Quiz-Religion-1
(1) Hindu Dharm is known by some other names also, what are those?
It is called Sanaatan Dharm or Vaidik Dharm
(2) Hindu Dharm is known for its many gods. How many gods are said in it?
33 Crore Devtaa (330,000,000 Devtaa)
(3) Who has written History of India?
There are two history books on India and they are recorded in
Vaalmeeki Raamaayan
and Mahaabhaarat. Raamaayan
has been written by Vaalmeeki Jee and Mahaabhaarat is written by Vad Vyaas
Jee.
(4) In Hindu Dharm some Devee Devtaa are very famous for some specific purpose,
can you name 5 Devtaa and their purpose..?
Ganesh is the first and foremost Devtaa to be worshipped in the beginning of everything;
Vishnu for Moksh; Kuber is for wealth; Indra for rains; Varun for water;
Agni Dev for fire; Ashwinee Kumaar for health; Soorya Dev for health;
Hanumaan to fulfill all kinds of wishes; Saraswatee for knowledge and arts;
Lakshmee Jee for wealth; Paarvatee Jee to get a good husband and for happy married
life;
(5) There are a few Rivers which were women before they became rivers, which are
they and who were they before being converted into rivers?
Yamunaa, Bhadraa and Tapatee are the daughters of Soorya. Yamunaa became the
River for the welfare of the people; and Taaptee and Bhadraa fought among
themselves and turned into rivers because of each other's curse. There is one
river Kaushikee. Her name was Satyavatee. She was the daughter of King Gaadhi,
other of Rishi Jamadagni. She also became the river for the welfare of the
world.
(6) Has any Devtaa taught Jyotish (astrology) to anybody? Who taught whom?
Yes. Soorya Dev has taught astrology to Maya Daanav and he wrote Soorya Siddhaant.
Chandramaa taught astrology to Shaunak Jee
Brahmaa Jee taught astrology to his grandson Kashyap Jee (Mareechi's son).
(7) There are three poets who have written Shatak, who are the authors and what
they have written -
Baan Bhatt - Chandee Shatak
Bhartrihari - Neet Shatak, Shringaar Shatak, Vairaagya Shatak
Mayoor Bhatt - Soorya Shatak
(8) What is the
legend behind Brahm Muhoort?
The son born to Kashyap and Vinataa is Arun. He is the charioteer of
Sun. Vinataa was very anxious for her son, so she took him out of her
womb even before his birth. That is why he was born with incomplete
body. Brahmaa Jee appointed the child as a charioteer of the Sun and
blessed with the boon. The time when he was on the Earth is known as
Brahm time. During that time period not even a single stars or planet
can cause any harm or influence anybody with his ill effect. This time
is early in the morning - one and a half hours before sunrise, is
called Brahm Muhoort. For spiritual activities this Brahm Muhoort
is recommended. Spiritual activities performed early in the morning
have a greater effect than in any other part of the day.
(9) How
Paarijaat tree (Coral Jasmine or Queen of the Night) descended on Earth
In English Paarijaat is called Queen of the Night or Coral Jasmine. In
Hindi it is called Haarsingaar and in Sanskrit it is called Paarijaat.
Paarijaat, the Sanskrit name, means descended from the sea. Haarsingaar,
the Hindi name, means ornament of the gods or beautiful ornament or
which is used to beautify somebody. Krishn brought it from Indra's
garden Nandan Van on Earth to please His wife Satyabhaamaa and planted
it in her garden.
(10 Why
Paarijaat blooms only in the night?
A legend in the Vishnu Puraan tells of a king who had a beautiful and
sensitive daughter called Paarijaat. She fell in love with Soorya Dev -
the Sun god. "Leave your kingdom and be mine." said the Sun
passionately. Obediently Paarijaat shed her royal robes and followed
her beloved. But the Sun grew cold as he tired of Paarijaat and soon he
deserted her and fled back to the sky. The young princess died
heartbroken. She was burnt on the funeral pyre and from her ashes grew
a single tree. From its drooping branches grew the most beautiful
flowers with deep orange hearts. But. since the flowers cannot bear the
sight of the Sun, they only bloom when the Sun is not in the sky and,
as its first rays shoot out at dawn, the flowers fall to the ground and
die.
(11) What is the
relevance of Ekaadashee?
According to Padm Puraan, Jaimini, a renowned sage and the disciple of
Ved Vyaas Jee, once became inquisitive about the Ekaadashee Vrat. He
asked Ved Vyaas Jee about the same. Vyaas Jee said that initially, when
the world was manifested, Vishnu created a demonic creature (Paap
Purush) that was the embodiment of all types of sins. This was done in
order to punish all evil human beings. Subsequently, he also created
Yam Raaj, so that anyone who sinned (signs of Papa-Purush in him) would
be punished and sent to Yam Lok.On a visit to Yam Llok, Vishnu noticed
the miseries of the people living there, and had pity on them, so He
created Ekaadashee from his own being, and decided that anyone
undertaking the Ekaadashee Vrat would be cleansed of his sins. Paap
Purush became alarmed. He immediately went to Vishnu and pleaded that
on Ekaadashee day, he had nowhere to hide. So Vishnu told him that any
type of grain would provide a safe haven to him on Ekaadashee. That is
why eating any kind of grain is a sin on Ekaadashee day.
(12) Are there
any places in India whose names are cow related? What is the divinity
of cow?
There are names of some places that are cow-related in our country,
such as Gauhaatee, Gorakhpur, Goaa, Godharaa, Gondiya, Godaavaree,
Goverdhan, Gautam, Gomukh, Gokarn, Goyal, Gochar etc.
The cow was elevated to
divinity in the Rig Ved. In Book VI , Hymn XXVIII attributed to Rishi
Bhardwaaj extols the virtue of the cow. In Atharv Ved, Book X, Hymn X,
the cow is formally designated as Vishnu, and all that the Sun surveys.
Five divine Kaamdhenu (wish cows), viz, Nandaa, Subhadraa, Surabhi,
Susheelaa, Bahulaa have emerged from the sea during its churning. The
cow, according to the Ved, provides four products for human use: (1) Go
Dugdh (cow milk): (2) Go Ghrit (ghee) : (3) Go Mootra (cow's urine):
Eight types of urine are used for medicinal purpose nowadays, among
which the cow urine is held to be the best, and (4), Go Maya (dung).
Ancient Hindu wisdom on the medicinal properties of cow urine is borne
out by two patents granted in the US for cow urine distillate (Patent
numbers 6410059 and
6896907).
Ved
(1) Which is Hindu's main religious book? What is its name?
Hindu's main religious book is Ved. Hindu have four Ved - Rig Ved, Yajur Ved,
Atharv Ved, and Saam Ved.
(2) What is the main theme of the Ved?
Yagya. How to do them, when to do them, and what Mantra should be used for them.
(3) Ved are the highest scriptures for a Hindu, is there anything else
after Ved? If it is there, what is that?
Yes, Upanishad are after Ved. That is why they are called Vedaant - means
which comes after Ved.
(4) How many Ved Hindu have?
There are four Ved - Rig Ved, Yajur Ved, Atharv Vaed and Saam Ved
Upanishad
(1) What is Upanishad and how many are they. Write their names?
Upanishad is Vedaant -
the teachings after one has mastered the Ved. Its knowledge is related to
Adhyaatm (spirit). Upanishad are supposed to be 108 but 11 Upanishad are main
(read about their number in
detail here). Their names are - (1) Eeshaavasya, (2) Ken, (3) Kath, (4)
Aitareya, (5) Brihadaaranyak, (6) Prashn, (7) Maandookya, (8) Taittireeya, (9)
Chhandogya, (10) Mundak, (11) Shwetaashwater.
(2) What is Vedaant and where can it be found?
Ved + Ant = whatever is at the end of the Ved, is called Vedaant. Vedaant is
that part of teachings which is taught after one has mastered the Ved. Most
Vedaant is found in Upanishad.
(3) What is the meaning of Upanishad?
Upanishad is a compound word of Upa + Nishad. Upa means "in closeness"
and Nishad means "in the forest". So Upanishad means whatever is learned
in the closeness of the forest. In fact all these Upanishad were told and heard by
Rishi to their disciples sitting closely in the forest
(4) There is one example which is cited very often, from one Upanishad - that
is of that "this body is chariot, your 10 senses are its 10 horses..."
What is the name of that Upanishad?
Kath Upanishad.
(5) Which Upanishad tells that our body is a city of 11 gates?
Kath Upanishad.
(6) Which Upanishad describes Nachiketaa's story?
Kath Upanishad
(7) Who was Nachiketaa and what did he do? Where we can read his story?
Nachiketaa was the son Maharshi Uddaalak Aaruni and he learnt the knowledge of
being immortal directly from Yam Raaj. His story can be read in Kath Upanishad.
(8) There was a teenage boy who went to Yam Raaj and learnt the science of being
immortal from him. Who was he and where is his story described?
This boy's name was Nachiketaa and his story is described in Kath Upanishad.
(9) There was a teenage boy who could not be lured with material wealth in favor of
the knowledge of being immortal. Who was that boy and where we can read his full story?
The boy was Nachiketaa and his story is recorded in Kath Upanishad.
(10) There was a very young boy who spoke truth about his lineage and because of
that truth the Rishi accepted him as his disciple. Who was that boy?
Satyakaam. He was a son of a prostitute and he told this to his Guru. Rishi Gautam
got very pleased with his straight answer and accepted him as his disciple.
(11) Who was Satyakaam? Where is his story described?
Satyakaam was a prostitute - Jaabaali's son. His story comes in Chhaandogya Upanishad.
(12) Yaagyavalkya and Gaargee's dialog is very famous in Hindu religion.
Where is it found?
In Brihadaaranyak Upanishad.
(13) An incident comes in one Upanishad in which a Kshatriya teaches spiritual
knowledge to a Braahman. Who is that Braahman, who is that Kshatriya and where
can we find it?
The Braahman'a name is Uddaalak Aaruni, Aaruni's son, and the Kshatriya's name
is King Jaivaali and this story is found in Brihadaaranyak Upanishad.
(14) Who was that wife of a Rishi who refused to accept material wealth in
favor of the knowledge of being immortal from her husband? Where is her story
recorded?
Her name is Maitreyee and she was the wife of Maharshi Yaaggyavalkya. When
Yaagyavalkya Jee set off for Sanyaas Aashram, and he divided his wealth into
his two wives - Kaatyaayanee and Maitreyee. Maitreyee asked him - "Will
this wealth make me immortal?" Yaagyavalkya Jee said - "No, but it
will give you all material pleasures." Maitreyee said - "But these
pleasures will be finished after I die. Please teach me how can I be immortal?"
Then Yaagyavalkya Jee imparted her the knowledge of being immortal. Her story
is recorded in Brihadaaranyak Upanishad.
(15) There are two people who refused to accept any material wealth in favor of
the knowledge of being immortal. Who were they and where can we read their
stories?
One was Nachiketaa who was not tempted by material wealth offered by Yam Raaj;
and the other one was Maitreyee, the wife of Maharshi Yaagyavalkya, who was not
satisfied with the wealth of Maharshi. Both expressed their desire to learn the
knowledge of being immortal. Their stories can be read in Kath and Brihadaaranyak
Upanishad respectively.
Puraan
(1) Puraan are another religious books for Hindu? How many are they and what
are their names?
Puraan are many. 108 have been identified, among which 18 are main - Their names are -
1-Brahm Puraan,
2-Padm Puraan,
3-Vishnu Puraan,
4-Shiv Puraan,
5-Bhaagvat Puraan,
6-Naarad Puraan,
7-Maarkandeya Puraan,
8-Agni Puraan,
9-Bhavishya Puraan,
10-Brahm Vaivart Puraan,
11-Ling Puraan,
12-Varaah Puraan,
13-Skand Puraan,
14-Vaaman Puraan,
15-Koorm Puraan,
16-Matsya Puraan,
17-Garud Puraan,
18-Brahmaand Puraan
(2) Who has written the Puraan?
All 18 Puraan have been written by Ved Vyaas Jee who is the author of Mahaabhaarat
also.
(3) Bhaagvat Puraan is the main source of Krishn's life and activities. And
Raadhaa is an indivisible part of Krishn, but surprisingly Bhaagvat Puraan
has never mentioned Raadhaa's name anywhere. Still there is one Puraan which
mentions her name, which one is that?
The story of Raadhaa in detail appears in the Krishn Janm Khand of Brahm Vaivart
Puraan, a late work. She is described here as His Shakti or power having emerged
out of Krishn.
(4) Name at least 3 Puraan which can be recognized related to Shiv just by
their names.
(1) Shiv Puraan, (2) Ling Puraan, (3) Skand Puraan.
(5) Name the 6 Puraan which can be recognized related to Vishnu just by their
names.
(1) Padm Puraan, (2) Bhaagvat Puraan, (3) Varaah Puraan, (4) Vaaman Puraan, (5)
Koorm Puraan, (6) Matsya Puraan
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Which are the
interesting details of the flower called Brahm Kamal?
Brahm Kamal is the flower which blooms only once a year at night and
dies by next morning. Brahm Kamal, known as King of Himaalayan flower.
Its botanical name is Saussurea obvallata. The Brahm Kamal is the state
flower of Uttaraakhand, India. This flower is very sacred to Himaalayan
gods. It looks like bliss in the form of a flower.
Its legend goes that once
Shiv was on Kailash Parvat and Paarvatee created Ganesh, which was
unknown to Shiv. When Paarvatee went for a bath, she posted Ganesh as a
guard outside leaving a word not to let anyone in. Ganesh stood as a
guard on the door. After a while Shiv came back from a battle and tried
to enter his house and Ganesh refuse to let him enter the house. In
anger Shiv cut the head of Ganesh, so there was just the body without
the head. As Paarvatee knew about Ganesh's killing she started crying.
Pitying on Paarvatee Brahmaa Jee created a lotus flower - Brahm Kamal.
with whose help Shiv placed the severed head of an elephant on the
severed body of Ganesh.
In Raamaayan when the
Sanjeevanee herb was administered to Lakshman, he miraculously got
revived. In celebration Devtaa showered flowers from sky which when fell
on Earth and took root in the Valley of Flowers. Since that flower was
created by Brahmaa Jee it is called Brahm Kamal, which is the God's own
lotus.
There is a belief that the
Brahm Kamal should be gifted, and not bought in the market. To grow the
plant, a leaf is planted in the soil (and not a seedling or stem). This
leaf then multiplies and becomes a plant to a height of about 4 to 5
feet. The flower itself is around 4-5 inches in diameter and has a
lovely fragrance. Flowers always grows from a leaf.
It is suggested
to discipline oneself for 40-44 days, why?
Mantra are sacred Sanskrit words of power. If you choose to chant
different Mantra, chant them with a 108 bead rosary. If you choose One
then try to chant it as much as you can.
The discipline must be
carried out continuously for minimum of 40 days to take effect. Why 40
days?
--Jesus went into the wilderness for 40 days.
--Noah tossed upon the seas for 40 days
--Moses wandered in the desert for 40 days.
--The Buddha sat under a tree for 43 days..
Sages say it takes a minimum of 40 days of discipline to break a Karmic
layer of a Habit.
What is Aayudh Poojaa?
Aayudh means weapons and Poojaa means to respect them. Once Mahaabhaarat
Serial a reference comes, when Arjun tells Pitaamaha that "Tomorrow Guru
Jee will worship Shastra Poojaa." and then asks him - "Pitaamaha, Does
anybody worship Shastra also?" Pitaamaha replies - "No my child, People
do not worship Shastra, they are only of metal, but they worship those
Devtaa who drive them." That is why people do Aayudh Poojaa so that they
can get the favor of those Devtaa who help them to use those weapons.
Why people
worship their Aayudh on Navamee Tithi in South India and Dashamee Tithi
in North India?
When Paandav went for their one year exile incognito, they hid their
weapons (Aayudh) on a Shamee tree. When they came back they retrieved
their weapon from Shamee tree on Dashamee day and worshipped them. Hence
the Aayudh Poojaa in North India began on Vijayaa Dashamee day. In South
Indian states Aayudh Poojaa is celebrated on Navamee day ie day of
Saraswatee Poojaa. Their celebration is based on victory of
Chaamundeshwaree Devee on demons.
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