Indian Mythology and World History

The Dalai Lama advocates for genuine autonomy for 'Greater Tibet' within China rather than full independence. This position seeks self-rule for all traditional Tibetan areas including Amdo and Kham.

The Golan Heights is a strategically important plateau captured by Israel from Syria during the 1967 Six-Day War. The territorial dispute is specifically between these two countries, with Israel occupying the area and Syria claiming it as Syrian territory under international law.

Northern Ireland, which occupies about one-sixth of the island of Ireland, remains part of the United Kingdom. The Republic of Ireland is an independent nation, while Northern Ireland's constitutional status remains a matter of ongoing political debate.

Kolkata Metro Rail started operating in 1984. It was India's first metro railway system. Students should know this important milestone in Indian urban transport history. The other options (1986, 1990, 1991) are incorrect.

Karna, born to Kunti and Surya (the sun god), was raised by Adhiratha (a charioteer) and his wife Radha. He is renowned for his unmatched generosity (gave away his divine armor) and unwavering loyalty to his friend Duryodhana. The description perfectly matches Karna from the Mahabharata.

Eklavya is the correct answer. He was a tribal boy who learned archery by practicing before a clay statue of Dronacharya after being rejected by the guru. When Dronacharya discovered Eklavya's skills surpassed Arjuna's, he demanded Eklavya's thumb as guru dakshina to ensure Arjuna remained the greatest archer. The other options are not characters associated with this famous Mahabharata story.

Abhimanyu is the correct answer. He learned the secret of entering the chakravyooh (wheel formation) while in his mother Subhadra's womb but did not learn how to exit it. During the Kurukshetra war, he entered the formation and fought bravely until he was trapped and killed by the Kaurava warriors, following Dronacharya's strategy. The other options are not the character associated with this tragic story.

Ghatotkach is the correct answer. He was the son of Bhim and the demoness Hidimba, inheriting supernatural powers including invisibility and the ability to change size. He fought valiantly on the Pandava side and sacrificed his life when Karna used the divine Vasavi Shakti weapon against him, saving Arjuna. The other options are not Bhim's son with these powers.

Ashwathama is the correct answer. He was the son of Dronacharya and a powerful warrior who possessed the Brahmastra, an invincible divine weapon. During the battle, when Ghatotkach was decimating the Kaurava forces, Ashwathama used the Brahmastra to kill him. The other options are not the Kaurava warrior associated with the Brahmastra.

Shakuni is the correct answer. He was the maternal uncle of the Kauravas and the main architect of the Mahabharata war. He constantly instigated Duryodhana against the Pandavas and masterminded the disastrous game of dice that led to the war. His cunning and manipulative nature makes him the central antagonist. The other options are not the 'mama' character.

To solve this question, the user needs to have knowledge about characters from the Indian epic Mahabharata. The question describes a character who is the son of river Ganga and remained unmarried throughout his life. Additionally, the character supported the Kauravas despite knowing that they were at fault.

Now let's go through each option and explain why it is right or wrong:

A. Bhishma: This option is correct. Bhishma was a prominent character in the Mahabharata and was the son of river Ganga, also known as the goddess Ganga. He was known for his vow of celibacy, due to which he remained unmarried throughout his life. Despite knowing that the Kauravas were at fault, he chose to remain loyal to Hastinapur and fought for the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war.

B. Ved Vyas: This option is wrong. Ved Vyas was a sage who compiled the Mahabharata and other important Hindu texts. However, he was not the son of river Ganga, nor did he stay loyal to the Kauravas.

C. Kripacharya: This option is wrong. Kripacharya was a warrior who fought for the Kauravas in the Kurukshetra war. However, he was not the son of river Ganga and did not remain unmarried throughout his life.

D. Vidur: This option is wrong. Vidur was a wise minister who supported the Pandavas in the Mahabharata. He was not the son of river Ganga and did not remain unmarried throughout his life.

Therefore, the answer is: A. Bhishma.

Shikhandi is the correct answer. Amba, after being rejected by Bhishma, performed penance and obtained a boon from Shiva to be reborn as the cause of Bhishma's death. In her next life, she was born as Shikhandi (originally female but later transformed into male). Since Bhishma had sworn never to fight a woman, he lowered his weapons when facing Shikhandi, leading to his defeat. The other options are not Amba's reincarnation.

Vidur is the correct answer. He was the son of Sage Vyasa and a servant maid, making him half-brother to Dhritarashtra and Pandu. Despite his humble birth, he became the Prime Minister of Hastinapur and was renowned for his wisdom and righteousness. He was one of the few people who witnessed Krishna's divine form (Vishvaroopa) during His peace mission. The other options are not the mahamantri of Hastinapur.

Sanjay is the correct answer. He was the son of a bard (suta) and served in Dhritarashtra's court. He was gifted with divine vision that allowed him to see events happening anywhere in the world, which enabled him to narrate the entire Kurukshetra war to the blind king in real-time. This gift was given to him by Sage Vyasa so Dhritarashtra could follow the battle. The other options are not the narrator with this power.

Adam's Bridge, also known as Rama's Bridge or Rama Setu, is a limestone shoal chain between Pamban Island (Rameswaram) in Tamil Nadu and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. It holds great significance in Hindu mythology as the bridge built by Lord Rama's army to reach Lanka.

The Pamban Bridge is a cantilever bridge on the Palk Strait that connects Rameswaram island (Pamban Island) to mainland India. It is India's first sea bridge, opened in 1914, and serves as a crucial rail link connecting the holy island to the Tamil Nadu mainland.

Adam's Bridge (Rama Setu) extends from Dhanuskodi (Rameswaram, India) to Mannar Island in Sri Lanka. Colombo is the commercial capital on the west coast, Galle is a southern port city, and Kotte is a suburb of Colombo - none are connected to this chain of limestone shoals.

The legendary bridge was built by Lord Rama's vanara (monkey) army to reach Lanka. Ramayana describes Rama's journey to rescue Sita from Ravana in Lanka. Mahabharata is a different epic about the Kuru dynasty conflict, while Greek epics Odyssey and Iliad are unrelated to Indian mythology.

The earliest known map using the name 'Adam's Bridge' dates to 1804, prepared by British cartographers during their survey of the region. This naming convention was adopted by the British East India Company. Earlier maps existed but used different names for this limestone shoal chain.