Hindu Mythology Trivia

According to Hindu mythology, King Kansa was the uncle of Krishna. In the mythological story, Kansa was the brother of Devaki, Krishna's mother. It is believed that an oracle had predicted that Devaki's eighth child would be the cause of Kansa's death. Fearing this prophecy, Kansa imprisoned Devaki and her husband Vasudeva and killed all their children. However, Krishna was secretly saved and grew up to eventually defeat and kill Kansa, fulfilling the prophecy. Thus, Krishna is the correct answer as he was the nephew of King Kansa.

Lord Rama belonged to the era or yuga known as Thretayuga. In Hindu mythology, the yugas are four cosmic ages that repeat in a cycle. Thretayuga is the second yuga, characterized by a decrease in righteousness and a decrease in the average human lifespan. Lord Rama, considered the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu, is believed to have lived during this era and is revered for his righteousness, courage, and devotion. Therefore, the correct answer is Thretayuga.

In Hindu mythology, 'Mihira' is another name for Surya, the Sun god. Surya is often referred to by various names, and Mihira is one of them. The name 'Mihira' is associated with the radiant and illuminating nature of the Sun, emphasizing its role as a source of light and energy in Hindu cosmology.

In Hindu mythology, Yama is considered to be the first man to die. Yama is the god of death and the ruler of the underworld. According to the mythology, Yama was the first mortal to experience death and was then appointed as the guardian of the afterlife. He is often depicted with a noose in his hand, symbolizing his role in capturing the souls of the deceased and guiding them to their next journey.

During the fourteen years of Rama's exile in the Ramayana, Bharat did not rule from Ayodhya. Instead, he ruled from his temporary capital, Nandigram. This is mentioned in the epic as Bharat was given the responsibility to rule Ayodhya on behalf of Rama, who was in exile. Nandigram served as the administrative center from where Bharat governed the kingdom until Rama's return.

In Indian mythology, the character referred to by various epithets such as Kaanina, Vaikarttana, and Champaadhipa is Karna. Karna is a key figure in the Indian epic Mahabharata. He is known for his unwavering generosity, his martial prowess, and his tragic life story. The epithet "Kaanina" refers to his birth as the son of the Sun god Surya and Kunti, born out of wedlock. "Vaikarttana" signifies his descent from Surya, the Sun god, as he was born with divine armor and earrings. "Champaadhipa" indicates his rule over the region of Anga (modern-day Bihar), where he was made king by Duryodhana.

Pushpaka Vimanam is the correct answer because it is the vehicle of Ravana in Hindu mythology that allowed him to fly to any destination. It is described as a celestial, self-moving aircraft with unlimited seating capacity. This flying vehicle played a significant role in various mythological stories, including the Ramayana.

In Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of Kurma Avatar, or the Tortoise Avatar, to provide amrit or nectar to the gods or devas. According to the myth, the gods and demons churned the cosmic ocean to obtain the elixir of immortality, but the process caused the mountain to sink. Lord Vishnu then took the form of a giant tortoise and supported the mountain on his back, allowing the churning to continue and the nectar to be obtained. Thus, the correct answer is Kurma Avatar.

Purusha is the correct answer because it is a Sanskrit word that has multiple meanings. It can refer to "spirit," "person," "self," or "consciousness," indicating the individual essence or soul. Additionally, Purusha is associated with deities and is used to describe the primordial being from whose body the universe was created. Therefore, Purusha encompasses various aspects related to spirituality, existence, and creation in Sanskrit.

The Rigveda is the correct answer because it is the oldest sacred book of Hinduism, composed in an ancient form of Sanskrit around 1500 BCE. It is a collection of hymns and prayers dedicated to various deities and is considered to be the foundation of Hindu philosophy and religious practices. The Aranyakas, Brahmanas, and Upanishads are also important texts in Hinduism, but they were composed at later periods and are not as ancient as the Rigveda.

Lord Ganesha is believed to have written down the epic Mahabharata when Saint Vyasa was dictating. According to Hindu mythology, Vyasa requested Lord Ganesha to be his scribe and write down the epic as he dictated it. Lord Ganesha agreed on the condition that Vyasa would recite the epic without any pause. As Vyasa dictated the Mahabharata, Lord Ganesha wrote it down using his tusk as a pen. This tale highlights Lord Ganesha's wisdom and his role as the patron of knowledge and learning.

Lord Vishnu is known as Dashavatar because he is believed to have incarnated in ten different forms to restore balance and righteousness in the world. These ten avatars include Matsya (the fish), Kurma (the tortoise), Varaha (the boar), Narasimha (the half-man half-lion), Vamana (the dwarf), Parashurama (the warrior with an axe), Rama (the prince of Ayodhya), Krishna (the divine cowherd), Buddha (the enlightened one), and Kalki (the future avatar). Each avatar represents a different aspect of Lord Vishnu's power and purpose, and collectively they showcase his divine intervention and protection of the universe.

The Tridevas refers to the three main deities in Hinduism, namely Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwara (also known as Shiva). These three gods are considered the supreme beings responsible for the creation, preservation, and destruction of the universe. Krishna and Rama, on the other hand, are considered avatars or incarnations of Lord Vishnu and are not part of the original Tridevas.