History
Mythology
People
Hindus Today
Texts
100
Some of Hinduism's roots can be traced to this ancient civilization that, along with Egypt and Mesopotamia, was one of the three early civilizations of the Old World
What is Indus Valley Civilization
100
One of the three major deities (the Trimurti) in Hinduism, this deity personifies destruction and transformation
Who is Shiva
100
This man, given the honorific "Mahatma," fought against communalism, which pitted Muslims against Hindus in Indian politics, but he could not reverse the rapid growth of communalism after 1922.
Who is Gandhi
100
This festival spiritually signifies the victory of light over darkness or good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. Its celebration includes millions of lights shining on housetops, outside doors and windows, around temples and other buildings in the communities and countries where it is observed.
What is Diwali
100
What language are the Vedas composed in?
What is Vedic Sanskrit (Old Indic)
200
Some of the earliest stone and cave temples were built by this great Indian empire during the "Golden Age"
What is Gupta
200
The Gita is set in a narrative framework of a dialogue between the Pandava prince Arjuna and this Hindu deity, who serves as his charioteer. Responding to Arjuna's confusion and moral dilemma about fighting his own relatives, this deity explains to Arjuna his duties as a prince, elaborating on a variety of philosophical concepts. This deity is recognized as the complete incarnation of Vishnu
Who is Krishna
200
He is generally considered to be the author of the Mahabharata, and also a character within it.
Who is Vyasa
200
This city has been a cultural centre of North India for several thousand years, and is closely associated with the Ganges. Hindus believe that death in the city will bring salvation, making it a major centre for pilgrimage. The city is known worldwide for its many ghats, embankments made in steps of stone slabs along the river bank where pilgrims perform ritual ablutions.
What is Varanasi
200
This epic narrative details the Kurukshetra War and the fates of the Kaurava and the Pandava princes
What is the Mahabharata
300
The largest religious monument in the world, it was originally constructed as a Hindu temple of the god Vishnu by the Khmer Empire
What is Angor Wat
300
The Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, arts, wisdom and learning, she is a part of the trinity (Tridevi) along with Lakshmi and Parvati
Who is Saraswati
300
This Mughal emperor was so well liked by Hindus that there are numerous references to him and his eulogies are sung in songs and religious hymns. He propounded a syncretic religion, known as Din-i Ilahi, that combined aspects of Islam, Hinduism, and other religions.
Who is Akbar
300
This sweet is a dumpling commonly offered to Ganesha during pujas (or prayers) on Ganesh Chathurti. This sweet is believed to be Ganesha's favorite food.
What is Modak (Kozhakkatta (കൊഴുക്കട്ട) in Malayalam, modhaka or kadubu in Kannada, modhakam or kozhakkattai in Tamil, and kudumu in Telugu). Happy Ganesh Chathurthi!
300
The oldest of the four canonical sacred texts that make up the Vedas
What is Rigveda
400
The Vedas were written in this millenium BCE
What is 2nd (~1500 BCE)
400
Her most well known appearance on the battlefield is in the sixth century Devi Mahatmyam. Two demons, Chanda and Munda attack the goddess Durga. Durga responds with such anger that her face turns dark and this goddess appears out of her forehead.
Who is Kali
400
The epic Ramayana, which narrates the life of Rama, is typically attributed to this poet.
Who is Valmiki
400
Which country, after India, has the second highest population of Hindus?
What is Nepal
400
These texts are commonly referred to as Vedānta, variously interpreted to mean either the "last chapters, parts of the Veda" or "the object, the highest purpose of the Veda". The concepts of Brahman (Ultimate Reality) and Ātman (Soul, Self) are central ideas in these texts.
What is the Upanishads
500
 Followers of this movement moved away from the abstract concept of Brahman, with emotional, passionate devotion towards the more accessible Avatars, especially Krishna and Rama
What is Bhakti movement
500
This era is the last of the four stages the world goes through as part of the cycle of yugas described in the Sanskrit scriptures.
What is Kali Yuga
500
The Advaita Vedanta interpretation of the Vedas espouses that Brahman, a pervasive, genderless, infinite, eternal essence, alone is real and that there is no difference between the "self" and this essence. The principal, though not the first, exponent of the Advaita Vedanta-interpretation was this philosopher in the 8th century, who systematised the works of preceding philosophers.
Who is Adi Shankara
500
In 2011 the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, India, overtook the Tirupati Temple (also India) to become the world's ___ Hindu temple.
What is richest, after the chance discovery of secret cellars at the temple uncovered a vast treasure of gold, silver and precious jewels believed to be worth at least £12 billion.
500
Sāmkhya philosophy regards the universe as consisting of two realities; puruṣa (consciousness) and prakṛti (matter). This text is the earliest surviving text of the Samkhya school of Hindu philosophy.
What is the Samkhyakarika
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