Bharat
This city is believed to be one of the oldest inhabited cities not just in Bharat but in the world.
If you were here you would take a walk along the river and watch ritual worship with lights.
Varanasi
Diwali is not just celebrated in Hinduism but in different religions. Name the religions and name that Diwali is known by.
Sikhism: Bandhi Chor Divas.
Jains: Mahavir Nirvana Divas.
Budhists: Ashok Vijayadashami
How many alphabets are in the sanskrit language
52
Which Veda is also known as the veda of "melodies and chants"
Sama Veda
One of the richest temples now, this temple at one point of time had no visitors. A saint decided to stay and perform abhisheka (thirumanajam) everyday looking at the plight of the temple.
The murthi in this temple is one of the 8 swayambhu murthis of Lord Vishnu in India.
Tirumala Balaji
The Dandakaranya forest is popular for several reasons, the most popular being it is where Rama, Lakshama and Sita stayed predominantly during their exile period. Where is this forest located today in India. Be specific and provide all states.
1) Chhattisgarh
2) Odisha
3) Telangana
4) Andhra Pradesh
Name the exact day as per Hindu calendar that Diwali falls on
Amavasya/Amavasai on Kartik/Krittigai month
Who is the author of the Geetha Govindam
Jayadeva
This philosophy, from vedanta, can be characterized as a form of qualified monism, or a qualified non-dualism. It upholds the belief that all diversity ultimately stems from a fundamental underlying unity.
Vishishtadvaita Philosophy
This temple is believed to be under the trishul of Lord Shiva and hence can never be broken, even in a pralaya
Kashi Vishwanath
This city is home to the only floating post office in the world! This post office sits on a houseboat and serves the community while also being a tourist attraction.
Dal lake, Kashmir
Eating this is a must on an empty stomach every Diwali for South Indians. This not only aids in the digestion during the festival of abundance but is known in ayurveda as an herbal elixir.
Lehyam/ Legiyam
This text is the oldest text in Sanskrit
Rig Veda
This famous hymn from a veda has a verse that states that the four varnas originated from different parts of the cosmic being: Brahmins (priests) from the mouth, Kshatriyas (warriors) from the arms, Vaishyas (merchants) from the thighs, and Shudras (working class) from the feet.
What is the name of this hymn and which Veda is it from?
Purusha Sukta from Rig Veda.
This Sukta is commonly recited during rituals, temple worship, and ceremonies.
This temple in Uttarakhand with panoramic Himalayan views is often overlooked despite being one of the oldest temples dedicated to Lord Rama as it also houses a very important Hindu landmark.
Raghunath Temple- Devprayag. Devprayag also houses the confluence of the Alaknanda and Bhagirathi rivers (starting of ganga)
This city houses the largest temple in India. A few interesting points to help identify the city:
- Instead of the traditional Dwarapalakas (door keepers), we can find Sugriva and Angada being the doorkeepers of this Garuda Shrine which also happens to be one of the largest statue.
- The main idol doesn’t have the traditional Lotus and Brahma in his navel. It is believed that Brahma himself does the first pooja of the day (in Brahma Muhurtham, before Archaka’s open the doors)
Srirangam, Tamil Nadu
There is one day in the four days of Diwali that honors this lesser known God.
According to Hindu Mythology, he was born during the Samudhra Manthana.
Dhanvantri:
The name of the language "Sanskrit" was derived from this word which means "put together" or "perfected"
Samskrtam
The Brahma Purana is one of the eighteen major Puranas collections of Hindu texts in Sanskrit. It is listed as the first Mahapurana in all anthologies, and is therefore also called Adi Purana. Traditionally, it is said to have been narrated by Lord Brahma and later compiled by Ved Vyasa, the sage who is also credited with composing the Mahabharata and other Puranas.
What is the name of the sage according to the Brahma Purana who is recognized for serving the role as narrator of the Brahma Purana conveying its teachings to sages at Naimisharanya?
Lomaharshana/Romaharshana
This temple built of stone, is on an octagonal plan, which is rare. It is the earliest specimen of the Nagara style of temple architecture.
The main deities in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple are of the Devi and Chaturmukh (four-faced) Shiva linga.
A substantial part of this stone structure has been damaged, and many stone fragments are seen strewn around the temple. However, under the jurisdiction of ASI, it has been the subject of archaeological study for quite some time.
Mundeshwari Temple, Bihar
In this village in Bharat, people live in houses without doors and locks. People believe that that Lord Shani is the guardian of the village and under his protection, they do not feel the need for doors and locks for their establishments. This legend is some 300 hundred years old and it attracts thousands of devotees to the village each day.
Shani Shingnapur, Maharashtra
A legend ascribes the occasion to the story of a 16-year-old son of this king. His horoscope predicted his death by a snakebite on the fourth day of his marriage. On that particular day, his newlywed wife did not allow him to sleep. She laid out all her ornaments and many gold and silver coins in a heap at the entrance of the bedchamber and lit many lamps. Then she narrated stories and sang songs to keep her husband from falling asleep; the next day, when Yama, the god of death, arrived at the prince's doorstep in the guise of a serpent, his eyes were dazzled and blinded by the brilliance of the lamps and the jewelry. Yama could not enter the prince's chamber, and so he climbed on top of the heap of gold coins and sat there the entire night listening to the stories and songs. In the morning, he silently went away. Thus, the young prince was saved from the clutches of death by the cleverness of his new bride
This resulted in apractice of the women of the house even today lighting earthen lamps (dipas), kept burning throughout the night glorifying Yama where thirteen diyas made of wheat flour are lit and placed facing the southern direction
1) What is this process called?
2) What was the name of the King whos son was prophesized to be bit by the serpent?
1) Yamadeepadana
2) King Shilp
The Vishnu Sahasranama is one of the most chanted shlokas in sanskrit on a daily basis. The dialogue between Yudhishtra and Bheeshma is famous which precedes the chanting of the 1008 names of Lord Vishnu.
Yudhistra asks:
Who is the greatest Lord in the world? Who is the one refuge for all? By glorifying whom can man reach the Auspiciousness (peace and prosperity)? By worshipping whom can a man reach auspiciousness (peace and prosperity)?
What is, in thy opinion, the Greatest Dharma? By doing japa of what can “creatures” go beyond the bonds of samsara?
Bheeshma answers:
The supreme Purusha, who is ever up and working for the welfare of all, the Lord ) of the world the endless – Sri Maha Vishnu. By meditating upon, by worshipping and by prostrating at the same Purusha, man can reach true Auspiciousness.The greatest Dharma is the one Vishnu, who has neither a beginning nor an end , the supreme Lord of the world. All creatures can go beyond the bonds of samsar, “and he goes beyond all sorrows” who daily hants the sahasranaamas and within glorifies “the knower of the world”.
Chant this portion in Sanskrit till the end of the dialogue.
YUDHISHTHIRA UVACHA
Kimekam daivatam loke kim vapyekam parayanam | Stuvantah kam ka marchantah prapnuyuh manavah-shubham || Ko dharmah sarva-dharmanam bhavatah paramo matah | Kim japanmuchyate janthuh janma samsara-bandhanat ||
BHISHMA UVACHA
Jagat-prabhum deva-devam anantam purusho-tamam | Sthuva nnama-sahasrena purushah satatottitah || Tameva charcha-yannityam bhaktya purusha mavyayam | Dhyayan stuvan nama-syamschha yajamanah thameva cha ||
Anadi-nidhanam vishnum sarvaloka mahe-shvaram | Lokadhyaksham sthuva nnityam sarva-duhkhatigo bhavet || Brahmanyam sarva-dharmagnam lokanam keerthi-vardhanam | Lokanatham maha.-dbhootam sarvabhuta-bhavod-bhavam || Esha me sarva-dharmanam dharmo-dhikatamo matah | Yadbhaktya pundaree-kaksham stavairarche nara sada || Paramam yo maha-tejaha paramam yo maha-tapaha | Paramam yo mahad-bramha paramam yah parayanam || Pavitranam pavitram yo mangalanam cha mangalam | Daivatam devatanam cha bhootanam yovyayah pita || Yatah sarani bhutani bhavantyadi yugagame | Yasminscha pralayam yanti punareva yugakshaye ||
Tasya loka pradhanasya jaganna-thasya bhupate | Vishnor nama-sahasram me shrunu papa-bhayapaham || Yani namani gounani vikhyatani mahatmanah | Rishibhih parigeetani tani vakshyami bhootaye || Vishno-ranam sahasrasya vedavyaso maha munih | Chandho nusthup tatha devah bhagavan devakee-sutah || Amrutham-shubdavo beejam shaktir-devaki nandanah | Trisama hrudayam tasya shantya-rdhe viniyu-jyate || Vishnum jishnum maha-vishnum prabha-vishnum mahe-svaram | Anekarupam daithyantham namami purushottamam ||
The planetary system as per Hinduism known as Bhu-mandala resembles a lotus flower and its 7 dvipas (islands) resemble the whorl of the lotus flower. Jambudvipa is the situated in the middle of the whorl and estimated to be one million yojanas or 8 million miles. Each 'Dvipa' has its own its own samudra (ocean). Name all the samudras in order from center to outer.
1) Lavanasamudra (Salt water)
2) Iksusamudra (Sugarcane Juice)
3) Surasagara (Liquor)
4) Sarpis-samudra (Ghee)
5) Ksira-samudra (Milk) - Where the Samudra Manthana happened
6) Dadhisamudra (Churned Yogurt)
7)Jalasamudra (Clear Water)
All held by the Garbodhaka Ocean
Symbolically, there are three objects that are shields that protect the sanctuary of the temple from the impure and undevoted as per our Agama Shastras.
Name the three objects
Dvajasthamba, Bali Peetha, and Vahana