1. Heliodorus erected a pillar with Garuda at Besnagar in Bhopal in honour of which god?
Vasudeva
2. In which kingdom Parvati was worshipped as Gauri?
Satavahana kingdom
3. In which text is Narayana mentioned first?
Satapatha brahmana
4. In which text is the earliest reference of Krishna found?
Chandogya Upanishad
5. Name some famous acharyas who were Vaishnavs?
Ramanuja, Chaitanya, Madhava, Nimbarka, Nathmuni, Yamunacharya
6. Shakti dharma is first mentioned in which text?
Mahabharata
7. Shiva was worshipped in which form in Shaivism?
In the form of Shib-linga
8. Krishna was disciple of whom?
Ghora Angirasa
9. Who are Kapaliks?
They practice an extreme form of Shaivism. They eat food in skull, eat ashes and carry pots of wine. They worship Bhairava as the great god with his wife Chandika. They perform human sacrifices. They practice yoga to attain miraculous power. They were mostly flourished during the Gupta period.
10. Who founded Lingayatism?
It was founded by Basava.
11. What do you know about Lingayatism?
They do not support the Brahmin concept. They believed in love and self surrender. They worship Linga and Nandi bull. They encourage widow remarriage. Their philosophy is known as Shakti-Vishishtadvaita. For them, Shiva is the supreme reality and Shakti is the power which resides in him. Their ultimate goal is to unite with Shiva- Shakti. Lingadharane is the ceremony of initiation among Lingayats. Child receives Diksha from the family Guru to know the proper procedure to perform pooja of ishtalinga. They do not worship Shiva in temples. They are popular in Karnataka region.
12. What is Mattamayura sect of Shaivism?
They attempted at the reestablishment of supremacy of vedic system. They were popular in Central India. They were mentioned in Mahabharata.
13. What do you know about Pashupata sect of Shaivism?
It is founded by Lakulish. They besmear their body with ashes. Pashu in Pashupati refers to the effect (or created world) and Pati means the cause (or principium).
14. What do you know about Tantrism?
They use Panchamakara – Matsya(Fish), Mansa(Meat), Madya(Wine), Maithuna(Sex), Mudra(Physical Gestures) in their rituals. They strongly focus on rituals and meditation. High status was given to female deity.
15. What do you know about Vaishnavism?
Vasudeva or Vishnu is their principal deity. They believe in servitude towards God. It owes its origin to Upanishads. Around second century, Vishnu and Narayana were united and identified as one deity. Acharyas are great philosophers who popularized the religion. They were patronized by Gupta, Chakukyas, Hoysalas, Satvahanas.
16. When is the origin of Shaivism?
The origin of Shaivism is controversial. Some trace the origins to the Indus Valley civilization, where the seal of Pashupati Shiva is found, whereas others believe that it originated in the Rig Vedic era where there is earliest clear mention of Rudra in Rig Vedic hymns.
17. Which Kushan king was an ardent devotee of Shiva?
Vima Kadphises
18. Which Prakrit text has reference to Shiva worship?
Gathasaptasati
19. Who are the ten avatars of Vishnu?
Matsya(Fish), Kurma(Tortoise), Varaha(Boar), Narasimha(Man Lion), Vamana(Dwarf), Parasurama (Rama With Axes), Rama, Krishna, Buddha, Kalkin (Yet To Born)
20. Who refers Krishna as Herakles of Sourasenoi tribe?
Megasthenes
21. Who is prayed as Shakti?
Shivas wife Parvati
22. Who is the principal deity of Shaivism?
Shiva
23. Who was Vishnu’s wife?
Lakshmi
24. Who were the sons of Shiva?
Skanda and his younger brother Ganesha. In Tamil country Skanda was worshipped as Murugan. Ganesha was also known as Vinayak.