Quiz of the day (17)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 

We all have used stationary items since our childhood, which stationary item was first made from bread and leather?

a) short hand pencil

b) black board duster

c) pencil eraser

d) pushpin board 

Quiz of the day (16) Answer: a) Ides of March (ides means 'half division" 
especially in relation to a month, probably referring to the day of the full moon)

Quiz of the day (16)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 

Do you have any idea of what it was/is the name of March 15 in the Roman 

calendar?

a) Ides of March

b) March of dimes

c) St. Piran's Day

d) Mardi Gras

 Quiz of the day (15) Answer: d) 451 degrees Fahrenheit (wood at 572, match stick at 392, socks at 600 degrees) http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/forestfires/causesoffire.shtml

Quiz of the day (15)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 

Just wondering at what temperature does paper burn? 

a) 392 degrees Fahrenheit

b) 600 degrees Fahrenheit

c) 572 degrees Fahrenheit

d) 451 degrees Fahrenheit     

Quiz of the day (14) Answer: b) Aditi and Rhea (Aditi is Devamatri, mother of Adityas-6 solar deities; Rhea means ‘flow and ease’ rides lion, mother of 6 children)

Margasirsham-the ninth month of the Hindu lunar calendar ( November 26-December 24)

Margasirsha maasam the ninth month of the Hindu lunar calendar is believed to be one of the auspicious months devoted to Lord Maha Vishnu. Some of the major festivals celebrated in this month are Subrahmanya Sashti (November 30), Geetha Jayanthi (December 6), Dattatreya Jayanthi (December 10), Dhanurmaasam a solar month starts on December 17. 

Subrahmanya Sashti (November 30) - It is on this day that Sri Subrahmanya was born on sixth day after amavasya in Margasirsha maasam. He is the son of Lord Shiva. A year later on this same day he killed the invincible demon Tarkasura and released the Devas from Taraka’s oppression. Lord Subrahmanya is the lord of War. He is known with different names. He is called as Kumara, as he always looks like a small boy. He is called Shanmukha as he has six faces. He is called Kartikeya as he was brought up by six mothers named Kruttikas. Lord Subramanya Swamy is considered to be the universal lord who blesses human beings and helps them get rid of their sins. Subrahmanya has two spouses, Valli and Devasena. They represent will (Valli) and action (Devasena). He also holds a spear given by his mother Sakti for removing the evil force of Taraka. This spear (Vel) represents (Jnana) knowledge. These three together denote the three cosmic energies of governing will, action and knowledge. He rides on peacock, indicative of conquering pride egoism and vanity. Shashti celebrations include by performing puja to the Lord offering milk, chimmiri (prepared with sesame seeds and jaggery), and some temples perform kalyanam (marriage) of Subrahmanya Swamy with Valli and Devasena. Lord Subrahmanya is worshipped in India (mostly South India), Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.
May Lord Subramanya Swamy shower His blessings on you!

Geetha Jayanthi (December 6)-The Geetha Jayanthi Day or the Birthday of Srimad Bhagavad Geetha is celebrated traditionally on the Ekadasi 11th day after the amavasya of Margasirsha. This was the day on which the discourse was given to Prince Arjuna of the Pandava dynasty by Lord Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra in the greatest epic, Mahabharata. In the Geetha, Lord Krishna says, "Of all the months I am Margashirsha." hence the importance of this month.  The below slokam tells about the significance and spiritual importance of margasheersha maasam. 
Bruhatsama thatha samnam
Gayatri Chandasamaham
Masanam Margashoham
Ruthunam Kusumakarna 

It means – Lord Krishna says “I, myself, stay in Bruhathsama in the Samaveda, Gayatri in Chandassu or literature, Margasirsha or Margashira in months and Vasant rithu in rithus or seasons”. 
Geetha is one of the most often quoted Hindu scriptures within Indian (and perhaps even Western) literature. The 700 slokas or teachings of the Geetha are broad, sublime and universal. They do not belong to any particular cult, sect, creed, age, place or country. They are meant for all. The Geetha has a message for the solace, peace, freedom, salvation and perfection of all human beings.”

Dattatreya Jayanthi (December 10)-Dattatreya Jayanthi is birthday of Lord Shri Dattatreya, one of the most important Guru of Vedanta. Dattatreya is said to be an Avatar, an incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. The word Datta means “Given”, Datta is called so because the divine trinity has “given” themselves in the form of a son to the sage couple Atri and Anasuya. Dattatreya is pictured with the cow and the dogs, symbol of the most and least sacred creatures- everybody can attain enlightenment. Cow, here represent mother earth, dogs, represent the four Vedas who are under the protection of the Lord. Lord Dattatreya is worshiped in many places in India. The day is marked by special pujas and rituals. One of the famous temple of Dattareya Swamy, I happened to visit is in Gangapur, Karnataka state.

Dhanurmaasam a solar month starts on December 17- Dhanurmaasa 2011 begins on December 16 and ends on January 14, 2012. The start of the Dhanurmasam is marked by the entry of the Sun in the Dhanur Rashi (Sagittarius) called the Dhanuh Sankramana; hence the name Dhanurmasa for the period. During this month, the sun or Surya transits the Dhanur Rasi until it enters the Makara Rashi at the end of the month. Dhanurmasa is considered as Shooonya Masam. The period is considered inauspicious in some regions. It is considered as inauspicious to do any good things other than Godly functions. Worship of Lord Vishnu during the morning hours in Dhanurmasa is considered highly auspicious. The songs of Thiruppavai will be cleansing the air all around devotees reciting Thiruppavai will be shivering in the cold as they go around the main roads of the village. This prakriya is Nagara sankeerthanam (mass spiritual awakening). There is a belief that worshiping Lord Vishnu on a single day during Dhanurmasam is equal to worshiping him for thousands of years. 

With the advent of the Dhanurmaasam , the thresholds of every house in Andhra — towns and villages alike — bloom with white and colored geometrical patterns called muggu (rangoli). It is such a common sight that we often tend to forget the significance of the muggu and that too in this particular month. First, this month is said to be devoted to spiritual thinking. Since cleanliness is next to godliness, we believe that God enters only those households that are clean from all angles. It has therefore become a custom to water the front yard of one's house and then lay a decorative muggu as if inviting God to take the first step into their house.

This month culminates with the Makara Sankranti festival and the Uttarayana (winter solstice) punyakaalam.

Quiz of the day (14)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.  
You know the name of your mother. Do you know, who are considered the 

mothers of the gods in Hindu and Greek mythologies? 

a) Anasuya and Zeus

b) Aditi and Rhea

c) Aditi and Zeus

d) Arundhati and Rhea

Quiz of the day (13) Answer: a) Vitamin E (fat-soluble vitamin found in wheat germ oil, unrefined vegetable oils)

Quiz of the day (13)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.

Which vitamin was originally called "Tocopherol" meaning 'to carry a pregnancy' with the ending '-ol' signifying chemical alcohol?

a) Vitamin E

b) Vitamin D

c) Vitamin A

d) Vitamin K

Quiz of the day (12) Answer: b) squirrel (largest group of living mammals with 1650 species)

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Historically, Thanksgiving began as a tradition of celebrating the harvest of the year. The event that Americans commonly call the "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated to give thanks to God for guiding them safely to the New World. The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating "thanksgivings"—days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought. Thanksgiving was originally a religious observance for all the members of the community to give thanks to God for a common purpose. At home, it is a holiday tradition in many families to begin the Thanksgiving dinner by saying grace (a prayer before or after a meal). Source Wikipedia

Hindu Prayer:

Brahmarpanam Brahma Havir
Brahmagnau Brahmana Hutam
Brahmaiva Tena Ghantavyam
Brahmakarma Samadhinaha (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 verse 24)

The act of offering is God, the oblation is God
By God it is offered into the Fire of God
God is That which is to be attained by him
who sees God in all
Aham Vaishvanaro Bhutva
Praninaam Dehamaa Ashritaha
Prana Pana Samayuktah
Pachamyannam Chaturvidham (Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15 verse 14)
Becoming the life-fire in the bodies of living beings
mingling with the upward and downward breaths,
I digest the four kinds of food.

"If a fellow isn't thankful for what he's got, he isn't likely to be thankful for what he's going to get."

- Frank A. Clark

Quiz of the day (12)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 

Which animal calls 'drey' as it's home, also to safeguard from becoming a prey? 

a) rat

b) squirrel

c) rabbit

d) beaver

Quiz of the day (11) Answer: c) Vande Mataram (National song of India) by Bakim Chandra Chatterjee

Quiz of the day (11)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 

Which famous Indian poetic work's name would literally translate to " I bow to thee Mother"?

a) Ravindranath Tagore

b) Valmiki

c) Bakim Chandra Chatterjee 

d) Subhrahmanya Bharati 
Quiz of the day (10) Answer: b) gaffer (Chief Lighting Technician)

Quiz of the day (10)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.
 Imagine you are directing a movie. The movie set was ready for action you realize lights were not turning on so your crew looks to the person in-charge for help, who would that be?

a) boom operator 

b) gaffer

c) cinematographer

d) unit manager

Quiz of the day (9) Answer: d) Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka (1960)

Quiz of the day (9)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.

Women in politics are underrepresented in western world. Some women have been politically elected to be heads of the nation and state. In the world of international politics, who is the world’s first woman prime minister from which country? 
a) Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan

b) Indira Gandhi of India

c) Margaret Thatcher of the United Kingdom

d) Sirimavo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka

Quiz of the day (8)  Answer: a) Ride a bicycle (velodrome is a banked oval track for bicycle or motorcycle racing)

Quiz of the day (8)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.
Does your city have a velodrome, do you have any idea of what would one do in a velodrome?

a) Ride a bicycle

b) Ride a horse

c) Chariot racing

d) Watch a rodeo 

Quiz of the day (7)  Answer: c) Shintoism (a traditional folk religion of Japan, meaning a philosophical path)

Quiz of the day (7)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 

Which Asian religion's name means ‘Way of the Spirits'? 

a) Hinduism, 

b) Confucianism

c) Shintoism

d) Taoism

Quiz of the day (6)   Answer: a) patient zero ( In 1984 CDC coined the term for the first case (sentinel case) of HIV, now expanded to general usage)

Quiz of the day (6)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 

'The first case in an outbreak of a disease/epidemic.' What is this person called in the medical world?

a) patient zero

b) novice patient

c) patient one

d) newbie patient
Quiz of the day (5)  Answer: b) Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (German physicist in1714)

Quiz of the day (5)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.

Who invented the mercury thermometer?  

a) Anders Celsius

b) Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit 

c) Galileo Galilei

d) Lord Kelvin

Quiz of the day (4)  Answer: c) Land of (a suffix in Persian, Sanskrit (sthan) meaning place)

Happy Children's Day (India)!

Children's day was very special and exciting day for us when in school. This day brings us those sweet memories. United Nations Assembly adopted first Children’s day on October 23, 1954 later changed to November 20. In spite of celebrating Children’s day, universally on November 20, most countries have their specific day of celebration. India celebrates today; Japan celebrates on May 5 etc.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime minister of India was born on November 14, 1889 in Allahabad, UP. As a tribute to this great man, his love and passion for the children, his birthday is celebrated all over India as ‘Children’s Day’. He is fondly known as Chacha (uncle) Nehru. He felt that children are the real strength of a country and the very foundation of society. He was fond of both children and roses. He used to spare his free time with children by playing, singing and telling stories to them.

So children pay floral tribute to a portrait on his birth anniversary. He did much during his time in office from 1947-1964 to advance primary education and establish institutions of higher learning.

Today, Children's Day is celebrated all over India with festivals, outdoor activities, children's carnivals and events to bring awareness to children's rights issues in India, such as child labor. Children film festival screens some of the most delightful children's content in the country and awards are conferred to their talent.

Fortunate children have parties and celebrations all the time. Would it not be another way of celebrating to have a school or an organization, organize a party for some underprivileged children to bring smiles on their faces?

"The soul is healed by being with children."

-English proverb

Quiz of the day (4)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.

What does the suffix "stan" mean when appears in the name of a nation, such as Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan etc.

a) Union of 

b) Newly free

c) Land of

d) Republic of

Quiz of the day (3)  Answer: d) Quartz (also known as silica)

Quiz of the day (3)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer. 

What is the hard mineral used in clock?

a) Diamond

b) Gypsum

c) Topaz

d) Quartz 

Quiz of the day (2) Answer: c) Zoophyte (coral, sea anemone)

Quiz of the day (2)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.  

An animal that visually resembles a plant

a) Halophyte

b) Pinophyte

c) Zoophyte

d) Biophyte

Quiz of the day (1) Answer: b) Om (ॐ)

Quiz of the day (1)

I enjoy answering quiz questions. If you are like me, here is a random quiz question of the day in general knowledge for you to answer or else check back tomorrow for the answer.  

What is the absolute Hindu symbol?

a) Swastik

b) Om

c) Kalasha

d) Gopura

Andhra Pradesh State Formation Day

Linguistic-based states in India developed in the years after independence. In 1956, under the States Reorganization Act, states were reorganized on a linguistic basis.

States of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab, and Rajasthan, celebrate their formation Day on November 1^st. Union territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands also celebrate the formation day on this day.

Andhra Pradesh Map

In 1947 Andhra was still under the Madras province. Swami Sitaram and Potti Sriramulu went on fast unto death for separate Andhra state. Finally on October 1^st 1953 Andhra was separated from Madras Province. In 1956 under the States Reorganization Act Andhra was renamed Andhra Pradesh with the addition of the Telangana region of  the then Hyderabad State based on linguistics. Today, the state is in crossroads facing regional-developmental imbalances and fighting for separate state. United we stand divided we fall. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a peaceful state which helps develop the state’s socioeconomic fields?

Well, now on to other states who also celebrate their state-hood day today. Collected from Wikipedia.

• Chhattisgarh, south-eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh, gained separate statehood in 2000 on linguistic basis.
• On 1 November 1966, the Hindi-speaking southern half of Punjab became a separate state, Haryana.
• Mysore state was formed on November 1, 1956 and later was renamed Karnataka in 1973. Karnataka celebrates as Kannada Rajyotsava Day. After Indian independence, the Wodeyar Maharaja acceded to India. As per the States Reorganization Act parts of Coorg, Madras, Hyderabad, and Bombay states were incorporated into the state of Mysore.  
• On July 1, 1949 Travancore and kingdom of Cochin merged to form Travancore-Cochin state and on Republic Day was recognized as a state. On 1 November 1956, the state of Kerala was formed by the States Reorganization Act merging the Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin, and part of South Kanara District.
• The partition of India in 1947 divided the Raj province into East Punjab and West Punjab. West Punjab was given to Pakistan and East Punjab joined the Union of India. In 1966, after protests of various organizations on linguistic basis, Punjab was bifurcated into Punjab and Haryana.
• Rajputana, the name of the princely states in the pre independence era, was renamed Rajasthan on November 1, 1956. Ajmer-Merwara state was also added to Rajasthan.
• Soon after the Indian Independence, British occupied Andaman and Nicobar Islands were intended to be formed an independent nation. Later, it never materialized, was joined to the union of India as Union territory.