DharmaQuiz: June 2013

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!

Friday, June 14, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 220: 14-Jun-2013

Theme: Buddhist heritage of India, Myanmar and Pakistan

In which language did Emperor Ashoka get his edicts (mostly Buddhist) written in? #DharmaQuiz 1476. Ans: Many Prakrit languages like Pali and Magadhi. Brahmi script.
What is the traditional name for Myanmar (Burma) Buddhist temples? #DharmaQuiz 1477. Ans: Pagoda
Name the place where Buddha attained Nirvana. #DharmaQuiz 1478. Ans: Kushi Nagar.
What is the common name for the three most sacred granthas (books) of Buddhism? #DharmaQuiz 1479. Ans: Tripeethaka.
Name one university in today's Pakistan, where Buddhism flourished during ancient times. #DharmaQuiz 1480. Ans: Takshashila

Toppers for session 220:

@sharathinindia : 5
@guunjanjha : 5
@vipulgupta1976 : 5
@manya_rao : 5
@Bacchuji : 5
@Gyan_ : 5
@Parixyt : 5
@KaushikRg : 5

Congratulations to all those who scored here:

@siddarthpaim : 4
@reach_alak : 4
@talmukund : 4
@GuruCharan99 : 4
@man8shree : 4
@ShatajitBasu : 4

@Manjunaath : 3
@Tweelak : 3
@iSaakshi : 3
@Susri1210 : 3
@lodyaashi : 3
@TheArvindDhar : 3
@Simuntweets : 3
@GayathriSrinath : 3

@kmukundra : 2
@GirishSiddapura : 2
@Sandip27111963 : 2
@Ameysd : 2
@maathinamalla : 2
@akmis11 : 2

@gboxam : 1
@ss_ingh : 1
@akshri_250 : 1
@utkaws : 1
@sandeepkuppur : 1
@psudo : 1
@ajittyagi1805 : 1
@brassi76 : 1
@sagarmitkary : 1
@Deluzzionist : 1
@r_Hindu : 1
@cubicle_warrier : 1
@ShrimanYogee : 1
@tradetoday99 : 1
@maverickraahul : 1
@sudarshan_v1 : 1
@sweetandu : 1
@SarathRamakrish : 1
@iA3Hi : 1
@DrunkenPole : 1
@manavdas : 1
@Dinuraghubansi : 1
@darshanbirur : 1
@MKanthaliya : 1
@sridharkswamy : 1
@KamalPremi2 : 1
@CLawyersagainst : 1
@rucheesharma : 1
@Dishantkalia : 1
@iA3Hi : 1
@DrunkenPole : 1
@manavdas : 1
@Dinuraghubansi : 1
@darshanbirur : 1
@24krishnakanth : 1
@Naagesh_tweets : 1
@asha_gm : 1
@jarjunmpradhant : 1
@MandarSawant184 : 1
@siddtalks : 1
@Punit_shandilya : 1
@minorityof1ne : 1

See you next week!

DharmaQuiz Session 220: 7-Jun-2013

Theme: Famous mathematicians of ancient India.

The great mathematician of India 850 years back, Bhaskaracharya, was also the head of astronomical observatory at Ujjain, MP. Which of today's states was he born in? #DharmaQuiz 1471. Ans: Karnataka
Aryabhata, the great mathematician is said to have headed an astronomical observatory in Bihar 1500 yrs ago. Near which coast of India was he born in? #DharmaQuiz 1472. Ans: West
Bhaskara 1, mathematician 1400 years ago, was probably the first human to write zero as a circle. Which Indian state was he born in? #DharmaQuiz 1473. Ans: Maharashtra
Varahamihira, the great astronomer 1500 yrs ago, was the first to calculate shifting of equinox in seconds. Which Indian state was he born in? #DharmaQuiz 1474. Ans: Madhya Pradesh
2400 years ago, Pingala wrote Chandashastra, first known description of a binary numeral system. Which province of Pakistan was he born in? #DharmaQuiz 1475. Ans: Punjab (Pakistan)

Scores:
Sorry, could not collect all details, as I was traveling.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 220: 4-Jun-2013

Theme: Women in Vedas

A mantra in the Rig Veda is attributed to this highly educated, philosopher wife of Rishi Agastya. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1466. Ans: Lopamudra.
Wife of Rishi Yajnavalkya was a Brahmavadini or an expounder of the Veda. 10 Rig Veda mantras accredited to her. Who's she? #DharmaQuiz 1467. Ans: Maitreyi.
This Vedic age philosopher challenged Rishi Yajnavalkya. Daughter of Vachaknu & Brihadaranyaka Upanishad mentions her. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1468. Ans: Gargi Vachaknavi.
This celestial mother of Surya, is mentioned nearly 80 times in the Rigveda, the oldest religious text today. Who's she? #DharmaQuiz 1469. Ans: Aditi
This female cited in Rig Veda's 10th mandala, is also associated with a river, Krishna & Yama. Who? #DharmaQuiz 1470. Ans: Yami. But Yamuna or Kalindi also considered.

You can refer to this for more information on Women in Vedas:

Women Rishikas in Vedas: http://www.hindupedia.com/en/Women_as_Rishikas_in_the_Vedas
Ancient India's Women Seers: http://historyindianized.blogspot.in/2013/01/women-seers-of-ancient-india-rishika.html?spref=tw

Toppers of session 220:

@Bacchuji : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@manya_rao : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@VellaDev : 5
@Susri1210 : 5
@ankushraj29 : 5
@Sai_swaroopa : 5
@MaheshwarBhatP : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@GayathriSrinath : 5
@man8shree : 5
@cgmagia : 5
@philAmit : 5
@PrachinVaani : 5
@smna17 : 5
@pangalanrao : 5
@geophyraj : 5

Congrats to:

@siddarthpaim : 4
@R_Bhartiya : 4
@ssmalani : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@biswajeetdash : 4

@iKumbhakarna : 3

@Nalamara : 2
@pundeerjitendra : 2
@natb786 : 2

@Kaushikrg : 1
@angry_mumbaikar : 1
@balamy : 1
@drmenz : 1
@manohar_sram : 1
@sudarshan_v1 : 1

This session was to talk about the much maligned gender equality and gender importance roles among Hindus. This shows that Hindus of ancient India accorded the topmost space in the society for women, who showed the aptitude and ability to excel in philosophy. I don't know of any other major religious text in today's world, that has mantras (verses) revealed or attributed to women!