Quiz of the day (44)

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.
I am positive you have seen around your house, lawn or yard. Which insect do you think calls "formicary" as its home?
a) ants
b) bees
c) termites
d) wasps
Quiz of the day (43) Answer: b) Jackfruit (Enormous and prickly on the outside; an immense edible fruit; with nutritious seeds commonly roasted)

October flower

courtesy: soni2006.hubpages.com

October flower-Marigold
Meaning-hopefulness, winning grace
Scientific name-calendula officinalis; 
scientific meaning-throughout the months 
Hidden meaning-"You are my Divinity"
Other names-Mary's Gold; summer's bride; husbandman's dial

"When with a serious musing I behold
The graceful and obsequious marigold,
How duly every morning she displays
Her open breast, when Titan spreads his rays."
- George Wither, The Marigold

Quiz of the day (43)

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 love to eat fruits irrespective of the health benefits we get from them. I am sure you have eaten all these fruits. Would you be able to figure out which one is the largest tree-borne fruit, native to India?
a) pineapple
b) jackfruit
c) coconut
d) pumpkin
Quiz of the day (42) Answer: d) white skin ( Tar-means white, zan-means skin in ape language, Mangani. Tarzan is the fictional character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs in his 1912 novel, Tarzan of the Apes and followed with 25 sequels. 41 films and many TV episodes have been produced with this character)

September flower

September flower - Aster; Morning glory

Meaning - Love, patience and daintiness

Symbolizes – Faith, Wisdom, Valor

Qualities - strength, immunity and integration

Derived – Greek word for ‘star’

Hidden message – Take care of yourself for me

Other name – starwort

“The aster greets us as we pass

With her faint smile.”
      - A Day of the Indian Summer (l. 35)

Quiz of the day (42)

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.
I am sure since our childhood we have seen bunch of Tarzan movies, read related books etc. What does exactly Tarzan mean in ape-language?
a) fictional character
b) powerful physique
c) ape man
d) white skin
Quiz of the day (41)  Answer: b) Mercury (In 1950s, Minamata disease was caused by mercury-contaminated waste-water that was dumped into Minamata Bay by a petrochemical plant)

Quiz of the day (41)

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.

Your geography knowledge may help you point out Minamata, on the map, in south Japan. But can you figure-out which element is responsible for someone who is suffering from 'Minamata' disease?

a) Copper

b) Mercury

c) Calcium

d) Manganese

Quiz of the day (40) Answer: c) Vasudeva (greater than the Greatest)

Adhika maasam

Did you know there are 13 months in some years of the calendar?

The thirteenth month in a lunar calendar is called Adhika (extra) maasam. This additional month is not calculated by the followers of solar calendar. Lunar calendar has 354 days in a calendar year. Solar calendar has 365 days. The difference of these days is added on average once in two and half years. In states like Karnataka, Andhrapradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, etc, the adhika maasa begins on the day after amavasya day (no moon day) and ends on Amavasya day. In North India, Adhika Masa begins on the first day after pournami (Full moon day). Whereas in states like Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Tamilnadu, there is no adhika maasa for them, as they are following solar calendar. The lunar calendar completely synchronizes with the solar calendar in a period of 60 years.

Other names are Purushottama maasa (month of the Lord Vishnu), mala maasa (intercalary or month). Scriptures say that Lord Vishnu will remove all our sins during this maasa for notable noble acts.  Charity or donation given in this month have more weight-age. Religious rites performed to obtain certain material benefits or personal gains are not advised to perform. Hence auspicious functions like marriage, housewarming ceremony are not performed. This year Bhadrapada maasam i.e., from August 18 to September 16 is the Adhika Bhadrapada maasam. An important festival Vinayaka chavithi performed during this month on the fourth day after amavasya is performed in the nija or actual Bhadrapada maasam which happens on September 19^th.
The next adhika maasam will be the Ashada maasam, fourth month of the Lunar year 2015-2016.

There is a story related to Adhikamaasa, it goes like this: (from http://www.sumadhwaseva.com/ )

Once Lakshmidevi asked Srihari as to how to perform the Adhika Maasa pooja and what daanaas (donations) are to be performed during Adhikamasa.

Then Srihari told her that he himself is the God for the Adhika maasa with the name Purushottama. What ever punya kaarya lika snaana, japa, homaa will bring akshaya phala. He also told that those who does not do any punya karya during Adhika Maasa will be getting daaridrya, putrashoka, etc

Those who could not do for the whole month can do it atleast on Krishna paksha Astami, navami, chaturdashi, Dwadashi, pournami, chaturdashi, etc.

Earlier there lived a brahmana by name Kaushika who was a jitendriya(one who is free from lusts). He had a son by name Maitreya who was addicted to drinking and was a kamaandha. One day Maitreya went to forest. He killed a brahmana in Sourashtra and snatched all the money with the Brahmin. Because he killed that brahmana, the whole City itself was burnt. As he got brahma hatya dosha, Maitreya was taken by Yamadoothalu and was thrown in Krimeekunda (pit full of worms). He was in the Hell for more than 10000 years. After a long period, Kaushika, the father of Maitreya came to know about the same. Kaushika searched all the shruthi – shaastraas and found a remedy for brahmahatya parihara.

He did the Vratha named Adhikamasa Vratha and donated 33 apoopas (sweet cake made of rice flour and jiggery) and his son was saved from the Hell.

As such, Adhikamasa vratha, if done with proper anusandhana(recitation of sacred texts) can remove brahma hatya dosha (negative effects of killing a Brahmin)also.

Polala Amavasya

Polala amavasya- is an important vratham dedicated to Goddess Poleramma, observed on Sravana amavasya (no moon day). Poleramma is the local deity. This vratham is mainly observed in Andhra Pradesh and some parts of Karnataka. North Indians celebrate as Pithori amavasya and Maharashtrians as Pola.

Goddess Poleramma is known as the protector of children. Every year, offering prayers to Poleramma coincides on the amavasya day and hence the vratham is called Polala amavasya. Symbolically Goddess is worshiped in the form of  “kanda mokka” (suran or yam shrub) or “kanda dumpa”(suran or yam bulb). Women perform puja and raksha thoranam (sacred thread) is also worshipped during the puja. According to vrata texts, by performing this vrata, one can safe guard their children from the clutches of death. Women tie the sacred thread to her children after reading the story about a mother who prayed Poleramma to help bring back her dead young children. For the welfare of the male children fried sweet balls of chana dal and jaggery are made, for the welfare of female children urad dal vadas are made and offered to Goddess Poleramma.

Krishnashtami!

 

Happy Krishnashtami!

May Lord Krishna give you reasons to be healthy and happy!

 

"No one should abandon duties because he sees defects in them. Every action, every activity, is surrounded by defects as a fire is surrounded by smoke."

-Krishna Quotes from The Bhagavad Gita

Quiz of the day (40)

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.

Sri Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated as the day Lord was born on the eight day after the full moon in the Sravana maasam. Due to his dark complexion the initial name given to Him as baby is Krishna. Can u guess what was the name given during the naming ceremony?

a) Shyamasundara

b) Balagopala

c) Vasudeva

d) Gopalakrishna

Quiz of the day (39) Answer: b) Gymnastics (gymnos in Greek means naked(adjective), to train naked (verb))

Quiz of the day (39)

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 2012 Summer Olympic Games began, last week, in London. While enjoying watching the games, can you guess what Olympic sport is derived from the Greek word for 'naked'?
a) Boxing
b) Gymanstics
c) Water polo
d) Kayaking

Quiz of the day (38) Answer: b) cyberspace ( commonly used as virtual world of computers; William Gibson used this word in his book "Neuromancer" describing for clusters and constellations of data in a computer)

August flower

courtesy: crocus.co.uk

August flower - Gladiolus or Poppy

Flower of the Gladiators

Meaning - remembrance, infatuation, sincerity,
              symbolizes strength of character

Hidden message - Love at first sight

Other name - gladiola or sword lily

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Poppy - Pleasure, Consolation, Wealth, Success

Symoblizes - peace (because of opium extracted from them) sleep, and death (because of red color)

National flower - Belgium (red poppy), Bhutan (blue poppy), Poland (corn or red poppy), Republic of Macedonia.

State flower - California (1903)

Happy Birthday to all the August celebrities (babies)! 

                 The Gladiolus Bed

NO fairer sight hath in the garden been
Throughout the summer since the birth of May
Than the tall blossoms which these plants display,
Set among sword-like leaves of lightest green.
Yellow are these, whose ancestors were seen
First in Zambesi forests far away,-
This lemon-pale, this like a sunset ray
When clouds are pink and there is gold between.
But fairest and most graceful of them all
Is this, which was but thirty hours ago
A bud that promised still unseen delight,
And now shows radiance pure and virginal,
Scarce to be equalled by the mountain snow.
Yellow is fair, but fairer still is white. 

-Robert Henry Forster (1867-1923)

Varalakshmi Vrathamu song

 వరలక్ష్మీవ్రత పర్వదిన శుభాకాంక్షలు!

Varalaskhmi vratham is performed by all the unmarried girls and married women in major Hindu communities in South India. Vratham means a religious observance to accomplish anything meritorious. 
This vratam should be performed on the Friday before the Full Moon Day (pournami) in Sravana maasam. It is believed that worship of Goddess Lakshmi will bring health, wealth and prosperity. Vara means boon. Goddess Varalakshmi will bring in boons to those who performs with utmost devotion.

May Lakshmi devi shower Her blessings upon us for our well being and prosperity.

This is the song, my mom sings today while performing the puja. Make your own tune to sing with devotion. 

ఓం శ్రీ మహా లక్ష్మైయ్ నమః  

 శ్రావణ శుక్రవారాల పాట

 కైలాస శిఖరమున కల్పవృక్షము క్రింద ప్రధమగణములు కొలువు శాయగాను  పర్వతీ పరమేశ్వరులు భక్తి తో కూర్చుండి  పరమేశ్వార్లు నడెగే ను పార్వతపుడు. ఏవ్రతము సంపదల ఎలమి తోడుత నిచ్చు. ఏ వ్రతము కమితార్ధములనిచ్చు, ఏ వ్రతము పుత్ర పౌత్ర భివృధి కలవని తనకు తా పార్వతి హరుని అడిగే.

పూర్వ కాలామందు పూజించి నట్టియే పుణ్య సతులెవరైన కలర అనచూ. వుండిలం అని యేటి పట్టణం లోపల చారుమతి అని యేటి చెడె గలదూ.    

అత్త మామల సేవ అతి భక్తి తో చేసి పతి భక్తి నుండెనే భాగ్యశాలి. వుల్లముత మహలక్ష్మి సోభితముగా వచ్చి కొలువుమని చెప్పెను కాంతలారా. వనిత వుల్లమందు వరలక్ష్మి ఘల్లునా చారుమతి లెమ్మని చేత చరచీ  చారుమతి మేలుకోని శయ్యపై  పడుకుండి తరచి నప్పుడు లేచి, తల్లి నీవెవరవని నమస్కరించు.చు నడిగె నళినాక్షినీ, ఏరీతి నీ పూజ చేయవలెనని పుడు నీ చారుమతి అడిగెను  శౌర్యమునా. ఏమాసమందునా, ఏపక్షమందునా, ఏవారమూనాడు ఏప్రొద్దున శ్రావణ మాసమున శుక్లపక్షమందు  శుక్రవారమునాడు మునిమాపునా. పంచఫలములు తెచ్చి బాగుగా తన్నెంచి భక్తితో పూజింపుమని చెప్పెను చారుమతి మేలుకోని బంధువుల పిలపించి ఏరీతి ఈ పూజ చేయవలె ఇపుడని బంధువులనడిగెను భక్తితోను. అప్పుడు శ్రావణ మాసమందముతో వచ్చెనని భక్తితో తమనగలు అలంకరించిరీ, తోరణములుగట్టి సొంపుతోడుత పాల విల్లులూ గట్టిరీ గారెలు బూరెలు తీరైన మంచి తేనెలు అవి బొబ్బట్లు మరియు మహలక్ష్మికి వడ్డిoతురు మగువలెల్ల జంబూ ఫలములు మామిడీపళ్ళు మహలక్ష్మికి వడ్డిoతురు మగువలెల్ల, భోంచేసి లేచి తాంబూలాలందుకొని మగువలెల్లరు గూడి మహలక్ష్మిని పాడగా పానుపెక్కి కూర్చుండె భాగ్యలక్ష్మి, మహలక్ష్మి అనగాను, వరలక్ష్మి అనగాను, సంపదలక్ష్మి అనగాను, సౌభాగ్యలక్ష్మి; అన్నపూర్ణ అనగాను, జాన్హవీ అనగాను, కామేశ్వరనగాను భాగ్యేశ్వరీ, మహలక్ష్మినీ నేను పూజించుచుండగా ధాత్రి లోకులమీద దయయుంచు మా, జయలక్ష్మి నీ ఎపుడు చాలువ మడతల మీద చలువాడు చుండె శ్రీ మహలక్ష్మి. సంపదల నిచ్చును సౌభాగ్య మిచ్చును పల్లకీనిచ్చునూ భక్తితోను, ఎక్క ఏనుగనిచ్చు ఏలవూళ్ళా నిచ్చు అక్కనా యమ్ముల అభయమిచ్చు.

ఈ అన్ని ఆ అన్ని చాలా ఐదవతనము ధవళాక్షి అక్కకే దయచేసెనూ!!!  

              

Quiz of the day (38)

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. 

No day passes by without the use of computers. We use many terms quite often, what term in the world of computers was coined in the 1984 science-fiction novel "Neuromancer"?

a) logon

b) cyberspace

c) world wide web

d) cache

Quiz of the day (37)  Answer: d) Shravan Kumar (He bore sincere love and respect to his blind parents, worked hard to keep them comfortable and happy)

Parents Day!

Happy Parents Day!

Parents Day is celebrated on the fourth Sunday in the month of July.

I would like to share a small story that I read recently in a magazine:
Once, an old man was sitting on a bench of a garden with his adult son. There was a tree beside the bench. Old man saw a bird sitting on the tree. He asked the son, "what is this?" son replied, "it's a crow".
The old man again asked what is this?" Son said, "I already told you, that it is a crow."
The old man again asked what is this? Son angrily said, "Are you deaf or mad, papa? How many times to tell you it is a crow. Can't u understand ?"
Old man, patiently replied, "My dear son, when you were 5 years old, you asked me multiple times, the same question that what is this. I replied every time with a kiss, that it is a crow. Now, I asked you twice, and you are irritated."
This is the difference between the love of parents and love from the children. So please do your duty when your parents are dependent on you. 
Don't hurt them.
Love your parents:-)   

"A father's goodness is higher than the mountain, a mother's goodness deeper than the sea".

- Japanese Proverb

Take a moment to listen to the lyrics and enjoy the video!

Quiz of the day (37)

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. 

I am sure you might have read or atleast heard some of the Hindu scriptures. Now, can  you identify the devoted son of Shantvan and Gyanvati from the Holy epic Ramayana?

a) Angada

b) Nala

c) Neela

d) Shravan Kumar

Quiz of the day (36) Answer: b) Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) (1st US Secretary of the State, 2nd Vice President of US, 3rd President of  US)

Quiz of the day (36)

I am back after a long break.

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. 

HAPPY AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!

The Second Continental Congress (a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies) met in Philadelphia to draft the Declaration of Independence in 1775. Later it was adopted on July 4, 1776. Do you know who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.

a) John Adams

b) Thomas Jefferson

c) George Washington

d) Benjamin Franklin

Quiz of the day (35) Answer: b) soft spot on the skull (The anterior fontanelle remains soft until about 2 years of age)

July flower

courtesy:www.flowerinfo.org

July flower - Larkspur

Meaning- an open heart and ardent attachment

Significance-a feeling of lightness and levity

Scientific name-Delhphinium means "like a dolphin"

Other names-lark's heel, larks claw, knight's spur

Derived from-spur of the flower

Representation:

• Pink larkspur flowers - fickleness.
• White blossoms - a happy-go-lucky nature.
• Purple - first love and a sweet disposition

 

The alternative flower for July - Water Lily.

Symbolize - all that is good, true and beautiful.

Significance - good fortune, truth of action and Intention, purity of heart, and enlightenment

Symbolic ties to - Hinduism and Buddhism

National flower - Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (blue)

State flower - Andhra Pradesh, India 

"There has fallen a splendid tear
From the passion-flower at the gate.
She is coming, my dove, my dear;
She is coming, my life, my fate;
The red rose cries, 'She is near, she is near;'
And the white rose weeps, 'She is late;'
The larkspur listens, 'I hear, I hear;'
And the lily whispers, \'I wait."

-"Come into the Garden, Maud" by Alfred Tennyson