Mahashivaratri falls on March 2, 2011 this year. As you can tell, Shivaratri celebrates the great Lord Shiva. Let’s see how much you know about Him and His special night…
1. Mahashivaratri is celebrated in the Hindu month
a. Phalgun
b. Margarisa
c. Aasdhada
d. Shravana
2. The sacred river that flows from the matted hair of Lord Shiva
a. Yamuna
b. Ganga
c. Godavari
d. Cauvery
3. The dancing posture of Lord Shiva is known as
a. Shankara
b. Nataraja
c. Neelakanta
d. Bhairav
4. This bull serves as Lord Shiva’s mount
a. Kamdhenu
b. Nandi
c. Vasuki
d. Shakthi
5. Mahasivaratiri marks which of the following?
a. The day when Lord Shiva got married to Parvati Ma
b. The day when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Dance
c. Manifestation of Lord Shiva in the form of a Linga
d. All of the above
e. A and C only
f. B only.
6. Shiva’s body consists of five mantras. They are called
a. Panchabrahman
b. Panchabhutha
c. Panchendriya
d. Panchavati
7. Lord Shiva came to be known as Neelakanta because
a. His throat is blue in color because he drank the poison during the churning of the milky ocean
b. Blue was his favorite color
c. He killed a blue colored demon
d. He lives on a blue mountain
8. Lord Shiva is seated on tiger animal skin and it signifies
a. The destruction of lust
b. The conquest of chanchala [tossing of the mind]
c. The destruction of pride
d. The destruction of power
9. On the day of Shivaratri the devotees of Lord Shiva perform –
a. Observe fast
b. Offer fruits and flowers to Shiva Linga
c. Offer Bhel Leaves to Shiva Linga
d. Observe Vigil all night
e. All of the above
10. The significance of Bhel leaves is narrated in the story of
a. King Chitrabhanu
b. King Parikshit
c. King Rukmangatha
d. King Ambarisha
11. The heavenly abode of Lord Shiva
a. Swarga
b. Kailasha
c. Vaikunta
d. Satyaloka
Compiled By
Ramya Srinivasan, San Jose, CA
Answers:
1-A, 2-B, 3-B, 4-B, 5-D, 6-A, 7-A, 8-A,9-E, 10-A, 11-B
