DharmaQuiz: July 2014

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Famous philosophers of India.

DharmaQuiz Session 289: 22-July-2014

#DharmaQuiz 1831: In which place did the the famous 12th century philosopher and reformer, Basavanna, die (Aikya)? Ans: Kudala Sangama, Karnataka.

#DharmaQuiz 1832: The great philosopher Sri Aurobindo's "Savitri" is based on which Hindu Itihasa
(epic)? Ans: Mahabharata.

#DharmaQuiz 1833: Name this 16th century Hindu reformer and philosopher, who started the "Vasudeva Sanstha" movement (house to house bhajan) Ans: Eknath.

#DharmaQuiz 1834: Thakur Jaidev Singh was a philosopher and chief producer of AIR. He was an expert on Shaivism. Of which region's Shaivism? Ans: Kashmiri Shaivism.

{Final,Open till 10.30PM} #DharmaQuiz 1835: Mandana Mishra, philosopher 1200 yrs ago, got what name after becoming Adi Shankara's shishya? Ans: Sureshwara Acharya.

Scores of session 289:

@jitvg : 5
@pramod_klr : 5
@arunz : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@man8shree : 5
@GuruCharan99 : 5

@3f58ee17d4d34bb : 2
@tradetoday99 : 2
@ajaypawardr : 2

@mrsnrao : 1
@surnell : 1
@seshasivasailam : 1
@manjumca34 : 1
@Hindu_Extremist : 1

Hope we learnt a bit more on the famous souls who guided us!

Friday, July 18, 2014

Hinduism in Myanmar (Burma)

DharmaQuiz Session 288: 18-July-2014

#DharmaQuiz 1826: Where is this ancient temple within Myanmar (Burma), which has eight Brahma's on outside walls? Ans: Nanpaya temple, Bagan.

DQ 1826. Pic: asiaexplorers.com

#DharmaQuiz 1827: Myanmar used a Sanskrit word for the "head of the state" title. Even Japanese endorsed it in 1940s.
What's the title? Ans: Adhipati (Adipati)

#DharmaQuiz 1828: A scene from drama enacting what is termed as Myanmar's national epic.
What's the name of epic? : Ans: Yama Zatdaw or Yamayana, an adaptation of Ramayana. Rama is termed Yama here. Sita is Thida. Lakshmana is Lakhana and Hanuman is Hanuman.

DQ 1828: Pic: Wiki

#DharmaQuiz 1829: Myanmar has a Goddess named "Thuyathadi", an adaptation of a famous Hindu Goddess/ Devi. Who? Ans: Saraswati.

DQ 1829: Pic: blogspot

#DharmaQuiz 1830: There's a 1000 year old Vishnu temple in Myanmar/Burma. Where? Ans: Bagan. Nathlaung Kyaung temple with 10 avataras of Vishnu all around.

DQ 1830: Pic: travelmyanmar.net

Scores for session 288:

@KaushikRg : 5

@lodyaashi : 3
@conphucius : 2
@anandakonar : 2

@Lata_MV : 1
@rajeshrajput1 : 1
‏@sambapatnaik : 1
@durgaramdas : 1
@Gooli_here : 1
@SunilTapashetti : 1
‏@SrDPO : 1

Nice seeing some attempts for a tough session on Myanmar. Thanks.

Tuesday, July 15, 2014

DharmaQuiz Session 287: 15-July-2014

Theme: Yoga Sutras - Yama and Niyama part

#DharmaQuiz 1821: Steya means stealing. Name one of the five Yama's that talk about non-stealing.
#Yoga Ans: Asteya

#DharmaQuiz 1822: Self Study or Swadhyaya is a very important part of #Yoga Sutras. Does it fall under Yama or Niyama? Ans: Niyama.

#DharmaQuiz 1823: Name one of the five Yama's that prescribe Compassion for all living beings.
#Yoga Ans: Ahimsa

#DharmaQuiz 1824: Ishwara Pranidhaana - ईश्वर-प्रणिधान is one vital part of #Yoga Sutras.
What does it mean? Ans: To lay all your actions at the feet of Ishwara, or God. Essentially means
submission similar to concepts in Islam and Christianity, but much before them.

{Final,Open till 10.30PM} #DharmaQuiz 1825: Brahmacharya = abstinence.
But #Yoga prescribes it to married ppl also. What does it mean then? Ans: Keeping sexual energy limited to legally sanctioned family circle and not to waste outside.

Scores for session 287:

‏@surnell : 5
@mareekuree : 5
@man8shree : 5

@Mamdhata : 2

‏@vvkashyap : 1
@RashtraDevobhav : 1
@duvijan : 1
‏@irvathoor : 1
@gouripathy : 1
@poetrification : 1
@SPHEREHEADSAYS : 1
@gjayendra1311 : 1

Thanks for participating.

Friday, July 11, 2014

DharmaQuiz Session 286: 11-July-2014

Theme: Foreign born Hindus or Hindu admirers.

#DharmaQuiz 1816:
Born in California, USA.
Founded Hinduism Today.
Founded an ashram in Hawaii, USA.
Name this Guru.

Ans: Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, born Robert Hansen

DQ 1816. Pic: Wiki

#DharmaQuiz 1817:
Born in Leuven, Belgium.
A strong advocate for Hindu revivalism in the West.
Name this historian.
Ans: Dr. Koenraad Elst.

DQ 1817. Pic: Samvada.org

#DharmaQuiz 1818:
Born in County Tyrone, Ireland.
1st Western woman to be received into a Hindu monastic order.
Who?
Ans: Sister Nivedita, born as Margaret Noble.

DQ 1818. Pic: Wiki

#DharmaQuiz 1819:
Born in Massachusetts,USA.
Expert singer of Hindu devotional songs like Endaro Mahanubhavulu.
Who?
Ans: John B Higgins or Higgins Bhagavathar.


DQ 1819. Pic: thehindu.com

#DharmaQuiz 1820:
Born in Senya Beraku, Ghana.
First Hindu swami of African ancestry.
Who?
Ans: Swami Ghananda Saraswati, born Kwesi Ninson.

DQ 1820. Pic: Twitter

Scores for session 286:

‏@pramod_klr : 5
@mareekuree : 5
@durgaramdas : 5

@tndsr : 3

@AgentSaffron : 2
‏@hemster : 2

@RajaChaama : 1
‏@Yaba_dabadoo : 1
@SreeIyer1 : 1
@sudhirapai : 1
@Kannan9900 : 1
@harish85228184 : 1
@kaushalrucha : 1
‏@svbadri : 1
@MadusudhanR : 1
@SriAiyerRS11 : 1
@_MSKR : 1
@rohitkumarnath : 1
@buzzindelhi : 1
@acharya2 : 1
@hoveringfalcon : 1
@Booombaastic : 1
@ddeb30 : 1
@poetrification : 1
@ponkumar : 1
‏@DrPannagDesai : 1

Hope you enjoyed and learned in the process!

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

DharmaQuiz Session 285: 8-July-2014

Theme: Various Hindu Pujas.

#DharmaQuiz 1811: What's the name of this puja wherein young girls are worshiped as the embodiment of mother Goddess? Ans: Kanya Puja or Virgin Girl Child Worship.

DQ 1811: Pic thiagarajabhavanam.org

#DharmaQuiz 1812: What's the name of this Puja, wherein all the weapons and livelihood tools/devices are worshiped? Ans: Ayudha Puja or Shastra Puja, during Sharat Navaratri. Vishwa karma puja is also considered.

DQ 1812. Pic: thehindu.com

#DharmaQuiz 1813: This puja widely happens on a Purnima day. What's this puja of a life's guide, called? Ans: Guru Puja on Guru Purnima (full moon day)

DQ 1813. Pic: wordpress

#DharmaQuiz 1814: During a special occasion at home a cow (and calf) worshiped & let inside. When is that puja done? Ans: Primarily Griha Pravesha or house warming. But also on Gow Chauth and Bali Padyami during Deepavali.

DQ 1814. Pic: petermalakoff.jalbum.net

#DharmaQuiz 1815: Hindus worship various trees/plants. Which one is termed "Vriksha Raja"? Ans: Ashwattha, Bodhi, Peepul tree or Ficus religiosa L.

DQ 1815. Pic: shivallibrahmins.com

Scores for session 285:

@Susri1210 : 5
@durgaramdas : 5
@tndsr : 5
@GayathriSrinath : 5
@pramod_klr : 5
@SamitLive : 5
@sushmahari : 5

@Sunil_Rao_MS : 4
@lodyaashi : 4
@vipulgupta1976 : 4
@CAPMohan : 4
@yesbabunni : 4
@mareekuree : 4
@kiranGowda0007 : 4
@gboxam : 4

@ProtectIndia : 3
@drarora_gaurav : 3
@bhaskar1918 : 3
@AmatyaKautilya : 3
@mrsnrao : 3
@oojnas : 3
@SrDPO : 3

@TiruppurTamil : 2
@Govind1603 : 2
@raamss : 2
@bgnraju : 2
@rahul07b : 2
@gpkotekar1 : 2
@hanumantweets : 2
@rt_abad : 2
@pdthakkar : 2

@saishyam_k : 1
@thapateros : 1
@vishaldwivedi6 : 1
@shankarkumaran : 1
@rt_abad : 1
@HelpAHindu : 1
@nimesh_nagar : 1
@Jooran2 : 1
@ravichandrabr : 1
@anandrk77 : 1
@sandeshats : 1
@adarshdgp : 1
@jitendramehta70 : 1
@piyush1062 : 1
@AtulyaJena : 1
@Supreeth_Ckm : 1
@sumat_patel : 1
@subbbugokarna : 1
@SonunigamsingH : 1
@samba3thy : 1
@vikramkg : 1
@rswaminatri : 1
@nanditathhakur : 1
@ImInAntariksh : 1
@balamy : 1
@Lalliuns : 1
@BJPMember8 : 1
@msvikram : 1
@jayarajmathews : 1
@drsc90 : 1
@wtfex : 1
@kalyanaram1 : 1
@talismaan : 1
@nnijagal : 1
@praveenchandr8n : 1
@BhagwanUvach : 1
@rpmkarthi : 1
@NilimaNilimas : 1
@skdeshpande : 1
@balamy : 1
@Sravan : 1
@prafullsaraf : 1
@rohitkumarnath : 1
@ibhupeshrai : 1
@rajeshrajput1 : 1
@akandpal : 1
@raghumedicon : 1
@yelvee : 1
@kadian_anurag : 1

Thanks for participating in big numbers!