.
Name this famous Guru from 500 yrs ago, whose birth & death places are in Pakistan now. Death place 3KM from Indian border. #DharmaQuiz 1357. Ans: Guru Nanak.
Name this Guru from 500 years ago, who was born in Bengal and died in Odisha. His teachings inspired ISKCON's creation. #DharmaQuiz 1358. Ans: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
Name this Guru Maa who was born in today's Bangladesh area & died in today's Uttarakhand 31 yrs ago.(See the embedded picture) #DharmaQuiz 1359. Ans: Anandamayi Maa.
{Final, Open till 10 PM} Name this Guru/ Swami from 400 years back, whose language was Kannada, born in TN & samadhi in AP. #DharmaQuiz 1360. Ans: Raghavendra Swamy. Read more here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raghavendra_Swami

For Question 4

Top Scorers of session 199:

@shawjipk : 5
@hchaturv : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@Tasmayi : 5
@biswajeetdash : 5
@TheArvindDhar : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@S_Mandalia : 5
@indianomad : 5

Congrats to all these scorers:

@vschanna : 4
@Mamdhata : 4
@DrSatyaSaraswat : 4
@geophyraj : 4
@Rasraj : 4

@Manjunaath : 3
@Kar7x : 3

@AdwaitanWay : 2
@Susri1210 : 2
@AAP_ka_BAAP : 2
@vishal1818 : 2

@gboxam : 1
@DrSaisree : 1
@rathivar : 1
@robinrajsingh : 1
@lalitadvani : 1
@shreeramm : 1
@gautamsinha1 : 1
@sa_kiran : 1
@Bgiridharr : 1
@stormylook : 1
@Bipul2047 : 1
@emsreenu : 1
@deborshihazra : 1
@jdroy1 : 1
@SudhirSubhartam : 1
@Saffronista : 1
@aackthu : 1
@jugal_godara : 1
@WarHawk313 : 1
@sanjayleo : 1
@Sreevathsaa : 1

The next one is the grand 200th one! Don't miss on Tuesday, the 5th. There will be a special prize too.

DharmaQuiz Session 198: 26-Feb-2013

Theme: Yoga and Meditation

In Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, there is an agna or limb which describes the five positive behaviors. Name the anga. #DharmaQuiz 1351. Ans: Niyama. {Yama is about ethics}
Out of the 4 types of Yogas, in which one does the Yogi find the union with Love? #DharmaQuiz 1352. Ans: Bhakti Yoga.
How many Angas or Limbs has Patanjali described in his Yoga Sutra, written over 2200 years ago? - #DharmaQuiz 1353. Ans: Eight - Ashta anga.
Pranayama or the breathing exercise, is a part of "Asana" Yogic anga/limb. Yes or No? #DharmaQuiz 1354. Ans: No.
{Final, Open till 10 PM} Is Samadhi, a Yoga anga (limb) or a Yoga type? #DharmaQuiz 1355. Ans: Anga.

Read this simple summary of Yoga: http://hinduism.about.com/od/meditationyoga/a/yoga.htm

Top Scorers of session 198:

@S_Mandalia : 5
@rahulghildiyal : 5
@sumanthbharatha : 5
@indianomad : 5
@AdwaitanWay : 5
@iSumitRk : 5
@Tasmayi : 5