Tag: general knowledge

Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction in 1831, which is the principle behind the electric generator. He built the first generator, called the Faraday disk. Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, Edison the light bulb, Nobel dynamite.

According to Hindu tradition, Lord Ganesha wrote down the Mahabharata as Sage Vyasa dictated it. Ganesha's condition was that Vyasa must recite continuously without pause. Valmiki wrote the Ramayana, while Sukha and Narada were other sages.

Jaya and Vijaya were the gatekeepers of Vaikunta who were cursed to be born three times as demons and killed by Vishnu's avatars. They became Hiranyakashipu-Hiranyaksha, Ravana-Kumbhakarna, and Shishupala-Dantavakra. Garuda is Vishnu's mount, Hanuman and Lakshman were from Ramayana.

Matsya (the fish) was the first avatar of Lord Vishnu, appearing in the Satya Yuga to save humanity from a great flood. In order: Matsya, Kurma (Koorma), Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Balarama/Buddha, Kalki.

Lord Rama belonged to the Tretayuga (also spelled Thretayuga), the second yuga in the cycle of four yugas. The order is Satya Yuga, Treta Yuga, Dwapara Yuga, and Kali Yuga. Rama appeared before the Mahabharata war of Dwapara Yuga.

Pushpaka Vimana was the legendary flying chariot of Ravana, capable of traveling anywhere and accommodating unlimited passengers. After Ravana's defeat, it was returned to its original owner, Kubera. Garuda is Vishnu's mount, Hanuman is a deity, and Akasha Ratham is a generic term meaning 'sky chariot'.

Mohini is the female avatar of Lord Vishnu, which he assumed to distribute amrita (nectar of immortality) and to entice demons during the churning of the ocean. Lakshmi is Vishnu's consort, not his form. Surabhi is the divine cow, and Parvati is Shiva's consort.

Partha is a name for Arjuna, meaning 'son of Pritha' (Pritha being Kunti's name). Arjuna is one of the Pandava brothers and the central hero of the Mahabharata. Karna was also Kunti's son but is not called Partha. Bhima was another Pandava, and Duryodhana was the antagonist.

Mallikarjuna (Shiva) and Bhramaramba (Parvati) are the presiding deities of the Srisailam temple in Andhra Pradesh, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. The specific names are important - this is not just any Shiva-Parvati pairing. Bhramaramba means 'queen of bees'.

Bhageeratha was the sage who performed severe penance to bring the Ganga from heaven to earth, to liberate his ancestors' souls. The river is also called Bhageerathi after him. Parasurama, Vishwamitra, and Valmiki were other great sages but not associated with this legend.