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
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
What is Krishna
100
Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and this Shiva worshiping tradition are all major sects of Hinduism
What is Shaivism
100
Rudra, now synonymous with Shiva, was mentioned in this earliest surviving Hindu text
What is the Rig Veda
200
This third ruler of the Mughal Dynasty funded two temples in Varanasi. One of these temples was dedicated to Vishnu, and the other, the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, to Shiva.
Akbar
200
During the churning of the Ocean of Milk Shiva swallowed this to protect the Universe (no specifics necessary)
What is poison
200
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 the Kali Yuga
200
This abstract representation of the Hindu deity, Shiva, is used for worship in temples and shrines. It is seen as a symbol of the energy of Shiva himself
What is the Lingam
200
The Shaiva Upanishads are a group of 14 minor Upanishads of Hinduism. These extol Shiva as this metaphysical unchanging reality/essence seen as all pervasive in Hinduism
What is Brahman
300
A seal discovered during excavation of this early Indian settlement located in modern day Sindh, Pakistan has drawn attention as a possible representation of a "proto-Shiva" figure. This "Pashupati" seal shows a large central figure that is surrounded by animals.
What is Mohenjo Daro
300
To win the regard of the ascetic Shiva, this daughter of king Daksha and first consort of Shiva forsook the luxuries of her father's palace and retired to a forest, there to devote herself to austerities and the worship of Shiva
Who is Sati
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 tallest Shiva statue is located in which country?
What is Nepal
300
This set of texts is one of eighteen Sanskrit Purana genre texts in Hinduism, and part of the Shaivism literature corpus. It primarily centers around the Hindu god Shiva and goddess Parvati
What is the Shiva Purana
400
This Indian philosopher and theologian known for consolidating the doctrine of Advaita Vedanta (non dualism) helped establish Shaivism in Varanasi
Adi Shankara
400
This avatar of Vishnu received his axe after undertaking a penance to please Shiva. He served as a mentor to Drona, Karna, and Bhishma during the Mahabharata
Who is Parashurama
400
The Vedas were written in this millenium BCE
What is 2nd (~1500 BCE)
400
These leaves are used in the worship of Shiva, who is said to favour the leaves, where the tri-foliate form of leaves symbolize the trident that Shiva holds in his right hand.
What is bael leaves
400
Shiva's trident is a weapon or a symbol in different Hindu texts. As a symbol, the Trishul represents Shiva's three aspects of "creator, preserver and destroyer", or alternatively it represents the equilibrium of three ____ of "sattva, rajas and tamas"
What is Gunas
500
This South Indian Tamil dynasty continued the temple-building traditions of the Pallava dynasty and contributed significantly to the Dravidian temple design. They built a number of Shiva temples along the banks of the river Kaveri.
Who are the Cholas
500
Shiva is known as this, which means Lord of Dance. Shiva's dance is called Tandavam or Nadanta, depending on the context of the dance
Who is Nataraja
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 the Bhakti movement
500
This temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. 700,000 devotees visit here on Maha Shivaratri to pay regards to an incarnation of Lord Shiva (the temple namesake)
What is the Pashupatinath Temple
500
The Shvetashvatara Upanishad, one of the first texts that elevates the role of Shiva/Rudra in Hinduism, states the Māyā doctrine found in many schools of Hinduism. The text asserts that the this Sanskrit word for empirical nature is Māyā, and that the individual soul is caught up by this Māyā