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Thursday, October 27, 2011

culture questions-8


Q1 Who is called father of Indian medicine?

A1 Acharya Charak has been crowned as the Father of Medicine. His renowned work, the ' Charak Samhita ', is considered as an encyclopedia of Ayurveda.
In the ' Charak Samhita ' he has described the medicinal qualities and functions of 100,000 herbal plants. He has emphasized the influence of diet and activity on mind and body. He has proved the correlation of spirituality and physical health contributed greatly to diagnostic and curative sciences.

He has also prescribed and ethical charter for medical practitioners two centuries prior to the Hippocratic oath. Through his genius and intuition, Acharya Charak made landmark contributions to Ayurveda.

He forever remains etched in the annals of history as one of the greatest and noblest of rishi-scientists.

Q2 We know Parasurama had 4 elder brothers and none of them cncented to kill their mother Renuka on the order of sage Jmamadagni. Which are the names of the brothers?

A2 Renuka gave birth to five sons: Vasu, Viswa Vasu, Brihudyanu, Brutwakanwa and Rambhadra. Rambhadra was the youngest and most beloved, gaining the favour of Lord Shiva and Parvati and hence called Parashurama

Q3 We know Rukmini was the Principal wife of Lord Krishna. Name the ten childens of Krishna born to Rukmini
A3 The first son of Queen Rukmini was Pradyumna, and also born of her were Charudeshna, Sudesna and the powerful Charudeha.
Others are Sucharu, Charugupta , Bhadracharu, Charuchandra, Vicharu and Charu, the tenth (SB 10.61.8-9). Of them, Pradyumna was the crown prince of Dwaraka.
Q4. Many of us may be receiving bulk posting digest from the groups. How many articles can be maximum grouped in a bulk posting digest from groups?

A5 Not more than 25 articles are allowed in one digest. Some articles are edited or curtailed also due to length of the digest. If qualifying member postings are more hence the delay in sending it in digest.

Q6 How we identify a real Rudraksha?

A6 A real rudraksha can be recognised by the vibrations felt by holding it in the hand

Q7 What is havir bhagam in sraadha?

A7 In vedas all devathas are propotiated and satisfied thru' agni. There are certain devathas who are not invited in any of the agni sacrifice a brhamin is supposed to conduct in his life time or there are any special agni rites prescribed in Vedas for these devathas who do not get any share of the ahutis made in agni.

Therefore, to take care of these Devathas not covered by any of the agni rites are in Shraddha satisfied and were given havir bhaghams thru Shraddha mantras.

Q8 What is the importance of scattering of Annam along with small pindas during homa as well as in the leaf during sraadha?

A8 Those who die a premature death (before Upanayanam for boys or before marriage for girls) in the Kulam are not covered by separate Shraddhas; The scattering the annam takes care of these souls. Thus all those who are left out are covered in our Sharaddhams.

Q9. An interesting question- What is the primary purpose of dance?

A9 One school of thought says the dance performers originated from the Apasaras who danced in Indras court: their aim was to entertain the gods. Thus the primary purpose of dance is to entertain. Dancers must dance to make the audience happy.

Q10 A serious question- Do Anteyeshti is a yagya?

A10 Yes in true sense. Antya means terminal. By Ishti is meant sacrifice. It refers to the funeral rites of a departed

It is believed that until this is performed, the soul can not travel to the next world and it remains on earth wandering restlessly as a ghost(pisacha) .

The rationale behind cremation is burning enables the departed soul to ababndon attachment to its previous body and move swiftly to its next chapter of life.

Funeral ceremonies should therefore be performed as soon as possible

(My note- I have read else where only after 6 hours after death funeral has to be done. )

Q11 Do Dronacharya incapacitated Eklaveyya from possessing superior technology ?

A11 Having seen Eklaveyya misusing the archery skill to block the mouth of a dog purported to be disturbing him, Guru Dronacharya incapacitated Eklaveyya from possessing superior technology.
Q12 Where do we have Saraswathi temple in Tamil nadu and Andhra?

A12 Saraswathi has a temple in Koothanur in Tanjavur district (Tamil Nadu).

There is an important Saraswati Temple in Basar at a distance of 40 km from Nizamabad in Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh on the banks of Godavari River.

Q13 Is it Duryodhana who sent sage Durvasa to Pandavas during exile?

A13 Yes. Duryodhan could not tolerate Pandavas leading an undisturbed life during their Vanavasa. Duryodhan therefore hatched a plan and sent sage Doorvasa along with his thousand sishyas to their place.

He was sure that Pandavas with their meagre facilities cannot extend hospitality to so many people and that would put Pandavas to humiliation.

Q14 What is the orgin of Gandhi kanakku?

A14 We come across this gandhi kannahhu or Gandhi account, when one try to write off dues from some one or some amount spent could be exactly categorized.

Before 1947, when India was fighting against British occupation, companies and individuals often included Contribution to Freedom movement as an item in accounting statements.

Most often accounting statements would not tally because management funnelled money out.

Contribution to Gandhi's freedom movement provided an excellent means to account for the missing money. Hence the term Gandhi Kanakku.

Q15 How do Vallar dis appeared ?

A15 Vallalar Ramalinga Swamigal on January 30, 1874, entered his room and LOCKED HIMSELF AND TOLD HIS FOLLOWERS NOT TO OPEN IT. He said that even if they did open it they would find nothing. His seclusion spurred many rumours, and the Government finally forced the doors open in May. The room was empty, with no clues. The Madras District Gazetteer published by the South Arcot District in 1906 records his disappearance.

Q16 How we should use food remaining after serving in Sraadha?

A16 Ancestors after partaking the food bless us and tell the family to share the left out food amongst themselves and with blood relationships or Daayadis.

They have not permitted to share the food with all and sundry.

Q17 Where do Darbha grows? Has it a name Viswamithra? How it has to be cut?

A17 It only grows naturally at selective places and available almost in every state in India.

Some learned scholars name it after Saint Vishwaamitra - hence Dharbham is known and called as Vishwaamitra.

Dharbham cannot just be plucked straight or cut on any day; There is a specific Slokha that is to be recited before cutting it; That too it can be cut only on the day next to Full Moon - known as Krishna Paksha Pradamai.

Q18 What was the condition under which Bhima married Hidimbi?

A18 After the Hidumba incident , Hidimbi asked Bhima to marry her, at which he was reluctant initially but finally ensued after being repeatedly insisted.

He agreed to spend the time from dawn to dusk with her on the condition that during the dark hours he would remain with his brothers, and this would continue till they had a son.

She bore Bhima a son, Ghatotkacha grown up when born. When the Pandavas left the forest, Bhima had to leave her as they were on a war campaign. It isn't clear whether they ever met again.

Q19 What is the botanical name of the creeper plant Thotta vadi which we often use for a person with much sentiments. What are its medicinal qualities?

A19 Thottavadi -Scientific name : Mimosa pudica

Family :Mimosoidae Habitat : Annual herb

Medicinal Uses : Decoration of root is used for gravel and other urinary complaints . Juice of leaves is used for sinus and also for sores and piles

Q20 What are all the Ashtasidhies?

A20 "Anima mahima chaiva.
Lakhima garima thatha.
Ieshithvam cha vasithvam cha.
Praapthi prakshya mevacha"
(Told in Amarakosam)

Anima, Mahima, Laghima, Garima, Ishitvam, Vasithvam, Prapti and Prakashyam- these are the ashtasidhies or eight powers, the Sanskrit thesaurus mentions.

For example Anima is the power to shrink one's body to any size, even as small as an `anu' or atom whereas,

Mahima, is the opposite sidhi- to grow bigger and bigger and even expand to cover the whole universe.

Q21 What are the attributes of Nanjundewara temple in Mysore?

A21 Nanjundesvara is a family deity of lakhs of people from old Mysore area and these people make it a point to visit this temple ordinarily once a year; and before or after a marriage, housewarming and such other special occasions

A unique feature of this temple is that it has devotees from both Vaishnava and Srivaishnava sects. The Nanjundesvara temple is one of the biggest in Karnataka. It is a temple complex of various periods The small sanctum (garbha-griha) was the earliest and built during the period of the Gangas or the Cholas (about 11th Century AD).

The frontal mantapa in which the devotees sit was a later addition during the Hoysala period of the 13th Century AD.

The nextstage of construction took place during the Vijayanagara period. During this period, brick and mortar sikhara was built over the shrine. In fact, there is an inscription of Krishnadevaraya in this temple. The Maharajas of Mysore used to be great devotees of Nanjundesvara.

Jayachamaraja Wadiyar was a great devotee and used to visit the temple on Mondays.

According to popular belief, Tipu's elephant got afflicted by an eye-ailment and no doctor (hakim) was able to cure it. Somebody suggested that he should pray to Sri Nanjundeshvara which he did. A miracle happened and the elephant's eye was cured and impressed by this, Tipu called the god Hakim (doctor) Nanjunda. He gifted an emerald Linga to the deity.

Q22Do the chariot of Krishna went in to flames after Krishna got down after war?
A22 Yes. After the war, when Krishna exits the chariot, it bursts into flames; only his presence kept the celestial weapons from destroying it earlier. Krishna reveals that the gods allowed this war to relieve Earth of her great burden (similar to Troy).
Duryodhana was the incarnation of Kali, lord of the 4th age.
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