DharmaQuiz: Temple

Showing posts with label Temple. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Temples in India that are more than 1000 years old

#DharmaQuiz Session 364: 7-June-2016

#DharmaQuiz 2211: Where is this 1300 year stone temple? A grand yearly dance festival is conducted there now.

DQ 2211: Pic - wiki

Ans: Mahabalipuram or Mammalapuram, Tamil Nadu.

#DharmaQuiz 2212: This Hindu temple is at a height of 11,755 ft above sea level. At least 1200 year old. Name it.

DQ 2212: Pic - Wiki

Ans: Kedarnath Shiva temple, Uttarakhand.

#DharmaQuiz 2213: There is a 2000 year old Brahma temple (rebuilt in 14th century) on this lake bank. Name the lake.

DQ 2213 - Pic 1. From sacredsites.com

DQ 2213 Pic 2. Source - pushkarroyalsafaricamp.com

Ans: Pushkar lake, Rajasthan.

#DharmaQuiz 2214: This is a fabulous 1200 to 1400 year old Hindu + Jain temple complex in 4 caves. Where is it?

DQ 2214. Pic: incredible-india.sanjeevnitv.com

Ans: Badami, Karnataka.

{Final,open till 10 PM}: #DharmaQuiz 2215: This is a 1000 year old temple complex for Harihara. 180 ft tall main temple! Name it.

DQ 2215. Pic: Wiki

Ans: Lingaraj temple, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Scores were not finalized properly tonight. Will do properly during the next quiz. Thanks for the great response today!

Friday, February 26, 2016

Famous Durga Temples

#DharmaQuiz Session 355: 26-Feb-2016

#DharmaQuiz 2166: This is a 1300 year old Nagara + Dravida architecture hybrid Durga temple.
Where is it? Ans: Aihole, Karnataka.

DQ 2166. Pic: Wiki

#DharmaQuiz 2167: This Durga temple is a fusion of Indian and European architecture. 300 year old.
Where is it? Ans: Near Panaji, Goa.
@sudhirapai says: Shanta Duraga at Kavale in Goa. Kavale is also home of Kavale matha founded by Gaudpadacharya the grand guru of Adi Shankaracharya.

DQ 2167. Pic - mybusblog.mybustickets.in

#DharmaQuiz 2168: Where is this 200+ year old red Durga temple?
Hint: It's just 1 KM from a very famous university. Ans: Varanasi, UP.

DQ 2168. Pic: gautamhotelvns.com

#DharmaQuiz 2169: This is one of the most outstanding Durga temples. Popularly known as "Golden Durga". Where is it? Ans: Kanaka Durga temple, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh.

DQ 2169. Pic: arakuvalleytourism.in

#DharmaQuiz 2170: Where is this lovely Durga temple? It's just 5KM from a National Highway. Ans: Rohtak, Haryana.

DQ 2170. Pic: im.hunt.in

Scores for session 355:

@dhpavan : 5
@pai_rajesh : 5
@sridhar_savitha : 5

@LathaIsloor : 4
@arunrush : 4

@_InExtremis : 2
@nigh8bird : 2

@nirbhaavuka : 1
‏@SAnoopama : 1
@_RKSumit : 1
@1967Babu : 1
@veenabv : 1
@Girish1128 : 1
@bhatajith : 1
‏@sanjeevirao : 1
@mpramodkumar : 1
@K_Oswal : 1
@HarmalkarDipesh : 1
@rohinikulkarni6 : 1
‏@sudhirapai : 1
@vcs_17 : 1
@bipashafever : 1
@shivimk : 1
@jayarajmathews : 1
@vimunil : 1
@Parantapaa : 1
@mejayashree : 1
@RKoyyala : 1
‏@dvmm13 : 1
@shaileshkpandey : 1
@geffbeck : 1
@vasantkvk : 1
@anurag_surya : 1
@tiwary_devesh : 1
@A003708 : 1
‏@preethamsai : 1
@BLR_Raja : 1
@anilbpai : 1
‏@premjaind : 1
@RubalAgrawal : 1
‏@InternetHinduz : 1

Jai Durga Mata!

Friday, October 9, 2015

Hindu temples of North East India

#DharmaQuiz Session 345: 09-Oct-2015

#DharmaQuiz 2111: The famous Kamakhya temple of Guwahati, Asom, is over which hill? Ans: Nilachal.

#DharmaQuiz 2112: The famous Basistha temple outside Guwahati, is in which forest reserve, famous for elephants? Ans: Garbhanga reserve forest.

DQ 2112: Pic: Wiki

#DharmaQuiz 2113: There's a Maha Bhairab temple from Mahabharata times in the North East of India with ~5 ft tall Linga. Where? Ans: Tezpur, Asom.

DQ 2113. Pic: holymahabhairab.in

DQ 2113, pic 2. Pic from Wiki

#DharmaQuiz 2114: This Shiva temple in Brahmaputra, on the smallest inhabited riverine island in the world. Name it. Ans: Umananda temple.

DQ 2114. Pic 1 (from holidify)

DQ 2114: Pic 2 (from ignca.nic.in)

#DharmaQuiz 2115: One North East Indian state is named after this Devi temple. Which state? Ans: Tripura, named after Tripura Sundari temple of Udaipur.

DQ 2115. Pic: Wiki

Scores for session 345:

@karthikjana : 5
@Appu_Chikku : 5

‏@mamtan14 : 4

@VkPriyanka : 2

@bulletguru : 1
@alok_bhatt : 1
‏@sujata_subhasis : 1
@Winnie11Pooh : 1
‏@Sanjay2Agarwal : 1
@AjoyChatterjee : 1
@sndoreswamy : 1
@dharmikumar : 1
@HalderSitavra : 1
@adiscover : 1
@gaonliya_aapa : 1
@Sandeepkhaitan : 1
@ratlamisev : 1
@bibekdebroy : 1
@Richanjgd : 1
@RAMESH4184 : 1
‏@keshavaram : 1
@sidsen77 : 1
@Myselfkp : 1

Try to visit these magnificent temples in the North East!

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Ancient India's amazing temple building techniques

#DharmaQuiz Session 316: 27-Jan-2015

#DharmaQuiz 1966: Which is this 1000+ year old temple, that has 81,250 KG stone Shikara (crown) at 210+ feet? Ans: Brihadeshwarar temple, Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu.

DQ 1966. Image from indiatemplesinfo

#DharmaQuiz 1967: This iron pillar is 1600+ yr old. No rust in a heavy rainfall area.
Front of which temple is this? Ans: Kollur, Karnataka.

DQ 1967: Image - iisc

Read more here: http://www.iisc.ernet.in/currsci/jun10/articles13.htm

#DharmaQuiz 1968: 1250 year old temple carved from top, off a rocky hill.
4,00,000 tons rock scooped. By which King? Ans: Krishna 1 of Rashtrakuta dynasty. Temple is Kailasanatha temple at Ellora, Maharashtra.

DQ 1968. Image: Wiki

#DharmaQuiz 1969: 150+ year old Shiva temple can be visited in the mornings, but gets submerged by afternoons. Where? Ans: Stambheshwar Mahadev, Kavi Kambhoi, Gujarat

DQ 1969 - Before (Image Cityshor)

DQ 1969 - After (image: cityshor)

Read more here: http://www.cityshor.com/ahmedabad/travel/others/stambheshwar-mahadev-the-disappearing-temple-of-gujarat/

{Final,Open till 10.00PM} #DharmaQuiz 1970: A Hindu temple, built in 1553 CE, is in a Japanese pagoda style. Where? Ans: Manali, Himachal Pradesh. Hidimba Devi temple.

DQ 1970. Image: blogspot

Scores for session 316:

@srikrishnashar : 4

@sudarshan_v1 : 2
@Telugutalli : 2
@talismaan : 2
@naonome : 2
@SnookyBangalore : 2
@pai_rajesh : 2
@Nachiketa_Vriti : 2

@FakeJourno : 1
@YuthikaSharma : 1
@optimist_300 : 1
@guyonblackybx : 1
@SSViv : 1
@spicy_words : 1
@skdeshpande : 1
@Mamdhata : 1
@Vyomakesha_ : 1
@pavanaja : 1
@SameerTandon1 : 1
@santhosh680 : 1
@shaileshwelekar : 1
@anandrk77 : 1
@105Hari : 1
@SumitBajoria : 1
@Muktaatma : 1
@sivajichowdary1 : 1
@unrealTechie : 1
@mrsnrao : 1
@Akhilesh_k_r : 1
@arunrush : 1
@NKNAIK : 1
@ShootinThoughts : 1
@deepchilwal : 1
@oarhtanirs : 1
@_abhisingh_ : 1
@77Rohitsharma : 1
@aapforcongress : 1
@ushavasant : 1

These were some very unusual temples of India!

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Rebuilding of destroyed ancient Hindu temples.

DharmaQuiz Session 308: 02-Dec-2014

#DharmaQuiz 1926: Name this Dalit Hindu was laid the 1st foundation stone of Ram Janmabhumi temple on Nov 10, 1989. Ans: Kameshwar Choupal

DQ 1926

#DharmaQuiz 1927: Which Prez said this? "Somnath temple signifies that power of reconstruction is always greater than power of destruction". Ans: Babu Rajendra Prasad.

#DharmaQuiz 1928: Kashi Vishwanath temple was rebuilt (after destruction by Aurangzeb) in 1780 CE, by a Maratha queen. Name the brave lady. Ans: Ahalya bai Holkar, Queen of Indore.

#DharmaQuiz 1929: Krishna Janmasthan / Kesava Deo Temple rebuilt in 1965 long after Aurangzeb's destruction. Which industrialist rebuilt it? Ans: Jugal Kishore Birla of Birla group decided to take the leading role to fulfill the wishes of Malviyaji and formed a private trust in 1951 to which the rights of land were later transferred. Jaidayal Dalmia of Dalmia Group was another leading personality, who took untiring efforts and the temple was finally constructed over the site.

More info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesava_Deo_Temple#Present_Temple

{Final,Open till 10.00PM} #DharmaQuiz 1930: Name Sikh King who donated Kohinoor diamond to a Hindu temple that was plundered 18 times before. Ans: Maharajah Ranjit Singh to Odisha's Puri Jagannath temple. But the Kohinoor never made it to the temple for other reasons, and later British stole it.

Scores for session 308:

‏@vipulgupta1976 : 5

‏@Simuntweets : 4
@stormylook : 4
‏@rajeshrajput1 : 4

@Telugutalli : 3

@kirtweetz : 2
@AbhinavAhinav : 2
@girish_joshig : 2
@ankushraj29 : 2
@ksjha_ngp : 2

@ravideli : 1
@ravisonkusare : 1
‏@nirbhaavuka : 1
@debakanta87 : 1
@drarora_gaurav : 1
@AjitsinhJagirda : 1
‏@JpackJack : 1
@sanjayagrawal : 1
@psxyz : 1
‏@naonome : 1
‏@arunrush : 1
‏@mithlm88 : 1
@ashujoshi27 : 1
‏@sailezz : 1
@ambuj_patel : 1
@tresfool : 1
@vkdwivedi21 : 1
@mrsnrao : 1
@DeepeshLakhera : 1

Respect for the brave souls who have helped reclaim some of the damaged temples.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Hindu Temples On River Banks

DharmaQuiz Session 291: 5-Aug-2014

#DharmaQuiz 1841: Name this upanadi or tributary of Krishna river, on whose bank is a very famous Vithala temple. Ans: Bhima or Chandrabhaga river. Pandharapur kshetra.

#DharmaQuiz 1842: This river is one of the headstreams of Ganga, on whose bank is a peetha re-established by Adi Shankara. Name the river. Ans: Alaknanda. Badrinath peetha.

#DharmaQuiz 1843: This desert like place in south India that is famous for its pancha linga (5 linga) darshana is on which river's bank? Ans: Kaveri. Talakadu pancha linga darshana.

#DharmaQuiz 1844: There's a famous Rama temple in the south East of India, where Rama and Sita supposedly visited. On which river's bank? Ans: Godavari. Bhadrachalam temple.

#DharmaQuiz 1845: A Jyotir Linga in central India is on an Om shaped island. On which major river's bank? Ans: Narmada. Omkareshwar temple.

Scores for session 291:

@hchaturv : 5
@abhipar7 : 5
@durgaramdas : 5
@mareekuree : 5

@chetankshet : 4
@vipulgupta1976 : 4
@mrsnrao : 4
@gboxam : 4

@keshavaram : 3
@CJoshi28 : 3

@harishinamdar : 2
@kirtweetz : 2
@kushleshsharma : 2

@prasca : 1
@DeepeshLakhera : 1
@srinivasanands : 1
@aseemcam : 1
@ratnakarkulkarn : 1
@RakeshChouhan : 1
@rohitsamvada : 1
@shreyasms : 1
@Eagleeye47 : 1
@DrSatyaSaraswat : 1

Thanks for participating!

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, May 13, 2014

DharmaQuiz Session 274: 13-May-2014

Theme: Famous temples of the world.

#DharmaQuiz 1756: Name one temple that is dedicated to the Lord of creation, Brahma. Ans: Jagatpita Brahma Mandir, Pushkar, Rajasthan. Also, Kumbhakonam's Lord Brahma temple.

#DharmaQuiz 1757: Tell one place and city outside of South India, where an Ayyappa temple exists. Ans: RK Puram, Dilli; Goregoan, Mumbai; Southern Avenue, Kolkata. Also, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Agra, Nagpur, Betul..

#DharmaQuiz 1758: In which city and country is the biggest Sikh Gurudwara outside Punjab, located? Ans: Havelock Road, Southall, London, UK.

#DharmaQuiz 1759: A fabulous golden temple for Lakshmi, in Shri Chakra shape (Star) is on 100 acre land. Where is it? Ans: Sripuram near Vellore, Tamil Nadu.

DQ 1759: Pic - blogspot

#DharmaQuiz 1760:Where is this standing Shiva statue? This is probably the world's tallest Shiva
statue. Ans: Bhaktapur, Nepal. 143 feet tall.

DQ 1760: Pic - bossnepal

Answers for session 274:

@mareekuree : 5
@meenabg : 5

@PrashanthSai369 : 4
@gboxam : 4
@pramod_klr : 4
@man8shree : 4
‏@shivprasath : 4
@SamitLive : 4

@InduSarabhai : 3
@MorbidMortal : 3
@rinku3009 : 3

@RakiTweets : 2
@Ehashanali : 2
@911ashish : 2
‏@guruswamy_c : 2

‏@_shomy : 1
@Adv_P_G : 1
@alok174 : 1
‏@amitsinghai16 : 1
‏@ankurjpr : 1
‏@ashokbarjasar : 1
@ASHOKTHEKING : 1
@athreyaa : 1
@balamy : 1
@BashamPb : 1
‏@carvk : 1
‏@chaitanyadj : 1
@cheenisrini : 1
@ChorSipahi : 1
‏@DelRastogi : 1
@dhwaj23 : 1
@Diler_Thakur : 1
@ecophilo : 1
@Jaihind100 : 1
@kalia_perumal : 1
@kbarthwal : 1
@KesariDhwaj : 1
@mahesh4shriya : 1
@mamtan14 : 1
@mayankmatador : 1
@mylovenamo : 1
@neohunk007 : 1
‏@pchidu420 : 1
@pramoo : 1
@pushkaranand11 : 1
@raghumedicon : 1
@ramprakash74 : 1
‏@ranjanbaisak : 1
@raviprawat : 1
@RramachandranR : 1
@sensiblesuraj : 1
@sharmaswati28 : 1
@swarya55 : 1
‏@Tan_Tripathi : 1
@TorontoDreams : 1
@vasudevan_k : 1
@vishalnext : 1

Thanks for participating.

Friday, May 24, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 217: 24-May-2013

DQ 1453: Image - Blogspot

Theme: Narasimha

1) Narasimha, Vishnu's 4th avatara, is also known as NruKesari. What does Kesari here mean? #DharmaQuiz 1451. Ans: Kesari = Simha = Lion.

2) There are many forms of Narasimha. Name the one which is a manifestation of meditative pose of this Vishnu's avatara. #DharmaQuiz 1452. Ans: Yoga Narasimha.

3) Where's this 900 yr old magnificent Narasimha temple (see image), a combination of Odiya & Dravida architecture? #DharmaQuiz 1453. Ans: Simhachalam near Visakhapatnam, AndhraPradesh.

Read more: http://kittuistheking.blogspot.in/2012/05/simhachala-varaha-lakshmi-narasimha.html

DQ 1454. Image - Wiki

4) Where is this massive monolithic 22 feet tall Narasimha statue (see image)? {Capital of a big medieval empire}. #DharmaQuiz 1454. Ans: Hampi, Karnatka. The capital of the glorious Vijayanagara empire

5) The oldest continuously used religious text, Rig Veda, has reference to Narasimha. True or False? #DharmaQuiz 1455. Ans: True. Vishnu Suktam.

Top Scorers for Session 217:

@dolby_mehul : 5
@Bacchuji : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@GuruCharan99 : 5
@man8shree : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@Parixyt : 5
@Tasmayi : 5
@Mamdhata : 5

Congratulations to:

@Kaushikrg : 4
@KamalPremi2 : 4

@nareshdixit82 : 3
@kirankonnects : 3

@vintejban : 2
@PrachinVaani : 2
@madhuiyengar : 2
@Kannadiga1956 : 2
@harshavs : 2
@raamss : 2

@Punit_shandilya : 1
@Rohithns : 1
@voxindica : 1
@ssmalani : 1
@sanjayleo : 1
@venshu : 1
@iRushikesh : 1
@Sachin_Pratap : 1
@skdeshpande : 1
@ts_manjunath : 1
@VellaDev : 1
@indrajeetd : 1
@urrohit : 1
@pras4net : 1
@maverickraahul : 1
@deepak_aj : 1
@debakanta87 : 1
@TripathiGaurav : 1
@ksinamdar : 1
@irvathoor : 1
@suhasn88 : 1
@ksrasish : 1
@spandanknr : 1
@rangirangi : 1
@balamy : 1
@HiSudheendra : 1
@udaya_krishna : 1
@drarora_gaurav : 1
@NikhilShastry : 1

Jai Lakshmi Narasimha!

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

DharmaQuiz Session 185: 1-Jan-2013

Theme: Richest Temples in India

Name this temple, among the 5 richest in India now, which probably did not exist 200 years back. #DharmaQuiz 1281. Ans: Shirdi Sai Baba temple in Maharashtra. But Siddhivinayak temple in Maharashtra may can also be the correct answer.
Name this temple, which was officially not the richest temple in India just 2 years back, but is today. #DharmaQuiz 1282. Ans: Ananta Padmanabha temple, Kerala.
Name this temple that has the world's largest free meal complex and also situated over world's 2nd oldest rock mountains. #DharmaQuiz 1283. Ans: Tirupati Venkateshwara temple, Andhra Pradesh.
This temple is probably the 2nd most visited temple in India, and is at an altitude of 5300 feet above sea. Name it. #DharmaQuiz 1284. Ans: Vaishno Devi temple, Jammu and Kashmir.
This temple has history of destruction & recreations. Once recreated by Ravana in silver. Name it. #DharmaQuiz 1285. Ans: Somnath temple, Gujarat.

Top Scorers for Session 185:

@SamitLive : 5
@iDevNakshi : 5
@vinodvyas220 : 5
@sweetandu : 5
@raopm9 : 5
@ThejasMysore : 5
@iSumitRk : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@anandt_05 : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@dolby_mehul : 5
@smna17 : 5
@jojshilp : 5
@vyasraj : 5
@roshan_halwai : 5

Congratulations to:

@philAmit : 4
@amitscmishra : 4

@rk_kulkarni : 3
@hindu_tweeter : 3
@svelaga : 3
@pcrajendra : 3
@rinku3009 : 3

@indianomad : 2
@ashutoshkulkar1 : 2
@jenaanindya : 2
@apoorav_5 : 2
@jaya_888 : 2
@ankushraj29 : 2
@seshasivasailam : 2
@smartrudra : 2
@ihindutva : 2
@sriram_here : 2

@BalakrishnaKini : 1
@indianhindu16 : 1
@Sanjaypro : 1
@aaindian : 1
@swapnilparikh : 1
@ashokhajeri : 1
@pareshptl : 1
@VinayCKBP : 1
@gkamitabh : 1
@bnnaren : 1
@mysoremanjunath : 1
@pandurangpai40 : 1
@_Niranjan : 1
@ananddetroja : 1
@Dinuraghubansi : 1
@AmiSri : 1
@gunturmaverick : 1
@DAmunRa : 1
@inFernal_wRath_ : 1
@AmitK2K : 1
@kumarravish : 1
@swapnilparikh : 1
@surya_sarathi : 1
@mittaltushar : 1
@shurabh : 1
@adityaagnihotri : 1
@S_Mandalia : 1
@Rohananandbajpe : 1
@AnInternetHindu : 1
@shreebhat : 1
@ronakdesai88 : 1
@mrsnrao : 1
@LuteriCongress : 1
@lalitadvani : 1
@prashantwa : 1

Thanks for your participation. See you next Friday.

Dharma Quiz happens during most Tuesdays and Fridays around 6 PM India time, and open for 4 hours. The answers will be published after 10 PM, in this blog.

Friday, December 14, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 182: 14-Dec-2012

Theme: Ruins of Hindu Temples and University

1) This is the ruin of a very wealthy capital of a Hindu empire in South India. Name this capital.#DharmaQuiz 1266. Ans: Hampi, capital of Vijayanagara kingdom.

For Question 1

For Question 2

Picture 1: An 1868 photograph of the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire at Hampi, now a UNESCO World Heritage site

2) This was one of the grandest Hindu temples in Kashmir long ago. Who was the main deity of this temple? #DharmaQuiz 1267. Ans: Surya or Sun God.

Picture 2: Photograph of the Surya Temple, The most impressive and grandest ruins in Kashmir, at Marttand-Hardy Cole's Archaeological Survey of India Report 'Illustrations of Ancient Buildings in Kashmir.' (1869)

3) These are the ruins of a 900 year extremely grand temple complex in south east Asia. In which country? #DharmaQuiz 1268. Ans: Combodia.

For Question 3

4) This was the ruin of a temple before the Iron Man of India said,enough is enough, rebuild it. Name it. #DharmaQuiz 1269. Ans: Somnath temple in Gujarat.

For Question 4

5) Name this ruin,that was once a grand university of Hindu & Buddhist learning. #DharmaQuiz 1270. Ans: Nalanda in Bihar.

For Question 5