Mythology::Indian::Mahabharata
Q.1 In Mahabharata whose name was Saubala but was famous by some other name?
Answer:B
Shakuni
Q.2 His original name was Radheya but Guru Drona renamed him by which he was one of the most valiant warrior of Mahabharata.
Answer:D
Karn. His foster mother's name was Radha.
Q.3 Which of these is not Draupadi's name
Answer:C
Shraddhaa. She had few other names like Sairandhri and Mahabharati
Q.4 Which of the following from Mahabharata was not immortal
Answer:B
Kritverma
Q.5 Who was not Arjun's son?
Answer:A
Srutakarma. He was Sahadev's son.
Q.6 This Kaurava prince was born on the same day as Duryodhana and elder to all other Kauravas. He fought the war taking Pandava's side. He was the only Kaurava who survived the war and later became king of Indraprastha. Name him.
Yuyutsu
Answer
Q.7 Like Ramayana, Mahabharata also had one character called Lakshman. Who was he?
He was Duryodhan's son and was killed by Abhimanyu in the war.
Answer
Q.8 When Yudhistira lost Draupadi in the gambling dice game, this Kaurava objected that Yudhistira has no rights to put Draupadi at stakes having himself lost his own freedom before that. While killing this righteous Kaurava prince even Bhima lamented that the war has brought curse on them to kill good people like him. Name this Kaurava.
Vikarna
Answer
Q.9 Who dragged Draupadi by her hair after Yudhistira lost her in the game of dice. He was later killed by Bhima, who tore open his heart and Draupadi washed her hair with the blood.
Dushasana
Answer
Q.10 Kauravas were 100 brothers and one sister. Name her.
Duhsala or Dussala
Answer
Mythology::Indian::Lord Ganesha
Q.11 There are two stories: One, Parshurama visited Shiva and fought with Ganesha and the other one is Ganesha was asked by Vedavyasa to write Mahabharata. Both resulted into something that is so special about Lord Ganesha. What was that?
These two are the legends that describe the reason Lord Ganesha has one tusk and called "Ekdanta". Parshuram threw his axe at Ganesha, which he took on one of his tusks and lost it. And to write Mahabharata he used one of his tusks to make a pen worthy of writing such an epic.
Answer
Q.12 There are two Puranas exclusively dedicated to Lord Ganesha. One is "Ganesha Purana", name the second one.
Mudgala Purana.
Answer
Q.13 This is one of the most widely recited texts among Ganesha devotees and is written at the entrance of the hall of the Ganesha temple in Ranjangaon. What is it called?
Ganapati Atharvashirsa or Ganapati Upanishad
Answer
Q.14 In certain parts of India Lord Ganesha is a celibate for life but in certain parts he is depicted with two ladies supposed to be his wife. Name them.
Buddhi and Siddhi (sometimes Riddhi)
Answer
Q.15 In one movie Ganesha was depicted as husband of Riddhi and Siddhi and father of Goddess of satisfaction and contentment. The story did not have any roots in any scripture or mythological background. But it created a cult around the Goddess. Which movie?
Jai Santoshi Maa
Answer
Mythology::Indian::General
Q.16 Who is the charioteer of Surya?
Aruna or Arun. He is Garuda's brother and father of Jatayu and Sampati. He is the reddish glow around the Sun.
Answer
Q.17 Who is the wife of Agni?
Svaha. All fire sacrifices made in Hindu rituals are done chanting "Svaha". She is believed to be daughter of Daksha and Agneya is Agni and her daughter.
Answer
Q.18 Who killed Bakasura?
Bheema - one of the Pandavas
Answer
Q.19 Mythologically who is believed to be the inventor of Veena?
Narada. Sometimes even Goddess Saraswati is considered as its inventor.
Answer
Q.20 What is common to Airavat - Indra's elephant, Kamadhenu - all wish granting cow and Uchchaihshravas - the seven headed horse believed to have belonged to Indra or Bali
They all were obtained from Samudramanthana
Answer
Q.21 Who gifted Akshaya Patra to Yudhishtir?
Surya or Sun God.
Answer
Culture::Mythology::Easter
Q.22 Easter shares many of its traditions with another Jewish festival and both the festivals fall almost around same time of the year. Which festival are we talking about?
Jewish festival of "Passover". This commemorates freedom of Israelites from slavery in Egypt, which was ruled by Pharaohs. It also commemorates the Exodus from Egypt under the leadership of Moses. 3300 years ago.
Answer
Q.23 The week preceding Easter is called Holy Week. And each day has a special name and significance. The Sunday before the Easter is called Palm Sunday and a day of Feast and it commemorates entry of Jesus in Jerusalem. Name the animal Jesus was riding while his entry to Jerusalem.
Donkey. This is believed to signify peace instead of Horse that signifies war.
Answer
Q.24 His last name was Iscariot as he was son of Simon Iscariot, and he accompanied Jesus in his last meal and became kissed Jesus that led to a phrase called "Kiss of ______". Fill in the blank with his name.
Judas. He betrayed Jesus in exchange of gold coins, as part of a conspiracy by the Jewish priests. He identified Jesus by kissing him and police arrested Jesus after that. So the phrase "Kiss of Judas" came into existence. That is the reason the Holy Wednesday before the Easter is sometimes called Spy Wednesday
Answer
Q.25 Where in Jerusalem was Jesus crucified?
Golgotha or Calvary. They refer to the same place as Golgotha is greek name of the place that got translated as place of skulls which is Calvariae Locus in Latin and shortened to Calvary in English. This place is just outside the Jerusalem wall.
Answer
Q.26 Name the famous scientist who was the first to calculate the date of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ?
Sir Issac Newton. His calculation marked Friday 23rd April AD 34 as the date. More accurate dates are different from this.
Answer
Q.27 Though there are multiple narrations and interpretations of the story where Pontius Pilate the Roman prefect of Judea asked the crowd to choose one of the two prisoners to be freed. Jesus Christ was not the choice and was finally crucified but name the other prisoner who was released.
Barabbas
Answer
Q.28 When the women came to Jesus tomb to anoint him with spices found the tomb empty. This incident is the root of one of the most popular Easter traditions. Which one? It is quite colourful.
Easter Eggs. The empty eggs denoting the empty tomb and also eggs means life (for birds) and for believers it signified the eternal life of Jesus. It also draws the tradition from the pagan
Answer
Q.29 When Jesus was crucified all his disciples (male) fled except for one. Who was he?
John, the beloved.
Answer
Q.30 Ash Wednesday is the first day of the Lent and culminates into Easter after 40 days of fasting. But there are 46 days from Ash Wednesday to Easter. How do you explain it?
There are 6 Sundays in this period and Sundays being Sabath in Christianity are celebrated as Feast days in Lent, hence 40 days of fasting in 46 days.
Answer
Q.31 In the field of Software what is an Easter egg?
It is the unknown responses in any application when certain commands are typed which is generally not available to public in any document. Generally it is a hidden message or joke in a movie or software program or a book. This recreates the spirit of Easter egg hunt. Type "tilt" in Google search and see for yourself.
Answer
Mythology::Indian::Hanuman
Q.32 Hanuman once in his childhood mistook Sun for a ripe mango and leapt towards it to eat it and on its way it thrashed "Rahu". He was later stopped by a God from eating the Sun. Which God stopped Hanuman that day?
Indra. He stopped Hanuman with his "Vajra" the thunderbolt. This collapsed Hanuman on the earth and left a mark on his jaw. Jaw is called "Hanu" in Sanskrit and hence the name Hanuman
Answer
Q.33 To kill Ahiravana Hanuman took the five headed form called "Panch-mukha". This was required to rescue Rama and Lakshmana from Ahiravana who captured them in "Patal-loka" and the only way to kill him was to put off five lamps in five directions. And hence Hanuman assumed "Panch-mukha". Of the five four are Hanuman, Hayagriva, Narasimha, Garuda, which one is the fifth face?
Varaha
Answer
Q.34 Sage Brihaspati once became angry with Punjakashtala one of the inmates of the ashrama and cursed her. How is this connected to Hanuman?
The sage cursed her to become a monkey on the earth and on realizing what damage he has done to his daughter like Punjakastala, he added that once she gives birth to an incarnation of Shiva she will be freed from the curse. Punjkastala became Anjana or Anjani the mother of Lord Hanuman.
Answer
Q.35 When Hanuman reached Lanka he mistook someone else for Sita. Who was she?
Mandodari
Answer
Q.36 When Lakshman was hit by Indrajeet and lay unconscious, the doctor advised Hanuman to get the herb called Sanjeevini from Gandhamadan mountain and Hanuman in his own style got the whole mountain with him as he could not identify the herb. Now name the doctor who prescribed Sanjeevini for Lakshman.
Susena
Answer
Mythology::Indian::Dasavatar
Q.37 Which of the following avataras are not from Satya Yuga?
Answer:C
Vamana. Remaining are from Satya Yuga and the fourth one is Narasimha
Q.38 The Kurma avatar was to support the mountain that was sinking while samudramanthan. Name the mountain.
Answer:A
Mandara.
Q.39 Which of the following avataras are not from Treta Yuga?
Answer:D
Krishna. He was from Dwapar yuga.
Q.40 Kalki is said to appear at the end of Kaliyuga on a horse. what is the colour of the horse?
Answer:A
White.
Q.41 Krishna is called by many different forms nad names in different parts of Inida. Which one is not his name?
Answer:B
Raghubir. Its Lord Rama's name.
Q.42 Lord Rama was borned in Ayodhya by the river sarayu. who founded the city?
Answer:B
Manu.
Q.43 As Varaha avatar Vishu had a 1000 years of war with which Asura?
Answer:D
Hiranyaksha
Q.44 Narasimha avatar made an appearance out of which of the following?
Answer:C
Pillar
Q.45 Which festival in India is is connected to the story of Vamana avatar?
Answer:B
Onam
Q.46 As Matsyaavatar Vishu saved Manu in a giant boat. Which serpent accompanied in the boat?
Answer:D
Vasuki
India::Mythology::Sri Krishna
Q.47 Where was Krishna born?
Answer:A
Mathura
Q.48 Krishna was mortally wounded by a hunter named Jara after which Krishna left this world for his abode in heaven.
What ended with this event and what started alongwith?
It was end of Dwapar Yug and beginning of Kali yug
Answer
Q.49 When Kansa was killed who became the king of Mathura and Yadavas
Answer:B
Ugrasen, father of Kansa
Q.50 On the night of Janmashtami when Krishna was born, Vasudev took him to Gokula to exchange with Nanda and Yashoda's daughter so that Krishna is safe.
What was her name?
Answer:C
Yogmaya, She was goddess Ekanamsha born as human being.
Q.51 Lord Krishna is commonly depicted either as little boy, or as a young man playing the flute. In this form, he generally stands with one leg bent in front of the other with a flute raised to his lips. In this pose the body is curved at waist and neck in opposite directions giving an "S" shape
What is this posture called? It is one of the most popular poses in Odissi and very common in temple idols.
Answer:D
Tribhanga
Q.52 Lord Krishna is known by many names in different parts of India.
Which of the following is not his name?
Answer:D
Rudra in Kashmir. Rudra is Lord Shiva's name
Q.53 Rukmini was the principal wife and queen of Lord Krishna. She has been described to be as beautiful and virtuous as Draupadi. Krishna eloped with her to Dwarka and married her.
Which place Rukmini belonged to?
Answer:B
Vidarbha
Q.54 Krishna was mortally wounded by a hunter named Jara after which Krishna left this world for his abode in heaven.
Who was Jara in Treta Yug?
Answer:A
Bali. It was a cosmic conclusion of the karmic affect of Rama killing Bali in Treta Yug
Q.55 Which Rishi gave the name "Krishna" to Lord Krishna?
Answer:D
Gargacharya
Q.56 Krishna had eight primary consorts called "Ashtabharya". They were Rukmini, Satyabhama, Jambavati, Kalindi, Mitravinda, Nagnajiti, Bhadra and Lakshmana. Rukmini eloped with Krishna, and few were handed over by their fathers. Kalindi did penance to get him and quiet a few Krishna married through swayamvar.
Name the princess whom Krishna married by fighting with seven bulls in a Swayamvar
Answer:C
Nagnajiti
Q.57 Apart from eight main wives Krishna had some 16000 junior wives. These 16000 women were princesses who were kidnapped and were kept in captivity.
From whom did Krishna free these 16000 princesses?
Answer:A
Narakasura. He married them to save them from infamy.
Q.58 In Mahabharata the war formally started with Krishna doing something. What did he do?
He blew the Panchjanya Counch
Answer
Q.59 when little Krishna was tied to a wooden mortar by Yashoda to keep him at one place, Krishna dragged the mortar and went through two Arjun trees and uprooted them. By doing this he freed two people from curse of Narada.
Who were these people?
Answer:C
They were two Gandharvas Nalakubera and Manigreeva
Q.60 Radha or Radhika or Radharani is always depicted with Krishna. She was a gopika in Vrindavan. Who was the other gopika who had almost same influence on Krishna but could not attain the same position as Radha?
Answer:C
Chandravali
Q.61 This popular social event in Janmashtami is called Uriadi in Tamil. What is it?
Dahi Handi
Answer
Q.62 Radha or Radhika or Radharani is always depicted with Krishna. She was a gopika in Vrindavan. Who was the other gopika who had almost same influence on Krishna but could not attain the same position as Radha?
Answer:C
Chandravali
