Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

                            INDIAN MYTHOLOGY

Hindu deities esp. Lord Rama & Krishna are worshipped by Hindus along with a section of Muslims , How are these Muslims known. Quadiyanis Who is called the grand old man of Mahabharata ? Bahlika (not Bheeshma!) The basics. The Mahabharata in its present version is supposed to contain 100,000 verses, most of which are tales and episodes not related to the main story and possible interpolations by later authors. The core of the Mahabharata, comprising 24,000 verses, is known as the what ?   BARATA SAMHITA. The JAYA is a 8,800 verse version composed first by Krishna Dwaipayana Veda Vyasa. Vaishampayana is credited with the first public recital of the Mahabharata at the a yagna conducted by Janmejaya. What was the exact name of this yagna? SARPASATRA YAGNA Vaishampayana, at the above mentioned yagna, recited the story from chapter 61. The first 60 chapters were recited by whom? SAUTI (This recital by Sauti is after the recital at Sarpasatra by Vaishampayana. Sauti recites the fist 60 chapters and says in the 61st that he heard the remaining as recited by Vaishampayana) During the one-year incognito period of the Pandavas, Draupadi assumed a name to act as a Sairandhiri or hair dresser to the queen? The name please. MALINI Name the parents of Satyavati, the second wife of Shantanu ? King Uparichara Vasu and Adrika. Name the eldest son of Karna, killed in the Mahabharata battle by Arjuna. Vrishasena Kripa & Kripi were brought up by King Shantanu, but who was their biological father? Rishi Saradwana Gautama. Drona was born of Rishi BHaradwaja. Why was he called Drona ? He was born in a bucket (called ‘drona’ in sanskrit) Which yagna did Duryodhana conduct   to rival the Rajasuya of Yudhishtra.  VAISHNAVA YAGNA. He wanted to do a Rajsuya Yagna, like Yudhistra but was advised against doing so by Bheeshma and Vidura, as a member of the Kuru family (Yudhistra) had conducted the Rajasuya and another member should not conduct one in the life time of the former. The visit by the Kauravas to the forest with the intention of making the Pandavas feel jealous is called by a specific name. What ? GOSHA YATRA The name of which place in the Ramayana translates to "that which cannot be conquered by war"? Ayodhya The Malayalam word meaning "nuisance" comes from a character in the Mahabharata. Who is he and why? Shalya, He was related to the Pandavas but circumstances forced him to fight for the Kauravas. He, therefore, chose to drive Karna's chariot. On his job, he constantly ridiculed Karna and tried to break his confidence. Lord Vishnu is supposed to have survived at this place by eating "ber" or berries. Its now named after the incident. Which place? Badrinath Where was the Brahma Aswamedha sacrifice, to commemorate the recovery of the lost Vedas, held ? Prayag In Hindu mythology, how will you associate a tiger, a snake and an evil dwarf? Nataraja. The tiger skin symbolizes asceticism, the Snake symbolizes subjugation of desires and the dead dwarf on which He dances symbolizes the supremacy of good over evil. Which character in Hindu mythology was an asura called Dambodbhava in his earlier birth? Karna Complete the series - Kanka, Valala, ______, Dharmagranthi and Tantripala. Brihannala. These are the aliases adopted by the Pandavas during their exile in King Virata's court. Which form of Buddhism was introduced into China by the Indian monk Bodhidharma in the year AD 520? Zen According to local legend, what is the significance of Panipat, Sonipat, Tilpat, Baghpat and Indrapat?   The five villages which the Pandavas asked for, as token of having foregone their claims to the Kuru empire. Ahobilam in Andhra Pradesh was the capital of a Rakshasa who was killed by one of Lord Vishnu's avatars. Who? Hiranyakashipu - killed by the Narasimha Avatar. He was the father of Bhakta Prahlad. A town originally called Bhramavarta, now Bithur, near Kanpur in Madhya Pradesh, was once the capital of a person from Hindu myth. Who? Manu the lawgiver. As a matter of fact, Bithur was where Nana Saheb Dhondo Pant was imprisoned by the British after he was captured soon after the 1857 Sepoy revolt. In the Mahabharata, who was killed with the Anjalika astra? Karna. He was killed by Arjuna when striving to free his chariot wheels, which were stuck in the mud. Connect Adhvaryu, Udgata, Hota and Brahmaa. They were the four priests who officiated at Yagnas. Adhvaryu Rig Veda Presiding Priest Hota Yajur Veda Chants Mantras Udgata Sama Veda Sings Mantras Brahmaa Atharva Veda Performs expiatory & purificatory rituals The three great sacrifices in Aryavarta were the Rajasuya, Aswamedha and _____. This last yagna was focused on the mystic number 17 - it lasted for 17 days, was performed on 17 altars, 17 animals were sacrificed ... Two common surnames in North India originate from this sacrifice. Name it. Vajpeya - hence Vajpayee or Bajpai The site of Maharshi Paraashara's hermitage, Dharmakshetra, was ransacked and burnt by Kartaveerya Arjuna, who was later killed by Parashurama. Paraashara's son, Veda Vyaasa, restored it to its pristine glory and organized a 12 year long Shrauta Satra there, to codify the four Vedas. What is this place better known as, even today? Kurukshetra (now in modern Haryana). The Shrauta Satra was preceded by a Vajpeya sacrifice by King Shantanu, the head of the clan of Kuru and Bheeshma's father. Hence the name Kurukshetra. Further to the above question, in the Srauta Satra, who were the four scholars (acharyas) who led the teams which codified each of the four Vedas? For the four vedas:   Rig Veda          - Paila; Yajur Veda       - Vaishampayana; Sama Veda      - Jaimini; Atharva Veda  - Sumanthu. In the beginning, there was the WORD - Omkara. Then came a yagna in which the sacrificial being was the Purusha. This being was the source of all creation, various components of the universe coming from its body parts. Now, what originated from the Purusha's face, arms, thighs and feet? The four castes. Priests (Brahmanas) came from the head, Kings (Kshatriyas) from the arms, Traders (Vaishyas) from the thighs and Workers (Shudras) from the feet. This is an uniquely symbolic representation of the division of labor principle on which the caste system was originally founded. Brahmanas represent learning and thought ... hence the head. Kshatriyas represent might and power ... hence the arms Vaishyas and their trade prop up the economy, hence the thighs. Shudras, with their labor, support and supplement the efforts of the other castes, hence their origin from the feet. Further to this ... From the mind came the moon, eyes - sun, face - Indra and Agni, prana (life force) - Vayu, navel - the Heavens ... From the Purusha Suktham. The Aryans who first came to India had horses, which enabled them to conquer wide areas of land, subjugating people who had never seen horses. Therefore, it is not surprising that the horse is a symbol of power in Aryan culture - as represented by the Aswamedha yagna. It is mentioned in the Vedas as of divine origin, the offspring of a certain Horse - Name it. Dadhikravas.  Tolkien fans - this sounds much like Felarof, the steed of Earl the Young, Father of all Horses - including Gandalf's steed Shadowfax. Which Yagna was performed by the sages Yaja and Upayaja, to produce offspring for the childless King Dhrupada. It produced Drishtadyumna and Draupadi. Putra Kameshti Yagna. King Janamejaya performed a great Sarpa Satra yagna to punish the Naga Takshaka, who killed his father, Pareekshit (Abhimanyu's son). It was stopped due to the intercession of the Rishi Asika, who prevailed upon him to forgive and forget. What momentuous event took place during this yagna? The Mahabharata was first recited by Vaishampayana - one of Vyasa's earliest and most gifted associates and disciples. He led the team which codified the Yajur Veda. Which yagna was originally enjoined as a daily duty for an Aryan. It's name literally means Offering to the Fire. Performers of this ritual would (and still do) keep the sacred fire burning permanently in their homes. Agnihotra - and hence the surname Agnihotri, for a performer of this yagna. During Yudhishtira's Aswamedha Yagna, the ceremonial horse entrusted to Arjuna was captured by his son, who fought a duel with bows and killed him. Arjuna was subsequently brought back to life by his Naga wife Uloopi. He praised his son's valor, took back the horse and went on ... The question is - name this son, and his mother. Also, the country of which he was the king. Babhruvahana - son of Chitrangada. He was king of Manipura. In Hindu tradition, what are the seeds of Elacocarpus known as? Rudraksha - beads used for rosaries used in Hinduism. There is a mystic significance attached to the number of faces a Rudraksha has. Throughout the 9 avatars He has taken so far, Lord Vishnu has killed several Asuras - but spared the life of only one. Who and why? Mahabali - who was pressed down by his foot (in the vamana avatara) and sent to rule over the nether world (patala). He returns to Earth once every year - and this is celebrated as "Onam" in Kerala. The reason for this is that Bali was a righteous king - whose only fault was that he aspired to take Indra's place. Also, he was Prahlada's grandson - and Lord Vishnu, in his Narasimha avatar, had promised Prahlad always to protect him and his descendants. In Hindu legend, who or what was the "Viddhasala Bhanjikas"? The 32 idols on Vikramaditya's throne, which narrated his stories to Raja Bhoja before allowing him to sit on the throne Hanuman is supposed to be a "brahmachari" - eternally celibate. However, some legends depict him as having a wife. Who? Suvarchala Who is the wife of Rishi Agastya? Lopamudra In Hindu myth, what is the job of Varuna, the elder brother of Garuda? He is the charioteer of Surya, the sun god. He was born without a lower body, as the egg he was supposed to be hatched from was broken prematurely by his mother Vinata. Which great devotee of Shiva's parents were Rishi Pulastya and Kaikesi? Ravana What was Arjuna's bow called? 'Gandeeva'. It was made by Lord Brahmma. What was Karna's bow called? Vijaya GREEK MYTHOLOGY   Which calendar begins with the creation of the world, as calculated from Genesis? Hebrew Name the grandson of Methuselah, who had three sons at the age of 500? Noah According to Greek mythology, who was the first woman on earth? Pandora Name the curious girl in Greek mythology who let all the evils come into Earth by opening a locked box. Pandora. He was the Greek god of fire and metal work. Son of Zeus and Hera. Lame and awkward, he was married to Aphrodite. His work shop was believed to be under Mt. Etna. Who? Hephaestus In Greek mythology, who was the first person to solve the riddle of the Sphinx? Oedipus Which mythical creature was believed by some ancient Greeks to live for 500 years and by some others for 12,954 years? Phoenix Who was the only woman whose lifespan was recorded in the Bible? Sarah Who in Greek mythology destroyed the monsters Python and Cyclops? Apollo Which hero killed the Gorgon, Medusa? Perseus The Greeks called the Goddess of hunting 'Artemis'. What was the Roman name for this Goddess? Diana Which city was said to have been founded by Romulus and Remus? Rome Who were the parents of Romulus and Remus ? Mars and Rhea Silvia According to Greek mythology, what was invented by Erichtholanus, King of Athens, to conceal his feet, which were those of a dragon? Hint - He later became a constellation, named after his invention. The Chariot. The constellation Auriga (charioteer) is named after him. In Greek myth, what was the home of the Muses? Pieria (Pope referred to the Pierian Springs in the quote above. Which form of Buddhism was introduced into China by the Indian monk Bodhidharma in the year AD 520? Zen Which light, strong, heat resistant metal used in jet engines was named after mythological giants? Titanium In the Bible, who used the jawbone of an ass to kill a thousand people? Samson Which great legged Greek God presided over flocks? Pan In Egypt, the killing of which animal was punishable by death? Cat Which month is named after the Roman god of war? March From which Roman God's name are the words commerce, merchandise and merchant derived? Mercury What nationality was the legendary hero William Tell, who shot an apple atop his son's head? Swiss Which Roman God gave His name to the month of January? Janus Name the jackal headed Egyptian god of funerals and mummification. Anubis What did Einstein call as 'the shadow of God'? Light A dwarf by birth, he was called the 'scourge of Gods'. Who was he? Attila the Hun According to Celtic myth, where were the wicked people sent to after their death as punishment? Infurin Which mythological character famous for his great beauty had a son and daughter by Aphrodite? Adonis Which word in English language is derived from the Roman Goddess of Corn and Harvest called 'Ceres'? Cereal Name the Roman Goddess of Peace? Pax

		HOME		PANORAMA		INDIA
		Sports		Countries		Science