Answers: Thedal Quiz – 8

Thanks again for your active participation in our eighth quiz on ‘numbers’. We thank all readers and respondents for their active participation.

Here are the readers who got all the answers right:

E N Renganathan

Many congratulations!

Here are the answers:

1. How many years are present in the Tamil cyclic calendar?

60. The current year Vikaari is ending soon and the new year is Shaarvari. According to religious beliefs, the cycle is based on 5 revolutions of Jupiter around the Sun (each revolution is about 11.862 Earth years).

2. How many verses are present in Valmiki Ramayana?

Approx. 24,000. It is divided into 6 cantos (non-including Uthara Kanda) and 500 chapters.

3. As per Ramayana how many Yojanas (a unit of length) did Lord Hanuman cross to reach Lanka?

100. Among the search party that went South, only Hanuman was capable of crossing 100 Yojanas and return the same distance after reaching Lanka.

4. An Akshauhini is a battle formation that has certain number of chariots, elephants, horses and infantry. How many Akshanunis were present in the Mahabharatha war?

18. An akshauhini consists of 21,870 chariots, same number of elephants, 65,610 horses and 109,350 foot soldiers (1:1:3:5). The Pandava Army consisted of 7 akshauhinis and Kaurava Army consisted of 11 akshauhinis, thus totaling 18. Though numerically superior, Kaurava army succumbed to Pandava Army, more specifically to Lord Krishna.

5. According to belief, how many years make up Kali yuga?

4,32,000 earth years. Aryabhatta, the astronomer sage calculated Kali yuga to be 1000 God years plus 100 transition God years of day and night. Which comes to a total of 1200 God years. 1 God year is 360 solar/earth years. Thus Kaliyuga is 1200*360 = 432,000 years. Of this, as of 2020, only about 5000+ years have elapsed so far!

6. How many weapons does Lord Sudarshana (Chakrathazwar) wield?

16. Lord Sudarshana has 16 hands with each hand wielding a weapon. They are Chakra (discus), axe, spear, stick, ankusham (elephant goad), fire, sword, Shakti, conch, bow, noose, plough, vajrayudha (thunderbolt), mace, pestle (used in grinders) and trident.

7. How many mathas (religions) did Adishankara help establish?

6. Adi Shankara, the 8th century philosopher, worked to unite the adherents of the six sects namely Shaivam, Vaishnavam, Shaktham, Ganapathyam, Sauram and Kaumaram. For this act, he was named ‘Shanmatha sthaapana Aachaarya’. 

8. As per Shaivaite philosophy, what is the total count of Naayanmaars?

63. The Naayanmaars were saint poets who lived in the 6th to 8th century. Along with Azwars, their contemporaries who were devotees of Lord Vishnu, influenced the Bhakti movement in India.

9. How many towers (Gopurams) are present in Srirangam Temple?

21. Being the largest functioning temple in the world, Srirangam Ranganatha temple has 21 towers, over 50 sanctums for other deities, a hall with 1000 pillars and even granaries inside.

10. If the number 1 is associated with advaita philosophy and 2 is associated with dvaita, then what number can be given to Buddhism?

0. In Buddhist philosophy, shunya (the void) constitutes ultimate reality. It is believed that all things in this world lack an inherent, independent, self-existence.

11. How many attempts did Sri Ramanuja make to meet his Guru Thirukkoshtiyur Nambi before learning the philosophical secrets from him?

18. Sri Raamanuja, the Vaishnavite philosoher, was advised to visit Thirukoshtiyur Nambi and learn the esoteric truths from him. Every time he mentioned, ‘I, Ramanuja have arrived’ he was sent back by Nambi. This happened 17 times and during the 18th time, Sri Ramanuja introduced himself as “Adiyen Ramanujan has come” ( which roughly means ‘humble Ramanuja has arrived’). At once he was allowed to enter. The word “I”, which indicates ego, led Thirukachi Nambi to reject him earlier. When his ego vanished during this 18th visit, he was considered eligible for learning the sacred truths.

12. As per tradition, how many steps do couples take around the fire during the wedding ceremony?

7. Sapthapadi (seven steps) is the most important rite in a wedding ceremony. After the tying of Mangalsutra, the newlywed couple take seven steps around the holy fire. After the seventh step, the couple is destined to become husband and wife.