DharmaQuiz

Friday, February 10, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 117: 10-Feb-2012

Theme: Mahabharata

Who was the closest friend of Duryodhana in Mahabharata? #DharmaQuiz 939. Ans: Karna
Which "Vamsha" or Lineage did Bhishma Pitamah belong to? #DharmaQuiz 940. Ans: Chandra Vamsha. Kuru vamsha is also accepted as the question was more broad.
What was the name of conch or "Shankha" that Yudhishthira or Dharmaraja used for battle announcements? #DharmaQuiz 941. Ans: Ananta Vijaya
What was the name of the only daughter, the blind King Dhritarashtra had in Mahabharata? #DharmaQuiz 942. Ans: Duhshala
In Mahabharata, which God came in front of Arjuna in the form of a Kirata? #DharmaQuiz 943. Ans: Lord Shiva.

Top Scorers:

@iSaakshi : 5
@SandipPawar : 5
@surenc1974 : 5
@pkagrawala : 5
@kishor_narayan : 5
@kpark_kunal : 5
@talismaan : 5

Congratulations to:

@sheefal : 4
@gabbar01 : 4
@philAmit : 4
@DevNakshi : 4
@nvignesh93 : 4
@Gaandeeva : 4
@sebiljoseph : 4
@dwellerinme : 4
@vcd_87 : 4
@RohitRajpurohit : 4
@VenkatKL : 4
@vijirak : 4

@CoolGazi : 3
@hindu_tweeter : 3
@FEEL4INDIA : 3
@SantaSingh : 3
@kapil_dev : 3
@mamtan14 : 3
@neerajstpl : 3
@DaringDeepa : 3
@jiboyv : 3

@Dptoshniwal1 : 2
@nimeshchandra : 2
@netargument : 2
@jaideepb : 2
@vaidhiy4v : 2
@Sammy_2912 : 2
@Lawan22 : 2
@man0jsharma : 2
@voxindica : 2
@mayureshgaikwad : 2

@rahulsingh5385 : 1
@tyrantasorus : 1
@smkhant : 1
@ujjwalpareek : 1
@2KunalChoudhary : 1
@bhattvihang : 1
@gootypp : 1
@StrugDT : 1
@gkamitabh : 1
@centerofright : 1
@shaileshsoni : 1
@sharathinindia : 1
@Vikas_Indian : 1
@ChandaDebabrata : 1
@Manjunaath : 1
@sharmisthaNandy : 1
@Serendipity9090 : 1

Feel free to leave a comment or tweet telling me how to make this semi-weekly spiritual quiz better and more useful.

DharmaQuiz Session 116: 7-Feb-2012

Theme: Advanced Maths/Science concepts from ancient India

Words Navy and Navigation, are derived from the ancient Sanskrit words Nau and Nau-Gatih.What does "Nau" mean? #DharmaQuiz 934. Ans: Boat or Ship.
Name the world's 1st major university, developed by Buddhists & Hindus, which taught 60 subjects to 1000s of world students. #DharmaQuiz 935. Ans: Takshashila or Taxila, in Pakistan today.
Aryurveda, at least 3500 yrs old, is regarded as the world's oldest school of medicine. What does "Ayus' in Ayus+Veda mean? #DharmaQuiz 936. Ans: Longivity or Long life.
Who wrote Siddhanta Shiromani, 400 yrs before Newton, which gave Earth's diameter as 12648 km (Today's science, 12800 KM). #DharmaQuiz 937. Ans: Bhaskaracharya. More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bh%C4%81skara_II
{Final, open till 11 PM} Chakravala Vidhi /Cyclic Algorithm from ancient India is attributed to Bhaskara & 1 more. Name him. #DharmaQuiz 938. Ans: Jayadeva (950-1000 CE). More: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chakravala_method

Top Scorers:

@pkagrawala : 5
@kishor_narayan : 5
@RohitRajpurohit : 5
@iSaakshi : 5

Congrats to:

@Susri1210 : 4
@sharathinindia : 4
@VenkatKL : 4
@philAmit : 4
@DevNakshi : 4
@mamtan14 : 4

@gabbar01 : 3
@rajputrahul19 : 3
@hindu_tweeter : 3
@TheArvindDhar : 3
@ChdryPk : 3
@Sammy_2912 : 3

@VishvambharV : 2
@karancspeaks : 2
@Jaadoo_jupiter : 2
@kapil_dev : 2
@BJPMember : 2

@dildhondtahai : 1
@vkspathak : 1
@stormylook : 1
@Manjunaath : 1
@rameshsethu : 1
@itsmesuresh : 1
@shivsBHARAT : 1
@ashithakur : 1
@venshu : 1
@satishv278 : 1
@AAA2100 : 1
@mahfoozdr : 1
@plantneem4gud : 1
@SandipPawar : 1

Many thanks to everyone keenly following Dharma Quiz and participating. Feel free to leave a comment to improve this spiritual & Dharmic semi-weekly fun quiz.

- Kiran

DharmaQuiz Session 115: 27-Jan-2012

Theme: Science and Technology in Ancient India

Pipilika is the form of a precious metal mentioned in Mahabharata's Rajasuya Yajna. Which precious metal is it? #DharmaQuiz 929. Ans: Gold. Mahabharata 2.52.54 has a mention.
Weight loss due to heating of previous metals is described by Vajnyavalkya.What type of Hindu text did Yajnyavalkya compose? #DharmaQuiz 930. Ans: Smriti.
Which Hindu text has a mention of Pushpaka Vimana (plane) in it? #DharmaQuiz 931. Ans: Ramayana
In Shanti Parva, oil getting fragrances due to flower mix is mentioned. Which famous Hindu text is Shanti Parva a part of? #DharmaQuiz 932. Ans: Mahabharata
6 types of soil- Arid,Marshy,Stony,Plain,Coastal & Foothills,described by Artha Shastra. Who wrote it? #DharmaQuiz 933. Ans: Koutilya or Chanakya

Top Scorers:

@Amaresh80 : 5
@nvignesh93 : 5
@sudhen03 : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@kpark_kunal : 5
@kishor_narayan : 5
@ramas_cal : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@DevNakshi : 5

Congratulations:

@Sammy_2912 : 4
@Rasraj : 4
@hindu_tweeter : 4
@kalyan_sk3011 : 4
@mallipoorasigai : 4

@Susri1210 : 3
@BeingJai : 3
@spicy_words : 3
@GrandIndusJurix : 3
@gabbar01 : 3
@imukuvacha : 3
@neerajstpl : 3
@vcd_87 : 3

@talismaan : 2
@hchaturv : 2
@FEEL4INDIA : 2

@puneethot : 1
@SathyaShingade : 1
@pchaturved : 1
@SantoshBachuwar : 1
@biswajeetdash : 1
@adiscover : 1
@2thsculptor : 1
@ramjoukani : 1
@anillucky31 : 1
@RoVatK : 1
@um_dubey : 1
@shivsinghDESH : 1
@_Innovision : 1
@csrinathin : 1

Good luck next time to all those who attempted and didn't make to the list above. Check out @kiranks tweets every Tuesday and Friday, around 5 PM India time, for the next round of Dharma Quiz.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 114: 20-Jan-2012

Theme: Bhakti Music by Purandara Dasa and Bhimsen Joshi

What was the birth name of the father of Carnatic music and a Bhakti movement stalwart in south India, Purandara Dasa? #DharmaQuiz 924. Ans: Srinivasa Nayaka.
Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, a stellar Hindustani singer mesmerized with devotional songs. Which Gharana was he a member of? #DharmaQuiz 925. Ans: Kirana Gharana, from Uttar Pradesh.
What was Bhakti movement composer Purandara Dasa's pen name? a)Purandara Vitthala b)Purandara Krishna c)Kaginele Keshava. #DharmaQuiz 926. Ans: a - Purandara Vitthala
Along with Bhimsen Joshi, devotional singers Gangubai Hangal, Firoz Dastur & Basavaraj Rajguru had the same guru. Name him. #DharmaQuiz 927. Ans: Sawai Gandharva.
Tansen, 1 of Akbar's court's navaratna, had a teacher who was Purandara Dasa's disciple. Name him. #DharmaQuiz 928. Ans: Swami Haridas.

Some questions for this session were supplied by tweep @itsmesuresh . Thank him for his interest!

Congratulations to all those who attempted and scored well. Just for this episode, I may not be able to produce a score list. Will do it for the next session.

Keep participating!

DharmaQuiz Session 113: 20-Jan-2012

Theme: Values of Dharma System

What's the word 'Sanaatana' mean when we refer to Sanaatana Dharma or Hinduism? #DharmaQuiz919. Ans: Eternity
In Sanaatana Dharma if "demand" is loosely termed as 'kaama', what would "supply" be termed as from the 4 purushaarthas? #DharmaQuiz 920. Ans: artha.
Vedas teach us about various types of "ruNas", like Pitru ruNa, deva ruNa.. What does 'ruNa' mean? #DharmaQuiz 921. Ans: indebtedness
There is a very special & popular term in Vedas starting with 'y' which means selfless offering (or sacrifice). Name it. #DharmaQuiz 922. Ans: Yajna from the root word Yaj
Among various Dharmas like Raja Dharma, Varna Dharma, Apad Dharma, for whom is 'Sanyasa Dharma'? #DharmaQuiz 923. Ans: For ascetics or renuciated or Sanyasis.

For an excellent insight into Dharma & all questions above, read this by Shatavadhani Dr. R Ganesh.
http://prekshaa.blogspot.com/2010/10/foundations-of-sanaatana-dharma.html
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=IN&v=wN7wXn-MTDE

Top scorers for Session 113:

@mamtan14 : 5
@kpark_kunal : 5
@pkagrawala : 5
@mallipoorasigai : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@Susri1210 : 5

Congratulations to:

@pirateadmiral : 4
@Amaresh80 : 4
@nvignesh93 : 4
@philAmit : 4
@pirateadmiral : 4
@chikchirp : 4
@khaishk : 4

@Rasraj : 3
@Sammy_2912 : 3
@soul_longings : 3
@pchaturved : 3
@MRYYTYUNJAY : 3
@Equateall : 3
@octa_sud : 3
@pvaidyaraj : 3
@sudhen03 : 3
@Ethirajans : 3
@sharathinindia : 3
@DevNakshi : 3
@hindu_tweeter : 3

@manojkagarwal : 2
@voxindica : 2
@Sshankara : 2
@mjrajput : 2
@keerthinarayan8 : 2
@DevsChat : 2

@asimhot : 1
@ishekhar_sk : 1
@The_educatr : 1
@karancspeaks : 1
@ravi_superb : 1
@man0jsharma : 1
@PriyaNarayankar : 1
@rajivgaxdhi : 1
@stormylook : 1
@jsinh : 1
@RoVatK : 1
@swetamishraa : 1
@mediacrooks : 1
@rakeshranjan_in : 1
@Equateall : 1
@kalyan_sk3011 : 1

Congratulations to all the tweeple listed above. Also thanks to those who follow silently or attempted, but could not make it to the list above.

Good luck next time!

Monday, January 16, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 112: 13-Jan-2012

Theme: Makar Sankranti

There are at least two states in India where Makar Sankranti is celebrated as "Uttarayan". Name one of them. - #DharmaQuiz 914. Ans: Rajasthan or Gujarat
In 1 state in S India, Makar Sankranti is celebrated by a name which is also the name of a delicious dish. Name the state. #DharmaQuiz 915. Ans: Pongal in Tamil Nadu
Sikhs celebrate Makar Sanskranti by what name? #DharmaQuiz 916. Ans: Maghi or Lohri.
Name any one state where cows are decorated, fed well and made to jump over a pyre or bonfire during Makar Sankranti. #DharmaQuiz 917. Ans: Karnataka or Tamil Nadu.
What is "Makara" in the name of the festival Makar Sankranti? #DharmaQuiz 918. Ans: A rashi or zodiac's constellation, called in English as Capricorn. It also means Crocodile, which some say as the shape of this zodiac. Shani, the son of Surya is considered as the 'Adhipati' or Lord of the Makara Rashi. It is symbolically father visiting his son's home, for a month every year!

Answers to Session 112:

Top Scorers:

@TheArvindDhar : 5
@Sammy_2912 : 5
@chikchirp : 5
@iSaakshi : 5
@AbhiUwach : 5
@KVSarmaJ : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@mamtan14 : 5
@DevNakshi : 5

Congratulations to:

@talismaan : 4
@kpark_kunal : 4
@itsmesuresh : 4

@amitgupta_lnct : 3
@man0jsharma : 3
@Ethirajans : 3
@Dhruv_rathore : 3

@vkspathak : 2
@ChdryPk : 2
@Noopur_m : 2
@Rasraj : 2
@GrandIndusJurix : 2
@jai1900 : 2
@mjrajput : 2
@shamshanyogi : 2
@kailashmaharshi : 2
@keerthinarayan8 : 2
@srikrishnaus : 2
@ajith_shetty : 2

@rajputrahul19 : 1
@urs_sandeepan : 1
@FatAngryBird :
@asimhot : 1
@hm_eVOTS : 1
@hindu_tweeter : 1
@ppnss : 1
@Jangid : 1
@nvignesh93 : 1
@miumesh : 1
@VivekTelangana : 1
@anilkvdc : 1
@Rajarshi_n : 1
@mediacrooks : 1
@Yogesh_Dreams : 1
@ujjwalpareek : 1
@sanjaykhera11 : 1
@srikrishnaus : 1
@kdpgrahi : 1
@vibrantbharat : 1
@Yogesh_Dreams : 1
@idurgesh : 1
@GirishRSingh : 1
@octa_sud : 1
@Flyfiddlesticks : 1
@rakeshranjan_in : 1
@neerajstpl : 1

Many thanks to all those who participated above. Feel free to suggest topics for Dharma Quiz.

Friday, January 6, 2012

DharmaQuiz Session 111: 06-Jan-2012

Theme: Bhagavad Gita, in honour of Bhagavad Gita Abhiyana by Sonda Swami

Swami Dayananda Saraswati of Arsha Vidya wrote 2000 pages of commentary Gita. Where in India is his gurukulam located? #DharmaQuiz 909. Ans: Main in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Other branches exist too.
The very first chapter of Bhagavad Gita is name Arjuna Vishada Yoga. What does 'Vishada' mean? #DharmaQuiz 910. Ans: Vishada = Dejection/Sorrow/Grief.
The first English translation of Bhagavad Gita was done by Charles Wilkins. Which century AD did he do that in? #DharmaQuiz 911. Ans: 18th century, 1785 to be precise.
BG Abhiyana of distributing Gita to 25 Lac kids was using Guna Traya Vibhaga Yoga. Out of 18 chapters which chapter is this? #DharmaQuiz 912. Ans: 14th chapter.
Name the scholarly President of India, who termed shloka 11.55 as THE "substance of entire Gita": #DharmaQuiz 913. Ans: Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. More about 11.55 here: http://www.asitis.com/11/55.html

Answers to Session 111:

Top scorers are:

@iSaakshi : 5
@DevNakshi : 5
@sharathinindia : 5
@hindu_tweeter : 5

Congratulations to:

@chhayank : 4
@hchaturv : 4
@Ethirajans : 4
@ranganaathan : 4
@shaileshsoni : 3
@Sammy_2912 : 2
@dhruvhere : 2
@WordOfTheFree : 2
@psudo : 1
@SAIRAMNATARAJA : 1
@DevsChat : 1
@0mgURsoSL0 : 1
@subramanianaras : 1
@abgohel : 1
@Bgiridharr : 1
@Rasraj : 1
@manohar_sram : 1
@amitgupta_lnct : 1
@manu_bhaarat : 1
@octa_sud : 1
@rsenthilkumar : 1

Also, thanks to others who attempted, but couldn't get in the list above. Better luck next time.

Thanks for participating and/or following the semi-weekly spiritual quiz on Twitter.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Monday, January 16, 2012

Friday, January 6, 2012

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