Hinduism: All About Lord Shiva Quiz

Answer: Ketaki

In "Shiva Purana", Brahma and Vishnu were having an argument regarding which god was the most powerful. Shiva agreed to mediate the debate, taking the form of a lingam that went up through the heavens and under the earth, challenging both of the gods to walk their separate ways to find both beginning and the end of it, whoever did would be declared the most powerful. Lord Brahma decided on the form of a swan and flew heavenward, whereas Lord Vishnu decided on the form of a boar and roamed the land. Days of travelling resulted in neither of them being in reach of the beginning or the end.

Vishnu eventually accepted that he could not outdo Shiva, but Brahma accosted a ketaki flower on his travels and persuaded it to lie, saying that he had witnessed Brahma reaching the top of the cosmic column where the flower once stood. The ketaki flower declared Brahma's victory. At that moment the central column of the lingam cracked open, revealing a furious Lord Shiva, enraged that Brahma had tried to deceive him. Shiva cursed Brahma with never being worshiped on Earth again. He then cursed the ketaki flower to be forever deemed an unsuitable offering in Hindu worship rituals.

Answer: From drinking poison

In the Hindu texts "Vishnu Purana", "Vayu Purana" and "Padma Purana" Durvasa, an avatar of Lord Shiva, is the indirect cause of the Samudra Manthana, or the turning of the Ocean. Indra, king of Svarga Loka (Heaven) encountered Durvasa and angered him by neglecting a flower garland Durvasa had given him, which ended up being trampled by an elephant. Durvasa cursed Indra to become old, frail and cast down from power as his garland had been cast down. He also cursed all the devas (divine deities).

Indra and the devas asked for Lord Vishnu's help, who suggested that they churn the Kshira Sagara, or the Ocean of Milk. They churned it for a millennia, hoping to release Amrita, or the elixr of immortal life. They needed help from the asuras (demigods always in battle with the devas) who agreed provided they could have their share of the spoils. The god Garuda had to bring the biggest snake, Vasuki (who was Shiva's snake) to churn the ocean. Many things came from the ocean, including a poison which could wipe out life on Earth.

Shiva drank the poison to save the Earth. His wife, Parvathi, saw he had drunk it and ran to stop him swallowing. She gripped his neck so tightly that the poison never made it to his stomach. It did however, turn his throat blue.

Answer: Parnada

Parnada was a powerful sage who got his name from only eating greens. He controlled all the animals and plants in the forest he lived in. One day whilst cutting the grass, Parnada cut his fingerad noticed that instead of blood, tree sap oozed from the cut. He took this as a sign that he had become the most pious man in the world, and began proclaiming this. Shiva noticed, and disguised himself as an old man to talk to him. Shiva then asked Parnada why he was so happy, and he responded by telling the old man of his tree sap blood, and how it was a sign of extreme piety.

Shiva asked if this was really a sensible reason to be so pleased. It was simply tree sap, and when trees and plants are burned they become ash. To make his point, the old man cut his own finger, and ash bled from it. It was then Parnada realised it was Lord Shiva standing before him, and asked him for forgiveness for his arrogance and ignorance. Shiva is now depicted as being covered in ash because of this story, as a reminder to his followers to not attach too much importance to physical attractiveness and beauty.

Answer: Sati

Sati is Shiva's first love, who was born via a human at Brahma's suggestion. Sati's father was Daksha, a son created from the mind of Brahma. Sati's love for Shiva was strong, and she was hurt when her family did not approve of him. Her family did not invite either of them to a wedding, and while Shiva was nonplussed by this, Sati was enraged. She barged into the wedding demanding an explanation for their snub. When her father proceeded to call her and her husband "beggars" and had the whole party laughing at them, Sati walked into a burning fire at the ceremony, incinerating herself after cursing her family that Shiva would hurt them.

Shiva heard of what had taken place and rushed to the ceremony, devastated to see Sati's remains in the fire. Daksha was decapitated and Shiva's destruction reigned through the night. Shiva eventually brought back to life those he had slain, but Daksha's head was replaced with that of a goat.

Answer: Interfered in his romantic life

Shiva was devastated after the death of his first wife, who had self-immolated in protest at her father humiliating her, insulting her husband and ganging up on her with others to mock him. Shiva's sadness and anger were a severe detriment to the world, as had abandoned his duties and went into an intense meditation. Sati had been reborn as the goddess, Parvati, but Shiva was not interested in her. The asura Tarakasura could only be beaten by Shiva's son, and without a wife how would he have a son? As Indra, Brahma and the other gods became tired of Tarakasura's abuse, they concocted a plan to influence Shiva via Kamadeva.

Kamadeva was the god of love and passion. He evaded the notice of Shiva's guard, Nandi, by transforming into a breeze which blew right into Shiva's abode where he was meditating. Once he was there Kamadeva made his surroundings appear as if Spring had just arrived, with flowers and a romantic atmosphere. He also shot Shiva with a bow and arrow for love, the equivalent of the Roman Cupid shooting someone. Shiva was indeed suddenly interested in Parvati, but he did not fail to notice the sudden change in his mood, concluding that the passion suddenly aroused in him must be at the hands of Kamadeva. Shiva opened his third eye and incinerated Kamadeva for daring to trick him. Although Kamadeva's body was gone, he was allowed to exist as a formless entity. Shiva eventually began to be more open to the idea of being with Parvati, who became his second wife.

Answer: Ganesha

Some traditions hold that Ganesha was born when Parvati sculpted him from turmeric paste, and breathed life into him. Shiva was away meditating, and Parvati did not wish for her husband to disturb her while she was bathing. Parvati instructed her new son that he would stand guard in front of the entrance to her bathing chamber, and let nobody pass. He did so, and when Shiva returned he was outraged at the insolence of the young boy, who dared to attempt to deny him entry into his own wife's bathing quarters. Shiva cut the young boy's head off, and Parvati screamed when she saw, telling Shiva that he had just murdered her son. Shiva said he did not know who he was, and an elephant's head was brought to be placed upon Ganesha's body.

Another account says that Shiva was gone for so long meditating one day, that he was unable to remember who his son Ganesha was. He thought he was an intruder and summoned some demons to keep him busy, so that Shiva could spend time with Parvati. One of the demons ended up cutting his head off, and when Parvati screamed Shiva realised he must be their son. He replaced Ganesha's head with that of an elephant.

Answer: Kali

Raktabīja (or Rakta Beej) was a powerful demon, who had the ability to duplicate copies of himself on Earth whenever a drop of his blood fell to the ground. Kali, the goddess of death and time, joined the battle as the demon duplicated himself over the Earth. As other gods and goddesses attacked, she collected the blood and drank it rather than allow the duplication to take place. The demon was beaten, however Kali now had a taste for blood. Kali raged destruction upon the Earth, and other Hindu gods asked Shiva for help. Shiva laid himself in front of Kali's warpath. When Kali realised she had struck Lord Shiva, she was embarrassed and horrified, and her tongue stuck out in her discomfort. This is why Kali is often depicted as having her tongue sticking out.

In Hindi iconography, it is Raktabīja's blood that Kali is typically displayed to be drinking. The blood symbolises unhealthy human desires, and Kali drinking the blood symbolises the swallowing or quashing of these desires.

Answer: Apasmara

Apasmara (also referred to as "Muyalaka" or "Muyalakan") is a dwarf demon who has little spiritual intellect and is generally ignorant. He was stupid enough to challenge Shiva, who took the form of Nataraja, the blessed cosmic dancer. The dance resulted in the demon being crushed under Shiva's right foot.

However, the demon did not die, so as to preserve the balance of knowledge and ignorance. It is believed that Shiva remains in some form Nataraja, so as to supress the demon and its ignorant ways for eternity.

This avatar symbolises the belief that ignorance can only be overcome via knowledge, dance and music.

Answer: Fisherwoman

Lord Shiva was explaining the Vedas to his wife, Parvati. This discussion took years and one day Parvati's concentration began to flag. When Shiva noticed her eyes had glazed over, he raged, "Go to earth and take birth as a fisherwoman!" Shiva regretted these words once his anger was gone and he missed his beloved wife. Parvati had taken the form of a baby girl on Earth who was found under a tree by the chief of a local fishing community. She grew up to be an adept fisher and could row boats faster than anyone else in the village.

Shiva yearned for Parvati, devastated by the fact that she had been born destined to marry a fisherman. Nandi, Shiva's favourite bull, took the form of a huge whale and started to bother the fishing village making it impossible to catch their cargo. The chief announced that whoever would catch and stop the troublesome whale could marry Parvati. Shiva took the form of a handsome fisherman and Nandi, upon seeing his master approaching, allowed himself to be captured. Shiva was then happily reunited with Parvati.

Answer: Snake

There are several meanings behind the snake that Shiva is typically depicted wearing around his neck. Some traditions hold that during the churning of the ocean, Vasuki, the king of snakes, acted as the rope to facilitate the churning. After Shiva drank the poison to save the world from destruction, Parvati held the poison in his neck, and Vasuki coiled around it to stop the spread of the poison through his body.

As snakes are cold-blooded by nature, the coiled snake around his neck also acted as a coolant against the poison.

The snake also acts as a symbol of Shiva's fearlessness and power - snakes are feared for their poison, but Shiva has one under control, therefore symbolising the safety of Shiva's presence, and the safety of those devoted to him.